East Side Mario's — Restaurant in Regina

I am writing this about six months after our experience. We used to go there 4-6 times a year. But the visit in Sept 2019 was the last time for us.

We planned to celebrate my son's 10th birthday at ESM. Unfortunately, we found out how unhygienic there kitchen is and how unapologetic their staff and manager are about it.

We were served our appetizer, the cheese dip, with about a foot long blond hair. I called our table server and pulled the hair that was still half in the baked cheese in front of her. And without even apologizing for this, she said she will take it back. She disappeared with the bowl leaving us behind wondering. About 5 minutes passed and she came back to ask if we wanted another one prepared for us or do we want our meals served. While awaiting my kids told me how disgusted they were and if we could go elsewhere. So, we were ready to leave and asked her if we could cancel our order and offered to pay for it. This triggered a simple 'Sorry you feel that way, let me check with my manager'.

The manager came and said 'with the number of staff they have, it is not possible to stop having hair gone into some food'. Yet, no apology. They only charged me for the beer I had ordered which, I didn't bother finishing as by this time the supper time had passed and kids were hungry. We left the restaurant hungry and never to return.

I wasn't going to write this review but recently heard a friend had a health issue following a visit to a different food establishment that was rated very high and realized that unless I share my experience, patrons will never know...

While passing through Regina we decided to grab a quick and tasty meal at one of our favourite restaurants, East Side Mario's. We checked online for closing time and were pleased to see they were open until 11 PM so we made our way in at 9:50 PM. We entered to see the restaurant was empty and with the waitresses cleaning up to close. We roughly waited for 10 minutes before we were noticed and then another minute before our waitress even made her way over to seat us.

After aggressively putting her broom and dust pan down she made her way over, approached us saying quite snooty "Two of you?" she then took us to our table. She then said "you guys can decide what you want to drink" and walked away from our table.

At this point another waitress now came over to us and was much more enjoyable and pleasing to deal with. While we were going through or menus we looked up to see our first waitress standing and staring at us while speaking with one of the cooks who was shaking his head while staring at the two of us.

This has always been an enjoyable restaurant for us but after an altercation like this it makes a person not want to bother coming back and being put into a position like this again.

I understand we had come in late but the sign reads 11-11. Not 11-9:50 so there is absolutely no reason to be upset when this is your position at your job.

I'd like to thank or second server for making up for the lack of people skills and personality our first server...

Went for supper with family from out of town. I'm on a very restrictive diet temporarily which left my only.real options being a soft drink and soup and bread.

When I went to order was informed that management has imposed a rule at supper tjat you cannot just order soup you have to order with another side so I can add a salad (cant eat any vegetables) or even fries (cant eat as fries have a hard edge). I explain medical issue. No go. I ask fo speak with a manager. No manager ever shows up. I ask if they would rather I just have an iced tea while the rest of my party has their full meal. Server ends up taking order and few minutes later comes with soup and tells me she is just going to let me have the soup without another food item and she will work it out with her manager.

A stupid policy for those that cant eat more or dont eant nore than soup for supper. Restaurant was not even 1/3 busy do xan ehet afford to turn customers away? I for one wont be back and neither will my large extended family.

Sent email to chain management and left review on Facebook. Got a canned we will get back to you in 1-2 days. Well it's been 3 days and no response. Great customer service and experience I would rate 1 out of 5. . . .

If you are in Regina l snd crave goid Italian food o suggest Luiggis Pasta Hoise on North Albert St. 5 Stars and much...