Gaffer's Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Rural Municipality of St. Clements

For the first time this summer I decided to bring my family of 5 out to a patio to share some appetizers and some drinks. We got there and they pleasantly sat us down. There were maybe 2 tables before us, so we did not think the wait would be too long. It was beautiful sitting out on the patio. My 3 year old son was super thirsty, and told the server that when she handed out the menus. We practically said to her we would like 2 virgin strawberry daiquiris, order of honey garlic wings, order of the nachos (specially plain Jane - cheese and beef as we have 3 picky children) and then with onions and jalopenos on the side. The lady took nearly 10 minutes to bring out our waters….. granted, we did watch a few tables come onto the patio since this time, including one right next to our table. Within a few minutes we see our neighboring table already get there summer drinks. Still being patient, as I know how the hospitality industry works (maybe they had a different server who got it in a little quicker? … I don’t no, benefit of the doubt). We got there at 515, got waters at 525, our summer daiquiris at 540. And our food at 558. Within this time, our waters had been empty for 20 minutes, no cutlery napkins or plates for this children have been brought out. So when the food finally came out the kids had to wait a few minutes (and I’m not exaggerating that) for the plates. When we got the food, the nachos had cheese, beef and peppers all over it (all my children do not like peppers) but the wings looked delicious. We said to the server that we said plain Jane cheese and beef no peppers. She did offer to get it changed up, but waiting for another nacho seemed worse then all my children having to pick the peppers off to eat it. While we were getting the kids organized to eat and were settled in, we realized she gave us the wrong sides. I figured I would just exchanged that when she quality checked. There was no quality checked. No body checked to see if we were good or how it was. I sent my family to the car to speak about our experience and frustrations. And all we got was, “yeah it got really busy there. And you had a new server.” I told her that I understand maybe the delay at the start, but if we waited 45 minutes for food without being set up at the table so my children can eat the moment the food is put on the table, and when the food is put on the table usually it’s protocol to check how it is. ESPECIALLY if you know your table has waited a long time for their food. The manager didn’t blink and eye just pointed fingers. 65 dollar bill, don’t think I will bring my...

I wasn’t going to write anything about our new years at gaffers, but, I just can’t seem to get it out of my mind. I made reservations for 7:30pm, with two other companions, we arrived on time and were seated fairly promptly. Server got our drinks, our appetizer order and we were on our way to a very long and disappointing night.

After about an hour, I got my just ok appetizer. The pasty was burnt, there was no Brie, but hey, that’s ok.

We order our 2nd course. 2 soups and a salad. After half an hour, sever comes with 3rd course, the sorbet. Nope. I want my soup. Send it back. After another half hour, server comes with sorbet. Again, nope. I want my soup. Finally, soup and salad comes. Soup is actually ok.

Sorbet never comes back. It’s been a couple of hours since we got there, I’m getting hungry. Really, a tiny burnt pasty and a tiny bowl of soup isn’t cutting it.

Order 4th course. I think it’s around 10-1030, at this point. Restaurant looks like it’s closing down. All I want is the lamb. That’s it. I love lamb. I step away for a few moments.

I come back to a frozen sirloin steak. You couldn’t even give the tenderloin. Just a blue rare flat piece of sirloin with sinew running through it. It wasn’t even cooked. Gummy 8 hour potatos that were ice cold and boiled carrots.

At this point, it’s been about 4 hours since we got there. I’m tired, a bottle of wine in, and starving. Also, pretty emotional. This is terrible. I choke down my steak that I never ordered as the restaurant shuts down.

Give me my dessert. I order a banana foster. Did I get at least one thing right that night? No. No, I did not. I got the stupid s’more dessert. I choke down the chocolate, not much of a fan, all I want right now is food.

I got the explanations. The issues with the walkins and the issues with the computers. The issues with the big tables. You know what? I don’t really care. 25% off the meal was what was offered when the only half decent thing was the full priced bottle of wine and the soup.

Do better, gaffers. That was an expensive and time consuming embarrassment. My fried egg sandwich when I got home was better than anything that I had there...

We stopped going to Gaffers a couple years ago. It could be a fantastic local place to frequent, except the service here has been atrocious! The last few attempts we made to give them our business confirmed our decision to never return. 2nd last visit was with a neighborhood group of about 10. It wasn't particularly busy inside or out, and we sat on the patio. It took over 45 minutes to get our first drinks, and an hour and a half to get our food, which was simple bar food, nothing fancy. We even watched other tables who arrived after us get their drinks and meals before us. One of our group actually had to leave to get home before she got her food it took them so long to serve. They had a bar on the patio that was not in service, and the main bar (and kitchen) was either incompetent, or understaffed, and after our first round no staff attended to offer a re-order. The place is convenient, easy access off the highway, and has a nice outdoor patio. Decent menu, typical bar options. But trying to get someone to take an order is like pulling teeth, and then the wait time for food is ridiculous for simple bar food, which should be short-order stuff and ready in minutes, not hours. Went back once after the first bad experience while on a motorcycle ride with a couple friends. Same terrible service, hard to get a refill order taken, and lengthy wait for food. Could be a goldmine if the owners cared about their patrons, but in my experience this place is not worth the aggravation with other options available nearby. Local friends still stop by here periodically, and every time still complain about how bad the service is. I just laugh and remind them that the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing over and over, but expecting a different outcome! If you wish to bash your head against the wall, visit Gaffers, otherwise, I'd suggest looking elsewhere. This could be a 4 star location, but the service here...