Westley - Artisans restaurateurs — Restaurant in Sherbrooke

First time going and the only spot available was at 8pm. Not the worst as the hours say they are open till midnight. Didn't think we would be there for almost 2 1/2 hours....

Pros: -Very very good drinks! Like exceptional. Some of the best I have had in Sherbrooke. -Friendly bilingual staff. Always smiling. -Lovely decor and bar layout. I really enjoyed the motif. -Partner had Pretzel with pear mustard which was great. -My starter was Chips with sour cream were ok. It was a good portion but needed more dip.

Cons: -Very very very slow. Over an hour to get our starters (chips and a pretzel) and then another 45 mins for my main. -Music was too loud and had hard time hearing my partner or even the waiter. -Felt very crowded and cramped. Always seemes like we were very close to the people next to us and would bump into them. -My entree was the braised beef cheecks with red wine sauce. It was not tender at all, lacked flavour (absolutely needed salt), vegetables were all undercooked (an understanding cooked potato is hard to eat) and had maybe 3 small square of meat that had more fat than really should have been on it. Had it cooked longer, maybe the fat would have rendered... -We only got bread after we asked about it when I got my main so 2 hours later. -Bread was served with RANCID olive oil. Had to spit it out! Also everyone else got what looked like balsamic vinegar in the oil but we only got oil that clearly had gone bad. -Went to the bathroom and one of the chef's was sitting across the floor blocking the door and only moved because the manager came by. It looked like he had collapsed. Super awkward and unprofessional.

So in the end, clearly they need more staff because it was so slow but the food still felt rushed. Debating going back because the drinks were really good but the time it took to get food that wasn't good and rancid oil that I can't get out of my mouth is not...

Very disappointing! Went here with a few friends who have been here a few years ago and recommended it. The food was so disappointing, our friends felt embarrassed to have recommended it! Granted we were a group of 9, they gave us a limited menu BUT no appetizers were available except for a 45$ antipasto plate or a plate of fries. When we complained to the waitress, the manager came out and apologized for the limited menu, said only 2 cooks and there was another group of 10 so it would bog down the kitchen. She offered us a cocktail on the house, which was nice but doesn’t help with the food! The octopus was OK but the tomato garnish had no seasoning at all, not even salt! The plate was very small as well, would not have been enough for someone with a larger appetite. The chef’s butcher board was a fancy name for steak and fries .. at 65$ I would expect to have the mushrooms seasoned at the very least, this is supposed to be a high end bistro! The cocktails were very good, that’s why I gave the resto 2 stars instead of 1! It’s too bad, this place has great potential but lacks in execution. Also, I forgot to mention that when we asked for beer, the waitress said they were all out! Which,in my opinion, is inconceivable...

We have been coming here for 3 years , today may have been our fifth time. It's a treat. Food and the custom cocktails are excellent, the drink menu endless. We have tried to find competition in town, there is none in the niche Westley is operating for food, ambiance, and drinks!

Also, you can sit at the chef counter and discuss adjustments to your food preferences with the kitchen - that is quite unique. Dishes are creative ( hello Daikon radish a la carbonara), even a staple Steak Frite will have a non-standard sauce option if you care for it. We also had the Truffle risotto, flavor and texture were perfect. Last time I had the cauliflower in BBQ dressing out of curiosity. Exceeded expectations! I see some reviews lamenting the service. Yes, service had its issues 3 years ago. But they added staff, now it's consistently attentive and friendly. Unless you are willing to spend double the money at Manoir Hovey, you won't get better service. For what you pay you get an excellent night out at Westley. Great chefs in the kitchen, great staff at the bar...