The Rec Room Avalon — Restaurant in St. John's

I really didn't want to have to post this, as I have been waiting since Tuesday Aug 20th 2024 for the AGM of the Rec Room restaurant to call me back. Well, it's now 9:30pm on Friday Aug 23rd 2024, and I still have not heard a word back, terrible customer service.

Onto the review itself: A group of coworkers and our spouses went out in the hopes to enjoy the All you can eat wings that the Rec Room has to offer. Our group of 10 made a reservation for 7pm, Monday Aug 19th, 2024. When we arrived to the host stand, admittedly 2 minutes late as we were waiting on some people to arrive, the host did not even give me a chance to speak before saying "come back later, were busy." I was slightly taken aback by that, and that honestly should have been a warning for the night ahead. I informed her that we had a reservation for a large group, and she stated "Oh.. We've been waiting for you." Once seated, our MAIN server was AMAZING. Joanne I believe her name is, is a doll. She treated us with so much respect. This review is about her Supervisor, Krista. (Crista?)

The majority of us got the AYCE wings, some got drinks, some got soda, some got pizza, some got tacos. Our issue lies with the Breaded wings and Krista herself. 3 of us got the breaded wings, the rest who got AYCE got the unbreaded, those were fine. The 3 of us that got breaded wings, all got raw wings. When we flagged down what we thought was a server, it turned out to be the supervisor Krista. We informed her of the issue and she proceeded to then CHALLENGE us on what we could plainly see infront of our faces. All together, from those of us with the raw wings alone; we have over 32 years of experience within kitchens combined. I alone have 18 years. Krista had the nerve to clap her hands at me and say "If you've been in the industry for 18 years. You should know that isn't raw." ..

I don't care WHO you think you are, you never speak to a customer, no matter who they are in that manner.

They replaced our first wings with a set of extremely dry unbreaded wings, and one of the people who was going to get AYCE, ended up getting something else completely. I couldn't even finish my wings as they were dry and not that appealing.

The ONLY upside to our night, was Joanne. She was amazing and ensured our night in the end was still somewhat decent.

When I called the following Tuesday, I spoke with the AGM who is Krista's direct supervisor. (I honestly cannot remember the AGMS name, and I am sorry for that.) She told me she was going to speak to her team about the issue and then return my call. That call was never returned and it seems when I call the Rec Room, no one picks up, which makes me believe they are screening calls, as the AGM obviously knows my number, as I provided it to her so she could call me back with a way to "rectify the issue" as she stated.

Horrible service from Krista. 0/10 Joanne is a 100/10. Joanne made our night worth it.

Food: 2/5 Drinks:...

REC Room Avalon Mall – Drastic Bowling Price Hike Overnight (St. John’s)

Just wanted to share a pretty frustrating experience I had last night at the REC Room in the Avalon Mall – a place I’ve enjoyed and supported for over six years.

A few months ago, management made the decision to raise the cost of bowling from 45 credits per person (a little over $10) to 70 credits per person (just under $20), which was steep but manageable for an hour of bowling. I wasn’t thrilled, but I rolled with it – I enjoy the space and wanted to support a local entertainment option.

Fast forward to last night: I went to the REC Room with a friend and paid 140 credits ($40) fully expecting to get our usual hour of bowling in. We finished our first game – which lasted around 7 minutes – and got a message saying our time was up.

Confused, we asked staff what was going on, and were told that the pricing had changed overnight. It’s now 70 credits per person per game, not per hour. So $20 each for 7 minutes of bowling. No signs. No notification. No heads-up when we bought the credits. Staff said they only found out when they arrived for their shift and that people had been complaining about it all day.

Honestly, this feels like a slap in the face to loyal patrons. I’ve visited the REC Room over 30 times in the past six years. I’ve celebrated birthdays there, brought out-of-town guests, and recommended it to countless people. But last night marked my final visit.

To see such a drastic and sneaky change, with zero communication or consideration for customers, is just unacceptable. I get that prices change, but doubling the price and slashing the experience without notice is the kind of move that destroys trust.

All good things come to an end, I guess. Just thought others should be aware before they waste their...

This is a great restaurant as well as a great venue for anyone looking at dinner plus entertainment. However, the setup for comedy shows can be a bit awkward. The layout in 2022 for Kenny versus Spenny was far better than this time around. Bar seating was a very nice choice and didn't feel too overcrowded when they first hosted the event either.

The fries, impossible burger, lettuce wraps, goat cheese pear dip, and nachos are always very good food options. The servers and bartenders are also excellent at providing meal recommendations and customizing if you have dietary restrictions or preferences. Not to mention they are normally fast, and managers will usually check on you to see how things are going, which is much appreciated.

The games floor can be pretty chaotic at times, especially on the weekends, but of course that's to be expected. It's always manageable in terms of flow and movement too, so there are no real issues there. If you are looking to grab a quick beer or some food that is on the lighter side, the Shed is a great option while you are on the go.

For anyone bringing kids, always check in advance whether or not they will be open to the public, as they do host private and paid events. The recent Kenny versus Spenny show had made for a lot of disappointed families and children. There could definitely be a better setup with regards to signage for private events to ensure people know well in advance; but, following their social media page is a plus for staying in the know.

If you're looking for quality service either at the bar or at a table in the restaurant, you won't be disappointed by any staff member. A big shoutout to Chelsey, Kaitlin, Aries, Carlo, Jeff, Ishika, and Hailey for always making the outing as enjoyable...