Alder — Restaurant in Toronto

I came to celebrate my husbands birthday. Upon reserving I left a comment that we will be doing that. And I also called to ask if anything extra can be done and I was told no just a desert with a candle. Excited to try the restaurant we arrive and I ask the lady that checked our reservation that I wanted to remind them about the birthday with the desert , to my surprise she was above and beyond saying that she remembers and has read our comment and it’s been arranged. I was assured and went to my table waiting patiently to celebrate my husbands birthday at the end of our diner. By the time it was our last course , I had asked for two coffee with desert. It arrived way before the desert and was cold by the time the desert came in. Then to the main event, the desert being toffe cake from the set menu came with no candle of any signes of celebration as requested and confirmed by the restaurant three times. I was very upset as now I would have to ruin the surprise , I asked one of the floor staff not part of the service on what happened to my suprise that is no more a surprise she said I will check with the server and your desert is on us. Next thing I see the lady that checked us in looking at our table recognizing somthing is wrong went to the kitchen and then nothing. Then the server comes with a rude attitude bringing an embossing plate with a scope of ice cream and a candle. When we got the bill yes they removed some items but that’s not the point the experience was ruined. When we were leaving we meet the same lady who checks us on and asks how’s everything I told her honestly she said I’ll get the manager. Guess what , manager decided to not come speak to us and instead told her to say she is sorry. I think for a Michelin star restaurant this is unacceptable. Having been to many around the world , this is the worest experience I have ever tried and management and the team needs further training on how to handle and deal with customers. Their is an obvious disconnect in the team.

I did not ask to speak to the manager at the end I was asked to wait for her by the staff checking people in , having to resort to avoid apologizing and go beyond discounting the meal is shameful. For me I would have been ok either way the discount wasn’t going to fix the big screwup on celebrating such an important occasion.

I will not be returning and will share my experience to avoid further disappointment to...

PRETENTIOUS and HORRIBLE service ruined our dinner as we've been to all of the Alo Group restaurants and this was the WORST experience by a long shot. We made dinner reservations over a month ago and the hostess sat us at the bar for dinner even though there were open tables. I asked the hostess why we were being seated at the bar since there was no indication on the online form that we were being seated there and I had indicated that it was to celebrate a birthday.

The hostess was extremely rude as she asked if we made a reservation online or phone and when I told her it was online, she said that we should have called for a reservation. Since it was the heart of dinner hour, we tried to make the best of the situation and sat at the bar. Our bartender was extremely empathetic toward our situation as he explained that the hostess was not entirely being truthful and that the restaurant had been having issues where it would seat reservation guests at the bar.

We placed our order and we were immediately served appetizers. But then after we finished our appetizers, we waited OVER AN HOUR for our entrees. We asked our server a few times where our food was and we were told that the kitchen was slammed with orders which we would normally understand. But as we looked around other tables who were sat after us, they were already served their main entrees. We tried to bring this up to the attention of the hostess who acted as if we were bothering her and wasn't very helpful.

Long story short - we waited over an hour and half for our entrees and if it wasn't for the fact that we were celebrating a birthday, we would have simply left. The only thing redeeming about the night was the Coconut Creme Pie.

This is a great example of how the best food in the world does not cover up for...

Meh

Met a couple friends for brunch. Two of us were interested in the Prawn Choron. We asked the server some questions:

Us: what is the sauce choron? S: it's like a hollandaise, but different Us: how is it different? S: it's like a hollandaise Us: what is it, exactly? S: it goes on top of the dish Us: but what is it exactly? S: it's an egg-based sauce

Okay, we know what hollandaise is. I couldn't count how many times I've eaten hollandaise. But "sauce choron" is not hollandaise! So what is it?!

Anyway we both ordered the Prawn Choron and our friend ordered the quiche. Our food came. I dipped my fork into the sauce choron to taste it. It was coral-coloured and very spicy. My friend took a bite of his. It was far too spicy for him. If this was "hollandaise" then when does hollandaise contain spice?! And why wouldn't the server tell us it was spicy?! Anyway, my friend sent his back because it was so spicy. She brought him the quiche instead and said "I'm so sorry, in fact the sauce was not supposed to be spicy." What?! So not only was the server completely unfamiliar with the menu, but the kitchen didn't know what they were doing.

Moral of the story: when the paying customer asks multiple times what something is, and you don't know, maybe go ask the kitchen. Maybe the kitchen would not have made the mistake. And the server could have learned something.

We still don't know what the sauce choron is and how it should have tasted. And the restaurant was not full or overly busy. I don't understand how this huge mistake happened.

The quiche was boring and lackluster. It was 95% egg. Add some veggies! The coconut cream pie was okay. Less cream, more gelatinized pudding. The sticky toffee pudding was the best thing.

I have no desire to return...