Bar Centrale — Restaurant in Toronto

Went here one night hoping to have a nice family dinner. Made a reservation online for 8:30pm.

It was honestly the worst service I have ever experienced. When you go somewhere for dinner and are spending over $350 for a meal, you don't want to feel like the restaurant doesn't want you there.

As we were being seated upstairs, we heard some servers say "why are you putting them there?" while we were walking by to sit down. We were rushed by the server so many, many times.

Very odd behaviour asking customers if they are going to want dessert while they just received the main. Because if you want dessert the pastry chef has to stay longer, if you are not going to want dessert then the pastry chef can leave but don't feel bad if you want dessert, the chef will stay for you. So we said yes, we want dessert. Dessert was a small glass of tiramisu pre-made in a jar. Did the chef really have to stay behind to make that for us? And why are they leaving in the middle of dinner anyways?

We were still eating when they turned the lights on, started putting the chairs up on the tables around us and the server was standing very close-by just staring at us to hurry up and finish. It was just the strangest.

If you want people out of your restaurant by 9:00pm then don't allow reservations to be made at 8:30pm.

The food was fine but I will never go there again. It was a...

There are organizations that are rules bound. There are also organizations who realize rules are guidelines, but maybe not applicable in all circumstances.

Was a brisk -10 C this morning, and at 8:55 am I was greeted with a locked door. I didn't realize they opened at 9 am.

As a server sips coffee inside, another looks surprised to see me at the door. Rather than a greeting, she appears to look for a clock.

I then get a hand signal that they open in four minutes. So I waited as cold air was blasted through an enclosure meant to blast heat.

Their location has two entrance doors. It is entirely possible to allow ice encased guests into the foyer without entering the restaurant. This was not offered.

Breezy, offhandish service followed.

Servers are generally paid poorly. I assume these folks are too. I also assume they take their cues from management. So, while those who saw me evaluated the opportunity poorly, perhaps management might instill critical thinking to staff aimed at customer service and comfort, versus clock watching for four minutes.

It's just silly.

The restaurant soon filled, so one doubts much...

This is a review for Terroni on Yonge St. It used to be our preferred the place up until they moved down the street. I have tried to reserve numerous time a place and am always facing the same scripted response. Regardless of the time I am trying to book and how many days in advance I tried to book it, they tell us they are full and invite us to come and try our luck (they do take reservations, in principle). They try to make you arrive to the restaurant with the hope that if the place is full you will end up using the bar central restaurant below. The service we experienced was aloof and impersonal.

From someone who used to go to this restaurant each and every time he was in Toronto, I stopped visiting completely. And if it was not for the poor service experience, I would have refrained from reviewing.

Last adn positive note - The situation at the branch on Queen st. is very different. No reservations, fun, friendly and welcoming staff....