Crosswinds Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Toronto

Worst Summerlicious lunch ever! A couple of friends and I had lunch yesterday at Crosswinds, lured in by their delicious-sounding Summerlicious menu. It was the worst experience of Summerlicious 2018, in all of our opinions. Lunch took TWO HOURS, the service was so slow. The appetizers (grilled octopus seafood salad with fennel, etc, and grilled watermelon salad) were middling at best, and took 30 minutes to arrive after we had placed our order.

The main course was a disaster. Two of us ordered the seafood pot au feu with ricotta ravioli, which was tasty enough, although bland. My other friend ordered the flatiron steak, which arrived stone cold. When she complained, we were assured the chef could put another plate together for her, but the maître d'hôtel brought the original plate of food back to our table, 10 minutes later, and argued with us about how it had "not been microwaved, but reheated in a special oven", as if that would make it any better! Horrible and arrogant! Any decent chef would know such a procedure of re-heating would ruin any steak. The maître d'hôtel stated it was too busy (there were 7 other tables of guests eating lunch) for the chef to make a proper flatiron from scratch, and have it arrive piping hot.

None of us were impressed. The dessert (a very tangy-less key lime tart in a chocolate-coconut crust, vanilla ice cream with 4 slices of peaches drowned in brandy, and a trio of sorbets) was the best part of the lunch. The grapefruit sorbet redeemed the steak disaster for my friend, but this was a horrible experience.

Oh, and, btw, the dessert arrived 20 minutes after our entrees because, and I quote, "The sorbets were taking a bit longer than anticipated to serve because they had been sitting in the deep freeze too long."

Tant pis. This place is a disaster. Please do not waste your time...

I'm writing this review while I'm sitting in the restaurant. There are currently only 9 people in the restaurant and I've been waiting for 20+ minutes for the server to even come by my table to take my drink order.

Meanwhile, 3 tables have been sat since I arrived, and they have had their drink orders taken and delivered. It's not like the server has forgotten me or doesn't know that I'm here - he's walked by me several times (two in the time I've been writing this review)

There are two staff "working." so it's not a shortage of staff. This is the absolute worst service and if I could give zero...

It wasn't busy, and service was fast and friendly. However, if you order the Steak Fritt, beware! Do you know what "Cali Cut" means? In reality, it means HALF! I thought I ordered a Strip Loin with Fries, but ended up with a teeny, weenie piece of steak! I questioned this with Management, and they threw the waitress under the bus. Said I should have been informed that it was only 6 oz (not sure it was even that!). I've beem a server, and was NEVER instructed to downplay / defend the menu. Management is responsible for making it clear, not...