Free Times Cafe — Restaurant in Toronto

Seems like a lot of people like their Sunday brunch for $25 per person. Perplexing indeed to read 5 star reviews. Must be the owners friends and family? There is little hot food (crumbly fishy scrambled eggs that taste vile, Latkes that are oil sponges, carboard tasting small pieces of french toast, a dry crepe with dry tasteless crumbly cheese inside. That sums up the hot food. lol. The rest of the food is pickled vegetables, olives, salad, beets, cold fish and salmon. There are bagels which were fresh, loads of cream cheese (??large blocks actually??), small portions of fruit, and desserts pre cut in tiny squares and/or served in small quantities/pieces. We ordered orange juice and it came in a small dirty sticky glass and was barely filled half way with orange juice - why would a tiny glass of OJ barely be filled half way?) And then there's the 8.5x11 paper print outs of the brunch menu, to which the owner goes around to collect them back, dirty and all for the second seating. A second seating for a $25 dollar buffet that should be priced at $4,99. But who am I to judge, people must like getting ripped off for a $25/pp meal that has little to no substance - pickled veggies that most buffets throw in as a bonus extra as a healthier alternative. I am in no way overly picky or eat large amounts of food, I actually hate buffets...but this experience floors me on how an establishment can charge $25/pp for a buffet of little substance. And the hot food that is included is cooked so poorly and bad tasting. The owner asks us to sit as if we are back in school, then later asks us to be quiet so she can tell us about her trip to Costa Rica and stories of her childhood - is this a second city comedy show?! ha! The live music is fine but its really loud for such a small little room. The staff breathe over you every minute and there is no privacy whatsoever in this restaurant. They keep refilling your coffee all you want - however, too bad the coffee is so watered down its like hot water with a little tinting. The coats are placed 10 coats per hook, so enjoy the coat fiasco at the end of the meal. Quite the experience indeed - Did you eat Bella? Actually I didn't. Perhaps try serving some food that is fitting to charge $25/pp and maybe bella and bello can...

I came here with a a few friends for their comedy and magic event. We purchased tickets for the show on the Eventbrite website. We were greeted by the performers who were very nice. The waiter stopped by and gave us menus. A few moments after the show starts he returns and we said we were still full from dinner earlier. He said we'll be charged 5$ if we don't order anything. So two of my friends ordered a drink. This was a bit odd since the event page said nothing about needing to purchase food from the venue if we were to attend the show we already paid for. After the event was finished, my friends went to pay at the counter because the waiter never showed up with our bill. We were waiting outside for one of them to go to the washroom. The waiter rushes out and asks if we paid. Well, yes we did. So he goes back in and then returns again and said we need to pay an additional $10 since me and one other friend didn't order anything. I declined to pay this since we paid for an event and now they are forcing me to pay an additional fee for going to it. He said he'll just get my friend who's still in the washroom to pay for it since I refused. I asked him to let me speak with his manager. He brought me to his boss and I explained the situation to her that they never mentioned on the event that I had to spend money here or pay a fee. She tries to guilt me by saying "so your not going to support this bar?". I re-explained that this is a matter of you asking me to pay additional to the tickets. It's like I paid for movie tickets at a theater and as you leave they say "you didn't buy anything from our concession stand, so pay up another 5$". She said "fine, you don't have to pay, but don't ever come to my bar again".

If their policy is to have a minimum spend to attend the event, specify on the event page. Don't give patrons who paid for events a surprise door fee. Since this was their "mistake" they should own up to it, not be rude to us. So yes I won't be supporting this bar as the service...

UPDATE:

The owner seemed pretty shocked when I explained what happened and has offered for us to come back for a complimentary brunch, which I think is very kind and professional. If she is willing to try and make this right, then I will update my two stars to four stars. This gesture has redeemed our experience.

Original:

It’s too bad I had to give it only two stars because the concept is great and the food is good but our server was so ridiculous I doubt I’ll ever be back.

Taking forever to bring our drinks (even though at a buffet this is her only task) was one thing but stopping mid-scentence while at our table talking to us, to shreik and run off the patio onto the street to talk to a friend who walked by was another, especially when she didn’t even come back to us afterwards, just went inside.

Then after the second time we asked for the bill, we saw her go inside and start eating her own breakfast for a while so we decided a tip wasn’t warranted, I’m a server myself so I understand this aspect, but bad service doesn’t deserve to be rewarded and this is where it turned really bad. She quite literally chased us down, (we were already a block away) to tell us we hadn’t tipped. We explained why and she just have have a big huff and said “well now I’m going to pay for your lunch!”. I get what she means, with her tip out to the kitchen and bartender, but her hyperbole was absurd. To actually confront us, and after we had left the premises, is beyond absurd, it’s borderline harassment and unfortunately I doubt I’ll ever go here again.

They need to put as much attention into their service as they do their food, because it is...