Ethel's Lounge — Restaurant in Waterloo

I’ve been coming to Ethel’s with my friends for years. It is our favourite patio. I’ve always supported the business and I’ve even participated in the tray races. Everyone has always been to nice, I’ve always loved the regular servers that is until today. Today I travelled from out of town to specifically come to Ethel’s for an early dinner with my girlfriends. When I arrived I parked my bike out of the way beside the building. I gladly waited for a table on the patio and had a fantastic dinner and drinks.

When I went to leave I noticed the kitchen had pulled out the bbq for burgers my bike was in the vicinity but not directly in the way, I walked over and apologized to the chef told him I was leaving right away I was sorry. I then notice someone leaning over the glass on the patio yelling “YOU CANT PARK THERE” and I responded I know, I’m leaving sorry. I was SO EMBARRASSED half the patio is watching me. So I start putting my gear and on getting ready. And he yells a SECOND time, which I respond I’m leaving I’m leaving…

The guy then leaves the patio area approaches me in the parking lot while I’m rushing to get my safety gear and he stands in front of me with his arms crossed, and tells me “I am no longer welcome here” I’ve been coming to this establishment for YEARS and my friends are at Ethel’s on a regular basis. I’m almost in tears and I’m so uncomfortable that he’s standing directly in front of me while im dressing and I’m trying to get ready to ride my motorcycle. I asked him what his name is, he said Brad or Brandon, he was the bar back/food runner manager….

Never in my life have I had a man yell at me from a patio full of people then follow me into the parking lot and watch me while I was getting dressed in my gear. It’s HUMILIATING and absolutely inappropriate. I have been a part of the serving industry for years and I’ve never witnessed or would ever allow a coworker to treat a customer in such a way.

I did not deserve to be humiliated in-front of patio and parking lot of people. I ended up rushing out of the parking lot and having to pull over on the side of the road (so not cool) so I could connect my map to my helmet while I was shaking.

I really do hope this is a one off and who ever this guy is doesn’t treat all the customers this way....

Long wait and inatentive staff. It was one of the first nights with the patio open, and around May 1st, so a bit busier than normal. We expected a long wait. We sat ourselves and managed to get a great patio seat very quickly. Our server brought us menus and took our drink orders and brought our drinks relatively fast considering how busy it was. After bringing our second round of drinks (my first drunk had a very strong soap flavour to it) she took our food order; relatively easy sandwhiches and a salad. At this point it was about 7:10pm. We chatted and waited but our server seemed to have forgotten about us. We saw other tables arrive and be kserved but we didn't see our server again. We decided if our food wasn't brought by 8:15 we would leave, and 8:15 arrived. So we calculated the cost of our drinks from the menu, left some cash (including a tip) on the table and tried to leave. Our server was working the bar and when she saw us trying to leave she started freaking out about how we had to pay, only she could cash us out and how she could put our order in now. We explained we left money, but she insisted we follow her to our table to pay, so we walk to our table. We lost sight of her again, and when we got to the table another server was clearing our money and we requested it be brought to the bartender inside. We left our table and saw that our server had decided to go back to working bar! She tried to get us to wait and take our food to go but we said no and instead had subway. Subway was...

Never judge a book by it's cover. I walked into Ethel's with modest expectations. At first glance, Ethel's seems like your run of the mill bar, with what I can only assume are regulars, gathered at the bar stools like flies to honey. I was here with a few friends and we took tables at the back so we could shoot some pool. I am not sure I have ever received such great service anywhere. The place was packed to the brim yet our server was constantly on the ball with everything. Drinks came fast, nothing was ever missed from our order, and we were checked on after the exact right intervals of time had elapsed. I can't praise the staff enough for this. I have been places with 1/4 the amount of people and had the worst service because it was "busy" and everyone is running around like decapitated chickens. They even made small talk with us when appropriate. Everything was going great so we decided to roll the dice and order food. The food came out hot and was some of the best food I have eaten at any pub, bar, or restaurant. Granted, it's comfort food, but it was over the top good. We had the nachos which were baked and very delicious. Then we ordered the macaroni special with chorizo. Also very delicious. The hot sauce here is also fantastic and I recommend trying it. Don't judge a book by its cover. Come here and get some food, you won't be...