Clay Oven — Restaurant in Winnipeg

Very unpleasant experience in all aspects.

Went there since we love the Clay Oven on Kenaston so much, we decided to give this place a try. It was a beautiful day and we wanted to have a meal overlooking the ball park. Sad to say only thing that was good about this place was the view of Shaw Park.

We ordered the Vegetarian Samosa platter, 2 Garlic Mozza Naan, Navratan Korma, and Goat Curry.

There were 7 tables in total including us on the patio (with an event being set up inside), and one server working the entire patio by herself. Server was friendly, but understandably she was swamped, due to this, service was very slow.

When the appetizer arrived, we took one bite and noticed it was not hot or warm at all, so after waiting for the server to come tend to the next table (about 10 mins later), we pointed it out and she said she would replace it. When she brought it back, it was hotter, and we ate it with no issues.

After waiting at least 20 mins for our entrees, the Korma and Goat Curry arrived with the Naan. We each dished it out over a bed of rice, and started to eat it with the naan. About 5-6 bites into her food, my girlfriend said "Uh... There's a hair in this". She didn't want to touch it, so I pulled it out, and it was a long black hair lodged in the mixture of rice and Korma/Curry (we weren't sure where it came from). At this point, we lost all of our appetite and waited for the server to come by (which took another good 10 minutes).

We told her what we found, and we told her we were done eating because we were grossed out. She said she will talk to the kitchen to make us a new one so we can take it home. We said we don't want it, as at this point we were just done with the whole experience. After sitting there without the server coming by again, we went out to the front desk to settle up and leave. (To be honest I was only expecting to be charged for the Samosa platter.) At this point our server brought a takeout bag of Korma. I told her I didn't want it, and I would like to see my bill.

The bill had the full order charged, without anything taken off. I pointed out that only thing we finished was the samosas, and that I told them I didn't want the Korma or the Curry as I wasn't confident that the problem would be fixed. She went to talk to the manager, and the manager came to the front seemingly upset at us for some reason that we didn't want to pay for dishes we didn't finish due to their mistake.

At the end she still charged us for the 2 orders of Naan (which we only ate 2 out of 8 pieces before finding the hair), plus the samosa platter (which I was happy to pay for). I didn't want to further argue, so we paid and left.

If I were the manager, I would be embarrassed (not angry at the customer) that there were multiple issues, and at least not charge any portion of the meal that was not eaten fully, and not make it seem like there's something wrong with the customers being grossed out by finding long curly hairs in their food and not wanting to pay for it.

I've never had issues and had great meals at the Kenaston location. I will not be returning to Clay Oven at Shaw Park, and will advise my friends and family to...

Date of Visit: July 18, 2023

I had the pleasure of dining at Clay Oven on the evening of July 18, 2023, and I must say it was a delightful experience. The restaurant's unique concept of being located near a baseball diamond, Shaw Park, adds a charming touch to the ambiance. Throughout the establishment, you can enjoy prominent views of the diamond, creating a lively atmosphere. Additionally, they have an outdoor patio that allows you to soak in the vibrant energy of the games being played. The overall design of the venue is modern and well kept, providing a visually pleasing environment. One of the highlights is the convenient parking, as they offer a free-to-use parking lot, making it hassle free to visit.

Maintaining cleanliness is essential, and I was pleased to find that the bathrooms at Clay Oven were well kept and clean. It's always reassuring when a restaurant pays attention to such details.

For the appetizer, I ordered the Vegetarian Samosa Platter. It was a delightful choice. The platter included a wonderful chickpea curry accompanied by two samosas. The taste of the dish was excellent, with the chickpea curry adding a burst of flavour. The only minor complaint I had was that the samosas were stacked, which caused the bottom one to get slightly crushed. However, apart from this small issue, the presentation was great, and the samosas were served piping hot.

For my main course, I opted for the Butter Chicken Thali Platter. This dish provided a perfect introduction to Indian cuisine, as it came with a wide array of sides. The presentation was truly commendable, with the highlight dish placed in the center of the platter and the accompanying sides thoughtfully arranged around it. The taste of the butter chicken was nothing short of incredible, leaving me thoroughly satisfied.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with my dining experience at Clay Oven, and I can confidently say that I will be returning in the future. The combination of the captivating venue, delicious food, and attention to detail made it a memorable evening. Whether you're a fan of Indian cuisine or simply looking for a delightful dining experience, I highly...

Somehow this place is going down day by day. There was a previous manager who cared about what people had to say, quality of food and service. Now waiters are acting like Managers and the Manager is no where to be found, no matter what the issue is. The owner has this notion that this is the best place in town and he does not care much.

Last few times, we had issues with food and worse service. I am not too sensitive but if it happens too many times then you have to let people know. The food prices are high end and one would expect that quality of service has to match with that. I think they need to go to Kegs or Moxie to see how service is. They don't ask questions at all if you are not happy with anything and Manager comes running to your table. Plus they remove that item from your bill immediately.

Here the staff is new and I respect everyone but they should be trained with how to handle any situation. Most don't have customer service or basic skills. The have this way of proving that you are wrong and they are right. When I ask them about when was a dessert made, he made me think I am an idiot and stated that it was made fresh. Now truth is no one can make Indian food, ALL Items everyday and that is a fact. You would need ten cooks everyday in the morning. Most items are made, frozen and then heated up to serve you. Some dishes can be made fresh but if they are meat dishes then meat is already cooked. The mistake the waiters ( not the manager) make is to think that customer has no idea about anything. Well, News for you - May be that customer has previous experience in restaurant business and they do know a thing or two. Never assume that people don't know in this day of free information.

So if you guys wanted to charge those prices then treat people with respect and provide service, don't try to prove that you are right and they are wrong - you lose that way and people come to any restaurant for experience which is SERVICE - SERVICE AND SERVICE - NOT FOOD. Take this is a tool to change before you go out of business. Oh do go to Moxie, Kegs and try food from...