Smoke On the Water — Restaurant in Charlevoix

I genuinely wanted to leave this alone but my dissatisfaction with this establishment reached a new low today. In fact, it crashed through the basement. I once, years ago, really enjoyed this restaurant and so it became the default location for brunch upon visits to Charlevoix. In recent years, I came through town, stopped by the restaurant, and expressed my desire to place a carryout order. They refused, stating that they needed to focus on those who were eating in the dining room. I've worked in the food service industry for over 20 years. You don't overtly refuse service to any paying customer if you are open within business hours. It's malpractice. Plain and simple. Furthermore, and much to my chagrin, I took the high road and decided this year that I should give them another chance. I walked in and once again expressed my intention to place an order for carryout (due to the fact that artists don't have time to leave their booths for long at art festivals let alone sit for an hour in a restaurant during the art shows that we work). The lady looked at the clock on the wall, grimaced, and said, "I don't think it's going to happen". No apology was offered. No empathy for being inconvenienced was expressed. No concern for how much money I was actually hoping to spend. I mentioned that this wasn't the first time that I had been refused service at Smoke On The Water and just like in the previous encounter years before, she opined about how she cannot put my order before those who were already dining in. There was unambiguously zero attempt at redemption on their end for the past refusal of service, and what's worse, they doubled down and did the same thing again years later (and even with a hint of indignation, as though I represented an inconvenience to them just by being there). I now began to fully realize why there are other half star and one star reviews pertaining to this place. Sadly, it seems to have taken an ignominious fall from grace. I now understood why there are reviews saying that when people express issues with their food, that they will often be met with nonchalant indifference (e.g. staff walking away from complaints, employees peeping around corners but not confronting and admitting to their mistakes, etc.). In many, "disregard directed towards the customer" circumstances like that, it occurs most likely because it trickles down from above. If any management is ever disdainful towards its customers and other employees actively witness this behavior, it has a higher frequency of being normalized to the staffs' lower echelons. There was no accountability for either instance of refusal of service or for the uncouth social impropriety from what appeared to be either a manager &/or owner. Lastly, and even over the span of literally years, there were no policy changes implemented to accommodate those seeking to place carryout orders. No, thank you. Never again.

Update & response to the reply from the owner

This was not the response that I was hoping to read. It takes zero energy to be kind. When you repeatedly refuse to use opportunities to apologize, that says it all right there. You would rather commence the mudslinging than apologize for having inconvenienced a customer. In the event that you had responded with a genuine apology, I was prepared to consider removing the review. Instead of displaying decorum, you proceeded to trivialize my dissatisfaction and shame this particular customer for possibly having a more inclusive vocabulary than your own. In observation of my experience in the food service industry, I'm well aware that, (while it is supposed to be an absolute last resort), service can be refused. However, there is a trade-off involved in those circumstances. With each and every time in doing so, it further tarnishes the reputation of...

I'm going to start my review by saying I wasn't super impressed with this place, but everyone I was with raved about it all day long, so I bumped my star rating from 3 stars to 4 stars. So, my father in law drove past the place and called and they told him they weren't busy. So he came back to the hotel and we got ready and got our kids ready and walked down there. By the time we got there, we were told there was a 45 minute wait. The hostess (who also looked like she was possibly part owner) was nice and told us she'd take our phone number and call us so we could to walk around. I graciously obliged because the restaurant is tiny! There were only two seats to sit in to wait and the dining room was intimate. We walked down the street to take a look at the mushroom houses and walked on the beach a little, while my kids played on the playground. We split up, my in laws taking our kids and my husband and I getting some alone time with just our baby. When my father in law called, he said our table was ready and we began to head back. Halfway there he said they were seated and we needed to hurry. We hustled back. I was out of breath. lol. They had already ordered beverages and got ready to order the kids food first. When we got there we had to park our stroller outside because it was too small and tight to fit inside. Carried the baby in her carrier in and set her on a chair because they didn't have a sling to hold her car seat. The server was giving the kids their milks and my in laws ordered food for the kids. I figured out what I wanted and placed my order. I ordered the drunken french toast. I got it with bacon. I asked the server how big the piece of french toast was and he said pretty big, lots of people never finish it. I said, great, I'll have that. When I got it, I gotta say, kind of bland. While I know the word "drunken" is in the title, it was kind of soggy. And the syrup and butter didn't add anything to the flavor like it usually does. The bacon was super thick and salty. Not the best flavor, as with the other stuff. Now that's my experience, but my husband got the beef brisket omelet and seriously couldn't stop talking about how good it was all day long. My in laws both got the Jam Breakfast plate, and both of them raved as well. Maybe I'm too picky. But I left full and satisfied, not stuffed and gluttonous. My mother in law bought a souvenir t-shirt because she liked the place...

A nice hole in the wall place serving breakfast and bbq.

I came for the Dutch Baby pancake with an Apple Bourbon Sauce. However another place where they don't update their online menu. Online menu states Dutch Baby's on Saturday and Sunday only. I came on Sunday. Turns out they have to have the oven on too high which makes it too hot. It was only 65. So now they only do it as an occasional special. I do give some credit here the owner stated that if I came back the next sunday he'd see to getting that as the special. However I was going home the next day, so no dice.

I ended up ordering their French Toast with Canadian Bacon. Plus I ordered some scrambled eggs.

This is usually were I'd then describe the food. However they somehow lost my order and I had to reorder. This would normally be a killing blow to my review. However they brought me out some Apple Bourbon Bread, Outstanding. Then some Apple Pie, Outstanding. Plus a discount on my bill. All is forgiven.

Finally the food arrived. The Drunken French Toasted is marinated over night in champagne. It is very decadent and very rich. It is also very good. The size is very generous. Between size and richness there is no way I could eat more than one slice. The Canadian bacon was very good. The scrambled eggs though now they were the star. They may have been the best eggs I've ever had. Sooo good.

My waitress was amazing, even though my order was lost. She has an amazing, upbeat, and beautiful attitude. One of my favorite waitress of all time.

Overall 4 stars. As is my standard they lose a full star for failure to keep website current. Loss of half a star for loss of order. Full star added for outstanding food. Which brings it to 4 1/2. Not willing to give 5 so it's a 4. Would I return? Oh heck yes. For the breakfast and to try bbq.

Just a quick little update to my review. I've now been here 2 more times. This time trying the pulled pork omelette and the Sour Cream Pancakes.

The omelette was phenomenal. The bbq sauce goes amazing with it. The pancakes were excellent and extremely filling. I should have only gotten 1 instead of 2.

Overall I'm increasing my rating to the full 5 stars. I...