Ontario Improv — Restaurant in Ontario

My first experience at this particular Improv location in Ontario was to see Luenell Campbell comedian/actress.. I had VIP and a very rude, unattentive waitress who cut you off without listening while trying to order food. The Dirty Shirley drink tasted like cough syrup medication.. so I had to get a side of Grenadine. Then was very annoyed by the seating blocking the isle and 3 women who were going back and forth with each other and the waitress about who ordered what and who needed to pony up their portion of the bill. It set a tone that was interrupting the show. So I decided to return to Ontario Improv to see The Christi Show last evening.. I guess I didn't learn from my last experience with bartenders who can't make a simple Dirty Shirley it was horrible and I requested more Grenadine syrup but it took the waitress 30-35 minutes to remember to bring a side of grenadine to halfway fix this horrible tasting drink. The waitress offered to have the drink remade after realizing that 40 minutes had elapsed and my drink was totally water and melted ice by now.. Well the remade Dirty Shirley finally made it to the table and it was simply Grenadine and watered down sprite.. It was sooo bad that I let 2 complete strangers sitting across from me to sip/taste it because it was that bad, and they were like there is no alcohol ( Absolute) in that drinking glass. I left both drinks on the table and survived off of my $6 Evian water. While hearing several other customers complaining about the taste of their food. I drove to this particular Ontario Improv location and I've experienced way better service and drink/menu and wasn't sitting with people's heads in the way while blocking the isle with these chairs of seated people blocking the isle. I drove for 3.5 hours in traffic 75 miles ( 150 roundtrip with gas at $7 per gallon) and experienced horrible service on both occasions ( Luenell Campbell's show and The Christi Show), sub-par food, and poorly mixed drinks, watered down remade drink, and guests interruptions of both shows ( cell phones ringing and guests seated in the isle seats arguing/debating over who owned what on their bill.) I definitely won't be back. Brea Improv and other comedy clubs or Jimmy Kimmel's comedy club will get my business. Ontario Improv can definitely do much better not to mention that the PA/Speakers were horrible too ( muffled sound). The comedians were EXCELLENT, but I was seriously disappointed VIP and dropping $60.00 on menu at Luenell's show... then returned the following week not knowing that The Christi Show was a headliner until I saw the digital screen advertisement. I should have passed or known better than to reorder the Dirty Shirley's.. should have stuck with 2 bottled waters. Well there won't be a next time. I will travel elsewhere to have a night of entertainment. It wasn't just me.. overhearing other people/customers complaining about their food/drinks let's me know that it's not just me... others don't take the time to bring to staffers/owners attention in order to help them understand and improve. Yes, I wrote a novel but two visits in a row and both experiences...

I'm going to contrast my review with some of the ones here, especially those that mentioned the Josh Johnson shows. We attended on the afternoon show of Sept. 15.

We had to coordinate the arrival of several people coming from different locations, and I had some anxiety about making it work. That said, your staff was SO helpful and reassuring, even letting me leave envelopes at the check in podium so that everyone got in quickly. There was no line for the first show, not due to lack of attendees, though. The show was sold out, and the staff were so efficient in getting everyone in that we did not have to wait in the afternoon heat.

One thing that came up was that I had originally sent one of our party into to secure a table for five. He texted me to let me know that two people were needed to hold the table. To me, this is reasonable, and it was made easier by your front staff's willingness to hold the envelopes for the rest of our party. I thought that was a nice, considerate touch.

As far as the food and drinks, it was bar fare. Standard stuff. To my way of thinking, we were there to see the comedians, not dine on bougie Michelin food. The food was solidly good, and the two drink minimum was standard. Their wine choices were not outstanding, but, again, we were there for the show, not to be wine "connoisseurs." shrug

I also have to commend your wait- and bussing staff. The place was packed, and it must seem like a maze in the dark. Yet, they were friendly, efficient, and glided through the darkness like the professionals they are. There was no disruption of our being able to see the show, and they were just ON it.

I enjoyed all of the acts, especially the headliner. I think he's amazing, in fact, and I encourage other fans to follow him on YouTube, etc. The first act WAS loud, as someone said, but I know from experience that the first act is supposed to be the edgy one who gets the crowd going. And I did enjoy her show, very much. Was some of the language NSFW? Sure, but it IS a 21 and older club. The second comedian travels with Josh, and he is very funny, as well. The thing i always remember is that comedy is sooo difficult; there is a valid reason that so few comedic movies and roles get recognized by the film Academy and the Golden Globes every year. These comedians take a huge risk putting themselves out there, and this show really delivered! It was a lot of fun.

I do realize that the guests for the second show DID have to wait in a line in the sun, which wasn't great. However, this was due to the fact that all the comedians stayed for a meet-and-greet, which was also really well-organized by your staff, moving things along very efficiently. We were there to celebrate a birthday, and all the comedians and your staff made it really fun and memorable for all the right reasons.

I look forward to my next visit, and I sincerely thank everyone for making a great...

This is going to be long, but the really important parts: this place is horrendously loud, you will be expected to share a tiny table with strangers, there's no room to eat here. Prepare accordingly.

If you are sensitive to loud sounds BRING EAR PLUGS. I would have needed to leave if I hadn't had a spare pair from last concert. The music is so loud that to be heard conversation is CACOPHONOUS. I'm already not a fan of loud noises but we ended up seated DIRECTLY underneath the speaker on a wall and it was so loud I could feel it. And nobody can help you if the comedian is especially loud themselves. Prepare to be bombarded with noise.

The tables and sharing. I do NOT UNDERSTAND why it is mentioned absolutely nowhere (but in a few reviews of the location that I missed, to my detriment) that parties of 2 will be expected to share a table that is only big enough for 4 drinks, barely, with strangers. Apparently assigned solely by arrival time. That is a fact that is extremely unpleasant to be surprised by, while I wouldn't have enjoyed it at all, at least if I knew I could have braced and known what to expect.

It is also beyond me why a place that is this tight on space would ENCOURAGE you to eat there. The food was fine, generous portions even, but that's honestly a detriment here. We were just lucky that the extremely awkward couple having an extremely awkward first date across from us didn't eat. (And then nobody cleared the dishes until after the entire event was over, and seriously, we were finished before opener even began).

Why are the seats facing perpendicular to the stage? Why? Everything else we eat, drink, or do here should be secondary to viewing the stage with the comedians upon that we are explicitly here to see?? Preferably without coming out with a very sore neck. Oh, just shift the chairs you say? HOW. WHERE. We barely have room to exist much less be moving around.

Comedians were funny, I left with a pain in my cheeks and stomach from laughing, as well as my neck. Fantastic performances. But my very first thought upon wrap of the show was "thank f, now I can LEAVE." My SO and I immediately agreed to never, ever go again. This venue is not for us, and that's fine, I'm not trying to say don't go. But I really want to make sure that others who might have similar concerns can actually be ready for the experience and make an...