| rev:text
| - I took two hungry 20 yr old guys who were excited to see what all the fuss, buzz and lines were about. (I had been several times in Buckhead - Atlanta - and was very impressed, about 8 years ago, and also in Honolulu ditto.) We went for a late lunch on a Thursday and were seated after a 30-minute wait. Our waitress said that only once, on a stormy day, had she not seen the restaurant full. She was nice, chatty and efficient (bringing water and pop refills for me, asking if we wanted bread, getting check and machine right away when we were ready to go). However, the three of us agreed that the overall experience was disappointing both absolutely and in terms of our $135 tab. And that we would not go back: too many other neat places in Toronto.
A few examples of CF's under-performance:
- the guys ordered mixed drinks when we sat down. And waited. We ordered our apps. And waited. The apps came (best part of meal: cheeseburger taquitos and tater tots). No drinks. Small bread basket with butter. No drinks. Waitress apologized 3 times: "they're making them." That was BS. There was no "they." She finally told us, "We only have one bartender." What sort of nonsense is that? The restaurant is full all the time. They advertise specialty drinks (a pina colada and a burboun based special was the guys' selection). They should have staff to produce them. Especially at downtown prices (11.95 and 13.50). What were we waiting for when we waited for a table?
- the so-called special feature, the much-vaunted Chicken Bellagio, was a farce: lots of pasta, which was ok - two thinly pounded and breaded breasts with literally a smear or two of the celebrated "sauce" on each. Disappointing.
- my chicken salad sandwich (which I remembered from Atlanta) was served on delicious toasted brioche. The enjoyment stopped there. I had ordered it without lettuce - it came with. The waitress apologized but did not offer to take it back and have it re-made. Left me to scrape off the lettuce. The mayo might have covered a third of each bread slice's inside (3 slices - a generous portion). The filling ok, even tasty - but a huge proportion of (fresh!) tomato to chicken salad. $16.95 - BAH - again, the sloppy nature of the dish made it unacceptable.
We finished with two slices of the cheesecake, the key lime tasty enough. $10 (ok, $9.95) - I asked waitress why Summerhill Market and I presume other outlets sell (left-over??) slices for $5.95 or even half that (must be "well-aged" lol).
Anyway, I MIGHT take two hungry ten year olds if CF ever did what decent restaurants do and took reservations. But they'd probably enjoy Spaghetti Factory as much and my wallet would be less impoverished. Really disappointing. One visit IS fair for judgment as no way our experience compared with the US. Don't go - my advice. Or ask yourself "Why would I go?" Sad...
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