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| - This place has had mixed reviews so I wasn't expecting much when I arrived here for lunch with some girlfriends.
Just as I sat down, our server came over and reached out her hand to intro herself (ok weird!) and handed me a menu. We ordered the gorgonzola mushroom dip and the pan seared shrimps and scallops to start, I ordered the homemade fettuccine, and the other girls went with the braised short ribs sandwich, classic Alberta burger and soup & salad (the daily soup was minestrone and she went with the west coast salad).
The dip came out first, and it was really good - it had a thicken mushroom soup/risotto texture to it. The scallops and shrimps were tiny, the bacon and plum relish it came with was tasty.
We had all ordered drinks at the beginning (two of us had water, one had wine and the other the Ivy Lemonade) and besides the wine the rest of us were waiting for our drinks and had to ask the waitress again AFTER we had finished our appetizers. She managed to bring out our waters and then buggered off (still no lemonade).
Our food came out and looked good, and besides the burger that's as far as the goodness went. My pasta noodles were mushy, and completely lacked flavor. I tried adding a bit of salt and pepper to liven it up and nothing. The short rib sandwich had a hearty heap of meat - but it was also bland. After having to ask for a spoon for her soup (seriously?) my girlfriend said her minestrone soup tasted like it came from a can - after a few bites she didn't even bothering eating it.
I rendered my pasta inedible and when the server finally came by with my friend's lemonade, I asked her to take my pasta back. She asked if I'd like anything in replacement and since I figured I couldn't go wrong with salad so I ordered the beet & arugula one. It came out quickly and was surprisingly good.
Our server split out our bill for us including the appetizers (always appreciated), but she forgot to honor the $3 off wine glass pours for my friend. Considering the shotty service we'd been getting, we just settled the bill and left.
I honestly think your money is best spent elsewhere - food and service are completely lackluster, I know I won't be back.
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