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| - I can't remember the last time I gave a restaurant, especially a highly anticipated new hotspot, this low of a rating. And even though I waited (you know to cool down and reflect) I still can't seem to avoid my disappointment at Fired Up!
When I read bad reviews about a place I usually look at how many reviews the reviewer has posted. If I see one or two, then I know they just had a bad experience and wanted to tell the world. If I see 50 or more reviews, then I assume that the reviewer has been to a few places and is probably a better judge of a place.
I read a lot of bad reviews about Fired Up!including an unbearable amount of heat and smoke inside, bad service and bad food. And in order to fare better than some of the early adopters, I waited a few weeks to give them a chance to work out the kinks. Now I can accurately report that the "kinks" have not been worked out. However, much of the problem really falls under Service 101.
We got lucky and were allowed to sit at a nice table for two on the patio. I was happy since it was a beautiful night out and sitting outside eliminated the remarks about unbearable heat inside (It is also very loud inside) Unfortunately that was as good as it got.
We ordered a simple meal including a full rack of ribs, a house poutine and a couple of sides. We were enjoying the outdoor breeze and chillin while waiting for the food. Close to 35 minutes later, the table beside us had ordered, got their meal and were paying. We had not received anything yet. When I asked the waitress she said "it's the ribs, they take 30-45 minutes. Sorry".
OK Service 101 goes like this...." Hi, welcome to Fired Up! Is this your first time here? I just wanted to mention that the ribs are taking 30-45 minutes tonight". To which we would have replied, "OK, can we get an appetizer while we wait?" More money for the restaurant and a more tolerable customer because they're not starving.
Instead, we placed the order, were told nothing and after 35 minutes and "hey, where's our meal? We're famished", we got some bread. The ribs came out after 45 minutes. They were dry and luke warm. Really? Yes, really.
After attacking the ribs, I realized we had not received our house poutine. That took and hour to come out. And after complaining about that, one of the owners came over, said that he agreed with me (that the customer engagement was horrible) and offered to cover the poutine.
It seems that if you want to be successful in Port Credit, all you need to do is score a location with a patio. That alone will fill your restaurant. Forget service and forget good food. It took many years for Snug Harbour to be less "smug" and at this rate it will take Fired Up! forever. But in the meantime, if you want to be part of a hip crowd you gotta go there.
If you really have to go, I would recommend the following:
A) get a seat on the patio, if weather permits.
B) Ask what appetizer you can get quickly
C) stay away from the ribs
When you're sitting on a patio on a beautiful evening, with drinks, there's not much that can go wrong. However Fired Up! managed to find a way. They also offered me a free salad, desert or side on my next visit. That was quite presumptuous. The only resolution that would have me coming back was for the owner to simply comp the meal.
There are many better places to spend an evening than at Fired Up! However due to all the hype, you just have to learn first hand.
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