Used to be my fave diner in the Yonge/Lawrence area. Not any more for several important reasons. Unappreciative staff. Long wait.
Unappreciative Staff
1) Staff does not appreciate our business. My running group has been going there every Saturday morning for nearly 3 months. Staff still does not know our names. We can be a group of 6 sometimes. They don't like this. Make us feel like we are a nuisance because we take up too much space (more about this later). I don't get it. You have regular customers who want to come in every week but you treat them like 2nd class citizens. From what I understand the owner is not there. He's running the one at Davisville. Maybe if he was there he'd care more than the staff.
Whenever I get there before the rest of my party the lady there always makes me feel like I'm just taking up space. She always asks how long the rest of the party will be. Not as in "I will be back to take your order". As in "I don't want to give you this table because other people are waiting". Again, unappreciative. I'm here every week. Show a little respect.
Long Wait Even When Restaurant is Half Empty
2) Wait. It's not because they are busy. It's because their seating is stupid. 50% of customers come in parties of 2 yet they have no tables for 2. The bar height table does not count. No one wants to sit there. It's more a waiting area than proper dining table. I mentioned this to the staff and was dismissed. Gentleman with blond hair said it was "luck of the draw" who came. Nonsense. Every week. Without fail. Half your customers are parties of 2. Clue in for pete's sake! You need tables for 2. All your tables are for 4. They are all taken with couples. Your restaurant is half empty and people are waiting out the door. Stupid business practice. Again if the owner was there maybe he'd care more than his staff.
At the end of the day I must say the food is good. But it's $ and there are restaurants up and down the street. Why would I stand in line when there are tons of spaces available. Figure out that you have a seating problem.