I was very surprised that an upscale restaurant like Oliver's, would be offering a coupon on wagjag, they were offering a five course tasting menu for two, priced at $120.00. I guess it's better to fill seats in the middle of winter.I am actually a restaurant manager and have managed several fine dining restaurants in the UK and NYC and I am only too familiar with servers not liking coupons, as I guess they feel that that do not get tipped on the full amount and the cliche is, people that use coupons are cheap. But the servers are not the ones paying that steep lakeshore road rent are they? I think that a tasting menu is a nice introduction to attract new customers.
I purchased the deal for my sisters 60th birthday as a treat. I wanted everything to be perfect. I called the restaurant a few times, prior to our reservation to ask them what they did for birthdays, and inquire about their wine list. The deal on Wagjag was for 2 or 4 people ( We were a party of 3) I arranged to pay for the third person on site. On the actual night of the reservation, we were running late and called to let them know, as I was driving from Lewiston NY, to meet my family that live in Oakville. the border was a little busy, and it's annoying when people stroll in late without a courtesy call.On arrival, the place looked stunning and we were given a beautiful window seat. The sommelier came over and took our wine order, and we fished out the two wagjag coupons and handled them to our server immediately, as even though, we had read the fine print and restrictions. being in the business myself I wanted to be safe. There was a table of four directly behind us. We were just getting settled and happily sipping on our wine and admiring the decor, when the server, acting manager and Sommelier ( ALL THREE OF THEM)
Approached the table waving the vouchers at us saying they would not scan and we would have to call wagjag.( Why was it our job to call Wagjag?) Surely this is something between the restaurant and wagjag? My sister looked as if she was about to burst into tears and my nephew looked mortified as the table behind us were staring at us like we were criminals! I said to the server " Wagjag is closed their hours are 9-6 Monday -Friday "We can prove that we paid, I can show you our email receipt" The sommelier then chimes in and says " You have a couple of choices pay for the wine and leave, or order from the regular menu" We have had at least 15 wagjag coupons tonight and they have all scanned perfectly, and wagjag will not pay us if they do not scan. We were left speechless, and really shocked as all three of them left the table, I mean we had already paid wagjag, why should we order from the regular menu? Their attitude was ""Sort it with Wagjag" After a few minutes, the acting manager( The nicest of the three) Approached the table, and said " We have decided to honor the coupon even though we probably won't get paid" It was a real damper on the evening. Even though it was discounted we still spent over three hundred dollars and the food was amazing!! My guess is, they had a restaurant full of coupons and people drinking tap water and did not get tipped well!! I am usually a big tipper and leave 20 percent even if the service is mediocre. The three dinners, wine and tax came to $270.00 I normally would have left at least $60. I gave them a $30 tip because of the embarrassment and upset they caused on a 60th birthday!! For such a classy establishment you would think they would have known better.. read more