I won't write a one-star review out of respect for the other reviewers who have had better experiences - I'm not ignorant enough the believe that this place is all bad if other people are having good experiences there.
Having said that.. My experience here was decidedly ungreat. There were between 4 and 6 people behind the counter chattering with each other in a language I don't understand. They continued bantering while taking my order, scarcely looking at me while laughing at private jokes beyond my comprehension. I smiled akwardly.
Now, having grown up in Vancouver, I'm no stranger to this kind of experience. Having said that, I refuse to give in to the developing status quo and not mention it - good service is founded in respect no matter where you are. Ignoring your guest and speaking over and around them in a langauge they don't know while they are trying to order is.. kind of rude.
The order itself was equal parts shocking and enlightening. I pointed at the dish of limp cold spaghetti noodles in the display which (I hoped) represented a more appealing freshly cooked batch. To my horror, the lady casually picked up the bowl of flaccid noods and placed it in the microwave right in front of me, chattering happily in another dialect. I looked on in awe - it occurred to me that this kind of thing probably happened a lot in the food industry. I... I wasn't ready to understand that on a visceral level. Ready or not however, the truth was literally served to me several moments later as the now-steaming noodles twitched at me on my plate.
So there you have it.. if you're in a rush, and I mean, a big rush, consider stopping at Oriole cafe for the unique experience of feeling like your in a city cab while the distracted harem of counter-people serve you microwaved spaghetti noodles. read more