So - twenty years later, I re-visited a PACINI restaurant - in Vaudreuil-Dorion.....the space, lay-out, look/feel, is pretty okay.....some well though-out design touches.....the raised island floor is what makes the space work - had the designer left the whole space on the same level, it would have been a disaster, spatially. However, I don't know how the architects got approval for a raised floor with only two risers, both of which are differing heights...... The space is comfortable - love that FINALLY, a restaurant designer convinced an Owner to carpet the floors - well all but the raised section. And carpet tile is so easily fixed/removed when any damage occurs.....plus - and this is another great achievements - the suspended sound-soak panels probably reduce the ambient noise level considerably.
And the bread bar - missed that feature all these years - however, if you're gonna do something, do it right...... a) it's too small b) the bread cabinets are too small and awkward to access - especially if there are more than two people trying to at the same time, and, c) the suspended hood is completely wrong in that, standing on one side it s impossible to see across the grill to someone standing on the other side......that feature alone produces a sense of psycho-discomfort......And now, to the core of it all - the food. Well, I can't comment on that all that much, because, going there on a Saturday fro lunch, the menu is ridiculous! We ordered caesar salad with the soup of the day (the soup - a skimpy little bowl, was actually an excellent mushroom soup) - but the caesar salad? Come on! A caesar salad at McDonald's is better! Sad! Dressing was too lemony - did not have the subtlety that even an average caesar salad has - it was completely b o r i n g ! And at $15.00 - YUP! - $15.00, for the soup and the salad - well. . . . who's kidding who?
Ridiculous! Looking over the other menu offerings, every thing else started at $20.00 and went up quickly - to a price strata that is more in keeping with a good restaurant. .. . not a has-been wannabe. Won't be going back....not ever. Disappointing and a real memory letdown.....used to go regularly to the Pacini on Sources Blvd back when. . . . . if you're curious to try it, do yourself a favour - go to A&W next door - least you won't likely be disappointed. read more