This was our second time here. The first time, there was a mixup with who was to be serving our table, resulting in a bit of a rush for our curtain. Staff apologized profusely, round of cocktails on the house, food was rushed but good, no harm no foul. We wanted to spend a bit of time and enjoy the place.
We were greeted promptly, had a reservation, and got a table near the front. Then we waited. Eventually someone came by and explained that the bartenders were going to be serving our table, but they were waiting for the third bartender to arrive. A drink order was taken and it took 15 minutes to get there. Meanwhile, someone else came by and did we want to order a drink? Yes....waiting for the ones we ordered 10 minutes ago. This did not bode well. It was Friday, busy but not slammed.
Tapas place: We wanted to know about the oysters as the menu said "ask your server" - what kind were available? It took two servers to figure that out. We ordered half a dozen, and when they arrived 20 minutes later, asked which oysters were which? Nobody could identify them.
The oysters were good - with four sauces on the side. The cocktails were also good. We were about an hour in to our dinner with one cocktail and three oysters apiece to show for it.
Next : the charcuterie plate. Again: menu said, "ask your server" what was all on the plate. It took FOUR servers to figure this mystery out. One actually said, "I didn't memorize what the cheeses on the charcuterie plate were..I just got here". Buddy: I don't expect you to have it memorized. WRITE IT DOWN. It showed up eventually and was good - some nice toasted bread and the citrus olives were excellent. But the cheeses remained a mystery.
Draft beer: again, the menu said, Seasonal Selection. What was the Seasonal Selection? It took two servers to figure that out.
Ribs: they arrived as if they had been taken out of the cooler. Asked the server, were they supposed to be served cold? Nope, they are a hot tapas dish. He took them back. They showed up again a few minutes later, again, chilled. We were nearly laughing out loud by this time. The third round of ribs arrived and were at least warm. We ate them and they had a good flavour. Between the second rib dish and the third, some other server asked if we'd like dessert? Um...well....we were hoping to finish dinner but.....
After the ribs, eventually we got to the bill and left. The ribs were taken off the bill.
GOOD STUFF: all the servers/bartenders were pleasant, eager, and seemed to be trying hard. The food (both first time and this time) was good, and some of it was very good. Atmosphere was excellent. Online reservations are a great feature. Place is attractive and clean.
BAD STUFF: There was no one server responsible for our table and very little organization it seemed. Nobody had a clue what the other was doing. Server knowledge was terrible. As notes above: if the MENU SAYS "ASK YOUR SERVER" THEN THE SERVER NEEDS TO HAVE THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE. Saying "Umm I can find out" and disappearing for 10 minutes is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Drink service was pathetically slow.
It is Friday night at 6:00. Getting a cocktail 25 minutes after sitting down doesn't cut it. Get your staff together and ready for your business. We knew, as we were waiting interminably for our drinks, that it was not going to be a great meal. And it wasn't.
There are aspects of this place that are terrific. I would like to see it succeed as the bones are there: atmosphere, interesting menu, some excellent food, some excellent cocktails, some well-meaning staff. But it has a long way to go before I'll risk another Friday night there. I will give it a few months and maybe try again, but in the meantime, there are many other places in Regina that are executing much, much better, and they'll get my business meanwhile. read more