Beth "never bethany" C.'s Profile

So I've traditionally had a love-hate relationship with The Reef.

Cons:

-the service. Sweet Jesus, could you people be any slower? And that "we laidback in Jamaica, mon, it ain't no ting!" doesn't fly when it's Canadian winter and you have three whole customers and are still ignoring our table.

-their poached eggs are either almost-raw runny or golf-ball solid hard, it seems. Very infrequently can they manage an in between.

the Pros:

-the plantain chips with jerk mayo.

-the free jonnycakes (think fancy, hot doughnut holes crossed with tea biscuits, served with coconut butter) with brunch.

-the coffee.

-the drink menu - so many delicious things like mango punch, ginger beer, capirinhas, mojitos.

-it's open later than a lot of places.

-no lineup for brunch on weekends (in Victoria!).

-the decor and booths and high ceilings.

AND, the service has improved. It was so bad once that I icily informed the indifferent hostess that they had lost a customer (it was a really laughably terrible experience), but have since slunk back with my tail between my legs because of all the above reasons. And to be fair, the service has never been a (major) problem again.

This review is overdue, as we got married almost 2 months ago now.

I married the man I'm in love with, and people we love were there with us, so nothing, really, could ruin our wedding.

But Luz sure tried.

I've never had an experience as a buyer that left me feeling so disappointed, with such a bitter taste in my mouth. Luz is the owner, and she doesn't deserve to be in a business where she interacts with people, let alone is able to have impact on what's supposed to be an important and happy, special day.

The saleswoman who originally helped us was nice, but at some point Luz basically took over the proceedings. If you've been in a bridal store before, you know that they typically have each dress on hand in one, maybe two sizes, so it can be dicey, ordering the correct size. I tried on the dress I wanted in a size at least 3 sizes smaller than what I would need, because it was the only one they had. I tried on a comparably cut dress in my size to get an idea.

I then tried to order the dress I wanted, in the size I wanted. Seems like that should be straightforward, no?

No.

Luz told me in no uncertain terms that the dress I had tried on in my size was snug in the hips, etc. etc and I should size up. But I've been losing weight (nothing to do with the wedding - just a healthy lifestyle change) and told her that, and said I would be more comfortable with the size down, as the wedding was 3 months away (she still charged me an extra $50 rush charge, too, btw). She loudly repeated that I needed the size up, that it was easier to alter in than out. I explained that I realized that, but that I really was losing weight at a steady pace, etc etc and that I wanted to order the size down.

We went back and forth while this woman ARGUED with me, and she finally barked "we're the professionals. Trust us. Let us do our jobs."

Fine. We ordered the size up.

When my dress arrived, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY WEDDING, I went to pay for the other half of it and try it on.

I'm a grown woman, but when I tried the dress on, I wanted to cry. It was an absolute puddle on me, like I was playing dress up in my mother's clothes. The straps literally fell off if I wasn't holding them.

Luz stuck her head into the change room, SAW what was happening, and as I waited for her to say "oh my gosh, we really did make a mistake - don't worry - we'll fix it ASAP, on us, of course," she instead cocked her head and said "it's not that big. It'll be fine and would have needed alterations no matter what. Are you using our seamstress?"

I started to explain that I had found a seamstress myself who could do the rush job quickly AND AFFORDABLY (this dress, a BRIDESMAID dress, not even a big white gown, had already cost me about $500), and as I began to explain that she cut me off with a curt "fine. hand the dress out when you change and then you can finish paying for it."

Not a word of apology, not a kind word, not any attempt to rectify the obviously horrific situation.

I went and saw the seamstress, who has been a seamstress for decades, and when she saw me in my dress she said "oh, dear."

She ended up having to cut SEVEN INCHES out of the bodice, move the straps two inches, shorten then by an inch and a half each, tear out the lining, cut out inches from the lining, sew the lining back in, cut fabric from the overskirt, add darts, fix the pleats, etc. etc. etc. - it was a MAJOR job. Basically a remake. She was shocked at how huge the dress was on me, and she had to do three separate sessions of alterations. My dress was still pretty, but it was NOT the dress it was supposed to be, and didn't sit right, despite the seamstress' skill and effort. It was just far, far too big.

I emailed Luz, to try to give her a chance to make things right. One last chance. I asked her to be responsible for the cost of my alterations.

After a number of emails from her rudely insisting that it was all my own fault, she grudgingly sent me a cheque for $50 ( a drop in the bucket). No note, nothing. She was aggressive and rude and it was clear that while she is in the wedding business, she couldn;t possibly have cared less about the enormous added stress, financial difficulty and disappointment she added to our big day. She's a terrible businesswoman.

Since this happened, I've had numerous (at least 4) people tell me their own horror stories about dealing with Luz. I hope more people post those reviews here, and I hope it keeps at least one bride from going through this.

It was terrible.