Kat "in dire need of a printervention" F.'s Profile

I've been going to Queen's Pasta for nearly 10 years now and the only times I've had terrible service have been with this one server who truly should not be working there (or in the service industry at all, for that matter). Unfortunately he still DOES work there, so I have just learned to avoid being served by him and request someone else if I see him.  

Now, onto the food: there are usually three daily specials and they come highly recommended. The first is normally some sort of vegetable-based ravioli, the second is a meat option and the third is usually an exotic seafood option like swordfish or prawns. There's also the soup of the day.

When I used to eat meat I never swayed from my precious "Linguini with Grilled Chicken in Sun-dried Tomato Garlic Cream Sauce". The dinner portion is hefty and yields more than enough for a leftovers split. Nowadays I tend to order the Cheese & Spinach Cannelloni - it comes with a creamy tomato sauce with melted mozzarella on top. The Butternut Squash Agnoloti (kind of like ravioli) are also excellent and a lot lighter as the sauce isn't cream-based.

Queen's Pasta is a great dining experience if you're with friends and want to linger over a drawn out meal. There is also an upstairs that you can reserve for larger parties as well as an outdoor patio in the summer. I also love that you can purchase their fresh pasta and jarred sauce at the nearby Queen's Pasta Cafe Takeout boutique.

If I had to make one suggestion it would be to upgrade the front entrance - waiting in that cramped space and being in everyone's way when you stand there is less than ideal.

Along with the pair of noisy juggalos that moved into the unit above me a few months ago, this laundromat was the #1 reason I gave notice on my current apartment.

I thought it impossible to hate this place any more than I previously did, but apparently they've achieved the impossible with two final blows to my bank balance:

1. They've increased their washer prices by $1 per machine as of July 1, citing "HST costs." I've sifted through the list of affected services on the government website and have yet to uncover coin-op laundry. In any case, 8% on $2 does not equal another $1, last time I checked my rusty grade school math.

2. You know when you check on your dryer load before the time is up, to take out a few items that dry faster than others? Apparently if you wait more than one minute to do this, as I learned today, the dryer resets and eats all your coins.

I've never been to Fusaro's for dinner as I believe they close at the early hour of 6 or 7pm, but I can wholeheartedly say that lunch is a TREAT. It's affordable (under $10), FAST and always tasty. I usually get gnocchi or the pasta special of the day, sometimes soup. I have heard their paninis are also really great. Convenient location with TONS of options for everyone!

Just make sure you don't go between 12 and 12:30 because it's lunchtime mayhem in there and you'll be lined up out the door (the wait is still not that long though).

I go to Bonjour Brioche consistently almost once a week and generally leave between 25-40% tip - the service is usually exceptionally good, not unlike their food offerings, but today marked the first time in my illustrious dining career that I felt compelled to leave no tip at all. The service was sadly disappointing - it's like, I'm trying to transport myself to a Parisian Paradise here - please don't be a buzzkill.

The food was scrumptious as always - I ordered the soup du jour (butternut squash and tomato puree), a pain au chocolat and fresh homemade raspberry iced tea. All three were outstanding and the pain au chocolat actually rendered me speechless with its freshness and flaky, buttery (literally) texture.

A few minutes after I seated myself and had glanced at the menu I knew what I wanted. The server came over and handed me the table menu, as if I wouldn't have been able to do it myself or have noticed that there was a menu sitting on my table all along. Kind of in a "Hurry up and decide what you want" way. I told her I was ready to order and she begrudgingly wrote it down but didn't make any eye contact or acknowledge the order - just walked away. No "are you ready to order?" or "Great, comin' right up!" or similar retort that I'm used to at BB.

Ten minutes later I hadn't so much as received a glass of water to tide me over while waiting for my food. My pain au chocolat arrived first, but with nothing to wash it down with I had a hard time eating it. My iced tea arrived some minutes later and then the soup - again, no eye contact or acknowledgement when dropping off any of these items. The service was at the busboy level, almost as if instructed "don't talk to the customer."

My soup was on the "gazpacho" (read: cold) side but my server was too disinterested to do the standard check-in with me after dropping the food off, and I was actually pressed for time so I didn't say anything. Please note that the place was nowhere near being full and there was ample staff on hand, so it's not like she was swamped with tables to serve.

After my plates were cleared she didn't so much as ask me if I wanted anything else or if she could bring me the bill. I waited for 10 minutes with my bag on my shoulder and money in hand but she didn't come around with the bill, so I finally got up and asked another server behind the counter for my bill, which forced a conversation with the subpar server, who didn't even apologize that I had been relegated to going up to the counter and requesting it, or even glance at me. I paid, took exact change and left.

A very disappointing visit to Bonjour Brioche compared to my usual peppy weekly visits. I can understand a server having a bad day but it really just seemed like this person had a hate on for her profession and maybe even life in general??