JM
John MacKinnon
5 days ago
I've never been to a restaurant where they were out of the first 3 things we ordered (ground beef for nachos, beef tenderloin, and the pork schnitzel). The veggie 1/2 nachos are loaded and phenomenal and more than enough for 2ppl, but we had to convince the server it should come with queso dip which she begrudgingly went back to get after claiming it is by request only, which came after she said it was already on the nachos (that was, infact, the 3 cheese blend), and that was after she said it would cost extra.
The experience with the queso was like how hotels treat housekeeping now - they'll provide it to you only upon request, in an effort to save money. The whole experience had that feel, with so much of the menu unavailable because of corner cutting and even still the bill was $120 w/ gratuity for 2 adults plus child, so it's not cheap either.
I was bummed they didn't have the schnitzel because there are few options for it in Mississauga restaurants and instead got the mango ginger chicken bowl. It's my own fault really, because the city centre has lots of great Thai/Vietnamese options and getting this dish at Kelsey's is def a rookie move, but I was impressed they had something like it on the spring menu and figured if they're taking this big of a swing it may actually be good - spoiler, it's inedible. Basically it's chili Thai sauce on their boneless bites on a flavourless bed of rice. Like I said, rookie move.
I post this mainly because the last 3 star review was followed by several suspicious 5 star reviews that all have photos of food with no people in them and follow the same template. When you go to enough quality restaurants you recognize a few traits that, when absent, really stand out. Our 4yo was with us, usually when there's a kid at a family resto, the server makes sure that kid gets fed ASAP, and not have their dish come with the parents'. Usually when a sharable app comes out, you have side plates to go along with it. Usually when you're done a dish it comes off the table before the next course comes out. Usually when people are exiting the restaurant the host or any staff really say thanks for coming. Everything here points to poor training and mismanagement, or maybe an off night after a busy week, who knows.
This resto is fine, it's a bit too loud and open for me, personally, and the decor is like a mix of backwoods cottage meets federal penetentiary, right down to meals getting served on metal trays. But if you're going for some wings and to watch the game, it's prob worth it (until they run out of wings, too).