Famous Chinese Restaruant (Canmore) rant

[flamersfan]

So, today I was in Canmore with my wife and friend, and we were looking for a restaurant to eat at. We end up walking by the Famous Chinese Restaurant and reluctantly decide to give it a shot.

On the front of the menu, it clearly states: "10% gratituity will be added to orders". I thought that was strange, but accepted it.

Then a few things happened after ordering:
1. The server hastely put the bowl of soup on the table, and left immediately (every other time I've ordered soup at a chinese restaurant, the server dished out the first serving to everyone) - I thought fine, no big deal.

2. Then we had to ask three times to get the tea we ordered. - I thought this is an honest mistake.

3. The rice never came - (how do they forget steamed rice at a chinese restaurant?) - again, honest mistake.

4. Then, because the server took my wife's bowl away because she wasn't having any soup, my wife asked for a bowl for when the rest of the meal comes. The server said, very rudely, something along the lines of: "I think the plate will be good enough".

That was it. I told my friend and wife that we were not going to pay the 10% "mandatory" gratuity because the service was really rude.

Trust me, I'm not being cheap. I have never not tipped before, but this pissed me off.

So, when we got the bill, we told the server that we never received the rice and that we do not want to pay the 10% service.

She rushed off (pissed), and got the manager/owner. She came, asked what the problem was, and I repeated (very nicely) that the rice never came, so don't want to pay for it, and that we did not want to pay the tip because the service was rude.

She removed the rice from the bill, but still had the tip on there. I repeated, and she then started to yell at me telling me that it was the "policy". I said calmly that the service was rude, and therefore did not want to pay the tip. She then said: "Would you like me to call the police?". I called her bluff, and said: "Sure. Please call them."

She yelled at me again, in front of all the customers, and entered the total amount minus the tip on the credit card machine.

Anyways, I just thought of mentioning this, and don't recommend anyone going to that restaurant.

[Crispy's Critter]

maybe it's famous for it's bad service, rude employees and mandatory tipping.

[Dion]

No wonder they were late with the steamed rice....
o

[Art Vandelay]

Just looked at the reviews on urbanspoon, looks like you're not alone in your assessment.

[BaldyAuldy]

Don't complain. I was at a certain Vietnamese restaurant on 16th ave tonight and a table caught on fire. It was pretty awesome watching the panic set in.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by BaldyAuldy

Don't complain. I was at a certain Vietnamese restaurant on 16th ave tonight and a table caught on fire. It was pretty awesome watching the panic set in.

I hope you tipped extra for the entertainment.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by BaldyAuldy

Don't complain. I was at a certain Vietnamese restaurant on 16th ave tonight and a table caught on fire. It was pretty awesome watching the panic set in.

Yes. you are never allowed to complain if something bad happens somewhere else. It's like saying you can't say it is cold in Calgary when it gets to minus 30, if it is minus 35 in Edmonton.

[driveway]

While it is up to each restaurant whether they want to place an automatic gratuity on the bill or not, it is ALWAYS optional and NEVER required that you pay.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by BaldyAuldy

Don't complain. I was at a certain Vietnamese restaurant on 16th ave tonight and a table caught on fire. It was pretty awesome watching the panic set in.

That wouldn't by chance be the same Vietnamese restaurant that when I alerted a server that the was a g-damn pigeon flying around he responded with "ya there's a whole family of them. We have no idea how they're getting in!" is it?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

You paid with credit card after that? Bold...

[Shazam]

I went to Harvest there last week. It was quite good.

[Sport Psych]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I went to Harvest there last week. It was quite good.

Shhhhhhhhhh... Harvest is the best kept secret around. We don't want it getting too popular, otherwise it'll end up like Famous Chinese (sorry flamersfan, I wish someone would've let you in on the info that locals know, and that's to stay away from that place these days...).

[Sluggo]

Originally Posted by flamersfan

On the front of the menu, it clearly states: "10% gratituity will be added to orders". I thought that was strange, but accepted it.

That is the Banff/Canmore tourist trap for ya. Some of their customers may not be well versed on the Canadian custom of tipping and they add it in automatically although it it sort of a dick move when they get people who know they have to tip but cannot read the gratuity portion on the bill in essence double tipping and inflating the servers heads.

[Option84]

Lol, I grew up in Canmore and that place is LEGENDARY for it's bad service and crazy owner. My parents are actually friends with the owner and sometimes when we were there, the staff and the owner will hang out at our table and chat with us and just keep customers waiting at the door, and if they said anything, the owner would actually yell at them to gtfo.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by flamersfan

.........
4. Then, because the server took my wife's bowl away because she wasn't having any soup, my wife asked for a bowl for when the rest of the meal comes. The server said, very rudely, something along the lines of: "I think the plate will be good enough".

That was it. I told my friend and wife that we were not going to pay the 10% "mandatory" gratuity because the service was really rude.
..........

Wouldn't that have been the proper time to simply walk out? Tell them how bad their service was and walk out. Maybe throw $20 on the table for the appetizers.

[mrbanffgirl]

I used to live there, and that place is HORRIBLE!! the woman who owns/runs the place is a pure B%$tch !! My wife, daughter and myself went in there, at the request of our daughter, and we promptly told that they were full! there were 6 other people in the place, when i asked why we were being ushered out the door so fast, she responded "we don't have room for kids" needless to say there were some expletives thrown back her way, loud enough for the "full" resturant to hear. amd she said she was calling the RCMP, to which i replied " good! tell them i will be out front waiting for them" they never showed up, and i have never been anywhere near the place again.
we actually ran into the family that was in the place later in the day, and apparently her bad mood with us, spilt over to them, and the ended up leaving before their food arrived. STAY AWAY, there are much better places out there to eat that don't have god knows what on the menu

[Fire]

Wow, how is this restaurant still in business?

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Fire

Wow, how is this restaurant still in business?

It might be fun to go there just to see how bad the service is. See how long it takes to make her snap. lol

[amorak]

CP road trip? Let's all bring out pennies and pay with change.

[albertGQ]

My wife grew up in Canmore but loves that place. She said sometimes when a fat person orders a coke, she'll purposedly give them a diet coke because they're too fat.