Why Not? Restaurant reviews for you...

Rachel made a request to hear about how High Tea was at the Hotel Macdonald...and I'd be happy to share, because it's not often you get a chance to go do something like that! 

I figure while I'm at it, I will make like a professional foodie or something and review the High Tea and the restaurant we hit up for appetizers later. 

My friend Lindsay is getting married in September and we went for High Tea for her stagette, and then out later to Hundred Bar & Grill for appetizers. Keep in mind that this is in no way a review of Lindsay's stagette- which was awesome, if you must know.

High Tea was super fun. I had no idea what to expect, I had never even stepped foot in the hotel in my life. This is why I parked a couple blocks away, unsure of where to go, and came out the Library parkade on 99th Street by accident looking lost and confused in heels. I found my way.

The tea was served in the Harvest Room which was very floral patterned but sort of reminded me of Downton Abbey- which I am very excited to watch again this fall. 

Where was I...Oh yes, so because this is fancy, I was pretty much expecting one of those blossoming tea flowers when hot water is poured over it and to ooh and ahh at it's splendor. But the waiter presented me with a large box of ...packaged tea bags to choose from. Oh. Okay.

I was a big fan of the treats that followed- things like a mini egg salad bite, squares, salmon on a cracker with caviar, cupcakes, macaroons and who knows what else. Because I'm a mom that rushes around to get to events on time these days, I had not eaten previous to the shower and just hoped that it was more than tea. And I was happily surprised and was full on goodies. 

Yes Rachel, they had the clotted cream, fieldberry jam Mac scones and they were delicious, especially the ones with lavender baked into them! I slathered on generous portions of cream, butter and jam, and then had another...and another...

I enjoyed it, and it was really fun to get dressed up in a dress and heels and eat yummy treats. The tea could have been better...like loose tea for example would have been more impressive...but hey, the service was wonderful and they continued to refill my tea pot with hot water as I gracefully inhaled snacks and tea. 

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Hundred Bar & Grill. Oh what a let down you were! I can't say I have high hopes on places like that though. The best part of that place is it's location. It boasts a "seductive night life" which is not exactly something I look for in my life these days but the statement is laughable. I didn't see a single seductively dressed person...or even classy for that matter. I think we were on the younger end of the crowd! Except for the manager who looked about 19 years old. 

We ordered drinks, and I had a lovely glass of Riesling. I'm a sweet drink person, the sweeter the better. 

Then we ordered appetizers. Overpriced appetizers. I had eaten dinner at home so I just needed a snack. Lindsay ordered the mini burgers so I naturally felt that the mini hot dogs were a good idea. (They are my secret love...especially the ones from Costco.)

We were having a good time sipping on our drinks and what not...but we were also a group of 9 hungry ladies. Time dragged on and we still didn't have our food. We became a group of 9 hungry, buzzed and slightly grouchy ladies after an hour had passed and still no appetizers. Appetizers...that's all we were waiting for, not full meals. And it was now 9:30pm..it definitely wasn't busy in the restaurant when we arrived at 8pm. 

The manager came over to let us know that he was sorry for the delay and food would be out shortly.

Our food comes as promised, over an hour later from when we had ordered it. 

I scarfed my mini hot dogs down...which tasted mysteriously just like a Costco hot dog....hmm..

It was a Costco hot dog! I know that taste anywhere (I only had a million when I was pregnant..both times) and it was one hot dog cut into thirds and each piece in a bun of white bread. WTF. $13 for one hot dog cut up into thirds?? Oh but it came with a cute jar of ketchup. I can get this friggen hot dog at Costco for $2 and that even comes with a pop thank you very much. 

Looking around the table, there were few plates that look appetizing. 

Thankfully, one of the ladies wasn't going to have it. She spoke with the manager who fumbled around with lame excuses saying things like it was "busy" and there was a "delay in the order to the kitchen". She wasn't happy with those answers so he offered to buy us a round of drinks. But honestly, we didn't want to stay there another minute so she suggested he take the drinks off of our bill that we already had. 

By the time we paid, I had spent $17 on one hot dog with a bun including my GST and tip. (We felt it was good to still tip because it wasn't our waitresses fault after all, she was fine). Holy crap. Definitely not going there again, ever. 

The atmosphere was fine, the food blew, and so did the service- as in the kitchen's ability to pump out 8  uninteresting appetizers to one table in less than an hour. 

This restaurant is also owned by the same guy that has Century Bar & Grill, Delux Burger Bar, Lux Steakhouse & Bar and the infuriating new addition to the line up: MKT (fresh food& beer market). 

I have never been to MKT, but I have been to MRKT...which is a totally different restaurant owned by different people that had the name MRKT first.. a whole 2 years earlier! 

It's one of my most favourite restaurants with a really original atmosphere and menu and killer drinks. You can read the article from the Journal here over the name dispute. Either way, after experiencing Hundred, I am not running to any of the other restaurants owned by them now.

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Anyway, that is my two cents. Maybe I will post more reviews in the future as Kenton and I get back into a regular routine of date nights out as Ellie gets bigger!