Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge

Met a friend there yesterday for drinks and a snack after reviewing their Happy Hour menu online. First time back since the pandemic as my friend is only just feeling comfortable with patio dining and will still not dine indoors. Anyway, the patio was open and the sun came out to welcome us. I had decided on a Classic Poutine and Corona happy hour special but was advised by the server that the Happy Hour was only effective Monday through Friday and so could only order from the Regular menu. Ended up having an extraordinary average plate of fish and chips and beer chips were good, fish was not so good, coleslaw was dried out Instead of spending $16.95 plus tax my bill was about $29 plus tax. Classic bait and switch! One final comment about your new tipping strategy.... Programming your payment device to show three tip options starting at 18% does not make this a standard! This is simply trying to suck higher amounts out of customer pockets on prices which are already inflated.

My wife had brunch today at the Symposium Cafe. While it was not busy when we arrived @11 am, it quickly filled up. Our server ERIC who was busy with a very large table beside came over within minutes, apologized and said he’d be right with us. he came over and asked us beverages and back again in minutes to take our order which was the Benjamin Benedict and Western Cheddar Omelette. ERIC was outstanding, attentive and prompt. Food arrived within 10 minutes which was pleasant surprise considering how busy it became. Food was very good, ERIC did a quality check and offered more coffee. It was a great experience! Nice decor and ambiance!

We went for a late lunch, we were so disappointed. I have eaten at Symposium many times , but it has changed. The Teriyaki chicken bowl tasted like a froze dinner, the rice was not cooked properly and the chicken was minute pieces of chicken. My son had the Portuguese chicken meal...with 3 pieces of potatoes and the broccoli had bee over cooked and turned yellow. The chicken was thighs and a small amount for $24.95. The service was great..food awful.

My husband and I have eaten here before and and nice meals. Tonight was a disaster. We ordered before dinner drinks, ok. We both ordered appetizers the calamari and the portabello mushrooms both delicious. The main meals where HORRIBLE!!!! I ordered the zucchini bowel. When it came out the zucchini was cold and raw, not cooked at all. I sent it back. When it came back after i guess 5 seconds in the microwave it was still cold and uncooked. It was sent it back and gave up. the manager wanted to offer me a desert for my troubles yet I had not had a proper meal/ My husband ordered the butter chicken poutine. It was under-cooked, fries so soggy they were disgusting and over all not fit for a person to eat. The poor waitress was so apologetic . not her fault the kitchen staff could not cook. The manager did remove from the tab our 2 main courses. Yet over all we had 2 drinks and 2 appetizers with the mains removed still totaled $65 . Not again and this restaurant needs to seriously give its head a share over its pricing!

Nice patio, friendly nice wait staff. Unfortunately they were all very inexperienced, got behind on orders, served people out of order, waitress beside us dumped cutlery, napkins and unfinished food on customer! Waiting 40 min for.food and wasn't very busy at all. Food sat too long before serving.. My eggs were ice.cold and the yolk ran through and soaked into the toast making it a soggy mess. The dish was clearly smashed together in a hurry. The poached egg yolk lying on the side of the plate intact like a bloated cherry tomato. Quite unappetizing. Ironically the fruit cup which was served with it was the bright spot of the experience! Actually tasted like fresh fruit, One of the best I've had but not quite enough to push to 3/5 because the main was so unpleasant.