Worst...service...ever...

Had some friends in town on the weekend. After listing off seevral places in the neighbourhood, they decided (against my efforts) to go to the Pickle Barrel (Yonge and Eglinton) - everything else suggested was "too exotic" for somebody in the group. To say it was one of the worst service experiences I've ever had here is an understatement. Let me count the ways:

A) The waiter just placed the cutlery down, not near any of us.
B) Brought one person the wrong drink, insisting this was what they ordered (wanted ginger ale, got Diet Pepsi).
C) When picking up menus, carelessly tossed one down, hitting them in the neck.
D) Some sort of fire broke out in the kitchen. The exhaust mustn't have kicked in, as the dining room grew hazy. Urge others to flee, they decide to stay put.
E) Waiter brings out wrong orders. Now they agree to flee. Sent everything back. Tried finding manager, couldn't. Never again.

[lamaranthe]

It was not the service but the food. See http://www.chowhound.com/topics/99528
Y&E and Yorkdale location are just as bad.

[mzshan]

YOU ALL ARE ABSOLUTLY RIGHT!!!
My brother is a waiter at ERIN MILLS TC location, used to be a cook and I hear all sorts of Horror stories out of his mouth and let me tell you. the things I hear DISGUST ME! and these guys pride themselves at it.
I think they got the whole concept messed up.
I my self am a chef when I took a Menu Writing class the Instructurs displayed some of the Worst menu composition and Pickle Barrel was the worst rated menu, Due to the amount of Menu item. They dont try to specialize in a few things rather they try to do it all and make a mess of everything... and thats how Restaurants Fail which direction PB is headed..

[Singar]

Honestly, and no disrespect, but I don't think any self-respecting chowhound would be silly enough to go to Pickel Barrel, and then come out and be surprised at the quality of food and service. Off the top of my head I can make probably 40 places in the same price range that is far better than Pickel Barrel, no matter where you are at. And I'm surprised that people would blame going to Pickel Barrel on the fact that other places are "too exotic". Depends on your knowledge of places, I suppose.

[deelicious]

I eat in a resto at least once a day - usually twice. Not fast food, sit down restos.

There is absolutley nothing wrong with the BBQ half chicken at PB. It is very well seasoned. It is a nice big size! Cooked fresh to order - never pre-made and warmed. The cole slaw is decent in that it is a healthy version with no fatty sauce or loads of sugar. The salads are always fresh to go with it.

When I am looking for a casual, tasty, well priced, consistently great chicken dinner, I am selecting between Churassco Villa and PB.

Please tell me what is bad about the half bbq chicken at PB.

As far as service is concerned, I think people can be way too critical especially when you take into account that %#&@ happens in any and every resto. And PB is NOT fine dining!

[Wiley]

The ONLY things that look good at PB are the Bellinis

[deelicious]

I am surprised to hear they have Bellinis. It is such a Milestones Classic.

As well I am not sure it is fair to judge a place by just looking at the food. You should eat some of it. Try the half BBQ chicken. It rocks!

[pescatarian]

I thought the same thing, I think Wiley is thinking of Milestone's (which is surprisingly good sometimes).

I used to think PB had some decent items, but they have gone downhill rapidly in the last year or so - and the service (in more than one location) has become abhorant, probably due to the change in management.

[dlw88]

The meat is better at Pancer's, but all around, I prefer a family meal at Centre Street Deli.

[Mushka]

If you want the experience of a real Jewish deli with great food try Pancer's on Bathurst, north of Wilson. The menu is not nearly as extensive as the PB but the meat, which is their focus, is out of this world. I love their pickled tongue and my kids love the corned beef. The knishes are fabulous, too, but avoid anything with potatoes (salad, latkes). They're not so good with them (cucumber salad is superb, though). The meat cutter is funny and friendly. Great food at a good price.

[Bob Catt]

I was waiting for someone to suggest Pancer's. It's the polar opposite of the Pickle Barrel chain - warm, welcoming, with what I consider the best deli food in the city. I haven't been there for awhile but I used to go to the old restaurant before they relocated with a partly Jewish friend from work (I'm not Jewish) who recommended it heartily. I wasn't disappointed. First of all they didn't have servers, they had your mother come over to the table, bring your food to you, and make sure you enjoyed it. I actually had one say "Eat up, you could use some weight," and I loved her for it! There was a sign posted, saying customers were limited to two beers. I liked that too. You didn't go to drink at Pancer's - they saw to that. The meats were superb, unlike Mushka I enjoyed the latkes, and I haven't had cabbage borcht like theirs (complete with a whole boiled potato) since the Famous Dairy Restaurant on Spadina. Pickle Barrel? Feh!

[eliisadick]

the pickle barrel in Promenade mall should be avoided like The-Plague, the food is misrepresented in the menu. i ordered dbl chicken breast, i get butterflied breast. if i wanted b chiken br. i would have ordered it. i returned it,asked to speak to someone in charge, i spoke with manageress, i was shocked by the response, short of callus dismissal, the lady said thats what they call their breast. if i wasnt happy about it that it was a shame.nothing she could do it. well pickle barrel...you lost two more clients. too bad , GOOD RIDDANCE

[deelicious]

I order the double breast chicken downtown sometimes although I prefer the half bbq chicken. Downtown you get two breast pcs not one cut in half. I wonder what happened up at the promenade?

Also seems weird that the manager would act like that. They are all so professional and "customer is always right" oriented. They attract a very difficult and sometimes obnoxious crowd and I have always witnessed such a passive disposition.

[eliisadick]

i have been in the food service industry for the past twentysomething years, i would have never "handled" customers the way i felt i was treated. i frequent PB whenever im in that mall,Promenade. The food was always acceptable at that pricepoint.as i said before my complaint had more to do with inaccuracies with the menu, and subsequent manner in the way management decided to deal with customer dissatisfaction.

[cocolou]

Picklebarrel at the Promenade or Yonge & Eglinton : places to avoid by all means. Very poor service, long waiting time to get a very simple order to your table and it comes nearly cold. I ordered my smoked meat to be "sliced thin" but it came about 2 millimeters thick... and tepid, and served without grace. If you are in the nearbourhoud of the Promenade, I suggest you go to Centre Deli, West on Centre Street. The place is loud and busy but the food is served as you ordered it and the portions are huge. Good service too. The owner is always on the spot : it seems she lives there and she watches everything to be sure customers are happy.

[jen2202]

I went to PB by the Eaton Center and will never go back to that one, or any other one....poor service, poor quality, and none of the staff wanted to be there, it was more than obvious.

[deelicious]

wow sounds like a poor evening in every way. if i were u i wouldnt go back either!!

[Abark]

I used to work in a corporate restaurant and if you have a bad time- tell somebody about it. Write to head office or the general manager. If they don't respond go higher. It is the only way that things can get resolved.

I am sorry to hear of your experience. However, I make it a rule of thumb to NEVER frequent any restaurant during statuatory holidays. Food terminals are closed, therefore you will definitely be eating food that is not fresh. Kitchens frequently run out and to compensate substitute and reduce portions from regular standards. The more senior and experienced cooks and wait staff will be given the day off. Staff who are working are not happy, many call in sick creating an understaffed and disgruntled environment. I also NEVER contact business offices to try to initiate or resolve any service based issue on these days either for the same reason. The call will be poorly handled by a stressed skeleton staff, and you will only have to make a second call when things return to normal.

During a holiday, I prefer to entertain at home or do potluck. Less grief, better food.

I feel I should point out that this was not an issue of holidays but an issue of that particular restaurant. My boyfriend has always loved the Pickle Barrel because of the large menu and the comfortable feel but when I took him to this location twice we had bad experinces both times. The waitress on one occasion spent more time chatting with the bartender than waiting tables. The servings seem to have been drastically reduced and I am not a fan of having to go out to eat after a meal. No cutlery on the table when the meal is brought out. Asked for sauce on the side and had to ask again when the food got there... but not until the waitress finished chatting with the bartender and would make her way to our table. At any rate I won't be going back. Perhaps if the meals were full sized but bad service and lack of food make it a future no.

Yes, that's right, folks. The Pickle Barrel is one of the worst restaurants in the city. All of them stink. You want surly third rate service? Try the original location on Bathurst for some of the most pathetic and disgruntled wait staff around. One of my acquaintances worked there as a waiter. He recounts this story now with some delight. A woman asked him "what's good?" He said with a dismissive laugh, "Lady, it's the Pickle Barrel."

I hate the Pickle Barrel. It gives people the exact wrong impression of European Jewish food: they deep fry the latkes, turn the blintzes into crepes and no longer serve a huge, delicious pumpernickle loaf with every meal.

Please, if you are not Ashkenazi Jewish, do not mistake the Pickle Barrel for authentic!

don't expect much from pickle barrel anyway.

We have been to the Yonge and Eg location several times (because of the Silver City theatres) and I must say, I am never going there again. The service was terrible and so was the food.

I have, however, enjoyed the Yorkdale location. The service was just okay but I found the food to be much better at Yorkdale.

[chalenegirl]

i went to the PB by the eaton center and the service was horrible. we got there around 8pm and by 9pm, we were only partly finished our entrees. at this time the waiter was changing shifts or something, but he was rushing us (3 ppl at the table) and basically stood there glaring at us to finish our food to get a tip. this waiter's attitude was the icing on the cake, as he was very inattentive ( didn't get us waters, we had to ask for menus, brought the wrong drink, served food to the wrong person, etc). absolutely never again .

[deelicious]

Was that your very first visit that you had this happen to you? I think it is just a matter of bad luck! I have never had a waiter glaring at me before while dining at the Pickle Barrel and I have eaten there a ton of times!

[chalenegirl]

this is the first time a waiter has glared at my table while we ate, yes. i suppose it was "bad luck" but that doesn't excuse the bad service there. the food wasn't good either which made the entire dining experience very poor.

[cocolou]

Please see my comments under "cocolou" - PickleBarrel at Y&E is not the only location to avoid...

[deelicious]

The original location is on Leslie, not Bathurst and it is always great. The service is extremely friendly and efficient. The food is very consistent. There are some fantastic choices at PB and some that should be avoided. This is normally the case when a resto attempts to please everybody.

Atrium on Bay neat the Eaton Centre is also VG!

Always know I am going to have a great meal.

[Googs]

I hadn't eaten at a Pickle Barrel for many years when circumstances forced me to eat at the one at Yonge & Eglinton. I have to say that even though I find the food mediocre at best (Go Schwartz's) the young man that served hubby & I was polite, considerate, and prompt. His youth and demeanour suggested the job was likely putting him through school. I was compelled to tell the manager just how good he was.

[eggoman]

PICKLE BARREL ... ugh! It has gone so far downhill, it needs new skis.

Our last trip with my wife and sister-in-law, we ordered the three mini-burger appetizer and as my wife discovered after her first bite, the burgers were brown on the outside and freshly uncooked on the inside. We sent them back and she felt queasy for having raw ground beef in her mouth. Next came her club sandwich - missing, of course, bacon. Sent it back. We had this crazy Asian waiter who took off as soon as he put down a plate and was incomprehensible. They didn't charge us for the dinner and comped us two entrees at a future date. Though the 20 year old manager tried to make things better (and made them worse) by telling us 'Sorry about the uncooked burgers, the kitchen was so busy!"

I also noticed 80% of the staff there are now almost under 20 and it doesn't feel like anyone is in charge - no host came to seat us for several minutes, until some kid from behind the takeout counter asked to take us to our seat. It's almost enough to wish the surly old-timers were back running things!

Fast forward to today, we took our free meals - full rack of ribs and surf and turf! My surf and turf came with a skewer of grilled shrimp - and cold, too. But I didn't have the strength to make an issue out of one more screw-up at PB. We won't be going back.

And when we got the bill, we were charged GST and PST on our free dishes. Nice!

One more note, today when my wife asked for a baked potato instead of fries, we were told (haha!) that complex culinary item had been "discontinued." LOL. What a dump. Avoid!!!!

[dianabanana]

You would have fared much better at the Atrium location! We have never experienced anything at all like that. Some excellent food!

I prefer to dine in some small restaurant where the owner actually work in during holiday season. If your waiter are not doing a good job, complain directed to the owner. At least he/she will do thing right.

[abscissa]

Saavy has made some very good points and I agree with all of it. If you are dining at a place that has more than 8 main courses... how can you possibly expect that it isn't all sitting in the freezer for years. Some of those places have menus that are more than 4 pages long. Remember that chain places have to have reproducible items which means frozen and fried.