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SpeakFree Series
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RESTAURANT #1
No luck for those with acne at Acme
NANAIMO, British Columbia — When travelling, many people want to try small local restaurants. Recently in Nanaimo, British Columbia I went downtown with a friend to check out some of the hotspots for dining. My friend said that there is a restaurant called Acme that is worth checking out so I said, “Sure, let’s go.” We parked across the street and went in. Right away we were greeted by the pretty staff, but weren’t made to feel all that welcome. Perhaps the perfection of looks was part of the plan to distract from the service.
A tall man with great bone structure and tight shirt said hello and asked if we were coming in to dine. I’m not quite sure how many people they have coming in just to play cards or something but we said yes. The restaurant wasn’t overly full but it seemed as though the staff that was rushing around (and not checking make up in a compact) was busy. The gentleman said there was only one table available in the dining room and he offered it to us. Essentially we would be sitting right where we came in… literally. The table had a bench-type seat along the window and I already had my hand physically on the chair that was on the other side of the table. That’s how close to the door we were. Yes, this would have given us a good location to view the adonises and Barbie doll staff, but we wanted something with a little less draft and less traffic.
He then told us there was a table at the bar or at the sushi bar. We talked it over and decided we wanted to sit at the sushi bar. Again, we would be literally sitting at the sushi bar. There were two barstools and the chef was sitting closer to us than we would be if sitting together at a table in the dining room. Apparently the “table” (more of a counter) at the drinks bar would have been the exact same thing. After a brief conversation in the sushi bar, and not even sitting down to get settled, my friend and I left the restaurant.
I must admit, usually I will write a review for a restaurant that I’ve actually dined in, but what struck me as pathetic about this place is that we weren’t even offered the chance to sit in the bar, have a couple drinks while waiting for a table, or sit anywhere to wait. Instead it was more of a “get you in and get you out” sort of attitude that we got from the staff, who obviously didn’t find us pretty enough to keep around. Yes, I had a blemish or two on my face and maybe that’s why we weren’t made to feel welcome. But we aren’t that unattractive so maybe the vain, all-about-me attitude is how the staff at Acme is trained. Either way, it is certainly a place that I will not be visiting again when in Nanaimo the next time around.
Cheers & Jeers: Restaurant Reviews
It wouldn’t have been a vacation without checking out the local eateries in August. Here are two reviews from a Tuesday night in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
RESTAURANT #2
Modern works at local cafe
NANAIMO, British Columbia — After an unsuccessful dining experience down the street, my friend and I walked up a little bit and stumbled upon a place called the Modern Café in downtown Nanaimo.
The front entrance was very open and inviting and the ambiance inside was warm and welcoming. The lighting was soft and a prompt greeting from the staff made us feel right at home. It seemed as though Tuesday was the night to be dining at Modern Café as there was still a lot of people coming in when we arrived shortly after 8 p.m.
We had a table where the seating was a bit awkward. My friend sat to my left, making him face the back of the restaurant, while I was sat and facing the left side of the room. It was weird positioning but there is interesting décor that I was facing and it became part of the dinner discussion.
Our server came by and filled our waters with a wine bottle as the dispenser. I had never seen that before and it was kind of interesting to have on the table.
The menu covered many areas including interesting items like chargrilled fruit and some appetizing desserts. The beverage list had prices like “5 1/2” or “4 1/4” which was interesting, however if you aren’t a math whiz you may find it a bit confusing.
Having not been particularly hungry after the troubling experience at a restaurant earlier in the night my friend and I both got salads as the entrée. The chicken caesar salad was nearly $10, which always catches my eye when I see a restaurant with that kind of price, but when it was delivered to the table it was well worth the price, as my friend had advised me before it arrived. Crisp lettuce and a tangy dressing complimented the large cut up chicken breast on the salad.
The server checked on us a few times to see how we were doing and didn’t seem to be in a hurry at all to get us out of the restaurant. This goes a long way after finishing a meal and wanting to sit back and relax for a bit. The only complaint would be that she didn’t refill our wine bottle (water) and we were left with nothing to drink as we talked, which was the ultimate reason for us leaving in the end. But regardless, the service up to that point was wonderful, the environment to dine in was very nice and without a doubt I would visit the Modern Café again the next time I am in Nanaimo.
