Poor communication, zero accountability
We are from Alberta and had booked our wedding in Winnipeg, prior to covid. Right off the bat, the restaurant was extremely difficult to get in contact with even for a quote. Phone calls never got returned. Emails went weeks and weeks without being answered. This chase has been nothing short of exhausting. I read reviews on Google/wedding wire that the food was excellent but communication was awful. I was hoping the experience of a few would not be our own and we booked them anyways as the menu looks and sounds spectacular. Communication continued to be virtually impossible during the next months and emails again went unanswered. We figured whatever, dinner will be amazing and it will all be worth it in the end. Then covid happened. We had to cancel our wedding all together and certainly not because we wanted to. We understood the deposit was non refundable but we made a deal with the owner that instead of keeping the deposit for himself or refunding, that he provide $250 worth of food, nothing of any extravagance, just whatever is on the menu one day, leftovers etc and we'd donate it to a homless shelter. We wanted something good done with that money, especially in light of this pandemic.
The owner was quick to agree with this idea. But then he went back to not answering my emails requesting a date I could send someone for pickup. This was April. I sent several emails since and just a few days ago, I got an "I'm sorry we're busy email" to which I replied that it was fine, but to just give me a date to pick up the food. Obviously frustrated, I told him I wasn't going anywhere until this was sorted out and that he stop giving me the run around/ignoring me and either refund or just give a date and to be a good human and do the right thing. He then told me I had a bad attitude and was being disrespectful and that if he had to refer me to my non refundable deposit contract, he would. I was not being disrespectful, I am frustrated at the awful service and communication. The screenshots of my emails can be found on their Facebook reviews. They are frustrated, certainly not disrespectful.
My fiancée went and left a negative review on several of their platforms. Nothing inaccurate or fabricated. Just frustration. We were then told that we were being dishonest and that they wanted transparency so I posted screen shots of our emails so that everyone could see my responses as well as the owners. We were then harassed by one of the company's associates online. Being told we should be sued for slander, called liars, bitter, should make a public apology on CNN. We were then also poked at about saving our cerb funds for when we get sued, which we don't even recieve and if we did, that's an extremely inappropriate thing to be making fun of and reflects very poorly of this associates character and therefore the company. We were also told that he couldn't wait to watch our trial live. To bring our sacks of money. It was very disheartening. Perhaps our communication online with this other individual was not exactly adventageous or productive but again, we are trying to do something good with that money and food and we are being fought and attacked about it. It has already been agreed upon, we just need to pick it up and they are making that impossible. I was informed again by the owner (not shown online but I'm happy to share screenshots) that he is happy to work with me if I stop bashing him online and making things up, however I haven't falsified anything. I am simply outlining my experience, which I have the right to do. He has also told me that if I remove my reviews, he will be willing to work with me. That's not how transparency works, he's asking me to hide my experience. I have asked my partner to take down his reviews on all but google and Facebook until he fulfills his commitment. We should not have to remove our reviews period. That is the exact purpose of reviews. To outline your experience, good or bad. But I said I would rectify the reviews saying that we were able to sort out our differences if he holds up his end of the bargain but I'm not willing to lie for them. He has been gaslighting us, telling us that what we have experienced isn't real and didn't happen. He has zero accountability and has placed the blame on my partner and I when all we have been requesting is a confirmed date for pick up for the agreement he made with us. Again, we understand that it is a nonrefundable deposit. We are not trying to get that money back. We are trying to feed homless people with it, something that the owner already agreed upon way back in April and is now not willing to fulfill because his poor practices have now been called out and because I won't lie for him and remove the reviews. We are not being greedy or entitled. We are getting literally nothing out of this. We aren't even in Manitoba. I am not saying I think people should not give this company business, I don't wish that upon them but I will say proceed with caution.
