There has to be more advantages to working for the local newspaper than what I am taking advantage of. Obviously I enjoy the cars, vacation homes, and private jets, but I still feel there has to be more. To that end, I have decided to write an article for the paper whenever the mood suits me. That mood would be pure and complete frustration, as the column title “Rod’s Rant” would indicate. My need to rant seems to increase with every passing year. Which brings me to today’s frustration.
It was my birthday on the weekend, and my wife thought it would be nice to take me, and the kids, to the Calgary Tower for Sunday brunch. The kids were very excited and we were looking forward to a nice meal.
All started well. We drove into Calgary with little to no traffic. We found free street parking right in front of the tower. Went up the elevator for free. The observation deck was very nice and even got the kids to walk on the glass floor. Then down to the restaurant one floor below.
My very first thought was “Oh my God, look at the carpet! I’m sure glad we still have our shoes on.”
I am not a prissy guy, but when I am spending that kind of money on a meal, I’d expect the carpet to have been changed, or cleaned, in the past 10 years. We were seated at our table and had a lovely view of Calgary. Unfortunately no Happy Birthday Mr. Songhurst or anything like that. Even though my wife made a point of telling them when she booked the reservation, and they assured her that they’d take care of me. We took a look at the menus, gulped hard, and went about ordering. I fully expected that along with the prices would come a meal not soon to be forgotten. Well, I guess that is what we got.
We ordered our drinks, a couple coffees, a chocolate milk and juice. (combined value: somewhere North of $12). OK, all is still fine, until I finish my coffee. Then we sit and wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, in order to get a refill we flag down someone who looked like a manager. I am a firm believer that I shouldn’t have to beg for a coffee refill at breakfast. The chocolate milk looked quite a bit like milk with Nestle Quik, but my daughter didn’t complain.
My wife’s meal of eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage and toast was the best of them all ($17). My meal was a cinnamon bun french toast ($18). That’s it. No bacon, hash browns, etc. It was dry and charred. Definitely the worst of this particular dish I have ever had. The kid’s menu consisted of two breakfast items. One was scrambled eggs, bacon and hash browns ($12). Both off my girls decided on the pancakes ($9) Once again, just three pancakes, no bacon, no drinks, no donuts, just pancakes and syrup. I didn’t try them, but the girls were not thrilled. Once we were done, we got the luxury of staring at dirty plates and empty coffee cups for a good 10 to 15 minutes.
Eventually our server brought the bill, and we managed to get a couple plates cleared, and got a coffee refill. This one was cold, though, so we didn’t drink it. We stopped at Timmy’s on the way home.
About 10 minutes later she came by and took payment. Finally, it was over. Up to the observation deck, then back home to Airdrie.
It seems insane that I can honestly say a meal at any Smitty’s or Denny’s would have easily trumped this.
Lesson learned: You don’t always get what you pay for and don’t be a tourist!
