Well, well, well. This little hobby has gotten very interesting in the past few weeks. It seems at least one person feels like we are being destructive by writing this blog. On the other hand many others are supporting and encouraging us. I for one am enjoying this project of trying out the restaurants in Lethbridge and hope to continue for a long time. Personally, I never intended to hurt anyone with this blog but only intended to be informative and entertaining. If I give a negative review it's because I ate a crappy meal or got lousy service on that particular day. It's as simple as that. Who knows, I might have a great experience the next time I visit the same place and I will say so.
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Recently we were recommended to try out the AM Cafe in the industrial park on the north side. So "M" and I headed over there. As we got closer it began to feel familiar and yes sure enough we had eaten there before, only it was called Coop's the first time. So in we went and found it quite busy inside. That's always a good sign. This is a great location for a little neighborhood restaurant because of the close proximity to working people who will need lunch. The staff were very friendly and helpful even tho' they were busy. I ordered the lasagne and after a short wait it was served hot and steaming. I dug in and started to blow on it to cool it off. It was tasty but not really lasagne. It was more like wide noodles with a meat sauce on them and then baked with cheese on top. I liked it and polished it off easily, a little more would have been nice but the portion size was fine. I'm sure most of the patrons here work nearby, but if you are in the area I would recommend you try it out. Sandwiches, pasta and pizza make up most of the menu items. "J"
Ya we both laughed as we got closer to the address, we realized we had been here before (when it was coops cafe) . I don't really have too much to say about am cafe. I ordered a mozza burger and fries. It was really just a burger and fries. I have way too many burgers, but for some reason I felt like one today. I thought the prices were ok here, but you really do only get that "cafe" or almost a "truck stop" kind of feel to this place. It wasn't too bad, my burger tasted pretty good, the fries were at least crispy. I doubt I'll make it back here soon, not because I didn't like the food, just the location. If you work around here its a good place to grab a quick lunch. It was so so for me today. I did leave full and satisfied with what I ordered. We could really use a suggestion for next week as we are finding it harder and harder to go somewhere new. Maybe we'll have to go somewhere we've been before and see the difference from last time. "M"
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Recently we were recommended to try out the AM Cafe in the industrial park on the north side. So "M" and I headed over there. As we got closer it began to feel familiar and yes sure enough we had eaten there before, only it was called Coop's the first time. So in we went and found it quite busy inside. That's always a good sign. This is a great location for a little neighborhood restaurant because of the close proximity to working people who will need lunch. The staff were very friendly and helpful even tho' they were busy. I ordered the lasagne and after a short wait it was served hot and steaming. I dug in and started to blow on it to cool it off. It was tasty but not really lasagne. It was more like wide noodles with a meat sauce on them and then baked with cheese on top. I liked it and polished it off easily, a little more would have been nice but the portion size was fine. I'm sure most of the patrons here work nearby, but if you are in the area I would recommend you try it out. Sandwiches, pasta and pizza make up most of the menu items. "J"
Ya we both laughed as we got closer to the address, we realized we had been here before (when it was coops cafe) . I don't really have too much to say about am cafe. I ordered a mozza burger and fries. It was really just a burger and fries. I have way too many burgers, but for some reason I felt like one today. I thought the prices were ok here, but you really do only get that "cafe" or almost a "truck stop" kind of feel to this place. It wasn't too bad, my burger tasted pretty good, the fries were at least crispy. I doubt I'll make it back here soon, not because I didn't like the food, just the location. If you work around here its a good place to grab a quick lunch. It was so so for me today. I did leave full and satisfied with what I ordered. We could really use a suggestion for next week as we are finding it harder and harder to go somewhere new. Maybe we'll have to go somewhere we've been before and see the difference from last time. "M"
You don't intend to hurt anyone? Who knows, you might have a great experience next time? Doesn't seem like that at all. Seems like you try to be funny but irresponsibly slam a restaurant and do serious damage to their reputation. A personal blog is fine. But how on earth are you published in the Lethbridge Journal. Comments in something that widespread are very serious. If you never intended to hurt anyone, then why use hurtful words in your reviews? In one review, you said that you would not return to a restaurant for ten years. How is that not being destructive and hurtful? Some reviews seem like they're personal or like you're blowing off steam. Do that elsewhere. Not in a widespread journal.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous reviews are ignorant, cowardly, and irresponsible.
Your reviews stink anyways. All you can eat sushi and crappy chinese food gets the best reviews. Awesome. Thanks for your help. Go away.
Crappy Chinese food? How can 1 billion people be wrong?
DeleteHere is a sentence that you shouldn't have say after eating in a restaurant, "maybe I will have a great experience next time". Any type of business should be consistent in the service they provide, you shouldn't have to visit a place multiple times to try and get there on a good day. If a place has bad service, it's not the fault of the customer, so why are you so bent out of shape about someone's opinion?
DeleteJeff, in your reply you tell the Nomads to "Go away". Well, I cant help but point out the obvious here...YOU ARE ON THEIR BLOG SITE! *Grins* ... Enough said.
DeleteI wouldn't let my dog eat at the AM cafe.
ReplyDeleteI ate here last month. It was terrible. I'll never go back.
ReplyDeleteSorry if it was horrible but never come on a Friday it's busy busy!
DeleteKeep up the good work guys! Certainly restauranteurs who make terrible food don't appreciate it when the truth gets out. Solution: cook better food.
ReplyDeleteI think the Nomads are doing a great job with this blog and I actually read the Lethbridge Journal just to look at your reviews. All of your reviews are typically very positive and informative and there are only a few places that you have negative reviews for. As in any business environment, people will clearly find great places and mediocre places as well as down right dumps. This applies to Restaurants as well.
ReplyDeleteI also love the fact that you are anonymous because it allows for you to have a regular customer experience as opposed to a staged review by a normal food critic, as restaurants will go above and beyond to give them the best food and service possible.
I frequent many restaurants in the city and can say I have had both great service and very poor service. The difference is that these days when you get poor service rather than have accommodating management you end up being treated like an idiot and typically nothing happens. This reminds me of the comment posted by Jeff above. It isn't hurtful what the Nomads say, it is their truthful (honest, everyday people) OPINION. In no way does it prohibit someone from going to a restaurant and experiencing the food and environment for themselves and making their own decision on whether they agree or disagree with the review given.
Rather than restaurant owners and management getting upset about a poor review I would invite them to be professional and ethical about their business practices and reply in these blogs with their input. If I saw a poor review on this blog and was able to see management or owners from that establishment come here and say...
"We are sorry you experienced poor service or food quality on the day of your visit, it is mandate and our everyday goal to provide the best food and service possible. We thank the Nomads for advising us of the negative experience and we will do everything in our power to make sure this does not happen in the future."
As a business owner I can tell you that if I read a reply like that from a restaurant establishment I would not only commend them for aknoledging their mistake but would go eat there again because I can see that they are doing their best to give me great service.
All in all lets keep the dialog going, lets hold our food establishments more accountable, and lets continue to let the people of this city give their honest opinions whether they are anonymous or not. This is Canada and there is freedom of speech and opinion, and citizens should not be banned from expressing such, whether it is in a blog or published in news paper.
@ M - I think that is a great idea that you start going back to places you have already visited. This will help in establishing whether the food or service, be it good or bad, is the same the second time around. It also gives the restaurants that were so-so a second chance to redeem themselves.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you make it known who you are, Instead of flying under the radar acting as if you might know something about the industry. Just because you and your Partner go out for lunch every Thursday doesn’t mean you can SLANDER Local companies. How do we know that you’re not a local restaurant owner just trying to hurt others to profit on your business.
ReplyDeleteI find what you’re doing to be offensive and wrong, what are you hiding from why don't you publish your names, or will the truth come out that you two are just a couple Mid to late 40's , Plus size men, live in your mothers basement spend all your free time playing Dungeon and Dragons. oh ya unemployed. My mom always told me if you can't say something nice...... Well why don’t you walk up the stairs and ask your mom to finish the Quote.
I hope after reading this you guys will come out of the basement, If your man enough to write it be man enough to stand up and say who you are, I would say that there are people who have put their heart and soul and life savings into these business’s ., Only to have a couple of Anonymous guys. Try to ruin it. Maybe you should tell us what business you guy work at or what company you own.
Then maybe you can feel the Hurt. I guess when you say who you are I will publish mine as well. I would even meet you to clowns for elephant ear at the circus.
Are you going to reply the same comment in every article? Should come up with something original for each one, oh and it sounds like you have mother issues too.
DeleteI laugh be this post cause the majority of us who are mid to late 40's aren't retarded when it comes to understanding good and bad food and good and bad service. You don't have to be a business man to understand that.
DeleteThen again this guy probably has his milk and elephant ears served to him by his mother.
I find the "stop flying under the radar, man up and tell us who you are" comments rather humorous coming from someone posting THEMSELVES as anonymous!!!!
DeleteThe only business offended or hurt (boo hoo) by negative customer feedback is BAD business!! PERIOD! Bottom line is this...if you don't want a bad review, hire competent staff, provide quality product and LISTEN to your customers!
How about we focus less on where the reviews are printed and put the onus BACK where it belongs...the business in question. If the business provided a decent service in the first place, there would be nothing negative to say!
I applaud the Journal for providing it's readers with UNBIASED reading material. There is nothing SLANDEROUS in these articles...GROW UP! Maybe the owner/manager of the business in question should MAN UP ( as it was so childishly suggested in a previous post) and post something acknowledging it's part in this mess.
How are these "average joes" doing anything different than any of us? If you have a crap experience someplace, do you not tell people about it?! I sure do. There are many platforms to express our opinions on, they have decided to blog. Obviously they have done something right to be picked up by the Journal! I appreciate reading articles written by people on my "level". I am tired of corporate bombardment telling me lies just to get my business! These guys are refreshing and honest!
Again to the slander, you, my friend, are like a pot calling a kettle black (as are the numerous flunkies postin with you)! These men are being attacked and slandered for having an opinion that the are legally and humanly entitled to in this country. At least they provide some professionalism in their blogs! "they are probably plus sized men living in their mothers basement, playing D n D" ... Really??? Wow, all I can say is go back to the playground where you belong.
These men do not have to be professional critics to decide whether or not food tastes good! They were born with taste buds ... as were you. If something tastes like crap...it's crap. Period! It also doesn't take a rocket scientist to see bad service. Comon.
I, like the Nomads, expect to get what I am paying for. They are not at fault here. Get off your soap box pal. It's about time people starting holding business's accountable for the service and products we pay for with ou hard earned dollar!!! GO NOMADS!
On a side note, if I see the Nomads not posted in the Journal because of this...I will lose all respect for them and journalism as a whole. You, Jeff, questioning the integrity of a well established, well respected paper for publishing articles FOR CONUMERS FROM COSUMERS shows your level of maturity. However, you sir, are entitled to your OPINION! FREEDOM of speech is a glorious thing! :)
Lost in Communist Canada...I was giving my professional sterio typing, freedom of speech, Slandering opinion. Did I hit a nerve with you and your room mate. If I did I'm sorry, Cheers
DeleteThe funny thing is some of the people posting on here that are bashing the Nomads and calling them names are owners or relatives of owners of a restaurant that got a slightly, and I say slightly negative review. That's a FACT and I suggest instead of crying to everyone you know like a little baby, man up, sit down with your staff and figure out what the problem is and fix it.
DeleteBoo Hoo...as I stated in my post you are entitled to YOUR opinion. So are the rest of us, including the Nomads. Here again, you make a generic assumption with the "my roommate" comment. In all honesty, your attempt at an insult was quite funny. Do you always respond to a challenge with a childish insult?!
DeleteI never challenged your right to an opinion. What I am challenging is your juvinile approach to the discussion. Stating an opinion is one thing, making personal attacks in the fashion you have, on more than one occasion, with no facts to back them up makes you look like an uneducated, classless idiot. You are not helping your cause at all. No one is taking you seriously!
I am not going to make a sarcastic apology back to you. I am going to simply say, I am not sorry for pointing out the obvious. Try expressing your opinion without the childish insults and maybe people will see the validity behind your words.
I think you work for the Journal and Maybe feeling some Presure...I may not be a Journalist, But I am far from uneducated. I find this whole thing quite funny(hense to humorous approach) I think most people have had a good laugh at my comments except maybe people who have something to lose.
DeleteI was hoping you found my comments funny not insulting. I see you have taken more than just my comments to heart. This burns a little deeper for you than just freedom of speech.
Dont worry take your diazepam (Valium) And relax. or have a glass of wine. But you are on edge. Your at 12 and we need you down to a 5 right now. Opps I did it again my juvinile approach. Boy I sure hope educated idiots like you can take me serious. opps was that a childish insult. My point is I don't take this Blog site serious, No body puts there name to anything, Its all Anonymous, Hell you could be my Sister or Brother, you might be the person I tell to go park my car..
Ok. Dude, you just proved Lost in Comm Canada's point with that blog.
DeleteYou are one walking grammatical/spelling error Boo. If you are an example of what the education system is spitting out, then I think the institution you went to needs a blog review also.
DeleteYou also do not seem to have the ability to debate or share an opinion without attacking someone. I have a different view point then Lost in regards to the restaurant issue but, I do share his/her opinion on the fact that your an idiot. I hope you are not representing these business's because it's you now, that is doing more harm than good.
woah woah woah buddy..I definitely would not describe the nomads stating their honest personal opinion on their experience as "slandering" a business. You are obviously a disgruntled restaurant owner who is not pleased with what you said about your restaurant.
DeleteDon't take it personally, as a respectable business person you should address these problems and maybe accept their say on your business as constructive criticism. If you really feel like they have affected your business in some way, you can not blame them--these are your own problems that you need to address. Not the fault of a blogger.
This is what blogs are for, people state their opinion across THEIR OWN BLOGS. GET OVER IT...It's Lethbridge
Why stop at restaurants? I hope the Journal starts posting anonymous reviews about other things as well. My dentist sucks. Here's everything I disliked in a full page spread! My neighbors an idiot, here's his name! Guess what church I dislike? LDS!! Not enough Sundays free. Free speech rules! Let everyone rant anonymously in the Journal!
ReplyDeleteI like my Dentist, I'm LDS , Hay are you my Neighbour, At least we agree lets all rant anonymously in the Journal, Why stop there lets see if the sun times and the Lethbridge Hearld will let us do the same. I hate city council and the toilet bowl building they work in. Wow this feels good. Cant wait to see the front page of the hearld tomorrow. Anonymous Bloggers hate everything with Lethbridge, That should get some feed back..
DeleteLuckily I can tell 1240pm anonymous is being sarcastic, but here's a question for you. Have you read ALL of the Nomad's reviews or just the couple that are somewhat negative? I doubt you took the time to have a look at all the positive reviews they have given local city restaurants. Also 1240pm, food and religion, not really the same thing and if you don't like your dentist, switch dentists.
DeleteHow is not the same thing? If you don't like your dentist switch dentists. I agree. The Lethbridge Journal printing a one page review about how you dislike your dentist would be outrageous. Why is a restaurant fair game? What exactly is the difference. If you don't like a restaurant can't you just switch restaurants?
DeleteDon't you see my point? Where does it end? I hated my math teacher last year...why can't I post a one page review in the Lethbridge Journal explaining why? It will help him do a better a job at teaching, won't it? And it will help others choose a different math teacher if they can. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Have you ever picked up a newspaper and seen a dentist review or a math teacher review? No, that's the difference. Restaurant reviews are all over the world, online and in print. For some reason people like to know about restaurants, it's international. Movie reviews are big too, people like to read them, does that mean that every movie review ever should be 100% positive? I don't think so.
DeleteI have never seen an anonymous review of a restaurant in a newspaper. On-line, yes. Newspaper, no.
ReplyDeleteJust searched internet and still cannot find any other newspaper running an anonymous restaurant review...I'll let you know when I find one.
ReplyDeleteWho Cares?! Why waste your time...maybe you should get a life instead!
DeleteThat's just it. There are not just negative reviews. There are also positive reviews and NO ONE had a problem with the anonymity when it was positive feedback. I don't view it as a rant at all. HELL, if we could have a column about personal experience in many different environments, dentists included (lol)...wicked!
Delete"Food for thought"...how is an anonymous article in the Journal different than the Roasted and Toasted in the Herald? Both are print forums that allow both positive and negative feedback. I have seen roasts in there that make the nomads reviews look like child's play.
ReplyDeleteWell, looks like nobody cares what these guys are saying, only that they're saying something.
ReplyDeleteI very much appreciate your blogs. Thanks for doing this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review about my restaurant! Sorry if it didn't taste good on the Mozza Burger '.' But I hope it's better next time. Friday's are always busy so we really are in a rush (or any day that's busy) because we only have 1 main cook but sometimes 2! Hope you come back next time! :)
ReplyDelete