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It's Thursday April the 12 around 10:28PM and

Over it: Chill Winston...

You are dead to me, Mr. Chill Winston. Dead, sir.

Okay. Let me explain. And yes, I totally retract this early review. Sure when you opened last year, your unisex bathrooms were sort of cute. Cute in that late 1990's I want to smack Ally McBeal in the face kind of a way. Sure the patio is pretty great - until you realize it is a pretty lame patio in the middle of gastown practically on the street. But last Friday this 'hotspot' had the worst waitress working in the entire city and delivered the worst service I've ever recieved in a bar/restaurant in Vancouver. A dubious honor if there ever was one.

The scene: It took three try's to get the blonde beer I ordered. So close to the three strikes, your out rule. It was like the server didn't want to make money - and that was clear after our table was finished, ready to go, money out ready to pay and 20 minutes went by. I actually went up to her at the computer with cash in hand asking to pay and she had the nerve to say, "No. I have 5 other things to do first can you go see the manager." Say what? You won't take my money? Are you nuts?

The manager tried to help, but he didn't seem to grasp that this girl was completely useless. Although hopefully he got it later, which might explain this job ad. I guess when your service is actually worse and slower than, say, the Cambie, you have problems. And need new wait staff.

In short. I'm so over you Chill Winston.

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Comments

Posted by: Jordan Stewart

April 13, 2007 08:35 PM

Hello Jackson,

My name is Jordan. I am a co-owner at Chill Winston. I am sorry to hear that you had a rough go of it last week at CW. I wanted to comment on your posting, not to challenge your opinions, but to apologize for letting you down.

I am actually aware of your exact situation; it was raised at our night-end staff meeting and at our management meeting the next day. Your server, as you're well aware, was overwhelmed. Unfortunately you were seated in a section that was extremely challenging; the bulk of the section was occupied by a group that kept changing in size, had guests playing musical chairs, and even had people abandoning their bills. She buckled. And we didn't catch her in time. That, I'm afraid, is entirely my fault. I'm sorry that you suffered as a result of it.

I can assure you that we are well recognized for having great service; your experience is an anomaly.

Please do come introduce yourself to me and allow me the opportunity to reacquaint you to the goodness that is Chill Winston. I'd be happy to buy you dinner and the blonde ale you were denied that night.

One last note: I'm also sorry that your experience has so dramatically altered your perceptions of our washrooms and our patio. Alley McBeal aside, the washroom design is a great space-saver and we think the sun-always-on street-side patio offers the best people-watching in the city. We're itching for that first perfect sunny day of 2007. Maybe that'll be the day I bust out a blonde ale for you.

Jordan.