Oscars Restaurant

NEVER AGAIN! Even if it was free! Horrible, horrible service.

Started right at the door with the greeting. We had reservations yet they still did not have the table ready. They came right away to take the order but took them forever to bring it. No problem though. Rushed us through the meal. No problem, we expected that since it was Barrielicious.

Here's the BIG problem however. When we ordered we decided that we wanted only "house" red wine. When the bill came the price of the wine was inflated up for some reason. When questioned the server became belligerent and stated that they "ran out" of house wine and substituted for a better wine without our knowledge. So we told them we did not want that substitution and they responded with “well that’s what we did and that’s the price” with an attitude we have never experienced in Toronto. The server said they would “speak” with the bartender. I watched as she walked past the bartender, went to the kitchen, came out and served someone else’s table- She never even spoke with the bartender! She returned saying that “we made the substitution and that is the price”. She presented me out bill and stood there waiting while I took out my wallet, etc and would not leave until she received payment.

Now my girlfriend and I are not concerned with the extra $12.00. She is a surgeon and I am an engineer so we are not by all mean hurting for money but the point is the horrible, horrible service and condescending attitude given by the server. My girlfriend dine regularly as a doctor at the finest restaurants in Toronto and both of us at mainly mid-scale restaurants and neither of us has been treated so poorly. Oscar’s recently had a “pay what you feel” event and we couldn’t even bear to go there to dine and tell them what happened last time while then pay them NOTHING! Even with paying nothing we felt it would be too much considering what happened last time.

Word of mouth is a good and bad thing. Since our experience we were invited to a birthday event with over dozen people and we told them we could not go with them to Oscar’s based upon the above experience, they changed the restaurant and we went.

Avoid Oscar’s like the plague. Horrible service & mediocre food.

The service here seemed too unprofessional for a restaurant of its class. And the Atmosphere was not nice. Poorly decorated with some borderline creepy artwork. The food however was very good. Very smll portions, so don't go if you are very hungry, but incredibally well made, very tasty. I will need to try it again before I completely condemn it.

Took the girlfriend here for an anniversary meal and we were not disappointed. Quick, courteous service and the food was simply to die for. Will definitely be going back to try other things on the menu.

Downsides? The restaurant isn't in a prime viewing location being opposite an RBC. The deserts were a little mis-leading, too: the chocolate desert didn't have any noticeable chocolate in it.

While the food was very nice the whole expierince was overshadowed by the poor service. Upon arrival we stood for approx. fifteen minutes while staff flew past us every few minutes and not once did anyone mention they would be with us in a moment. We had reserved a private room but was told it was now not available and our table was still not quite ready, would we like to wait at the bar. We waited at the bar for another fifteen minutes before anyone asked if we would like to order a drink.
Having visited Oscars a few years ago we were excited to go back and were looking forward to a similar good expierience, unfortunatley things have deteriated over the years and this is one resturant we will not go back to.

My husband and I went there for mother's day and I was very impressed. I think the people that wrote bad reviews are also people who prefer pub food over real food. The food was fresh and the flavours were beautiful. Right after we ordered they gave us a complementary smoked salmon on a flat bread as an "amuse bouche" to satisfy our hungery. Nice touch. Our meal followed soon after and our waiter was very professional and friendly. For dessert my 3 creme brule tasters were amazing. One of them was a dark spicy chocolate with cayenne, it was faboulous! If you are someone who likes large portions and simple comfort foods, then you will not like this place. This is a restaurant for people with a more sophisticated palate. Enjoy.

I have visited ther a few times the first being many years ago, things were good alll the reviews and raves, sometimes I think they can certainly be paid off for a great review in a food publications, however this time during the last few visits the food was just ok and service not pleasant and rushed I think they are not sure of themselves and are tring to be a small yuppy nightclub to get the drinkers and kick out the real diners.I don't think we could ever return how we felt this last time.

Do yourself a favour and disregard all of the bad reviews about Oscar's on this site - seems some people just need something to complain about.
We were graciously greeted upon our arrival at Oscar's and were offered our choice of two very nice tables. The restuarant is chic and simple with appropriate lighting.
I've worked for a couple of food publications and as such have sampled much fare in many restaurants and I can honestly say that Oscar's can compete with the best of them! The waiters were very knowledgeable about food and wine pairings and suggested the perfect matches to our courses. The appetizers were outstanding - the calamari cooked perfectly (not an easy feat), the creme brule a treat to the tastebuds, and the house smoked salmon never fails to satisfy. The flatbread was an interesting combination of shaved prime rib and Gorgonzola cheese - an amazing match!
The Ahi Tuna was melt-in-your mouth perfect, the spring rolls crispy and not at all oily, and the veggies were exotic and steamed to a tender-crisp that made them a true taste delight. The marinated chicken breast was crisp on the outside and very tender and juicy on the inside - also not an easy thing to achieve since we all know how easily poultry breast dries out. And you may think a squash-filled ravioli is an odd idea, but it was mouth-wateringly delicious! Dessert did not fail to impress either - rich and luscious in every way!!
If you are looking for a traditional meal with big portions stick with the chains. If you are looking for a true culinary adventure that rivals anything Toronto can put on, then do yourself a huge service and visit Oscar's!

Upon arrival we were greeted by a rather unfriendly and snobbish hostess - the phone rang twice and she answered it leaving us standing in the entrance. Is it not best manners to look after those who were there first? Particularly since one of the phone calls was not work related.
We booked our table approximately 3 weeks in advance and were seated outside the washroom door. Meanwhile, friends had called two days earlier and were seated in a much better location. We asked for another table preferably away from the washroom but our hostess was unhelpful, unapologetic and rude.
We ordered the house red wine, apparently from Chile. We tried it and it was substandard. I mentioned to the server that it tasted 'homemade' and he told us that it was!
Our server was fantastic - helpful and friendly. I believe that he is one of the founders of Barrielicious. He had a great attitude and was extremely professional. His service deserves a 10 however our hostess is deserving of a 3!
It's too bad that the rest of our experience, including the food, was dismal!
I had heard mixed reviews about Oscar's in the past but decided after a seven year sabbatical from the restaurant I would give it a try. Never again.
Michael & Marion's, Groovy Tuesday's, Crazy Fox and Garraway's are by far superior - and without the attitude!

I've been going to Oscars every year for my anniversary this year like everyother was fantastic. The food is always perfectly cooked and carefully sasoned. Service was prompt and professional. The people of Barrie should be proud to have a world class restaurant. A true foodie spot!

When i'd first heard about oscars I expected nothing but good things, despite it being an early twenty something hangout it still sounded promising. I walked in and things were nice, but a little faux classy. (For people with lots of money and little taste) The atmosphere was pleasant, the drunk college girls not too tipsy. We got our crab cakes which were just ok, moved onto the wine list. Suprised to see Dom and fine wine on the menu, (who would buy a 300$ bottle and be at this place???) friendly service. We had left money on the table for our bill with huge tip and left... apparently this wasn't ok because the waitress expected us to go to the counter to pay for our bill. When we'd left someone had stolen our money from the table. We went back later only to find out that it wasn't a good idea to leave money on the table in this place, no classy place has these kinds of problems and if I paid 300$ for a bottle of champagne i'd expect the waitress to come pick up my bill I certainly wouldn't expect someone to steal our money from the table either. FAUX CLASS.