Esplanade Bier Markt

The appetizer was brie & lobster fondue was yummy. But the the main course was beef fondue, which was just a few sticks on skewers, potatoes, mushrooms and more random vegetable.
The service was not that great as it was hard to get a hold of the server and the place wasn't packed either.

I booked a table for 18 people @ Bier Markt.

All was fine, even till the point the reservation coordinator asked me to sign a contract to legalize my commitment & this was done after I have given my credit card number for them to charge a deposit of $315, many days before the actual event.

With this contract, it outlined our party of 18 will be served in a private dining area, $35 winterlicious menu, & the bill for the bar will be left open. In order to be in this 'private area', there is a minimum of $700 food + drinks spending. We decided to go ahead with the booking/contract.

So Feb 2 came. We arrived & was brought to to an open area, which in fact was just a 3 steps high platform on the far left side of the restaurant, wide open to the bar & the public area. Across from this area is where the kitchen & washrooms are. In the same area, there were at least another 3 table of 2-4 enjoying their dinner

I spoke to the manager. Of course he gave the usual explanation saying "oh this people are going to the game & will be leaving within 15 to 20 minutes. After that, this "SEMI PRIVATE" area will be exlcusive for your party. I questioned him 'so now this is called a semi private area? The reservation coord. never bring this to my attention. If I & my party is not really being served in a private area, what difference does it make signing a contract or not? I have to go through so much hassle to edit & review the contract because there were mistakes & there are clauses which do not apply to our dinner time.

I asked the waiter to see what he can do for us, e.g round of drinks/appertizer. He promised to talk to the manager. So we proceed w/ our drinks order. I remember clearly on the front of their beer menu, it says "Over 100 brands" of beer from all over the world. So I picked a beer out of it, told the waiter. He replied, I am sorry we do not have that in stock. I was piss at that time already about the seating arrangement & then the beer I want is out of stock when they try to market themselves as a restaurant carrying beer from many places around the world. So I picked my #2 beer. Long behold, same story! No Stock. I was going to snap! What kind of crap restaurant is this.

The waiter did not end up coming back w/an reply w/regards to my request, about doing something to please my crowd & to calm me down. He just never replied, not even saying 'sorry my manager cannot do anything'

1. made customer sign contract to book a 'semi private' room when it is not even a room
2. screw up on the contract which wasted me time reviewing & editing
3. put beer in the menus when they do not/have not been serving them for a while, yet market themselves as 'beer from all over the world'
4. waiter promised to get back to me about his manager's response but never did.

Bottomline, this restaurant has pissed me off last night, & they did it once already on December 23.

I am giving you all heads up what to expect for your money.

Went for drinks and snacks with a friend around 11PM on a Thursday night. The hostess asked if we came for dinner or just drinks and appetizers; we responded with the latter. She directed us to the bar area and said we could sit anywhere we like. We walked around the bar area and there was no place to sit (even for the two of us). I returned to the hostess and asked her if it would be alright if we sat in the dining area as there was no place to sit in the bar area. The dining area had perhaps 4 tables occupied, and over 20 tables unoccupied. She responded, "The dining area is for our full dinner guests only" I was shocked that this establishment would prefer I spend my money elsewhere than to have me sit at one of there many available tables on a relatively slow night. I have been to the Bier Markt once before where the same rule applied and enjoyed several $10+ beers. Is this markup not sufficient for me to occupy an empty table on my return visit? I have never been refused a table at a restaurant before, especially one that is at perhaps 20% capacity. Toronto has thousands of restaurants who are very happy for your business. My advice to others is to avoid this place.