Saint James Resto-Bistro - Review

1110, rue Saint-Jean
Québec, QC G1R 4H8
Canada
1 800 463-6283
(418) 692-1030, poste 7002

Our first night in old Quebec City, we went looking for a restaurant. Many of them were full and had patrons waiting in line at the front door. We entered a few and asked for a table for 5, and they all told us it would be a 20-30 minute wait. One said it would be an hour long wait; of course we by-passed this one. Finally, we came to the Saint-James Resto-Bistro, located underneath the Hotel Manoir Victoria. The menu looked different from what the 5 of us were accustomed to, so we were very interested.

J. asked for a table and he was told we were 5th in line after 4 other parties (small and medium sized). We figured that would be about 20-40 minutes, just like all the other restaurants. So we decided to stay and wait. Thirty minutes later, we were still waiting, except that by this point, not only were the four parties ahead of us seated, but 2 other parties behind us were also seated and served. Granted, they were only parties of 2.

The maitre d' came out a few times, and this time found someone in line behind us whom she recognized. They were a group of 6 and they went inside no problem. We had to wait another 15 minutes and watch another part of four move ahead of us to a table inside. When there was no one else waiting behind us, that's when they gave us a table. To our horror, we were not seated at a table for five. We got a booth table and a bar stool was added at the end. This meant that T. had to sit in the aisle.

We sat there for 10 minutes before the waiter came to ask if we wanted any drinks. When he came back later to take our orders, he asked us: "How are you doing with the menu? Do you have any questions? Shall I give you a few more minutes?" He asked all three questions without pausing in between to give us a chance to reply. This made me wonder, DID HE REALLY WANT TO SERVE US AT ALL? 'Cause it sure as hell didn't sound like it.

The food was very good. This was some of the best pasta I've ever had. I couldn't finish it all, as much as I wanted to. The iced tea was so sour, I wonder if they made it that way on purpose just to spite us for reasons I do not know.

This has to rank as one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had. Next time a similar occurrence arises, I will bitch and insist we go elsewhere. Why should I let someone treat me like that?

I give this restaurant ** out of five for the food. But, I'm compelled to take away these ** because of the horrible way we were treated.