A couple of weeks ago I visited Icehouse, a Tex-Mex Southern restaurant on Roy near St. Laurent, and although I was salivating for more of their delicious food, the service left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
Where things went south at Icehouse, was the service. Upon arriving, I waited ten minutes at the entrance while two employees chatted near the cash. When I finally managed to make eye contact with a waitress behind the bar, she beckoned to me to come in and dismissively told me to sit where I like.
I took a seat along the bar wall and waited another ten minutes for someone to come over and ask me if I wanted something to start. I can understand if the restaurant seats 100 people and there are only a certain number of wait staff, but Icehouse can’t comfortably seat more than 20-25 people and there appeared to be enough wait staff for at least that. Over the course of the night a couple of waitresses walked back and forth, one a little angrier looking than the other. They completely ignored us until we had to turn around and yell to them that we either wanted another drink or, in the end, wanted to settle up.
I love the rustic décor, the familial way people gather on the edges of the benches to join their friends and laugh and have fun. It really is a great environment and I’m glad I finally tried it. The restaurant would be perfect if the staff communicated with each other a little more and paid a little more attention to the door. I will be going back again because everyone deserves a second shot and a second helping of their fine food.