For those interested in scoping out a brand new establishment, Red’s Diner recently opened a location in Ramsay. The diner’s first day of business was Thursday, October 10, and the spiffy new decorations boast it; the gleaming, brand new, and stylishly modern, yet rustic décor making Red’s the perfect spot to spend a sociable Sunday afternoon with friends or family. Not only this, but Red’s is also a pleasant stroll away from Inglewood’s main street, and the many shopping attractions there.
Upon arrival the staff was both friendly and prompt, quick to seat patrons, and to bring glasses of ice water to the table. When ordered, the drinks also came fairly briskly, and the server described how many orders were already in the kitchen, giving an idea of how long the wait might be. However, it was evident that Red’s still has some kinks to work out of their system after October’s grand opening. Food was fairly slow arriving for an order of breakfast dishes during off-hours, about 15 to 20 minutes, even with the restaurant half full and only three orders ahead of us. Also, dishes that were prepared sat on the service counter while the rest of the food was brought out, and until a server was available to take the order out, making for a less-than-ideal warm meal.
While the food was somewhat slow to arrive, considering it was mid-afternoon (not during peak times) it is still recommended that one visit Red’s mid-afternoon (between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. is most likely best), as during peak hours the wait is be much longer due to crowds. That being said, as the restaurant is newly opened, there is a good chance that Red’s will better streamline their dining experience in the near future.
While the decor and design of the restaurant gave it a trendy, upscale look, the atmosphere of the restaurant was not as ambient as its design. The music played consisted mostly of ‘80s punk and new wave, including bands such as Eurythmics and The Clash, and fit in well with the booth and counter-style diner. The funky feel of the diner, however, was disrupted by an excess of background noise, from both the kitchen and from the loud chatter of various customers, which would make for a drowning procession of noise during the busiest hours.
As for the diner’s restroom facilities, they were clean and new, although those
wishing to use them had to go to the building’s basement for access, and the bathrooms themselves were quite small, with only two stalls.
Reviewers on restaurant review sites, such as Urbanspoon, were polarized in their views of Red’s, with many of the reviewing patrons either loving or hating the restaurant. Complaints about the restaurant included that the portions and quality were not adequate for the pricing, and that staff service was marginal at best. However, other reviewers loved Red’s, many dubbing it their favourite breakfast destination, with delicious meals and a stylish ambiance. One dish in particular that seemed quite popular among reviewers was the Eggs Benedict ($14), a dish consisting of two poached eggs on an english muffin, with back bacon and hollandaise sauce, an emulsion of liquid butter and egg yoke usually seasoned with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The dish is then served with a selection of fresh fruit and hash browns.
Unfortunately, the dish seemed to be sitting out “waiting” for the other dishes to be fully prepared as upon arrival the hashbrowns and eggs were lukewarm, with areas of the hashbrowns almost completely chilled. On the whole, this dish was very sub-average, with the Eggs Benedict being not much better than standard fare similar to
what one might get at a hotel with a breakfast menu. While the hollandaise was very rich and creamy, it was just a little bit too buttery, and the butter taste was overpowering compared to the dish’s other flavours.
All in all, the food itself was of a mediocre standard, while the aesthetic appeal of the diner and the attentive, friendly dedication of the staff was admirable. As the restaurant recently opened, I suggest giving it a try in about a month, as by then all of the start-up mistakes should be worked out, and Red’s should be up and running to their full potential. The cool atmosphere and friendly staff is enough to merit a visit to their new location at least once, so check it out!
Red’s in Ramsay is located at 1101 8 St SE. For more information their website is www.redsdiner.com or they can be phoned at 587-353-1188.
