Timbers - Thunder Bay

7/22/17: We're late and we're hungry. We wanted to go to Hanger 25, but it was closed. That was our only choice at the hotel. We went to the Hostess booth and could say they didn't want us in the dining room. We went to her proposal and sat in the bar area. The bartender was obviously liquid and very busy, although the place was dead. He forgot our wine and was abrupt when he ordered our food. After we ordered the daily special of Pad Thai, he said the price was too high and he reduced it by $5.00; that was very nice, but not right. When we got the food, he was right, it wasn't worth it. It wasn't Pad Thai. It was good, but not what we expected. We ordered cream brûlée to dessert, and it was served in a large soup bowl. While it may seem as a bonus to get so much of a good thing, it only confirmed that they do not know what they are doing.

We went for the New Years Buffet to find they did not offer it this year. The meal offered for New Years Eve for $48 very disappointing. The salad had next to no dressing. The steak was ok but covered in gravy which was very bland. None of us could taste any garlic in the mashed potatoes. The baked potato was very overcooked. The veggie were so cold we sent it back to the kitchen. The desserts offered sounded good but the apple crisp was still raw so people in our party took it to go to cook it further at home. The Creme Brûlée was terrible, cold solid not in the slightest creamy. Definitely expected much better service from the Valhalla but we kept being told they had 2 weddings on so were very busy. Then either they needed more staff or should have closed Timbers for the evening. We will not be back again.

Ate at Timbers twice. Continental breakfast was O.K. but the dinner was extremely disappointing. I ordered the most expensive item on the menu (Ribeye steak, medium rare) and it arrived very dry and we'll done. Waitress didn't bat an eye to my comment of it being overcooked, promptly offered A1 to mask the dryness. Bleh. So much for a nice dinner. Will eat elsewhere next time.

My family went for brunch and were told they could only order from the buffet and not the menu. I knew I would not be able to eat because of my food allergies but the rest of our party did. My husband said to me, “perhaps there are a few things you could pick off my plate that would be safe for you. You shouldn’t have an empty stomach.” So I did try a few morsels and no sooner had I done so when the waitress came and plunked a plate beside me and said, “no sharing!” Not only had she embarrassed our family but she actually argued with me when I explained why I could not order from the buffet. She then said “I hope you’re carrying an EpiPen because of cross contamination.” And I told her I had two of them in my purse. She then said she’d have to charge me for the bits of food I had eaten.” I said “I’ve never heard of a restaurant doing such a thing.” And she said, “I’ve never heard of a restaurant that doesn’t.” In the end I was not charged for the buffet but it was never about the money. It was about my personal health. My poor review is because of the discourteous and embarrassing way I was treated. After this incident, my husband said, “Did she really think it was about the money? We are spending over $3,000 this weekend at the Valhalla with paying for our out of town guests and the buffet dinner for our grandson’s baptism.” Needless to say, I will never be back.

Stayed at the Valhalla for two nights and three days. After my first night stay i came for breakfast at Timbers and the atmosphere seemed decent. However, my waitress took about 15 minutes to even take my order (there was like just over a dozen people, most having eaten or eating), and was incredibly slow and seemed to have a difficult time taking simple orders for the ambassador breakfast. The food was ok, nothing at all special and the eggs under cooked. The cost was high for what you didn't get, only two eggs, barely toasted toast, a spoonful of hashbrowns, and a tiny morsel of cantaloupe. Ended up costing $17 for breakfast and coffee which i normally get more of in Atikokan, not to mention for much less and cooked to order as i asked. After a terrible experience I then had to wait again for my bill.. Another 15 minutes or so, and ended up being late for my work training because of all the delays. One hour in total to get my breakfast, eat quickly, and get out. Day 2 I tried once more as I've previously worked in the business and people have bad days. Day two was NOT any better. The food was the same, eggs running all over my plate even though i asked them medium/firmer. I got even less of a morsel of fruit today... It was a piece of watermelon that was 80% rind.. I get that this is a garnish, but come o now, why even bother with food quality like this? The waitress today was MUCH better, but even good service can't save bad food. I was smarter this time and asked for my bill as soon as i ordered to prevent being late waiting again. Day 3 my girlfriend was in the restaurant with her two kids and sat near the kitchen/serving window and got to hear a lovely conversation with the cook and a waitress about sex and how many times he's gotten laid lately. Isn't this a family restaurant?? Absolutely appalled!!! End of day 3 I'm exhausted and apparently a sucker for punishment and figured we'd grab a quick bite before heading home and see how the evening cook and staff perform. The waitress was good, but brought us milk with something red floating in it.. She apologized and brought me another with a slightly dirty exterior on the glass. She also felt the need to assure me she didn't fish it out and this is indeed new milk and a glass.. Not sure how i should feel about that bit of information. I had the steak sandwich and it was terrible. The cook had it almost medium well when i requested medium rare, and it was NOT the 8oz as advertised. My girlfriend overheard the cook saying they'll just use the 6oz.. The steak was barely warm when i got it, and it had what looked like (and tasted like) it only had a tiny pinch of steak spice on it. My girlfriend was equally unsatisfied with her beef dip. I will never return to this overpriced, sad excuse for a restaurant. This place deserves the rating it has and i should have headed the warnings.