Rideau Carleton Raceway

It's been a long time since we went to Rideau Carlton Raceway and Casino. A raceway it is, but hardly a casino. There are slot machines everywhere and I have yet to find a gaming table. That said, we the slots only anyway.Before finding a machine, we like to go the restaurant for lunch. Long gone is the "Fab 5" specials menu where you got a meal for CDN$5 plus tax and tip). It wasn't a big portion, but it was fine. That menu still exists, it's just called "Daily Specials" and it now costs CDN$7.29 plus tax and tip. They still have 2 choices per day and the menu is written on a board at the place where you wait to be seated. Today's menu (July 15, 2017) consisted of beef stew, and a freshly prepared chicken & bacon sandwich with cheese, served with a choice of soup, salad or fries. As I do not eat meat, I decided to order the sandwich.Once seated, the waitress came to our table to remind us of the specials. My partner ordered the beef stew and I ordered the sandwich without the cheese. The waitress told me the kitchen staff would not do that. When I asked why she said the sandwiches were already prepared. I asked her to bring the sandwich as it was and I would remove the cheese myself. She replied with "You can't do that" because it was a panini and had to be pressed. At this, I told her not to press the sandwich and her reply was simply the sandwich had to be pressed. There are two things wrong with that: I'd requested a non-pressed sandwich from which I would remove the cheese It could not be done. (I should have known better because in Ontario if it isn't in the book, it can't be done. I've had several incidents like this in many restaurants in Ontario where wait-staff and cooks are unwilling to honour a customer's request).Instead of pursuing this illogic, I ordered the clam chowder. It was a nice thick hot chowder with plenty of potato and very little in the way of clam. I found exactly 5 pieces of clam, and they were morsels of clam that had been chopped up. There was also too much flour in the chowder. It was good, but not the taste I'd hoped for.AT the end, we asked for the bill, and when our waitress arrived to give change she literally threw the bills and coins on the table. Rideau-Carlton Raceway, it was your last chance!

Crowded but able to walk in and get a table. Friday night is more expensive at $19.99 but has more variety than first days of the week. Roast beef and roast pork were very tasty. This particular day was a good experience.

Went for buffet dinner Monday night. $12 after beverage purchase. Everything of low or poor quality. Roast beef though. Mac & cheese horrible, Pork ribs tasted like chemicals, most deserts were ****. Salad bar was OK. Except somebody forgot to skin the potatoes before make potato salad.

Good value buffet however On a recent trip I was very offended twice by the staff. The first time a person was trying to get a fahita without the wrap, he wanted veggies and chicken and the person on the table was rude and laughed at him. When the man left the staff proceeded to tell another staff about the incident in a very unkind manner. The same night when I went to get the Cajun shrimp, he put 4 shrimp on my plate and when I asked for more, he would only give me 2 more. It was supposed to be SeaFood night? Also since the changes, there seems to be a grid lock at the main course area. People getting from the table and people getting roast beef hit head on and everyone is stuck and can go nowhere. Our server that night was very poor and preferred talking with other staff to making sure we had water. The price is always reasonable though and no one should ever leave hungry. I am always disappointed because with roast beef I am always sad when there are no mashed potatoes...guess that one is just a personal choice comment. Always clean.

The Monday to Wednesday buffet deal is not the most elaborate buffet you'll ever either, but the vegetables are fresh, the staff are very friendly and it offers good value