User Reviews for Nirvana
Back to Nirvana
staff there are humans too just lay off and i like how good looking they are...friendly and hot my kind bar
Ben Stevens's Rating: 4 Stars |
 |
I live in the hood of both Nirvana and the Red Room.
They are both = good, cheap eats.
Staff = very friendly and nice.
Good food I don't mind if it's slow, it tastes great and is easy on the wallet.
Phil's Rating: Stars |
|
@Cheap Eats Yum!
I did not get fired from there, i have never worked at nirvana. i do know a bunch of people that have worked, and currently work, at nirvana, the green room and the red room (all the same owners) and they get paid about six bucks an hour, if that. this is vastly under the minimum wage, not to mention illegal, and i'm just sayin that i'm sure the staff overall would be better if they felt respected enough to get paid minimum wage.
please don't jump to conclusions, as i am a customer there too. i have had lots of great experiences. i just read people's complaints about service and offered a possible solution.
Sam's Rating: Stars |
|
Sounds like somebody got f i r e d. It's about time they turnover some of the staff there, service can be interesting at times. Some, not all, even though all of them really are hot to lock at ha! Don't slander a place because you suck at your job man Still, a great place to get tipsy those martini nights and boy, do I love their avocado and brie sandwich.
Cheap Eats Yum!'s Rating: Stars |
|
if the owners paid the staff the legal minimum wage and spent less on decor the atmosphere would be 100% better i bet. how can they do that?
Sam's Rating: 2 Stars |
|
I live nearby and go to Nirvana quite often. I have never had a bad experience with the food..everything I've had has been really good. I agree that coffee/cappucino should be avoided here though. Its a great atmosphere and its often my destination for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks; its always the perfect choice. Really cheap too!
when you go however, be aware that the service is really hit or miss (usually a miss at night). Sometimes i have the friendliest server and other times i could just slap them for being so rude! honestly...you feel bad for being there sometimes cause it means they actually have to work. If you want something, ask for it...don't assume they will bring you utensils, water, sugar for you coffee, a napkin....service really isn't even in their vocabulary.
all that being said, i keep going back! so that has to tell you just how much i love it. do not go if you are in any bit of a hurry, let go of all reasonable expectations with regards to service, and enjoy the music and cheap, tasty food!
S.'s Rating: 3 Stars |
|
Sometimes I sit back corner of Nirvana, order the chicken pad Thai and take my pants off and eat. But don't worry I tip graciously ;)
Dan Fudelmen 's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Well I just ate here tonight and the BLAT (Bacon lettuce avacado tomato) sandwich was delicious. $5.75!! The staff were actually really attentive. I don't know why everyone's bashing them on here.. here are a few of my few observations:
a) The staff is very good looking. This is not a bad thing. Google "sex sells". The guy with the beard was my server and he was really down to earth and friendly. Good work.
b) The food is consistently good and the price is always right.
c) The atmosphere is refreshing, Good music but at a volume where you can actually hear what your friend is saying. This was handy in understanding my friend's thinking behind his view on why 'Where The Wild Things Are' represents everything that is wrong with democracy.
d) this is not an observation but I'm coming back on Wednesday because domestics are $3.50 after tax.
Overall grade: A-
Mike Dillonski's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
After reading the bad reviews on this site, I felt I had to speak up about my positive experiences. I live in the area and I go to Nirvana every few days for lunch. I have had nothing but great experiences. Last week I went both Monday and Tuesday, was served quickly and by friendly staff (same young woman both days) that could talk about the menu. The food was tasty, affordable, and the atmosphere was pleasant.
Alyssa's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
since nirvana opened its been a great hangout for people in the neighbourhood but in the last six months its gone downhill FAST. The staff there is friendly and attentive but the wait times and the general cleanliness of the facilities are ridiculous. something needs to be done to save this place.
Kc's Rating: 3 Stars |
|
dear owner of Nirvana,
you need to seriously fucking reconsider your staff. Im pretty sure yu hire (wait wait, im DEAD SURE) you hire based ONLY on looks and not on ability, because every EVERY member of your staff is completely useless (except some curly haired dude with some sort of fuzz on his face who sort of kind of looked like he was doing his job) your food is awesome, the atmosphere is great, but your employees in the serving staff keep showing that they are unable to do their jobs properly.
As for the staff of Nirvana..we understand that you are mad angsty good looking art kids but no one fucking cares, so fucking wait your tables serve the food, do you really expect to keep getting tips? GOD i would drop mad tips if my waiter actually waited on me.
im always polite, but still you people fuck up royally,
me along with atleast 10 people i know will not ever be stepping foot in this fucking shitty service restaurant.
80 % Of Customers.'s Rating: Stars |
|
All I can say is --- DIRTY.
The restaurant was filthy, dustballs were floating around the floor right under our feet. The glasses and coffee cups had some sort of black, waxy substance glued to them which we couldn't get off. The tables were filthy. And worst of all I found not one, not two but THREE hairs in my very mediocre sandwich.
Definitely cheap, but you are obviously getting the little that you are paying for. I would never, ever, go back to Nirvana. It needs a serious health and sanitation inspection.
Ralinda's Rating: 1 Stars |
|
Derail!
Fuhgeddabout the Red Room. They don't allow kissing.
I was on a first date there. So after much chat and some drinks, I go to grab the bill. My date reaches for it too. A struggle ensues. I have it in my hands, raised above my head. Next thing I know, the date she straddles me, going for the bill. All over me. lol.
The owner steps in, with a Victorian scowl on her face... like, yo, lady, we be fightin' over the tab. Guess she thought that was sex. HA!
Fuck'em. Keep your old school culture and assumptions at home, k?
I won't be going back, see.
Nirvana it is.
LittleRedRooster's Rating: Stars |
|
I really really like this place. Tasty food, nice staff, and a patio made for people watching. There's a real comfy vibe going on here. Good for brunch, good for dinner, good for drinks. It is definitely my happy place :-)
Highly recommended!
T.S.'s Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Solid solid place. Solid ambiance, solid food, solid staff and best of all, solid prices, any day of the week!
I love it here, the shrimp are so big, can't beat it.
On a side note, if you want water, ask for it. Don't sit there waiting to be coddled like a 4 year old baby. Most of the populace prefer beer I'm sure, I especially like the delicious apple one they've got on tap.
Kat's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Used to love this place! last 4! times the service has been disgustingly brutal, no water, takes 20 minutes before anyone checks up on you, they iggle at the bar not paying attention to people who worked hard for money to eat only to be ignored, cold cold pad thai, terrrrrrrrible service, good music.. terrible service. asked for the bill/// waitress comes back 15 minutes later says "how are things?" " can we please get the bill?" "oh..oh yeah"..
went up to pay debit and there was someones credit card just laying on the table for me to grab i had to mention to the staff that they may want to be more responsible and not leave customers credit cards laying around while waiting to use the machine.. i even sat in the open this time so that there would be no excuse for the bad service and yet. horrible, i mean really there arent that many tables in the place, do your goddamn job. we were going to dine and dash and no one would have notticed we even left.. we should have.. really should have, i worked hard for m money. what a waste. cold food. cold service... red room was better...
i would suggest mei thai at baldwin and spadina for affordable thai food which is amazing great price and the owners treat you like they appreciate you, which. is nice.
wont be going here.
hire people who can keep up.
i would have tipped better if .. i was getting service, i refuse to pay for a service i dont get.
absolute shit, i am disgusted with the waitresses, all different times, different waitresses incompetent .. there are many people who need jobs, maybe they could hire people with customer service experience and basic memory.
that would be nice.
Anonymous's Rating: Stars |
|
I live by nirvana, and am a regular there. The owner gave me free drink tickets the first time I was there! I use to visit red room, but because nirvana is so much closer and better service, I now go to nirvana. The apple toffee cheese cake is mmm mmm mmm =)
Jenny's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Great vibe, good food, good prices and super friendly staff. One of my favourite haunts in the city, especially for the value.
Not quite sure where D.S. is coming from, I've been there numerous with no problem waiting for food. Perhaps they were having a bad day? It seems like the staff tried to rectify his problem? Anyway, I like the dessert, the chocolate sauce seems to be there for aesthetic value, unless you wanted to lick the plate.
Personally, I highly recommend it, and you can't beat the location.
Peter's Rating: Stars |
|
I really can't comment on the food, but I can speak to some intangible other aspects based on one experience yesterday. Three of us went into the restaurant at quarter to four for some coffee and cake. We were impressed by the decor, an eclectic mix of a large old-word cafe and homey decor and furnishings. It was charming enough that we were willing to excuse the dead cockroach on the table.
A waiter came by to ask if we wanted drinks, so we ordered two cappuccinos and an earl grey tea. After about ten minutes, he came back with two cappuccinos and a lemon grass-green tea and took our order (three cakes). After he left we saw that the cappuccino was served in small cups with no saucer or spoons. So much for adding sugar. Also, they use really subprime coffee beans to make their espresso. Just really nasty Rubusta junk.
So then began the waiting game while our coffees went cold. After twenty five minutes I asked the waiter if our cakes were ever coming. With a big dumb smile he said, "Yes they are!"
Five minutes later, I asked a waitress for our bill - no more time to wait.
And magically a minute or two later, our waiter appeared with the cakes, saying, "we would like to offer you free drinks." So we accepted because, what the hell. And waited another ten minutes for two more bad cappuccinos (this time served with spoons) and some (free!) hot water for the tea bag. Of course the cakes were gone by the time the coffee arrived. Apparently it's too much to ask for coffee and cake to be served together.
Finally when we did get the bill (for 3 cakes, two cappuccinos, and one tea) we noticed that the cakes were $1 more each than they had been on the menu. We brought it to the attention of a waitress who fixed it but implied that it was somehow our fault because the price goes up after 4:00. Sweetheart, we really don't care when or if the price goes up at a certain time of day. We just want to be charged the price on the menus we were given. Oh, and a simple "sorry about that" would be nice.
All in all, it was a waste of an hour. Oh yeah, the cake was mediocre typical baked-off-premises stuff, not terrible but not remotely interesting either. The only added effort to slicing and plating it was to squirt some tasteless chocolatey sauce on the plates - yeah, that took all of 30 minutes! And the staff never apologised once. We won't go back and certainly cannot recommend it either. Perhaps it's called Nirvana because you need the patience of Buddha...
D.S.'s Rating: 1 Stars |
|
This is hands down my favourite Toronto restaurant. It's as if they improved everything that Red Room had to offer and kept the low prices. The servers are friendly, the decor is unique and the food is tasty. I've taken many friends and family members here and I've never been let down!
S McCallum's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I'll preface this review by first off stating that I am not one that has ever enjoyed a restaurant enough to want to give it kudos online.....this is until I found Nirvana.
Fantastic atmosphere, great prices, large portions - a great spot to go on a date or with a group of friends.
You won't be disappointed.
Anonymous's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
Nirvana ROCKS! Good music, good vibe, good service, good food... You can always get a good spot... and they have oysters, not to mention oysters shooters for 4.50 (one of the only places I think) Serious value for your money!!
Kitty's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
We went there for the first time last night for dinner, and it exceeded our expectations! The vibe was cozy and warm, service was prompt and friendly (even though it was busy, our server took the time to explain items on the menu for us and our drinks came right away) and the food was delicious (we had the pad thai and the lemongrass chicken). The prices were the clincher, so so cheap! They also have a good wine and scotch list, though we didn't have any this time. We will definitely be coming back.
Bruce & Simone's Rating: 4 Stars |
|
I love the atmosphere at Nirvana. The owners obviously spared no expense creating a really unique space. I really wanted to make this place my new brunch/dinner go-to, but after four visits, I'm disappointed. The service could really use a shake-up. Each time we were there, there was a problem, from forgetting to bring part of the order (then lying and saying it wasn't included), to over-charging for items, to a very long wait. The value isn't really there either. Prices are cheap, but portions are teeny-tiny. SO much potential, but you can get much better brunch at Graffiti's (Sunday) and much better Asian food just about anywhere.
TJ's Rating: 2 Stars |
|
Voice your opinion! Submit a reader review for Nirvana. Click here | |
|
|
|
|
MBO Toronto :: User Reviews