Empire Ballroom - Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

Review summary

1. P

   Patty

   Hawaii

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   Way overpriced Poorly organized Wouldn’t recommend
   

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2. E

   Edward

   Edmonton

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We were greeted courteously and given a friendly overview of the many beautifully presented stations including salads, cheeses, pastries, breakfast choices, seafood, lunch entrees, crepe station, pasta station, turkey carvery, and dessert table. We were then escorted to our table where the waiter seated us with old fashioned grace, pulling my wife"s chair out for her and draping our napkins. We appreciated the professional service where our needs were attended to without the waitstaff being overly familiar. Highlights of the meal were the crepes lit up (literally) with liquor and the pasta station where the chef mixed our pasta atop a cheese wheel melted with a blow torch! The food was very nice and fairly priced considering the selection and iconic location. Ten years ago when we celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary, we appreciated the special plate with "happy anniversary" written in chocolate that the waiter presented at the end of our meal. This small touch made us feel like the hotel and waitstaff had communicated and cared about making our special occasion memorable. This being our thirtieth anniversary, that small observance was a thing of the past along with the mimosas which used to be included. Overall a very nice experience in a beautiful setting (one can't let past expectations shadow the present).
   

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3. M

   Michelle

   Edmonton

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Arrived at hotel to see 6 dogs in the lobby barking and near fighting each other. We arrived on time for our Christmas buffet dinner and food was cold and picked through, no soup bowls, coffee cup and water glass were dirty. Server delivered a beer bottle with no glass. Ordered a standard mixed drink and were told they didn't have it(?) Dirty dishes sat on the table for a good while before getting removed. We had really been looking forward to this experience at this iconic hotel.: One of our guests had never been there. We were all very disappointed
   

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4. D

   Diane

   Edmonton

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   The Christmas Day buffet at the MacDonald is an event that I attended before COVID and this was my first time back. The staff were exceptional and everything seemed to be well managed. I However, there were 2 areas where I have some criticism. The parking in the garage next to the Mac (not sure it is owned by the hotel) but after we have parked the car and went to pay we found that you had to download a QR code and since neither myself or my daughter have a data plan on our phone, this is impossible. We were not the only people who were impacted. We then had to leave the parkade and go next door to another hotel (outdoor) lot which had a machine to pay for parking. The hotel should provide this info , Secondly, the dining room was filled to capacity and making your way to and from the food area was somewhat difficult. Maybe a dedicated lane to allow diners to come and go to all of the food tables. However, I was impressed with the staff and their effort to ensure everyone had a enjoyable Christmas dinner
   

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5. S

   Scott

   Edmonton

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Exceptional food and service in a beautiful hotel made for a great Christmas Day celebration.
   

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6. J

   Joan

   Edmonton

   6 reviews

   4.0

   6 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The buffet was delicious.Something for everybody.Service was excellent.
   

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7. M

   Monika

   Edmonton

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The crepe lady and our server lady were very attentive. We enjoyed our Xmas brunch very much. Excellent food and quality. We will be back next year.
   

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8. J

   Joshua

   VIP

   San Francisco

   20 reviews

   5.0

   20 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Absolutely spectacular experience. The food was excellent, the service was exemplary and the setting was beautiful.
   

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9. c

   clifton

   Hawaii

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The Christmas brunch was fantastic! Great selection and so tasty. Service was terrific. We will do this again.
   

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10. D

    Donna

    Edmonton

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 24, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    The room is lovely, excellent service but the food was not up to their usual standards. Most was lukewarm ,overcooked only the omelet was excellent. Food was not being replenished. It was not the experience we were expecting.
    

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