Not my first visit to Scaddabush Richmond Hill, but it had been quite some time since my last one…read more This return visit ended up being memorable for a few unexpected mishaps, though thankfully the overall experience was still a positive one.
I called the day before right when they opened to make a reservation since the online system showed no availability. The staff member who took my call was incredibly friendly and thorough. In addition to the usual questions about party size, time, name, and phone number, they also asked how many children would be joining us, whether anyone had allergies, if we were celebrating a special occasion, and informed me in advance about the automatic gratuity for larger parties as well as the two-hour seating limit. I really appreciated how comprehensive they were.
Fast forward to dinner... Parking in the plaza was absolute chaos. It took us quite a while to find spots, though that's not entirely surprising given how many popular restaurants are in the plaza. I'm sure the FIFA match that evening didn't help either.
We were seated at what I'd describe as a "cozy" table. It wasn't cramped, but it definitely felt snug for our group. Thankfully, it ended up working out because we were sharing most dishes and the staff were fantastic about promptly clearing empty plates as we finished sharing dishes.
We started with the Caesar salad, the Prosciutto & Mozzarella, and a Three Meat Pizza. The Caesar salad was well dressed with great flavour, while the mozzarella was, as always, a crowd favourite. I was pleasantly surprised by the focaccia, which was much crispier than I was expecting (I've never had it toasted like that before), with a wonderfully buttery flavour. The pizza was also excellent, not overly salty, with a chewy crust and a perfectly crisp exterior.
For my main, I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese, which was delicious. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente, the sauce was well balanced, and nothing was overly salty. I also ordered the Rosemary Garlic Fries, which were tasty, although I do wish they had served a bit more aioli since that's what really elevates the dish. I also stole a few bites of other entrées around the table. The Vodka Pasta wasn't what I'd consider a traditional vodka sauce, as it leaned much more toward a creamy Alfredo, but it had a nice kick of spice. The standout for me, however, was the Shrimp Lemon Pasta. It was absolutely delicious, and I'd easily order that as my main on my next visit.
Since we were celebrating my aunt's birthday, the staff surprised her with a chocolate cake topped with colourful sprinkles and a sparkler. It was such a thoughtful gesture and a lovely way to end the meal.
Now for the memorable mishaps.
The most alarming occurred when an employee accidentally knocked over one of the decorative jars filled with beans. It shattered as soon as it hit the floor, sending glass and beans underneath our table. We stayed still because we knew shards had scattered around our feet, and I was wearing shorts, so I could actually feel some of the debris around my legs. My biggest concern came when my mom mentioned she felt something brush against her neck, but thankfully she wasn't injured. The employee was incredibly apologetic and immediately stayed behind to thoroughly clean everything up. We all stepped away from the table to make sure every piece of glass could be safely swept up before sitting back down.
The second near mishap happened when our server returned carrying full glass bottles of water. One slipped from her hand and hit the table, but thankfully she managed to keep hold of it before it shattered or knocked anything over.
Despite those unexpected moments, our server was wonderful throughout the evening. She was attentive, friendly, and especially diligent about ensuring the allergy at our table was handled appropriately. Accidents happen, and while these certainly made for a memorable dinner, I appreciated how professionally the staff handled each situation and how well they continued to take care of us afterward.