katrina C.
Google
My family and I chose to dine at 21 Steps for my birthday after seeing its strong 4.4 star rating on Google and reading numerous reviews praising the exceptional service and claiming it to be one of the best meals in Whistler. It was also described as kid friendly, which led us to choose it over Il Caminetto since we were dining with two young children.
When making the reservation, my sister noted that we were celebrating our birthday and requested high chairs or booster seats. Unfortunately, upon arrival, none were prepared and we had to request them again. Aside from offering a kids menu, we did not find the restaurant particularly kid friendly, which was disappointing given how often this is highlighted in reviews.
Our server appeared extremely busy, which we understood as it was the week before Christmas, but the service felt impersonal. There was no acknowledgment of the birthday celebration, nor were we asked about the occasion despite it being clearly noted in the reservation. Service was also slower than expected, and while we were understanding of how busy it was, the delays made dining with two young children challenging. It took quite some time for our orders to be taken and for the food to arrive.
When our meals were served, we were disappointed to find that the lamb and braised short ribs, both described as standout dishes, were very dry. Later in the meal, my husband reminded the server that it was my sister’s and my birthday and requested dessert. While desserts were brought out, we were surprised to see that they were fully charged on the final bill.
Overall, we were extremely disappointed, especially given the glowing reviews and reputation for amazing service. Our special requests, including birthday acknowledgment and prepared high chairs or booster seats, were not accommodated despite being communicated in advance. With the expectations set by the reviews, we had hoped for a much better experience and left wishing we had chosen to dine elsewhere for such a special occasion.