Evie N.
Google
Wow, where do I start?
I first discovered this place on instagram (via my sister).
The food presentation, and variety was not only gorgeous, it was also mouth watering. I've been searching for a good seafood joint (also affordable) ever since one of my favourites closed down. After searching for so long, I stumbled across Ella's foods via instagram. I couldn't wait to try this place out!
I had seen on their most recent instagram page (October 2023..they haven't updated their online menu since) about their seafood boil menu for Fridays & Saturdays.
I called in before ordering to confirm what the dish included. I told her I wanted the seafood boil $75.
She told me there was only $60 boil or $30 boil, and that the most expensive one was the $60 boil.
I asked her to confirm what was included since the menu I saw online both included lobsters, muscles, shrimps, etc..for $75 boil and $47 boil (excl muscles).
She confirmed that my $60 menu included lobsters, shrimps, crab clusters, corn, etc..(no rice)
Great! I told her to put the order through and that I was coming to pick it up (I live quite far, but for this promising seafood boil, I figured it was worth the long travel).
I got there and picked up the order which was already tightly bagged and ready to go. Tipped, and the young lady from the phone seemed like a sweetheart.
As soon as I got home and opened the bag, I noticed there was something off.
The presentation was beautiful and looked so appetizing, but..no lobsters? no muscles?...umm this isn't what I ordered/paid for..
Also there was 4 clusters of skinny crabs (I lifted one of the crab clusters in the picture included to show how 'padded' the seafood is. It's a lot of giant corns and potatoes underneath to make the seafood on top look "plentiful", when there's not much seafood at all).
I called the restaurant right away to inquire. At first they didn't pick up. I called again, and this time they picked up.
I spoke to the young lady again and asked her to confirm what was suppose to be in my $60 boil. This time she acted hesitant and changed her tune and only named the crab clusters and shrimps.
I told her that was not all that was included that she named via phone. She told me she would put me on hold and quickly gave the phone to her boss...Ella.
Ella was not at all sympathetic or truthful. She had a very condescending and rude tone on the phone. I explained to her what happened and acted polite about it (I just wanted to get things straightened out and try to figure out what went wrong/if there was a miscommunication).
Ella basically called me a liar. Said she didn't have lobsters, so she gave me crab clusters instead and an extra just to make it up to me.
She told me that she only made lobsters on special occasions and that it's a customized and special request (umm what?). I told her that I went by her "special seafood boil menu" that I found on instagram that is not included in the regular menu, and even confirmed it with the young lady on the phone if that's what I was getting and was told by the young lady that it was included.
She told me that the young lady would not say something like that and that I must have misheard.
I reminded her that she never updated her "special seafood menu" online, and that both the $75 and $47 boil INCLUDED lobsters.
She told me that she would never sell Lobster for $47 and that I would have to special request that and she doesn't have it (even though she has it posted online and I have the proof of it..)
She said I should be grateful for including an extra crab leg (a skinny one too..). She told me to have a good day in sarcastic tone and hung up.
I was disappointed, disgusted, and just down right frustrated with this experience.
There was very little meat in the crabs too (pics included), even though the sauce was tasty. I basically paid $80 (inc tax and tip) for large corns, large potatoes, a few shrimps, and small crab meat.
I will never come back here. You can go at your own risk.
