Last night gourmet guy took me to the Canal Side Cafe at the DoubleTree downtown. It was a cheap date. We never ordered, we never ate. We sat by the canal for a good half hour and was never acknowledged by the waitress fawning over one large table. We had to go inside to the bar to order a drink and when we pointed out to the bartender that we were interested in dining in the much-publicized outdoor cafe, we were told to have pity on the lone waitress assigned to the patio. So we waited and waited; watched the sun set over the Sun Building and finally, after not so much as a nod in our direction, downed our beers and left. On the way out a woman and young son, who were served drinks when we walked in, were complaining about the 45 minute and counting wait for their food. I’m sorry but it’s not that hard to run a restaurant. Hire enough waitstaff to handle the room’s capacity and train them to acknowledge customers. A “I’m sorry we are so busy tonight (which they weren’t) I’ll be right over to take your order,” is all you need to say if you’re in the weeds. I don’t believe in the DoubleTree (never have.) But when they keep trying to reinvent themselves you want to give them the benefit of the doubt. Plus this is such a nice spot, on the canal’s locks, that you really want it to work. And it should. We ended up going to the Europa Cafe in Back Central and it was great!