Terms of Service

1. About These Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of La Cocina Latina's services, including dining, reservations, online ordering, communications, and any interactions with our website, messaging platforms, or social media channels. By using our services, you agree to these Terms.

La Cocina Latina is operated in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta and the applicable federal laws of Canada.

2. Reservations and Cancellations

We want every guest to have the best possible experience — and that starts with respecting each other's time.

Large Group Gratuity:

An automatic gratuity of 18% will be applied to all large group bookings. Guests are always welcome to adjust gratuity or speak with our management team regarding service or billing questions.

Cancellation Policy:

If you need to cancel or modify a reservation, we require a minimum of 24 hours' notice prior to your scheduled booking time. Late cancellations or no-shows affect our ability to serve other guests who are waiting for a table.

Repeated Cancellations:

Guests who cancel reservations multiple times without adequate notice may be unable to book future reservations through our system. This is not a penalty — it is a fairness measure to ensure that every guest, including yourself, has an equal opportunity to dine with us and receive the best experience possible.

3. Right to Refuse Service

La Cocina Latina strives to create a warm, welcoming, and safe environment for everyone — our guests, our staff, and our community.

We reserve the right to refuse or discontinue service to any individual on our premises or through our digital channels if:

• Our staff feels threatened, harassed, intimidated, or victimized.
• There is any criminal behaviour, aggression, or conduct that endangers the safety or wellbeing of guests or employees.
• An individual engages in behaviour that disrupts the experience of other guests.

This right extends to all forms of interaction with La Cocina Latina, including in-person visits, phone calls, text messages, online communications, and social media.

4. Communication Conduct

We are committed to respectful, professional communication with every guest. We ask that you extend the same courtesy to our team.

We reserve the right to discontinue text message, phone, or digital communication with any individual who is abusive, threatening, uses hateful language, or is persistently rude or insulting toward our staff. Our team members deserve to work in an environment free from harassment — this includes digital interactions.

If communication is discontinued for this reason, you may contact our management team directly by email to resolve any outstanding matters.

5. Text Messaging (SMS/MMS) Program

La Cocina Latina uses text messaging to enhance your experience with us. This section outlines our SMS program, your rights as a subscriber, and our compliance with Canadian law.

• Program Name: La Cocina Latina Guest Communications
• Program Description: By opting in to receive text messages from La Cocina Latina, you may receive messages related to: reservation confirmations and reminders, order updates and notifications, promotional offers, special events, and seasonal menu announcements, responses to your inquiries and questions, and general business updates.
• Consent and Opt-In: By providing your phone number and selecting the consent checkbox on any of our forms (website, booking system, or in-store), you expressly consent to receive SMS and/or MMS messages from La Cocina Latina. Your consent is voluntary — providing your phone number does not obligate you to opt in to marketing messages, and opting in to messaging is never a condition of making a purchase, booking a reservation, or receiving service.
  
  In accordance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), we will only send you commercial electronic messages if you have provided express consent or if implied consent exists through an existing business relationship (for example, a purchase within the past two years or an inquiry within the past six months). We maintain records of all consent obtained.
• Message Frequency: Message frequency varies. You may receive up to approximately 4 messages per month for marketing communications. Transactional messages (reservation confirmations, order updates, and direct replies to your inquiries) are sent as needed and are not subject to a frequency cap.
• Opt-Out Instructions: You can cancel SMS service at any time. Simply text STOP to the number from which you received the message. Upon sending "STOP," we will confirm your unsubscribe status via SMS. Following this confirmation, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. You may also opt out by replying with any of the following keywords: END, QUIT, CANCEL, or UNSUBSCRIBE.
• Rejoining: If you wish to rejoin after opting out, simply sign up as you did the first time (via our website, booking form, or by texting START), and we will resume sending messages to you.
• Help: If you are experiencing issues with our messaging program, reply with the keyword HELP for assistance, or contact us directly at info@lacocinalatina.ca.
• Message and Data Rates: As always, message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to you from us and to us from you. If you have questions about your text plan or data plan, contact your wireless provider.
• Carrier Liability: Carriers (such as Rogers, Bell, Telus, and others) are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
• Eligibility: You must be the account holder or an authorized user of the mobile phone number submitted to participate in this program.
• No Third-Party Sharing of Opt-In Data: No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Information sharing with subcontractors who support services such as customer communications and booking management is permitted solely to facilitate the delivery of our services to you.
• Identification: All commercial messages sent by La Cocina Latina will identify our business by name and include information on how to opt out. For full identification details, visit LaCocinaLatina.online.
• Cross-Reference: For information on how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, including your phone number, please see our Privacy Policy.

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Communications

To better serve our growing community, La Cocina Latina leverages modern technology in our guest communications.

We use automated text messaging and may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to respond to certain inquiries, bookings, and questions. This technology helps us respond faster and serve you more efficiently.

However, because AI is still an emerging technology and can occasionally produce errors:

• La Cocina Latina cannot and will not honour unreasonable, inaccurate, or erroneous promises, pricing, offers, or commitments made by an AI system. All final decisions regarding pricing, offers, agreements, bookings, and special arrangements are subject to human verification and confirmation by La Cocina Latina management.
• If you believe you have received incorrect information from our automated system, please contact our management team directly so we can assist you.
• AI-generated responses are provided for convenience and general guidance only. They do not constitute a binding offer or agreement unless expressly confirmed by a member of our management team.

7. Online Reviews

We value honest feedback. Reviews help us improve and help future guests make informed decisions. We welcome constructive criticism and take every genuine concern seriously. However, we also believe in fairness — for our team and for the integrity of the platforms we all rely on.

Our approach to reviews that violate platform policies:

• Reviews that contain false statements of fact, personal attacks against named staff members, hate speech, discriminatory language, or content that is clearly unrelated to an actual dining experience may be reported to the respective platform (Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor, or others) for review under their published content policies.
• We will request removal of reviews that violate platform guidelines — for example, reviews posted by individuals who have never visited our restaurant, reviews that are part of a coordinated campaign, or reviews that contain threats or defamatory content.
• We will not request removal of reviews simply because they are negative. A genuine negative experience shared respectfully is valuable feedback.

Regarding contests and promotions:

If La Cocina Latina runs any contest or promotion that involves or references reviews, we reserve the right to disqualify entries that contain content violating the platform's terms of service, including reviews that are fabricated, retaliatory, or that contain abusive or threatening language.

Under Canadian law, including Section 298 of the Criminal Code of Canada, published false statements that are likely to injure the reputation of a person or business may constitute defamation. We reserve the right to pursue all available remedies in response to reviews that are demonstrably false, malicious, or defamatory.

We encourage any guest with a concern to contact us directly before posting a public review. We are always willing to listen and to make things right.

8. Intellectual Property

All content on LaCocinaLatina.online — including text, photographs, graphics, logos, menu descriptions, and branding — is the property of La Cocina Latina and is protected by Canadian copyright and trademark law. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use our content for commercial purposes without written permission.

9. Limitation of Liability

La Cocina Latina makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of information provided on our website and through our communications. However, we are not liable for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in menu descriptions, pricing, or availability. Menu items and prices are subject to change without notice.

La Cocina Latina is not responsible for any allergic reactions or adverse effects resulting from the consumption of our food products. Guests with food allergies or dietary restrictions are encouraged to inform their server before ordering. While we take every precaution, our kitchen handles common allergens and cross-contamination is possible.

10. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The most current version will always be available at LaCocinaLatina.online/terms. Continued use of our services following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

• La Cocina Latina
• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Email: info@lacocinalatina.ca
• Website: LaCocinaLatina.online