Nice Atmosphere

Rating - Overall: 4  Food: 3  Service: 3  Ambience: 3

Chowdown
Foodie
Member since Oct 08
Rating: 3

22 Oct 2008

Racks is quite relaxed and always busy. We come here for the rugby when it's on and it's always a great atmosphere. Been here on several occasions to meet friends and have eaten a few times. The food is pretty decent and you get lots of it - I'd say it's perfect for sharing platters like nachos and for casual dining in the evening over a bottle of wine. The decor is modern with a rustic feel with lots of big wooden kitchen tables and comfortable chairs. Definately somewhere we'll keep returning to!

Visited: June 12, 2008

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A waste of time and money

Rating - Overall: 1  Food: 1  Service: 1  Ambience: 2

iainpb
Gastronome
Member since Sep 08
Rating: 3

11 Oct 2008

We booked a table for 7:45 and arriving roughly on time walked through the rather loud pub into the dining area. There was a waitress, she did not speak and promptly disappeared. After 5 minutes we were seated and the waitress disappeared again. It was around 15 minutes before we were even offered a drink and the restaurant was not full. The wine list was small and ranged between £15 and £25. There appeared to be 3 waitresses who attended every table, the service was slow and disorganised - two different waitresses tried to take our order. They insisted on taking my card before ordering, odd behvaviour for a restaurant I thought. When asked why, the waitress snapped "For my security, i'm not going to use it".

I Ordered the duck with a mango and potato cake and wild mushroom sauce. the waitress did not ask how i would prefer my duck cooked and when it arrived it was a huge dissapointment. It was practically tasteless, very greasy and towered upon an undercooked potato cake like an unattractive meat jenga. I can honestly say, this is the worst duck I have tasted. The potato and mango cake was confused and not cooked properly. The wild mushroom sauce claggy and split with no identifiable taste of mushroom. I ate my duck out of hunger and left the potato cake.

I'm not one for intrusive or overfriendly service but i do think it is professional and polite to ask a table at least once if everything is ok. Nothing, not even when taking away my half eaten plate of food did they ask if the meal had been enjoyed.

The ambience was nothing special, the room nicely decorated, warm and inviting but so many little details spoiled it. The restaurant staff were dressed in 'stella' emblazoned T-shirts and 'crew' written across their backs, this made it feel more like a nightclub than a restaurant. The dirty salt and pepper shakers and the cheap paper serviettes making it feel more like a takeaway than a restaurant.

The service from the outset, the food and the restaurant in general were awful, a joyless waste of time and money. Don't visit this restaurant, there are so many better restaurants in Bristol more deserving of your time and money.

Visited: October 10, 2008
What I ate: Olives, Duck, mango and potato cake wild mushroom sauce

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fantastic in clifton!!

Rating - Overall: 5  Food: 5  Service: 5  Ambience: 5

philander
Rookie Reviewer
Member since Sep 08
Rating: 0

8 Oct 2008

From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a smile. A very kind gentlemen showed us to our seats. When we finally decided what to have , we weren't dissappionted. The atmospher was pubby, but more relaxed. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. We will most definatley be going again!!!

Visited: September 6, 2008
What I ate: Strips of beef marinated in maderia and cream as a starter.

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