Fish House — Restaurant in Bucharest

TL;DR: Booked a table at Fish House for our anniversary, expecting great things. The non-smoking area reeked of smoke, our reserved table wasn’t available, and service was dismissive despite the restaurant being mostly empty. We left and salvaged the evening elsewhere. Sharing this in hopes the restaurant improves, as I’d love to give their chef another chance.

As someone who considers dining a passion and a true joie de vivre, I take the art of cuisine seriously. Unfortunately, this is my first time writing a negative review, and it’s about an experience I had at Fish House.

A few days ago, I booked a table to celebrate my anniversary with my wife. I had high expectations based on the restaurant’s reputation. I specifically requested a four-person non-smoking table for extra comfort, and this was confirmed by the staff. However, upon arrival, the experience quickly soured.

First, the “non-smoking” area was essentially connected to the smoking section, making the entire place smell like a cigar lounge. To make matters worse, the table I reserved was no longer available. Instead, we were seated at a different table, where three menus were carelessly tossed in front of us, presumably mistaking one for the wine menu.

I politely signaled the waiter for the wine menu, but I was ignored as he busied himself at another table. Despite there being only two occupied tables in the “non-smoking” area and one in the smoking section, with plenty of staff around, the service was inattentive and dismissive.

Feeling unwelcome, we decided to leave. Thankfully, we found a nearby restaurant where we enjoyed fresh oysters, champagne, and wild fish, salvaging what was left of our special evening.

I am sharing this negative experience because I’ve heard great things about the chef at Fish House, and I genuinely hope this feedback is taken to heart. With some adjustments to their service and attention to detail, they could live up to their reputation. I would love to give them another chance, but only if these issues...

While the culinary experience was undeniably good, the overall evening was unfortunately ruined by a series of service-related missteps. From the moment we arrived, the service felt disorganized and inattentive. Our table was not ready when we were seated. We had to request textile napkins midway through our meal, as they had not been provided. The starters were served before we received any cutlery, leaving us to wait and watch our food cool on the plate. The service continued to feel rushed and poorly coordinated.

Our main course was brought out while we were still enjoying the starters, creating a sense of pressureto rush through the food we had in the plate so that wither could serve the main. I did not enjoy it at all.

Despite asking for the wine list early on, it only arrived once we were already halfway through the main course, far too late for a proper pairing. I ordered a side of broccoli with my fish, but it simply never came. We politely mentioned it, yet it was never brought to the table.

For a restaurant of this level—where one expects refinement not only in cuisine but also in ambiance and service, these oversights are simply unacceptable. Excellence is about the entire experience, not just the food on the plate.

I hope the management takes this feedback seriously, as the kitchen clearly has talent. But unless the service improves significantly, I would hesitate to return or recommend it to others seeking a truly elevated...

Fish House in Bucharest offers a delightful seafood dining experience, with some standout moments and room for small improvements.

The food overall was very good, with the potato chips being an absolute highlight—crispy, perfectly seasoned, and truly memorable. While most dishes shone, the fried calamari left room for improvement; perhaps a lighter batter or a touch more seasoning could elevate it to match the quality of the rest of the menu.

What truly set the experience apart was the service. Our waiter was an absolute gem—attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. Their professionalism and warm demeanor added a special touch to the evening.

Fish House is a solid choice for seafood lovers in Bucharest, combining good food with exceptional service. With a little refinement on the calamari, it could easily become a five-star...