Bardacious — Restaurant in Bath

We recently dined at bardacious on a Friday evening and were initially excited to try this place given the great reviews they have.

When we arrived, we were greeted by a staff member who was smiling but just staring at us. It felt a bit awkward, as we had to approach him to inform him about our reservation. Typically, at restaurants, the staff would greet you and ask if you have a reservation, which was not the case here.

After being seated, the first interaction with our server was them asking, “What would you like for drinks?” There was no greeting or introduction, which left us feeling a bit off right from the start.

While we understand that service can be busy, a simple “Hello” or “Welcome to Bardacious” would have made a significant difference in setting a warm and inviting tone for our meal.

In addition, we requested not to have our food garnished with coriander, as its strong flavor is not to our liking. Despite making it clear that we were fine with coriander in the dishes themselves, the server repeatedly told us that all their food contains coriander, which felt unnecessary and dismissive of our request.

When it came to the meal itself, we ordered a quesadilla, taco, burger, and loaded fries. The quesadilla arrived first, and I had to eat it while my partner watched. Then, a while later, the taco arrived, which we shared, and finally, the burger arrived for my partner. It would have been nice if the food had come at the same time so we could enjoy it together, or at least if we had been informed that the dishes would be served separately. Additionally, the lettuce in the burger was almost falling out, and we had to reassemble it ourselves, which was surprising given that the kitchen and the staff serving us should have checked that.

Unfortunately, the loaded fries never arrived. After waiting a while, a staff member asked if we wanted any more food, and we informed her that we were still waiting on the loaded fries. She said she would check with the kitchen but never returned with an update. After a long wait and several follow-ups, we eventually had to ask her to cancel the fries and bring the bill. She apologized, mentioning the kitchen was busy, but it would have been nice to know this sooner. When the bill finally arrived, it still included the loaded fries, and we had to request their removal. Additionally, I asked to remove the service charge, something I had never done before at a restaurant. The server removed it without asking why or if there was anything they could have done to improve our experience.

We hope that Bardacious can address these aspects of their service, as it would greatly enhance the dining experience for...

After walking past Bardacious so many times, we finally decided to give it a go and I’m so glad we did. It was myself, my wife, and our little one (5YO), and right from the start we felt completely welcome. It’s extremely child-friendly (kids even eat for free, which is such a bonus) and the staff went above and beyond to make our daughter’s experience special. Even the chefs got involved, putting on a little show for her; this was such a thoughtful touch that made the visit unforgettable.

The food was nothing short of spectacular. When the staff came over to ask about puddings, we actually ended up ordering more food instead because it was just that good! I had triple servings of both the beef and chicken tacos, while my wife couldn’t resist going back for more halloumi tacos. I’m usually a committed meat lover, but I have to say the veggie tacos genuinely rivalled the meat dishes, as they were packed with flavour and cooked perfectly.

Drinks were another highlight. The cocktails were tailor-made by the bar staff, balanced beautifully, and honestly some of the best I’ve had in Bath. All at very reasonable prices, especially considering it’s right in the city centre. It’s the kind of place where you can happily come just for drinks, or make a whole evening of it with food.

The service was absolutely exemplary. Axel deserves a special mention, as he clearly runs a tight ship but with such a friendly, welcoming vibe. Mike in the kitchen was fantastic with the kids, where he put on little shows and got the kids all smiling etc. You could see how hard all the staff were working, yet they all looked genuinely happy to be there. The whole kitchen had such positive energy that it spread through the entire restaurant.

If you’ve walked past Bardacious before and thought it was “just a bar,” please do yourself a favour and step inside. Whether it’s for food, drinks, or both, it’s an absolute gem. After 15 years of eating out in Bath, this has jumped right to the very top of our list of places to eat.

10/10 will be frequently visiting, especially as they do themed events such as their upcoming Salcombe...

I cannot express how utterly disappointed I am with my experience at Bardacious in Bath. What was supposed to be a lovely evening out turned into a complete nightmare due to their sheer incompetence and lack of organisation.

Upon arriving, my friends and I were excited to enjoy what we had heard was a great spot for drinks and a good time. However, our excitement was quickly crushed when we were abruptly turned away at the door. The reason? They were "short-staffed." Seriously? Is this how you run a business? If you can't handle the capacity, then don't overbook or at least have the decency to inform customers in advance.

The staff at the door offered no apology, no explanation, and no alternative. They simply shrugged and said, "Sorry, we can't let you in." It was as if they couldn't care less about the fact that we had made plans, traveled to their venue, and were looking forward to a great night. The lack of empathy or professionalism was astounding.

To make matters worse, there were other groups being turned away as well, and it was clear that this was a recurring issue. How can a place like Bardacious operate like this? It's beyond unprofessional and downright disrespectful to customers who are spending their hard-earned money.

I will never set foot in Bardacious again, and I strongly advise anyone thinking of going there to think twice. There are plenty of other fantastic places in Bath that actually value their customers and know how to run a business properly. Save yourself the disappointment and avoid this place at all costs.

1/10 – A complete letdown in every possible way. If you want to operate with reservation only perhaps put this on your socials and door signage as clearly you want to be paying...