The Botanist Bath
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We dined on a Sunday night, just two weeks after the opening of the Botanist in Bath. We arrived for our 19:30 table and offered a drink at the bar as our table was prepared. The downstairs bar was buzzing with lots of well dressed couples, and families enjoying a few drinks and taking some Instagram snaps amid the greenery and cool decor. A wide selection of cocktails and a smaller selection of non-alcoholic cocktails (plus wines, beers, spirits) gave us plenty of choices and the chance to enjoy a drink before being escorted up for our table. Upstairs, in a circular balcony, the tables were set for couples overlooking the open bar downstairs, with larger tables occupying the back walls. Our server was quick to arrive and tell us which dishes they had already run out of (he forgot to mention large bottles of sparkling water but that was covered later.) After a quick reboot of his iPad, we ordered some more cocktails and our food. The starters came quickly, arriving just after our drinks. The fried calamari was tasty, the pot of Prawns and Chorizo in a tomato sauce was great, but the Porcini Gnocchi was very heavy and bland. With the main courses, it was very much style over substance. The veggie skewer looks amazing on presentation but in essence it was Haloumi Cheese and Red Peppers, with chips. The tasty looking mushrooms we saw on other skewers must have been for the carnivores only. The Sea Bass was OK and the Burger was pretty standard - no offer of condiments to help the taste along. On reflection, the menu is more geared for fried and fatty food with not too many healthy options. The veggie options were also pretty limiting. We had an enjoyable evening. The service was attentive and bar a few teething problems we had been well looked after. The bill was expensive. 6 cocktails (2 each for a party of 3) cost £56.35. The food cost £69.85. A £15.70 service charge was on top. Cocktails were fair value and enjoyable. The food was acceptable but not good value. I think we will come in future for the cocktails but eat elsewhere.
Jamie Riddell
00
A brilliant restaurant with beautiful floral decor that’s a great visit if you’re in Bath. Was very loud inside, couldn’t even hear myself think at times but that’s expected with the live music and it was all classic songs that we could sing along to. We ordered the peri peri chicken and prawn hanging kebabs with rice and couscous. Both were delicious and the perfect portion, although the prawn could’ve done with being a little less cooked. The buffalo loaded fries were fantastic and I’d definitely recommend the baked Camembert. All the staff were so helpful and considerate with allergies and dietary requirements with managers even coming over and checking in. Our waiter Cory (I think) was brilliant and so attentive. We didn’t catch the name of the male manager (had tattoos and lost his voice that evening) but he was also very accommodating and ensured we got everything on time. In terms of halal food, it depends on the day and what comes in on the delivery so call ahead and check as it changes daily. The mind mojito was a bit tasteless and boring but the blackberry rhubarb cooler was so nice we ended up ordering 3 between both of us! Well worth a visit for any occasion
N M
00
This is one of the hardest reviews I've had to write and really difficult to decide on a rating. Why? Well the experience was so mixed.... Booking was easy and arrival was fine with a friendly welcome. The ambience is great except the music was a little loud for my taste but that's minor. There was a reasonable choice on the menu given we're vegetarian and our server was efficient and friendly. We sat enjoying our drinks, chatting and peple watching (great view from the balcony). After customers on surrounding tables started being served despite arriving long after us we did start to wonder is something had happened with our order and we were about to enquire when a passing waitress noticed we were still waiting, apologised and went off promising to investigate. A few minutes later a manager came and again apologised offering us drinks whilst we waited. I'm very much of the "these things happen" school of thought so wasn't particularly bothered but we accepted their offer ordering a coffee and a small glass of prosecco (so obviously not taking the micky given the cocktails available). Anyway food eventually arrived and was good. We weren't offered a desert menu and needed to get going as we had tickets for the theatre so ordered the bill and this is where it all went wrong! Yes the "free" drinks were charged for on the bill. The server got flustered and needed to find a manager but by now we really needed to be on our way so I said not to worry and just paid it. I'd like to think that the delayed food was a rariety and being charged for complementary drinks was an honest mistake. So the dilema is what rating do I give the Botanist? Should it be 4 or 5 stars to reflect what almost happened? I considerred this long and hard and it came down to the question "would I go back and give it a second chance?". The answer is no, not if I'm picking up the tab, and I can't honestly recommend others go somewhere I wouldn't go to myself. So sorry Botanist, but it's a rare one star review from me because of that.
Paul Golding
00
This was by far the worst roast dinner that I have ever had. Please do not waste your time nor money on going to this restaurant which is thought to suppose to have a good reputation. This wasn’t a one off bad roast as I was with 8 of my friends, and they were all served the same! Also the restaurant was very quiet, so no excuses! Please bare in mind that the pigs in blankets at the bottom were a paid extra. It is laughable at how this roast dinner is served. The lamb was like chewing cardboard, the Yorkshire pudding crumbled into dust when you bit into it, it all came out cold, with no gravy, which when asked for took another 10 minutes to come out. Then when it did finally come out It was like pouring a shot of gravy over the pathetic roast dinner. When confronting the staff of how poor the roast was, his response was “well you’re eating it aren’t you”. I have never experienced anything quite like it. How this restaurant is used as the official televised ‘First Dates’ restaurant is far beyond me. They should be appalled of themselves. I have never experienced anything quite like it. I have had better microwave meals, and have been treated better by McDonald’s staff. I will never return and will most definitely recommend people NOT to eat or waste their money here. Absolute shambles and ruined what was suppose to be a nice Sunday out in Bath.
Luca Porcaro
00
It's a definite no from me and our party! Whilst the food was well presently and tasty, the overall service was dire. From waiting several minutes to be greeted and taken to our table, things continued to deteriorate. Our drinks, starters and mains never arrived at once, leaving at least one member of our party, left waiting...and sometimes it was a big wait! Our request to move tables (as we were in a draft, from the waiters walking in and out of the kitchen) was completely ignored. One server seemed excessively abrupt and had zero customer service....and she appeared to be training another younger colleague, too, so we did really feel for her. They also appeared to struggle to know what tables to bring food too as well. Other diners ended up leaving, too, due to the slow/ poor levels of service, without them even having eaten. To compound to this, they took a further dislike when we then asked to have the service charge (automatically addes) from the bill due to the poor levels of service, which we explained. Overall, extremely over-hyped and playing on the fact they host First Dates. When speaking to locals, after the event, they advised that it had a poor reputation too. In short, avoid at all costs. There are far nicer restaurants within easy reach.
Andy B
00
Made a reservation for my family for a special treat only to wait 15 mins for a waitress to take drink order then waited another 20 mins for drinks to arrive ordered food was told very limited menu as they had run out of mains placed our order waited another 40 mins only to recieve the wrong food for my wife which was burnt to a cinder basically it was an overcooked mushroom pie with a black Yorkshire pudding and nothing else on the plate when we complained to the waitress she came back with the explanation that we was given the wrong menu and the dish ordered wasn't available anymore we declined the substitution as it had taken 40 mins for this to arrive no manager came to apologise we further waited 15 mins before I had to go find someone for the bill. We were treated awful and the restaurant only had 6 tables to wait on there was more staff messing around the bar area than serving the tables another gripe is the downstairs was empty but we was seated upstairs amongst uncleared tables and debris littering the floor? A very bad experience to say the least...please see photo of food served after waiting over an hour in an empty restaurant maybe that was the sign to leave!
Tony Wolfe
00
Nearby Attractions Of The Botanist Bath
The Roman Baths
Thermae Bath Spa
Pulteney Bridge
Royal Victoria Park Bath
Bath Abbey
Royal Crescent
Bath Spa Hotel
Theatre Royal, Bath
No. 1 Royal Crescent
Victoria Park
The Roman Baths
4.6
(12.7K)
Click for details
Thermae Bath Spa
4.3
(3.9K)
Click for details
Pulteney Bridge
4.6
(3.7K)
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Royal Victoria Park Bath
4.6
(3.5K)
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Nearby Restaurants Of The Botanist Bath
Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House & Museum
Turtle Bay Bath
The King of Wessex
The Scallop Shell
Bill's Bath Restaurant
The Ivy Bath Brasserie & Garden
Hall & Woodhouse Bath
Opa Bath
Zizzi - Bath
Las Iguanas - Bath
Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House & Museum
4.4
(2.4K)
Click for details
Turtle Bay Bath
4.7
(1.9K)
Click for details
The King of Wessex
3.8
(1.9K)
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The Scallop Shell
4.7
(1.4K)
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Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
46a Milsom St, Bath BA1 1DN, United Kingdom
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Phone
+44 1225 632577
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Website
thebotanist.uk.com
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Reviews
Overview
4
(1K reviews)$$
Ratings & Description
Description
Gastropub-style dining, kebabs, brunch & botanical cocktails in a striking interior.
attractions: The Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa, Pulteney Bridge, Royal Victoria Park Bath, Bath Abbey, Royal Crescent, Bath Spa Hotel, Theatre Royal, Bath, No. 1 Royal Crescent, Victoria Park, restaurants: Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House & Museum, Turtle Bay Bath, The King of Wessex, The Scallop Shell, Bill's Bath Restaurant, The Ivy Bath Brasserie & Garden, Hall & Woodhouse Bath, Opa Bath, Zizzi - Bath, Las Iguanas - Bath
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