Damascena Coffee House Moseley — Restaurant in Birmingham

Very poor experience with horrible service!

Everything started well, we came in to have a quick lunch on Sunday. It wasn’t busy, so we get table straight away. I was excited to try your food, as never had Lebanese food before. Such a shame your staff don’t care about people who’s choosing to dine with you. Lady who was taking our order (I can’t said she was our server as she didn’t put any effort or time to make us feel welcome) seams annoyed only because she needed to talk to us. We asked to have lahim biajeen plater first and then beef and lamb shawarma later. Obviously everything came together- even before then our drinks!! I asked guy who served our food if he can politely check on our drinks, so he did after a while - however drinks arrived after another 10 minutes. There was no cutlery on the table so we again asked 2 different people for at least some forks - again no luck. I had to go and chase for it as food was getting cold.. In the meantime no one check if we enjoying our food or drinks, they didn’t bother to clean our table even if we get all plates one on the other so it’s easier for them. It’s like Hospitality is not existing in there. After all we was about to try some desserts, but we were waiting another 20 minutes for someone to come and get some kind of interaction with us.. This entire experience make me feel there that unwelcome so i just asked for a bill in the end.

Food was fine, but not enough flavour for me.. baba ghanuj missing tahini, tabula missing lemon, and shawarma supposed to be with lamb and there was no other flavour then poor garlic sauce..

Watermelon ice tea was just too sweet, I didn’t drink it at all, but no one asked why again.

Positives? Mint tea was good, great amount of mint. Sadly that was the best thing from our experience and...

I have visited demascena a number of times over the years and my last visit will be my last. It has definitely gone down over the years but this last visit was by far the worst. We arrived to a pretty empty restaurant so was very surprised when the food took over 40 mins to arrive. The drinks alone arrive after 20 mins and we only ordered cokes. When the food did arrive they have given us the wrong order, and the pickles were missing when I tried to get the attention of a server all were business even though there were only 2 other tables occupied. Eventually someone come over and when I and I explained that we had ordered the lamb and have received the chicken and the pickles were missing the pickles. This seemed to stump the server how brought needed to get the manger to sort this out. After a wait of another 10 mins the manager arrived and I once explained what had happened she said that she would sort it out. When I tried to explain that my pickles were also missing she informed me that my dish did not come with pickles. When I showed her their menu clearly stating that the dish came with pickles she said sorry that the old menu but since we messed up you dish we will provide you with pickles free of charge. The food finally arrived and was mediocre, use to love demascena’s food but was not great. We now have to go the the bar to pay, but they had added a service change to the bill. That wasn’t the annoying thing, as you pay the bill they ask if you want to tip! What is the service change if not a tip. So double charge you if your not careful....

Edit: £5 voucher offered to us as a gesture of good will.

I feel really ripped off. I wanted to love this place but it’s really diminished its rave reviews and expectations. We arrived and it took half an hour to even be asked if we wanted a table, we had to ask as we waited by the sign, I understand it was the lunch rush so I wasn’t too bothered but they weren’t actively helping people out. We waited 45 mins to be even asked if we’d like anything to drink, which wasn’t on their accord, we had to end up calling over loudly for someone to serve us (they added a £6 service charge at the end and we had to ask for service, even for the plates to be cleared and ask for the bill three times.) It was slow service and they got a few pieces of our order wrong, after being there for 2 hours 15 mins we decided to get things on takeout as it had been long enough, ordering a 12 piece baklava which she repeated to us to confirm it was 12 and charged us for said amount. When we got home and there were only 6 pieces in the box, we were really upset as our bank charge was for 12. This meant quite a few of us went without and we didn’t even get what we payed for. The food was alright but after the overcharging for goods we didn’t recieve fully and a lack of pro active service, I...