Fumo by San Carlo - Birmingham Selfridges — Restaurant in Birmingham

Very disappointing. Booked for my 40th birthday. Late lunch after work before some shopping ect. Food was mediocre but if that was all then I would just not come back and that's that. But it was the service that really leave bad taste in my mouth. If I went to a "neighbourhood pub" sort of place, I would probably not be so annoyed and ket it go.However, with it being my birthday and choosing a nice restaurant that the expectations for professionalism and attention to detail are higher, I was fuming and felt so annoyed at myself for choosing a bad place on that day. To start with made a mistake in reserving a table at the other Fumo. My bad, hands up. But the host could not stop going on about it. I mean, I would expect them ( with an almost empty restaurant, different if they had no space) to say oh, don't jave your booking on my system but no worries, please follow me to a table. After that they could come up saying they found out its the other place, cancelled it for me ect. I would then thought oh my I'm so sorry, thank you very much, what a great service. As it was they made me embarrassed and felt unwelcome. Then the host explained the concept which I understand but still, great that they did. Then a waitress asked if we understand the concept, I said that we do and them she carried on explaining it again. I chose this place over another because of your tuna tartar, I really fancied it and thought it will be a nice experience having it prepared at the table like the menu states. It didn't happen. It came from the kitchen. When I asked the waitress why she actually went on saying and I quote , that they decided not to waste time on that any more that's why they prepare it in the kitchen. I said that it's on the menu. She said yes, but they wanted it to be fast for me. (???) I said we're not in a hurry and that the restaurant is empty so I don't understand . So they should be doing it at the table, they just decided not to bother with me ? She actually used the words , we don't waste our time any more on that . On me specifically she meant? Because I understand that other guests are getting the good service, just not I? OK, well, we got a slice of melba toast with it ask I asked if we can have some bread for the tartar and if they jave focaccia. She said yes. We almost finished all other food and no bread. When asked , she said it takes time. Then another 10mins, all other food eaten, we got presented with focaccia ham plate from the menu. We refused it as that's not what we wanted, just some bread to accompany our meals. When explained we got presented with another couple of slices of melba toast instead of side foccacia or any other bread. We didn't finish the tartare . Side note, as mentioned before tartar was underseasoned , mixed grill I asked for medium was very well done, ravioli were like warm . Lobster sauce looked from a packet and shrimp were hard, over done. All hot food was like warm actually . Like I said , mediocre food. We paid our bill where we had to ask to take the tartar off the bill and were met with eye rolls ect . We left quickly to go to Brown's downstairs to finish our dinner with some nice food, desserts , coffees and great service. They even served is a nice birthday plate which was a nice touch . Missing from Fume , definitely . I think they are used to not caring because their clientelle are shoppers . I made a mistake booking an outing there but in my defence I chose the location as we wanted to shop at Self ridges as well and it made sense.

Basically, if it's a quick mediocre bite you're after whole shopping, it is a place for you. For good quality service and food, walk a...

We had high expectations of this highly recommended establishment, arriving just before noon and were quickly shown to a table. The staff explained that it was a tapas style restaurant and they would recommend 5/6 plates to share.

We asked for an allergy menu, and they gave their book of allergens, as they take NO RESPONSIBILITY for what they serve! Somewhat surprising

So the one of the party ordered a caprese salad and portions of chips and pisellini ( which came up minus one element so again poor) as the options to avoid gluten was so limited - we have been to many Italian restaurants with significantly more options.

My partner and I ordered bruschetta fungi - very good, baby mozzarella again good, king scallops ( two - so one each) which tasted strongly of salt and carbon where the cooking on a griddle had burnt the delicate shell fish rather than cooking . I also ordered a calzone, not easy to share and reasonable.

We were offered menus for dessert after they cleared the plates and then we were left! After 15 minutes without being able to attract anyone’s attention we gave up on this, to try and attract attention we all put on our coats still no oblivious acknowledgment. In the end we managed to attract the attention of the staff who meet and greet at the door.

The farce of trying to pay started, they were having issues with their card machines, but most of the staff were not aware of this and persisted in trying to use in machine at the table, and insisting that it was one of our cards that was causing the issue, and that we had to offer another. Then a manager suggested that we use a machine at the desk and it worked.

This was a very poor experience, some of the food was strictly third rate, customer service got worse as the restaurant got busier. Their inability to react to technology issues or even communicate with each other was a joke. But the biggest failing is their lack of desire to try and accommodate coeliac customers belongs in the 1980s and falls far short of what reasonable people...

Booked a table for 2pm for an annual meet up with my friends - 3 of us meeting from Marlow, Leeds and Burton on Trent. Firstly, we were kept waiting over 15 minutes for our table - no biggy but the explanation was 'we can't just ask the people to leave'. I appreciate it was very busy however the service was unorganised; after eventually being seated and placing our order, it took over half an hour to just get our drinks and we had to ask twice to get water for our table. The sharing starter was good - prawns, scallop 'bits', calamari - hot, crisp and tasty. My friends' meals - mixed grill, ravioli - were tasty although both slightly overcooked and, for the price, on the small side. Unfortunately, after watching as my friends tucked into their meals, waiting patiently watching plate after plate of meals being carried past me, and also being offered the meal of someone on a table that had arrived after we had, I enquired of the server what had happened to my meal of monkfish wrapped in bacon. He apologised and explained that it was 'one of the one's he had forgotten"!! By this time, not only had my friends finished their meal but so had at least two tables that had arrived after us, been served and were in the process of leaving! I made the decision to cancel the meal which I was assured was now 'on the grill'! When the bill arrived, the meal I had not received had still been itemised. It had to be pointed out that (a) I had not received my meal and (b) there was no sincere apology or even conciliatory offer. I would also add that the 'after the event' explanation that the meals are tapas so are served in no particular order just poured salt on the wound. Do better FUMO! Hospitality is defined as 'the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests...' This is the industry you are in and every guest should be treated with the same degree of...