Gas Street Social — Restaurant in Birmingham

Terrible Service, Rude Manager, and Wrong Order — Avoid

Booked a table for nine on Sunday 10th August. We were seated at 11:00 a.m., and drinks were taken promptly, but we then waited about 25 minutes before our food order was taken. Around 45 minutes later, the food finally arrived. Meaning we didn’t get our meals until roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes into the service. When it finally came, the pancake order was wrong: we asked for 2 gluten-free + 2 standard, got 3 gluten-free instead.

We had ordered two gluten-free pancakes and two standard pancakes, but instead received three gluten-free pancakes. While we were waiting, we were told at one point our food would be six minutes away. Twenty minutes later, we had to ask again, as it still hadn’t arrived — and it only came out another five minutes after that.

When we pointed out the incorrect pancakes, the server (who we later found out was the manager - rejinia) immediately told us, before even apologizing, that they “didn’t have any batter.” I explained that I didn’t want the gluten-free pancakes because they taste completely different - dense, not light and fluffy - and she became defensive, saying there wasn’t enough batter for the standard ones.

I asked her why we hadn’t been told 45 minutes earlier, when we placed the order, that there wasn’t enough batter, so I could have chosen something else. That’s when she changed her story completely and said, oh, because your order was confusing. Which is it - not enough batter, or “confusion”? Those are two separate reasons that don’t make sense together, so clearly one of them isn’t true.

The “confusion” claim also makes no sense because they got one of the standard pancake orders correct, and when customers want gluten-free, they say “gluten-free.” When they want normal pancakes, they just order pancakes.

I told her, before I had even touched them, that I didn’t want to pay for the pancakes if they weren’t what I ordered. This was while she was handing them to me, not after I’d eaten them. Shortly after, a non-gluten-free pancake came out for someone else, proving there was batter available. When I pointed this out, she simply repeated that there wasn’t enough batter.

Shockingly, she then blamed us for booking “that morning” and claimed she was being nice by accepting our booking, as if we’d inconvenienced her by coming to eat at her restaurant. If taking a booking is a problem, management should say so at the time, not take it out on customers.

When I said I didn’t want to pay for the wrong pancakes, she refused, saying “you’re not getting free food”. She then offered to make me something else - despite the fact we had already told them we needed to be somewhere in about 30 minutes. That meant her offer was pointless, as I wouldn’t have even received the replacement dish before needing to leave. By this time, we’d been there over 1 hour 15 minutes already. I would also have also had to wait a further 40 minutes, be the only one eating at the table and delay everyone.

Her first “compensation” offer was 10% off so £1.40 off of £14 pancakes they got wrong. Completely insulting. Later, just before we were leaving she raised it to £5 off & to remove the optional service charge off of the bill (which at this point, we never would have paid anyway due to how bad we were treated) but still refused to go any higher. Her reasoning? That I had “eaten the whole plate” - which was untrue (I ate 1½ pancakes and gave the rest away).

Throughout this entire interaction, she only once apologised at the very end, and only after we repeatedly told her how rude she was being. She even walked away mid-conversation while people were trying to speak to her.

Her colleague later brushed off her behavior as being “straight to the point.” No, it was rude, defensive, and unprofessional.

If you’d like the wrong food, long waits, to be blamed for booking a table, and then be forced to pay for the restaurant’s mistake, by all means eat here. Otherwise, there are plenty of brunch spots with better food and far, far better...

We visited Gas Street Social on 22.03.2025 to celebrate my brother’s birthday as a group of seven. Unfortunately, our experience was ruined by poor service from the front-of-house staff.

Due to a last-minute change, we arrived 30 minutes early and also needed to add an extra seat as my sister, who has a newborn, decided to join us. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a rather stern and unwelcoming front-of-house member. When I gave my name, I was abruptly told that I was early—something I fully understood and politely acknowledged, suggesting we could wait at the bar. When I inquired about accommodating the extra seat, he responded rudely, saying we "should have told him before" and sighed in frustration. Despite this, we remained polite and assured him we’d be happy to squeeze in if necessary.

Once seated, service was slow, but our waitress was friendly and professional, which we appreciated. However, about 10 minutes after placing our main course order, the same front-of-house staff member returned in a huff and rudely stated, “I don’t know why you’ve placed an order as I need the table back in 15 minutes.” This was the first time we had been made aware of any time constraints on our booking. Instead of escalating the situation, we politely agreed to cancel our order and prepare to leave.

A member of our party then approached the front-of-house again to see if there was any possibility of finding another table to continue our meal. Rather than assisting us, the staff member shifted blame onto us, insisting we “should have known” about the time limit. In every other restaurant I’ve dined at, time limits are communicated at the start of the reservation, and staff usually give a reminder as the end of the booking approaches. This lack of communication and abrupt attitude was incredibly disappointing, especially for a birthday celebration.

What should have been an enjoyable evening was overshadowed by the unprofessional and rude treatment from the front-of-house team. While our waitress did her best, the overall experience was unacceptable. I will not be returning and will certainly advise others to avoid this place if they value good service and...

Waited over half an hour for our food. Waiter didn’t bother bringing over table water as requested when ordering. The coffees arrived luke warm. The food arrived cold!

Overall poor service, and very slow chefs. Won’t ever go back

In response to below:

I find your comments condescending and again this gives rise to the overall attitude of your staff. Also all we had was egg and bread, it doesn’t take half an hour to do that!! The coffee was indeed warm but we just had it because we could not be bothered to complain to yourselves because we were scared of how you would respond and your aggression towards us being coloured people.

Furthermore, upon entering the venue, not a single person directed us to the freewater or informed us how the venue operates. A lot of my reviews have got thousands of reviews and they are honest. I don’t work in a restaurant, I am a professional highly qualified and honest individual. I won’t be returning to your venue where your staff are racist and have a poor attitude towards people of colour.

Rajan...we're seeing a little bit of a pattern here... each of your reviews look very similar in some quality brunch places... Let's start with your 1/2 hour wait for food...we are a restaurant and we cook from scratch - not fast food...the help yourself water station with fresh cucumber, lemon, fruits are there for your own FREE USE. Our Restaurant wasn't busy at the time of your visit as your pictures show and the luke warm coffee and cold food you mention seems to have been completely walloped...looking very much like you finished the lot without complaint at the time or an opportunity for us to correct...we've been here for 10 years now and as an independent take our reviews personally...so.... Rajan - we thinks you're either Al or a serial google 1 star reviewer that might happen to work at another local restaurant - either way you're welcome back and be sure to let us know next time if things aren't at least 4/5...