Rico Libre — Tapas with a Twist — Restaurant in Birmingham

The food is 5 stars. Enjoyed everything we ordered but it was let down by the service, or lack thereof.

There were plenty of people working, it wasn’t particularly busy for a Friday but it was complete chaos. It definitely wasn’t for a lack of trying, everyone was putting in the effort. They all seemed new and I couldn’t establish any sort of manager or leadership between them. It was disorganised, felt panicked, like the whole team had just started their first shift and the manager hadn’t turned up.

Issues with the service began when we walked in, not greeted and left waiting to be sat. At the table, left for a long time before I had to get someone’s attention to take our order, that member of the team said she was new and went to get someone else, the next person must have been even newer because they couldn’t help either. Staff kept trying to clear our plates and cutlery, even though we had food in front of us and more on the way. I gave up at one point and just let someone take it and finished my food with my fingers.

During the meal, we noticed a lot of other tables were being forgotten too.

Every time I looked up, I’d see at least 4 members of staff darting about, panicking or standing at the pass looking confused or stopping in the middle of doing something for one table to rush across the room and start doing something else. It was honestly, complete anarchy and you could see it on the faces of the waiting staff.

The food was excellent and I’d love to go back, hopefully feedback from reviewers will be taken on board and the service improved. While I do understand that staff may be new and with the current situation, hospitality has had a hard time, a restaurant manager/supervisor should be able to provide training, support and order and actually run a restaurant floor. I couldn’t see any organisation or direction last night and the chaos spoiled what would have been a...

Food was amazing but service was terrible. It was a quiet early dinner service on Thursday and the host seemed to do everything to ignore our table. Walked past us three times and he didn't even try to make eye contact or check we were enjoying out meal (we were trying to ask for drinks, salt and aioli for most of the meal). Finally got his attention and 15 minutes later the waitress brought the salt and no aioli. It would have taken him seconds to do it when we asked and not have it arrive when we had basically finished.

It's a shame because I've eaten here with my girlfriend before and the service was incredible, but this time I came with my flatmate and I felt very unattended and ignored. Service and care felt very different.

Guests should not feel this way when the restaurant is far from capacity and especially not when the host walking past us and to the only other outdoor table to go and tend to customers he knew personally. It spoiled the experience of a restaurant I was very keen to show off to my flatmate.

Food was good although lack of condiments and everything detracted from the experience. The pork belly came when we had nearly finished every other dish. Not an issue and the menu warns they will come seperately, but honestly we were left wondering if it had been missed off the order with how long it took and the lack of communication (usually you might get a 'your pork belly won't be far behind' or something to that effect.)

All in all I was a bit disappointed compared to...

I'd gone in with high hopes. Half an hour wait for our drinks to be served - when they did arrive, my mom had asked for a vodka soda and lime - was presented with a glass and a pint sized can of soda. No garnish in drinks- pretty shoddy effort. Could have been worse though - one of the couples nearby waited around 20 minutes just to receive some wine glasses as they had brought their own booze....

Eventually ordered our food, after a substantial wait we were presented with two of the dishes ordered - scallops and meatballs. Unfortunately, no plates or cutlery were provided. Had to ask twice, at which point the food was cold. The lamb we'd ordered was presented approximately 10 min after and the server said it was our last dish- we had ordered prawns and breads, which upon asking we first 'hadn't ordered', then after some deliberation had apparently gone to another table. We cancelled the last two dishes. 40 quid for one flabby scallop each....somehow charred on the outside and undercooked. 2.5 meatballs and a bite of fatty cold lamb! I work in hospitality and this is the most pathetic display i have ever witnessed. Had to apologise to my mom for such an awful bday present.

All in all, one of the worst experiences I've ever had eating in Birmingham. An embarrassing display from this...