Six by Nico Birmingham — Restaurant in Birmingham

This review is extensive AF but seeing as I’ve been 3 times, I think it’s time. For me, unless something undoubtedly terrible happens like undercooked chicken, discrimination, extreme uncleanliness etc. I try to give places the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes it can just be a bad day and as someone that’s worked many years in hospo/service I know that it only takes one thing to make or break a day.

For now I say things are middle of the road and that’s because of a lack of consistency.

photos attached of dishes I’ve most liked + mentioned // 3 per visit

My first time was alone, midday, Chippie.

Pros: • Daytime dining is a lot calmer, I was able to speak to my waitress a little bit and build a wee rapport. • Food came out in good time, was hot and was very tasty. • I used to live in Scotland for a couple years and so I really enjoyed the Irn Bru sorbet. • Fish is my fave and I liked that this menu would feature it a bit - those dishes were top bloody tier.

Cons: • Cutlery for one course wasn’t replaced • Had to ask for drinks menu twice. • That service charge certainly hits 😅

Second time was alone, 9pm, Mad Hatter.

Pros: • Paint the Roses Red, Eat Me, Drink Me, Queen of Hearts (dessert). • The theme was well done. • I wonder if lights were dimmed because it was still valentines but it made the space feel nice*.

Cons: • So let’s start with - ya girl likes to dine on her own sometimes. Not me being ignored for a good 15 mins because of an assumption I was waiting for someone WHEN my booking says 1. • 5th course (Off with its Head) was very similar to the 5th course of Chippie menu except for it was EXTREMELY VINEGAR FORWARD omg. I couldn’t finish it. • Very busy (again valentines so I get it) but service took 2.5 hours!? I remember waiting 30 mins for one course and then the one after came in 5 mins. • Server was a bit lost to be honest, cutlery replacement was a mess because did it even happen? • Paying service charge that day was nuts but I just went with it because I know service charge and tips are separate but BRO! • Noticed that toilets were looking slightly pop down.

Third visit I went with someone, 9pm, Hanoi.

Pros: • The person I was with liked it. • I appreciated Chả Cá Lã Vọng (fish) , Bánh Trôi Tàu (dessert) and 3.5/5 for 5th course Gỏi Xoài (possibly because it wasn’t pork again and I appreciate the flavour profile). • Saw my first visit waitress again and it was nice to have a chat, she wasn’t serving me however. • Service was complete within 2 hours.

Cons: • Guys. What is going on? Cutlery placed on bare table? Again, from working in service - silver to fast food, it just seems like such massive oversight. • Drinks took a while to come. • *VERY BRIGHT LIGHTS that were dimmed at 11pm… did someone forget or have there been issues with dimming lights and jobs not being carried out properly? • Why are we pointing so close to the food please? • So busy, so loud. • In general finer dining is meant to be a calming experience and as someone with sensory issues it had my head spinning this time. Noise, constant running around and bright lights 😬

Pointers: • Take out a few tables / reduce bookings because I often have another servers butt 15cm from my face. It’s loud/overwhelming when full and I can tell everyone is doing too much • Shut down for a few days or organise staggered but mandatory training and I mean silver service level because I can appreciate my time here off the back of not purchasing the wine menu. If I was spending £80+ I’d be fuming. • Bar staff need to step it up immediately, tables around me constantly asking for drinks (I order one basic drink so don’t experience this personally) • FOH might be overwhelmed but need to be a tad warmer.

Thank you for reading. I know it’s a lot but like I said, I like to review things after I’ve given it a chance. Yes, I am booked in for the next menu but through someone else’s ask. Let’s hope this visit...

We came here to celebrate our anniversary as we heard good reviews of the food however it’s not just the food that makes a place welcoming and cosy. We arrived on time however our table was not ready so we were asked to take a seat for a couple of minutes at the bar this resulted in us waiting nearly 15 minutes for our table to be ready. No drink menus on the tables at the bar lots of staff walking around but nobody asked if we would like a drink or anyone giving any recommendations on what to try like house wines, signature cocktails etc. We were going to hang our coats up however after seeing how rammed the rail was we decided not to so we draped them over our seats which isn’t the most comfortable but we’d rather that than having it squashed amongst other coats. When we were seated it was very loud and felt like everyone was on top of each other there was barely a walk way between the tables for staff to serve food. One waitress knocked my arm as she passed and didn’t even acknowledge or apologise. As we were seated we were told our waitress would be over to take our drinks order we waited a whole 40 minutes for a drink 15 minutes waiting for the table at the bar with no service and then a further 25 whilst seated, the service is not to a high standard at all. The food was to a high standard very tasty and presentation was to a high standard however it’s hard to know what you are eating if you opt for the vegetarian options as they are not stated on the menu. It is so loud in there you cannot hear the staff when explaining the courses the menu only states the standard meat options, this needs to be amended either state the vegetarian option underneath the meat options or simply have an alternative menu. The waitress messed up the order of our courses which we later found out she did to the guests on the table next to us so always have the menu to hand to ensure it is followed as it should be, there is a reason for the ordering on taster menus. The waiting time between courses was fair until towards the end as we felt they were trying to rush us as we were 50 minutes over our time slot however 15 minutes of that we spent waiting at the bar and an alternative 20 waiting for our snacks/appetisers. As soon as we finished our last course they arrived with our desert no time to cleanse the palate … taster menu! I also feel like the add on options are a little expensive for what they are. The food itself was cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. The sourdough bread was delicious a nice sweet taste with the whipped butter too it was delicious. All of the courses were delicious it just would have been nice to of been able to refer back to the menu as you were tasting through the courses (vegetarian options). The meat dishes were tasty the meat fell apart in your mouth cooked to perfection. I did request to speak to the manager however the waitress I asked just continued to walk around and did not notify her we did in the end speak with the manager as there was a number of issues we weren’t happy with. Overall the food was cooked to perfection and tasted delicious however the atmosphere is loud and tables are very close to one another. There is a lack of table service for both food and drinks. If we were to return it would simply be for the food and nothing else. I would not return to celebrate an occasion simply due to how loud it was and how closely sat you are with neighbouring tables. The atmosphere gives bar vibes loud and busy which is a shame because the food is delicious above and beyond any bar food we are yet to find! We are used to a more quiet and spacious venue when we have dined at alternative taster restaurants and personally this is what we prefer so we can discuss the dishes and flavours it isn’t possible to do this here not late afternoon on a Saturday anyway! The manager did revise our bill however for an occasion this isn’t the experience you wish...

A table was booked for 7pm by my wife to celebrate our anniversary. We arrived 10 minutes before but had to join a bar full of people standing who were in the same situation waiting for a table.

After a long wait at the bar, 2 double gin and tonics were ordered as we had no idea when we would get to sit down and eat. A customary 10% tip was given making the 2 drinks £38. Questioning this thinking I had been given the wrong bill I was then given a printed receipt showing the drinks, charitable donations x2, service charge and the tip. Fevertree was charged for yet a small can of Schweppes which you had to pour yourself given. So what exactly constitutes service at a bar that you pay extra for I do not know. Not giving the customer a bill and charging for undisclosed items I feel is not good practice. The lady in front of me was given a bottle of wine she had to return with as the cork was still in it.

Feeling ripped off the plan to have the wine flight with meal was now abandoned.

The ice cold draft caused by poor design of the restaurant and fault with front door closing was evident throughout our wait in the bar area but I thought at least we would be warmer when seated towards the rear of the building. How wrong I was.

When we were eventually seated the tea light was never lit despite other tables being lit and the cold wind from the front was evident. The table of 4 next to us had mentioned the draft to their waiter in addition to the food being cold and not being happy with the undisclosed items on the bill.

So as this was an anniversary meal which my wife loved the concept of we lasted until the starter, cheesey chips which was a cold cube of potato and a cheese espuma. Not enjoying cold potato I left mine asking if it should be like that and explaining our experience thus far. The person serving came out with excuses and that the front door problem was being manned by staff which was untrue as no one attended to the door as evidenced throughout our time in the bar area.

A manager intervened and agreed that the price of the gins was extortionate, offered to knock off one of the meal costs and personally ensure food was served warm. I simply felt that if you are serving food it should be to the expected standard and not require any intervention or special treatment. Feeling uncomfortable in a cold restaurant with cold food we offered to pay for the starter we had been served and leave. I was informed by the manager Nico was on site and this would be fed back.

I would not have been happy being attended to in this way or having to make a fuss for basics to be correct. The cold restaurant issue could not be resolved and why food had to be served cold I do not know. It’s a shame as the food looked good and my wife was really disappointed. It would have been worth it if the environment was warm and if the food was too.

Luckily we managed to get something to eat at fumo and a couple of drinks at pure bar, both seem to use two glass doors rather than 1 and have no such issues with a draft. Six by nico should take a trip into pure bar and kitchen and see their door arrangement as I think similar would alleviate all their problems. Similar upfront information on the charitable donation, similar to how mowgli does might also be an idea. And if a customer is purchasing drinks and food separate, perhaps allow them to place on same bill and only be charged for some of these extras once.

I also need to add on my wife’s visit to the restroom, of the 3 for ladies one had a wet floor, one was dirty and one had 1 sheet of toilet paper left. Hopefully these comments will enable you to put into place more checks and hopefully avoid future disappointment. Attention to detail seems to be lacking and I hope you take this as constructive criticism. A customer should not have to advise you of...