Cona Restaurant — Restaurant in Bradford

I visited Cona this weekend for my birthday meal and all I can say is “it has left a very bad taste in my mouth”. I feel the owner was passive aggressive and did not fulfil his duties of customer service. I will not be going again.

For the starters, I ordered the lamb chops and prawn tempura which were both nice - nothing to write home about. When I ordered my steak I was very clear in what I wanted reason being, I ordered what my friend had specifically recommended to me (I even doubled checked my messages before ordering to make sure it was the right one). The owner then confirmed this was the best cut of meat and I wouldn’t be disappointed whilst going on and on about other things also. He then went on to recommend what he thought would go well with the steak. I already knew what I wanted as like I’ve said I had been recommended what to get by my friend. However, I let him carry on.

My main course was TINY and when I say tiny I mean it. Literally not enough for a small child never mind an adult. The owner came over and served us I.e put everything on our plates for us which was a nice touch. However, the food wasn’t amazing and certainly wasn’t the best steak I’ve ever had. It was thinly cut - paper thin to be precise meaning we could hardly taste it. The main issue was when the bill came!!!

My husband and I had been charged ( almost double) for a steak that we DID NOT order. When I queried this with the owner he made me feel as if it was my mistake but I know it wasn’t based on everything I’ve stated above. He said I had just eaten the finest cut of meat and that “I thoroughly enjoyed it” making me feel like an idiot for even querying it. I explained that I didn’t order that one as I’d ordered something my friend recommended. He went on to say that he didn’t mind reducing it but that I HAD just eaten the finest cut of meat and I’d enjoyed it again making me feel like I had to pay for it. He asked me what I wanted to do in front of the whole restaurant there were other tables watching which again made me feel like I had to pay. There are numerous things wrong with this. 1) he shouldn’t have ASKED me if I wanted it reducing he should have apologised for the mistake and at least met me half way but this wasn’t mentioned. 2) he kept stating I had eaten a very expensive piece of meat and therefore basically needed to pay. There was nothing offered complimentary or anything to fix the issue. So I ended up paying nearly £450 for a tiny steak that I didn’t even order. The one I ordered was 10oz and this was 6oz!!!!

I have no issues with paying a premium price for amazing food. I have dined in lots of Michelin star restaurants and spent good money on food, both in London and around the world. The service in these restaurants has been impeccable. I have never had to complain but I can rest assured if anything like this happened it wouldn’t have been dealt with like this. I called the owner passive aggressive because that’s what he was! Recommending a half hearted solution but throwing in that I had eaten the food. Had this not been my home town and my Bday meal I would have definitely contested this however I was made to feel very small and it ruined my experience.

I will not be visiting this place again nor will I recommend it to anyone. I will voice my opinions to anyone who asks me how it was. I am a huge advocate for customer service it can turn things around but sadly in this instance it has ruined my experience and I will not be returning. I was planning my mums 60th bday party and was thinking of asking for the entire restaurant for our family depending on how I found it this weekend. That certainly won’t be happening and for the sake of a couple of hundred pounds this place has lost out on a lot more.

Disappointed to say the least. Wish I’d read the reviews beforehand as seems this has happened to people before and had I known I wouldn’t have let them do it to yet...

This review presents a mixed perspective of our experience. I am aiming to be fair and courteous in my review of this place.

Upon entering the premises, the initial impression was of a dimly lit and somewhat somber atmosphere, along with limited space and humidity. Although it may have been intended to create a cozy and intimate ambiance, it did not personally resonate with me. Moreover, the loud music resembled that of a nightclub, which was unexpected.

There was a single restroom available for both genders, which was functional. However, it did not appear to be regularly cleaned, which could benefit from improvement.

The seating arrangements were satisfactory and comfortable, although the proximity to other patrons was a bit too close for my liking.

When it comes to the menu, it was quite limited in terms of options. Additionally, the average price per person was a minimum of £100, and that did not include desserts or mocktails.

The owner displayed amicable behaviour, yet there was a noticeable push towards purchasing the top-tier steak. Undoubtedly, he possessed strong salesmanship skills.

Although the food was enjoyable, it did not surpass expectations or leave a lasting impression. While I understand that Wagyu beef is costly, the overall experience did not align with the expected sophistication of the establishment.

The most disappointing aspect of the evening was the extensive wait times between being served our starters and mains. The delay amounted to nearly 90 minutes, which is quite unacceptable. The establishment should certainly work on reducing the time gap between these courses for an improved customer experience.

Unfortunately, when it comes to customer service, in comparison to other steakhouses like Etci Mehmet and Ribeye, this establishment fell short. The staff seemed to avoid making eye contact and their manner of communication and service lacked professionalism.

Upon receiving the bill, I requested the removal of the discretionary 10% service charge. In response, the server questioned if everything else was satisfactory. I reiterated my dissatisfaction with the waiting period. When he returned with the revised bill, he commented, "I'm not getting funny, but this is the time it takes for food of this quality." Such a remark was unnecessary and unprofessional, particularly as the decision to include the optional service charge should be left to the patron's discretion.

Based on my experience, I do not intend to return to this establishment, nor would I recommend it to others, as there are several superior steakhouses available. Considering the overall experience, I rate it three out of five stars, primarily due to the satisfactory quality of the food, but with a strong endorsement for improvement in all...

A Disappointing Dining Experience

If you're looking for a memorable meal in Bradford, I regret to inform you that CONA is not the place to find it. From the moment I walked in, the experience was a series of letdowns—poor service, mediocre food, and an atmosphere that failed to impress.

Ambience & Service – Lacking Warmth & Professionalism Upon arrival, the restaurant felt stark and unwelcoming, with dim lighting that did little to create any sense of ambiance. The staff seemed indifferent, if not outright disinterested. Our server barely made eye contact, took ages to acknowledge us, and when they did, it was with an air of impatience. Empty plates lingered on the table far too long, and requests for water or extra napkins were met with sighs rather than smiles.

The Food – Overpriced & Underwhelming The menu at CONA promises "modern British cuisine with a twist," but what arrived was more like **bland, uninspired dishes with a hefty price tag

Starter: Crispy Squid (£9.50) The squid was anything but crispy—instead, it was chewy, greasy, and underseasoned, served with a lackluster aioli that tasted store-bought. For nearly £10, I expected freshness and flavor, not something that resembled freezer-section calamari.

Main: CONA Burger (£16.50) A burger at this price should be exceptional, but this was dry, overcooked, and poorly assembled. The brioche bun was stale, the "house sauce" was indistinguishable from ketchup mixed with mayo, and the fries were limp and under-salted. At this point, I could have gotten a better meal at a fast-food chain for a fraction of the cost.

Dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding (£7.50) The one dish that should be foolproof in a British restaurant was a complete misfire. The pudding was dense and dry, the toffee sauce was gloopy and overly sweet, and the vanilla ice cream had that strange, artificial aftertaste of cheap substitutes.

Value for Money – A Rip-Off With a bill nearing £50 per person (including one drink each), the experience was **nowhere near worth the cost. The portions were small, the execution was sloppy, and the overall quality felt like something you'd tolerate at a budget chain, not a restaurant charging premium prices.

Final Verdict – Avoid CONA Bradford There are far better dining options in Bradford, and CONA is not one of them. Between the lackluster food, poor service, and unjustifiable prices, this restaurant fails to deliver on every front. Save your money and go somewhere that actually cares about the customer experience.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5 – Terrible) Would...