SAME OLE JOE'S — Restaurant in Bradford

Very disappointing first visit – poor service and lack of basic hospitality.

We visited Woodey Joe’s in Bradford for the first time, hoping to enjoy a relaxed dine-in experience. The restaurant was moderately busy, and we ordered a mixed grill and a pizza.

The mixed grill arrived in reasonable time and was satisfactory. However, the service quickly began to unravel. While eating, we asked the first waiter about the pizza we were still waiting for—he went to check and never returned. We then asked a second, then a third, and finally a fourth waiter. None followed up, and by this time we had finished our mixed grill and had already been waiting around 20 minutes. Eventually, we were told the pizza had been forgotten and was only just being put in the oven.

While we waited further, we also ran out of drinks and asked if we could have more. Despite making repeated requests to each of the staff members on duty, no one brought any drinks. Our pizza finally arrived after an extended wait, but we struggled to eat it as we had no drinks to accompany the food. Despite again asking for drinks multiple times, we were completely ignored.

After another 25 minutes of waiting and being disregarded, we gave up. We went to the till to pay and shared our frustration with the person who appeared to be the owner or manager—a middle-aged gentleman. Unfortunately, he showed no concern for our experience, offered no apology or acknowledgement, and simply presented the bill.

To be clear, we were not looking for a discount or compensation—we simply wanted our feedback to be heard and taken seriously. Sadly, it became evident that the staff, most of whom appeared to be very young and inexperienced, were not trained in even the basics of customer service. They actively avoided our table after repeated requests.

This experience left us genuinely disappointed, and we will not be returning. For those considering a visit, be aware that service here is sorely lacking. If you do decide to dine in, you may want to bring your own drinks—because getting a glass of water seems to be too much to ask.

This review is written not out of malice, but in the hope that management will take responsibility and address what is clearly a serious...

Appalling customer service! The food is okay but it's not worth being treated like dirt for it.

Booked it for a group at 7pm but as is common some of us arrived a little late so the others waited. Those waiting kept being told that they'd better hurry as there's another booking at 8.30 so they'll get kicked out. (What if we arrived on time but took our time eating, bearing in mind we waited half an hour for some of the food?).

When someone asked for extra tissues he was told to get them himself!!

Then when he got his main course which took about half an hour to come they kept asking him if he'd finished even though he clear was still eating it and had loads left, and all because of the other booking but the people weren't even there yet! 😕

Then to top it off... we asked for the bill to leave quickly and on time for their sake. So they gave us the bill to the table. I got the money ready and signalled the waiter and the owner/manager behind the till to take the money. His response was "pay at the till, DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SPECIAL THAT YOU CAN PAY AT THE TABLE. YOU HAVE TO PAY AT THE TILL."!!!! 😯😯

I mean he actually said that to me. I was fuming, so I told him that his customer service was rubbish and he needs to improve it for their own sake and for the customers.

I told him how 'the customer is always right' but he didn't understand that. He tried to argue that my friend was wrong for saying they'd need to cook fast if they wanted us out by 8.30 and that we shouldn't make jokes like that. He then complained about how less people came in our group than we initially booked for. I asked if anyone else booked for that time and he said no, so what difference did it make? None! There were many other seats available for other customers.

I highly DO NOT recommend this place and I rarely say this. Do not go unless you like bad customer service and rude behaviour for...

Food was good, cannot complain about food, HOWEVER the till guy who I believe is the owner was very rude. We were there to eat and quiet hungry so didn't find it reasonable to reply to his very snarky rude remarks. Possibly having a bad day? Not sure however that's not what I expected as a customer.

Edit: Reduced from 4 star to 1 - id give 0 if i could. Went back with friends. Pizza was burned and had literally no toppings. The service was extremely Bad- 50 min wait!!! Now we are very patient and didn't mind letting the owner know nicely didn't even send the food back. However , the 1 star is for what happened next. The owner( I assume the guy who is always on the till is the owner) was so rude and condescending. He didn't apologies and just made snarky comments and rolled his eyes ( likely his usual way of feeling feeling Complains I have learned now). The other table asked what the owner recommended of the menu and he gave them a sarcastic comment back ( don't remember it word by word by something like " you guys are going to be alot of work aren't you and I haven't got all day when they inquired further about an item on the menu")

The whole attitude and lack of any manners have completely put us off ever going to this place again. This shows that only putting on religious music as if it would save you somehow doesnt mean anything when infact they treat customers with so much disrespect and humiliation.

Food is good usually if you are happy leaving your self respect behind and deal with a very unfriendly and snoby face if you ever decide to say anything bad to say about the food.

Looking at all the reviews MOST (90% ) bad reviews are about the rude and ill mannered owner, some are from 3-4 yrs ago yet the owner hasn't changed his attitude whatsoever!!! Lack of shame or care? Anyways, will not...