The Wild Orchard — Restaurant in Bradford

Having heard promising things about The Wild Orchard, we were eager to experience what we hoped would be an elegant and satisfying evening meal. The restaurant itself is beautifully designed, with an inviting atmosphere and a warm ambiance that initially set high expectations. Unfortunately, the food and the management’s response to our concerns did not meet the same standard.

To begin, we ordered the king prawn tempura and the short rib croquette. The croquette was extremely bland, lacked flavour. The prawns, though crispy, were overwhelmed by an intensely aggressive spicy chili coating.

For our mains, the rib-eye steak ordered medium rare was underwhelming – poorly seared, overly fatty in parts, and accompanied by a peppercorn sauce that was overpoweringly spicy and ultimately inedible. The seasonal vegetables, a simple side, were inexplicably drowned in chili flakes, rendering them unpleasant. Similarly, the chicken main was dry, lacking any succulence and the sauce provided with it was also far too spicy to enjoy. This all was unexpected given that this is not a fusion or spice-themed establishment.

Another surprising and disappointing detail: my glass of Prosecco was served with ice. This, presumably intended to increase volume, significantly diluted the drink and clashed with basic presentation standards, as sparkling wine should never be served with ice unless requested.

While we found the overall meal unsatisfactory, we did appreciate the service of one particular waiter who was professional, friendly, and attentive. In fact, his approach alone encouraged us to consider returning – but only for brunch or desserts, as the dinner experience was far from what we’d hoped for, especially at the premium price point.

The true low point, however, came when the manager (Talha) asked us if we had enjoyed our meal. Rather than listening with empathy or professionalism, he responded with dismissiveness and patronizing remarks. Most shockingly, he claimed he had heard us ask for spicy food, which was categorically false and felt like a clear case of gaslighting. We pointed out the positive impression made by our waiter, who was stood right there, only to be told, rather immaturely that he was the manager’s brother – a comment made in a tone that felt defensive and unprofessional and pettily.

A final note to the owners: The Wild Orchard deserves to succeed, but success won’t come from influencer hype or TikTok buzz alone. It will come from consistency, culinary confidence, and above all, professionalism. Food that lacks seasoning isn’t fixed by dumping chili on everything—and a poorly handled customer complaint does far more harm than good. If our experience is anything to go by (and judging by similar reviews, it may well be), we won’t be returning. We sincerely hope things improve—for the sake of your brand, your future guests, and your dedicated staff who are trying to do...

It was a very warm and humid day when we attended. When seated we requested tap water. He said in a jug? We agreed. Waiter nodded and then brought us a bottle and informed us they don’t do jugs. We were a table of 8 people and so it finished very quickly as was only given one. Upon requesting more water, he then proceeded to pick up our glasses and told us he would fill these with water. How would we know whose glass is whose? He came back after only filling 3 small glasses for a table of 8. Throughout our time there this was a recurrent problem. We also had to request water multiple times from different waiters as people would forget. The music was very loud with a headache inducing beat. We were placed in the private area which had a speaker inside it. The music was soo loud and with multiple people getting headaches and a sleeping baby we requested this to be turned down. It took telling multiple waiters for this eventually to be done. Once told this was the lowest and it was still very loud we requested to speak to the manager. He informed us he is unable to turn off one speaker and that it would ruin the “ambience of the whole restaurant.” Being a Muslim owned restaurant we were very disappointed by this. Music is not required when people are enjoying a meal out with friends and family, especially in a Muslim restaurant. It turned out eventually he somehow was able to turn off our speaker, despite denying this previously. We ordered dessert and somehow our white chocolate cheesecake smelt and tasted like garlic. Multiple people tasted it to confirm. It was very strong. The manager came again and explained this was not possible. He then multiple times explained how this was not possible on our exit from the restaurant which I believe is very poor customer service. If you are not going to apologise, say it once in the restaurant and leave it. Rather than dismissing your customers concerns. We were grateful this was taken off our bill though. Rest of the food was nice but nothing special and very over priced. Presented nicely. The best thing we had was the lamb shank. I would recommend that if going. Overall it was a very frustrating experience and the food did...

During my recent visit to The White Orchid, I was thoroughly impressed by the exceptional customer service provided by both the waiter, Harris, and the restaurant's manager. Their dedication to ensuring a pleasant dining experience stood out and left a lasting impression.

Harris – Outstanding Waiter (10/10) Harris exemplified what excellent customer service should be. From the moment I was seated, he was welcoming, friendly, and genuinely accommodating. His people skills were fantastic—he effortlessly balanced professionalism with a warm, personable demeanor that made me feel valued as a guest.

What truly set Harris apart was his attentiveness. He frequently checked in without being intrusive, ensuring I had everything I needed throughout my meal. Whether it was refilling drinks promptly or answering questions about the menu with enthusiasm and detail, his service was flawless. Harris made my dining experience feel effortless and enjoyable.

The Manager – Equally Impressive When I expressed dissatisfaction with one of my dishes, the manager handled the situation brilliantly. He listened attentively to my concerns, acknowledged the issue, and acted immediately to rectify it. Without hesitation, he replaced the dish with something more to my liking, ensuring I was satisfied. This level of attentiveness and commitment to customer satisfaction is rare and commendable.

Final Thoughts The combination of Harris’s exceptional service and the manager’s proactive approach to resolving my concern made my visit to The White Orchid truly memorable. It’s clear that customer satisfaction is a top priority for the team here, and it shows in their attentive, accommodating approach.

If you’re visiting The White Orchid, rest assured that you’ll be in excellent hands. Hats off to Harris and the manager for going above and beyond to create such a welcoming and pleasant dining experience. I’ll certainly...