Bocabar — Restaurant in Bristol

Very shocked at the service from the so called manager (the till receipt says Lauren) today. We regularly visit for lunch and continue to return because the food is nice and its local to work. Today we found the man serving to not be too enthusiastic and having to try hard to find someone to get us another drink as nobody was very attentive. We are easy going so we were fine with it. When we came to request the bill, the man grunted at us and told us to go to the bar to pay. We have never been asked to go to the bar to pay, which is fine but then we asked someone else and they brought us the bill (as you usually would expect in a restaurant). At this point we were a bit annoyed and although we always pay the suggested 'discretionary tip' we felt that paying over £10 for a poor service wasn't valid or fair. We have never felt the need to not pay a tip here before but today is was about principal. We went to the bar to pay the bill as nobody was coming to us to take payment and we explained that we wouldn't be paying the full tip and our (valid reasons why. The girl behind the bar was rude and challenged me on our reasons for not paying the full tip. It was as if she felt we were in the wrong and looked at us in quite an aggressive tone. I explained that I found her to be rude and my colleague agreed and politely said that he agreed, she was being very rude. We not once were rude, we just explained that the service was not good and so we didn't feel that we should pay the whole tip. She continued to be rude to us and said a very ingenuine 'sorry'. I asked her name, she replied sassily 'what is your name?'. I was taken a back by her rudeness again! I asked to speak to the manager and she said she was the manager, which again astounded me that she was the manager and behaving this way. As we left my colleague said 'we wont be seeing you again then' and she said 'hopefully not'!! We have been here so many times and are really upset that we have been made to feel so belittled for standing up for our rights and being honest about what was poor service. This person (maybe Lauren and maybe the manager) shouldn't have a job in customer service with such a poor attitude to her job. We are professionals and are aged in our 30's and 40's and do not expect to be treated like this when we go out to get lunch. In hindsight it would have been easier to pay the tip and let it go, but we felt strongly that the service didn't justify it and why should they just be paid a tip when they do not earn it? PS - we did partially pay a tip as the food was good! Hope she gets sacked and the job goes to someone who actually wants to do a good job! We have always enjoyed coming here so...

Bocabar Bar in Finzels Reach is the epitome of effortlessly cool, nestled in a location that breathes history with every brick. This stylish watering hole marries industrial chic with the building's storied past, creating a setting that's both inviting and visually arresting. It's a place where the ghosts of the past might mingle with the hip crowds of today, each contributing to an atmosphere that feels both timeless and refreshingly contemporary.

The service at Bocabar is a masterclass in hospitality: friendly, attentive, but never crossing into the realm of the obsequious. It's the sort of place where you feel instantly at home, whether you're a regular or a first-timer.

The menu, at first glance, seems to offer the usual suspects – burgers, pizzas, and the like – but don't be fooled by this apparent ordinariness. The food here is far from standard fare. The pizzas, in particular, are a revelation: generously sized, with a perfect crust that treads the fine line between crispy and chewy, and toppings that speak of careful sourcing and culinary flair.

Drinks-wise, Bocabar shines with a selection that's proudly local and delightfully varied. Whether you're after a craft beer, a local cider, or a carefully curated wine, there's something to quench your thirst and complement your meal.

And then there's the outdoor area. On a sunny day, this spot transforms into a glorious sun trap, an urban oasis where the rays linger just a little longer. It's the perfect place to kick back with a drink, soak up the atmosphere, and feel the stresses of the day melt away. In short, Bocabar Bar is a standout in Finzels Reach – effortlessly cool, historically rich, and a place you'll want to return to...

When ordering at the bar I enquired whether with the pulled pork cantinas, I could have the salsa verde on the side and was told that it was all part of the mix so not possible which is fine not a problem. However I then asked what was in the salsa as I have allergies and have been caught out in the past. To this the person serving me asked her colleague behind her who just shrugged her shoulders and I was told by the server that she didn't know. I further asked whether it would contain any nuts and got the same response. I then proceeded to explain that I was allergic to certain nuts. To this her response was do you have allergies, repeated a few times whilst I was saying, don't worry I will just pay for the drinks with the intention to review the menu on our table.

When I tried to pay contactlessly for my drinks I walked away the 2m to the table and unfortunately it required my pin and so thankfully didn't go through. The server then stormed over to the table loudly and rudely explaining that I had just walked off without checking it went through and that I would need to do it again. I went to pay for it again, I tapped but then noticed that they had already added the food, which they couldn't tell me whether I could eat or not. I pointed this out and after which they just walked off and had a conversation with presumably the manager with her showing the terminal, leaving me checking my phone repeatedly to see whether I had been charged.

I know it was a busy moment when I was trying to order, that it is a faff having allergies, and times are tough, but really the server wass rude and unprofessional.

I did try to raise this directly with the bar but as I've got no response...