Yafo — Restaurant in Bristol

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS PLACE?

I really really liked this restaurant. I am not sure what has gone wrong or if it is multiple things but I cannot recommend Yafo at all like I once used to.

Good points: Most of the food seems unchanged; the oyster wings, hummus place, pittas, pickles and falafel are still nice enough (the menu less so but will get there). Still serves the pleasing selection of desserts and drinks.

The bad stuff: The main worry was that I ordered a hummus plate with braised beef, the beef also came with the butcher’s twine it was trussed and cooked in, something I discovered while chewing. I’m glad to say a friendly waitress took it off our bill which was kind.

Smaller issues, the hummus plate comes with pickles which I had to ask for. I was briefly told “they’ve stopped doing them” before being served them though they were on the menu and also I love the pickles man! Keep them on!

Our falafels also came out late. Which is fine but tell us that they will be out in a bit! We had to ask if we remember to order them instead of sitting and enjoying the majority of what we had ordered. Either the order was forgotten but I’d like to think the front of house just didn’t think to mention it. It’s a small thing but makes a big difference!

Finally smaller things, I have not been to Yafo for a good few months but I do not remember there being loud music with punchy bass being blasted in the restaurant. Made for a really weird atmosphere. The menu now boasts more generic kebab and meat based options. The menu used to be way more fun, there used to be countless veggie options and a variety of flavours. I’m a meat eater and this would be fine if it wasn’t Yafo but I don’t come to Yafo for a gyros or a skewer. The menu shift to mostly meat is just so disappointing.

I don’t know what has happened but it feels obvious to me that the restaurant has lost some very key members of staff/management figures. The front of house did not generate the welcoming atmosphere it once had and frankly the kitchen team while serving some nice food were poor. Please get the wheels on the...

Another early evening meal ruined by the inability to provide sufficient staff for the number of customers. The food was fine, when it arrived. Not as good as I was expecting from the reviews and certainly not as good as the wait demanded but I'm full which is better than last week.

I've eaten out by myself for over 20 years, all around the world, and this was the first place I've ever had call me the morning of my booking (that was made a week ago, that I'd received multiple reminders about) to confirm that I was actually booking a table for one. The incredulity at someone eating by themselves was incredibly rude and put a bad taste in my mouth before I even arrived.

But arrive I did, got my table and menu, then waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually I went to the til/bar to ask if I could order. Someone came, took my order and that was the last contact I had other than a glass of water plonked down that I had for over half an hour. I asked when my food - or at least the small plate of bread and dips I'd ordered as a starter of sorts - would arrive, was told they'd find out and never heard back from them. Eventually I went to the bar again and after some prodding my food finally arrived.

It was alright. The dips were tiny and I'm not sure what any of them were, except the tomato one tasted like it had largely come out of a can. The gyro was ok but for almost £18 I expected more. I guess that's North Street prices for you.

There was one member of staff who tried her best to improve my experience but she was fighting against the tide. I left as quickly as I could and have found yet another place to cross off my "must...

Good food. Unfortunately service was appalling, & felt discriminated on by staff. part of order was taken by waitress & then told to order rest at till??? Had to wait for service with another customer , then approached “whoes next” I replied me & the other customer also said it was me. To my shock the waitress blanked me completely & continued to ask the other customer if she could help! The other customer could see this was abnormally rude & told waitress that I was next, the other customer walked back to her table as she could see the waitress was ignorant. hoping the waitress would serve me However the waitress continued to ignore me & proceeded to followed the customer to there table even when her error was pointed out by the other customer. I was left at the till feeling deeply offended &, being a woman of colour found this offensive. I went back to my table without completing the other half of order? Was then approached by another waitress to tell me again to complete order, I needed to go to till , I explained I tried to but was dismissed & ignored as I was explaining the other waitress came over & apologised for her error, very false , however very uncomfortable, bad tension for no reason on my guests and I , Clearly they had an issue as they left a sarcastic written messages on the receipt, which no other customers had ???... good food , horrible horrible experience...., it’s sad as people of colour you can’t win , you mention an error of discrimination your the problem. Would never step foot in there again .. all...