Bill's Cardiff Bay Restaurant — Restaurant in Butetown

I was in yesterday for brunch/lunch. It was quite nice although my egg was a bit underdone, you know when the white is a bit floppy and watery? That. The service was okayish, (I was given the wrong menu then had to ask for another and they took a while to take the order). However, when the bill arrived and had the 12.5% gratuity already attached I have to say that irritated me somewhat. How, for want of a better phrase, far up its own backside does a place need to be to add gratuity to the bill, to somehow assume that they’re brilliant and they are deserving. They are not deserving. Now, I understand why they do it, it means that most people won’t bother questioning it or asking to remove it because it makes people feel awkward. I’m not most people and I have no problem leaving a tip at my discretion, which is how gratuity should be done (we are not in America after all) and I have no problem asking for the gratuity to be removed. What I do have a problem with, however, is the rudeness I received when I asked for it to be removed. I mean, this did vindicate my decision in not wanting to leave a tip, especially when the lady I asked fired back “I’ll take it off, no skin off my back” (I pointed out that I think she meant no skin of my nose). We are constantly asked to be polite to people who serve us in restaurants especially at present where there is a shortage of staff. I do think this should work both ways however and just because I don’t agree with being asked and expected to pay gratuity (it should always be at the customer’s discretion) I don’t see why I should be spoken to in a rude manner. Now, I’m sure Bills is one of those places where if you say you won’t be back they’ll say “good”, thing is though, it’s a tough old game at the moment and if you annoy enough people maybe you will notice that not so many people are coming through your doors and it will be the skin off your back….. There are far better places to...

So awful we didn’t even stay for food! So I gave the food 2 stars because in fairness we didn’t even get to that point. I booked a table for 8:30pm yesterday (which was a Sunday) We turned up at 8:32 and apologised for being a little late. She said “don’t worry, but just to let you know you need to order by 9 as we close soon” This was not explained when we booked. So not a great start. The place was EMPTY. There were however, two other tables in. So naturally we were sat right on top of each other. I’ve never understood this. They ask you upon booking what the occasion is, to which I selected “date night” So I’d rather not be sat right next to the other two couples, when we have a plethora of other empty tables. I’m already annoyed by this point but we crack on. The waitress is clearly annoyed at us being there. She’s short, rude and made us feel uncomfortable and unwanted. I ask to move over to another table for some privacy. She just shrugged. I asked what beers they have and her reply was “none on tap, one bottle and that’s only peroni” She was so negative so tried to be overly nice as I felt bad for being there! I sit there and my husband turns to me and says “we don’t have to stay here you know. We’re about to drop £70 and have a horrible meal”

We got up, told the manager we’re leaving. Her reply was “well I just told you we’re closing soon, that’s all” ignored our feedback about the waitress.

We’ve got 2 kids. We don’t earn tons of money. Going out to eat is becoming more and more dreadful. I’m sick of paying a load of money and getting shafted by these places. Treated with contempt! Why allow tables to be booked at 8:30 when you close or stop serving shortly after?

We had a meal deal in bed in the end. Wonderful end to our much anticipated...

To start we didn’t really have a warming welcome… then shown to our table which was right next to staff payment system which at many points the staff are all hovering around it and due to the wooden floor flexing it felt like you were on a bouncy castle in your seat. We asked to be moved to the next table which we were allowed but had to wait till it was prepared. After waiting 10 minutes we give up waiting and just moved ourselves with our glasses complimentary jug of warm water and cutlery from our first table… onto the food… my partner ordered the butter milk chicken burger the bun was dry and the burger was filled with red cabbage slaw which wasn’t the best. Myself I ordered the bills truffle chicken two ways, when the food arrived i honestly have to say for the price portion size was poor. The chargrilled chicken was nice the creamed potatoes were also nice but you wouldn’t realise it’s on your plate until you lift the chicken that’s how small the portion was. As for the crispy fried chicken 4 pieces same size as a 50 pence piece were chewy and slightly over cooked, definitely over priced for portion size and quality. We also ordered a child’s meal butter milk fried chicken and chips, again the fried chicken tiny pieces were over cooked tasteless, chewy and you swear the chips came in a thimble as there were so few…. Now the drinks I had Bills Larger it’s a nice larger couldn’t really fault it. My partner had a glass of Prosecco which was is the tiniest glass ever and for £7 that was terrible… the only positive was the child’s desert was nice and we had a free desert for Mother’s Day. Also automatic but discretion service charge is crazy as the staff never...