Bacchanalia Mayfair — Restaurant in London

UPDATE: The Client Relations Manager called upon receiving my number and quickly turned it around on me to say I am being an “online bully” and that I should “grow up and be an adult”. He told me I should have properly escalated the situation rather than post a negative review. So the Restaurant Manager in person was not the right contact? Also went on to say I am giving “negative energy”. It’s amazing that one reaches out and phones to make attacks on a customer instead of offering a solution. Wow! No wonder this place is catastrophic. Speechless. — NOT WORTH THE $ AND TIME!!! Do not bother! Totally overrated and embarrassing.

Many staff approaching the table let alone not introducing themselves so we were confused who’s responsible for what.

We got still water when we ordered sparkling and then the staff proceeded to insist that it was still. The staff argued with one another at our table on what to do next?

The mains were served the actual second the appetizers were finished, no sense of proper dining and timing.

Staff did not once ask if we need more water, drinks or anything in general.

When we were almost done our mains, the waitress then asked if everything was ok. We responded that we would like more drinks and ground pepper. She brought out the pepper, placed it on the table and simply walked away.

Our second bottle finally arrived for the last course.

We asked the waitress what her name was to address her properly. She goes on to roll her eyes, with a dirty look and pause to question “why?” Then goes on to explain due to “privacy” reasons the staff are not required to share their names to guests. We have never heard this before. Especially at a “fine dining” restaurant. It did not make any sense.

Ordered the infamous “Medusa” dessert and confirmed with the waitress that it can be served once we come back to the table from the washroom downstairs. All was agreed.

We come back to the table and sadly the dessert was already served let alone the dessert is supposed to be eaten cold so it was basically melting away without us there. We addressed the waitress and she went on to defend herself saying that we took “too long” and it’s “only been sitting out here for 4-5 mins”. Mind you this dessert is 50 GBP.

Once everything unfolded, the Restaurant Manager was addressed privately on the side where every detail was explained. He seemed understanding and offered to take care of the bill for the terrible experience. He gave his business card and confirmed everything will be sorted.

The bill came to our table and we realise there was nothing sorted. The Manager simply took off the dessert and service fee.. We confronted him once again asking what does this mean? What happened to his original offer and solution? He denied his offer and said it was a misunderstanding. In English if you say “take care of the bill” that means one thing and one thing only. He did not seem like a native English speaker but if you work in the restaurant and service industry, there can be no “‘misunderstanding” with that. At this point we were so exhausted from the entire experience, we handled the bill and left.

Note people were all taking pictures with their phones and cameras but for some reason, one of us were told to not take pictures of the interior due to “privacy reasons”. The staff goes on to explain that a lot of their guests are of “high status” and cannot risk to be included in a photo. If that is the case, then why spend millions of pounds on an interior design to attract guests which is your entire restaurant creative concept let alone then perhaps have your “celebs” do private dining if this is really the reason/concern.

Also their Social Media Manager deletes all comments that are not praising the place. It’s...

Ah, Bacchanalia. The name promises Roman decadence, a feast fit for gods, and a night to remember. Instead, what I got was a theme park of garish opulence masquerading as a restaurant. If you told me this place cost £75 million to open, I’d have to ask: did they spend it all on gold spray paint and Instagram filters? Because it certainly didn’t go into the food, service, or general dignity of the establishment.

Let’s start at the coat check. A process so disorganized, it felt like auditioning for The Hunger Games: Queue Edition. Nothing screams “luxury dining” like a ten-minute wait to hand over your coat to someone who looks like they’d rather be anywhere else. First impressions matter, and mine was: brace yourself, this is going to be a train wreck.

The crowd? A parade of wannabe influencers snapping selfies against a backdrop of Roman statues that scream “wish me luck on my GCSE art project.” Everyone was on their phones, desperately documenting their evening to show off they were there, rather than actually enjoying themselves. I don’t blame them—staring at your phone is infinitely more enjoyable than staring at overpriced beetroot.

Now, the food. Ah, the pièce de résistance of mediocrity. Burrata and a few limp salad leaves? Groundbreaking. Charred beetroot at £22? A crime against vegetables. Grilled Greek sausage at £16? I’ve had more satisfying sausage rolls from a gas station. And the rigatoni ragu at £31? It’s like paying for a first-class ticket and ending up in economy, only to be told there’s no meal service. As for the scallops at £11 each—at that price, I expect them to serenade me before leaping into my mouth.

The tables are crammed so tightly together, it’s a miracle we didn’t end up sharing our appetizers with the neighbouring table. Perhaps that’s the £75 million innovation: communal dining for people who don’t know they’re dining communally.

And let’s talk about the décor. It’s less “opulent Roman feast” and more “Caesar’s Palace Casino after a glitter bomb accident.” The bathrooms, though, are stunning. Truly, they outshine the entire dining experience. But if the highlight of your £75 million restaurant is the lavatories, it’s safe to say your priorities are as misaligned as the rigatoni.

In the end, Bacchanalia isn’t a restaurant; it’s a monument to everything wrong with the modern dining scene: all flash, no substance. It’s a £75 million selfie backdrop for people who equate exorbitant pricing with sophistication. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Save yourself the trouble and spend your money at a local Italian joint that knows how to make a ragu without requiring a bank loan.

As for me? I’ll never darken Bacchanalia’s gilded doorstep again. Life’s too short for bad food, long queues, and Roman cosplay...

A Disheartening Experience at Bacchanalia London: -

From the moment we were seated, the waiter assigned to our table was exceptionally rude. His demeanor was condescending, and he appeared irritated by our presence. Instead of providing a warm welcome, his attitude made us feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. The level of rudeness was shocking, especially at a restaurant of Bacchanalia’s caliber.

As we began to peruse the menu, the waiter stood nearby, pressuring us to make decisions quickly. This alone was annoying, but it got worse when he started pushing us to order more food than we wanted. His insistence felt like he was trying to inflate our bill rather than ensure we had a pleasant dining experience. This kind of aggressive upselling is inappropriate and unprofessional, particularly in a supposedly top-tier restaurant.

One of the most frustrating parts of the evening was the water incident. We asked for tap water, a reasonable request considering the already high prices on the menu. Despite our clear request, the waiter brought us still water, which we later discovered was chargeable. This felt like a deliberate ploy to add to our bill and showed a blatant disregard for our wishes. Such tactics are unacceptable and reflect poorly on the establishment.

Bacchanalia London advertises that it closes at 12:00 PM, with the last order taken at 11:30 PM. However, when we tried to order additional items at 10:00 PM, we were informed that the kitchen was already closed. This was not only frustrating but also misleading, as we had planned our evening based on the advertised times. Being denied service well before the stated closing time left us feeling cheated and added to our dissatisfaction.

The poor service at Bacchanalia London is unacceptable for any restaurant, let alone one that charges such exorbitant prices. The combination of a rude waiter, pressure to order more food, and misleading information about kitchen hours made for a thoroughly disappointing experience. High-end dining establishments are expected to provide impeccable service, and Bacchanalia London failed miserably in this regard.

In conclusion, my experience at Bacchanalia London was deeply disappointing. The rude waiter, aggressive upselling, and misleading information about kitchen hours overshadowed any positives about the restaurant's ambiance and setting. For a restaurant that positions itself as one of the most luxurious dining spots in the United Kingdom, Bacchanalia London did not meet even the basic standards of customer service and honesty. I cannot recommend this restaurant and urge potential diners to consider other options where they will be treated with the respect and courtesy...