Dobar — Restaurant in London

Tuesday 9th September 2025

Disappointed and Concerned About Allergen Safety

This was my second visit to Dobar Breakfast Restaurant. My first experience was good, the food and service both impressed me. Unfortunately, today’s visit left a very different impression.

Right from the start, there were red flags. When we arrived, the waitress greeted us with menus and said, “Hello, how old are you?” Confused, I smiled and said, “Excuse me?” thinking maybe she thought I looked young. She quickly corrected herself and said, “Sorry, how are you?” I laughed it off, but quietly mentioned to my mother-in-law that the waitress might have a language barrier, which is fine, many people understand more than they speak at first.

When it was time to order, I asked about the smoothie options. They all had mango, and I clearly explained that I have a mango allergy and needed a drink without it. She said the smoothies were pre-mixed and couldn’t be modified, so I chose the only one without mango, the strawberry banana.

For my meal, I ordered the French Tourist (see photo). Halfway through eating, I noticed my lips becoming irritated a clear sign of an allergic reaction. Upon inspecting my plate more closely, I realized there were pieces of mango mixed in with the fruit one was even touching a raspberry I had eaten.

I immediately called the waitress over and explained that my dish had mango, despite me clearly stating I had an allergy when I ordered my drink. She seemed confused and kept repeating “no,” struggling to understand. I reminded her of our earlier conversation where I said, very clearly, that I couldn’t have mango. My mother-in-law backed me up, saying, “Yes, she told her when we ordered drinks.”

Eventually, another staff member (a male server) came over. I explained the situation again. He apologized but didn’t offer a solution. The waitress returned and offered to remove the mango from the plate so I could continue eating, I told her no, the food was already contaminated and my lips were reacting.

As someone who has worked in the food industry, I know how seriously allergies should be taken. This situation was unacceptable on multiple levels:

A waitress who clearly struggles to understand English in a customer-facing role, especially when it comes to critical dietary concerns. The lack of understanding and seriousness when the word “allergy” is used. No effort to replace my meal or show genuine concern for what could’ve been a serious reaction. I was still expected to pay for the meal I couldn’t finish. When I refused, the waiter returned with the revised bill and said with an attitude that I should have examined my food before eating “almost all of it.” That was rude and completely dismissive.

I won’t be returning to Dobar, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with food sensitivities or allergies. This experience was not only disappointing, it...

A Delicious Discovery – Will Definitely Be Back!

e visited Dobar Breakfast / Brunch on a friend's recommendation, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. While there wasn’t a queue when we arrived, you can tell this place gets busy for a reason – the food is genuinely great. Plus, it's super convenient, located right by the entrance to Manor House Tube station. There were five of us in the group, and we were seated comfortably in a cosy corner. The service was excellent – friendly, professional, and perfectly timed. We never felt rushed, and the staff gave us just the right amount of attention without being intrusive. One of the standout features was the inclusive menu – with halal and non-halal options, everyone in our group could enjoy something. The variety was fantastic too, from classic English fry up to French and American-style brunch dishes with pancakes with fried chicken, hash browns, baked beans, fluffy scrambled eggs, eggs Benedict, the fresh fruit hhmm – we were spoiled for choice! Portion sizes were generous, and considering the quality and quantity, the price was more than reasonable. For five adults, including a round of Tropical Crush smoothies each, bottled water, and an espressos to finish, the total came to just £120. In today’s economy, that’s great value and I left a tip on top of £20 as it was well worth it. We left full, happy, and already planning our return – in fact, we’ll be back this Sunday after church! Thanks to the Dobar team for a memorable experience. Keep up...

Never have I experienced such terrible customer service. My friend and I arrived Sunday morning for breakfast, we ordered our food and were trying to pleasantly have a catch up and eat our breakfast but the staff were constantly rushing us to finish our meals. I put my fork down to take a break from eating and a female staff member ( I’m assuming the owner) asked if I was finished. This happened multiple times, I constantly felt like they were hovering over me and I couldn’t actually enjoy my meal. My friend still had a full glass of orange juice to drink and again the same staff member came over and told us to pay the bill and if we could please move on as there were some people waiting outside for a table. When I looked through the window to see these people, there was only a group of four people waiting and myself and my friend were at a table for two, so I don’t understand why we were being rushed. My friend had to skull her drink. I wanted to use the toilet before leaving but the lady was basically pushing us out the door, I couldn’t even get my coat on never mind using the toilet. Incredibly rude, considering we’d just spend £70 on breakfast. The worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. I’ve been to cafes that are far more busier in London, and it doesn’t matter how busy they still provide excellent service. If the food is good, and so is the customer service, people will happily wait for a table. I wish I’d told that group that was waiting to go elsewhere. Never again will I come...