NAC — Restaurant in London

I had made a reservation for this place weeks before my trip to London as I was told that it is a must try and that it’s a staple restaurant experience in Mayfair. I went in maybe half an hour early before my reservation and could see that the place was busy. At first, the hostess (couldn’t catch her name but she was black and had curly hair) was doubting the fact that I even had a reservation because she was just speaking to someone on the phone with the same name as mine and she refused to let us in which was very odd because I had told her that it is a common name and that she was speaking to someone else. She insisted on me showing her my reservation confirmation. I would’ve been fine if she politely and respectfully told me that I would have to wait a bit more as my table was not ready yet but she had a snarky attitude and told me to come back exactly at my reservation time. I came back inside just 5 minutes before my reservation and she was very upset that I did so and gave me a very rude stare when I came in and she looked at me from top to bottom and she shook her head. Had no clue what her problem was or why she was even being this rude to a customer. THEN she raised her voice at my mother who was fed up with her attitude and when she confronted her she had the audacity to talk back at her and argue. I did not want to lose my reservation and really wanted to try the food so I let it go and did not want to make a scene. The other hostess who was blonde who was right next to her was pretending like she couldn’t hear what was going on but she politely showed us to our table and apologized for the wait (which was the professional way to handle the situation in the first place). The other lady really upset my mother and myself and made our first experience somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. It’s unfortunate because the other wait staff were very polite and friendly and I really enjoyed both the atmosphere and the food. I especially loved the halloumi fries and kale salad as well as the truffle mac & cheese. I would love to come back and try more of the menu however my experience with this lady really left me dissatisfied and frustrated with the quality of treatment I received upon being “welcomed” into your establishment.

Update: this place just keeps getting worse and worse. We went in on Thursday 5 mins before opening time and sat outside. We were told to get up from our table and check with reception as people have already made reservations for outside. We were told we can only sit inside as outside was full although there were people sitting there without reservations. The lady at the front door was nice this time however she told us that we couldn’t have sweets unless we sat outside? And that we can only have lunch … at 11 AM??? So weird!! We were fine with sitting inside until we were told we couldn’t even have the desserts unless we sat outside (which was full!!!) and the waitress had such a bad and rude attitude. Pancakes are only available on Saturday and Sunday and the avocado toast on the lunch menu doesnt come with eggs you have to order extra which is different than the weekend menu. The rules this place has are so weird and unclear and the service is...

I am writing to express my deep dissatisfaction with a recent experience at your restaurant, particularly due to the unprofessional and disrespectful behavior of the staff member in charge of guest reception, a man named Chris.

We arrived ten minutes before our reservation time and were told that our table was not yet ready, and we were asked to wait. After the ten minutes had passed, we approached Chris again to ask about our table, but he was dismissive and unhelpful, continuing to delay us without any valid explanation.

While waiting, I noticed an empty and suitable table and politely asked to be seated there. Chris refused, claiming it was reserved. However, shortly afterward, he seated another guest there who had no reservation, and it was clear from their interaction that they were personally acquainted. When I confronted him about this unfairness, he first claimed that the other guest had arrived before us, which was false, then changed his excuse by saying the table seats three and we were only two. I clarified that we were a group of three, and he had no response.

Instead of resolving the situation, he raised his voice, told me to leave the restaurant, said he would cancel my reservation, blacklist my name, and that no table would be available to us — a level of disrespect that is completely unacceptable.

Eventually, we were seated at a very poor table location, almost inside the kitchen. If it weren’t for my daughters being with me, I would have left the restaurant entirely.

This behavior is not befitting of a restaurant that claims to value its guests. Respect for customers is the foundation of any successful establishment, and frankly, the way we were treated suggests otherwise.

I sincerely hope that appropriate action will be taken regarding this incident and that you will review your guest handling practices moving forward. Such experiences negatively impact your restaurant’s reputation and undermine its credibility.

If you review most of the one-star ratings your restaurant has received, you’ll notice a recurring theme: customers consistently complain about the rude and disrespectful behavior of the staff. This indicates that the issue is not isolated, but rather systemic and in urgent need of...

I had an extremely disappointing and humiliating experience at this establishment in Mayfair. From the moment my cousin and I arrived, we were met with what I can only describe as racial profiling.

We stood right at the entrance for several minutes while staff members looked directly at us multiple times, yet deliberately avoided approaching. I even tried to signal politely for assistance, only to be met with eye rolls and dismissive body language. A queue eventually formed behind us, and instead of being acknowledged as the first in line, staff bypassed us entirely and approached the guests behind us.

When someone finally addressed us, the tone was passive-aggressive and dismissive, as though we were inconveniencing them simply by being there. We were told that without a reservation, we would need to wait up to an hour and a half. That in itself was not an issue—we would have been willing to wait—but the manner in which it was communicated made it clear we were not welcome.

The most telling and upsetting part came as we walked away. I overheard the same staff member offering the guests behind us (who arrived later than we did) the option to leave a phone number so that she could secure them a spot. This courtesy was never extended to us. The contrast in treatment was blatant, and it left me feeling disgusted, singled out, and humiliated.

I am someone who has spent thousands of pounds dining across London. I have been to Nobu, Roka, Rivera, Novikov, and many more, and I have never experienced such unprofessional and discriminatory behaviour anywhere else. This establishment has lost a valuable customer, as I have no intention of returning and would strongly advise others—especially those from diverse backgrounds—to think twice before spending their money here.

Discrimination should never be tolerated in hospitality, and I hope this review holds the establishment accountable for its staff’s...