Bistrot Pierre - Southport — Restaurant in Sefton

This was booked for a family member's birthday. We all ordered the Soirée Gastronomique 6 courses. There were 5 people, with 5 drinks ordered, 5 places set at the table and 5 people ordered from that menu. We made one change, which was to a veggie option for one course.

The problems quickly started to arise. Our first course arrived, and a young blonde gentleman announced that he had 4 name of appetiser. To which we replied 'we should have 5'. He snapped back very sharpishly 'well I've only got 4, only 4 have been ordered'. Instead of stepping back and saying sorry there must have been a mistake, he proceeded to plonnk the food down, with no intention of asking us what was ordered or attempt of rectifying the problem. So we had to say very clearly that we needed a 5th, we had all ordered the same set menu, and we would need another. No apology, and the same attitude throughout was received from this gentlemen.

10 minutes later, after 4 of the 5 starters had been finished, we checked in with the same blonde gentlemen to ask where the other would be, as everyone had finished (it was a hot course, so waiting would not have been practical). Again, no apology or customer service skills and he just wafted his hand in our direction and said it takes a few minutes.

Eventually, the 5th first course arrived (now 15 minutes after). As the 5th member of our party is finally starting their first course, the next course arrives. The staff even asked the person trying to quickly eat their first course 'who had the veggie option'. Just showing such a basic lack of awareness.

When ordering the main course, the waitress asked how we (3 of us ) wanted our steaks cooked. To which we had one medium to well and one rare to medium (I think we said rare and rare to medium, but we wouldn't have minded some deviation). The blonde waiter (there is a common theme) when asked 'which is which steak' snapped back 'they are all the same!'. Ironically, one was medium to welldone, one was definitely medium to rare, and one was closer to rare. So we just all checked and then swapped our plates around.

Towards the end of the main course, one member of the party was still eating, but the deserts then suddenly appeared, with the same unfortunate gentlemen shouting across the table, (apparently totally unable to see someone still eating, or the table still full with plates from the main courses), 'who is having cheese and who the other'. Which was shocking given both a cheese and 'other' desert course were included within the 6 courses, and both a part of the set menu. His colleague had the capabilities to realise the situation, and said they would wait, clear the table then bring the correct course. It was truly shocking.

Eventually, our deserts appeared after the mains had been finished and the table cleared (the actual desert course, not the cheese course). This waitress had a much better manner, and then asked us if we were ready for the cheese course. To which a 5 second conversation happened of one member of the party saying 'I don't need one thanks' and another member of the party replying 'it is included' and the original member of the party saying 'ok ignore that I'll have it'. The waitress did not have a notepad, ipad or similar, so there is no way that anything was accidentally cancelled. She then left us, with the full impression that we were all having deserts.

Low and behold, only 4 cheese courses arrived. With the waitress stating when challenged 'sorry about that, you obviously said no cheese for you, and I had already put it through before you changed your mind'. Unfortunately this was a blatant lie, and clearly there is an integral issue either in their system. We then had to wait 5 minutes for the additional included meal to arrive. During this time, we also ordered one additional glass of wine before the cheese course, which arrived 15 minutes later (which we chased up 3 times).

Extremely disappointing, with no attempt at any point from the staff to rectify any issues or...

I had always wanted to go here as it looks really nice from outside. Its in a prime location on Lord Street and honestly, I thought it'd be better than what it was. The food was decent for the price you pay. Tasty enough but nothing spectacular. But I think the staff (except for our waitress, a lovely young lady who was very attentive and friendly) really let the place down. As mentioned, its in a prime location and you'd think they'd jump at the chance of becoming one of Southports best restaurants. When we arrived, we had to wait in the door for 5-10 minutes. Staff walked past us and we weren't even acknowledged. A simple welcome would have been nice whilst we waited - this frist impression definitely set the standard for the experience. It wasn't busy or full so I dont understand why we were left waiting. Whilst we were eating our starters, a lady in a red jumper came over, pulled down her mask and said "can you turn that down?" - she was referring to the couple NEXT to us who had their phone and conversation on loud speaker. We pointed out it wasn't us and she walked away without another word, not even an apology for interrupting us so abruptly. This i felt was actually very rude. She didn't even check it was us before interrupting. She went over to the next table, I didn't hear what was said but they continued with the conversation on loudspeaker. It would seem its ok for an older couple to do this, but not my partner and I? We are guests - polite, respectful and well mannered guests and you would expect to be treated as such. Upon leaving, there was no friendly goodbye. The place has bags of potential but some of the staff are there just to do a job. There is no passion from what we saw and it did let the place down, which i think is very sad. I'm not sure I will return.. maybe in the new year, who knows. I hope the atmosphere will pick up by then. All of this being said, I want to reiterate that our waitress was very good. If the rest could follow her example, it may be a better...

We were early for our reservation so we decided to sit in the lounge area and have a drink, we asked if we could look at the menu whilst we waited, the menus were duly brought over so we studied them and decided what we would order! No one came over to ask if we'd like to go over to our table so about 8ish we asked the waitress to show us to our table to which she answered oh just sit anywhere! We duly sat at a window table, our orders were taken and as the main meal my husband ordered was not available he decided on a chicken dish (there was a special menu offering 3 courses for £22 which also included a glass of wine) which meant he could have the special menu as the starter he ordered was on that menu as well as the chicken! Our starters arrived and they were nice, plates were cleared and then we waited and waited and waited eventually our main meals were served the waiter apologised for our wait and left, eventually after calling him back a few times he returned to our table allowing us to ask for vinegar, mayo and the free glass of wine! We ate our meals which were OK, the waitress cleared our table as soon as we finished so again we had to point out my husband was due a dessert, she brought over the menu so he could decide what to have, she came back and asked what he'd like, he ordered and it was served! We weren't asked if we'd like tea or coffee so we asked for the bill! It came and it was wrong I pointed out my husband had the 3 course special at £22 not all individual, she took the bill away and when she returned the bill was still wrong and it had 2 teas added onto it, once again I told her the bill was wrong and that we hadn't had tea, she ended up having to go and speak to the manager!! After about 10 minutes she reappeared with a new bill almost £8 cheaper than what we were originally being charged, we never got an apology for the carry on so they never got a tip!! So disappointed as it really is a lovely place! Check your bill is...