We recently visited Ego in Sheffield and, while the food was delicious and the restaurant had a nice buzz, the overall experience was unfortunately soured by poor service from certain staff — particularly the manager.

From the moment we walked in, the manager on the meet and greet made a poor first impression. Not once did he smile or offer a warm welcome, and throughout the evening, he continued to walk around the restaurant with a noticeably negative demeanour. Even more unprofessional was the fact that we saw him standing outside the front door smoking on three separate occasions during our visit. It gave the clear impression that he was disengaged and uninterested in the customer experience.

We were initially served by a waiter who, frankly, didn’t seem to care. While he was very chatty and upbeat with other tables, he barely acknowledged us — that is, until he realised we weren’t particularly happy with the service. We didn’t catch his name, but he mentioned being from Dudley. His inconsistent attitude only added to the frustration.

Thankfully, Dermot, who was working the bar, stepped in when we asked a question, and from that point on, the service improved noticeably. Dermot was friendly, professional, and genuinely seemed to care about our experience — a real credit to the team and the only reason this review isn’t worse.

As mentioned, the food itself was excellent, which made the disappointing service even more frustrating. It’s clear that the manager’s poor attitude sets a tone that affects some of the staff, and it’s a real shame for what could otherwise be a great night out.

The restaurant was also extremely warm, which added to the discomfort. Overall, we left feeling that, while the food and Dermot’s efforts were commendable, the lack of professionalism from management really let the evening down.