Bill's Southampton Restaurant — Restaurant in Southampton

Visited Bills in Cardiff last year, so booked here as expected a similar experience....wrong!!!!

Firstly id like to say this has nothing to do with the staff, they were friendly and fantastic....it was the abomination masquerading as food which was the issue!!!

Arrived at 19:30 for our pre-booked table and it wasn't ready....not great but we were comped a free drink and the 20m passed fairly quickly!!

The order (2 of us)

Starter:

Korean fried Cauliflower: Cauli was undercooked and hard and the meagre sauce on top had dried so was very dry. Had clearly been on the pass awhile. Flavour was actually good it was just undercooked and dried out.

Chicken and Sesame Dumplings: tasted nice, only complaint ironically enough was the absence of any sesame on the dumplings??

Ok not a great start , but the mains are where it fot really tragic.

Mains:

Chicken Shawarma: i don't even know what this was? Ive had shawarma lots of times and this mostly defiantly isn't it!!! Got 2 bits of flatbread, some salad.....and half a chicken breast that was cut into 4 strips...burnt, bland, unseasoned and dry as f**k!!!....inedible and was sent back!!!!

This was replaced by the rib tray which was , fair play ...delicious!!!

House Special Kofta: Dear God!!!! This was bland, unseasoned, overcooked, hard and dry as f**k again!!! Chewing it was like chewing a burnt piece of wood!!

This was replaced by:

Aubergine Parmigiana: watery as hell, bland and tasteless...this was sent back and didn't ask for anything else!!!

Again, the staff were amazing and didn't query it, however given the comparatively small menu, to only nail 1 of 6 dishes is stunning!!!

Left feeling hungry and annoyed. Though they did refund the meals

Yes it was a busy Friday night but there was no excuse to serve this rubbish!!!

Won't be ever...

Review of Bill's Restaurant, Southampton- Would not recommend again.

Bill's Restaurant in Southampton has long been a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, offering a vibrant atmosphere and a varied menu. However, while the restaurant has its merits, recent visits suggest that it's not quite living up to its former reputation. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of dining at Bill's Southampton.

Pros:

Excellent Location: Bill's Southampton is ideally situated, making it a convenient spot whether you're out shopping or just exploring the city. Good Drinks: The drink menu is quite impressive. Whether you’re in the mood for a cocktail, a refreshing juice, or a decent cup of coffee, Bill's generally delivers on this front. Cons:

Inconsistent Service: The service at Bill's can be hit or miss. While some staff members are attentive and friendly, others can be dismissive or slow, which can detract from the overall experience. Decline in Food Quality: The food at Bill's used to be a highlight, but unfortunately, it has taken a turn for the worse. The dishes now lack the freshness and flavor they once had, making the dining experience disappointing. Overpriced for the Quality: Given the current state of the food, the prices are unjustifiably high. It feels as though you’re paying gourmet prices for something that barely qualifies as average. This might have been acceptable if the restaurant were a high-end chef’s establishment, but the quality no longer matches the cost. Overall: Bill's Southampton still benefits from its prime location and decent drinks, but the inconsistency in service and the significant decline in food quality make it hard to justify the steep prices. If you’re looking for a place to grab a drink, it’s a solid choice, but for a meal, you might want to explore...

My wife and I along with very good friends, were in Southampton, UK staying overnight at one of the local hotels prior to leaving on a cruise the next day. I searched Google Maps for places to dine for dinner and settled on Bill’s Restaurant & Bar. The menu had many items that could hit the “hunger” spot after a LONG day of traveling from the West Coast.

The atmosphere at Bill’s is cozy and relaxed and gives you a warm sense of being at a friend’s house for dinner. Even though we had to wait 20 minutes to be seated, it was very busy, we were not deterred by this and waited. I have found that busy is always a good sign for a restaurant’s popularity. There was a vibe that everyone in the restaurant was relaxed and having a good time, aside from being hungry.

I settled on the burger, which I was in the mood for and seeing some of the servings come out of the kitchen looked like a great choice. The only problem I encountered was I like my meat cooked medium-rare and our server said Bill’s only cooks them to medium. I didn’t press the issue with her and left it at that.

The food lived up to the reviews that I had read prior to picking Bill’s as the spot for dinner. I started with the Crispy Calamari White as an appetizer followed by the Classic Bill’s Burger. Three of us got the same with an order of a Hippy Bowl. Everyone enjoyed there dinner and was a good end to a long day of traveling.

So if you are ever in the Southampton, UK area and are looking for a good place to dine, I would highly recommend Bill’s Restaurant & Bar as a great place to unwind and have a really good meal. If you only want to stop in for liquid adult beverages, they have a nice lounge area along with tables outside in front of...