Trago Lounge — Restaurant in Southampton

Disappointed by service despite good food and setting

I visited Trago Lounge this morning with a friend for breakfast—my second visit this week. While the food was good and the place had a chilled vibe, I had another disappointing experience when it came to service.

Positives first: The young guy who took my order was helpful and respectful—he listened, made the adjustments I asked for, and was a good example of what customer service should be. The breakfast itself was great, and the atmosphere was calm, which I appreciated.

However, the service from the female staff left me feeling uncomfortable—again. The waitress who brought my food over didn’t make eye contact or acknowledge me at all. She looked uncomfortable around me, even though I made an effort to be polite and acknowledge her. I get that not everyone’s naturally bubbly—but in a customer-facing role, a basic level of friendliness and human decency should be standard, especially when nothing inappropriate or intense is happening.

It’s not about flirting. It’s not about attention. It’s about being treated as a human being. A small smile or even brief eye contact goes a long way in hospitality—it’s part of the job.

On Monday evening, I had a similar experience. I came in to get a table and was met with what felt like a negative reaction from a female staff member who seemed irritated by my calm request. Again, no reason—just a strange, uncomfortable vibe like my presence was a problem.

This pattern is frustrating. As a male customer, I’ve noticed that sometimes service can feel subtly prejudiced—less warmth, less willingness to engage, especially when I’m with another male friend. And I say this not as someone trying to make a scene—I respect all staff, regardless of gender or age. But decency goes both ways.

If someone’s had negative experiences in the past or feels sensitive around certain customers, that’s understandable—but this is a customer-facing job. If basic civility becomes a struggle, maybe that’s something to reflect on.

I like the Lounge chain and I want to keep supporting it, but service needs to match the vibe and pricing. Everyone who walks in—whether a young man, a family, or a solo diner—deserves to...

My first visit to the Trago Lounge and I was actually really surprised as I was not expecting to add another great restaurant to the limited number of decent restaurants in Portswood. Being a student haven for cheap food which is also tasty, I thought I'd try it out.

The outside does not dictate the inside thats for sure. The decor is great, the smell is very authentic when you enter. There are games and puzzles you can play for all ages which is a small quirk to this restaurant. It does appeal to many ages as I saw when dining here on this visit.

The price to me didn't seem that cheap but when the bill came to a total for 2 mains, 2 drinks, 2 extra small sides at £1 and one main side around £2.50, the bill was wallet noticing. I was impressed with that and on to the food we go.

The food was great, very well presented and the all day breakfast options is great to see as I'm not sure anywhere can compete for such a tasty and filling meal. I could recommend anything on the breakfast menu and I saw many other meals pass our table and they looked fantastic.

The service was just food service to the table. You ordered at the bar so not full table service but that suits this restaurant. The games and food allow you take your time and relax. Isn't that what a brunch or early dinner on a Sunday is about? A birthday was celebrated on the Sunday too so you can bear that in mind too.

An extra bonus was the Mulled Cider that was on offer (being Christmas!) and my partner enjoyed it. I can agree with that comment after sipping myself.

If you haven't tried Trago Lounge after visiting the local area many many times before hand. I would recommend this really nice, atmospheric restaurant with great decor and friendly faces always ready to help.

Food to Recommend: Chorizo & Halloumi Hash, Lounge Eggs with Chorizo, Peppers and Guacamole, Garlic Bread with Cheese and a side...

A really nice place to go for lunch - especially if you have veggies or vegans in your party! Really good menu with plenty of options to chose from. Really busy when we arrived at lunch time, we're told food would be an hour but we didn't have to wait that long which was nice. Staff were really friendly and helpful when it came to needing a change to one of the dishes. You can order at the bar, or use the app to place your order. I took 1 star off for two reasons - I had a chicken burger which had barely any chicken in (I mean the smallest amount) which was a little annoying, but it was still super tasty! Secondly, none of the staff were wearing masks (July 31st 2021). I know masks aren't required by law, but when staff are getting close to you at the door and talking to you, and serving food at your table, and not wearing masks, I don't...