River Bar — Restaurant in Sunderland

Just wanted to commend one of your staff members for her excellent customer service. We popped in to the river bar on Saturday 09th November for a drink around 7:30pm! We were part of large group of people on a hen party. We ordered 2 salted caramel espresso martinis. When they arrived they weren’t as stated on the menu. I mentioned this to the bar staff and they said they didn’t have the ingredients. I mentioned that the price didn’t reflect the drink then as it wasn’t been served as stated on the menu. We ended up with the bar manager (a man). He took the martinis off us, attempted to throw cash back at us and was the rudest, arrogant member of staff I have ever come across in my years of visiting the river bar/fiume. He refused to give a name or complaint address and spoke to us in a despicable manner. How he was ever hired in customer service in general never mind as a manager is beyond me.

However, as we were about to leave we had a saving grace with the manager over seeing the whole establishment. DANIELLE WISDOM (I hope I got this correct), came over and asked us to step outside, so we could what’s each other, to resolve the issue. She was polite, understanding and an absolute credit to the business. She offered to make us 2 normal martinis which we were more than happy with and handed her the money straight over that has been thrown back at us! She was calm and warming and listened to everything we had to say. In our years off visiting we have seen Danielle around and are pleased she has made it to a higher position. She sorted the problem quickly and efficiently and we can’t commend her enough. We hope she gets the recognition she deserves as she manages to keep customer service how it should be whilst running the business! Hats off to a wonderful...

Honestly not a bad place, the decor is nice inside and out. The food is okay but a bit basic, they have tried to update it a few times and it does improve. There is a fair selection of beers, spirits and wines. The beer glasses are sparse and even on quieter midweek nights I've got a beer in a warm wet glass which just makes it go flat. The cocktails on the other hand are reasonably priced and are really nice. The seating can be precarious as you can get a table with chairs that are different heights, some of the tables are really sticky, but most seating at the higher tables or outside is good. There's live sport and a dart board in the back room. There's a great quiz on a Tuesday night that's fun with some great prizes for best team name, 1st 2nd and 3rd place and a half time mini game won every few weeks that can be over £100. We've had food here in the past a few times and usually the empty plates and things don't get collected, the sticky tables, smaller seats at bigger tables, and beer in wet warm glasses are the main reasons for 3 stars. On a nice summers day you can't go wrong sitting outside, if it wasn't for the quiz nights I probably wouldn't go here...

2019 - Amazing staff and friendly atmosphere.

2020 - This week in August 2020 it was terrible. I booked a table a week in advance while in the bar and they took my email and telephone number. On the day of the reservation they hadn't booked my table and said it was because I hadn't paid £50 deposit which they never asked for. I and my guests were very disappointed. We stayed for a drink outside but when I went to the toilet I was followed in by a toilet attendant who stood and watched me. He then blocked my exit by standing in front of the door. I had to object at his behaviour to get out. I found the whole situation uncomfortable and inappropriate. I was so upset by this I have considered...