Wagamama (Old Broad St)

The atmosphere for Japanese food / culture is very important and esencial thing.

Wagamama is famous for whatever reason just not for what is possible to give good marks. Staff did what they can, just the stable atmosphere (big belgian like tables & benches), fast food image and no sence of cosy atmosphre ruined anything what was possible to create.

Food in Wagamama is not just Japanese. It's a mix of all sorts, so if you are looking for Japanese only this is not the best place to go.

It's OK when you want to calm down your hunger but I wouldn't recommend as a nice place to go (neither for food nor for service or atmosphere) not because it's bad but just because it's not special.
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Renata
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4
Monday, February 26, 2007

I haven't been a fan of Wagammas as I think the food and variety on the menus isn't up to scratch, today I went anyway.

BIG MISTAKE!!!

3 of us were told we would be waiting for 10 minutes on a dangerous staircase which most likely breaches safety regulations. 15 minutes pass and we see the waitress direct a set of 4 people (who were behind us in the queue) to a seat. I thought it was because they booked. Okay fair call.

The waitress (supposedly a team leader) then says to us a table is clearing and it will be hours. Next minute, she is directing another set of 4 people to what was our table.

We ask the waitress and she says she has to give priority people in sets of 4 and that a table of 3 will be available soon. We look around and there are no tables of 3 and that we have been 'patiently' waiting for 25 minutes now. We explain to her that we are on our 'lunch break'. She says she can't do anything about it. We ask to speak to the manager who reiterates the same notion.

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!! WE ARE DISCRIMINATED BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY 3 OF US AND NOT IN A SET OF FOUR!!!

Funny enough it was only when we said we would be writing into Waggammas we get 'our' table. The manager brings our food out and with a snide comment 'Are you happy? The food has come out in 5 minutes'. Not sure if the food was cooked freshly if the food came out so quickly?

The food is nothing to brag about but the manager got the orders wrong.

With the mediocre food, breaches to safety regulations and BAD customer service, I won't be going back anytime soon!
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Vanessa
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Thursday, December 21, 2006

Visited Wagamama fist time in 12 months with two other friends, spent 30 minutes of our lunch break waiting on a dangerous staircase as waitress was giving priority to other customers who had the head count to fill a complete table. Eventually after a heated discussion with waitress and restaurant manager we were given a table. The food was ordered and arrived within 5 minutes, a sign that the food was not fresh and pre-packed. Restaurant manager kept dancing around our table expecting a thumb up, but to her delight the food given was wrong. May be if they wrote the order on an order pad instead of the table mat we could of gave her a pat on the back. Food was okay, can’t expect much for 5 mins (faster than MacD). When the bill came I almost had a heart attack, £10 for a bowl of chill beef noodle soup. As I recalled a shopping trip to my local Chinese supermarket, instant noodles cost 50p, slice of beef a few quid. I will not be going back to this place anytime soon.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Thursday, December 21, 2006

My daughter wroks almost next door to Wagamama. As we know this restarant becomes crowded and they inform customers that their table may be joined by other customers later - we arrived at noon, and asked if we may havea tablefor two where we would not be joined as we needed a private chat as well as a cheering meal.

I had traveled upfrom Manchester to meet her this lunchtime.

They suggested downstairs - which was fine andwe headed towards a smalltablebut we pointed to a slightly larger one.

The food waslovely the waitress was charming.

We had just ordered desert when the guy who had met us initially cameover and said they are putting other people on our table.

I politely asked if we could just have five minutes, I was told' no'.

my daughter politely pointed out that we had asked for a single table - and we were in fact having a serious private conversation.

We were told ''This isn't the restaurant to go to if you expect to have a private conversation.''

After this unpleasant encounter I would suggest that this isn't the restaurant to go to if you expect service and civility.

I hope this will be informative for other potential customers.

Janet Singleton
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Janet Singleton
Monday, September 05, 2005