Great Expections - Reading

It’s a favourite among my friend group. Not only in the vibe very modern and hip, the food is delectable. Our server recommended us a selection of appetisers, all of which went will with our cocktails. I recommend the Mushroom Croquettes.

We have been to Calico Bar Eatery before and had a lovely time. So after a long awaited and anticipated visit, we were really looking forward to coming back to enjoy some food and drinks. Unfortunately, this did not go to plan. Another rather inebriated customer spent the moment from when we stepped in staring at me, waving and trying to get my attention in some way or another. Anytime I scanned the room I found him desperately trying to gain eye contact with me, waving, and shouting over when all we were wanted to do was enjoy dinner. I was purposely ignoring him completely avoiding any sort of interaction. It was making really uncomfortable but I did not want to ruin our dinner by making a fuss. However, after an hour/2 hours of this happening it took other customers to report to the manager that we were uncomfortable and only got them came over even though he even said he had noticed his behaviour prior to it being reported. He simply came over and said the customer was too drunk and wasn’t being served anymore. After the manager left our female server then followed up with us and she asked if I was uncomfortable to which I said yes. She then said she was going to call security. We then watched as the security guard approached this individual with the look that something might be done just to turn it into a laugh and joke. It took 15 minutes for him to move the guest from this table to another behind so that he was not in eye line. Then the security guard took it upon himself to approach our table and ask what happened. “What did he do that was actually wrong?”, “He was just trying to give you a compliment, and tell you’re wonderful and pretty”, “I would take it as a compliment”. I said that is harassment and my friends backed this up also. I asked him how would he feel if he was trying to have an intimate dinner and someone was shouting, waving and staring at him, to which he had no good reply. At which point I summoned the manager to ask for the bill and said I really wanted to leave. I was upset and furious and took myself outside. I came back to find the man and security gone after my friend had spoken with the manager and we had been provided with a small discount for the inconvenience. I was then led to believe the man had been kicked out. We paid the bill and left, to find the man and security guard at the door having a laugh. The only positive of the evening was our female server, I did not catch her name but she was empathetic and was actually the only one to apologise for the way the situation was handled. She was really supportive and seemed shocked when I let her know what security had said to me. I would really appreciate an email or phone call to discuss this situation further. Safe to say we will not be returning anytime soon. The approach to women’s safety was appalling and felt so backwards.

Security and management need changing. Went for a long awaited meal and was seated nearby a rather drunken individual who throughout the meal kept waving and shouting at our friend, this continued over an hour and multiple customers highlighted the harassment and disruption of this individual to the management. The female server came over to ask if we were okay and said she would get security, once security came the security and individual took 15 minutes to move the individual to another table. The security then came over to ask what they had done wrong and said “they were just trying to complement you”, when we highlighted that what they were doing was harassment the security guard said “they were just trying to tell you looked lovely and that he was doing nothing wrong”. It took 30 minutes from when we were told the individual was being kicked out until they were coaxed out of the restaurant. When speaking to the manager we were informed the manager had noticed the individual earlier and they had stopped serving him but took no further action once it had been highlighted by other customers. There was little apology about the issue that occurred and only towards our discomfort. Upon leaving 30 minutes after the individual had been removed from the restaurant we were greeted by the security and individual waiting at the door and found that he was never removed from the establishment. We were encouraged to come back but unless there is any improvement to women’s safety and the seriousness of these issues I would encourage others to avoid On a lighter note I would like to highlight the compassion and service from our female server, they made us feel heard and understood the issues raised, thank you.

Food was awful ! Not enough waiters as waited ages to get a drink with our meals Food was not great and cold Very clumsy waiters knocking drinks off their tray on to customers! Awful service

The experience was really good, food , Service and ambience is amazing