Blacksticks Restaurant Bar - Salford

As we walked past the restaurant we saw that they had a board saying FREE TAPAS with drinks. We were hungry and wanted something smallish so decided to go in. Not our first choice of place to eat, as the food wasn’t great the last time we visited, but we thought we’d give it a second chance. After choosing our food, my boyfriend wanted to know about the free tapas with drinks offer they had advertised. He asked one of the waitresses who was very polite. She went away to ask the manager. We didn’t go in for free food, we knew what we wanted to order, we were just enquiring about the offer. This is where things turned sour. An older lady who I presume is the manager, could have come over and said…”I understand you want to know about the free tapas offer..”…. However she didn’t. No, instead she very rudely and abruptly interrupted my conversation with my boyfriend with “I BELIEVE YOU’VE GOT A QUESTION?”… to my utter shock at her rudeness and arrogance, I said to my partner that he should answer as I was so angry at this woman’s attitude, bad tone and manner and lack of service. She then abruptly told him that if we wanted the free tapas it’s only one dish they offer and we only get that if was order just drinks. She then walked off to which we both sat there in amazement of how disgusting we had been spoken to. We were on the verge of just paying for the drinks and walking out but we didn’t we stayed and bought food, which was OK. The pork belly was dry and the accompanying bean stew it came with, was as if someone had dropped a whole carton of salt into it. The bread with oil and balsamic disappointing, as the condiments came in paper cups… not nice. So all in all, for mediocre food and a bad encounter with who seemed to be the manager, we definitely won’t be visiting again.

Amazing tapas and a friendly, vibrant atmosphere. We were never rushed and the timing of the food was evenly spaced out. The wine was good and the overall price was very reasonable. We would definitely visit again.

Lovely tapas food couldn’t fault it. Only problem we had was, it was like being on a conveyor belt, not sooner a plate was empty it was collected. Constant all the time we was eating. Young staff attentive more “over attentive”. It felt as though we was being hurried to eat and out. Not like it was i’m sorry to say. Staff were not allocated a few tables so staff were asking us same questions for us to say, we told other person. Not well organised like that. I liked it when you could have tapas but also just a meal. Would’nt stop me going again, but not so much attention would be nice, time to relax and eat.

Food was amazing loved the belly pork with butter beans it melted in the mouth, the halloumi and broccoli was delicious. Staff were really friendly and everything was spot on.

I’m sure I’ve been in here previously for a brunch style menu. Tapas only now which was a bit of a disappointment. 3 tables who came in for food just ordered drinks and left which is a shame