The Black Bull Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "Staff was attentive despite being really busy and late."
• "Brilliant. Wonderful pint of Guinness, if a little expensive. Food was superb, service very good, staff very well mannered and helpful."
• "Upon arrival, I was greeted by the friendly and attentive staff who immediately made me feel welcome."
• "Service was very friendly and very efficient."
• "The lovely staff took our orders from the table and then bought them out to us and this was really efficient."
• "Quick service, the staff were really nice!"
• "Bar staff were alert, so you didn't have to do handstands to catch their attention and get served at the Counter."

Cons:

• "Not very nice when you spend over £60 on food and drinks and then get asked to leave being told we will not be served more drinks because you have 3 children with you."
• "Appalling service. The bar staff was purposefully ignoring us."
• "Trying to get someone's attention to ask for the bill was another mission."
• "Worst service I've ever seen in my entire life."
• "Shocking service!"
• "We were the first lot of customers in the pub. We patiently waited till 1pm, and was only to be told by an extremely rude waitress that there was a queue in front of us, and refused to take our orders."
• "We were then ignored by all staff for another 15-20 minutes until we decided to leave."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The haggis, neeps and tatties was good, as were the pulled pork fries."
• "Steak Pie was amazing the meat was tender with just enough vegetables and potatoes."
• "Extra peppery haggis was very good 😁 also the haggis loaded fries (dirty scottish loaded fries)."
• "The fish was the best that I ate at this trip and the pie was very good."
• "Good beers. Delicious food - we had nachos and fries."
• "Fantastic jerk chicken burger & my wife had the Sunday roast which was cooked well."
• "Loved it. We had the Haggis dish, fish and chips, the potatoes with haggis on top and a burger."

Cons:

• "But unfortunately we had to send back one of the meals because the chicken was way too charred and tasted very bitter."
• "I ordered beef tacos and it was the worst tacos I have ever had."
• "The steak pie was super salty. The nachos were very greasy."
• "The only thing our company didn't enjoy was the burger."
• "Terrible food a 12 quid burger that was average."
• "The food was extremely bland and the burger meat and chicken were dry and unseasoned."
• "Raw vegetables, tough steak. Mash is instant and not creamy but thick, gravy in the ale pie was watery and tasteless."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Brilliant. Wonderful pint of Guinness, if a little expensive. Food was superb, service very good, staff very well mannered and helpful."
• "Is nice traditional wooden interior and a lively atmosphere."
• "Good food, good beer and good atmosphere."
• "What set this pub apart from the rest would have to be how busy it was yet it didn't feel cramped."
• "Beautiful venue on the grass market."
• "Always a great atmosphere and music requests are welcomed and performed very well."
• "Excellently positioned in Edinburgh's Grassmarket. We were sitting outside, great for people watching and soaking up the atmosphere."

Cons:

• "One to avoid, clearly a tourist trap."
• "Loud place, strictly for locals."
• "Even though the food and drink are great the staff feels a great need to block any sound with their music as the volume is gradually pumped up through the night to an undesirable level."
• "A bit too noisy on the 'quiz night' though (Thursday)."
• "Too loud, too hot, too crowded."
• "On a Saturday evening, it is hot, uncomfortable and overcrowded."
• "Never felt more ignored in a pub before."

Management and Staff

Pros:

• "Brilliant. Wonderful pint of Guinness, if a little expensive. Food was superb, service very good, staff very well mannered and helpful."
• "Upon arrival, I was greeted by the friendly and attentive staff who immediately made me feel welcome."
• "Service was very friendly and very efficient."
• "The staff at The Black Bull is very welcoming and open to find a solution to accommodate the customers' requests and needs."
• "Favourite pub in the city centre, staff are all very friendly."
• "Staff are all very welcoming & friendly."
• "Very welcoming with a very hands on manager who knows how to make people welcome."

Cons:

• "Appalling service. The bar staff was purposefully ignoring us."
• "Very rude manageress. Will never go in again."
• "Lovely pub..good atmosphere but stood at bar for ages and was totally ignored."
• "Worst service I've ever seen in my entire life."
• "We were the first lot of customers in the pub. We patiently waited till 1pm, and was only to be told by an extremely rude waitress that there was a queue in front of us, and refused to take our orders."
• "Staff need some training on how to treat customers and get custom."
• "Manager needs to brush up on his people skills, found him to be very rude to us and to some of his staff."