Signature, By The Wicks

Well, where do I start?! - probably with...AVOID THIS PLACE. I went here last night with a table of 8. My first time at Signature by the Wicks. As I arrived, the chef was by the front door smoking. Not great problem...but usually staff smoking is hidden, not next to the front door. So I had to walk through a cloud of smoke to get in. The place was literally empty. Just our table in there, 2 rather interesting characters at the bar, and a dog that just continuously barked. This went straight through me, as it echoed due to the emptiness of the place. The whole place was dirty. Windows dirty, large cobwebs hanging from lights and ceilings, dusty table and chairs, and our table was very sticky to the touch. The waitress was quick to get our drinks order. Not a large selection of beers, but enough...although she didn't know how to make a black Russian. We chose what we wanted and the waitress came to take our order. Everyone chose, but when one of the party said they wanted sea bass they were told that they don't have any. This could have easily been said when we were given menus. It wasn't like they were busy! There was absolutely no atmosphere, and it all felt a little weird and awkward as we sat in the quiet in the middle of this restaurant! We discussed leaving but thought that this would not be fair. The waitress went out the front, by the door smoking with one of the guys at the bar. Leaving us totally on our own in the restaurant!! She then came in, stroked the dog and went into the kitchen to cook with the chef. No hair net, no washing hands, and still dressed in her black hoody!! The kitchen has a viewing window so we could see. She was in there for about half an hour. Which again, left us on our own in the quiet restaurant, with no way of getting drinks. The food came out after and hour...well, the food eventually finished coming out after an hour. The first burger, which was wrong, came out after about 40 mins. With a table of 8...4 meals were wrong. One of which potential life threatening. Although all the meals looked presentable... A burger which was asked for with no mayonnaise due to a severe intolerance came out smothered in it. Another burger had the wrong sauce. A steak was asked for medium and came out well done, and my steak I asked for blue...which came out medium/well done. The chips were supposed to be salt and pepper fries, but were plain fries, and the steaks looked more like a budget frying steak at which they charge £21 for!!!! Everything was covered in basil or something similar. The waitress did offer to take it back, and to be honest was really apologetic, I did feel for her. ..but it was clear that the chef and waitress could not cook the steaks to what was required...I said that i would keep it to save any hassel, but my medium/well done steak was cold as were the fries. So I asked for mine to be taken off the bill and I did not eat it, at which point the chef stated that how the steak is cooked is subjective - his version of blue may be different to mine. Total rubbish. The steak is so thin it would be difficult to do anything but medium to well done. To be subjective and totally fair - The mushrooms that were with the steak were delicious. The burgers looked fairly good and by all accounts tasted good when they were right. Whilst eating the waitress disappeared again, vaping behind the bar and then leaning against the serving hatch talking. We had to go and interrupt her to ask for drinks or the bill. VERY disappointing given the place was literally empty, and the amount of social media input this place flaunts about promoting amazing food as a Bistro, and awesome atmosphere. It really does not live up to any or the photos or posts you may see around. Currently this rates as one of the worst places I have personally ever eaten at, for atmosphere, customer service, quality of food produced (for the steaks at least), and just being made to feel awkward and unwelcome. Shame, as it could be amazing, given training and strong leadership.