I’ve been on a bit of a restaurant streak lately — exploring new spots in Luxembourg before disappearing for the summer break. If you follow my latest reviews, you’ll know I’ve been pleasantly surprised: quality food, decent service, and price points that (mostly) make sense.

That said, just before leaving, I finally tried @Bao8 in Gare — not exactly brand new, but it was a first for me. I had been curious for a while, especially with all the glowing Instagram stories and polished photos floating around. Well… curiosity met reality.

🌸 First Impressions: All Style, Some Substance

Let’s start with what worked: the place is truly beautiful. Someone clearly cared about the atmosphere — it’s got that clean, urban elegance with warm lighting and subtle Asian references, the kind of setting where you want to linger.

The menu reads well, too — focused, with enough variety to build a fun mix of small plates and mains. The cocktail list is attractive and reasonably priced. For our late lunch for two, we had:

• 4 small starters
• 1 main to share
• 2 cocktails each

Total bill: €107. On paper? Great value.

🍹 Service: Not Part of the Vibe

Unfortunately, the vibe stopped there.
Even with only three tables occupied, we found ourselves constantly trying to get attention. The staff seemed more invested in their break than in service — we had to wave for drinks, and our food sat on the pass for a solid ten minutes while no one came to serve it.

Eventually, a staff member in the kitchen noticed our glances and had to go outside to call someone. You guessed it — that’s where the front-of-house team was.

It became a bit comical after a while. We weren’t even frustrated — just confused.

🥟 Food: A Letdown Across the Board

Sadly, the food didn’t manage to lift the mood either. We had four starters:

• Gyoza: one side burnt, one side soggy
• Cabbage salad: limp, underseasoned, no real flavor
• Takoyaki: completely overwhelmed by sauce
• Zucchini tempura: light and crisp, not bad — but let’s be honest, it’s hard to mess up fried zucchini

For the main, we shared a beef bao. Visually appealing, but the execution lacked balance — beef only on top, the inside filled with bland vegetables.

I was too hungry to complain at the time — I’d come straight from back-to-back meetings — but I did regret it later when my stomach was less forgiving. (And I’m not the sensitive type.)

🍵 The Ending: Better… But Still Odd

We had planned to finish with their matcha tiramisu, which wasn’t available. As an apology, they kindly offered us both an espresso, and my friend accepted a digestif — I declined. The gesture was appreciated.

But even the closing felt awkward: we had to go up to the counter to pay, as no one returned to the table. The kitchen staff ended up managing the bill. The servers? Still outside.

And here’s the kicker: we had booked Bao8 because they offer late lunch. We reserved for 13:45 (bookings were available up to 14:30). We left at 14:44. So no — we weren’t pushing it. We were well within their own service hours.

📝 Final Thoughts

There’s no denying Bao8 has potential. The setting is beautiful, the pricing is reasonable, and the concept could work really well. But the energy just wasn’t there — and when you feel like an afterthought as a guest, it’s hard to focus on pretty cocktails and nice plates.

Maybe it was an off day. But from what we experienced, the place is more surface than substance — and not quite worth the buzz.

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📌 Bao8
📍21 Rue du Fort Neipperg, Luxembourg-Gare
🔗 @bao8lux