Best Chain restaurant?
Discussion
Iwantafusca said:
Wagamama and pizza express are the only chain that doesn’t feel like a chain imo.
I would have agreed with you a few years ago. But now Pizza Express are struggling with debt the quantity and quality of ingredients seemed to have dropped along with a price increase.Same for Wagamama following their acquisition by The Restaurant Group - very hit and miss now, especially given the price point. I think even without Covid 19 their bubble would have burst (or maybe just deflated) by the end of 2020.
survivalist said:
Apologies in advance if it’s already been mentioned, but Dishoom. Great food and cocktails.
My only criticism is that it’s a minimum table of 6 for an evening reservation and I have queuing.
Dishoom was going to be my input to the thread. My only criticism is that it’s a minimum table of 6 for an evening reservation and I have queuing.
I could eat there every day.
The door policy does need looking at. Kings x often has a 2 hour wait.
Thankyou4calling said:
Has anybody else tried Turtle Bay?
I really like the food it’s great value and well seasoned.
They also have a Happy Hour on cocktails of 241. The two have to be the same but you can have 442 ( the old footy formation)
It’s not fine dining but even with the cocktail £50 covers two people and very enjoyable it is too.
Yeah enjoyed it pint of red stripe,and I had 4 little dishes tapas style,my missus had a burger which she didn’t enjoy ,from memory it was prawns in some spice ,pork belly slices hot wings and something else ,I enjoyed it I really like the food it’s great value and well seasoned.
They also have a Happy Hour on cocktails of 241. The two have to be the same but you can have 442 ( the old footy formation)
It’s not fine dining but even with the cocktail £50 covers two people and very enjoyable it is too.
pidsy said:
survivalist said:
Apologies in advance if it’s already been mentioned, but Dishoom. Great food and cocktails.
My only criticism is that it’s a minimum table of 6 for an evening reservation and I have queuing.
Dishoom was going to be my input to the thread. My only criticism is that it’s a minimum table of 6 for an evening reservation and I have queuing.
I could eat there every day.
The door policy does need looking at. Kings x often has a 2 hour wait.
Had a chat with the manager of the shoreditch branch the last time I was there and suggested they had a non-refundable deposit option for bookings (e.g. pay £30 that comes off your bill if you show within 15 mins of the booking but covers the cost of the empty table if you don’t show) .
The view was that there are enough people who don’t care about the cash that it wouldn’t work.
ETA - vaguely remember an app for a couple of years ago where you could Pay someone to queue for you. The trendy places hated it and actively stopped it. Guess it worked better for someone buying an iPhone for you than queueing for a restaurant - no need to switch over at some point.
Edited by survivalist on Wednesday 20th May 19:46
Edited by survivalist on Wednesday 20th May 19:48
RammyMP said:
Trophy Husband said:
Loch Fyne. Superb in my experience.
I’ve eaten there twice at two different ones and they were both very good. Ate off the set menu for starter and main and it was great value for money. It’s a shame there aren’t any in the North West near me!Bacon Is Proof said:
Visited Côte once and it was quite good, can't remember what I had but I do remember tipping heavily.
Had a nice butler steak in Bill's, though my OH couldn't have what she wanted as they had stopped that menu 30 seconds before ordering.
Most surprisingly I've eaten four or five times at Loch Fyne and it has always been good. This coming from a massive food snob who would generally only eat out at independents and has a healthy dislike of Greene King.
Went in Five Guys once. Looked at the food, looked at the price, left.
Thaikhun's jungle curry had peppercorns on the vine in it which was a very welcome surprise, though the service was appalling initially.
That's all in Cambridge.
The Ivy is normally very good. But at their prices, it has to be.Had a nice butler steak in Bill's, though my OH couldn't have what she wanted as they had stopped that menu 30 seconds before ordering.
Most surprisingly I've eaten four or five times at Loch Fyne and it has always been good. This coming from a massive food snob who would generally only eat out at independents and has a healthy dislike of Greene King.
Went in Five Guys once. Looked at the food, looked at the price, left.
Thaikhun's jungle curry had peppercorns on the vine in it which was a very welcome surprise, though the service was appalling initially.
That's all in Cambridge.
Thankyou4calling said:
The title of the thread” Best chain restaurant “
The Ivy Cafe is a chain
The Ivy isn’t!
I don't know whether the Ivy Cafe is a chain.The Ivy Cafe is a chain
The Ivy isn’t!
Having looked, apparently I've been to The Ivy Brasserie. whose website invited me to try the "jewel in The Ivy's crown" at West Street in London - is that the one you mean?
Rick101 said:
Lots of overpriced crap out there.
I'll vote for McDonald's. Consistency, every single time.
Wherever I am on the planet I know exactly what service and food I'm going to get.
McDonald’s is different in different countries, do you don’t know exactly what you will get. Many ingredients are regionalised. I'll vote for McDonald's. Consistency, every single time.
Wherever I am on the planet I know exactly what service and food I'm going to get.
Thankyou4calling said:
The title of the thread” Best chain restaurant “
The Ivy Cafe is a chain
The Ivy isn’t!
I think it depends on whether you define a chain by ownership (in which case I guess Hakkasan is!), or by the 'clone' model (Macca, Nandos etc). if we use the latter then I agree with you.The Ivy Cafe is a chain
The Ivy isn’t!
I like Cote brasserie. With the lunch deal nice quality food, bit of a cut above Cafe rouge, and the service doesn't make you want to gas the waiter with phosgene
Europa1 said:
I don't know whether the Ivy Cafe is a chain.
Having looked, apparently I've been to The Ivy Brasserie. whose website invited me to try the "jewel in The Ivy's crown" at West Street in London - is that the one you mean?
The Ivy in West Street, near Leicester Square was the absolute bizzo, THE place for spotting A-listers in the past, whenever I went there to pick someone up when I was a taxi driver, the paps would swarm around me, “Who are you picking up?”Having looked, apparently I've been to The Ivy Brasserie. whose website invited me to try the "jewel in The Ivy's crown" at West Street in London - is that the one you mean?
I’ve seen The Ivy Cafe in Blackheath, maybe it’s linked with The Ivy, I don’t know.
I’ve been in The Ivy, Tower Bridge, and The Ivy at Canary Wharf, both are good, but both think that they’re the equal of West Street, but I don’t think that they are.
Frank7 said:
The Ivy in West Street, near Leicester Square was the absolute bizzo, THE place for spotting A-listers in the past, whenever I went there to pick someone up when I was a taxi driver, the paps would swarm around me, “Who are you picking up?”
I’ve seen The Ivy Cafe in Blackheath, maybe it’s linked with The Ivy, I don’t know.
I’ve been in The Ivy, Tower Bridge, and The Ivy at Canary Wharf, both are good, but both think that they’re the equal of West Street, but I don’t think that they are.
Having been to those branches of The Ivy, do you think it's a chain?I’ve seen The Ivy Cafe in Blackheath, maybe it’s linked with The Ivy, I don’t know.
I’ve been in The Ivy, Tower Bridge, and The Ivy at Canary Wharf, both are good, but both think that they’re the equal of West Street, but I don’t think that they are.
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