Best Chain restaurant?

Author
Discussion

thetapeworm

11,192 posts

238 months

Monday 3rd August 2015
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I've only been to one so can't comment on how they are globally but I had a really good meal at Hooters a year or two ago. Really good chicken and burgers even if the 911 sauce wasn't quite as potent as the worried waitress suggested.

Disastrous

10,072 posts

216 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
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The Mad Monk said:
Disastrous said:
I find chain restaurants almost uniformly depressing.

Before we even get to the food, I'm broken by.... the loud music,
Wetherspoons don't play any music!
I don't think even Wetherspoons thinks Wetherspoons is a restaurant...

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Thursday 6th August 2015
quotequote all
Burgers.

What's the consensus on Five Guys? I've had three now (one at Lakeside Shopping Centre and two at the O2) and have very much enjoyed the burgers, but have a big issue with them: the fries are all cooked in peanut oil and I'm allergic to nuts. Google says it's supposedly refined and shouldn't pose a problem, but I don't really fancy taking the risk. Perhaps I'll order some fries and go and try them outside the nearest A&E. biggrin The Coke machine with loads of different flavours is good fun, though.

I've been to Byron Burger at Bluewater Shopping Centre just once and, if anything, the burger was better than Five Guys and the fries don't pose any health risk to myself. hehe

I keep seeing this Burger & Lobster place being mentioned. Sounds good, and for £20 the lobster looks like excellent value, the beef burger not so much. I'll have to go.

Regarding other places, I'm not too fussy really. I've never really been that keen on T.G.I. Friday's, but I went to the one in Norwich with friends a couple of months ago and actually quite enjoyed the food. I still have issues with the general noise of the place, though.

Special mention goes to Miller & Carter steakhouses. They're not a massive chain, but there's quite a few about, especially in the South East, and I've never had a steak in one that wasn't lovely.

Merp

2,220 posts

251 months

Friday 7th August 2015
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We have Vapiano throughout austria, germany, poland, and ive now seen its popped up in London.

https://uk.vapiano.com/en/home/

I sort of hope it takes off in the UK as its great food made in front of you and relatively cheap!
On the other hand I hope they don't become too main stream and lose some of their quality.

okgo

37,860 posts

197 months

Friday 7th August 2015
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Never had a bad meal at a Hawksmoor, at the opposite end of the scale Nando's have their branches well drilled and food tastes same at most of the ones I've been to.

Disastrous

10,072 posts

216 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Merp said:
We have Vapiano throughout austria, germany, poland, and ive now seen its popped up in London.

https://uk.vapiano.com/en/home/

I sort of hope it takes off in the UK as its great food made in front of you and relatively cheap!
On the other hand I hope they don't become too main stream and lose some of their quality.
Vapiano IS excellent, isn't it? I visit the one in Nürnberg fairly regularly and noticed it has spread to Finland too.

okgo

37,860 posts

197 months

Friday 7th August 2015
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Not a chain really, but there are a few - Polpo is always good.

BJG1

5,966 posts

211 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Merp said:
We have Vapiano throughout austria, germany, poland, and ive now seen its popped up in London.

https://uk.vapiano.com/en/home/

I sort of hope it takes off in the UK as its great food made in front of you and relatively cheap!
On the other hand I hope they don't become too main stream and lose some of their quality.
The food is really good but I found going when it's busy is a real problem, can be waiting over half an hour to be served and have your food cooked.

FrankAbagnale

1,700 posts

111 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Was going to go to Nandos last night but the wait was around 20-25 minutes so went to Bella Italia instead.

Had a nice meal with the Mrs and the atmosphere was a lot more conducive to a relaxed chat/dine. While I was sat there it made me realise that while Nando's is well drilled in what it does I much prefer the variety, atmosphere and food in other chains for what is the same or less money.

I did say that I wasn't sure if i'd choose to go to Nandos again any time soon when there are so many alternatives.

The desire for Nandos comes more from it's marketing than it's product IMO.

Shaoxter

4,048 posts

123 months

Friday 7th August 2015
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FrankAbagnale said:
Was going to go to Nandos last night but the wait was around 20-25 minutes so went to Bella Italia instead.

Had a nice meal with the Mrs and the atmosphere was a lot more conducive to a relaxed chat/dine. While I was sat there it made me realise that while Nando's is well drilled in what it does I much prefer the variety, atmosphere and food in other chains for what is the same or less money.

I did say that I wasn't sure if i'd choose to go to Nandos again any time soon when there are so many alternatives.

The desire for Nandos comes more from it's marketing than it's product IMO.
Yeah but Nandos is half the price of Bella Italia and most other chains.
Don't think there's many other places where you can get a half decent sit down meal for £10 pp.

Merp

2,220 posts

251 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Disastrous said:
Merp said:
We have Vapiano throughout austria, germany, poland, and ive now seen its popped up in London.

https://uk.vapiano.com/en/home/

I sort of hope it takes off in the UK as its great food made in front of you and relatively cheap!
On the other hand I hope they don't become too main stream and lose some of their quality.
Vapiano IS excellent, isn't it? I visit the one in Nürnberg fairly regularly and noticed it has spread to Finland too.
They have two here in Innsbruck, which we visit a couple of times per month (probably more now as were moving back in 3 weeks, and most things are in boxes)

I love it, the pasta more than the pizza. A bowl of great fresh pasta with your own level of chilli/garlic, plus a decent salad bowl, 2 thick cut pieces of fresh ciabatta all for about 12euros!!

FrankAbagnale

1,700 posts

111 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Shaoxter said:
Yeah but Nandos is half the price of Bella Italia and most other chains.
Don't think there's many other places where you can get a half decent sit down meal for £10 pp.
Had two diet cokes, a bowl of bread with oil and balsamic and two lasagnas for £21. (vouchercloud 30% off food)

Whenever I go to Nandos it's a lot more than £10pp!

Nezquick

1,453 posts

125 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Tampopo and Pizza Express.

I'm also liking Turtle Bay at the minute.

BrabusMog

20,083 posts

185 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Merp said:
Disastrous said:
Merp said:
We have Vapiano throughout austria, germany, poland, and ive now seen its popped up in London.

https://uk.vapiano.com/en/home/

I sort of hope it takes off in the UK as its great food made in front of you and relatively cheap!
On the other hand I hope they don't become too main stream and lose some of their quality.
Vapiano IS excellent, isn't it? I visit the one in Nürnberg fairly regularly and noticed it has spread to Finland too.
They have two here in Innsbruck, which we visit a couple of times per month (probably more now as were moving back in 3 weeks, and most things are in boxes)

I love it, the pasta more than the pizza. A bowl of great fresh pasta with your own level of chilli/garlic, plus a decent salad bowl, 2 thick cut pieces of fresh ciabatta all for about 12euros!!
There are a few here in Sweden, I like it but if it's busy it can be a nightmare for waiting around.

craig1912

3,273 posts

111 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Nezquick said:
Tampopo and Pizza Express.

I'm also liking Turtle Bay at the minute.
another vote for turtle bay- decent food, cocktails and rum

NoNeed

15,137 posts

199 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
FrankAbagnale said:
Was going to go to Nandos last night but the wait was around 20-25 minutes so went to Bella Italia instead.

Had a nice meal with the Mrs and the atmosphere was a lot more conducive to a relaxed chat/dine. While I was sat there it made me realise that while Nando's is well drilled in what it does I much prefer the variety, atmosphere and food in other chains for what is the same or less money.

I did say that I wasn't sure if i'd choose to go to Nandos again any time soon when there are so many alternatives.

The desire for Nandos comes more from it's marketing than it's product IMO.
I like Bella Italia, my prefered place to eat.

MissChief

Original Poster:

7,095 posts

167 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Having been to nandos I didn't think much of it. Slightly Posh chicken really.

jimmyt1202

211 posts

182 months

Monday 10th August 2015
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Byron is definitely top of my list. I go to the one in Cambridge at least twice a month. Sure, it is quite expensive but they have good beers, the burgers are always amazing and the sides are really good as well. The Oreo milkshake is also a right treat!

Five Guys is also very good but my main gripe with them is they don't even try and be a restaurant, they are fast food but still try and charge restaurant prices. They're pretty much on par with Byron for the cost and I'd rather go to Byron, but wouldn't turn my nose up if I didn't have the choice!

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

231 months

Monday 10th August 2015
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MissChief said:
Having been to nandos I didn't think much of it. Slightly Posh chicken really.
That's its point thought surely?
Its supposed to be just one up from fast food, and for some reason you feel slightly better about eating Nandos than Mcdonalds although I am not that convinced there's a massive difference by the time you've had chips with it.
I quite like it, but just see it as fast food for twice the price so I don't really understand its popularity

Dave200

3,589 posts

219 months

Monday 10th August 2015
quotequote all
FrankAbagnale said:
Shaoxter said:
Yeah but Nandos is half the price of Bella Italia and most other chains.
Don't think there's many other places where you can get a half decent sit down meal for £10 pp.
Had two diet cokes, a bowl of bread with oil and balsamic and two lasagnas for £21. (vouchercloud 30% off food)

Whenever I go to Nandos it's a lot more than £10pp!
How?
Half a chicken, two side dishes and an unlimited refill soft drink is about £12 per person...

Who the hell could ever think that Nando's was expensive based on paying that? While it's hardly gourmet food (I actually quite like it, but accept that it's simple), I don't understand what more people expect (or get elsewhere) for £12 a head.