Jamie's Italian - Manchester

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Discussion

J8 SVG

1,468 posts

129 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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The meat plank to start is very nice (even if it is served awkwardly!!) a great selection of proper italian meats

The sausage parpardelle is good but the rabbit is better when they have it on the menu

There used to be an awesome wild game (venison & rabbit IIRC) ragu 3/4 years ago but haven't seen it back on the menu in ages (would appear it still pops up occasionally - http://iamnotafoodie.com.au/food/jamies-italian/)

Tend to go there as regularly as somewhere like Nandos - as small eaters; meat platter with bread and a small pasta each for lunch is all my girlfriend and I need and it doesn't come to too much even with a caraffe of wine

sidekickdmr

5,065 posts

205 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Not been to the Manchester one, but been to the Canary wharf, Cardiff, Reading and Newcastle one.

It not "fine dining" going more for the rustic wooden boards and rusty tins look, but i like that.

Food is decent, its nice to go to an italian that isnt all pizza and pasta.

The minuite steam and lamp polipops are good, as is the queen olives on ice.

Mojitos are also good.

ecs

1,222 posts

169 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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They're on par with Harvester. Avoid.

mcflurry

9,079 posts

252 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
If you sign up online before you go they usually have offers and freebies.
We got £10 off the bill and a free sampler whilst the starters were being prepared smile

Adz The Rat

Original Poster:

13,945 posts

208 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
mcflurry said:
If you sign up online before you go they usually have offers and freebies.
We got £10 off the bill and a free sampler whilst the starters were being prepared smile
Thanks, will check that out tonight

Shaoxter

4,048 posts

123 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Jamie's Italian is for fking food noobs.

Been dragged there twice, both times with the missus so tried 4 main dishes and quite a few starters, all of them were either bland or too salty. I could make far better pasta/steak/fish at home and I don't even cook.

Bullett

10,873 posts

183 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Above average for a chain/italian place on the high street.

Good service and good with kids.


blueg33

35,585 posts

223 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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The Cheltenham one is very good, good tasty food well done with excellent service and cheap for what you get.

Downside is that the building is very echoey and gets very noisy when busy so you cant have a quiet chat easily. Not great for going with the girlfriend but ideal with the wife, can't hear her waffling.........smile

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Bullett said:
Above average for a chain/italian place on the high street.

Good service and good with kids.
This, but nothing more really. We liked it and its not expensive. So, it is what it is. A nice place to go and eat but not special.

Legend83

9,947 posts

221 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
We went to the St Albans one the other night and won't be going again. It was decent food but just that - decent. Not really any better than Prezzo etc, and not particularly Italian, but probably on average £2-3 more expensive per course.

Our white wine also arrived luke-warm.

Davey S2

13,075 posts

253 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Average at best.

Check their web site as well. They do a weired offer every month for people called certain names to get their main course for free.

My wife went with a group of friends and one of them said that anyone called Claire had their main course free in August.

Fearing a very obvious stitch up my wife sheepishly asked the waitress if it was true and it was. They change it every month apparently.

bobbo89

5,151 posts

144 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Went to the one in Leeds in August and enjoyed it. Didnt have anything too fancy, bread and oil to start followed by the Turkey Milanese washed down with an amaretto.

The atmosphere is nice and relaxed and the food is exactly what you'd expect from a chain restaurant. I dont think they sell themselves as anything other than that, its nice but dont expect a gastronomic delight!

Bonefish Blues

26,448 posts

222 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Cheltenham - decent food, reasonable VFM.
Tip, book and ask to sit upstairs on the Judge's bench.
Tip 2 - join his Gold Club. Bottle of Prosecco foc each birthday. Guess when we go smile

blueg33

35,585 posts

223 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Bonefish Blues said:
Cheltenham - decent food, reasonable VFM.
Tip, book and ask to sit upstairs on the Judge's bench.
Tip 2 - join his Gold Club. Bottle of Prosecco foc each birthday. Guess when we go smile
We got a free mug last time (Mrs B is a member)

Didn't know you could sit upstairs, may try that

Great toilets in the vaulted basement smile

Bonefish Blues

26,448 posts

222 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Yes, it's a very sympathetic treatment of a formerly derelict Courthouse.

Magog

2,652 posts

188 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Have to say when I've been I've always felt the portions were absolutely miserly,and felt rather stung as a consequence. The foods nowhere near good enough for there to be that little of it. To me it has the feel of a chain that's being built up to be spun out to a venture capital firm at some point.

The picture hanging in the Norwich Branch does make me laugh though.


Soir

2,268 posts

238 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Lovely venue but very average Italian chain

Jamie Oliver is a million miles away from the top end chefs such as Gordon Ramsay

However, make sure you have a look at the vault (it's pretty cool) near the toilets!

My favourite (restaurant, let alone Italian) in Manchester is San Carlo Chichetti (opposite normal San Carlo)

JQ

5,691 posts

178 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
Soir said:
My favourite (restaurant, let alone Italian) in Manchester is San Carlo Chichetti (opposite normal San Carlo)
It's fantastic isn't it.

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

173 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Can't even remember what I ate at the Newcastle one a few months back, read from that what you may.

Soir

2,268 posts

238 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
quotequote all
JQ said:
Soir said:
My favourite (restaurant, let alone Italian) in Manchester is San Carlo Chichetti (opposite normal San Carlo)
It's fantastic isn't it.
Yes! There for lunch tomorrow

Try the ferrero Roche (sharing) desert