Jamie's Italian - Manchester

[Adz The Rat]

We have been enjoying watching the Comfort Food series and had a look at the Italian in Manchester, we were pleasantly surprised that the prices were very reasonable!

So I have booked us a table for the wifes birthday.

Has anyone been? Or any of his others? Food any good?

Im not expecting 5 star gourmet food….

[Bedford Rascal]

Threadneedle St and Milton Keynes. Perfectly good food, something of the atmosphere and service I found a bit irritating at both so perhaps cultural across the chain. Not a deal breaker though.

[hacksaw]

Visited the one in York several times, with two young kids, pasta is win for us for lunches. To be honest, it's ok. I've eaten better italian food for less money at smaller, independent restaurants, but it is very consistent, you know what you're going to get. I know the kids will enjoy it and eat well. The place itself is quite basic, aiming to be rustic but coming across more as basic or cheap. Personally, its not somewhere I would book for a romantic meal for the wife and I, but, it's ok.

[Driver101]

Just another very average chain restaurant. It isn't high end dining.

[Jer_1974]

Jamie's Italian is okay in Glasgow but much better Italian's and far cheaper if you know the area.

[Ultuous]

Enjoyed the one at Gatwick Airport a while back...

Hardly fine-dining but having paid similar (airport) prices for the usual high-street junk it made a refreshing change to actually enjoy a nice meal with very friendly, attentive service whilst waiting to catch a flight!

[Pferdestarke]

Nottingham and Leeds both good if you keep your expectations in check. Good produce, vibrant presentation and varied menu. Cool toilets too.

[Rollin]

The building and interior of the Manchester one is very nice (used to be my bank). Food is just OK.

[NickXX]

Lovely setting if it's the one on King Street- went there in 2009 when it had just opened.

I still remember going in there whilst at uni when it was still an HSBC. They've stayed very true to the original banking hall architecture.

Edited by NickXX on Friday 24th October 02:47

[NickXX]

Lovely setting if it's the one on King Street- went there in 2009 when it had just opened.

I still remember going in there whilst at uni when it was still an HSBC. They've stayed very true to the original banking hall architecture.

Edited by NickXX on Friday 24th October 02:49

[Grandfondo]

Ultuous said:

Enjoyed the one at Gatwick Airport a while back...

Hardly fine-dining but having paid similar (airport) prices for the usual high-street junk it made a refreshing change to actually enjoy a nice meal with very friendly, attentive service whilst waiting to catch a flight!

It's good for airport grub but very average otherwise!

[insurance_jon]

The kids menus are cool, instead of printed they are photos viewed through those red plastic 3d viewer toys from the 80's

[jules_s]

hacksaw said:

but it is very consistent

That might be because the sauces are shipped in pre-made and simply warmed through*

• so im told

[HTP99]

Rollin said:

The building and interior of the Manchester one is very nice (used to be my bank). Food is just OK.

The one in Guildford is an old bank too.

We've been a few times and quite like the decor and atmosphere, not too expensive and found the food to be what you would expect for the money.

Jamie's Italian isn't really a special place to go, more of a "oh it's getting late and we are in town, I can't be arsed to go home and cook, how about going to Jamie's for dinner" kind of place.

[hacksaw]

jules_s said:

hacksaw said:

but it is very consistent

That might be because the sauces are shipped in pre-made and simply warmed through*

• so im told

Oh I don't doubt it, like I said, for wife and I, we would skip it, however, two children under 7, one of which is an extremely difficult and picky eater, having consistency when having a family meal out, knowing he will eat a proper full meal, is important to us.

[MitchT]

I've been to the one in Leeds a few times. As others have said, it's not 'fine dining', but the food is really good and so is the service. The prices are about right for what you get. I had a great ribeye steak on my last visit

[the_stoat]

Went to the one in Oxford and would say good was on a par with Wetherspoons but tripple the cost.

[Monkeythree]

Eaten at the manchester one twice. Was disappointed the first time but thought I would give it a second chance and it was no better second time round. Food is very average and everything I tried was really over salted.

The building is much nicer than the food. If there is no-one in the private dining room down in the vault then it is worth going in for a look around.

[Adz The Rat]

Thanks guys.

We don't get out for a meal often so thought it would be a bit different to the usual local spots.

I shall report back when we have been.

[JQ]

I quite like the Manchester one, but as above, don't go in with high expectations. They do a sharing platter that we really enjoyed. If we're wanting good Italian in Manchester then first choice is San Carlo or Chicchetti, next on the list is Rosso.