Best Chain restaurant?

[Melman Giraffe]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Bullett said:

Loch Fyne can be inconsistent.

No, I find them to be very consistent. fking awful every time.

[toon10]

MissChief said:

A new TGI Fridays opened near my ex wife's house recently and we've been out with the kids there three times in the last month as the food is so good. The Ultimate Ribs are fantastic as is the Jack Daniels glaze. The prices are a little bit higher than Frankie & Bennys but to my mind the food is much better. Bigger portions and tastier too! Does anyone else frequent such establishments?

Issi said:

That's really helpful for the OP?

What about Pollo Campero in Guatemala, or Dinemore in Sri Lanka?

The OP askewd the questions "Does anyone else frequent such establishments?" and "Best Chain restaurant?".

Where does the OP ask for help or mention that we need to discuss UK chains only?

[MissChief]

Piston heads is a multinational group so any recommendations are welcome.

[Dr Interceptor]

I frequent them all (unfortunately) quite often as the OH loves them, and I'd do pretty much anything to keep him fed and happy.

My run down....

F&B - Alright, but I absolutely detest celebrating other random fkers birthdays with them. Don't turn the lights out and play Cliff Richard while I'm trying to tuck into my Black and Blue Burger (Pepper and Stilton, not burnt and raw).

TGI - see above on the birthday thing, also, why does their Jack Daniels glaze never actually taste of Jack Daniels? Ultimate Ribs are substantial.

Bella Italia - I refuse this one. We have a really good independent local Italian so its a no go for me.

Prezzo & Zizzi's - see above

Bills - Good traditional food, with not much flair, but served very well. Relaxed casual atmosphere. Like the fish finger sarnie.

Wagamama - pretty good, but hate the 'canteen' style seating in our local. I like a table with sufficient gap around it that I can have a conversation without being listened in on.

Byron Burger - never been, but there's now one in Camberley, so might.

Chiquitos - I like stroking the gecko's head, and they do good Fajitas.

Nandos - one of my favourites, it's actually possible to eat healthily here. 1/2 chicken, side salad, macho peas. The new Thigh Burger thing is nice too as a treat.

Wetherspoons - we have two good ones locally, one I can walk to. Beer for £2.50 a pint, and dinner for £6/7 - can't argue with the value and convenient for me.

[BJG1]

There's a few London-only chains (burgers and steak mostly) which are excellent (some of these have now gone nationwide)

Byron - solid burgers, I don't go to them in London anymore as there's better elsewhere but in most towns they'll be the best burger you can get

Burger and Lobster

Honest Burger

Meat Liquor

Hawksmoore

Wahaca

Goodmans

[BrabusMog]

Dr Interceptor said:

I frequent them all (unfortunately) quite often as the OH loves them, and I'd do pretty much anything to keep him fed and happy.

My run down....

F&B - Alright, but I absolutely detest celebrating other random fkers birthdays with them. Don't turn the lights out and play Cliff Richard while I'm trying to tuck into my Black and Blue Burger (Pepper and Stilton, not burnt and raw).

TGI - see above on the birthday thing, also, why does their Jack Daniels glaze never actually taste of Jack Daniels? Ultimate Ribs are substantial.

Bella Italia - I refuse this one. We have a really good independent local Italian so its a no go for me.

Prezzo & Zizzi's - see above

Bills - Good traditional food, with not much flair, but served very well. Relaxed casual atmosphere. Like the fish finger sarnie.

Wagamama - pretty good, but hate the 'canteen' style seating in our local. I like a table with sufficient gap around

Byron Burger - never been, but there's now one in Camberley, so might.

Chiquitos - I like stroking the gecko's head, and they do good Fajitas.

Nandos - one of my favourites, it's actually possible to eat healthily here. 1/2 chicken, side salad, macho peas. The new Thigh Burger thing is nice too as a treat.

Wetherspoons - we have two good ones locally, one I can walk to. Beer for £2.50 a pint, and dinner for £6/7 - can't argue with the value and convenient for me.

One of the guys who works for me went to the Byron Burger in Camberley the other week and told me it was £50 odd for 2 burgers, 1 chips and 2 beers and a glass of wine! He is easily pleased and said it was amazing but I'd expect it to be for that price.

Edit - is the independent Italian you like the one on Frimley High St? I go there for lunch sometimes, I love it!

Edited by BrabusMog on Wednesday 29th July 13:44

[sc0tt]

Where do we stand on Harvester?

Every time I go in there it is ste.

Zizzi's is ok.

[BJG1]

BrabusMog said:

One of the guys who works for me went to the Byron Burger in Camberley the other week and told me it was £50 odd for 2 burgers, 1 chips and 2 beers and a glass of wine! He is easily pleased and said it was amazing but I'd expect it to be for that price.

Edit - is the independent Italian you like the one on Frimley High St? I go there for lunch sometimes, I love it!

Edited by BrabusMog on Wednesday 29th July 13:44

2 burgers will cost you between £13.50 and £21 depending on which ones you go for

Chips are £3

2 beers are £9

Glass of wine call it £5

So you're looking at a max of £38 for that.

[toon10]

I find Nandos a bit hit and miss. You can eat a bit healthier if you choose to but the chicken is quite often dry.

Is the homemade burger co a chain? We have one at the metro centre in Gateshead and it's setup very much like a chain place but I've not noticed any elsewhere. I enjoy their lamb in pita with seasoned chips!

[BrabusMog]

toon10 said:

I find Nandos a bit hit and miss. You can eat a bit healthier if you choose to but the chicken is quite often dry.

Is the homemade burger co a chain? We have one at the metro centre in Gateshead and it's setup very much like a chain place but I've not noticed any elsewhere. I enjoy their lamb in pita with seasoned chips!

There is one in Reading, so probably a chain. Quite nice, too.

[BrabusMog]

BJG1 said:

BrabusMog said:

One of the guys who works for me went to the Byron Burger in Camberley the other week and told me it was £50 odd for 2 burgers, 1 chips and 2 beers and a glass of wine! He is easily pleased and said it was amazing but I'd expect it to be for that price.

Edit - is the independent Italian you like the one on Frimley High St? I go there for lunch sometimes, I love it!

Edited by BrabusMog on Wednesday 29th July 13:44

2 burgers will cost you between £13.50 and £21 depending on which ones you go for

Chips are £3

2 beers are £9

Glass of wine call it £5

So you're looking at a max of £38 for that.

lol maybe he's been telling porkies, he does like to exaggerate from time to time. Or he had a pudding and neglected to tell me. £40 seems ok for 2 people if it is good quality in my opinion.

[Dr Interceptor]

BrabusMog said:

Edit - is the independent Italian you like the one on Frimley High St? I go there for lunch sometimes, I love it!

Il Colosseo on Alexandra in North Camp - its in the old bank building, so can be lacking in atmosphere if it's quiet, but (Italian) family owned, the food and service is always fantastic.

Noted on Byron Burger... thanks for the advice.

One to add.... Five Guys - I don't get the hype. Some of my friends rave about it, but it's a posh Burger King? Toppings are nice though, and Stevie loves the touch screen coke machine where you can add any flavour you want to whatever drink you're having.

[menguin]

Another vote for Wahaca. Fantastic mexican food, great service every time I've been in and tasty cocktails.

[tomsugden]

Dr Interceptor said:

BrabusMog said:

Edit - is the independent Italian you like the one on Frimley High St? I go there for lunch sometimes, I love it!

Il Colosseo on Alexandra in North Camp - its in the old bank building, so can be lacking in atmosphere if it's quiet, but (Italian) family owned, the food and service is always fantastic.

Noted on Byron Burger... thanks for the advice.

One to add.... Five Guys - I don't get the hype. Some of my friends rave about it, but it's a posh Burger King? Toppings are nice though, and Stevie loves the touch screen coke machine where you can add any flavour you want to whatever drink you're having.

If you're in North Camp, I highly recommend a visit here, if you haven't been:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g50...

[Bullett]

There used to be a Byron in Guildford but it shut down, we liked it a lot. So I was excited when the Camberley one opened.

It was awful. A real comedy of errors, wrong dishes send the kids dessert back twice), poor service and food was mediocre at best, very disappointed.

[BrabusMog]

Dr Interceptor said:

Il Colosseo on Alexandra in North Camp - its in the old bank building, so can be lacking in atmosphere if it's quiet, but (Italian) family owned, the food and service is always fantastic.

Noted on Byron Burger... thanks for the advice.

One to add.... Five Guys - I don't get the hype. Some of my friends rave about it, but it's a posh Burger King? Toppings are nice though, and Stevie loves the touch screen coke machine where you can add any flavour you want to whatever drink you're having.

I've been there with a customer, it's pretty nice. There's a decent Italian in Fleet as well, but I can't remember the name of it.

[5potTurbo]

Byron Burger: only been to Canary Wharf, and it's inconsistent.

Nando's: guilty pleasure!

Wildwood: went to Salisbury's last Friday. I liked it.



The only (non-fast food) chain I'm aware of locally is Pizza Hut.

[FiF]

Nobody has mentioned LaTasca. Didn't know it was a chain when visited the one at the top of Ecclesall road in Sheffield. Now closed and all the others visited have never been as good.

Wagamama, like the food but hate the benches and everything arrives when it arrives philosophy.

Ed's diner. Ok but bit expensive for what it is but milk shakes rock.

Las Iguanas consistently better than average.

Now for the avoid list, Jamies, Carluccios, and F&B. The latter used to be a favourite of Mrs and Miss FiF, with me under sufferance. However the girls have banned me from there because I asked to move tables on a freezing windy day as every berk who used the front door left the bugger open. Seemed that the lack of response from the staff resulted in a bit of a scene.

[dugsud]

thelittleegg said:

also Pizza Express are great, their pizzas are better than 95% of other places, we always get our takeaway pizzas from them.

I agree...never had a bad Pizza at a Pizza Express where ever it is, always fresh ingredients and perfectly cooked.

On the other hand probably 50% of the Pizzas I've eaten at independent Italian Restaurants have been average or worse......some really bad.

I'd describe the Pizza Express overall as consistently good.

[Dr Interceptor]

tomsugden said:

If you're in North Camp, I highly recommend a visit here, if you haven't been:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g50...

Never have... but really must! Every time I've tried to go it has been full - obviously very popular!

I have the Swimming Pool shop on Osborne Road, so it's very local to me.