American style takeaway in the UK?
American style takeaway in the UK?
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mat777

Original Poster:

10,712 posts

189 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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I've been watching a lot of Man V Food and the thing that strikes me is how UK takeaway food is so bland compared to things they have. Chilli-covered fries or hotdogs? Pulled pork baguettes dipped in broth? Cheese-steak sandwiches? Those are all things I would love to try but seem sadly unavailable in the UK from any of the plethora of both building-based and mobile takeaway establishments I've encountered.

Chips with baked beans on them or a Subway "beef melt" (chunks of low-quality burger with some nondescript cheese thrown on it) do not come close to comparable vomit

Anyone got a lead on a place (preferably in Bristol) that does these yank style treats?

Thanks,

Matt

fizz47

3,240 posts

239 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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Having just come back from NYC where I went on a bit of a food binge if I'm being honest, I have to say the fast food choice and quality is st in the UK and vastly overpriced.


Most of our stuff is pre-packaged frozen stuff ...

Not sure about bristol but are getting the odd place coming that is up to standard in London, like meat liquor but still a long way off from US stuff..

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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Try getting a curry in the USA...

vsonix

3,865 posts

192 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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I'm fairly sure stuff like McD's and/or BK used to taste much better but it seems like all the salt's been legislated out of it. I don't like to put salt on fast food just to stop it tasting like packaging frown

Tuvra

7,926 posts

254 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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This place opened up in Swansea recently, yet to try it but suppose to be good:
www.thesmokehaus.co.uk

prand

6,244 posts

225 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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Bodeans do takeaway, but I'm 20 miles away from my nearest one (only branches in London at the mo).

Schwartzburgers in Bath used to be brilliant, so much so I don't think many people I knew used to visit any other chain fast food joint in preference.

Not sure if they still are as good, but they were consistently brilliant over the 10-15 years I lived/visited there.

Edited by prand on Monday 22 April 11:39

Miguel Alvarez

5,175 posts

199 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
quotequote all
fizz47 said:
Having just come back from NYC where I went on a bit of a food binge if I'm being honest, I have to say the fast food choice and quality is st in the UK and vastly overpriced.
Take out in America is spot on. My mate lives in Queens in the Latino section and the food is out of this world. If we feel for some good home cooking then its a quick train ride into Jamaica Queens for some yard food. Oh and America is the first place I'd ever tried a Subway sandwich. I know I know it's not the height of food cuisine but the portions were enourmous. They couldn't even shut the bread. A bit of a let down when I came back home and thought I know I'll have a Subway.

@ Matt. Back to Subway. You can get a "Philly cheese steak" of sorts there. Granted it won't be anywhere near the standard of some of the sandwich places in the states but it'll give you an idea.

escargot

17,123 posts

246 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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Any recommendations in Jamaica? I change there regularly en-route to penn station.

GBDG

896 posts

183 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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You lucky bugger - Grillstock is in Bristol in the glass arcade at st nicks market.

Merp

2,262 posts

281 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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Not quite american but steak and burgers!

Franks Steakhouse & Franks Hamburger House in Northampton.
Highly recommend them both.

Locally sourced produce aswell.

http://www.frankssteakhouse.co.uk/


JB!

5,255 posts

209 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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Merp said:
Not quite american but steak and burgers!

Franks Steakhouse & Franks Hamburger House in Northampton.
Highly recommend them both.

Locally sourced produce aswell.

http://www.frankssteakhouse.co.uk/
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Miguel Alvarez

5,175 posts

199 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
quotequote all
escargot said:
Any recommendations in Jamaica? I change there regularly en-route to penn station.
Going from memory. The place we used to go to was in the plaza/indoor market place. Come out of the subway, cross the road turn right and walk for 5/10 minutes and then there is the indoor market place on the left. It's a typical West Indian place. They never have the full menu on offer you just say "what have you got?" and then pick from the two or three choices. Lol.

My mate will no doubt be sleeping in late so I'll message him later and see if he still goes out there.

There's one place in Sunnyside that remembers me even though I only come once a year for a fortnight.



PineBarren

508 posts

209 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
quotequote all
prand said:
Bodeans do takeaway, but I'm 20 miles away from my nearest one (only branches in London at the mo).

Schwartzburgers in Bath used to be brilliant, so much so I don't think many people I knew used to visit any other chain fast food joint in preference.

Not sure if they still are as good, but they were consistently brilliant over the 10-15 years I lived/visited there.

Edited by prand on Monday 22 April 11:39
I can confirm that Schwartz are superb. Very good burgers and some interesting combinations http://www.schwartzbros.co.uk/images/stories/Schwa...

Bath seems to have a little burger scene going on, I was surprised by that when I moved here. I've heard good things about Mr D's, they have a couple of outlets in the city and a mobile outlet they park in the town on a fri and sat night. But for me the best burger in Bath is from Manhattan Burger on Widcombe parade. Superb meat, great combos such as peanut butter and bacon, Blue cheese, superb fries and homemade milk shakes. Worth the trip over from Briz

mat777

Original Poster:

10,712 posts

189 months

Monday 22nd April 2013
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Wow, the power of PH!

I've been here 3 years now and had no idea about St nicks market, but I will definitely be checking it out! The menu there looks mouthwatering lick

The Manhattan bar in Bath looks good too, I may have to bike over there one sunny afternoon for lunch!

acd80

751 posts

174 months

Wednesday 24th April 2013
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Tuvra said:
This place opened up in Swansea recently, yet to try it but suppose to be good:
www.thesmokehaus.co.uk
You must be joking. It's dire. I've been once and I'll never step foot in it again.

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Thursday 25th April 2013
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PineBarren said:
I can confirm that Schwartz are superb. Very good burgers and some interesting combinations http://www.schwartzbros.co.uk/images/stories/Schwa...

Bath seems to have a little burger scene going on, I was surprised by that when I moved here. I've heard good things about Mr D's, they have a couple of outlets in the city and a mobile outlet they park in the town on a fri and sat night. But for me the best burger in Bath is from Manhattan Burger on Widcombe parade. Superb meat, great combos such as peanut butter and bacon, Blue cheese, superb fries and homemade milk shakes. Worth the trip over from Briz
Ah, the D's van, after midnight on a Friday or Saturday. Bliss.

For my money Schwartz is better than D's; certainly I have actually eaten at Schwartz when sober.

Ooh, and I forgot about Billy Burger out in Larkhall. Odd place for a burger joint but pretty damn good. They deliver to a place I used to work...

http://www.eatmyburgers.co.uk/menu.html

h0b0

9,050 posts

225 months

Thursday 25th April 2013
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davepoth said:
Try getting a curry in the USA...
It is possible but you have to find a good recommendation. Karma Kafe in Hoboken NJ has good Indian. My Indian neighbors recommend a place in Jersey City NJ and one on rte 46 near Parsippany.

bobbo89

5,991 posts

174 months

Thursday 25th April 2013
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If your liking Man V food and its giving you cravings for american food, whatever you do, dont head over to freeview channel 48 and start watching Diners, Drive ins and Dives!

That programme has had me craving all sorts of regional American delicacies (oxymoron?) and i want nothing more than a Chicago Italian beef sandwich or a New York pastrami sandwich from a proper jewish delilick

escargot

17,123 posts

246 months

Thursday 25th April 2013
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h0b0 said:
davepoth said:
Try getting a curry in the USA...
It is possible but you have to find a good recommendation. Karma Kafe in Hoboken NJ has good Indian. My Indian neighbors recommend a place in Jersey City NJ and one on rte 46 near Parsippany.
There's a decent place in Hicksville Long Island - not cheap though.

Dave200

5,671 posts

249 months

Thursday 25th April 2013
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People who get all their views about American food just by watching Sky TV should probably get out there and taste some. Yes, there is a lot of good stuff, and it's probably true to say that they have a different variety (e.g. Korean is huge in NY, Mexican is big in LA), but 'different' is exactly what it is - try getting a decent curry or Chinese meal outside of a Chinatown area and you're served up bland, tasteless cr@p.

To go with the 'good stuff' there's also a lot of complete rubbish that avid viewers of Dave and Food channels would tell you taste like manna from heaven. 'Philly Cheesestake' is a great example - and I cite the one I had from supposedly the best place in NY - and is bland, overcooked/reheated beef, swamped with chopped onions and 'white American' cheese (which itself tastes of absolutely nothing). The vast majority of everything else they eat just seems to have a overbearing oiliness from various forms of frying, or is unidentifiable through over-processing.

Yes, there is a lot of good stuff, but don't get drawn in by the hype...