London Pret a Manger Obsession

[Rags]

What is it with the obsession with this place!?

My sister raves about it, my mrs can't get enough of pret, half my office building get something or other from there.

Even my old dear, who lives outta town said 'ooh i went into that lovely place Pret a whatsit'.

I mean, the food is ok, but its nothing special.

What am I missing!?

[grumbledoak]

It's not just OK, though, is it? It is considerably better than most staff canteens, IME. Given that they only really sell sandwiches, salads, and soups, that is quite an achievement. And they feed the homeless with the leftovers- your average staff canteen would just put them back on the shelves.

[richieboy3008]

Their stuff is better than the supermarket rubbish, but watch out for those calories, some sandwiches have more than a big mac!

[Wadeski]

Even french and belgian people i know who come to London rave about Pret. To actually do decent fresh food on their scale is quite impressive - the central london stores must go through thousands and thousands of sandwiches a day.

[jazzybee]

It is generally far better than most other sandwich shops - I was in town today and had a lovely Morrocan Chicken soup and a hot Tomato and Mozerella Croisant - Tasty and filling (although I'm sure very calorific) for less than a fiver and served within 2 mins.

[exgtt]

I like going there because it's the only place in Leeds you can walk in and walk straight out with a box of acceptable sushi. Just salmon and prawn but decent enough, and ample Ginger/soy/wasabi which is nice!

Just over £5 for a deluxe box so good value too.

[dcw@pr]

exgtt said:

I like going there because it's the only place in Leeds you can walk in and walk straight out with a box of acceptable sushi. Just salmon and prawn but decent enough, and ample Ginger/soy/wasabi which is nice!

Just over £5 for a deluxe box so good value too.

sorry, call me a snob, but

[duncancallum]

a good non franchised sandwich shops just as good and possibly better.

its just a pretentious Maccies

see shamless cut and past:

In 2001, McDonald's bought a 33% non-controlling stake in the USA branch of the company. Pret then expanded to New York (10 stores), Hong Kong (10 stores) and Washington, DC (1 store).

[exgtt]

sorry, call me a snob, but


[/quote]

it's much better than the toss you get in supermarkets honest!

[hungry_hog]

I think the sandwiches are decent but pricey. The thing is in the City & Wharf places like Birley and Grazing charge even more (£4-£6 for a butty!), so they can get away with having 78 branches on every street.

Some of the extras are ridiculous. £3.50 for a fruit bowl anyone?

[okgo]

What is this obsession with sushi!!!!

£5 seems a lot to spend each day on fish and rice!

Oh, pret is ok, I have eaten there a few times when I am nearer the midde of town (don't get them out in the sticks).

ETA there is one in my town, never knew it was there!

Edited by okgo on Friday 15th January 00:29

[Somewhatfoolish]

What really irritates me is the friendliness of thne staff. All cheesy grins, have a nice days, down right unnatural happiness and inanity. It's like walking into a cult - they remind me of evangelical christians. I can easily imagine them sipping green tea and laughing at each others' atrocious PC jokes and being shocked by alcohol or nudity.

Just.... agggggggh

[HereBeMonsters]

Words could not contain my excitement when one opened in my city.

[XJSJohn]

back in the uk for 10 days in Feb and the missus has already declared that one of the first things she wants to do is get a sarnie from Pret ?!?!?!

I will be into the first pub that i can find that sells either London Pride or Timothy Taylors, and if they sell porky scratchings then the whole 12 hour flight will have been worth it!!!!

[Dave200]

okgo said:

What is this obsession with sushi!!!!

£5 seems a lot to spend each day on fish and rice!

Oh, pret is ok, I have eaten there a few times when I am nearer the midde of town (don't get them out in the sticks).

ETA there is one in my town, never knew it was there!

Edited by okgo on Friday 15th January 00:29

It's fresh, tasty, fairly healthy, and relatively cheap. What's not to like? It's only snobbishness and squeamishness that stops people from enjoying it...

[bazking69]

Somewhatfoolish said:

What really irritates me is the friendliness of thne staff. All cheesy grins, have a nice days, down right unnatural happiness and inanity. It's like walking into a cult - they remind me of evangelical christians.

Just.... agggggggh

You've never been to the States then I take it...

[okgo]

Dave200 said:

okgo said:

What is this obsession with sushi!!!!

£5 seems a lot to spend each day on fish and rice!

Oh, pret is ok, I have eaten there a few times when I am nearer the midde of town (don't get them out in the sticks).

ETA there is one in my town, never knew it was there!

Edited by okgo on Friday 15th January 00:29

It's fresh, tasty, fairly healthy, and relatively cheap. What's not to like? It's only snobbishness and squeamishness that stops people from enjoying it...

Its a trend and I think its vastly overpriced! I think its snobbishness that makes people enjoy it, thinking they are young trendy and fitting in with the office. This is the same as carying a bottle of water with you EVERYWHERE you go. ffs.

[Colonial]

okgo said:

Dave200 said:

okgo said:

What is this obsession with sushi!!!!

£5 seems a lot to spend each day on fish and rice!

Oh, pret is ok, I have eaten there a few times when I am nearer the midde of town (don't get them out in the sticks).

ETA there is one in my town, never knew it was there!

Edited by okgo on Friday 15th January 00:29

It's fresh, tasty, fairly healthy, and relatively cheap. What's not to like? It's only snobbishness and squeamishness that stops people from enjoying it...

Its a trend and I think its vastly overpriced! I think its snobbishness that makes people enjoy it, thinking they are young trendy and fitting in with the office. This is the same as carying a bottle of water with you EVERYWHERE you go. ffs.

Heaven forbid people get thirsty. Back in my day we sopped up muddy puddles with our hankie and were were grateful for it etc etc etc

[okgo]

Colonial said:

okgo said:

Dave200 said:

okgo said:

What is this obsession with sushi!!!!

£5 seems a lot to spend each day on fish and rice!

Oh, pret is ok, I have eaten there a few times when I am nearer the midde of town (don't get them out in the sticks).

ETA there is one in my town, never knew it was there!

Edited by okgo on Friday 15th January 00:29

It's fresh, tasty, fairly healthy, and relatively cheap. What's not to like? It's only snobbishness and squeamishness that stops people from enjoying it...

Its a trend and I think its vastly overpriced! I think its snobbishness that makes people enjoy it, thinking they are young trendy and fitting in with the office. This is the same as carying a bottle of water with you EVERYWHERE you go. ffs.

Heaven forbid people get thirsty. Back in my day we sopped up muddy puddles with our hankie and were were grateful for it etc etc etc

Oh come one, if I see one more new age type walking around london with NOTHING else but a bottle of volvic I'll be sick.

Same with the workplace, going for a ten minute meeting 20 yards down the corridor, they ALL must take their water.

when I rock in with a can of coke I'm looked at like a crazy man.

[Henry Hawthorne]

okgo said:

Colonial said:

okgo said:

Dave200 said:

okgo said:

What is this obsession with sushi!!!!

£5 seems a lot to spend each day on fish and rice!

Oh, pret is ok, I have eaten there a few times when I am nearer the midde of town (don't get them out in the sticks).

ETA there is one in my town, never knew it was there!

Edited by okgo on Friday 15th January 00:29

It's fresh, tasty, fairly healthy, and relatively cheap. What's not to like? It's only snobbishness and squeamishness that stops people from enjoying it...

Its a trend and I think its vastly overpriced! I think its snobbishness that makes people enjoy it, thinking they are young trendy and fitting in with the office. This is the same as carying a bottle of water with you EVERYWHERE you go. ffs.

Heaven forbid people get thirsty. Back in my day we sopped up muddy puddles with our hankie and were were grateful for it etc etc etc

Oh come one, if I see one more new age type walking around london with NOTHING else but a bottle of volvic I'll be sick.

Same with the workplace, going for a ten minute meeting 20 yards down the corridor, they ALL must take their water.

when I rock in with a can of coke I'm looked at like a crazy man.

I carry my water wherever I go (a nice big two litre bottle as well!). Never even really noticed I carried it around until you just said it and I thought back through my day. I don't do it to look "cool" or "healthy". I do it because I like water and for some reason get very thirsty very quickly. Most days I'll drink upwards of three litres of water.