Discussion
2002 said:
Brakes lorry idling round the back and overused microwaves in the kitchens.
I have a phrase for poor quality pubs: "straight off the Brakes lorry".
We went to a pub in Wiltshire and I said "this is a bit straight off the Brakes Lorry", and as I said so a Brakes Lorry pulled up and a man unloaded a big box marked "premium triple cooked chips", an ingredient that featured heavily on their menu.
jakesmith said:
I seem alone in my view of Jamie’s, when they started there were queues round the block and the food for me was excellent. There was a ragu tagliatelle with I think rabbit and breadcrumbs that was bloody delicious and a burger in brioche bun and polenta chips that were massive and really crunchy. All served in a bright buzzy environment that is similar to what Wahaca do now with great sucess.
I later worked with them directly and saw a level of commitment and passion from the staff that surprised me.
I ate probably 8-10 times total at their branch in Kingston, Guildford, Reading and a flagship one in Islington. Thought the standard was consistent apart from Reading where service was slow.
I would be surprised if they were using microwaves honestly, I’ve read it on here but is it a fact or a guess? I can’t picture it and their kitchens were pretty open but I don’t actually know.
I didn’t go for the last 4 years but I’m sad it’s gone I only have good memories of eating there and we can’t really afford to go to The Ivy that has replaced some of them, actually I’ve been 3 times and it is clearly in a different league but the prices are too.
Jamie seems to me like a genuine guy but as some have pointed out on the thread it’s the financial treatment of the business and the fees that reveal the substance of the man.
Fair comment Jake, you can only speak as you find. I have zero axe to grind with JO, I simply found his recent offering very poor value. You could kind of see what they were trying to do but clearly some bean-counter had come along to strip cost out of the business and had succeeded in stripping JO's enthusiasm and quality out of the concept. It's a shame but there it is.I later worked with them directly and saw a level of commitment and passion from the staff that surprised me.
I ate probably 8-10 times total at their branch in Kingston, Guildford, Reading and a flagship one in Islington. Thought the standard was consistent apart from Reading where service was slow.
I would be surprised if they were using microwaves honestly, I’ve read it on here but is it a fact or a guess? I can’t picture it and their kitchens were pretty open but I don’t actually know.
I didn’t go for the last 4 years but I’m sad it’s gone I only have good memories of eating there and we can’t really afford to go to The Ivy that has replaced some of them, actually I’ve been 3 times and it is clearly in a different league but the prices are too.
Jamie seems to me like a genuine guy but as some have pointed out on the thread it’s the financial treatment of the business and the fees that reveal the substance of the man.
Brooking10 said:
T-195 said:
Humble beginnings you say.
I wish my parents had owned that pub.
I said relatively I wish my parents had owned that pub.
The envy is strong when it comes to JO it seems.
If you have any trade experience, you'll know that chefs are all mad....
Leithen said:
Indeed - running a pub is very much not conducive to family life. IIRC he started work in the kitchen at a young age and went from there.
A quote from JO's father, "you don't want to allow young people too much spare time". He is right.Leithen said:
If you have any trade experience, you'll know that chefs are all moody and generally the people you least want handling your food....
There, fixed.KTF said:
amgmcqueen said:
Crap food, served in dirty restaurants, at extortionate prices was always going to be a recipe for disaster.
Blaming Brexit is just a pathetic excuse.
He didn’t blame Brexit as such, more that the aura around it reduced consumer confidence so they didn’t eat out as much.Blaming Brexit is just a pathetic excuse.
At the end of the interview he did say it was an interesting time (or similar) for the trade now but he was glad to be able to watch it from the sidelines.
Brexit uncertainty, among a host of other things, is kicking the s
t out of the hospitality industry on the High Street.He (like a lot of other chains) had scaled really quickly, and couldn't roll back to a profitable place in time.
C70R said:
All of which is factually accurate.
Brexit uncertainty, among a host of other things, is kicking the st out of the hospitality industry on the High Street.
He (like a lot of other chains) had scaled really quickly, and couldn't roll back to a profitable place in time.
Of course instead of blaming brexit, people are having a reality check.Brexit uncertainty, among a host of other things, is kicking the s
t out of the hospitality industry on the High Street.He (like a lot of other chains) had scaled really quickly, and couldn't roll back to a profitable place in time.
Instead of having lunch out daily maybe they’d rather stick that money on the mortgage/pension .
egor110 said:
C70R said:
All of which is factually accurate.
Brexit uncertainty, among a host of other things, is kicking the st out of the hospitality industry on the High Street.
He (like a lot of other chains) had scaled really quickly, and couldn't roll back to a profitable place in time.
Of course instead of blaming brexit, people are having a reality check.Brexit uncertainty, among a host of other things, is kicking the s
t out of the hospitality industry on the High Street.He (like a lot of other chains) had scaled really quickly, and couldn't roll back to a profitable place in time.
Instead of having lunch out daily maybe they’d rather stick that money on the mortgage/pension .
Lots of mentions of the word "overpriced".
I'm keen to understand how much you think is appropriate to pay for a meal in a chain restaurant.
Jamies' starters were typically £5-7 and his full-size mains £10-15.
Given that a "main meal" in Nando's can easily cost more than £10 (while you serve yourself), I'm struggling to see what Jamies is "overpriced" relative to.
I'm keen to understand how much you think is appropriate to pay for a meal in a chain restaurant.
Jamies' starters were typically £5-7 and his full-size mains £10-15.
Given that a "main meal" in Nando's can easily cost more than £10 (while you serve yourself), I'm struggling to see what Jamies is "overpriced" relative to.
T-195 said:
Humble beginnings you say.
I wish my parents had owned that pub.
Friend of mine drove me past there and pointed it out. The whole "I grew up in an Essex pub" act is put into perspective, in that it's a posh eating pub about a mile inside the posh end of Essex.I wish my parents had owned that pub.
It's hardly a flat roofed pub in Grays.
craigjm said:
egor110 said:
C70R said:
All of which is factually accurate.
Brexit uncertainty, among a host of other things, is kicking the st out of the hospitality industry on the High Street.
He (like a lot of other chains) had scaled really quickly, and couldn't roll back to a profitable place in time.
Of course instead of blaming brexit, people are having a reality check.Brexit uncertainty, among a host of other things, is kicking the s
t out of the hospitality industry on the High Street.He (like a lot of other chains) had scaled really quickly, and couldn't roll back to a profitable place in time.
Instead of having lunch out daily maybe they’d rather stick that money on the mortgage/pension .
C70R said:
Lots of mentions of the word "overpriced".
I'm keen to understand how much you think is appropriate to pay for a meal in a chain restaurant.
Jamies' starters were typically £5-7 and his full-size mains £10-15.
Given that a "main meal" in Nando's can easily cost more than £10 (while you serve yourself), I'm struggling to see what Jamies is "overpriced" relative to.
Talking of prices, I had a Five Guys for the first time on Friday, how do they get away with charging what they do for a burger? One normal cheese burger a small cheese burger one portion of chips and a one drink was £22I'm keen to understand how much you think is appropriate to pay for a meal in a chain restaurant.
Jamies' starters were typically £5-7 and his full-size mains £10-15.
Given that a "main meal" in Nando's can easily cost more than £10 (while you serve yourself), I'm struggling to see what Jamies is "overpriced" relative to.
Is it just me or is that really expensive for a fast food place?
Johnnytheboy said:
T-195 said:
Humble beginnings you say.
I wish my parents had owned that pub.
Friend of mine drove me past there and pointed it out. The whole "I grew up in an Essex pub" act is put into perspective, in that it's a posh eating pub about a mile inside the posh end of Essex.I wish my parents had owned that pub.
It's hardly a flat roofed pub in Grays.
Envy is not a good emotion.
Edited by Nickgnome on Tuesday 20th August 16:00
Nickgnome said:
chrispmartha said:
KTF said:
chrispmartha said:
how do they get away with charging what they do for a burger?
People are willing to pay it so why charge less?Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff