Jamies Italian, Reading
Discussion
Went last night for a friends Birthday. First impressions were an overpriced Pizza Express with a burger on the menu. However when the fod came out I was genuinely surprised. Tha Antipasta meat plank was a good price for the amount of fod each person had, and the quality of ingredients was superb.
We had a range of dishes, for mains, between us and not one person found something they could fault.
Deserts were good, I doubt they were made on site, as they were carbon coppies of eah other, but really tasty. especially the Rasberry and Chocolate Brownie.
The wine list was a touch overpriced, but what made the meal was the attentive staff. We eat on the waterside at teh Oracle a lot, so are used to the usual standard of service, which seems to consist of, Drinks order, drinks delivery, Mains order, Mains delivery, and one table check befoer they FO to be appathetic towards some other diners.
This was a genuine surprise, The waiting staff, all engaged with you, and answered any questions in a knowlegable way, as opposed to "i dunno, Ill just go and ask". They actually seeme to care both about the food and us. It made the meal a really pleasant experience.
Edit.
Not sure why the angry face appeared by the post, I clicked on the thumbs up.
We had a range of dishes, for mains, between us and not one person found something they could fault.
Deserts were good, I doubt they were made on site, as they were carbon coppies of eah other, but really tasty. especially the Rasberry and Chocolate Brownie.
The wine list was a touch overpriced, but what made the meal was the attentive staff. We eat on the waterside at teh Oracle a lot, so are used to the usual standard of service, which seems to consist of, Drinks order, drinks delivery, Mains order, Mains delivery, and one table check befoer they FO to be appathetic towards some other diners.
This was a genuine surprise, The waiting staff, all engaged with you, and answered any questions in a knowlegable way, as opposed to "i dunno, Ill just go and ask". They actually seeme to care both about the food and us. It made the meal a really pleasant experience.
Edit.
Not sure why the angry face appeared by the post, I clicked on the thumbs up.
Thanks for sharing. One opened on Monday in Nottingham and I think the OH and I will try it. I was surprised with how many there are when I went on the website.
ETA: 16 in the UK and 2 overseas (Dubai and Sydney). I still think he's a nob despite wanting to eat there.
ETA: 16 in the UK and 2 overseas (Dubai and Sydney). I still think he's a nob despite wanting to eat there.
Edited by Fun Bus on Wednesday 9th February 13:53
Not tried the one in Reading, although I am there quite a lot (I favour Las Iguanas), but have eaten at the one in Guildford at the bottom of North Street a couple of times and have nothing but good things to say about that place.
Can agree on the wine being a litle pricey but with 4 people, its well worth it and the food was brilliant, as well as the staff being attentive and pleasant, instead of hurried, careless and ignorant like a lot of places these days.
Can agree on the wine being a litle pricey but with 4 people, its well worth it and the food was brilliant, as well as the staff being attentive and pleasant, instead of hurried, careless and ignorant like a lot of places these days.
Agreed, I've been to the one in Brighton twice, and each time I've been impressed with the quality of the food. The meat plank was a pleasant surprise, not having had a platter like that before, and the main courses also enjoyable (rib of lamb, I think, and the steak last time. The beers on offer also tasted good. Not tried the wine.
Bing o said:
And who's richest out of the two of you?
So simply because someone has more money than another makes them a more likeable person? The OP never mentioned money, simply that he doesn't think much about Jamie Oliver.Do you think by accumulating cash it will make you a more likeable person? There are always people who will have far more money than you can ever imagine, so where does that leave you?
Furberger said:
I'd recommend Picasso on Caversham bridge.
Yeah, Picasso is prety good. but it is a tapas bar, so Spanish? and not an Italian? As for peoples opinion of Jamie Oliver. Loveable rogue or Mockney wanabee, fat toungued twunt. You cannot deny he is generally popular in the public eye, and kind of sucessfull.
I dont like Gerkins. but you dont see me popping up on other peoples threads mocking gerkins, as it adds nothing to the thread.
and if cash = popularity, then you are about as deep as a puddle.
Just my 2p.
Edited by VR6time on Thursday 10th February 14:16
Went to Jamie's a few months back. No impressed (poor staff, poor food, poor service), the wife complained and they sent her vounchers.
So we went again so see if it was any better about a month a go and it was a LOT better. But then not being sat near the kitchens hearing the staff swearing at each other ment a better atmosphere to begin with.
So we went again so see if it was any better about a month a go and it was a LOT better. But then not being sat near the kitchens hearing the staff swearing at each other ment a better atmosphere to begin with.
I've eaten in the canary wharf, Cardiff and reading branches of jamies,
And my overall opinion.......... Great, well priced, good quality food and service with a smile.
I've always had the meat plank to start and tried the burger, flash steak, lamb lollipops and spicy sausage pasta.
All superb, I also recommend the olives on ice
And my overall opinion.......... Great, well priced, good quality food and service with a smile.
I've always had the meat plank to start and tried the burger, flash steak, lamb lollipops and spicy sausage pasta.
All superb, I also recommend the olives on ice
Went to the Glasgow branch when it first opened, worst dining experience ever.
First off all you can't book a table so if you want a meal before the cinema or a show for example it rules out this place, cutting themselves out from a decent portion of the potential market imo. On arrival we sere sent down to the bar to wait with our pager, can't even get a f
king pint from the bar!
Finally seated after 45 mins (told 20min wait, max). Looking over the menu I noticed no pizza, in an Italian? Come on...I wasn't looking for a pizza but I thought it would be a staple of any decent Italian.
Several items on the menu not available, although the still let us order them. Ordered replacement starter to be told 10 minutes later we couldn't have bruschetta because the toaster might set off the fire alarm....lol?
The OH was served her main while I waited, after 5 mins I had to chase up my main to find out they hadn't put the order through. So we suggested they take back my OH's main so we could be served and eat together. They offered to make a fresh main for the OH. When our mains arrived 10 minutes later hers was luke warm at best (probably the same one) and my pasta was severely under cooked. Fed up with all the hassle and being overcome by hunger we ate would we could manage. On complaining to the manager as he cleared our plates he tried to argue the pasta is served al dente even although they have been getting a lot of complaints at its state of crunchiness!
In the end we were offered free desserts and our mains were taken off the bill.
Quite willing to accept a lot of these problems were teething problems as the restaurant hadn't been open long but if he cares about his name he should supply better training beforehand, I certainly won't be back, plenty of good Italians in Glasgow to risk another shocking evening in there!
First off all you can't book a table so if you want a meal before the cinema or a show for example it rules out this place, cutting themselves out from a decent portion of the potential market imo. On arrival we sere sent down to the bar to wait with our pager, can't even get a f
king pint from the bar!Finally seated after 45 mins (told 20min wait, max). Looking over the menu I noticed no pizza, in an Italian? Come on...I wasn't looking for a pizza but I thought it would be a staple of any decent Italian.
Several items on the menu not available, although the still let us order them. Ordered replacement starter to be told 10 minutes later we couldn't have bruschetta because the toaster might set off the fire alarm....lol?
The OH was served her main while I waited, after 5 mins I had to chase up my main to find out they hadn't put the order through. So we suggested they take back my OH's main so we could be served and eat together. They offered to make a fresh main for the OH. When our mains arrived 10 minutes later hers was luke warm at best (probably the same one) and my pasta was severely under cooked. Fed up with all the hassle and being overcome by hunger we ate would we could manage. On complaining to the manager as he cleared our plates he tried to argue the pasta is served al dente even although they have been getting a lot of complaints at its state of crunchiness!
In the end we were offered free desserts and our mains were taken off the bill.
Quite willing to accept a lot of these problems were teething problems as the restaurant hadn't been open long but if he cares about his name he should supply better training beforehand, I certainly won't be back, plenty of good Italians in Glasgow to risk another shocking evening in there!
Laplace said:
Went to the Glasgow branch when it first opened, worst dining experience ever.
First off all you can't book a table so if you want a meal before the cinema or a show for example it rules out this place, cutting themselves out from a decent portion of the potential market imo. On arrival we sere sent down to the bar to wait with our pager, can't even get a fking pint from the bar!
Finally seated after 45 mins (told 20min wait, max). Looking over the menu I noticed no pizza, in an Italian? Come on...I wasn't looking for a pizza but I thought it would be a staple of any decent Italian.
Several items on the menu not available, although the still let us order them. Ordered replacement starter to be told 10 minutes later we couldn't have bruschetta because the toaster might set off the fire alarm....lol?
The OH was served her main while I waited, after 5 mins I had to chase up my main to find out they hadn't put the order through. So we suggested they take back my OH's main so we could be served and eat together. They offered to make a fresh main for the OH. When our mains arrived 10 minutes later hers was luke warm at best (probably the same one) and my pasta was severely under cooked. Fed up with all the hassle and being overcome by hunger we ate would we could manage. On complaining to the manager as he cleared our plates he tried to argue the pasta is served al dente even although they have been getting a lot of complaints at its state of crunchiness!
In the end we were offered free desserts and our mains were taken off the bill.
Quite willing to accept a lot of these problems were teething problems as the restaurant hadn't been open long but if he cares about his name he should supply better training beforehand, I certainly won't be back, plenty of good Italians in Glasgow to risk another shocking evening in there!
Went to the one in Leeds for lunch a few months ago, food was very tasty but the whole faux-shabby-Italian atmosphere they had going on left me rather cold. Also the fact you had to queueueue to get into the restaraunt like a fairgrouond ride slightly cheapened the experience.First off all you can't book a table so if you want a meal before the cinema or a show for example it rules out this place, cutting themselves out from a decent portion of the potential market imo. On arrival we sere sent down to the bar to wait with our pager, can't even get a f
king pint from the bar!Finally seated after 45 mins (told 20min wait, max). Looking over the menu I noticed no pizza, in an Italian? Come on...I wasn't looking for a pizza but I thought it would be a staple of any decent Italian.
Several items on the menu not available, although the still let us order them. Ordered replacement starter to be told 10 minutes later we couldn't have bruschetta because the toaster might set off the fire alarm....lol?
The OH was served her main while I waited, after 5 mins I had to chase up my main to find out they hadn't put the order through. So we suggested they take back my OH's main so we could be served and eat together. They offered to make a fresh main for the OH. When our mains arrived 10 minutes later hers was luke warm at best (probably the same one) and my pasta was severely under cooked. Fed up with all the hassle and being overcome by hunger we ate would we could manage. On complaining to the manager as he cleared our plates he tried to argue the pasta is served al dente even although they have been getting a lot of complaints at its state of crunchiness!
In the end we were offered free desserts and our mains were taken off the bill.
Quite willing to accept a lot of these problems were teething problems as the restaurant hadn't been open long but if he cares about his name he should supply better training beforehand, I certainly won't be back, plenty of good Italians in Glasgow to risk another shocking evening in there!
Tasty bread tho
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff