TGI - cold slop
Discussion
I went out for TGI's last night, I knew it was a mistake before walking in there tbh.
I don't usually do this but I immediately just did not think what they served up was acceptable and demanded it was refunded.
Missus had her half ok plate on the table so I asked for the refund based on the meal taking 30 mins (with my burger sitting on the warmer for 15) and me needing to get my kid off for bed as early as poss.
Are people still moaning like me or is this just me lol
I don't usually do this but I immediately just did not think what they served up was acceptable and demanded it was refunded.
Missus had her half ok plate on the table so I asked for the refund based on the meal taking 30 mins (with my burger sitting on the warmer for 15) and me needing to get my kid off for bed as early as poss.
Are people still moaning like me or is this just me lol
fiatpower said:
No, we used to enjoy going but then they changed the TGI JD sauce to the shop bought one and the general quality went downhill a few years ago so we don’t bother anymore.
I have to say that crispy chicken starter they used to do with the JD sauce was lovely.Evidently not any more!
craigjm said:
TGI’s has always been crap. For some strange reason they tried to position it in the UK as somewhere a bit upmarket whereas in the US it’s always been more like the level of Nando’s in the UK
I don't know about "always". I was working in Covent Garden between 1985 and 1988 and regularly walked past the first TGIs in the UK before it opened (it was 1/2 way between my office and Porkies sandwich bar). It was very much a talking point in the office, and we tried (and failed) to get in for what I presume was the soft opening.There was not much else like it at the time, even in central London. We used to go there every couple of months or so, and enjoyed it. Back then you had to put you name on the list and then drink at the bar for an hour or more until your table was ready - maybe that's why I found the food acceptable. I think they started to go downhill once they opened their 2nd restaurant.
craigjm said:
TGI’s has always been crap. For some strange reason they tried to position it in the UK as somewhere a bit upmarket whereas in the US it’s always been more like the level of Nando’s in the UK
The one near Sale used to have valet parking and all the football players used to go.
t imo. The Hard Rock Cafe does that style of chain restaurant better, more expensive though.Went to one in the US four years ago as it was next door to the place we intended to go to but that was rammed and we were up against a deadline.
I was a bit concerned as it was all but empty (and it was a big place) and the reason became obvious. I mean, this kind of chain restaurant food in America is what it is - normally, they're all decent enough. But this was crap, and they made multiple mistakes on the order (6 adults and 3 kids).
I was a bit concerned as it was all but empty (and it was a big place) and the reason became obvious. I mean, this kind of chain restaurant food in America is what it is - normally, they're all decent enough. But this was crap, and they made multiple mistakes on the order (6 adults and 3 kids).
I used to work for the outfit who owned TGIF in UK.
There were significant problems trying to make the concept work in UK. The food offering in US was based around a long menu and generous portions of food prepared to a decent standard. US restaurants have high footfall, which justifies a good level of staffing. Bear in mind also the property situation is different in US - they have much more space than cramped UK so the kitchens can be large without limiting the number of tables. So right from day one the menu had to be cut back to fit refrigerator space, cooking space etc.
In UK it was simply too expensive to try to run restaurants on the American model and that's when the corner cutting started. Add to that the management problem of having only a handful of restaurants with many miles between them. An absolute nightmare. What you need is "clusters" of restaurants so that an area manager can visit several/all of them on a daily/weekly basis.
Add to all of that the payment of a franchise fee to the US brand owner and you've got a problem on your plate.
There were significant problems trying to make the concept work in UK. The food offering in US was based around a long menu and generous portions of food prepared to a decent standard. US restaurants have high footfall, which justifies a good level of staffing. Bear in mind also the property situation is different in US - they have much more space than cramped UK so the kitchens can be large without limiting the number of tables. So right from day one the menu had to be cut back to fit refrigerator space, cooking space etc.
In UK it was simply too expensive to try to run restaurants on the American model and that's when the corner cutting started. Add to that the management problem of having only a handful of restaurants with many miles between them. An absolute nightmare. What you need is "clusters" of restaurants so that an area manager can visit several/all of them on a daily/weekly basis.
Add to all of that the payment of a franchise fee to the US brand owner and you've got a problem on your plate.
I used to go to TGIs a lot with friends when "growing up". It was never a fancy restaurant but was somewhere you could go and have a bit of fun and a bit of atmosphere.
The food was never gourmet but it also wasn't terrible. That being said, I don't think I've been to one for 6 or 7 years now.
Funnily enough, my now wife and I were in London for our first date and had an hour to kill. We went to the TGI at Piccadilly Circus for a frozen cocktail she liked. I was (not very politely) asked to leave when I (politely) asked to see the bill before handing over my card for payment. Haven't thought about that for a while.
The food was never gourmet but it also wasn't terrible. That being said, I don't think I've been to one for 6 or 7 years now.
Funnily enough, my now wife and I were in London for our first date and had an hour to kill. We went to the TGI at Piccadilly Circus for a frozen cocktail she liked. I was (not very politely) asked to leave when I (politely) asked to see the bill before handing over my card for payment. Haven't thought about that for a while.
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