I feel very qualified to comment about Browns because I worked there as a temporary chef a couple of years ago in the St Martin’s Lane branch. I had not been near the place again until a few weeks ago when a friend and I stopped there for coffee and cake. (She had coffee and cake, I had herbal tea!!)
You know what you are getting when you go into this restaurant. This is also true when it comes to the food preparation and production in the kitchens. I was working the pastry section and was given exact recipes and pictures of the finished items that I had to follow to the letter. Any chef unable to do this and reach the standard required is shown the door. I was impressed, the food was all prepared fresh, no packet rubbish here. It is so busy here that there is not much left at the end of the day, but I can promise you that if anything could not be safely used the next day the company policy was to throw it out.
I have only been into the St Martins branch and when I was there, there were parties of tourists having coffee, business men eating… in fact the place was heaving as always. The palm filled interior with its ceiling fans is my friend said, fairly standard to all Browns branches.
Browns is expensive, but I don’t feel it is a rip-off for the fresh food that is on offer here. The menu has something to suit all tastes, including a pre-theatre dinner that is good value and afternoon tea and cake. (I remember working away baking those cakes there everyday!) Rooms for private parties are also available, with a choice of set menus.
Children are welcomed here, and the management will provide high chairs if asked. Just one point! It is for parents to control their kids when eating out. When I worked there an uncontrolled toddler tripped a waiter up. He was carrying hot food. There could have been a nasty accident. It was not the waiter’s fault. The parents should have been watching their child. The waiters and waitresses used to curse selfish parents that linger over coffee ignoring their bored, disruptive kids. Children have a low boredom threshold and parents should realise that when eating out. Take note!!!!
There is easy access to the ground floor of this restaurant for wheelchairs (private function rooms are on the first floor) and a disabled toilet on the premises.
Unless you are unlucky and get cooked for by an undetected cowboy chef I think you are fairly safe in going to Browns. They offer good food in pleasant surroundings, although it can get a bit noisy sometimes. Go take a look and let me know what you think!
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May 21st, 2001
(May 29th, 2001)
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