Hi,
I write to-the-point reviews without too much technowaffle. There are a lot of people writing ...
Hi,
I write to-the-point reviews without too much technowaffle. There are a lot of people writing veritable instruction manuals, but I write only what I wish I'd known before buying. Facts & figures can be found in the product description.
Member since:15.08.2004
Reviews:27
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Yesterday (Sunday 9th July 2006) I had the dubious pleasure of visiting on of Little Chef's restaurants (near Morcott on the A47 between Leicester and Peterborough). I feel I must register my disgust at the service myself and my companions recieved in return for what I feel was a ludicrously expensive bill, given the circumstances.
Around twenty minutes after placing our initial order in the little more than deserted restaurant, I was told that my order was unavailable because "the panini machine's just broke". After re- ordering it took a further ten minutes before we recieved what was somewhat fallaciously described as food.
In return for almost thirty pounds the four of us eventually recieved, in turn:
- "Little Chef's Great British Breakfast", a lacklustre lukewarm affair which is described in your literature as a 'feast', yet I am sure I have performed more voluminous sneezes.
- "Sausage, egg and chips". The chips weren't too bad, and the sausages had definitely been cooked at some point in their history (though I would guess from their temperature that this was some time prior to our arrival at Little Chef), but the two eggs were united in their semi- cooked state. My companion was of the opinion that a good biochemist may well have been able to stuff them back into their shell and rear a couple of fairly healthy chicks, given the disposition to do so, and was unable to bring himself to consume them as a result.
- A "Classic Burger": Again, this was most definitely cooked, as was evidenced by the black and charred exterior. As with the previously mentioned sausages, however, it seemed to have been heated some time before placing the order for it, as the most excitingly optimistic adjective that I can muster up for the description of its temperature is 'warm'. The meagre sprinkling of cheese which I had been allowed (in return for an extra 70p on top of the price of the burger) didn't show any signs of starting to melt any time soon, and the soggy lettuce leaf and depressed looking and travel-worn slice of tomato didn't do anything to brighten the mood of the dish. The slightly damp bun didn't help either.
- The "soup of the day". I save the best for last. This came with an interesting twist- most of the soup was in the plate accompanying the bowl, and the bread roll was therefore ready-dunked and arrived nicely soggy. Unfortunately, this slightly spoiled bread roll turned out to be the only vaguely edible part of the whole affair. We were assured that the soup was "crunchy vegetable and tomato", but my companion disgreed and told me that it was, instead, "foul". Unsure, I made the unfortunate mistake of tasting it myself, and my opinion fell in line with hers. I can say with my hand on my heart that it was the most disgusting sludge I have ever tasted. Besides being similarly lukewarm to the rest of our fare, it just tasted disgusting. Whilst the other items ordered could almost be swalled with a pinch of the nose, extraordinary willpower and a masochistic disposition, the soup was actually inedible. It has been a long time since I have tasted something which I was simply unable to swallow. Last time I did, I at least had the consolation that I'd learnt something new; 'Don't eat things that you find under paving slabs.' The wisdom I can garner from yesterday's experience is 'stay away from Little Chef'. I can't help but feel I've lost out this time, though: The item I found under the paving slab was free, whereas I actually paid for this experience.
I have been disappointed with food that I have paid for in the past, though occurences are thankfully infrequent. I am at a loss, however, to think of a time when I have paid for food which has been so bad, so poor in quality, so terribly inedible, that it has actually left me with a wave of depression which took the best part of the remaining day to lift. I considered complaining at the point of sale, but with the care put into my food and service, I decided that it would probably be akin to tugging on the tail of a dead donkey- it just isn't going to care in the slightest. Instead, I emailed Little Chef's 'feedback' department using the form on their website, and recieved absolutely no response.
My point, in case it has been lost amongst my indignation, is as follows: The prices charged were, in my opinion, extortionate. I know of a number of chain restaurants in my area which charge similar prices to Little Chef yet leave me feeling satisfied and upbeat, and any nausea which follows can be blamed on my own excesses rather than poorly prepared food. I understand that Little Chef is a fast-food establishment, and fast food per se does not represent the pinnacle of human culinary achievement, but Little Chef has taken undue liberties with the low standards displayed yesterday. The day I choose to darken the doorstep of a Little Chef restaurant once more will be a strange, unlikely one indeed.
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I'd just like to add that since writing this review I have re-sent my ignored letter of complaint, this time via snail-mail. It remains ignored. I'm just disappointed that ciao! doesn't allow /negative/ star ratings...!
temporalbandit 21.07.2006 20:10
Not to mention, Bellalinda, the fact that food travels on Motorways to get everywhere else anyway. If anything, the motorway outlets are closer, mile for travelled mile, than the other, more worthy outlets.
Bellalinda 20.07.2006 09:07
I enjoyed your review - though it's left me feeling slightly nauseous. I suppose having a " captive audience " of tired & hungry motorists has led to Little Chef's complacency. Many years ago I remarked on the high cost of meals at a service station, to be told that it was due to the high costs of getting the food to the outlets on the motorways ! Never realised I live in such a vast country with so many remote spots !
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sue.51 01.04.2001 (09.04.2001)
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