Not necessarily ready meals but the vast majority of prep and cooking will be done offsite with stuff delivered to the restaurant so the "chef" only has to microwave/oven it for a bit. That's fine if you're in Wetherspoons and paying Wetherspoons prices, but people won't stand for it at £20 for a main. One of those genius ideas which massively hikes profit margins short term, but over the longer term people realise it's *****, stop going and the brand collapses.
Apart from with the Mother in Law. No amount of explaining this, including from a friend who used to work in the kitchens there, will dampen her eagerness to book every family get together in at TGIs. I think a hostile asset-stripping takeover might be my only hope.
Are you speaking from experience? If so, how long ago? The last meal I had a TGIs I would put my mortgage on most of it arriving part prepared/frozen.
Experience eating or in the kitchens? I'm genuinely shocked if they're cooking the majority of stuff from fresh.
They might have got special ovens that make the nice freshly prepared food taste like old microwaved crap
Barnsley outlet confirmed as one of over 30 closing with immediate effect. Feel for all the staff losing their jobs. Sad times x
If that’s the case, they must leave on the hot plate for ages before delivering it to the table. Not had a good meal at TGI’s for 20 years. Last good one was at the Meadowhall retail branch when it first opened. The decor and stuff is usually ok, but the food no better than poor pub grub in my recent experience. I’m not surprised it’s in trouble. It’s out of popularity, high priced and has too many good competitors. Market kitchen generally outdoes it in every area.
It is sad times. Maybe they could open up an extension to the street food aspect of market kitchen…. Hopefully get a more popular outlet such as Wagamama… (which is not for me, but very popular)
Way back when, TGI's had a really good set up, was always heaving and there was nowhere near the competition of chains and independents. It's probably 25 years since I last went in one. My perception is they are tired and not updated their offering. If anything, I'm surprised they've lasted this long.
I'm always surprised how many people go to Nandos. Been twice, never sure what the fuss is about over some grilled over priced chicken in a bit of sauce.
In hindsight it looks like a bit of an own goal by the council given the contributions to fitting it out, but let’s hope they can get another decent brand in there quickly. It won’t look great with two empty units on that block. I’m guessing the signage and fixtures and fittings will be stripped pretty quickly.
I like meat. I like spice. I very much like spicy meat. I know it's not fancy, but sometimes I just want to eat an entire spicy chicken.