Chit Chat
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant empire 'racks up debts of £71.5 million with staff owed £2.2 million'
Show More
And the food was ****, my local one shut last summer double the price for half portions and bland, tasteless garbage. Only recommendation was crab linguine forget the rest of the menu.
Some of These people cant get Enough Money ,end up Doing their Brains , Shirley he must be made Bankrupt ?
Limited company. Oliver still absolutely minted. Not bad for a limited cook.
I went to one of his restaurants once when one opened in Reading; despite it appearing to be over priced from the menu outside. It wasn't full but the staff were pretentious from the off. Tried to put me and my gf at a table right by the kitchen door which would mean staff breezing past us every 2 seconds. Politely requested a different table and the waitress point blank refused in a rather offhand manner as though they didn't need our custom. With that picked our coats up and left and vowed never to set foot in one of his establishments ever. Having seen a few dishes come out I knew we were making the right decision.
I went to one of his restaurants once when one opened in Reading; despite it appearing to be over priced from the menu outside. It wasn't full but the staff were pretentious from the off. Tried to put me and my gf at a table right by the kitchen door which would mean staff breezing past us every 2 seconds. Politely requested a different table and the waitress point blank refused in a rather offhand manner as though they didn't need our custom. With that picked our coats up and left and vowed never to set foot in one of his establishments ever. Having seen a few dishes come out I knew we were making the right decision.
Dined in the one in melbourne a few times,mixed reviews, got moved once after our starter but they halved the bill. Food was good tbf
he had to shut some restaurants last year , he had the cheek to blame brexit for the loss of customers.
http://thecricketers.co.uk/
Not far from Stansted Airport been a few times
nice spot quite dear though
Not far from Stansted Airport been a few times
nice spot quite dear though
Interesting to see how much of his personal fortune he'll commit to saving other peoples' jobs. More worried about him outbreeding us. Insist on Rocky Mountain Oysters a le Oliver?
450 staff redundicies
I ordered the starter , maybe sometime
I ordered the starter , maybe sometime
Should be making it big time, by charging £12.00 for a burger, and twelve chips!
I would think that not many will return for a second meal....
I would think that not many will return for a second meal....
This was in York btw...
My son thought they had given him a starter. instead of a main course!
Five "Pasta Ravioli Pillows" looking like an island on the big plate!
They did double it up, on complaining....
My son thought they had given him a starter. instead of a main course!
Five "Pasta Ravioli Pillows" looking like an island on the big plate!
They did double it up, on complaining....
some customers think Jamie is in the kitchen making it 
Too true xmoney
One of my clients is a rural hotel in the North, really nice place, popular with the hunting, shooting and fishing lot.
They had a tie-up with a famous chef, household name. The hotel really tore the ar5e out of this tie-up, 'famous chef menu in the famous chef room' etc etc. The manager said to me that at least once a week a punter would ask if 'famous chef' would mind coming into the dining room for a quick word and maybe a picture - he had to tell them unfortunately he wasn't able to be in the kitchen tonight for some spurious reason. In fact he did 6 days a year for them designing menu's and showing the hotel chefs how to cook it. They never saw him for 6 months at a time!
One of my clients is a rural hotel in the North, really nice place, popular with the hunting, shooting and fishing lot.
They had a tie-up with a famous chef, household name. The hotel really tore the ar5e out of this tie-up, 'famous chef menu in the famous chef room' etc etc. The manager said to me that at least once a week a punter would ask if 'famous chef' would mind coming into the dining room for a quick word and maybe a picture - he had to tell them unfortunately he wasn't able to be in the kitchen tonight for some spurious reason. In fact he did 6 days a year for them designing menu's and showing the hotel chefs how to cook it. They never saw him for 6 months at a time!
He's put in £3m to 'help out' according to the report plus another of his companies has loaned the chain £6.4m.
Overpriced small portions of mediocre food living off the name, I'm not a fan and wouldn't go again unless dragged..
His £150,000,000 personal fortune will be safe no doubt.
L.D.F. A Wimpy Halfpounder with chips in Beckenham High Street costs an incredible £9.70, £12 for a pub burger and chips is the norm in my neck of the woods and not the exception!
L.D.F. A Wimpy Halfpounder with chips in Beckenham High Street costs an incredible £9.70, £12 for a pub burger and chips is the norm in my neck of the woods and not the exception!
I pop into the Spoons in Brixton, The Beehive every now and then. Also the one in Crystal Palace next to Paddy Power, The Postal Order, I was in there on Friday. Hope this helps 
People are obsessed with eating out & prices have gone ridiculously through the roof, like the above are saying £12 for burger & chips in a stupid brioche bun, in a pub! Also had a takeaway delivered the other night, 2 chicken tikka masarla's, 1 chicken madras, 2 plain rice, i nan bread, 1 bombay aloo, 6 puppadums - £40 frickin quid! Ridiculous, it was good, but more fool me, that's stupid money for a takeaway.
I go quite often slippy, brunch and a pint of Shipyard yesterday, £6.25.
My brother says their lasagne is very good, but for some reason lasagne never appeals to me in the same way spaghetti bolognese does.
I like the one in Brixton saddo, it's very 'earthy' for want of a better word and they show RUK in there. Plus it's as cheap as chips and they always have plenty of staff on as it's invariably very busy but it's never too long to wait to get served.
Desmond Orchard 12 Feb 18 17:14
One of my clients is a rural hotel in the North.....hunting, shooting and fishing lot.
They had a tie-up with a famous chef, household name. ....
... In fact he did 6 days a year for them designing menu's and showing the hotel chefs how to cook it.
They never saw him for 6 months at a time!
-------------
Would have thought that was bleedin' obvious.
Just why anybody goes to a 'name' restaurant - just because of the 'name' - has always baffled me.
How on earth could the likes of Oliver - Ramsey - Rick Stein, et al, all be - or worse still, be PERCEIVED to be - in their SAME places at the SAME time defies simple logic.
Then they brag ... "We went to Rick Stein's".
No you didn't - You went to some beggar else's franchised Fish & Chippy.
One of my clients is a rural hotel in the North.....hunting, shooting and fishing lot.
They had a tie-up with a famous chef, household name. ....
... In fact he did 6 days a year for them designing menu's and showing the hotel chefs how to cook it.
They never saw him for 6 months at a time!
-------------
Would have thought that was bleedin' obvious.
Just why anybody goes to a 'name' restaurant - just because of the 'name' - has always baffled me.
How on earth could the likes of Oliver - Ramsey - Rick Stein, et al, all be - or worse still, be PERCEIVED to be - in their SAME places at the SAME time defies simple logic.
Then they brag ... "We went to Rick Stein's".
No you didn't - You went to some beggar else's franchised Fish & Chippy.
jaw dropping banks let it go this far
were they cooking ( sorry for pun) the books
were they cooking ( sorry for pun) the books
yes, I think the bubble burst when the incredibly fickle people that were going to his restaurants finally realised that it wasn't actually Jamie Oliver in the kitchen cooking for them
I bet the chef who only did 6 days a year was James Martin, he put his name to a restaurant in a casino in Leeds, it lasted less than 6 months.
Wonder how many Small suppliers life's have been destroyed in that 71 million ....
Meanwhile Mr Oliver will be out in his garden with his Grill next Xmas.
Meanwhile Mr Oliver will be out in his garden with his Grill next Xmas.
I was at Lords at a 1 day international when they introduced the Jamie Oliver steak sandwich at £20 each.
They sold 7 in the whole day, and it was soon dropped.
They sold 7 in the whole day, and it was soon dropped.
theres one of these jamie oliver places where I live, never been in it, I know people who have tho and they said it was a rip off, no surprise
theres a million eateries in London alone been a chef making food etc must be as difficult as running a bath,to 99% of the great unwashed the difference between a bog average meal and a great meal is miniscule once people take their heads out of their arses ,young lad in the wifes office said he ordered a papa johns pizza £17,how can you charge 17 quid for a pizza
so get dressed up in a Victoria becks dress and go for a jamnie oliver meal, leaves someone about 2 billion in debt,alan sugar eat your heart out
But why do we insist on eating out? Ok a night out, get waited on etc. but the food is rarely better than a decent ready meal or homemade hotch potch.
As for takeaways, don't get me started.. It's processed filth that you have to plate up, eat up (if you can) and wash up.. W H Y ?
As for takeaways, don't get me started.. It's processed filth that you have to plate up, eat up (if you can) and wash up.. W H Y ?
eat out with friends, dinner party is a thing of the past for me
brand names on restaurants....no thanks, pretty easy to find a decent restaurant from word of mouth
take aways....lazy, nothing in house i fancy, phone up have it delivered, ....not very often, as i enjoy cooking
brand names on restaurants....no thanks, pretty easy to find a decent restaurant from word of mouth
take aways....lazy, nothing in house i fancy, phone up have it delivered, ....not very often, as i enjoy cooking
Anyone going for a meal tomorrow, Valentines day. I'll be doing my own 3 courser with a nice bottle or two. Most places are booked up at premium prices. Can't see how they can provide the best service when they are rammed to the hilt. Same thing happens on mother's day and Christmas. I'm sure there will be a lot of disappointed couples tomorrow who will wish they'd stayed in.
Oliver traded on the brand. Poor service, poor value very quickly equates to no business. Look after your customers.
Best two meals I have had have been at The Hand and FLowers in Marlow and The Pot Kiln in Frilsham.
Celebrity chefs who actually cooked our dinner as it's their restaurant. And not a franchised rip off.
I have yet to see Ronald McDonald cook in McDonalds. But I bet when he does it's amazing!
Celebrity chefs who actually cooked our dinner as it's their restaurant. And not a franchised rip off.
I have yet to see Ronald McDonald cook in McDonalds. But I bet when he does it's amazing!
Like others it doesn't surprise me that the Jamie Oliver chain is in trouble. We went to his restaurant in the West End for my niece's 21s birthday party, the only good thing about it was that my bro-in-law paid. I had the 'special' which was the seafood risotto, there was so little seafood in it and even the rice portion was tiny - unlike the price. I walked out of there wondering why on earth Jamie Oliver was tarnishing his name by getting involved in such a bad project and commented that there's no way the chain could last if the rest of the restaurants were like the one I'd witnessed but assumed that the reason the food was so bad because the restaurant was in the heart of theatreland and they were just exploiting the transient trade. It would appear not.
I like eating out!
I generally would prefer to go to a place that can cook better than me but as you imagine there are not many.
I try and avoid any chain restaurant the exception being Pizza express.
I absolutely refuse to eat at Byron Burger and would urge others boycott them too be cause of the way they treated their staff. What we do know about them is they had many staff who worked here illegally. They were happy to pay them low wages but when they were caught bang to rights by Immigration they not only shopped the lot of them but rounded them up too. They are scum of the highest order.
I digress,
Part of the deal about going out is to get away from home. It is nice to get out at times. I tend to enjoy the ambience of a restaurant as much as the food. I like old English pubs. There are plenty of 14th, 15th and 16th Century coaching inns down my way and yes I did visit them when they were new! Independent pubs cooking their own food are generally better value than a restaurant. There are plenty of dedicated independents out there.
I also like some of these fancy dan restaurants in London. Yes they are expensive and often over priced but are often a good night out.
I generally would prefer to go to a place that can cook better than me but as you imagine there are not many
.I try and avoid any chain restaurant the exception being Pizza express.
I absolutely refuse to eat at Byron Burger and would urge others boycott them too be cause of the way they treated their staff. What we do know about them is they had many staff who worked here illegally. They were happy to pay them low wages but when they were caught bang to rights by Immigration they not only shopped the lot of them but rounded them up too. They are scum of the highest order.
I digress,
Part of the deal about going out is to get away from home. It is nice to get out at times. I tend to enjoy the ambience of a restaurant as much as the food. I like old English pubs. There are plenty of 14th, 15th and 16th Century coaching inns down my way and yes I did visit them when they were new! Independent pubs cooking their own food are generally better value than a restaurant. There are plenty of dedicated independents out there.
I also like some of these fancy dan restaurants in London. Yes they are expensive and often over priced but are often a good night out.
No time for these chains, portion control, cooking by numbers, high mark up gaffs at best. Use an Italian independent quite regularly. Husband and wife team run it, quality food, consistent. Know their customers, if you want your Arabbiata a bit hotter or milder, that's how you get it. Great service and will often throw in a freebie. Sometimes a round of liqueurs at the end of the meal. Place is full lunchtime and evening and if they are making a fortune I don't begrudge them a penny. Unlike phonies such as Jamie Oliver.
small independant indian restaraunt over the road from me does a 4 course banquet on wednesday nights for around £12 a head ,good food good service , asked the missus if she wanted to go there for valentines , booked a table by phone and went last night excellent food good service as usual and expected the price to have gone up due to being valentines but price was still £11.95 per head had a few extra dishes and beers and wines and at the end of the evening they gave the missus a red rose and one of those red heart thingys on a stick .very enjoyable evening and excellent value for money .
Well!
Where and what is the restaurant called! We are allowed to share the good news but I can understand if you want to keep it a secret!
Where and what is the restaurant called! We are allowed to share the good news but I can understand if you want to keep it a secret!
See his meat supplier was the one accused of altering 'use by' dates and country of origin. Not Pukka!
We joined that Jamie oliver gold card thing solely so we could go on the missus birthday and get a free bottle of prosecco. At least that made it cheaper and the foods was OK(ish) but that was our only visit. If we do eat out, there's a load of restaurants around by us that let you bring your own booze so we'll go to them but nowhere else.. As for takeaways, there's a reason they are so cheap so be it on your own guts...
Have an excellent Indian Restaurant a 10 minute walk from me ,5 * food and service that does for me and Mrs Case 
Totally correct McC.....
I gave up on buying takeaways, because the prices are ludicrous, by comparison with supermarket chilled meals,
for when I'm not cooking myself!
As it happens, I've just returned from Tesco Express, with a meal for two for £10.00.
If you say that the bottle of wine is a fiver, that means you get two mains, two sides, and two desserts for a fiver!
Only had one bad one as, against my better judgement, I got the 'Beef Roasting Joint' with which no amount of masticating would get it down!
I gave up on buying takeaways, because the prices are ludicrous, by comparison with supermarket chilled meals,
for when I'm not cooking myself!
As it happens, I've just returned from Tesco Express, with a meal for two for £10.00.
If you say that the bottle of wine is a fiver, that means you get two mains, two sides, and two desserts for a fiver!
Only had one bad one as, against my better judgement, I got the 'Beef Roasting Joint' with which no amount of masticating would get it down!
Also have Two top class Pub/hotels with a few miles Not your usual Pub fare and fairly priced ..
Not your usual Pub fare and fairly priced ..
Which pubs are they casemoney? I'm always on the lookout for new places to try.
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539