21–30 of 35 posts
Talking about big chains coming and going, I hope we’ve hit “Peak Pret”. there seems to be one every 200m in London now, it’s getting stupid
Same for me as M&S - it seems like they've foregone variety and interest to have the same bleak sandwich range, but duplicated across this-free or that-free.
> Yet many British chains have had zero impact on culture ... There are two big exceptions to this rule: Wagamama and PizzaExpress. Can't believe they've forgotten about Nando's! Easily the most culturally significant restaurant chain in the UK, from grime music to the ubiquitous "cheeky nando's" phraseology
Given your nickname here, you might be conflating London and the South East with the UK generally. Signed, 'Haringey' :)
Listen to county cricketers talking about travelling. Nan os get mentioned by many at least in the Midlands.
> Yet many British chains have had zero impact on culture ... There are two big exceptions to this rule: Wagamama and PizzaExpress. Can't believe they've forgotten about Nando's! Easily the most culturally significant restaurant chain in the UK, from grime music to the ubiquitous "cheeky nando's" phraseology
Given your nickname here, you might be conflating London and the South East with the UK generally. Signed, 'Haringey' :)
I loved the PizzaExpress in Oxford in the early 90s. One of very few reasonable places to eat in that town.
There were a handful of enjoyable local restaurants/cafes that were just one step above a greasy spoon, though.
> Yet many British chains have had zero impact on culture ... There are two big exceptions to this rule: Wagamama and PizzaExpress. Can't believe they've forgotten about Nando's! Easily the most culturally significant restaurant chain in the UK, from grime music to the ubiquitous "cheeky nando's" phraseology
Nando's social media and culture presence is impressive for a restaurant chain of its size.
I've not been to Pizza Express in years, but as a student I was a big fan of this one: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186225-d73734... with neoclassical frontage and mirrored dining room, originally built for the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Pitt_Club
Dishoom is one of the experiences I miss most having moved away from the UK. It took this article to make me realise I feel the same about Pizza Express. At least I still have Ippudo, which I'd fit into the same mental space somehow.
Every time I want to go there on a Friday/Saturday evening there's always a massive queue outside.
> Yet many British chains have had zero impact on culture ... There are two big exceptions to this rule: Wagamama and PizzaExpress. Can't believe they've forgotten about Nando's! Easily the most culturally significant restaurant chain in the UK, from grime music to the ubiquitous "cheeky nando's" phraseology
Wagamama and Nando's are arguably the only two big casual dining chains that people actually enjoy eating at. All the others are pretty unpopular (and rightly so, the food is often terrible): Pizza Express, Frankie and Benny's, Pizza Hut, Chiquito... Nando's social media and culture presence is impressive for a restaurant chain of its size.
And as a data-point I enjoy Pizza Express - and I've had "proper" pizza to compare it to.
> Yet many British chains have had zero impact on culture ... There are two big exceptions to this rule: Wagamama and PizzaExpress. Can't believe they've forgotten about Nando's! Easily the most culturally significant restaurant chain in the UK, from grime music to the ubiquitous "cheeky nando's" phraseology
Nando's isn't a British chain though.
If I went to a town and they didn't have a Nando's I'd treat the place with suspicion.
Re: the forgettability of other chain restaurants in the UK, note that most are "sockpuppet" brands for one of two big groups: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casual_Dining_Group or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchells_%26_Butlers I've not been to Pizza Express in years, but as a student I was a big fan of this one: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186225-d73734... with neoclassical frontage and mirror…
Which once huge, now looks like is almost entirely propped up by Wagamama's.