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Original poster

Miller & Carter

191 replies

TheAmusedQuail · 29/08/2025 22:03

What is all the hype about? Some of the mums at school rave about it and a couple of friends suggested it for a meal. I checked out the menu online and it was quite pricey I thought (for what it is).

Went today anyway, because it'd been suggested by the friends. I was SO underwhelmed. Basic chain restaurant food. Nice steak (not fabulous, just OK) but the rest of the food was very average.

I definitely won't bother going back. Anyone had a better experience? Is it just me (although friend wasn't wowed either)?

OP posts:
jamnpancakes · 30/08/2025 08:20

Great lunch deals!

ObtuseMoose · 30/08/2025 08:16

I'm not a snob though

Definitely a snob and also lacking in self awareness.

Original poster
TheAmusedQuail · 30/08/2025 08:03

Yesitisnotthatitbe · 30/08/2025 07:54

No better than hungry horse 🤣 come on, don't be silly now

Edited
Show quote history

Honestly, it was true. The meat of my meal was OK. Not spectacular, but OK. The chips were inedible, as was the onion loaf. I mean, HOW do you spoil chips? Takes a special level of skill, no?

Even Wetherspoons can cook onion rings (although I hate Wetherspoons chips).

OP posts:
Helpel · 30/08/2025 08:01

Miller and carter is the epitome of ‘fur coat no knickers’

Yesitisnotthatitbe · 30/08/2025 07:54

TheAmusedQuail · 29/08/2025 22:36

The food was no better than a Hungry Horse to be honest. The onion loaf was fried to death and shattered when cut, totally inedible. Chips weren't even up to McD's standard. At least with budget restaurants you know what you're getting.

The price wasn't extortionate but it also wasn't worth what we paid.

I didn't expect it to be upmarket. But I didn't expect it to be poor quality either. And it WAS poor quality.

Show quote history

No better than hungry horse 🤣 come on, don't be silly now

Bikergran · 30/08/2025 07:51

ThatNattyPlayer · 30/08/2025 07:28

What the hell is “Wetherspoons clientele”
there is a lot of posts on this thread that seem very snobbish

It varies from branch to branch. We have 3 in our city centre. One is pretty rough clientele 24/7, one is worse in the evenings, and one is quieter and absolutely fine. Another branch is near the University and main hospital, and is really nice and civilised. I often head to a 'spoons in a strange city if I'm in a hurry or want a good value breakfast. Cheap, cheerful, you know what you're getting. The only one I've found poor is at the NEC, charging almost double normal prices, and understaffed for the numbers they serve.

Glitchymn1 · 30/08/2025 07:47

Trumpthecant · 29/08/2025 22:09

I’ve been once. They gave me half a lettuce which was weird as it was between courses, so I wasn’t sure what to do with it. The steak was….fine. Nothing more nothing less. Just fine.

probs will never go back.

Our party raved about that random half a lettuce.. I’m vegan and couldn’t get that excited about it. I’ve never seen so much waste…. as once the excitement waned, those lettuces were left behind.
I hope they donate them to bunny sanctuaries.

Original poster
TheAmusedQuail · 30/08/2025 07:45

Bernadinetta · 30/08/2025 01:04

What restaurants do you like @TheAmusedQuail OP?
(nb- I’ve got no skin in the game- I’m a vegetarian and have been to Miller & Carter 2-3 times with groups over the years but not recently so no strong feelings either way, just wondered what you do like!)

In the last month I've been to 4 restaurants. 1 for afternoon tea - fab. An Indian meal, place that also has a great reputation and been open for over 40 years, deservedly. It was excellent. Greek restaurant. Mediocre. Won't go again. And M&C, also mediocre.

I've been to steak restaurants, mostly chains, in the US, consistently good.

I'm open to most things and drive past the M&C nearest to me daily so thought it was worth giving it a go. But my reflection is that it markets itself itself too highly, as reflected in its price point.

OP posts:
Bikergran · 30/08/2025 07:44

It's a basic chain restaurant, never heard any hype about it. I've had equally good meals in Wetherspoons a lot cheaper.

NOTANUM · 30/08/2025 07:41

It’s okay. Not bad, not great.

In my experience people with few options near them love it, whether because it’s rural or the only restaurant they can walk back from.

Honesty Cote is as ice food wise and is also a chain. But C&M is more expensive.

Original poster
TheAmusedQuail · 30/08/2025 07:35

REDB99 · 30/08/2025 04:39

It’s got a slightly chavvy reputation around my way, people who think they’re going to a high end restaurant, dressing up like a footballer’s wife, men with far too much after shave etc.

Yeah! It was exactly that. The majority of the male customers looked like they would enjoy painting red and white flags on roundabouts.

There were a couple of bouncer type men, punch first, think later. The younger women had inflated lips. To be fair there were also a lot of families with tween aged children too.

Exactly like a pub chain. It was clean and tidy, but defo NOT my idea of a nice restaurant. I'm not a snob though, if the food had been good, it would have been fine. But it wasn't.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/08/2025 07:34

We went last week to celebrate DS’s GCSEs as dh had a voucher. I was a bit nervous as I don’t eat meat. I was expecting chain pub, but actually got:
1 - much nicer than chain pub, more refined more sedate! With a dress code!
2- Fixed price menu and A la Carte, with several choices for everyone. 3 plant based mains.
3- Excellent service, just the right combo of attentive but not intrusive.
4- Our waiter was very knowledgeable about ingredients used etc.
5- Generous portion sizes.

We went at lunchtime, and actually commented on how good value the fixed-price menu was (£21/3 courses).

We went to the branch in Mirfield, W Yorks and I have no criticism at all!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 30/08/2025 07:34

We went last week to celebrate DS’s GCSEs as dh had a voucher. I was a bit nervous as I don’t eat meat. I was expecting chain pub, but actually got:
1 - much nicer than chain pub, more refined more sedate! With a dress code!
2- Fixed price menu and A la Carte, with several choices for everyone. 3 plant based mains.
3- Excellent service, just the right combo of attentive but not intrusive.
4- Our waiter was very knowledgeable about ingredients used etc.
5- Generous portion sizes.

We went at lunchtime, and actually commented on how good value the fixed-price menu was (£21/3 courses).

We went to the branch in Mirfield, W Yorks and I have no criticism at all!

ThatNattyPlayer · 30/08/2025 07:28

What the hell is “Wetherspoons clientele”
there is a lot of posts on this thread that seem very snobbish

ThatNattyPlayer · 30/08/2025 07:27

There is 2 near to my home, one is fancy looking, lovely atmosphere and food is always lovely
and yes I can cook a steak at home and I have had “good” steak at other places…
the other is bog standard and the food is always rubbish.
depends which one you go to and which chef you get.

Readyforslippers · 30/08/2025 07:26

TheSummerof25 · 30/08/2025 07:16

”Wetherspoons clientele” is exactly the right phrase to describe. Me and DH got a voucher and used that to go, glad we did as would have been horrified if we’d have spent our own money eating there. It’s overpriced, the service was crap, the potato thing they serve is so greasy. Such an expensive, low quality meal. The steak itself was nice enough but no better than a decent pub.

I find that really surprising. I was happy with our meal and I won't set foot in a wetherspoons.

TheSummerof25 · 30/08/2025 07:16

”Wetherspoons clientele” is exactly the right phrase to describe. Me and DH got a voucher and used that to go, glad we did as would have been horrified if we’d have spent our own money eating there. It’s overpriced, the service was crap, the potato thing they serve is so greasy. Such an expensive, low quality meal. The steak itself was nice enough but no better than a decent pub.

Bernadinetta · 30/08/2025 07:13

Countryspaniel · 30/08/2025 06:38

I've always thought of it as the working class idea of fancy.

Honestly, this website sometimes… 😑

ElleintheWoods · 30/08/2025 07:09

SunshineAndFizz · 29/08/2025 22:25

Yeah what’s with the random half lettuce?!

Does anyone actually eat them?

Yes, this is the best bit there!! It’s lettuce served with a sauce of your choosing. That and the crispy onion are my favourite things there 🤣

Not even kidding, they are, steak is not bad either.

if you go again try the lettuce, you’re missing out.

Toddlerteaplease · 30/08/2025 06:46

Trumpthecant · 29/08/2025 22:09

I’ve been once. They gave me half a lettuce which was weird as it was between courses, so I wasn’t sure what to do with it. The steak was….fine. Nothing more nothing less. Just fine.

probs will never go back.

Same here, the lettuce thing was bizarre. Apparently the ‘salad course is an American thing’ the food was good though.

ThejoyofNC · 30/08/2025 06:44

It's nothing to rave about but saying it's like a hungry horse or a wetherspoons where you're served microwave meals is definitely just untrue.

curtaintwitcher78 · 30/08/2025 06:44

It was ok years ago but I still wouldn't have raved about it. I think Bar & Block is more a match of price and quality if you're looking for an affordable chain restaurant with decent steak. Côte do nice steak too.

Countryspaniel · 30/08/2025 06:38

I've always thought of it as the working class idea of fancy.

Bjorkdidit · 30/08/2025 06:36

MaryBerrysFannyHammock · 29/08/2025 22:26

Miller and Carter is raved about by people who cannot cook a decent steak themselves.

Exactly. I'd never pay restaurant prices for steak and chips. It's what you make at home when you CBA standing in front of the stove for more than 5 minutes. Good ready made chips in the air fryer and do the steak while the chips are cooking.

I save eating out for food I cannot easily make at home and unlike a PP, favour independents over chains because I want to pay for freshly cooked food, not a ready meal.

5birdsonroof · 30/08/2025 06:25

EggyBreads · 29/08/2025 23:54

It’s basically what Bernie Inn was back in the day. Underwhelming, mass produced food for unsophisticated palates.

This is what I've always said. A Bernie Inn, only not quite as good and expensive.

I've only been to Miller and Carter once and it was poor, the steak wasn't even cooked as I'd asked.