Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

TGI Fridays. Awful.

113 replies

JMAngel1 · 02/12/2023 13:17

So I took DD2 to TGIF in Trafford Centre as a special treat to mark 1st day of Christmas. (plus she was a bit down as DD1 had gone off in TC with all her friends). We would usually just go to Subway so this was a step up for us.
Now I remember going to TGIs decades ago and it was always an exciting experience - lots of lovely staff, gorgeous food and drinks - lots of fuss from staff. Was really hoping DD2 would have a nice time.
But it was just very “meh”. Felt like a Wetherspoons and the staff couldn’t have been less bothered about their jobs if they had tried.
The food portions were tiny (and we’re both petite with not huge appetites) and I’ve had better chicken burgers at KFC.
But the worst was the bill - it was £48 for 2 meals (I lacklustre chicken burger with tiny fries and 3 small skins of baked potato with cheese and bacon) and 2 diet cokes.
I felt totally ripped off. We were in and out within half an hour / night as we’ll have just gone to Subway for a quarter of the price.
Never again.

OP posts:
Sadandhurt23 · 02/12/2023 16:33

We went to TGI's in the summer. For 4 of us, 3 adults, 1 kid, it was £148, and that wasn't even including starters. 4 Desserts were £40. I wouldn't go back.

Newtonianmechanics · 02/12/2023 16:34

I think the service in TGI 's ia terrible you end up waiting for ages for even a drink and ages to pay.
Just all round irritating.

resipsa · 02/12/2023 17:16

Subway in the Trafford Centre is permanently closed. My eldest was distressed but I'm delighted not to pay £7.50 for takeout sandwich 🤣

FrenchandSaunders · 02/12/2023 17:20

Also they haven’t updated their look in decades have they …. mahogany tables and red/white stripes etc. Really odd these days.

Brandyginger · 02/12/2023 17:23

I’m wondering how you could be shocked when the bill came - surely with the two of you it would be easy to keep track of how much you’ve spent mentally?

I always tot up how much we’re likely to spend by looking at the menu before we sit down - and have been known to leave the restaurant or tell the DC to have tap water only if it’s going to be too expensive!

ANightingale · 02/12/2023 17:30

Pigeonqueen · 02/12/2023 16:08

I think the quality and experience of eating out has massively declined since Covid. It’s like all the restaurants are trying to recoup costs by making portions smaller, worse quality etc etc. Staff just can’t be arsed. You can go to McDonalds and have similar quality food and better, friendlier staff. It’s all just so disappointing now.

Yes - I would add to your list, lack of choice. There's never anything exotic or interesting on menus any more.

ExplodingCarrots · 02/12/2023 17:32

The prices have really ramped up in the past couple of years . I was shocked when I took DD and her friend recently . £20+ for their glazed crispy chicken and chips !! It was £16 each for a cocktail. It was 2 for 1 BUT I only wanted one and wasn't going to be paying £16 for it . Me and dd went to The Ivy the previous night and it was cheaper . Including a cocktail.

mummabubs · 02/12/2023 17:33

Mybatteryisoutofcharge · 02/12/2023 13:29

£24 for a TGI meal? Are you sure they gave you the right bill? Even if soft drink was £4.99 you'd be talking about £19 for a chicken burger which doesn't sound right for that kind of chain.

Honestly it does now. We went to one last month (having not been in about 10 years) and were absolutely gobsmacked at the cost. Food was fine (not great but not terrible) but we won't be returning due to cost alone. The starter I ordered as a main (in an attempt to save money once we realised the prices) was £13. If we hadn't had kids with us who were hungry we'd have left without ordering!

Comedycook · 02/12/2023 17:33

I had my 16th birthday in the TGIs at Leicester Square....used to love it

BurntOrangeAutumn · 02/12/2023 17:35

Really I still love TGIs, last went about 6 months ago. We always have the steak though!

MamaDollyorJesus · 02/12/2023 17:41

I've only ever been once about 6 years ago & swore I'd never go back!

Cheeseburger & chips slapped on a plate with no presentation at all... no side salad/salad on burger etc. so much empty space on the plate I thought maybe someone had eaten half the meal on the way out with it.

Even back then I thought it was expensive further it was - It was like a glorified McDonalds.

TheThingIsYeah · 02/12/2023 17:58

IndiKid2015 · 02/12/2023 13:50

Nearly took my kids a few weeks ago, checked prices and decided against. That said, eating out anywhere seems extortionate these days.

eating out anywhere seems extortionate these days.

Yep. I know OP said they should have had a Subway but that's about twice the cost since covid. I'm not paying 7 or 8 quid for a roll.

People knock Wetherspoons but it's about the only place that's not a complete rip off anymore. Plus maybe the Toby Carvery on a good day.

ProfYaffle · 02/12/2023 18:01

Interesting to see people having the same issues with booking tables I had. We've been turned away from an empty restaurant because we wanted a table for 6 and they only had tables for 4 or 2 and, no, we were allowed to split into 2 parties at adjacent tables.

Also had the 'no walk ins' thing yet also unable to book online Hmm

This is why I haven't been for about 10 years.

penjil · 02/12/2023 18:12

A meal to mark "the first day of Christmas"?

It's the 2nd December. 🙄

Is the whole of December "Christmas" for your family? 🤔

Teambyron · 02/12/2023 18:12

RJ2023 · 02/12/2023 15:30

I feel the same - we went to the one in Bournemouth earlier this year because I normally love their sesame chicken strips.

It has gone downhill so badly.

We had a table booked at about 7.30pm and even at that time the place looked like it was preparing to close for the night. Only a quarter of the restaurant was actually in service, and the staff couldn't cope with those limited tables.

We had to initially sit at the bar because the table wasn't ready and as soon as we sat down it became clear that all of the other tables in the vicinity were either complaining about delays with food or walking out.

It was immediately clear that this was not going to go well - so we skipped starters and went for the main course only. When the food finally arrived it was still really nice but sitting in an almost deserted restaurant with staff set at a skeleton level was not a great experience.

You can get the tgi sesame chicken strips in Iceland!

honeylulu · 02/12/2023 18:15

I used to love TGIs (husband and I used to go 25+ years ago when dating) and I remember the portions being HUGE. I'm quite greedy and sometimes couldn't finish.

More recently we went with friends (their choice) and I was relieved to see you could order a smaller version of some mains. OMG it was about three mouthfuls! Even the normal version was much much smaller than it used to be, but so much more expensive, even accounting for the time that had passed. Not impressed.

RJ2023 · 02/12/2023 18:16

@Teambyron

Is that true? You are my hero - thanks so much :)

ANightingale · 02/12/2023 18:16

penjil · 02/12/2023 18:12

A meal to mark "the first day of Christmas"?

It's the 2nd December. 🙄

Is the whole of December "Christmas" for your family? 🤔

Come on,penjil, it's a bit harsh to criticise OP when some folk on here have been putting their trees up since October!

Your faux bemusement is wholly unnecessary since you know full well 'Christmas' is in full swing for many people by 1 December; you're just trying to make a moral point.

CremeEggThief · 02/12/2023 18:18

Em, this isn't Trip Advisor, OP. If you want to leave such a lengthy bad review, that's the site you need.

Blanketpolicy · 02/12/2023 18:24

I went with ds a couple of weeks ago. Last time I went to TGIs would have been in the 90s and I remember it being really nice.

We only got a main and I went for their full rack of legendary ribs (or something like that), thinking ds could share.

It was vile.

Wet soggy prepacked, over processed not particularly big ribs, a tiny thimble of coleslaw and fries over seasoned with spices where the overwhelming taste was of pepper.

Won't be back!

HauntedPencil · 02/12/2023 18:38

Last time I went it was really crap - I remember going as a younger person and liking it. I think an element is that your taste improves with age 😆

HauntedPencil · 02/12/2023 18:38

penjil · 02/12/2023 18:12

A meal to mark "the first day of Christmas"?

It's the 2nd December. 🙄

Is the whole of December "Christmas" for your family? 🤔

Hello Grinchy

DiaNaranja · 02/12/2023 18:44

Mybatteryisoutofcharge · 02/12/2023 13:29

£24 for a TGI meal? Are you sure they gave you the right bill? Even if soft drink was £4.99 you'd be talking about £19 for a chicken burger which doesn't sound right for that kind of chain.

The prices have gone up massively. We were going to go last weekend, had a look at the menu and changed our minds as for a family of four of us, with the kids ordering forms the children's menus, it would have been at least £70 for us to have mains and drinks... didn't even look at the prices for desserts!

Chipsandbeansandcheese · 02/12/2023 18:45

Ate there years ago and thought it was generic expensive food back then. Wouldn’t occur to me to go there now, there are so many better burger places.

ANightingale · 02/12/2023 18:49

Just looked at the TGI menu out of interest - burgers costing around £20 and that doesn't even include chips which are another fiver. Then if you wanted a soft drink that's another £4 ... ridiculous pricing. 😮

Swipe left for the next trending thread