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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Carluccios is over-rated?

55 replies

Dancergirl · 01/02/2013 12:46

We've been twice recently and both times I've been disappointed.

First time I had a pasta dish with spinach balls, sounded v nice on the menu. When it came, it was dripping with butter so much so it was really greasy and I couldn't eat much of it.

Second time I had a chicken salad that claimed to have hazelnuts in. It was a huge pile of green leaves with a few bits of chicken and microscopic bits of hazelnuts in it.

And their menu is very, very limited.

On the plus side though, the dds love it and they made a huge fuss over dd2 whose birthday it was yesterday! Service is v good but the food...? Not so much.

OP posts:
Lottapianos · 01/02/2013 12:48

Well over rated. Have only been once and had a risotto that was foul. Never again.

bamboostalks · 01/02/2013 12:52

V rubbish and totally disappointing. They are about to launch their new range of ready meals as well. Seeing how poor their ingredients are has put me off them for life.

PickledInAPearTree · 01/02/2013 12:53

agree! I had a chicken salad thing and it was no better than you could get in wetherspoons.

DialsMavis · 01/02/2013 12:53

I love the soups at lunch time and the take away coffees and they are very nice to DC

TwelveLeggedWalk · 01/02/2013 12:54

Have they seriously gone downhill? It's been a while since I've eaten at one, but I would definitely have said YABU on all previous experience.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 01/02/2013 12:55

Never heard of it !!

mathsconundrum · 01/02/2013 12:56

I suspect it varies very much from restaurant to restaurant. It will depend how managers and chefs interpret the formula. It also depends on what it's an alternative to. If you're in the Trafford Centre which is all chains it's one of the better options.

worldgonecrazy · 01/02/2013 12:57

I think it's the power of marketing over substance. Carluccios is just another chain Italian, no better than Pizza Express, Jamies, Ask or Bella italia/pasta. But because it has the name "carluccio" we expect it to be a bit better than it is.

I find it underwhelming and it would never be my first choice, so YANBU.

CruCru · 01/02/2013 12:59

I like it. DH says the portion sizes are too small.

Clumsyoaf · 01/02/2013 13:02

I think the breakfasts as nice, pricey but ok for a treat. Never bothered with dinner menu as Pizza Express is righ tnext door and I always fell "fuller" after eating there then Carluccios.

BunnyLebowski · 01/02/2013 13:02

It's utter shite.

Just Bella Italia/Frankie & Bennys aimed at people with more money and no taste.

Bonsoir · 01/02/2013 13:04

Branches vary. The two I usually go to (Tunbridge Wells or South Ken) are really very good. But I have been to some very indifferent branches too.

DialsMavis · 01/02/2013 13:05

They have just emailed me a 2 4 1 deal!

MrsJohnDeere · 01/02/2013 13:06

Over-priced crap.

KC225 · 01/02/2013 13:07

I agree - portion sizes skimpy

Miggsie · 01/02/2013 13:07

The one is my local town is good - the bread is excellent.
It is pricey though.
Once we were in there and there was a new waitress being trained and the lady training her sounded tough - very high standards and huge attention to detail.

We once went into one in a different town and we were ignored - and left!

mathsconundrum · 01/02/2013 13:08

It's really not at all bad for a chain. I'm surprised its not worse.

bedmonster · 01/02/2013 13:10

Ooh was about to come and tell you YWBU but then remembered the last time I went (last year) was to the Cobham one and had the same pasta thing with spinach balls and I agree, it was dripping in grease and the spinach balls were very dry, bitter and overall a bit disappointing.
I have been a couple of times prior to that time and had a nice meal and drinks though, so I guess like many chain restaurants, they probably vary from place to place.

Startail · 01/02/2013 13:10

Only been once, not very exciting and pretty expensive.
Will stick to Nado's

AvonCallingBarksdale · 01/02/2013 13:15

I live it - the ones we've been to are way nicer than Pizza Express/Prezzo's etc (both of which I really dislike!)

MrsMarigold · 01/02/2013 13:18

Some are a bit grubby but the mushroom soup is very tasty indeed.

atthewelles · 01/02/2013 13:19

I've been to the one in Kensington a couple of times and thought it was nice.

But the one in Dublin is a bit meh. Boring menu and not particularly cheap for what you get.

FreudiansSlipper · 01/02/2013 13:19

I love the mandarin sorbet ate loads of it when I was pregnant

I have had some nice lunches in there and nice place to go for coffee and cake

MoreBeta · 01/02/2013 13:20

I have come out disapointed every time I have gone there.

Basically, it suffers from the same problem every chain suffers from. Rents are extremely high in the high footfall locations they are in and that means to meet profit targets they have to charge high prices for what is essentially a 'bread based' menu.

Pizza n pasta chains and coffee shops are the highest margin restaurant businesses and the only ones that can survive in these high priced rent areas. Even they are struggling now and unfortunatley it shows on the plate and in custmer satisfaction.

The answer is that rents for commercial property just have to fall so restaurants and cafes can raise quality and still make a profit.

12ylnon · 01/02/2013 13:21

Totally agree. Have been to two different branches on about 3 different occasions. Food was OK at best, very small portions. We also found both the staff and clientele to be really sniffy.

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