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AIBU?

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Original poster

Jamie Oliver - Jamie's Italian etc

157 replies

decisionsindecisions · 21/05/2019 16:11

AIBU to not be at all surprised about the collapse of his restaurant chains?

I feel incredibly sorry for the people who worked there but the food was, for the most part, inedible. His food on his tv shows always looks fantastic but unfortunately this did not seem to translate into his restaurants, particularly Jamie's Italian.

Obviously he was just the "brand" to get people through the door but if the food is shite then the business was sure to fail.

OP posts:
ordinarybloke · 21/05/2019 17:35

I have been to Jamie's Italian twice, in the last month. At the one in The Hague I had a tomato-less mushroom pizza that was OK but nothing special. Last Saturday at the Rotterdam branche I had a cannelonni-it was betreft of any flavour. Yesterday evening I went to a local non-chain Italian restaurant-ai had a very nice meal. I think Jamie's Italian is a case of design over substance.

boringlyboring · 21/05/2019 17:36

He should have served turkey twizzlers instead of getting them banned.

Ruined my childhood.

C8H10N4O2 · 21/05/2019 17:38

There will be a lot of small suppliers who will be left out of pocket, too - not the first time he's done this

Indeed. 1000 employees, all the follow on people and many small suppliers. Not for the first time. His own squillions seem to be safe though:

twitter.com/PrivateEyeNews/status/1130793732243173377

Thisnamechanger · 21/05/2019 17:40

15 in Cornwall is crap now too Sad

I used to LOVE it there but since the new head chef came the food is downright bizarre and definitely not worth throwing £200 at! Shame. I really loved him at the beginning.

bigbadbadger · 21/05/2019 17:43

The one in Manchester is a disgrace to a beautiful building! Did anyone ever pay full price in there?

EntirelyAnonymised · 21/05/2019 17:47

‘Interesting’ buildings were the brand’s niche/USP. His branches were in some lovely buildings.

scarbados · 21/05/2019 17:48

Mediocre food, small portions, big prices, owned by an irritating arse. Only went once to one of his Italian ones (Birmingham) and have had better food cheaper in 'little' places without the big name hoo-ha.

Not an ounce of sympathy for him but plenty for the staff losing their jobs.

Eggshellnutmeg · 21/05/2019 17:51

Barbecoa opposite St. Paul’s is lovely, the Italian ones were rubbish.

EntirelyAnonymised · 21/05/2019 17:53

I thought Barbecoa was overrated too. Amazing location but essentially and overpriced tourist trap

AsleepAllDay · 21/05/2019 18:05

Not surprised, he's shit

Aquilla · 21/05/2019 18:06

Personally, I begrudge paying a lot of money for posh Italian food. Not when you can get a £4.99 two course special at your perfectly nice neighbourhood Italian!

KatherineJaneway · 21/05/2019 18:10

Trouble is his restaurants were in a crowded market. Near where I work there are so many chain restaurants, a diner is spoilt for choice.

knitpicker · 21/05/2019 18:11

We went once and have called it Jamie Oliver’s Shakedown ever since. Terrible food at any price

Swishswish26 · 21/05/2019 18:15

I also feel sorry for the staff but haven’t been to Jamie’s Italian for years. The last time I went the portion sizes were tiny and completely overpriced. I live in a large city with hundreds of restaurants so would never go back to a restaurant if I had a bad experience there.

Wallabyone · 21/05/2019 18:18

I went Barbecoa in London once and it was pretty awful.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 21/05/2019 18:22

sgtmajor It's 15 that employs a lot of young/homeless people. I'm not sure if that's effected by this, but I hope it's not. The rest turned to dross a long time ago and this had been rumoured for a good 9 months - if he wanted to save it, he would have, I think.

Gth1234 · 21/05/2019 18:26

When extinction rebellion changes kick in, restaurants everywhere will close, and we will mostly all be on the poverty line.

It's a brave new world. Look forward to it, y'all

ControversialFerret · 21/05/2019 18:39

Went once, didn't bother again. Food was mediocre and overpriced. Staff were nice - about the only good thing you can say about it. Although they were clearly under orders to keep people at the bar for as long as possible. I don't enjoy feeling like I am being completely rinsed for cash whilst being told by a shamefaced member of staff that my table will be ready soon, whilst looking at an empty room of perfectly laid tables...

Schnitzelvonkrumb · 21/05/2019 19:10

Ive never been to one (we only go out a few times a year and DH has an aversion to chain restaurants)
Its always the people at the sharp end who will suffer most. Look at phillip green -despite everything he still seems to be living a pretty cushy life. At least JO put some of his own money into it but i doubt they will notice a difference to their life. Pretty poor way to tell staff too.

NoodlingAlong · 21/05/2019 19:18

I took my mum for a a fab meal at Fifteen in London just after it first opened - pre DC when I actually had spare money for fancy meals out. That dessert I had there was probably the best dessert I’ve ever had.

The dinosaur-themed pop-up hotdog place at Piccadilly Circus was ok while it lasted. DD had her 8th birthday party meal there.

Feel bad for the staff.

robinsarebins · 21/05/2019 19:20

The reason its gone down is nothing to do with minimum wage or brexit.
I work for a big chain restaurant, I get paid more than minimum wage plus tips.
Our business is going from strength to strength and always opening more places not closing down.
The reasons for that is we offer good quality, value for money, tasty food. We listen to feedback, change with the times whilst staying true to our roots and look after our customers, many of which are very regular repeat customers. Staff are also well trained, cared for and given opportunity to progress.
Im passionate about the job I do and the brand I represent for all of those reasons and that shines through in the service I give.
The reason Jamie's has failed is because of all the people here saying they only went once and the market is saturated with mediocre Italian on the highstreet.
There is a pizza express, zizzi, ask, prezzo, carluccio and a new pizza place within a 2 minute walk from where I work. Who even eats all those carbs these days.

ScruffGin · 21/05/2019 19:22

I've eaten in most of his fifteen restaurants, they were all amazing, however Watergate bay has gone downhill in recent years.
Jamie's Italian I've never been impressed with, I love salt more than most people and even I found most of the dishes too salty.

Jasging · 21/05/2019 19:25

I went to the BIrmingham one and the Oxford one, both were crap. People are voting with their feet and chains can't get away with being crap anymore hence the street food revolution...

Unihorn · 21/05/2019 19:25

Most restaurants hire young people and people with criminal records, they just don't publicise it as a selling point as much as Jamie did.

Tobebythesea · 21/05/2019 19:49

Never went to his Italians but my DH said Barbecoa in London wasn’t great. Fifteen however was amazing and I am very sad to see that close.

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