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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what’s the most overrated restaurant you’ve eaten at?

588 replies

Hairbrush123 · 19/11/2021 11:15

I think for me, it’s a restaurant called “Tattu”. They’re dotted all around the UK and was so excited to try it but the food was so average yet they charge £100+ for two people based on a starter and main HmmConfused. Everyone who I know has been there absolutely loved it so maybe it’s just DP & I!

What’s the most overrated restaurant you’ve been to?

OP posts:
Sleepyquest · 19/11/2021 14:59

@Ghoulette I went there once but I wasn't keen because I love greasy Chinese food Grin

sashh · 19/11/2021 15:02

Simpsons on the strand.

I was at a conference and as part of the deal we were all taken to Simpson's for a set meal.

It was an international medical conference so you would think they could accommodate some dietary variation.

Starter - Lobster Bisque, I was sitting opposite a former colleague who is vegetarian and Hindu.

She said she was vegetarian and asked for something else, nothing special, just anything vegetarian.

We started by waiting for her and she said to go ahead, so after we had finished they brought her some melon. We'd been sitting down for half an hour.

I think the main course was beef, which they again tried to serve to a vegi Hindu, again she waited, and waited and I think after an hour she had something plain like a salad or some rice and a mushroom.

My own food was fine but I got the impression they thought we were not the type of people to normally eat there so they didn't bother much.

But that has really put me off.

AliasGrape · 19/11/2021 15:04

Hakkasan - to be fair it was a few years past it’s hyped phase when we went but it was dark, loud and the food didn’t blow me away for the prices they charged. The deserts weekend really nice though.

I never had a terrible meal in the Jamie’s near us, it was never totally amazing but never as bad as people make out either - and the service was always really great. We used it quite a bit - I had a loyalty card thing that made it quite good value depending on what they were offering. I was sad when it closed.

I didn’t mind the Ivy (a regional one) when we went but did think it was overpriced.

I don’t think they’ve ever been really ‘rated’ so can’t call them overrated exactly, but agree with whoever said the Gino DiCampo restaurants being dire - I’ve got a friend who inexplicably loves the one in the city we always meet up and always suggests it. The food is ALWAYS shit. Mind you we tried Fumo in the same city more recently - slightly better food but way overpriced and service a bit shit.

CoachBeard · 19/11/2021 15:04

I think the worst meal was at a the Chinese one in The Shard. I was being treated for my 50th birthday and it cost £££ but wasn’t even as nice as our local pan Asian buffet, service was insanely slow and the staff were unwelcoming and disinterested.
Been to a couple of Marco Pierre White’s which were very disappointing and had the worst steak ever at Hawksmoor in Edinburgh but the rest of the meal was lovely.

artquejtion · 19/11/2021 15:04

Nusr-et, Dubai. Salt Bae, the guy with the gold leaf covered steaks. The restaurant itself is like a cafeteria, no atmosphere whatsoever, rushed in and rushed out, bill put on table before we had been served our deserts.

The steak was good, but starters and side dishes were worse than the worst school dinner. The bill was eyewatering, we knew it would be, but we expected the food to reflect the price.

Lightisnotwhite · 19/11/2021 15:05

The Wolsey. Hated the 1990’s hotel metal dishes the food came in. Food was very average. Rubbish cocktail in the grubby bar.My friend thinks it’s the dogs bollocks but I’ll not rush back.

Tilltheend99 · 19/11/2021 15:05

Incidentally, I just thought I would let everyone know that if you want the best ‘curry’ in birmingham you need to go to the Kababish in Moseley. DH didn’t believe me till he tried it and now he understands that basically every takeaway in the city where we currently live can’t touch them for quality.

ColinTheKoala · 19/11/2021 15:07

I have been to the Ivy in Winchester and thought it was ok - but I've only had breakfast/brunch there.

Siriisatwat · 19/11/2021 15:11

@Lightisnotwhite

The Wolsey. Hated the 1990’s hotel metal dishes the food came in. Food was very average. Rubbish cocktail in the grubby bar.My friend thinks it’s the dogs bollocks but I’ll not rush back.
I took my friend there for afternoon tea for her hen do, just the two of us.

I’d have done a better job myself with Tesco sandwiches and cream cakes. I was very disappointing.

Hoppinggreen · 19/11/2021 15:14

@Shortbread49

Although I live in York and I really like bettys the best time to go is for breakfast
Love a Bettys Breakfast
McT123 · 19/11/2021 15:15

@Dollywilde

I had a bad experience at The Pig, but I’m assured by others it was a one-off - not sure I want to spend the £££ finding out!
Nope, not a one off. I had one of the most bizarre meals ever at The Pig in the New Forest. The food was average which is more or less what I was expecting but the service was truly odd. I think that the entire waitstaff must have had a massive argument, everyone was really unfriendly and stomping around the dining room, not looking at each other or any of the guests, one-syllable grunts in response to questions, no thanks, no goodbye when we left. The whole thing felt very weird. Lovely kitchen garden though...
sashh · 19/11/2021 15:16

@TuftyMarmoset

As a veggie, most more upmarket places to be honest! Unless they are a specifically veggie place (eg I liked Mildreds). In one well-rated local gastropub I visited about 5 years ago the vegetarian option was the vegetable side dish from the meat options, but with a bit of tomato sauce and cheese Confused
If you are ever going out in Birmingham pre book at Adam's.

I went for my 50th birthday but my friend has quiet a few issues with food so we had an email correspondence and agreed 3 courses for him.

On the day they handed him his own personalised menu of three courses not on the main menu.

The food was good (friend claims it was the best fish and chips he's ever had and we spent 4 days on the North Yorkshire coast eating fish and ships every day so that is something) and the service was excellent.

Wallabyone · 19/11/2021 15:17

Mine are all London:
1: Beast-ridiculous communal tables, overpriced basic food.

  1. Barbecoa- awful! We complained, they sent us vouchers, we went again, still awful.
  2. Benares- went for a special meal, was the most underwhelming food and poor service; never again.
  3. Park Row-Batman themed, very average food, very overpriced.
savvy7 · 19/11/2021 15:21

Dishoom - overpriced nonsense

NotMaryWhitehouse · 19/11/2021 15:22

@DrManhattan

Bettys! Not a restaurant as such but massively over priced and stuff rude imo.
I agree! And all that queuing when you can SEE all the empty tables inside! 😏

And their tea is always stewed and rubbish.

CrimbleCrumble1 · 19/11/2021 15:23

Loche Fyne, me and DS were sick after going there.

Kiki275 · 19/11/2021 15:25

One of Rick Steins. I ended up with a really overpriced scampi pasty x

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 19/11/2021 15:27

@sashh, I ate at Adams before it moved (when it forts opened) and whilst the food was great, it was like eating in a mortuary. White, stark dining room an absolute ringing silence. Awful. Much prefer Purnell’s, cosier, more welcoming feel and lovely menu, the only problem is he doesn’t change it often enough.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 19/11/2021 15:28

[quote BalladOfBarryAndFreda]@sashh, I ate at Adams before it moved (when it forts opened) and whilst the food was great, it was like eating in a mortuary. White, stark dining room an absolute ringing silence. Awful. Much prefer Purnell’s, cosier, more welcoming feel and lovely menu, the only problem is he doesn’t change it often enough.[/quote]
When it FIRST opened Confused

meatyryvita · 19/11/2021 15:30

Agreed on the Boxwood Cafe being awesome - was such a lovely and family-friendly place. They were also amazing about putting together a vegetarian tasting menu for me.
Terre a Terre in Brighton was amazing.
Ivy is fine - it's more about the vibe and great service but the food is nothing special.

Maskless · 19/11/2021 15:30

McDonald's.

It must be highly rated by others as there is a queue that tails out of the door and along the street in my town.

Mankini · 19/11/2021 15:37

The Cove at Maenporth beach in Cornwall - beautiful location overlooking the beach and sea. It used to be family run and was absolutely amazing, but has now unfortunately been taken over by Michael Caines. Prices have almost doubled and the food and service are terrible. It shows as 4.5 stars on Tripadvisor as all the old 5* ratings from the old owners are still there - however, the reviews from the last two years make for really painful reading...

JudgeJ · 19/11/2021 15:43

@DrManhattan

Bettys! Not a restaurant as such but massively over priced and stuff rude imo.
Great minds, I'd just decided to volunteer Betty's then I saw your post, totally over-rated, a place 'to be seen' rather than to enjoy the food.
Soffit · 19/11/2021 15:44

Cabana - served really raw chicken more times than I can remember and had to deal with kids/own food poisoning before we had even left! The manager lamely arguing that it was not his food that caused it because it takes 48 hours before one can get food poisoning from raw chicken!

Soffit · 19/11/2021 15:48

Also, The Real Greek .. the temperature is always wrong and the same overpowering oregano runs all thr way through every dish. I dislike the stressy open kitchen.