To think we would be better off at McDonald's!

[Hmum0fthree]

Its coming up to my birthday so arranged to go for a day of shopping with DH and DC at the Trafford centre, thought I'd have a look in advance at the restaurants and book.

The prices are so high £20+ for a burger? Which fair enough eating out you expect but all of the reviews are awful! Iv looked at 4 restaurants and all of them have disappointed customers!

We are looking at £100+ with drinks and dessert for what looks like McDonald's standard food!

How does everyone find nice places to eat now? Seems like everything's gone down hill since covid but prices have gone up 😩

If you're thinking of Five Guys, I would just go to McDonald's instead! I went once and could honestly not tell what I was paying all the extra money for. Although you could help yourself to free monkey nuts at Five Guys. I've refused to go since as I thought it was so overpriced for what it is.

Go to five guys - it’s a burger place but nicer than McDonalds.

There's a brand new McDonald's just near the Trafford centre, it's great. I went a couple of weeks ago and it was empty.

Five Guys is shit. Bring on McDonald's!

Had to laugh at this ^

Five guys has bad reviews now also, iv never been a fan but the kids enjoy it so thought I'd check and yep bad reviews 🙈

There are loads of lovely places to eat in the Trafford centre, maybe stop looking at burger places because honestly, yes one burger is much like another so you might as well go to MacDonalds.
Could you branch out?

The portions at five guys are massive. I don't think it's poor value.

Out of the options at Trafford centre I would go to wagamama but if you just want a burger then McDonalds is as good as any.

@Partyatnumber10 iv looked at 5 different places that serve food we all enjoy, a few have bad reviews from valentines which would have been busy so more likely to get a bad review I guess

I'm sure you'll find bad reviews for macdonalds if you look for them.

McDonald’s all day long.

If you went to a basic chain restaurant and had no problems, would you go online and leave a positive review? Reviews are really self selecting.

Nandos?

Nobody is going to think about leaving a good review of a fast food place, so of course reviews are likely to be disproportionately negative, but still, if you don’t want to spend the money just go to Maccies. Five Guys is not that bad value if you share the chips (which you definitely can) but it will be more expensive than a Big Mac.

Oh god sorry everyone iv got five guys totally confused with TGI's

We want a nice sit in place with dessert and nice drinks!

Trafford Centre always has ridiculous queues for Archie's and Barburito and both are awful. Overpriced and just crap. Food wise I don't think the choice is that good. I'd be going to TGIs for the Jack Daniel chicken strips.

@lampygirl I was thinking everyone was talking about TGI's! I do like five guys but wanting something lesa fast food!

I had Five Guys for the first time a few days ago, and my opinion was that it's a step up from McDonald's, but have had simillar burgers in a Spoons, so not worth the money. Fresh chips are a bonus, but again, not worth the money.

I'd just pick a decent Indian or Chinese place and go there, or look for somewhere that has a buffet style/all you can eat place, but they'll sting you for drinks ☹️

How about.....look for a Levanese restaurant that will serve mainly vegetarian dishes but do chicken and allow you to bring your own alcohol ??
Been to a few of them and they're good value 👍

Can’t agree with the consensus on Five Guys! I enjoy a McDonalds too
but Five Guys burgers are delicious, far meatier than McDonalds with pick-your-own toppings, the fries are chunkier and crispier. The milkshakes are also “create your own” and the hot items are really hot.

TGIs is shocking everywhere IMO, no idea how they haven’t all closed down.

**Lebanese 😆

@Clarinet1 I do enjoy a five guys but always feel rushed at this one specially at weekend

Anyone tried coast to coast?

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

If you went to a basic chain restaurant and had no problems, would you go online and leave a positive review? Reviews are really self selecting.

Yes I agree people are more likely to leave a bad review. It depends really whether you want to go just for the food or whether you want a chance to sit down together and have a meal in a nice atmosphere. I'd pay more for the latter quite happily, but for some places like five guys where there's not always somewhere to sit not sure I'd bother. Bills is blimmin lovely.

@Hmum0fthree

Anyone tried coast to coast?

I've been to one of their other branches and for the price the food wasn't great, the atmosphere was okay though.

[quote Hmum0fthree]@Partyatnumber10 iv looked at 5 different places that serve food we all enjoy, a few have bad reviews from valentines which would have been busy so more likely to get a bad review I guess [/quote]
Oh, sorry to hear that.
We've always like Las Iguanas, Coast to Coast, Zizzi and Gourmet burger kitchen.
Maybe they've gone downhill with all the difficulties recently?

I do take reviews with a pinch of salt as dissatisfied customers are much more likely to leave a review than happy ones 🤷‍♂️