Celebrity chef restaurants.

[andya700]

I don't watch live TV anymore, but I do look at a fair bit of stuff on Youtube, from ca5tching up on football and cricket, to motoring, history, politics, news and food, restaurant reviews and the like, as well as recipes. One youtuber who really impresses me is Gary Eats, an ordinary, down to earth guy in his fifties (I hope). I have followed him on his travels, trying to find the best fish and chip shops in the UK, best curry houses and more lately, him reviewing celebrity chef restaurants - Rick Stein, Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver and the like. He does a thorough review, by ordering several dishes, then marking them out of ten at the end.
I don't think I have ever eaten in a celebrity restaurant, but I have had around half a dozen Michelin starred meals in my life, and they were without exception, absolutely top notch.
So, what has your experience been of celebrity chef restaurants?
Meanwhile, I will attach a video of Gary doing his stuff.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDqswRyr3Rw

 

[ancient_mariner]

The only resto like that I've visited is Le Manoir Quat' Saisons just outside Oxford, both times paid for by work. Their lunchtime menu was wonderful both occasions, service impeccable. Without a doubt, the best restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.

 

[Peter123]

A few years ago we ended up in Stratford (london) when visiting our daughter.
We went to Jamie Oliver's restaaurant (now closed).
Both Mrs. P and I rated it mediocre.

 

[lindsay]

I've eaten at a Maison Blanc (so-so, nothing special), the Criterion in London (very good) and the Ivy (very nice but ordinary fare). My best ever meal was recently in The Bucks Head in Dundrum, Co Down, just down the road from my house, where a 1* Michelin rated chef prepared a gorgeous meal that I can't wait to have again soon, with 3 courses plus modest wine for £135. I don't think the chef is remotely celebrity though, thankfully, except locally.
It strikes me that when celebrity chefs start a chain of branded restaurants etc, the quality disappears because the original emotion, passion, disappears from the food. It can also be catastrophic for the food: I recall reading about Gordon Ramsay's main food prep site having problems, causing all his restaurants to suffer - because all the dishes were pre-prepared in a kind of factory and sent out for finishing off at the restaurants. That is not what you are paying for, reheated food.

 

[JohnC6]

I don't watch live TV anymore, but I do look at a fair bit of stuff on Youtube, from ca5tching up on football and cricket, to motoring, history, politics, news and food, restaurant reviews and the like, as well as recipes. One youtuber who really impresses me is Gary Eats, an ordinary, down to earth guy in his fifties (I hope). I have followed him on his travels, trying to find the best fish and chip shops in the UK, best curry houses and more lately, him reviewing celebrity chef restaurants - Rick Stein, Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver and the like. He does a thorough review, by ordering several dishes, then marking them out of ten at the end.
I don't think I have ever eaten in a celebrity restaurant, but I have had around half a dozen Michelin starred meals in my life, and they were without exception, absolutely top notch.
So, what has your experience been of celebrity chef restaurants?
Meanwhile, I will attach a video of Gary doing his stuff.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDqswRyr3Rw

We always went to Rick Steins Fish 'n Chip restaurants in Cornwall and they were excellent. You do get what you pay for.

Good post btw. I've saved it for future viewing.

 

[Jelster]

Le Manoir is probably the best I've ever been too (3 times). Waterside in Bray was good - we stayed overnight there once. Rojano's Rick Stien's Seafood and the other Paul Ainsworth place (No6?) in Padstow have all been great. Done a couple of the London ones while working there, the Langham was very good, while Ramsay (I think) was Head Chef.

But nothing beats Le Manoir for the level of attention, quality of staff, and a walk in the kitchen garden......

 

[Nod]

We always went to Rick Steins Fish 'n Chip restaurants in Cornwall and they were excellent. You do get what you pay for.

Good post btw. I've saved it for future viewing.

Mum and Dad went to Stein's place and were less than impressed by the whole experience. The name himself wasn't there and apparently very rarely was. They also went to Keith Floyd's Maltsters and, although he was there, it was the on the customers' side of the bar, doing his best to drink all the profits. Food was apparently OK (but no better than that) but the sweary, shouty drunk proprietor spoiled their evening.

 

[andya700]

I've eaten at a Maison Blanc (so-so, nothing special), the Criterion in London (very good) and the Ivy (very nice but ordinary fare). My best ever meal was recently in The Bucks Head in Dundrum, Co Down, just down the road from my house, where a 1* Michelin rated chef prepared a gorgeous meal that I can't wait to have again soon, with 3 courses plus modest wine for £135. I don't think the chef is remotely celebrity though, thankfully, except locally.
It strikes me that when celebrity chefs start a chain of branded restaurants etc, the quality disappears because the original emotion, passion, disappears from the food. It can also be catastrophic for the food: I recall reading about Gordon Ramsay's main food prep site having problems, causing all his restaurants to suffer - because all the dishes were pre-prepared in a kind of factory and sent out for finishing off at the restaurants. That is not what you are paying for, reheated food.

That is really interesting, particularly your last point, because Gary reviewed what he described as the worst curry he has ever had, at a chain restaurant - Mowgli. Mowgli is a chain of 24 restaurants across the UK, owned by Nisha Katona, who is one of the judges on Great British Menu, along with Tom Kerridge and Ed Gamble. Gary described the food as lacking in flavour and thought it was probably "batch cooked".
We went on holiday in the UK this year, due to me not renewing my passport, leading to a less than satisfactory week's holiday in Penzance. We couldn't get any decent fish and chips, a recommended restaurant turned out to be mediocre and expensive and the train journey from Kent to Cornwall, was expensive and very tiring.
We cannot wait to get back to our Euro holidays, maybe this Christmas or next year.
Anyway - the Mowgli review - interesting to read the comments.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-kxtfccIUY

 

[Mr Perceptive]

The only resto like that I've visited is Le Manoir Quat' Saisons just outside Oxford, both times paid for by work. Their lunchtime menu was wonderful both occasions, service impeccable. Without a doubt, the best restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Le Manoir is probably the best I've ever been too (3 times).

But nothing beats Le Manoir for the level of attention, quality of staff, and a walk in the kitchen garden......

My daughter is a chef there

 

[ancient_mariner]

Gary reviewed what he described as the worst curry he has ever had, at a chain restaurant - Mowgli. Mowgli is a chain of 24 restaurants across the UK,

Interesting. Our next door neighbour went to Mowgli in Oxford last year, and was so impressed they told us about it. Maybe different restaurants manage food independently?

 

[lindsay]

Regarding chis and fips, locally two places are superb, but the one in particular stands out: he uses smoked haddock, which really makes the flavour; he also uses local langoustines for the scampi, so both are absolutely delightful. Apparently the chef has won some NI awards for his cooking, but he's a really nice genuine guy, always has a chat when people go in and organises a lot of local foodie experiences (private supper club being very popular). Sorry for diverting the subject slightly.

 

[andya700]

Interesting. Our next door neighbour went to Mowgli in Oxford last year, and was so impressed they told us about it. Maybe different restaurants manage food independently?

It was the Oxford one which Gary went to. He actually said there was no aroma to the food. There is always an aroma with a curry, so as soon as he said that, I knew that there was not going to be any flavour there. We have been given recommendations from neighbours and friends, but they aren't always good, because people have different standards and expectations.

 

[andya700]

My daughter is a chef there

It is an unfulfilled dream of ours to have a weekend there.

 

[Jelster]

I've eaten at a Maison Blanc (so-so, nothing special),

I'm really surprised at this comment @lindsay. Of all the top places we've been (and it sort of became a bit of a hobby before I retired) the food & service have really stood out at Le Maison. The Sommelier at Waterside was terrific, he discussed what we like to drink, and what we were going to eat with us for about 15 minutes before coming up with some suggestions. Jamie Oliver's "15" was a bit of a let down though, food & service was just like that of a chain restaurant.

Edit - Just realised I misread the restaurant name Lindsay - sorry.....

 

[Nod]

Thinking back several years, we did used to enjoy meals at Carluccio's - until he passed away, after when the quality seemed to nosedive. Met him briefly once when he was doing a surprise visit.

Not sure if Jamie's places count - one visit was too many! Overpriced and made down to 1/2 the actual price rather than up to a decent quality.

 

[JohnC6]

Mum and Dad went to Stein's place and were less than impressed by the whole experience. The name himself wasn't there and apparently very rarely was. They also went to Keith Floyd's Maltsters and, although he was there, it was the on the customers' side of the bar, doing his best to drink all the profits. Food was apparently OK (but no better than that) but the sweary, shouty drunk proprietor spoiled their evening.

We went to Rick Stein's in Falmouth and Porthleven and both have since been closed.

I'm aware of Keith Floyd's chequered past now you mention it . It's sad they way some of these very talented people abuse their unusual natural skills.

 

[JohnC6]

Forgot to mention our visit to Marco Pierre White's restaurant, The Cube, in the centre of Birmingham. We went before going a to the NEC to see the comedian John Bishop who was excellent. What I wasn't aware of was my sister her husband and my niece three rows behind us in the block the other side of the aisle and we didn't find out until one of us mentioned going some weeks later.

The food at the restaurant was excellent. The restaurant is at the top of a high-rise (floor 25) and because we went in early the waitress took us over to a seat next to the window. We were higher than the top of building-site cranes and as I suffer from acrophobia..a fear of heights..vertigo is a symptom..there's no way I could sit there so I thanked the waitress and asked for a table away from the window. "No problem" she said..surprised..."A lot of customers ask for these window seats."

Scroll down to see one of the tables we were given . I actually feel quessy (my legs )looking at it so I'll move on..lol.

Steakhouse with 'best view in Birmingham' named top restaurant in city

The trendy restaurant is famous for its afternoon teas, expertly-cooked steaks and stunning bird's-eye views across the city

www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

[lindsay]

I agree John that wouldn't be my preferred seat either (and I'm only mildly bad with heights). TBH though, I'd hardly describe the view as spectacular. Not a lot to see really except the built environment as it's called, it doesn't really compare to the Eye, Shard, BT Tower or Eiffel Tower. Poor old Brum.

 

[JohnC6]

I agree John that wouldn't be my preferred seat either (and I'm only mildly bad with heights). TBH though, I'd hardly describe the view as spectacular. Not a lot to see really except the built environment as it's called, it doesn't really compare to the Eye, Shard, BT Tower or Eiffel Tower. Poor old Brum.

On one visit to London I wouldn't go on The Eye with my wife so, rather than go on her own she left it until she went to see a musical with her friend. She showed me the photos. I just had a quick glance..to be polite...lol. I've seen the Shard from a nearby hotel window and yes, it is a much more interesting view. Eiffel Tower ? Gone funny thinking about it let alone going up it..Lol

 

[andya700]

Forgot to mention our visit to Marco Pierre White's restaurant, The Cube, in the centre of Birmingham. We went before going a to the NEC to see the comedian John Bishop who was excellent. What I wasn't aware of was my sister her husband and my niece three rows behind us in the block the other side of the aisle and we didn't find out until one of us mentioned going some weeks later.

The food at the restaurant was excellent. The restaurant is at the top of a high-rise (floor 25) and because we went in early the waitress took us over to a seat next to the window. We were higher than the top of building-site cranes and as I suffer from acrophobia..a fear of heights..vertigo is a symptom..there's no way I could sit there so I thanked the waitress and asked for a table away from the window. "No problem" she said..surprised..."A lot of customers ask for these window seats."

Scroll down to see one of the tables we were given . I actually feel quessy (my legs )looking at it so I'll move on..lol.

Steakhouse with 'best view in Birmingham' named top restaurant in city

The trendy restaurant is famous for its afternoon teas, expertly-cooked steaks and stunning bird's-eye views across the city

www.birminghammail.co.uk

Gary also did the Cube in Birmingham, said the food was excellent, as was the service. He did mention that they charged £5 extra for a window seat, he declined for the same reason as you. I wouldn't be able to eat at that height. I once had to use the lifts on the outside of the Lloyds building in London and felt very queasy.

 

[andya700]

On one visit to London I wouldn't go on The Eye with my wife so, rather than go on her own she left it until she went to see a musical with her friend. She showed me the photos. I just had a quick glance..to be polite...lol. I've seen the Shard from a nearby hotel window and yes, it is a much more interesting view. Eiffel Tower ? Gone funny thinking about it let alone going up it..Lol

I also declined the London Eye and Tour d'Eiffel. I had a very bad experience in 2021 coming back from Brittany in the car. The route took me over the Pont de Normandie and I had to get my wife to hold the steering wheel to steady things. It may well have been that incident which brought on a suspected heart attack.

01/23/2015 The Pont de Normandie, still standing tall!

The construction of the bridge on a vast stretch of alluvial ground offering no natural anchorage points and subject to strong winds capable of reaching speeds of 180 kph was a genuine challenge. Associating several of France’s construction industry majors, the construction project lasted a...

www.bouygues-construction.com

 

[JohnC6]

Gary also did the Cube in Birmingham, said the food was excellent, as was the service. He did mention that they charged £5 extra for a window seat, he declined for the same reason as you. I wouldn't be able to eat at that height. I once had to use the lifts on the outside of the Lloyds building in London and felt very queasy.

Seems this fear of heights is quite common,then.I was OK until I got to about 40. I used to work at Shell on Merseyside from 18 and went up towers..sometimes on the outside and on the night shift..120ft and 180ft. Looking back on it I wonder how I managed it. Didn't give it a thought. Anyway, one day we took visiting friends to Cheddar Gorge,Somerset and there's an observation tower there and up we went on the spiral wooden staircase. I felt uneasy the moment we reached the top. Then our friened,..Allan..went to the rail and leaned out as much as he could to take a photo... It got worse for me. I began to feel real fear,didn't tell my wife and a lady told me to go back down ,slowly,holding onto the rail. I did that and when I reached the ground I sat down and was overwhelmed. People going into the doorway asked if I was ok.I can imagine how people feel when they've had a near-death experience. It wouldn't be an exageration to say that I was traumatised. I've never had that experience before nor since. I see the tower we went up has been replaced and doesn't look as high.

New Cheddar Gorge Lookout Tower is not for the faint-hearted

The tower recently underwent a full refurbishment and extensive restoration work

www.somersetlive.co.uk

I recall channel-surfing on the TV I saw a programme where they had people with this fear roped up wearing a crash helmet and walking out on a spur at the top of really tall buildings around the world and I wondered if that was a good way to get them over their fear. Fair play to them,they did it. For me it's an irrational fear of the building falling. I even experience it from a pavement looking up at a very tall buildings..in city centres. No problem at 38,000ft en-route to a holiday destination, though..Lo.l As they say in the US "go figure" I even pay extra for a window seat so I can photograph the clouds.

 

[pmac]

Not been to anything of note myself.
We have had 3 off the master chef winners in our town, who all became semi famous.
The guy Jamie opened a place nearby and it just closed.. I heard it was average and very expensive.
He has two bakeries nearby also and I’ve had bread and cakes/ pastries from there and all were excellent.. though anbit expensive at £4.50 a croissant( willed with stuff or abit more for a slice of cake.

Dean again opened a restaurant and it closed and he opened another.. was abit of a stir around it as I heard he sold lots of vouchers and didn’t uphold them, then asked the public for seed money to open the new one(not sure how true the first part is but second I did see his posts)
The food was ment to be excellent but again very expensive and very pushy staff trying to upsell everything.
It’s also very showy and portentous looking.

He also opened a fish and chip shop which lasted about 6 months.. I got a take away once when they were doing buy one get one free at about £18 for a fish supper
Was burnt batter and average chips.
I commented on there facebook and it and all other bad reviews were deleted.. which were more than the positive.

There is a local Michelin which I’ve never tried as overly posh food isn’t my thing.. gets good reviews from people we know but most leave hungry.

The one we have tried is a small 3 rosette place, non famous but excellent food in decent portions and not over pretensions

 

[Dave Canon]

Best restaurant I have been to is Lumiere in Cheltenham (it has a Michelin star and is in the UK top 50 list). I am not sure that the chef is a celebrity as he cannot afford to appear on TV as he has to run his kitchen. This is true for many skilled chefs in small restaurants. I have also been to the Fat Duck at Bray (Heston Blumenthal) which was equally good. I found Le Manoir Quat' Saisons up there with the best particularly for the overall experience and service. Chain restaurants like Carlucci's and Jamie Oliver are franchises so dependent on the local staff rather than a top chef. I once visited Tanners in Plymouth where Chris and James Tanner have fine restaurants. On the day we attended to two chefs on duty were the Tanner Bros and the food was superb.

We have also had experiences of attending a restaurant with a famous chef where the food was very poor and after seriously quizzing the staff, they admitted that the chef was not on duty so gave us a large discount. Of the chains, we find Brassiere Blanc to perform consistently to a high standard. While they do not see Raymond Blanc very often, the local staff seem to adore him and aim for his high standards. I do not want quantity but to see skill and quality on show when I eat at a restaurant. If I wanted quantity, I could go to local chip shop. Fortunately, my wife is an excellent chef so I eat well at home though I am taking her to Lumiere next month for our anniversary. One of the problems of having the excellent local restaurant is that you have to book months in advance as it is in demand.

Dave

 

[JohnC6]

Last week my wife and her friend had a meal at Jamie Oliver's restaurant, Catherine St. Covent Garden. A starter or a dessert + rump steak £27.She said it was wonderful. All meat is UK-sourced.

 

[andya700]

Last week my wife and her friend had a meal at Jamie Oliver's restaurant, Catherine St. Covent Garden. A starter or a dessert + rump steak £27.She said it was wonderful. All meat is UK-sourced.

Sadly, although we live in Kent, we won't be doing that sort of thing anymore. Prior to the pandemic, we could travel up to London by train for around £30 return for the two of us. I have just done a search and it will now cost £69 (travelling on Friday out of peak hours). So, a day out with a nice meal would cost around £200, which for us, would be a very special day out.
Thankfully, we still have some decent places to eat in Kent.

 

[kt53]

Aren't many of the 'Celebrity Chef' restaurants actually lacking in said celebrity chef for most of the time. They may create the menu but aren't necessarily there to oversee the actual preparation. If they have more than one restaurant that must be the case.

 

[Graham W]

Aren't many of the 'Celebrity Chef' restaurants actually lacking in said celebrity chef for most of the time. They may create the menu but aren't necessarily there to oversee the actual preparation. If they have more than one restaurant that must be the case.

I remember Gordon Ramsey being interviewed. He was asked "Who does the cooking when you're not there?"
His reply "The same people as when I am there!"

 

[Dave Canon]

Surely you would choose a restaurant with an excellent chef rather than a celebrity as to two do not necessarily go together.

Dave

 

[kt53]

I remember Gordon Ramsey being interviewed. He was asked "Who does the cooking when you're not there?"
His reply "The same people as when I am there!"

That actually is a very fair point. I've been watching a series with Tom Kerridge and he was with his head chef who runs the kitchen. Tom Kerridge, along with his head chef, create the dishes and define precisely what they contain and cooking times. The head chef doesn't do all the prep and cooking, there's a team doing that. The question for me is when there is a string of restaurants under name of a chef, how much control or input do they have.

 

[Eucris]

That actually is a very fair point. I've been watching a series with Tom Kerridge and he was with his head chef who runs the kitchen. Tom Kerridge, along with his head chef, create the dishes and define precisely what they contain and cooking times. The head chef doesn't do all the prep and cooking, there's a team doing that. The question for me is when there is a string of restaurants under name of a chef, how much control or input do they have.

I have just looked at the Gino D'Acampo restaurants in Leeds Liverpool and Newcastle and they all have identical menus, and pricing.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

On a few occassions, over many years, I've been fed at expensive and "fashionable" eating places. None of them seemed anywhere near as good as the many much more modestly priced establishments that I've found for myself.

I'm glad my plebian tastes are so economical!

 

[Pixbarmy]

Many years ago, I had to take a transit van up to Scotland, with an urgent delivery (volunteered to get the brownie points). I dropped off the "samples" at 8 am and set off back in freezing fog. Four hours later, I was half frozen and half starved and spotted a lonely pub. After some careful manoeuvering, I parked the van and went inside. The "chef"(/barman/cleaner/ anything else that needed doing) was stirring a large pot that smelled delicious. "What can I get you?" he asked. "Well, I'm driving, so a half of best and that smells good." I replied. The "stew", it seems, contained various meats from a local gamekeeper and dumplings, with a side of fresh, local bread rolls and butter. Celebrity chef restaurants? I don't care what they do or how and where it is served but if it tasted as good as the meal I had that day, I would be happy. As I came out of the pub, the mist was clearing and the temperature rising.............. or did it just seem that way? It seems that the guy was a "local" celebrity and I could see why!