Topic ID 3961
Anyone tried this yet ? My inlaws did with our nipper but weren't impressed. I won't put in details cos it's second hand info - what does anyone think ?
Reply ID 57513
Went in on Sunday at 3pm - not too busy. Sat down at a table and we were completely ignored for 10 minutes - got a menu off the side ourselves - still no waitress or waiter acknowledge us. There was a lady arguing with the manager and a waiter about whether she could still use Tesco vouchers and she was told absolutely not - so don't try that one on! So we got up and went to Cafe Rouge. Got a warm welcome and had a nice meal in pleasant surroundings with friendly service. I for one will not venture back in a hurry
Reply ID 57516
I went there at 4.30 pm on Saturday with 2 young children. I felt it was all good value, especially childrens menu. Did what I expected from a chain restauarant, cheap and cheerful. Service was swift and attentive. Its never going to be much different to the likes of a Cafe Rouge, sounds like some people may be experiencing some first week teething problems though.
Reply ID 57519
I went on Saturday at about noon and have to say the service was awful. They had only 1 waiter working and he was up against it. Not his fault at all more so bad planning from the management. People were waiting on average 45mins for breakfast/brunch - and for toast that was crazy! Whilst we were there no fewer than 3 tables complained and 1 table walked out. Not the best start I have to say. Needless to say my wife liked her breakfast and my 45min wait for toast didn't make it tast any better. Will try it again but they need time to get up to speed I feel.
Reply ID 57545
Funnily enough, it sounds just like the typical Cafe Uno service, are the staff the same as before?
Reply ID 57576
I went in yesterday early evening. Served immediately. The food was good and the staff were courteous and attentive.
Reply ID 57579
Surely the wait shouldn't be too long for frozen microwaved food, about 6 minutes i'd say if you include taking the film off of the sauces [:D] [:D]
Reply ID 57589
I too was in there early yesterday evening and echo Ewoowar's experience. The food was not frozen microwave produce.
Reply ID 57594
I notice it isn't Chez Gerrard but Brasserie Gerrard. Same company?
Reply ID 57597
Yes but with a restricted menu
Reply ID 57602
quote:Yes http://www.santeonline.co.uk
Originally posted by carlos fandango
I notice it isn't Chez Gerrard but Brasserie Gerrard. Same company?
Reply ID 57615
quote:Was she trying to use Tesco vouchers for Caffe Uno or Chez Gerard? This will be interesting as I have some for Chez Gerard that I was planning to use in Cambridge until the restaurant here opened.
Originally posted by Kitty Kat
There was a lady arguing with the manager and a waiter about whether she could still use Tesco vouchers and she was told absolutely not - so don't try that one on!
Reply ID 57639
You can use the tesco vouchers in pizza express at the moment too.
Reply ID 57644
the brasserie does accept the tesco vouchers as my partner and myself frequently attend the one i Barnet. They should not be saying no, they may not know about them if the have only just opened.
Reply ID 57646
They were the general ones that you get - should be able to use them in any of the restaurants that are listed on the Tesco Clubard website. Didn't think they were specific. The manager was adamant that he wouldn't accept them though
Reply ID 57647
Hmmm, may try to use them this weekend, will report back!
Reply ID 57648
are they the ones that you submit your points for via their website? i have some sitting in doors that i shall use? you could always print off the page from the tesco site and show them that they do accept them. cafe rouge accept them too, that is the normal haunt we go to :)
Reply ID 57651
quote:Yep, they're the Clubcard Deals tokens that you exchange your Clubcard Vouchers for. I know about this in detail as I deal with the Tesco Clubcard people through my job. If I get any hassle at Chez Gerard I'll just complain to my contact.
Originally posted by gemima124
are they the ones that you submit your points for via their website? i have some sitting in doors that i shall use? you could always print off the page from the tesco site and show them that they do accept them. cafe rouge accept them too, that is the normal haunt we go to :)
Reply ID 57652
I have recently ordered some Pizza Express Tesco Deal Tokens and they are specifically 'Pizza Express' only Tokens. I know someone who has Cafe Uno Tokens - I'm pretty sure that they won't now be able to use the Cafe Uno Tokens at the Brasserie (despite it being the same building). I have had Cafe Rouge ones in the past too ad they were again specific to Cafe Rouge - so unless it has the Brasserie name on them I doubt you can use them. The only think that annoys me about the Tokens is invariably you cannot use them for drinks. I went to Cafe Rouge and had a slap up meal for the Family and ordered a large Jug of 'Tap' water to drink. Don't think the restaurant staff could quite get there heads round the fact that I paid the bill and parted with no cash!
Reply ID 57653
I've tried it now, and it is exactly the same as the Rouge. Same group perhaps ?
Reply ID 57654
quote:Nope. Cafe Rouge is owned by Tragus (who also own Bella Italia), Gerard is owned by Paramount.
Originally posted by publandlord
I've tried it now, and it is exactly the same as the Rouge. Same group perhaps ?
Reply ID 57656
The Tesco clubcard vouchers I received simply said participating restaurants only - have used them in the Ha Ha grill too.
Reply ID 57657
quote:Same style menu, wine list and service. Some dishes are identical, (cheese or ham platter, prawns in garlic, snails et al) served on identical wooden boards or crockery. Methinks they are both committee designed. Uncanny.
Nope. Cafe Rouge is owned by Tragus (who also own Bella Italia), Gerard is owned by Paramount.
Reply ID 57660
Every time I see that name(Tragus) I always wonder why someone would want to name their food company after an ear part..
Reply ID 57668
Anyway - back to the main topic. A friend and I tried the place last night. The service was very good; friendly and very fast, the food was delicious, particularly the lamb tajine, and the house red was reasonably priced and very drinkable. All in all, good value I'd say.
Reply ID 57713
Myself and Frau Fandango made the mistake of trying this place for lunch on Friday. We ordered a burger and a salad. After a close to 30 min wait (by the way the place was more than two thirds empty) the food arrived. Wrong salad. A new one arrived in under 5 mins and was so laughably bad that my Wife refused to eat it. My burger was very overcooked...ice hockey puck was the phrase that sprang to mind. On complaining the waiter let slip that they had had a few complaints about these problems and without us asking he wiped the £8 odd cost of the salad off the bill which is to his credit. The manager was noticeable by his absence. In short, very disappointing. Why spend so much time and money revamping a place to put numpties in the kitchen? Our first and last visit.
Reply ID 58424
Husband and I went on Saturday night - that will be our only visit. I had the roquefort salad and he had the burger. My salad was actually OK - although it would have been pretty hard to mess up, consisting as it did of little gem lettuce, walnuts, roquefort, raisins and dressing. Husband's burger was not good at all - bit lumps of gristle and with pre-printed 'griddle' marks on it. Tried to pay using Tesco tokens, but were told that they were not accepted there. Turns out that Brasserie Gerard is different from Chez Gerard and Brasserie Chez Gerard where the tokens are accepted. This seems to me to be very misleading - how many different brands can one company have? Anyway, we will not be bothering the establishment again, not good at all.
Reply ID 58446
If you want a decent salad and a decent burger that are always consistently good - go to Lussmanns over the road [:)]
Reply ID 58450
quote:Agreed !
Originally posted by Kitty Kat
If you want a decent salad and a decent burger that are always consistently good - go to Lussmanns over the road [:)]
Reply ID 58652
In case it tempts anyone, found this voucher for the place [url]http://www.brasseriegerard.co.uk/offers.asp[/url]
Reply ID 60015
Went there last night, 5 of us in total. It was busy and looked to be at capacity. Found the service to be friendly and quick, all enjoyed their food and we all left saying we would go back. We paid part of the bill with the Tesco vouchers and had no problem with them, we had made sure we selected the correct vouchers from Tescos when we ordered them. All in all we had a great night.
Reply ID 60065
We went last Thursday. I expect the closure of Cafe Rouge will help them and they were very busy, with people leaving without getting a seat.. Service was quick and friendly but they did not come and check how the food was during the meal. In fact, my steak was not very well cooked. One side of it was dry, sort of burnt, as if left on the griddle for too long. But inside it was still rare. Perhaps they are not used to being this busy, since they did not cope as well as Pizza Express or Lussmans cope when things get frantic. Certainly some of the staff seemed new, as we sat near the till and I heard the manager telling some of them how to work the till. I really hoped this place would work but it can't seem to get it quite right. Yet. Perhaps the next couple of weeks will be the making of them, as they find themselves with Cafe Rouge's business by accident.
Reply ID 77321
Went in at lunchtime today and was told it is closing tonight. Will be reopening in about 4 weeks as a Cafe Prezzo (Italian).
Reply ID 77323
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/08/26/334796/prezzo-buys-11-paramount-restaurants-sites.htm http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/08/26/334796/prezzo-buys-11-paramount-restaurants-sites.htm I never understood why they changed from Caffe Uno to Brasserie Gerard. It's indistinguishable from Café Rouge IMHO. The menu is virtually identical.
Reply ID 77328
Another Pizza restaurant.
Reply ID 77329
It's an Italian, and like all Italian restaurants, pizzas are a feature. Their full menu is at http://media.sign-up.to/prezzo/Prezzo-MainMenu-31-08-10.pdf
Reply ID 77464
I went in one of these Prezzo chain places in Aldburgh in Suffolk. Ok, upmarket Pizza Express, at least it was in Aldburgh! Miss the French Chez Gerard, it was good to have a variety of food.. But they must have done their homework and see that all we eat is pizza!!! They will have to offer something a bit different to persuade me. I didn't dislike them, just I want something different and not too expensive... nevermind.... they are recruiting for jobs so that has to be a good thing...
Reply ID 77467
I'm not sad to see Chez Gerrard go; last time I was in there they didn't have five of the red wines on the list meaning we had to make a quite expensive choice or go without. When the waitress went to pour she missed the glass and poured loads of it on the table, the food was very poor and cold. Apart from that it was an OK evening! Any shop/restaurant being filled is good, this chain seem quite up-market so lets hope they live up to expectations.
Reply ID 77469
I can't say that the Prezzo menu makes me want to beat a path to their doors when they open. To my mind, it loks very similar to the offering from ASK. Are the companies linked at all?
Reply ID 77475
quote:No. ASK is part of the Gondola Group, who also own Pizza Express and Zizzi.
Originally posted by Deveraux
I can't say that the Prezzo menu makes me want to beat a path to their doors when they open. To my mind, it loks very similar to the offering from ASK. Are the companies linked at all?
Reply ID 77818
Looks like Prezzo is about to open. I went to their branch in Hitchin a few weeks ago and the pizza was absolutely first rate. Hopefully this will keep Pizza Express up to scratch....
Reply ID 77855
I so wish The Hillside would come back to Hertford, instead of yet another pizza/pasta chain. I'm definitley not averse to Pizza Express, but whether that, Ask and Prezzo is required in the small town is questionable I would have thought. Having said that, it cannot be worse than Chez Gerard which in my humble opinion was worse than McDonald's.
Reply ID 77860
Agreed, Prezzo will bring zip to Hertfords current restaurant scene... the thought of Prezzo arriving makes me..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz