TGI Friday's recently re-opened their Manchester Piccadilly location, one of two branches the chain has in Manchester, I thought I'd give them another try, with my last visit here being a disappointing one in 2016, where I awarded them a single one-star rating.
Things have changed a lot over this period, the biggest difference is that the allergen menu is now on a QR code basis only, I think this makes it very difficult for patrons who might not have smart-phones etc, it is also reliant on a mobile signal, I was able to access the information quite easily, unlike at TGI's nearby location at the Royal Exchange Theatre, where due to faulty WiFi and no mobile phone signal, I couldn't access allergen information at all.
I do think the restaurant looks good, the decor is kind of fancy, they do try to hide the fact they're located inside a busy railway station, but of course, you can't get away from the loud announcements from the train station, so this isn't a place you'd want to come for a celebratory meal unless you're interested in knowing which Avanti service is delayed, and which Northern service has a platform alteration.
I ordered the Garlic chicken, with this being listed on the gluten-free menu, my food took quite a while to arrive, this did see the theme of my experience, the staff were super friendly, but the service was super slow, even just to get cutterly or water, especially considering only two other small tables were dining at the same time as me.
I did have a problem with my food, I found the fries to be overseasoned, while the chicken seemed a little bland, other than the garlic I couldn't really taste anything, and it wasn't the best quality of meats either. The corn seemed to be buttered on one side, plain on the other, which was a shame as the chilli butter could have given it a nice kick. I did find this to be a little overpriced at £14.50, given the quality of the food.
The staff were unable to answer questions regarding the loyalty scheme, and I was originally given the wrong QR code, I think this could potentially be a training issue, as the staff members were friendly, but it was frustrating when no one could answer questions I had, which I thought were pretty basic.
I also think it is strange how they close at 5 pm, which seems far too early for a restaurant to be closing, right before the dinner rush.
2* - If you're in a rush to grab some food before your train, you might want to come here but with mediocre food at slightly high places, this isn't a place I'd want to return to if I wasn't travelling from Piccadilly. read more