My honest review as a former employee:
1) You are paying extremely steep prices for food that is mostly cooked in a microwave and if not, defrosted PLUS paid VERY little attention to. This is an utter disgrace to the wonderful typical English dishes you would get at a local pub. Mushrooms are ALWAYS cooked COMPLETELY in a microwave with NO SALT AND PEPPER, reheated to order in a (no surprise) microwave . Burger patty is always pre-made (completely fine) and cooked in the oven (completely fine) BUT later taken out to order by putting it in a microwave for a minute then seared (temp probe to pray that it will be hot in the middle). Your bap buns are (no surprise) also heated up in a microwave instead of an oven or grill. Scrambled eggs? LOL 3 eggs in a measuring cup, 1 knob of butter, 40 seconds in the microwave and pray it doesn't turn rubbery. Oh yeah, fried eggs? fried in oil enough to submerge the poor egg, cooked at low heat then baisted at the end hoping it would look cooked. (Seriously, can't even fry an egg?)
2) Dishes are always washed in VERY murky, bitsy and disgusting water. They are NEVER completely clean. Yeah, your food is always placed on those dishes that have all those wiped down by a damp cloth used to wipe down ANYTHING (dirty surfaces, tubs, containers, cutlery, lol you name it)
3) Scampi, Jalepeno Poppers, Chicken Skewers, Garlic Bread (Apparently to them, its too much of a skill and cost to buy french sticks, make a garlic butter spread and sprinkle any dried herb), Hash Brown, all deep fried from frozen. Scampi frozen? C'mon the dish itself prides for freshness. Your cod is actually fresh and the batter is acceptable! BUT oops bad news, floured in some flour that has probably changed every 3-4 days instead of every single day. If you want a sweet treat from the deli like the muffin or triffle; yeah, frozen too.
4) Chilli con carne? Ingredients: Mince beef (cool!), Any assorted beans in the pantry, Bottled Uncle Ben's Chilli con carne sauce. Yes, you are paying tons of money for someone to cook things out of a bottle for you. Oh! Did I mention that lasagna is cooked with bottled spaghetti bolognese sauce? Plus, it is acceptable for the trinity (mayo, ketchup and mustard) to be pre packaged but bottled tartar sauce, bottled french dressing, bottled ALL KINDS OF SAUCE (just shows that all the 'cooks' in there do not have even basic knowledge to even make a dressing). Dairy free cheese? Powdered.
5) Quiche? Don't worry. They're actually not bad. Why? NONE of the cooking process was touched by anyone who works there but bought from an old couple who look like home cooks. You're safe! Except you may find it with a side of salad that is bland and boring.
6) Steak and chicken fillets. Why is it always dry and bland? The 'cooks' have no idea how to treat these proteins; seasoning and cooking. Slicing these proteins on the grill after a sear and pressing hard on them extracts moisture out although to them, the char on the surface assures them it is good and done. Whether a steak ciabatta or chicken salad, be prepared for VERY bland proteins and boring salad with no exciting flavours that may be contributed by simplistic or complex (this is a long shot as they can't nail basic things) dressings and natural tastes from the salad. Prepare to feel like a cow gnawing on grass.
7) The freshness of ANY sandwich you get; the fillings are tested to be good or not from a smell test by any kitchen staff. Yeah, this speaks for itself. Fresh bread is always left packaged on the floor of the kitchen and taken up to be stored only when those have been used. What a way to ensure MAXIMUM freshness of your baked goods!
These are things that I have seen in the kitchen that I feel extremely disgusted to have seen and handled. Most of these things I have kept to myself as there is a massive egoistic culture in the management and kitchen. Please, do yourself a favour if you want to avoid food poisoning by going to Burger King next door (Yeah, they're monitored and educated more strictly about Health and Safety than any staff of the Centurion). read more