Fast food, cheap (Benjy's)

Name: hawkida

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Product:	Benjy's
Date:	20/05/01 (253 review reads)
Rating:

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Many of the sandwich shops in London cater to the wealthier sector. Office workers want fast, fresh food and most are willing to pay for it. It's not unusual to find prices starting at over a pound for a simple egg sandwich with few frills. Explore the more lavish ingredients, such as avocado, almonds and capers and the price rockets (and I'm not talking about the fancy lettuce, either).

Benjys is a chain that counters this culture of frills and expense in offering a huge variety of reasonably priced food. Yes, it would still be cheaper to pack your own lunch each morning, but convenience costs; though at Benjys the cost begins at a mere 45p for a cheese roll.

Large torpedo rolls go for around two pounds. For two fifty you can pick up a large salad, choosing from several varieties that include sardines, humous and bacon. At the same price is a whole range of reheatable items from pasta dishes to baked potatoes to ciabatta sandwiches. The standard fare of sandwiches are readily available and are kept well stocked. Those with a sweet tooth can choose from numerous pastries, wafers, crisps, doughnuts or muffins. If you prefer a more healthy snack then pick from fruit selections, mousses or yoghurts. Food aside, all manner of beverages can be purchased at Benjys including coffee and tea, waters, flavoured cordials, fizzy cans of pop and even soup.

Of course, convenience and low prices come at a cost. If you venture into Benjys then chances are you won't be greeted with a smile, but instead by surging crowd of shoppers. The queues would be long if it weren't for the conveyer belt approach of the staff who no doubt call out "Next" or "Can I help you" even in their sleep. That's not to say that the customer isn't given some though. There are strict policies of not bagging hot drinks to avoid accidents, and the staff will include any plastic cutlery you might need along with your order when they pack it
for you to take away.

On average the food quality in the stores levels out at "good". Occasionally there are mistakes, though. The odd item might be a little on the stale side, and I've bought items in the past that were mislabled though it would have been obvious had I examined it more closely before leaving the store. Some of the fudge style cake desserts are extremely nice, and the massive variety available keeps pulling me back into the shops.

Most of the stores operate on the basis of getting the customer in and out as quickly as possible in order to make room for the next lot - from twelve to two they are very busy. In some stores there is seating available though they are the exception not the norm, and I can't imagine it would make for a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere for a lunchbreak. Benjys also specifically market to the breakfast time crowd, selling prepacked single serving cereals and what they term morning rolls. Given that the average Benjys store is within a stones throw of McDonals, Burger King, another sandwich shop and a coffee shop with a sideline in sandwiches they are obviously doing something right. The chain continues to grow and both the name and the familiar friendly green on cream logo are becoming a familiar throughout London. Besides, where else in the city can you pick up a coffee for a mere 50p?

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