Little Chef - a captive audience (Little Chef)

Member Name: msvforb

Product:	Little Chef
Date:	29/07/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Speed of service

Disadvantages: Cost of fairly basic food

Prior to last weekend I hadn't eaten in a Little Chef since I was a child but twice in the last week I've found myself staying in a Travel Lodge where the only eating place in walking distance was a Little Chef and so I was a captive audience first at the restaurant at Cambridge Fourwentways and then at the restaurant which is part of the Oxford Peartree Interchange service area.

On walking into each of the restaurants I was pleasantly surprised. Both restaurants were light and airy with friendly and welcoming staff who seemed pleased to help. The seating areas were basic but comfortable with some bench seating and other just basic tables and chair seating and there was no problem with us moving furniture about to better accommodate our party

The food whilst basic was enjoyable. The breakfast menu contained the standard cooked breakfast, breakfast rolls, smoked haddock and selection of cereals etc. The restaurant staff were happy to take special orders exchanging one item for another and no extra charge was made for this.

The general menu contained what I would consider standard pub/diner fare - lasagna, burgers, bangers and mash, jacket potatoes etc. The desert selection was more varied with a particular favourite in our group being pancakes.

The restaurant at Oxford in particular was well set up for families with a plentiful supply of high chairs and a selection of toys to keep kids occupied while you wait.

Waiting times were not too long. On the one occasion that food took a while to arrive we were warned that we could be waiting up to half an hour before we ordered and in fact the food arrived much more quickly than this.

For me the two major downsides were the toilets which left a little to be desired in terms of cleanliness and something that is perhaps to be expected with such a captive audience, the price. A two course meal and a couple of drinks cost £16 with a basic breakfast costing £8.

Overall better than I expected.

Summary: Better than expected