Not as good as it thinks. (TGI Friday (Coventry))

Member Name: lynton1983

Product:	TGI Friday (Coventry)
Date:	23/05/09 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can usually get a table.

Disadvantages: A bit pricey / restricted menu.

I have been to TGI Fridays in Coventry many times over the past few years and have always generally found it ok. If honest I have only been the amount of times I have due to the fact that my girlfriend particularly likes it. However my last two visits have certainly put the likelihood of me going again in the near future in doubt.

The restaurant in general is easy to find can seat a large amount of diners (possibly too many as some tables are almost on top of each other) with ample parking. The layout inside is quite good with a large bar in the middle of the restaurant that can accommodate quite a few people who are not eating.

I tend to go to TGI's on a Friday or Saturday evening and would always recommend booking as it is always busy at these times. On arrival, if early you will generally be asked if you would like to get a drink at the bar and then come back shortly. If you are on time you are generally seated straight away. On occasion I have been told a table (always only for two) is not ready and have been asked to have a drink at the bar first. If you have not booked you will usually be given a "table ready" alarm type thing which lights up and vibrates when they are ready to seat you.

The menu I find to not be particularly extensive with mains including various meat and seafood dishes, pasta, burgers and salad. I have always thought the cost to be the wrong side of value for money for example the 12oz rib eye steak with two sides and a sauce costing £15.99. I have only had this once and did not think the quality justified the cost.

The atmosphere in TGI's is generally lively. It is usually busy and so is not a place to go if you're looking for a quiet meaal for two. This is especially the case if you're seated next to someone who's having a birthday as the staff will come and stand them up and real off their birthday chant - amusing the first time you hear it......not so every other time!

Service at TGI's seems to differ dependant upon the role. I find the bar staff and waiters and waitresses to generally be very good but the front of house staff (if that's the correct term) are often poor and at times ignorant. I recently turned up on time for a table for two and was asked to get a drink while they got a table ready. This is not a problem so after 10 minutes we returned and were shown to a table squashed between two others. Having eventually managed to squeeze in doing our best not to disturb the diners behind us we noticed our table was far from stable and no number of beer mats seemed to rectify this krypton factor type challenge. There was no way I was prepared to try and eat a meal in such uncomfortable circumstances so I went and politely asked to be moved, explaining the problem. I was simply told I had asked for a table for two and had got one and that there were no others available. My girlfriend and I had no intention of eating where we were sat so whilst we debated requesting the manager to rectify the situation or going for a curry I saw another table had been cleared so we went and moved ourselves. That sorted that. Everything went ok for the remainder of that visit apart from me having to go to the bar myself having waited about 20 minutes for a drink order to arrive but it never did.

On my most recent visit there were no issues with the staff and everything was fine until it came time to order our food. I requested the Mac 'n' Cheese bites for started and was told they were unavailable. At 8pm on a Saturday evening I do not think there is any excuse for any item on a fairly restricted menu to be out of stock. So instead I had the Bruschetta. This was acceptable at best having too much garlic in my opinion. Then when ordering our mains we both like the Cajun-spiced Chicken Quesadilla and so both opted for that. Unfortunately we were told that the Cajun-spiced rice that it is served with was also unavailable so we were offered fries instead. This was fine until our meals were served with a very measly amount of fries causing me to have to ask for more as a side order as soon as possible.

In summary I wouldn't say I dislike TGI's I just think it has a higher opinion of itself than it warrants. The food is fairly good but you pay slightly over the odds for it. The service is usually good but some staff let it down. The only good thing to come of my recent visits is that I don't think my girlfriend will be so keen to visit in the near future so I might get a bit of a break from it!

Summary: An ok dining experience.