Take Yourself to TGI's! (TGI Fridays)

Member Name: GuruOnAMountain

Product:	TGI Fridays
Date:	15/10/08 (64 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty food, good service, convenient locations.

Disadvantages: Can get busy and you may need to book.

TGI Fridays was established in New York in 1965 but now can be found in almost every major British town.

I had often walked by TGI's in Glasgow but had always assumed it would be over-priced and so had never went in. However, one day when out shopping with a friend we decided to pop in for a bite and I was instantly converted!

TGI Friday's has a typical American burger bar feel to it. It reminds me a little of the Hard Rock cafe both in terms of its menu and its decor. Expect to see strange objects hanging off walls at jaunty angles-the Glasgow branch has some bikes adorning the walls! These quirky interiors are all part of the experience, however, and give you something to look at whilst waiting on your food.

In my experience I've always found the service at TGI's second to none. The staff are always pleasant, friendly, come to serve you quickly and always seem to be happy to help.

The menu, as I've already mentioned is very American, so there's a lot of burgers, steaks and breaded chicken of some kind or other. The appetisers include good old standards such as loaded potato skins and chicken wings and start at £3.99 for an individual starter or £4.99 for a sharing starter and go right up to £5.59 for an idividual starter portion of some Jack Daniels coated chicken strips or a grand price of over £13 for a sharing starter of Jack Daniel's glazed shrimp, pork and chicken.

The main meals include two choices of steak (New York strip setting you back £12.99 or Rib-Eye coming in at £15.99), ribs, burgers (including the San Fran-TGI's own veggie burger), sandwiches, chicken, seafood and pasta. Main meals tend to come in somewhere between £8 and £16 depending on what you order.

If you're still hungry, there's plenty of deserts on offer where you can expect to pay between £4-6 for an individual portion or £6-7 for a sharing desert.

Bar snacks and a kids' menu are also available.

Just like the Hard Rock Cafe, TGI's offers an extensive drinks menu which both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails on offer. They don't come cheap, however, and you can expect to pay around £6 on average for an alcoholic one, or £2-3 for a non-alcoholic one. Other alternative drinks on the menu for those who fancy something a little more exciting than a soft drink include Slushes and milkshakes.

The menu clearly marks what items are suitable for vegetarians.

What I really enjoy about TGI's, however, is the great value that you can get from their Take 2 menu which is available Mon-Thurs. This allows you to order two courses (either an appetizer and a main or a main and desert) from a set menu for only £9.99. The choice given isn't, of course, as extensive as the ordinary menu, but you still get a fair selection and not only of the unpopular menu choices but of standard fare such as burgers and Jack Daniel's coated chicken strips. The portions are fairly large, so you could easily go with a friend, each order a main and then share a starter and a desert between each other.

The food is of a good quality and tasty. Again, I'm reminded of the Hard Rock Cafe on the taste stakes, too.

Furthermore, if you register online at their website they'll send you vouchers on your birthday each year for special offers. Usually you get a choice between three vouchers such as free cocktails for a party of 4 or more eating there or free deserts for every main meal purchased. Its a nice little touch that encourages you to go back into the restaurant.

All in all, TGI's is a great, handy choice of restaurant. It can work out a little pricy if you're not careful but has excellent service and good food at relatively reasonable prices.

The only downside I've encountered is that its often so popular you may need to book in advance. I've often tried to pop in for lunch and been disappointed that the restaurant is already full and I'd need to wait 20 minutes for a table. You can, however, book online if you are booking at least 48 hours in advance.

Find your nearest TGI's and have a look at their menu at www.tgifridays.co.uk

Summary: An American-style restaurant with real quirky character.