George II
Alex says:
I know that you are a very busy Phantom but please try to review George II in the covered market, it is on the site of what used to be a perfectly good, slightly greasy spoon cafe with tables outside. We went there for coffee yesterday and had to wait ages to be served, no table service, from staff who had so obviously had a row it was comical. She glared at him, he rolled his eyes at her at one stage we thought they were going to come to blows.
All the tables had dirty stains on them as all the coffee is served in mugs, spoons with coffee on them are left on the tables hence the stains - not once did we see a cloth when the tables were cleared. As it is half term there were lots of mums and kids and without exception everyone that ordered baked potatoes in their jackets returned them as they were not cooked (microwaved) in the middle.
The coffee was fine, although it would have been nice if either of the fighting staff had smiled - at least once; we stayed for two cups as we were having such fun watching the rows.
The Phantom Replies:
I have tried to review George II twice but each time have been so put off by the massive queues, the chaotic atmosphere and the unexciting-looking fare that I've just turned round and walked out again. I didn't see any staff at all - let alone rowing ones.
If you've been a reader for long you will know that The Meeting House used to be listed as one of my favourite haunts - for just plain good value, good food. Your visit just adds to my fears.
Perhaps Greenwich Inc are spreading themselves a little too thin here. Contrary to popular belief, I am not actually anti-Greenwich Inc. In some places they do very well - inside the O2, for example, they take on the big multinationals at their own game and don't come off badly at all. If we've got to have a chain at least it's a local chain and I congratulate them on having a go in a Dome that could have all been major conglomerates.
I notice they also have a licence application for the eaterie in the new apartment building on the Thames Path next door to the power station. Seems to me that no other bugger would touch it in over a year and Greenwich Inc have at least got the guts to go for it. But some of their outlets just seem like a cash-in, and, by the sound of it, at George II quality is being sacrificed for profit.
I am very sad to hear about the jacket potatoes - it was the spuds that used to bring me back again and again to The Meeting House. Microwaved? Yeuch. Not even cooked? Double yeuch.
It does at least sound as though you enjoyed the experience in a manner of speaking - sometimes a place is so terrible that it stops being a cafe and starts being theatre.
Trouble is, that as with so many eateries in central Greenwich, George II does not have to convince us locals to return. There is a steady flow of one-off tourists who will not be expected to tell their friends or create any kind of buzz to keep the pounds rolling in (I will be interested to see what happens in the new place by the power station - fewer tourists will mean Greenwich Inc have to appeal to locals - hopefully we will see something new and exciting there - and I will be the first to trumpet it if we get something really good...)
I will try to brave George II one day soon - but they don't need my - or your - custom and I cannot think that they will care what I, or anyone else has to say. It's a shame that The Meeting House closed, but it's even more of a shame if what has replaced it is a shadow of its former greasy glory. Greenwich already has a dodgy reputation for food. This is not going to improve that reputation.
Has anyone else been there yet?
I know that you are a very busy Phantom but please try to review George II in the covered market, it is on the site of what used to be a perfectly good, slightly greasy spoon cafe with tables outside. We went there for coffee yesterday and had to wait ages to be served, no table service, from staff who had so obviously had a row it was comical. She glared at him, he rolled his eyes at her at one stage we thought they were going to come to blows.
All the tables had dirty stains on them as all the coffee is served in mugs, spoons with coffee on them are left on the tables hence the stains - not once did we see a cloth when the tables were cleared. As it is half term there were lots of mums and kids and without exception everyone that ordered baked potatoes in their jackets returned them as they were not cooked (microwaved) in the middle.
The coffee was fine, although it would have been nice if either of the fighting staff had smiled - at least once; we stayed for two cups as we were having such fun watching the rows.
The Phantom Replies:
I have tried to review George II twice but each time have been so put off by the massive queues, the chaotic atmosphere and the unexciting-looking fare that I've just turned round and walked out again. I didn't see any staff at all - let alone rowing ones.
If you've been a reader for long you will know that The Meeting House used to be listed as one of my favourite haunts - for just plain good value, good food. Your visit just adds to my fears.
Perhaps Greenwich Inc are spreading themselves a little too thin here. Contrary to popular belief, I am not actually anti-Greenwich Inc. In some places they do very well - inside the O2, for example, they take on the big multinationals at their own game and don't come off badly at all. If we've got to have a chain at least it's a local chain and I congratulate them on having a go in a Dome that could have all been major conglomerates.
I notice they also have a licence application for the eaterie in the new apartment building on the Thames Path next door to the power station. Seems to me that no other bugger would touch it in over a year and Greenwich Inc have at least got the guts to go for it. But some of their outlets just seem like a cash-in, and, by the sound of it, at George II quality is being sacrificed for profit.
I am very sad to hear about the jacket potatoes - it was the spuds that used to bring me back again and again to The Meeting House. Microwaved? Yeuch. Not even cooked? Double yeuch.
It does at least sound as though you enjoyed the experience in a manner of speaking - sometimes a place is so terrible that it stops being a cafe and starts being theatre.
Trouble is, that as with so many eateries in central Greenwich, George II does not have to convince us locals to return. There is a steady flow of one-off tourists who will not be expected to tell their friends or create any kind of buzz to keep the pounds rolling in (I will be interested to see what happens in the new place by the power station - fewer tourists will mean Greenwich Inc have to appeal to locals - hopefully we will see something new and exciting there - and I will be the first to trumpet it if we get something really good...)
I will try to brave George II one day soon - but they don't need my - or your - custom and I cannot think that they will care what I, or anyone else has to say. It's a shame that The Meeting House closed, but it's even more of a shame if what has replaced it is a shadow of its former greasy glory. Greenwich already has a dodgy reputation for food. This is not going to improve that reputation.
Has anyone else been there yet?
Labels: Eating Out
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
10:42
5 Comments:
Sounds to me like you don't have to review it. You just quoted a thorough and perfectly convincing one right there. I won't be visiting George II.
On a similar note, the lady who runs Trafalgar Cafe is a neighbour. I had the pleasure of telling her of the very positive reviews on your site. She doesn't have a computer, but she was clearly chuffed.
Absolutely NOT surprised by this - George original has appaulling service, high prices, filthy tables and chairs and the same standard decor - lots of pictures - as Bar de Musee - chav attraction - more money than sense as usual. And doing nothing for Greenwich or improving the food situation and unfortunately he gets away with it because the majority of the customers are from outside Greenwich and dont care about what they eat.
Sadly I think that people from outside Greenwich DO care what they eat. Not all tourists are oafs, especially the ones that actually make it off the beaten track to Greenwich. But they only have one chance to choose somewhere to eat and if they have a duff time, they won't generally tell anyone - they'll just remember that Greenwich as a whole as being a rip-off.
That's why I am so glad Pizza Luna has closed now. I dread to think what image of Greenwich the people sitting around me took home with them...
I had a coffee in George II and instantly regretted it, I mean who in their right mind chose those eye sores of table / chairs combinations? it is a real let down, he has a captive audience and he knows it. There is no good putting up some fancy looking paintings and thinking that that will do, good thing the market is getting better with the food stalls, a definite bonus!
Jacket potatoes are reheated with cold beans in the middle. One tea towel to be used for the entire day. It is always damp, filled with coffee grinds, and yes, it's drying your coffee mug. Yum.
Esspresso is made in advance (to save time during busy periods) and is warmed up when ordered by steamed milk. Tables are perpetually dirty. Staff are over worked, beyond comprehension.
The food is not to the standard you are expecting. Do not be fooled by the price, you are not receiving quality.
Organic and free-range foodies beware.
Avoid this establisment like the plague.
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