Miller & Carter: the lettuce- discuss.

[BanburyBlue]

Hi peeps.

Me & Mrs BanburyBlue went to our local Miller & Carter for our anniversary last week. Now tell me, does anyone get the ‘quarter of iceberg lettuce’ thing? It seems a strange thing to give you a lump of lettuce with a random sauce on it, before your main course. However, I was talking to a colleague the other day, who said she loved having the lump of lettuce at Miller & Carter. I shudder to think how many iceberg lettuces are thrown in the bin (when half the world are starving).

Thoughts?

Ta.

 

[D6130]

Me & Mrs BanburyBlue went to our local Miller & Carter for our anniversary last week.

What on earth is Miller & Carter? A new burger bar chain?

 

[BanburyBlue]

What on earth is Miller & Carter? A new burger bar chain?

Sorry, Miller & Carter are a steak house brand across the U.K. Nice (ignore the lettuce for now), but quite expensive. And my view, very slow in the service department.

 

[D6130]

Sorry, Miller & Carter are a streak house brand across the U.K. Nice (ignore the lettuce for now), but quite expensive. And my view, very slow in the service department.

Ah...fair enough. They don't seem to have penetrated this part of West Yorkshire yet.

 

[BanburyBlue]

Ah...fair enough. They don't seem to have penetrated this part of West Yorkshire yet.

Apparently there is one in Leeds.

 

[Crossover]

There’s also one on the outskirts of Mirfield (near the site of the old Cooper Bridge station, to be vaguely on topic)

Never had chance to visit one yet, though would like to at some point

 

[D6130]

Apparently there is one in Leeds.

Oh no! We'll build burning barricades to stop them opening one in the independent retail and eating paradise of Hebden Bridge!

 

[BanburyBlue]

There’s also one on the outskirts of Mirfield (near the site of the old Cooper Bridge station, to be vaguely on topic)

Never had chance to visit one yet, though would like to at some point

I hope you like lettuce.

Oh no! We'll build burning barricades to stop them opening one in the independent retail and eating paradise of Hebden Bridge!

Well, I think they’re quite good, apart from the slow service, and random lettuce.

 

[Crossover]

It looks like there are 4 in West Yorkshire - Leeds, Mirfield, Horsforth and Garforth

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It looks like there are 4 in West Yorkshire - Leeds, Mirfield, Horsforth and Garforth

The Mirfield one is formerly the Three Nuns pub, one of several locations that claims to be the final resting place of Robin Hood.

As for the lettuce, they could have chosen a more flavourful variety (such as little gem) rather than the bland iceberg, which is only popular because it travels well.

 

[GusB]

Sorry, Miller & Carter are a streak house brand across the U.K. Nice (ignore the lettuce for now), but quite expensive. And my view, very slow in the service department.

Does one have to be naked?

 

[Jamiescott1]

Owned by same people as Harvester. Says it all really

 

[BanburyBlue]

Does one have to be naked?

Ooops - corrected

 

[Lost property]

Did it bear any resemblance to a certain Ms Truss ?

 

[Calthrop]

Quoth Marie Antoinette: "Qu'ils mangent de la laitue Iceberg".

 

[jon81uk]

A wedge salad is a fairly common side or starter in a steakhouse, particularly in the USA.

The definition from Wikipedia is

Wedge salad​

A wedge salad is a green salad made from a head of lettuce (often iceberg), halved or quartered, with other ingredients on top.

I think what Miller & Carter serve as a side to the steak meets that description.

The honey & mustard dressing is a little heavy on the mustard but pretty good, but the blue cheese topping is probably the best.
If you don't want the side and think it will go in the bin then just don't order it. Personally I quite like that as standard all the steaks come with sauce, side salad and chips/potatoes/greens.

Owned by same people as Harvester. Says it all really

Mitchells & Butlers own many of the chain pub/bar-restaurants. All have a speciality, Miller & Carter is the slightly upscale (no sportswear) steakhouse, Harvester is all grills, Toby is a carvery, Stonehouse a cheaper carvery. They also own All Bar One and the Brown's restaurants which try to be better quality. Across their brands they seem to be pretty successful really.

 

[sprinterguy]

Owned by same people as Harvester. Says it all really

Given Mitchells & Butlers wide range of brands targeted at different market segments, I don't think that it's indicative of anything much either way. I'm fond of their Nicholson's, Ember Inns and Vintage Inns establishments, as well as Miller and Carter.

 

[Crossover]

The Mirfield one is formerly the Three Nuns pub, one of several locations that claims to be the final resting place of Robin Hood.

And will probably always be referred to as The Three Nuns by us locals!

 

[Ted633]

It should be served as a side (it is at my local M&C). I think the idea of it is to 'cleanse your palate' after each mouthful of steak. Not sure how that works in practice though!

 

[theironroad]

Hi peeps.

I shudder to think how many iceberg lettuces are thrown in the bin (when half the world are starving).


Thoughts?

Ta.

Just what the world needs right now...more lettuce

 

[DustyBin]

It should be served as a side (it is at my local M&C). I think the idea of it is to 'cleanse your palate' after each mouthful of steak. Not sure how that works in practice though!

It always has been in my experience, but I suspect they sometimes bring it out first so that your steak doesn't get cold waiting. It's part of the main course though regardless.

Personally I find Miller & Carter perfectly acceptable. My only constructive criticism (and the reason we don't go as often as we used to), is that the offer doesn't change much so it can feel a little "samey". The flip side to that of course is that it's a formula that works and has stood the test of time.... You pays yer money!

 

[BanburyBlue]

It always has been in my experience, but I suspect they sometimes bring it out first so that your steak doesn't get cold waiting. It's part of the main course though regardless.

Personally I find Miller & Carter perfectly acceptable. My only constructive criticism (and the reason we don't go as often as we used to), is that the offer doesn't change much so it can feel a little "samey". The flip side to that of course is that it's a formula that works and has stood the test of time.... You pays yer money!

Our big issue with M&C is their service - it's so slow. I'm not sure if it is just our local Banbury one, or more widespread? We went in on Friday for our anniversary. We arrived at 6.50, starters arrived quite promptly, and then nothing. It was almost 8.30 and we still didn't have our main courses. My wife flagged down a passing waitress, and our food arrived, however, my wife's steak was almost mooing, and it took another 10 minutes for the sides to appear. We left after 9, so over 2 hours for a 2 course meal (we gave up on having pudding, because it would have probably ended up as breakfast the speed we were going).

It's not cheap either, which is fair enough, but you'd think for the price you pay, you'd get a bit more on your plate. So a steak, a drizzle of green stuff, a quarter of a tomato and chips. More if you want chunky ones.

 

[DustyBin]

Our big issue with M&C is their service - it's so slow. I'm not sure if it is just our local Banbury one, or more widespread? We went in on Friday for our anniversary. We arrived at 6.50, starters arrived quite promptly, and then nothing. It was almost 8.30 and we still didn't have our main courses. My wife flagged down a passing waitress, and our food arrived, however, my wife's steak was almost mooing, and it took another 10 minutes for the sides to appear. We left after 9, so over 2 hours for a 2 course meal (we gave up on having pudding, because it would have probably ended up as breakfast the speed we were going).

It's not cheap either, which is fair enough, but you'd think for the price you pay, you'd get a bit more on your plate. So a steak, a drizzle of green stuff, a quarter of a tomato and chips. More if you want chunky ones.

If it was that bad I'd be tempted to write a letter of complaint to be honest and see what they offer you. As you say it's not a cheap restaurant, and whilst I'm generally quite understanding, it sounds as though the level of service fell below what anyone would reasonably expect, even if was busy etc.

For what it's worth, I've never had an experience as poor as that in any Miller & Carter I've visited.

 

[jon81uk]

Our big issue with M&C is their service - it's so slow. I'm not sure if it is just our local Banbury one, or more widespread? We went in on Friday for our anniversary. We arrived at 6.50, starters arrived quite promptly, and then nothing. It was almost 8.30 and we still didn't have our main courses. My wife flagged down a passing waitress, and our food arrived, however, my wife's steak was almost mooing, and it took another 10 minutes for the sides to appear. We left after 9, so over 2 hours for a 2 course meal (we gave up on having pudding, because it would have probably ended up as breakfast the speed we were going).

It's not cheap either, which is fair enough, but you'd think for the price you pay, you'd get a bit more on your plate. So a steak, a drizzle of green stuff, a quarter of a tomato and chips. More if you want chunky ones.

My local doesn't have that issue, service has been good, mains arriving almost immediately after starters and starters arriving almost too quickly!

Price-wise I always thought its about right for steak, The Ivy Collection restaurants are a bit fancier and charge £27.95 for 8oz sirloin, plus £5.50 for chips and £3.95 for sauce. Miller & Carter at £34.95 for 12oz Sirloin including sides and sauce is cheaper then for a larger piece. Harvester is of course cheaper at £20.49 for 10oz sirloin including chips, plus £1.99 for sauce. Wetherspoons of course much cheaper at £16 including a drink.
Rump at £21 at Miller & Carter is a good price, compared to £17 (plus £1.99 for sauce) at Harvester.

 

[BanburyBlue]

If it was that bad I'd be tempted to write a letter of complaint to be honest and see what they offer you. As you say it's not a cheap restaurant, and whilst I'm generally quite understanding, it sounds as though the level of service fell below what anyone would reasonably expect, even if was busy etc.

For what it's worth, I've never had an experience as poor as that in any Miller & Carter I've visited.

We did complain on the night, and the manager knocked off the price of our main courses. There did seem a fair number of waiting staff, so assume the issue was in kitchen.

 

[SteveM70]

And will probably always be referred to as The Three Nuns by us locals!

There was a Three Nuns in Loughborough when I was at college there, and it was universally known as the Six Tits

 

[trebor79]

I've always wondered if the Aberdeen/Angus steakhouses in London are any good? I suspect not.
A friend suggested Hawksmoor a while back. Yeah whatever. Naive me. 2 steaks, some sides and a few drinks came to £285 .

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I've always wondered if the Aberdeen/Angus steakhouses in London are any good? I suspect not.
A friend suggested Hawksmoor a while back. Yeah whatever. Naive me. 2 steaks, some sides and a few drinks came to £285 .

I've never eaten at an Angus Steakhouse, but their reputation precedes them.
Sometimes a bad reputation is undeserved, but usually not.

 

[DustyBin]

I've always wondered if the Aberdeen/Angus steakhouses in London are any good? I suspect not.
A friend suggested Hawksmoor a while back. Yeah whatever. Naive me. 2 steaks, some sides and a few drinks came to £285 .

Hawksmoor is pretty good though.

What really gets me is when you pay a fortune for a poor to average meal, which thankfully hasn’t happened to me all that often (the last time was at a well known eatery near Charing Cross).

 

[johntea]

I've eaten at the Aberdeen Steak House in London before and didn't find it too bad to be honest, more a 'novelty' place you would only really visit if you're a tourist rather than a resident I guess!