OK, What's For Lunch or Tea Today?

[struth]

Food was all very good but portion sizes were quite small. Monkfish came with quinoa & beetroot purée for £26 so a bit steep. Didn’t think the place was ‘grand’ enough to warrant the prices so next time I’m pushing the boat out we’ll go back to Alec’s or Smith’s.

https://alecsrestaurant.co.uk

https://smithsrestaurants.com/smiths-ongar/

go to the local greasy spoonusually good value

[Marco]

Food was all very good but portion sizes were quite small. Monkfish came with quinoa & beetroot purée for £26 so a bit steep. Didn’t think the place was ‘grand’ enough to warrant the prices so next time I’m pushing the boat out we’ll go back to Alec’s or Smith’s.

Aye, a dollop of the former and a 'skidmark' of the latter! So no veg or pots? I've had bigger portions as starters, lol!

Fair enough if you enjoyed it mate, but for me that's VASTLY overpriced for what you got.

My advice next time, if you want more (and probably also better for your money, too) is to find a small, family run, Italian restaurant where the accent is on quality, but also VFM, and where the chef (and owner) likes to FEED his customers, not paint pretty pictures on plates and charge plenty for it!!

Just my POV - but I bet you left there still feeling hungry!

When I saw the place (from clicking on your link) and looked at the menu, I pretty much knew what to expect and what the place was about (but didn't like to say) - and it's the kind of place we avoid like the plague.

Both of these, however, look far more interesting:

https://alecsrestaurant.co.uk

https://smithsrestaurants.com/smiths-ongar/

Marco.

[Marco]

Is Hornchurch not to far away, Roy? Have you been here: https://www.tarantinohornchurch.co.uk/

That looks much more like the sort of place I'd got to, and also more authentic!

Marco.

[Roy S]

Is Hornchurch not to far away, Roy? Have you tried here: https://www.tarantinohornchurch.co.uk/

That looks much more like the sort of place I'd got to, and also more authentic!

Marco.

Other half has eaten there and wasn’t impressed, I’ve eaten at one from the same chain in Brentwood and it was average at best.

[guy]

..............................
When I saw the place (from clicking on your link) and looked at the menu, I pretty much knew what to expect and what the place was about (but didn't like to say) - and it's the kind of place we avoid like the plague.
........................

Marco.

I was concerned by their presentation

[Marco]

Other half has eaten there and wasn’t impressed, I’ve eaten at one from the same chain in Brentwood and it was average at best.

Ok, fair enough. From the website it just looks much better than where you went. Didn't realise it was a part of a chain. There does seem rather a lot of chain restaurants down your way... Are there any Italian restaurants that aren't? Small and privately owned is usually always the best way to go with most restaurants.

In general though, although I don't know how you feel about eating at lunchtime instead, in Italian restaurants often the best food (and VFM) is found in their lunch menus, and where it's also much cheaper than dining in the evening. That's one of the reasons why Del and I prefer going out for lunch than dinner

Marco.

[Roy S]

In its defence Monkfish is usually quite expensive (but some extra veg would have been nice) and their sirloin was only £2 more than tarrantinos.

[walpurgis]

Watching an American TV programme the other day, somebody mentioned a "cottage cheese omelette". I can't for the life of me imagine what that would be like .

[struth]

Making chicken Tikka.

Just waiting on rice. (jasmine)

[Marco]

In its defence Monkfish is usually quite expensive (but some extra veg would have been nice) and their sirloin was only £2 more than tarrantinos.

Sure, but that dish you had would've been about £10 less here, and there would probably have been more of it, plus also a portion of pots and veg served on the side. It's more style over substance mate, and TBH, as Guy's pointed out, with precious little of the former in evidence.

You didn't answer this, btw:

Are there any Italian restaurants that aren't? Small and privately owned is usually always the best way to go with most restaurants.

In my experience, chains rarely offer a rewarding eating experience, in comparison with the best that smaller, more specialised, restaurants can offer. Also, what's your view of going out for lunch rather than dinner? You might be pleasantly surprised at what your get!

Marco.