Big Chef Takes On Little Chef Did Heston change Little Chef?

Comments

1. Ernie, your post on 2/11 at 23:56 is the exact reason why they had to get Heston in!!!

   Posted by Thatswhyhechangedit on 05/11/2009 16:27:08

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2. visted little chef on the a64 york to find you have change your menu,was very diserpoint with your new menuwhat happed to your old menu,i could all round the county and get a good breakfast lunch a bit price but good holsome food, i saw the program on tv and at the time remark if you took up addvise from a jump up tv chef your eat place would down.i will give your york little chef another go. but if you do not return your old menu it will the last. i think your staff are do the best but with the new menu you have thier donot stand a chance

   Posted by ernie on 02/11/2009 23:53:06

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3. Was delighted that Little Chef finally understood Heston Blumenthal's thinking about the new menus and decor. Congratulations to everyone involved. Will now look forward to stopping at a transformed Little Chef.

   Posted by Jane E. on 02/11/2009 09:47:16

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4. what happened to the original staff at Popham?

   Posted by Micky boy on 01/11/2009 23:30:56

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5. I have not eaten at a little chef for over ten years, and have only visited occasionally out of desperation. I felt for greasy spoon food it was always very overpriced. I visited the York Little Chef today with my family after seeing Heston's show and I wasn't disappointed. I would now go to Little Chef out of choice rather than need as the food is in a different league (and the facilities for kids were great too). The place was busy and so service was a bit slow but not a major concern. Staff were efficient and friendly throughout. The only (minor) gripe was that some of the portions were a bit small, but I think a worthwhile trade off for the excellent flavours bearing in mind the budget. The prices now actually look very competative when compared to on par gastro pubs. a BIG WELL DONE to Heston & to Little Chef for swallowing pride & listening! Please change all the others ASAP! I'll be back.

   Posted by Dangerous Dave on 01/11/2009 22:58:34

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6. That oily CEO was no better was he? All that phoney positivism and management speak - was so transparent. Clearly he watched the first series and realised how bad he looked and he was trying to be less obstructive. And his guarantee is worthless given the sauces all changed. Cannot be trusted. Heston was brilliant though and Ive been to the Popham LC a couple of times and it was great. Maybe in ten years time, there will 20 upgraded Little Chefs at the current rate of two per year. Of course that would still leave 150. Heston should have just taken the CEO to a number of different Little Chefs round the country until he admitted the food is unacceptable as it is.

   Posted by James Toft on 31/10/2009 14:17:09

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7. I think what this exercise has proved is something that people doubted. Little Chef still has a market and if they are able to add value to, what are often perceived as high prices, then people will use them again. I have to say, when I stopped at the overhauled York branch the food was awesome, the service excellent and the surroundings fantastic. Heston knows what he's talking about and thank you Ian for believing him! I know it will take some time to overhaul the whole fleet but, in the meantime value can still be added. Good service with a friendly smile goes a long way and can brighten a place up endlessly. I'm pleased to say I find this at the majority of the branches I visit and there are some truly great staff out there. Keep up the good work and I will continue to support you!

   Posted by Alan Simpson on 29/10/2009 18:38:46

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8. I'm sceptical but time will tell. Great recipes though, if you're a meat eater, throughout the whole series and the follow up program there was never a mention of vegetarian food, there's a lot of us out there

   Posted by owen on 29/10/2009 18:23:41

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9. Hestons updated decor for Little Chref looks great. I will continue to visit the pre Heston restuarants though as I always have an Olympic Breakfast which I think tastes great as it is. You dont get the potatoes with Hestons version and I expect it costs more. Hestons restuarant might be the best quality food but is only for the rich with small apetites. If I ate in his restuarant I would have to stop at an old little chef for an olympic on the way home. One thing I have noticed is that they do not seem to have any attractions for kids now which is a shame. Probably down to Health and Safety nonsense though these days.

   Posted by DKP on 29/10/2009 11:40:26

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10. It's not rocket-science to understand that 'this is how it should be...', both from the management, in 'sticking to the game plan' and from the staff in the implementation ('KEEP getting it right' is the main key to successful business). You KNOW that Hestons hopes are never going to be realised longterm. Little Chefs are now truly dire, failing on so many of the fundamental basics that apathy has become a job requirement. Its a shame.

    Posted by George on 29/10/2009 09:01:01

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11. Heston, well done for trying to change the whole concept of 'Little Chef'. I am not convinced your menu and ethos will be carried on throughout the branches. I think that profit is far more important to the bosses there than customer satisfaction and eventually standards will slip once again through not sticking to your plan. We visited a Little Chef on the A303 on our way back from Cornwall and it was not good. I sent my coffee back! It was like dishwater and though they did change it, it really was extremely poor. More attention needed there as well as the food me thinks but well done mate.

    Posted by Shirley Ann on 28/10/2009 22:36:06

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12. There is a Heston Little Chef at Kettering on the A14. It is tidy, clean, the serving staff are pleasant and the food is great. I have become a huge fan. Keep up the good work Heston.

    Posted by carolf on 28/10/2009 22:16:23

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13. Did he go to the same Popham Little Chef as I did??! We made a special trip while we were in the area in August and it was absolutely atrocious! The service was appalling - we waited 40 minutes to be acknowledged despite there only being a handful of other diners, and my 15 month olds meal arrived 20 mins after the adult ones. The food was less than great and I will never ever go back. if that is the best Little Chef can do (and heaven knows I KNOW they can do worse - bullet peas anyone?) then how can there be a future for Little Chef?

    Posted by Julia, Harrow on 28/10/2009 22:11:37

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14. I challenge Heston to visit Popham Little Chef unannounced on a Sunday morning. The breakfast was shockingly bad. Never mind Petit Buerre on the eggs - I'm happy if they are cooked and the food is hot. Pretty basic really. Good advertising for Little Chef but don't believe the hype. Sorry Heston.

    Posted by Jan on 28/10/2009 22:10:58

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15. Great programme. Totally different attitude from Little Chef management but only time will tell. Did anyone else think that the scrambled egg in York looked more like rice pudding and not at all like the more sturdy scrambled egg Heston raved on about in Kettering. What about the burnt tomato and and cooked on top sausage!

    Posted by lindz2001 on 28/10/2009 22:06:03

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16. i want to go to little chief

    Posted by LA Dickson on 28/10/2009 22:04:40

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17. Heston. I don't think you did change "Little Chef". They are a chain of (mostly) inadequate Fast Food Restaurants, strategically placed at motorway junctions. I like food, and like yourself, know a bit about it. But even you cannot have expected an "Old Leopard" to change into "New Spots". I hope I am wrong if I ever have the misfortune to visit one of these places. Well done for trying.

    Posted by Neil Graham on 28/10/2009 00:49:50

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