Founded
in New York City back in the 1960's and with well over 900 outlets
worldwide, you may be surprised to learn that I'd actually never set
foot in a TGI Friday's*. For, what's coined as 'casual dining' is, in
my view, really rather pricey; the multitude of alternative chain
restaurants gracing our fair city offering what I’d previously
considered better value-for money for fare of a comparable quality.
Consequently, the newest branch of TGIFs in Bristol's Cabot Circus
(which opened its doors in the Summer of 2013) had, for me at least,
remained untouched. That is, until I received an offer I simply
couldn't refuse....
The Invitation:
Do you
lie in bed craving a relationship you can really sink your teeth
into?
Are
you looking for romance of the incredibly meaty variety?
TGI
Friday’s invites you and a friend to a saucy evening of hot love,
BURGER BLIND DATE.
We’ve
arranged a line-up of our sexiest new hand-crafted burgers who are
all dying to meet you – but choosing your lover for the night won’t
be as simple as love at first sight. Forget Cilla Black, you’ll be
choosing the burger who gets you hot under the collar by reading
about their naughtiest personality traits, seeing who tickles your
pickle and taking the plunge. In Burger Blind Date every one of our
sizzling suitors is a boom fitty, so what have you got to lose?
If
you’re game, come down to TGI Fridays Cabot Circus on Thursday 24th
April at 6:00pm, pluck up some Dutch courage with a cocktail or two
on us and ‘meat' the love of your life. Just RSVP to this email
with the name of your +1 to let us know that you’re coming.
We’ll
see you soon for some cheeky back-room action!
Lots
of lovin’,
TGI
Friday’s
In
the subject line was a disclaimer reading: 'Fun warning: This may be
the best email you'll receive all weekend'...and it was...it really
was! Accordingly, here is my account of the evening that followed....
The Cocktails:
First
stop...the bar and although sticky menus brim with a vast assortment
of concoctions, our server encouraged my dining companion and I to
allow him to recommend a cocktail (from a bank of over 500) based on
our preferred base spirit. My affinity with gin landed me the
Maverick Aviator (£6.99); a delicate fusion of Bombay Sapphire,
violet and maraschino liqueurs and the zing of fresh lemon which had
been finished with a light (alcoholic) foam; genius! For my friend,
the Hinky Dink (£6.99) which muddled Bacardi eight-year-old rum with
generous measures of Captain Morgan and Grand Marnier. The splash of
lime juice and slurp of almond syrup completing the brew,
appropriately balancing the boozy kick with a sweet-noted warmth.
Later,
we found ourselves with a classic French Martini and a fruity twist
on a frozen margarita which established my new mantra that a cocktail
simply isn’t worth the graft unless you have to support its weight
with both hands! That said, should cocktails not be your bag (come
on, really?!) you should know that there are a multitude of
alternative beverage routes to sip; beers, bubbles, wines, mocktails,
milkshakes…the list is endless.
Burger Blind Date:
With
the traits of each contestant in-hand, it was time to select our
partner in gastronomical gluttony and, usually priced between £9.99
and £13.49, its fair to say that high expectations were steering us
towards the most outlandish ‘traits’ in the mix. I opted for
lucky contestant number two (see description below) which manifested
itself as Friday’s double glazed Jack Daniel’s burger which was
sweet and smoky, slathered with Monterey Jack cheese and topped with
Jack Daniel’s candied bacon and Friday’s mayo. With a generous
side order of sweet potato fries, this was a serious plate of food;
attractively plated yet piled high; each element absolutely spot-on
in terms of its execution. My dining companion chose contestant
number eight, the mystery meal which constituted a toasted brioche
bun which had been layered with a mix-up of beef steak, peppers,
jalapeños, fried onion and that legendary Jack Daniel’s drizzle.
He accompanied his burger with the chilli cheese fries which, for me
at least, depicted a meal in itself! All in all, I’d suggest that
the dishes we’d received suitably demonstrated the intended theme;
namely the wow-factor of an American grill, (cue gutsy portions and
unmistakable carnivorous appeal). This theme has also been channelled
into the service which was enthusiastic and, at times, a little
over-attentive. If you're a person who prefers limited interaction
with those that wait your table during dinner, perhaps this
establishment isn't for you. If I'm honest, I was
kinda relieved that I didn't have to witness the 'carnival' that
erupts in the event of a birthday!
 |
| Contestant Number Two! |
 |
| Contestant Number Eight |
 |
| Don't panic, the filthy innuendo above will be gone by the time you visit...you can still bring your Grandparents! |
Something Sweet:
How
we managed to tackle a pudding after the nom-fest that had taken hold
thus far was quite an accomplishment and yet, we felt compelled to
share the Popcorn Brownie Sundae which was choc-full of, yep you
guessed it, warm brownie chunks and crunchy, toffee-glazed popcorn.
Swirled with hot fudge sauce, creamy vanilla ice cream and topped
with ‘proper’ whipped cream – nothing synthetic here, folks –
this really was an indulgent end to an extravagant evening of what
can only be described as food porn!
In Conclusion:
And
there you have it, the unashamed yet seedy reasons for my visit; a visit which
confirmed a couple of my preconceptions and yet, allowed for an
overhaul of my TGIF virginity and in doing so, led me to experience
first-rate service, a passion for mixology that, in my view, simply
cannot be rivalled by any other chain restaurant and seriously
satisfying fare. Yes, it is a little cheesy and it may well set you
back rather more pennies than its neighbouring eateries but for the
quality that ensued, it really is worth the hit...I'd sum up TGI
Friday's as a chain with a brain given that it can suitably cater for
anyone. I mean, despite the vast selection of dishes/cocktails on the
menu (which doesn't often denote a positive outcome in the quality
versus quantity stakes), knowledgeable servers can help you make an
informed decision based on your basic wants, preferred ingredients
and of course, any dietary requirements. And so, with framed
photographs of our #burgerface action shots in hand, my dining
companion and I left with full tummies and a lasting impression of an
establishment that really aims to please…as blind dates go (and
I’ve been on a few), this has to be the only one which really made
me swoon!
 |
| Ready for the launch...! |
 |
| Feel the gurn...! |
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment