Food feedback
Published: 25 May, 2010
Coverpoint’s Jonathan Doughty serves up his regular shopping centre foodservice review. This month he visits Chilango at Meadowhall.
During the first week we haven’t had rain, and before the volcanic ash arrived, I ventured to Meadowhall to have a look at the reconfiguration of the Oasis space in the upper level of the food court. This level has seen the introduction of restaurant brands such as Frankie & Benny’s, Handmade Burger Co and Chilango over the past year.
The restaurants were particularly busy during the visit, especially Frankie & Benny’s, but my choice, Chilango, was less so. On entering the unit, three of the staff were busy cleaning and conducting general housekeeping, while three others were behind the counter ready to serve.
I selected my meal, a burrito, chose a grilled chicken filling and added guacamole, together with a bottomless soda. All the ingredients were fresh, with the meat just being cooked, and having mastered the ‘unwrapping’ of a burrito, I was very comfortable with my lot. At £8.10 however, this could hardly be considered cheap fast food, which is good because it was a substantial meal, which was also well prepared and tasted great.
The unit is bright, modern and well designed so the guest can understand easily how to queue, order and pick up product. The overall experience was pretty good – until I went to the toilet facilities. It is absolutely beyond me why any operator would allow such an important part of their business to be left unattended and in such a poor state.
This is the first departure from London for the Chilango brand. I think it translates well, although the unit does look very large for the business levels, and a number of potential customers ‘baulked’ at the asking price and walked away.
Despite this, what we do know is that the burrito is here to stay and is becoming a ‘mainstream’ offer in UK shopping centres.
