Despite feeling as though I knew exactly what to expect from a visit to the recently opened flagship TGI Friday’s at Leicester Square, I actually never had been to a TGI Friday’s and couldn’t recollect ever having tried its food or drink. Still, my presumptions proved largely correct when I took up the restaurant on its invitation to swing round to check out its shiny new mega huge digs and have a go at some new menu items.
The invite paired well with my need to be in that part of town on an upcoming date and turned out to be a good chance to meet with a friend whom I hadn’t seen in a while. Plus, I was curious to see if the place would be as I had imagined.
It was. Super smiley servers donned bright braces wrapped in fairy lights and adorned with boucoup badges. An oversized menu vividly displayed a bevvy of gratuitously maximum calorie mash up dishes. Cheery anthemic rock wafted through the vast expanse of the dining area just loud enough to ensure the convo wouldn’t turn too personal. Cocktails were extra stiff.
I’ve gotta give it up to those zealous servers though. They were speedy and precise in their delivery. For an early ho-hum weekday evening, the restaurant was packed. Those folks worked hard.
The food actually tasted good … and provided an especially goofy excuse to indulge (hey, it’s “always Friday here,” right?). My “Warrior Burger” featured “two 7oz burgers piled high with mozzarella fingers, Colby cheese, crispy bacon, American cheese, caramelized onions and Fridays mayo.” London’s best burger this was not, but maybe it was the city’s most ridiculous. Nonetheless I enjoyed it. The Jack Daniel’s Chili Dog – a “grilled pork ‘dog topped with hot and smoky Jack Daniel’s beef chili, diced onions, Colby cheese, chilies and American mustard” – was delicious.
The drinks were probably the best value booze in Leicester Square. I really liked my Cherry Stag (Jim Beam Black Cherry infused bourbon shaken with Luxardo Amaretto, BOLS cherry brandy and a dash of lemon juice). I recommend it.
If you’re apt to linger round Leicester Square … if you’re heading to a show and want reasonably priced food served with amazing consideration of your time … if you want to get a buzz fast and at minimal expense (for Central London) … TGI Friday’s is there.
TGI Friday’s flagship restaurant is located at 30 Leicester Square, WC2H 7LA. There are a handful of other TGI Friday’s across London and the UK. Find out more at tgifridays.co.uk.
