Gary is one of the best things that's happened to RUclips in ages: a genuine, nice, decent person. And when he says he's going to taste something, he actually WAITS until he really tastes it before judging it - take note all the other food reviewers!
You are obscenely kind, thank you so much. I try to just show you what to expect from a restaurant and hope that's enough that you all enjoy, thank you
Thank you Gary!! We have a lot of office business lunches at our local Bill's. I've always thought it to be rubbish. However, my boss thinks it's great. Just shows I should be in charge!!
Every Bills I've ever been to (London, Leeds and Durham) has had a consistent issue with really slow service. At this point it cannot be considered an issue with the individual employees but rather a systemic issue in the company. Either their training is bad, their systems are broken or their culture is so bad that their servers don't want to work.
@@GaryEats Maybe there's a reason: to increase the sales of alcoholic drinks. The longer people wait, the more likely they are to order 2 or 3 drinks - Kerching!
I started writing this before you got anything to eat. My opinion of the first few minutes is, even though you were not in a rush and wanted to relax, 'Bill's' should have acknowledge your existence with a 'Hello' or with an offer of getting a drink. When I was in Aruba, as a tourist, I walked into a seaside restaurant, 50% empty, I sat down, the servers saw me, I waited 15-20 mins with no acknowledgement, so I left. I also was not in a rush and I was relaxed. Most people do not appreciate being ignored.
Acknowledgement costs nothing and even if you have to wait you at least know someone will turn up, eventually. Being totally ignored when you know you have been seen is just the height of rudeness.
@@canibeserious this goes to most of these chain “pretends not to be fast food” restaurants - Wagamama, Nandos, Chipotle, Wahaca. The only exception might be Five Guys, which is still technically fastfood, but their ingredients are top notch.
i love how gary gets more relaxed and lighthearted with every new video, while still not losing the focus and delivering great food reviews. these video are so enjoyable!
The story of many chains…the original Bills in Lewes East Sussex was a wonderful, always packed, breakfast & lunch venue with farm shop items to boot. Cashed in and sold the brand but now universally garbage…shame, but you should see their houses!
Gary, if i had to wait 15 mins before a waiter approached the table, i am long gone. Don't let them off lack of service. Generally in the UK service is dreadful, either willing but inexperienced staff who the management cannot be bothered to train or reward, or experienced staff who have lost their will to live, or simply cannot be arsed.
Very true the service in the Uk is terrible especially in chain restaurants. But I get it the staff aren’t treated well so they in turn don’t treat the customers well. The only places you’ll usually get great service is in Indian restaurants. Always easy.
In the US I had an experience where a ranch steakhouse forgot our order and we had to chase it. They gave us the entire meal and drinks for FREE including the best steak I’ve ever had - a huge and utterly perfect filet from the ranch itself! I think 🇺🇸 service is better than ours 😂
Most places seem to use those thick wedge burgers now, they're heavy, chewy and bland. GIve me couple of thin fresh smashed patties any day of the week.
What I see in the UK is that they don’t know how to make beef burgers,you need to treat them very gentle,just push the meat together,no fillers ,no kneading the meat,or throwing it around. Every time someone shows the inside of a burger,I can see it’s been overworked,it should not look like a solid chunk of meat,should look like it’s about to fall apart,it should still be a little pink,at that point it is hot enough to kill anything bad,it should be running with juice,not fat.I am sorry for the person eating those dried out chewy burgers,knowing how good a properly made,and cooked burger can be.😊
@@JanetBrown-px2jn Gordon Ramsey's burgers are like meatloaf formed into a circle and he's a fancy chef. I'd rather have an In-n-Out burger for $5 than a lot of UK restaurant burgers.
We used to go to the original restaurant in Lewes and it was extremely good. Like many things as it spread it's wings and became more commercial the quality worsened. So sad because it used to be a good experience. Not now. One of your watchers said how whacky the one in Brighton was, Lewes was the same.
We went to Bills fruit and veg shop and he was always a bit pricy. Then, after the flood and he opened the cafe we chose not to eat as the prices were very high when compared with the others just across the bridge.
You've hit the hail on the ned. I remember Lewes, it was refreshingly unusual, food was good, but more suitable for those with a small appetite. We went there when we weren't broke and scraping the soup from the bottom of the saucepan. Acknowledging a person's presence is always nice when eating out. A lot of servers are rushed off their feet and don't have time or experience to notice you. Their people skills should know to just say hello, or be with you in a minute.
Hi Gary, I’m 47, my wife died when she was 38. I love watching your channel as it is relaxing and it gives me hope that I may get to one of the places you tried! Please come to Ireland. I would recommend FX Buckley.
We send you our most sincere condolences from Florida. It is so hard to hear you lost your loved one at such young age. Horrible. We wish you to be strong and send you blessings.
Chain restaurants are struggling in hospitality…the team can’t meet the standards many menu price’s demand. There are so many FOH teams out there that are embarrassed at the service they provide!
Hey gary, too many restaurants make fancy plates look interesting with "stuff" but the quality is not there.....its a way of charging more money for "no substance" really🤔😶🙄
Bills started off in Lewes in East Sussex as an independent whole food bistro, then almost overnight they opened up everywhere. Downhill all the way after that.
Why is it that as soon as a really decent restaurant is absorbed into a chain the service goes down hill the food becomes mediocre and obviously the place becomes history . Living near Bath and Bristol sadly we see this so often.
Thank you for that gem. I sat watching and was sure my wife and sister in law spoke about it an awful long time ago. They went to a small shop in Lewes at the time and were seriously impressed. Now you have settled my mind. Unfortunately it appears the name was good but no standard maintained. Big chain wipe out the good name and quality!
My daughter at Brighton University, many years ago, invited us on a visit to Bill's in obviously Brighton. The building was an old garage, big double doors, and inside there was produce, veg, cans of sardines, and other food goods all along one wall that you could buy. It was marvellous, I loved it. At the time there would have been about 3 Bill's. Fantastic! BUT.. you expand and you lose that quirkiness. It saddens me that was outstanding is now plain and below par.
@@GaryEats Gary, the Brighton Bill's was outstanding, very very popular, food good, service great. It's a lesson about staying small and being good at what you do! We've seen at lot of this going the wrong way, you and I can name them all. Anyway, Gary I love your channel, you are very fair and I respect you for that . Carry on reviewing restaurants I can't get to! Best wishes, Haydn.
I don't understand restaurants that plonk a load of leaves on your plate and can't even be arsed to drizzle a bit of olive oil over it and a few twists of cracked black pepper. Would rather have no lousy leaves.
Hi Gary Food plays a massive part of our family life. We all enjoy your channel so much from my 78 year old Mum to my 11 year old daughter. But, we all think the camera man needs a name. He’s part of your team! Keep up the great work! Barney
Hi Gary, the original Bill's was in Lewes in East Sussex and I've eaten there a few times back in the noughties. The food was good but pricey, they had a sort of market stall in the restaurant itself where you could buy fresh veg and fruit and some more unusual food items. It had a casual but upmarket arty bohemian feel to it which was nice. The owner, Bill, sold out to investors who developed it into a chain. The original restaurant is long gone sadly.
I remember the first Bill's in Lewes when it was a greengrocers with a small cafe on the side. It was a good greengrocers aimed at more of a foodie market with some unusual veg you wouldn't find anywhere else. It wasn't cheap, but quality and range was very good. They then expanded to a larger branch in Brighton when it become more of a restaurant with less emphasis on the food selling. I got the impression this was very successful, so started the expansion to other towns. I never ate in the original Lewes cafe, but the food always looked good in there. So imagine the quality was very good years ago, where it built a decent reputation. I imagine the large expansion to many branches to become a generic chain restaurant, where profit over quality now rules is a reflected in what you experienced today. It's a shame, as if they just focussed on a few branches with the original ethos they would probably be a lot better.
Hi Gary Hilarious review today mate! Only you can make an average meal very entertaining! It was pretty ordinary food to be honest and I have never heard of Bills before and won’t be making an effort to find them! Fantastic video as always mate. 5/10 for the meal is a fair score looking at that
Bill's started as a greengrocer's shop in Lewes. I remember when the café was added and it was a lovely quirky and friendly mix. The original is still there, and I think it's still the best. Lovely location by the river.
Bill’s is insulting. I’ve been to multiple branches and it’s always the same - bang average food not far off from wetherspoons standard but for extortionate prices. I feel they coast off of the dining areas being nice enough and having convenient locations. The servers are usually nice but every time I’ve had something go wrong. Awful chain. The very apex of what modern Britain has become - a neoliberal breeding ground of expensive mediocrity. We need to work together to stop them somehow! 😂😂😂
Hi Gary & Cameraman. Should re-name it 'Balls', not 'Bill's'. Never heard of it, tbh. Nice how it doubles up as a dentistry, drilling people's teeth before/after they eat 😂. Want a laugh? We were half-convinced you'd turned up at our place the other day (Fischer's, Baslow). The guy was the spitting-image of you and talking to a cameraman. We breathed a sigh of relief and mopped our brows when the guy went to the bar, held his pint with a prosthetic arm, and spoke in Welsh accent. Phew! Great post as always, fellas. Looking forward to your next one. Love, Claire & Si ❤👍.
Totally agree with you Gary. I've been to the one in Cardiff Bay. Had breakfast which was bang average. The sausages were definitely pre cooked and then cooked again. It's easy to tell. Scrambled eggs overcooked too. I also asked for service to be removed. Haven't been in since.
I'm not keen on fast food or chain restaurants, but Bill's is definitely overrated. I went there once with a friend to the Richmond-upon-Thames branch and found the fish finger sandwich underwhelming. I haven't returned since and certainly shan't if they are cashless (which they didn't use to be). A good video.
When I saw the name Bill's I was hoping it had a connection to the late great Bill Granger . Love his recipes. Sadly not the case . Giant portion of cauliflower , I can only say that unless I actually saw the meat being minced I would not order a burger medium rare from a chain restaurant. Too much likelihood of cross contamination . That being said there is no excuse for a burger of that thickness being dry , as you said at least it was not a brioche bun . Yuck , no business being near a burger . The chicken looked very disappointing, there was no excuse for all the pips in the chunk of lemon . Say's something when the sauces are the star of the show 😮😢😢😢.
Like was these restaurants that get overtaken by private equity companies - Bills, The Ivy, etc - they become shit holes afterwards. The original Bills in Lewes was awesome - absolutely brilliant.
Not the best experience for you Garry and son cameraman. Definitely very average. Great video as always. Honest without being nasty. That is what makes you a gentleman. I think you took one for your fans this time.
Disgraceful Gary, a good restaurant greets you within 30-50 seconds, that delay is usually cause they are seating someone else. At 65 I have been to 2-3 places where I have just walked out, not worthy of my business. Thank you both, hugs from Cyprus. 🤗🤗🌹🌹👍👍
The original genial concept of Bill's when the chain was smaller was admirable and the food was consistent and service friendly. Every chain that grows beyond its core base will fail, sadly. It's like Boston TP and the like - food that indies and start-ups have superceded and excelled at.
Never heard of bills apart from that thing you get after the meal lol. You're never alone Gary you have the excellent cameraman and 146k of us. Food looked ok for a chain restaurant.
Top vid again Gary. Your attention to detail, knowledge and experience in dining and hospitality shine through in every video. You are so thoughtful and humble, and your enthusiasm shines through. Please try Babur in Honor Oak, Lewisham. Would love to hear your view.
I agree with you, I went to bills once and had the same experience as you, bland over priced food with no love, weak, slow service and prices that are too high the only goid thing was the decor and speaking to a few other who have been a few times, it's because it's a cool place to be not for the food haha...strange why someone would go to a restaurant not for the food, anyway as always Gary you were spot on and very fair and right with your thoughts
Never heard of Bill's. Bit offish them using the leftover salad from the posh statue place the other day😉 that looked gash before you even tried it! Any place that doesn't serve you in 15 mins wouldn't get my custom, i would have walked. None of it looked good, thank you for suffering so we dont have to.
Hi Gary and Mr Cameraman Well lovely setting and great decor, but sadly that's where it ends. A good front of house manager would never allow 15-20 minute waits for customers, that was shocking. Now your starter looked fair, but there seemed to be a lot of it, you want the customer to have a mouth watering starter, and then be looking forward to the main. Now re the burger, as you ordered it well done its hard to critique it, but in my personal opinion any meat cooked more than medium cesses to have any taste or texture worth eating. Now the chicken Shawarma, all the things that went with it looked okish, but im sorry real Shawarma needs cooking on a giro and slicing thinly, not taken out a packet and thrown on a grill. Im afraid this place was a big let down for me, and i think 3-4 was the score id give. Chris.
I kept adjusting my picture setting to clear the static until I realised it was Gary's top😉 great review even through the noise can't say I'll be rushing to a Bills anytime soon
Bills sometimes do unlimited pancakes (with fruits, icecream and sauces) with hot drinks for just £5! That’s the only time I’ve been in. Great video as usual Gary.
Another great review Gary, you really cheer me up as you are genuinely funny and that compliments you truthfully reviews. I’m glad they don’t have that chain in Scotland
"Be good Bill,be good'...ha ha! Never heard of this chain before,so it was extra interesting to get your opinion of this restaurant. Gary,you are easily one of the most entertaining presenters on youtube by far and and this latest review is one of your best and most fun yet. Thank you for another great watch,Gary.Loved it.
'Bill's' is a very well known restaurant; so much so that I have never heard of it! Yes, I agree, I don't get out much. You said it Gary. Looked and marked ordinary.
£40? MEGA OOFS! With the exception of the cauliflower (not something id normally go for, but it sounded interesting / worth trying) it looked a lot like stuff that was picked from the frozen ready meals (and weekly international offer) stuff at Lidl.
Do not skip straight to the last 15 seconds. As funny as it is! An excellent and entertaining review. Liked it a lot. Gary will know my local Bill's. Lovely inside. Lovely view over the river. I am fortunate enough to be able to get a 20% discount on the bill, and recently, that went up to 25%. They also do a thing when my grandkids eat free. But. The chain! They have decided to be a pricey Wetherspoons. The food quality matches (ish) allowing for cost. The model is identical. The service is not as good. Well done to Gary for rightly not paying the tip when service was below the standard rightfully expected. Like that. Thank you.
The good news is you get the discount, Alan, this really helps bring the bill down but it doesn’t help with the quality which you rightfully pointed out
Another fine video. I'll put this one on my list of places to avoid when I return to the UK. Gary is definitely having an influence on me. Last night I went to dinner with three friends from work. It was a chain restaurant, TGI Fridays. As I was walking up to the place I said to myself, "Let's give it a go." I ordered the fish and chips (another Gary influence). When they came, as my friends continued to talk, I mentally thought, "the batter is golden brown and crispy, the portion size is good. The chips were not in skin, but they had a nice golden color and were crispy on the outside and nice soft potato inside, but chips are chips. The tartar sauce (included) was good, but I could have used more. The fish was flaky and well-cooked. The service was fine, quite attentive. The price was reasonable, the quality acceptable. Was it the best fish and chips I've ever had. Of course not. Would I come back? Yes. Reasonable quality at a reasonable price. What mark would I give it? A 7." Do I need help or am I only now beginning to appreciate food properly? Thanks Gary.
I went to the branch in Guildford about a decade ago - it was pricey and distinctively average processed food that had been microwaved. This type of place can only survive in parts of Britain where incomes are way above average.
@@GaryEats Hi Gary, I know it's not compulsory but it should also not be compulsory to add it in by default. It's basically an additional tax, am absolutely positive it does not go to the server
When Bills first opened, they were actually pretty good but I find they have declined over the years. The one in Westfield, Shepherds Bush is not too bad but most others around London are average at best. Can't believe no one even approached for service - thats shocking and incredibly poor showing. I would have just walked out 😠.
That burger is criminally over cooked and that salad was so dry. Another underwhelming chain restaurant which doesn't put any thought into its cooking.
Loved that you went to Cardinal Place. I worked there for 5 years when I first moved to London from the US. Brings back great memories of living and working in central London. ❤
No, we have the displeasure of Miller & Carter instead. There's one in Warrington. Used to be 'The Memphis Belle' and was very good. Went to it twice after it became Miller & Carter. Only went the second time to see if it was possible to be so consistently terrible. Cold chips, cold lobster mac & cheese and a cold, raw rib-eye steak. Plus the side 'salad' was half a lettuce with some parmesan shavings on top. Appalling.
Hi Gary and CM Not a great start with waiting for quite a long time!! Starter visually looked pretty good.. Got to say the burger looked ok, but we both said ‘it looks dry’ 🙄, and you confirmed that when you tasted it!! Shame. Again, visually the chicken looked nice. Shame it was a disappointment for you.. Yeah we both said ‘nothing great’ and a disappointment for you. We both said 5 and a half at the most!! Like you said mate, it’s your opinion. We ate at Bills years ago, and it was ok, but nothing like ‘that was great, let’s go back’!! Great review. Looking forward to your next review. Thank you both David & Angela x
I went to Wetherspoons in Tewkesbury and had the limited edition South Korean chicken bowl, but the sauce tasted more of chemicals than anything else and I felt ill all night - I am allergic to additives of all kinds and should have sent it back but I was hungry and didn't have money for another meal. I couldn't eat it all, the sauce became too much.
You always have such a good attitude. And I appreciate that you describe the food in depth Another great video Gary. It's interesting seeing UK restaurants as opposed to USA ❤ But sorry the food was disappointing
I definitely used to find Bill's overrated, however after finding out I need to avoid gluten I appreciate them for having a dedicated menu, which is more effort than most chains. lGreat video Gary hope you're well!
SAVAGE! Gary, son of Eats, you are an absolute SAVAGE! Not because of the restaurant review. The food looked average (or slightly below), and it rightly got the “Well, if you’ve been trapped on a desert island for weeks without food, and you stumble across a Bill’s as you’re trying to swim/raft to safety, it will keep you alive, probably” score. What I am referring to is, prior to ordering, you sat straight up, composed yourself, smiled slightly even, and looked at the camera (and, I assume, the cameraman) and said, “I feel so alone!”. What a *devastating* blow to your son! I would have to imagine that his body compressed downwards almost immediately from the impact of the Acme 500 lbs. weight dropping onto his head. I half expected you to, at the conclusion of the review, ask your son to wait there while you get the car. The camera follows you as you attempt to cross the street (no fatalities this time!), then you get in your car, then you just drive away, while you shout out, “So long, Stinktown!” towards the cameraman. Though implausible, I also imagine that his tears appear on the camera lens slowly inching downwards.
Hi Gary. Love your videos. We went to Bills in Cardiff quite a time ago and at that time it was enjoyable,liked the tins and jars of stuff on shelves around you that you could buy ,it seemed unique.but went back another time and thought it had definately gone down hill and expensive. Take care x
Epic review mate... always takes one for the team our. Gar ....that burger looked dry as hell and the salad that they gave you with that garlic naan..looked sad .... looking forward to the next vid ❤
That restaurant was awesome Gary, but why get mass produced mediocre when they could get some proper chefs,That restaurant deserves some proper chefs and fresh cooked food 👌
Oops. What a pity It sucks when you pay good money and get disappointed. Average, not good enough for our Gary! Bring on another review, Gary! Hope the next one finds you looking for an appropriate adjective, like totally addictive or smashing grub? That good at Bills looked underwhelming
Hi Gary. Bit longwinded this one. Hope you'll oblige me. There used to be a Bill’s in my home town and for the first year or so it was OK. Food was ok, service was ok too. After then, it was a bit hit and miss with service, quality, portions and even bringing out food at the same time as others at the same table, (one time two diners at our table of four received their starters after their main course despite constantly telling the waiting staff they had messed up). But was still prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt as it was busy that evening. The final straw for me with Bill’s was when I booked a table for 9pm on a Saturday evening and received a phone call from the restaurant at 7.30pm informing me that they were going to shut the kitchen at 9pm so if I still wanted the booking I needed to get there by 8.30pm. So we dutifully rearrange our schedule and arrive at an almost empty Bill’s and get seated in the window, (probably to make it look like it was busy). Food was OK on this occasion, but they kept the menu outside and customers, after perusing it, kept walking in and being refused after the kitchen had closed, (being in a window seat it was obvious). I mentioned this to the waiting staff and was greeted with a ‘nothing to do with us’ attitude’. Me being me, I said I would go out and turn the menu around so no one else would come in, (there might have been an F bomb in there to be fair). They still didn’t give a hoot! Needless to say, Bill’s is no longer in my home town
I’m with you on the matter of chain restaurants, my one and only visit to Bill’s in Manchester City centre about 18 months ago was somewhat different. We were a group of six and arrived without booking around noon, as you encountered, all the tables were busy, and the manager said we could be waiting for an hour or so for a table, however the staff set us up on the side of the main bar and were so helpful and pleasant, and couldn’t have done more for us. We ate from the brunch menu, I think I had eggs Benedict, which was excellent, maybe I chose it because it’s a dish that has to be cooked to order! The bar staff were attentive and engaging and certainly knew their wine list too….. we ended up staying for over 3 hours and very much enjoyed the experience. I do say that the issue with chains is the inconsistency of delivery and quality of some dishes (I too generally avoid burgers!) overall I would have given my visit an 8 1/2 out of ten. Thanks for the review and disappointed for you that it wasn’t as pleasant as mine 😁
Gary, thank you for sticking with it for us. As many have already said, they would have walked away in the time it took for you to be served. The shipped in, heated up and put on a plate nature of the food was obvious here.
Loved the end Gary 😂 the food looked very underwhelming it would have been a 4 from me. The starter plate you used looked like a witherspoon one. Love from a very windy Cornwall xx❤❤
Agree wholeheartedly with you Gary, visited Bill’s in Kensington whilst on holiday a few years ago. Enjoyed our breakfast there and decided to go back for dinner. All our meals at dinner were very ordinary, service was hit and miss and food was overpriced. Never been back.
If you want to see me act like a muppet, skip to the last 15 seconds of the video. 🐔🔥
Legend 😂👍🏼
It was like what you'd do if this was the last video ever
Skipping away majestically
@GaryEats: Made me smile. I'm still one of the only people in the world who has never tried Nando's.
😂😂😂
Gary is one of the best things that's happened to RUclips in ages: a genuine, nice, decent person. And when he says he's going to taste something, he actually WAITS until he really tastes it before judging it - take note all the other food reviewers!
Except for his video yesterday when he criticised pricing without tasting the food
You are obscenely kind, thank you so much. I try to just show you what to expect from a restaurant and hope that's enough that you all enjoy, thank you
Make that High Street Kensington. My mistake.
@@craig-yr2ve mate they were charging £50 for a kebab are you alright?
@@craig-yr2ve50 quid..... For a kebab. Cmon now be real
For 15 minutes No waiter came to your table to take you order??? Thats so unacceptable!!
Not the best in the world but then I guess we were sat outside
@@GaryEats Did they think you were waiting for a bus?😮
Standard for them. Been to their Hammersmith and South Kensington branches. Terrible both.
everyone was inside and just him outside im sure he was simply forgotten about. your just eating at a restaurant you are not a king.
Make that High Street Kensington. My mistake.
This is the first time I’ve watched one of your reviews and not felt hungry at all!
I don't know....the Phillipino junk food made me feel nauseous . 🤷♀️😆
I cannot say I blame you at all!
same.
Thank you Gary!! We have a lot of office business lunches at our local Bill's. I've always thought it to be rubbish. However, my boss thinks it's great. Just shows I should be in charge!!
You should be in charge
Then get there and get in charge. Simple, say you will be the food qualifier effective immediately. Maybe your boss likes it because it is trendy?
@@SwisstedChef2018 I think you're right, he thinks it's trendy. Thanks for your comment.
Every Bills I've ever been to (London, Leeds and Durham) has had a consistent issue with really slow service. At this point it cannot be considered an issue with the individual employees but rather a systemic issue in the company. Either their training is bad, their systems are broken or their culture is so bad that their servers don't want to work.
That's interesting to know, seems to be a systemic problem
well written 👌
@@GaryEats Bills can be described in one sentence. Jack of all kitchens, master of none 😂😂
@@GaryEats Maybe there's a reason: to increase the sales of alcoholic drinks. The longer people wait, the more likely they are to order 2 or 3 drinks - Kerching!
Lack of staff and wanting to minimise Costs while maximising profits is the most likely answer
I started writing this before you got anything to eat. My opinion of the first few minutes is, even though you were not in a rush and wanted to relax, 'Bill's' should have acknowledge your existence with a 'Hello' or with an offer of getting a drink.
When I was in Aruba, as a tourist, I walked into a seaside restaurant, 50% empty, I sat down, the servers saw me, I waited 15-20 mins with no acknowledgement, so I left. I also was not in a rush and I was relaxed.
Most people do not appreciate being ignored.
Yes you're right Chris, the service was a bit iffy
Acknowledgement costs nothing and even if you have to wait you at least know someone will turn up, eventually. Being totally ignored when you know you have been seen is just the height of rudeness.
Same with a local Chinese here the guy stared at his phone for ages despite the queue growing. I left and never returned…. hate rudeness
@@CatherineDoverI agree
Out of the freezer, into the mic,typical overpriced rubbish, nice flog..
Bills restaurant has never appealed to me so thanks Gary .
Just like Jamie Oliver's crap
Yep, agreed
@@canibeserious this goes to most of these chain “pretends not to be fast food” restaurants - Wagamama, Nandos, Chipotle, Wahaca. The only exception might be Five Guys, which is still technically fastfood, but their ingredients are top notch.
@@ChrisPatrick-q6k
i love how gary gets more relaxed and lighthearted with every new video, while still not losing the focus and delivering great food reviews.
these video are so enjoyable!
That is very kind to say I am getting more relaxed
The story of many chains…the original Bills in Lewes East Sussex was a wonderful, always packed, breakfast & lunch venue with farm shop items to boot. Cashed in and sold the brand but now universally garbage…shame, but you should see their houses!
And then Richard Caring got involved and turned it into a commercial chain.
Congratulations to them 👌👌
Indeed, the original in Lewes was great. Everything home-made and delicious. Then the vulture capitalists got involved.
Agree on this wholeheartedly - How Lewes ended up with a Trojan chain outfit 😅
Not one thing looked appetising definitely not worth the wait
Completely agree with you!
That burger looked so dry and sad. Poor Gary.
The pancakes and bacon are pretty good, although it's pretty difficult to mess something as simple as that up.
@@Kevinacharleschallenge accepted 👍.
Gary, if i had to wait 15 mins before a waiter approached the table, i am long gone. Don't let them off lack of service. Generally in the UK service is dreadful, either willing but inexperienced staff who the management cannot be bothered to train or reward, or experienced staff who have lost their will to live, or simply cannot be arsed.
Very true the service in the Uk is terrible especially in chain restaurants. But I get it the staff aren’t treated well so they in turn don’t treat the customers well.
The only places you’ll usually get great service is in Indian restaurants. Always easy.
I do understand your point, David, but as I wanted to do the review, I had to stay, if I wasn’t doing the review, I would’ve left
In the US I had an experience where a ranch steakhouse forgot our order and we had to chase it. They gave us the entire meal and drinks for FREE including the best steak I’ve ever had - a huge and utterly perfect filet from the ranch itself! I think 🇺🇸 service is better than ours 😂
Most places seem to use those thick wedge burgers now, they're heavy, chewy and bland. GIve me couple of thin fresh smashed patties any day of the week.
No seasoning on this patty. No salt or pepper... not good
Come to the US for Burgers ..... Especially Diners, they're made to order!
What I see in the UK is that they don’t know how to make beef burgers,you need to treat them very gentle,just push the meat together,no fillers ,no kneading the meat,or throwing it around. Every time someone shows the inside of a burger,I can see it’s been overworked,it should not look like a solid chunk of meat,should look like it’s about to fall apart,it should still be a little pink,at that point it is hot enough to kill anything bad,it should be running with juice,not fat.I am sorry for the person eating those dried out chewy burgers,knowing how good a properly made,and cooked burger can be.😊
@@JanetBrown-px2jn Gordon Ramsey's burgers are like meatloaf formed into a circle and he's a fancy chef. I'd rather have an In-n-Out burger for $5 than a lot of UK restaurant burgers.
I suggest you try Beefy Boys in Hereford
We used to go to the original restaurant in Lewes and it was extremely good. Like many things as it spread it's wings and became more commercial the quality worsened. So sad because it used to be a good experience. Not now. One of your watchers said how whacky the one in Brighton was, Lewes was the same.
We went to Bills fruit and veg shop and he was always a bit pricy. Then, after the flood and he opened the cafe we chose not to eat as the prices were very high when compared with the others just across the bridge.
Unfortunately, as these chain restaurants grow the quality goes down, Robert
You've hit the hail on the ned. I remember Lewes, it was refreshingly unusual, food was good, but more suitable for those with a small appetite. We went there when we weren't broke and scraping the soup from the bottom of the saucepan.
Acknowledging a person's presence is always nice when eating out. A lot of servers are rushed off their feet and don't have time or experience to notice you. Their people skills should know to just say hello, or be with you in a minute.
Gary - Quite often those griddle marks on chicken or meat are put on there artificially rather than them being from a hot griddle
Yes indeed you are right
Keep pumping out great content gary 👌
Thank you very much Johno
He'll keep pumping alright with all that deep fried cauliflower he ate
@@johncraig2684😂
I've had the misfortune to go there a couple of times. Really not good.
Not good at all Steven
Just had my tea and a Gary Eats video drops. Get in. Best to you and the cameraman, pal.
Let's hope thar cameraman gets some of that food....
we in Ireland have out tea meal around 5-6pm too......
Really appreciate that, thank you Paul
@orionxtc1119: Nice one!
@GaryEats: Pleasure, pal.
Hi Gary, I’m 47, my wife died when she was 38. I love watching your channel as it is relaxing and it gives me hope that I may get to one of the places you tried! Please come to Ireland. I would recommend FX Buckley.
Hi my friend. I'm so sorry to hear that, I really appreciate your kind words and if you ever need anything, please do email me.
Sorry about that he loss of your wife 😢 hope things get better ❤
We send you our most sincere condolences from Florida. It is so hard to hear you lost your loved one at such young age. Horrible. We wish you to be strong and send you blessings.
Discovered your channel just a few weeks ago, love your positivity, and your vlogging is so good, informative with humor what not to like! 👍
Very kind to say thank you very much for watching and commenting
Keep up the great work Gary. The best place for cauliflower, Leave it in the field....
Thank you very much Dave
I DETEST cauliflower not many nutrients and tastes like cardboard!!
Chain restaurants are struggling in hospitality…the team can’t meet the standards many menu price’s demand. There are so many FOH teams out there that are embarrassed at the service they provide!
😂
Oh, I dunno, cauliflower cheese gratin is amazing if done right, or in piccalilli, but on its own, yeah, it's a bit duff!
I seem to be in a minority as I love cauliflower 😊 and it's always interesting to see how others cook it.
Hey gary, too many restaurants make fancy plates look interesting with "stuff" but the quality is not there.....its a way of charging more money for "no substance" really🤔😶🙄
Lipstick on a Pig!
Too right, pretty it up with cheap stuff and mimimize anything that may be worth eating.
I completely agree with you Briony, seems to be the case with a lot of places
Bills started off in Lewes in East Sussex as an independent whole food bistro, then almost overnight they opened up everywhere. Downhill all the way after that.
Always the same with these chain restaurants!
Even the one in Lewes is nothing special been there a couple of times. Tend to avoid them nowadays as much better alternatives can be found
@@gilesl Such a shame as the Lewes restaurant was excellent in the early 2000s
Why is it that as soon as a really decent restaurant is absorbed into a chain the service goes down hill the food becomes mediocre and obviously the place becomes history . Living near Bath and Bristol sadly we see this so often.
Thank you for that gem. I sat watching and was sure my wife and sister in law spoke about it an awful long time ago. They went to a small shop in Lewes at the time and were seriously impressed. Now you have settled my mind. Unfortunately it appears the name was good but no standard maintained. Big chain wipe out the good name and quality!
Another fine vlog gary. Top notch. Don't hate when the hamburger is dry . Jim and Harriet
Thank you, much appreciated Jim and Harriet
16:52 ‘ That salad, The salad needed help ‘ .. 😂😂😂
A good fair review as always .. such a shame this was not up to par looked a great location.
Glad you enjoyed it James
My daughter at Brighton University, many years ago, invited us on a visit to Bill's in obviously Brighton. The building was an old garage, big double doors, and inside there was produce, veg, cans of sardines, and other food goods all along one wall that you could buy. It was marvellous, I loved it. At the time there would have been about 3 Bill's. Fantastic! BUT.. you expand and you lose that quirkiness. It saddens me that was outstanding is now plain and below par.
Spot on, you've nailed it
@@GaryEats Gary, the Brighton Bill's was outstanding, very very popular, food good, service great. It's a lesson about staying small and being good at what you do! We've seen at lot of this going the wrong way, you and I can name them all. Anyway, Gary I love your channel, you are very fair and I respect you for that . Carry on reviewing restaurants I can't get to! Best wishes, Haydn.
I really appreciate that, thank you
Burger meat looked a bit "grey" /dry get away with murder ,all the restaurants serving mediocre quality burgers I'm afraid😊
Looked like grilled pate. Grinded more then required.
Very dry and lacked any seasoning
Never heard of Bill's before. Cheers for the education, Gary.
I don't understand restaurants that plonk a load of leaves on your plate and can't even be arsed to drizzle a bit of olive oil over it and a few twists of cracked black pepper. Would rather have no lousy leaves.
Indeed
Hi Gary
Food plays a massive part of our family life. We all enjoy your channel so much from my 78 year old Mum to my 11 year old daughter.
But, we all think the camera man needs a name. He’s part of your team! Keep up the great work!
Barney
I really appreciate that, thank you and please say hello to your family
Hi Gary, the original Bill's was in Lewes in East Sussex and I've eaten there a few times back in the noughties. The food was good but pricey, they had a sort of market stall in the restaurant itself where you could buy fresh veg and fruit and some more unusual food items. It had a casual but upmarket arty bohemian feel to it which was nice. The owner, Bill, sold out to investors who developed it into a chain. The original restaurant is long gone sadly.
I’m sorry to hear it has closed, but like all chain restaurants the bigger they get the quality goes down Mike
I remember the originals Bills. Thanks for the update!
I remember the first Bill's in Lewes when it was a greengrocers with a small cafe on the side. It was a good greengrocers aimed at more of a foodie market with some unusual veg you wouldn't find anywhere else. It wasn't cheap, but quality and range was very good. They then expanded to a larger branch in Brighton when it become more of a restaurant with less emphasis on the food selling. I got the impression this was very successful, so started the expansion to other towns. I never ate in the original Lewes cafe, but the food always looked good in there. So imagine the quality was very good years ago, where it built a decent reputation.
I imagine the large expansion to many branches to become a generic chain restaurant, where profit over quality now rules is a reflected in what you experienced today. It's a shame, as if they just focussed on a few branches with the original ethos they would probably be a lot better.
Unfortunately, as the business grows the quality in my opinion drops Dave
Gary ... I have never heard of Bills, they say it has gone down hill since he split up with Ben ? ... (showing me age now)
Bluba Lub?
Weed @@69Phuket
Ah Bill and Ben and Gary the flower pot men! Not average!
Very very funny Troy lol
No. They both ran off with Little Weed.
I have to say Gary, your videos are getting better and better, and fantastic work by your camera man well done
Very kind, thank you Ray
Hi Gary
Hilarious review today mate! Only you can make an average meal very entertaining! It was pretty ordinary food to be honest and I have never heard of Bills before and won’t be making an effort to find them!
Fantastic video as always mate. 5/10 for the meal is a fair score looking at that
Glad you enjoyed it Tony.. wait until you see tomorrow's review... not good!
Bill's started as a greengrocer's shop in Lewes. I remember when the café was added and it was a lovely quirky and friendly mix. The original is still there, and I think it's still the best. Lovely location by the river.
Yes I've heard the original is very good!
Overrated? No idea why so may rave about them, I've had just as good at a Wetherspoon's. Another great review, the best in the business.
Thank you very much, Jim
Review the Wetherspoons breakfast!
And the curry. Speaking of, I might go and have one now 😂
Bill’s is insulting. I’ve been to multiple branches and it’s always the same - bang average food not far off from wetherspoons standard but for extortionate prices. I feel they coast off of the dining areas being nice enough and having convenient locations. The servers are usually nice but every time I’ve had something go wrong. Awful chain. The very apex of what modern Britain has become - a neoliberal breeding ground of expensive mediocrity. We need to work together to stop them somehow! 😂😂😂
We will definitely need to join forces and stop this mediocrity creeping in everywhere 😂😂
Great video so far, as usual. Just another congrats on getting 150k subs.
Thank you so much 😀
Hi Gary & Cameraman. Should re-name it 'Balls', not 'Bill's'. Never heard of it, tbh. Nice how it doubles up as a dentistry, drilling people's teeth before/after they eat 😂.
Want a laugh? We were half-convinced you'd turned up at our place the other day (Fischer's, Baslow). The guy was the spitting-image of you and talking to a cameraman. We breathed a sigh of relief and mopped our brows when the guy went to the bar, held his pint with a prosthetic arm, and spoke in Welsh accent.
Phew!
Great post as always, fellas. Looking forward to your next one.
Love, Claire & Si ❤👍.
So we very nearly met 😂😂❤️
Totally agree with you Gary. I've been to the one in Cardiff Bay. Had breakfast which was bang average. The sausages were definitely pre cooked and then cooked again. It's easy to tell. Scrambled eggs overcooked too. I also asked for service to be removed. Haven't been in since.
It is just very average, Peter
I'm not keen on fast food or chain restaurants, but Bill's is definitely overrated. I went there once with a friend to the Richmond-upon-Thames branch and found the fish finger sandwich underwhelming. I haven't returned since and certainly shan't if they are cashless (which they didn't use to be). A good video.
Thats your fault for ordering off the kids menu 😂
I totally agree with you, seems more style than substance
@@Mortonbmx 😹
If they don't accept cash, I guess your meal would be free, unless you pay them anyway, and they throw your money back at you?
When I saw the name Bill's I was hoping it had a connection to the late great Bill Granger . Love his recipes. Sadly not the case . Giant portion of cauliflower , I can only say that unless I actually saw the meat being minced I would not order a burger medium rare from a chain restaurant. Too much likelihood of cross contamination . That being said there is no excuse for a burger of that thickness being dry , as you said at least it was not a brioche bun . Yuck , no business being near a burger . The chicken looked very disappointing, there was no excuse for all the pips in the chunk of lemon . Say's something when the sauces are the star of the show 😮😢😢😢.
RIP lovely Bill. 😢
Actually I think Bill Granger was vastly overrated.
@@lynnbean7200 behave love, poor bloke is dead.
Granger & Co is the UK branch of his restaurants
Yep, really really poor stuff here Cathering... mediocre
Like was these restaurants that get overtaken by private equity companies - Bills, The Ivy, etc - they become shit holes afterwards.
The original Bills in Lewes was awesome - absolutely brilliant.
That is a very good point, unfortunately
Not the best experience for you Garry and son cameraman. Definitely very average. Great video as always. Honest without being nasty. That is what makes you a gentleman. I think you took one for your fans this time.
That is very kind to say thank you, John
Disgraceful Gary, a good restaurant greets you within 30-50 seconds, that delay is usually cause they are seating someone else. At 65 I have been to 2-3 places where I have just walked out, not worthy of my business. Thank you both, hugs from Cyprus. 🤗🤗🌹🌹👍👍
Service on this occasion wasn’t the very best, unfortunately 🌹❤️
The original genial concept of Bill's when the chain was smaller was admirable and the food was consistent and service friendly. Every chain that grows beyond its core base will fail, sadly. It's like Boston TP and the like - food that indies and start-ups have superceded and excelled at.
Unfortunately, as it gets bigger, the quality goes down, Paul
Never heard of bills apart from that thing you get after the meal lol. You're never alone Gary you have the excellent cameraman and 146k of us. Food looked ok for a chain restaurant.
Thank you so much Graham, lovely comment to make
Top vid again Gary. Your attention to detail, knowledge and experience in dining and hospitality shine through in every video. You are so thoughtful and humble, and your enthusiasm shines through. Please try Babur in Honor Oak, Lewisham. Would love to hear your view.
That is so kind to say thank you very much Steve and I will look at your recommendation
I agree with you, I went to bills once and had the same experience as you, bland over priced food with no love, weak, slow service and prices that are too high the only goid thing was the decor and speaking to a few other who have been a few times, it's because it's a cool place to be not for the food haha...strange why someone would go to a restaurant not for the food, anyway as always Gary you were spot on and very fair and right with your thoughts
I just think it is very mediocre
Please don't worry about the construction noises, it really did not take away from enjoying the video.
That is very kind to say thank you
Never heard of Bill's.
Bit offish them using the leftover salad from the posh statue place the other day😉 that looked gash before you even tried it!
Any place that doesn't serve you in 15 mins wouldn't get my custom, i would have walked.
None of it looked good, thank you for suffering so we dont have to.
Posh statue place made me laugh lol
Same here never heard of it and to say one is leeds😂😂I must get out more😂
Hi Gary and Mr Cameraman
Well lovely setting and great decor, but sadly that's where it ends.
A good front of house manager would never allow 15-20 minute waits for customers, that was shocking.
Now your starter looked fair, but there seemed to be a lot of it, you want the customer to have a mouth watering starter, and then be looking forward to the main.
Now re the burger, as you ordered it well done its hard to critique it, but in my personal opinion any meat cooked more than medium cesses to have any taste or texture worth eating.
Now the chicken Shawarma, all the things that went with it looked okish, but im sorry real Shawarma needs cooking on a giro and slicing thinly, not taken out a packet and thrown on a grill.
Im afraid this place was a big let down for me, and i think 3-4 was the score id give.
Chris.
Spot on Chris. The problem with the Shawarma was the lack of chicken, barely anything there. Thank you as always!
I kept adjusting my picture setting to clear the static until I realised it was Gary's top😉 great review even through the noise can't say I'll be rushing to a Bills anytime soon
I do apologise about the jumper I was wearing
Bills sometimes do unlimited pancakes (with fruits, icecream and sauces) with hot drinks for just £5! That’s the only time I’ve been in. Great video as usual Gary.
That’s good value and thank you
I hate when you're disappointed by a restaurant, I feel like I'm being reprimanded by my dad! Hahaha
Hahaha that is a brilliant comment but sorry to make you feel like that
I thought another chain I’d never heard of googled it and there is one in Birmingham but I won’t be giving it a go
I cannot say I blame you Val
Did I miss the bit where you say which part of the country you're in ?
Sorry, it's in Victoria
@@GaryEats Blimey! Australia eh? 🤔
I guess London.😂
Another great review Gary, you really cheer me up as you are genuinely funny and that compliments you truthfully reviews. I’m glad they don’t have that chain in Scotland
That’s very kind to say, thank you very much, Rose, and you are lucky it is not in Scotland 🏴
"Be good Bill,be good'...ha ha!
Never heard of this chain before,so it was extra interesting to get your opinion of this restaurant.
Gary,you are easily one of the most entertaining presenters on youtube
by far and and this latest review is one of your best and most fun yet.
Thank you for another great watch,Gary.Loved it.
That is really really kind to say and really appreciated thank you, Nigel
'Bill's' is a very well known restaurant; so much so that I have never heard of it! Yes, I agree, I don't get out much. You said it Gary. Looked and marked ordinary.
Very very ordinary Jeffrey
£40?
MEGA OOFS!
With the exception of the cauliflower (not something id normally go for, but it sounded interesting / worth trying) it looked a lot like stuff that was picked from the frozen ready meals (and weekly international offer) stuff at Lidl.
I have to agree with you. It was like a frozen ready-made meal.
Do not skip straight to the last 15 seconds. As funny as it is!
An excellent and entertaining review. Liked it a lot.
Gary will know my local Bill's. Lovely inside. Lovely view over the river. I am fortunate enough to be able to get a 20% discount on the bill, and recently, that went up to 25%.
They also do a thing when my grandkids eat free.
But. The chain!
They have decided to be a pricey Wetherspoons. The food quality matches (ish) allowing for cost. The model is identical. The service is not as good.
Well done to Gary for rightly not paying the tip when service was below the standard rightfully expected. Like that.
Thank you.
The good news is you get the discount, Alan, this really helps bring the bill down but it doesn’t help with the quality which you rightfully pointed out
Another fine video. I'll put this one on my list of places to avoid when I return to the UK.
Gary is definitely having an influence on me. Last night I went to dinner with three friends from work. It was a chain restaurant, TGI Fridays. As I was walking up to the place I said to myself, "Let's give it a go." I ordered the fish and chips (another Gary influence). When they came, as my friends continued to talk, I mentally thought, "the batter is golden brown and crispy, the portion size is good. The chips were not in skin, but they had a nice golden color and were crispy on the outside and nice soft potato inside, but chips are chips. The tartar sauce (included) was good, but I could have used more. The fish was flaky and well-cooked. The service was fine, quite attentive. The price was reasonable, the quality acceptable. Was it the best fish and chips I've ever had. Of course not. Would I come back? Yes. Reasonable quality at a reasonable price. What mark would I give it? A 7." Do I need help or am I only now beginning to appreciate food properly?
Thanks Gary.
That was a fantastic comment thank you very much, Terry and as always, let’s give it a go
Gary, you're always so honest. And you know, I always appreciate that!
Thank you so much!!
Another Garyism 😂
Got a feeling after seeing that meal they should change the name to “shills” 😅
Lol
Which 'Bill's' branch are we at?
Lovely interior.
It was near Victoria Station Rosie 🌹
@@GaryEatsThanks Gary
I went to the branch in Guildford about a decade ago - it was pricey and distinctively average processed food that had been microwaved. This type of place can only survive in parts of Britain where incomes are way above average.
Completely agree with you Nigel
Nice one Gary, well done on not paying that 'default' service charge, it's simply ultra-frustrating that charge.
As I have said many times on the channel, it is not compulsory to pay, as you know, I normally do but not when the service is this average
@@GaryEats Hi Gary, I know it's not compulsory but it should also not be compulsory to add it in by default. It's basically an additional tax, am absolutely positive it does not go to the server
When Bills first opened, they were actually pretty good but I find they have declined over the years. The one in Westfield, Shepherds Bush is not too bad but most others around London are average at best. Can't believe no one even approached for service - thats shocking and incredibly poor showing. I would have just walked out 😠.
As the chain gets bigger, the quality goes down in my opinion
That burger is criminally over cooked and that salad was so dry. Another underwhelming chain restaurant which doesn't put any thought into its cooking.
Unfortunately, it was very average, Colin
The salad was dry?
Blimey, that was VERY poor. One to avoid then.
Completely agree with you, not great at all
Loved that you went to Cardinal Place. I worked there for 5 years when I first moved to London from the US. Brings back great memories of living and working in central London. ❤
Thank you very much, glad I could bring back some memories
Being a lover of good food and dining experience, Gary is a great presenter. Honest reviews for good or bad!👍🏻
Thank you very much
@@GaryEats if you want someone to tag along with you, I’m your man!😃
Must admit, I've never heard of them. I'm in the North West.
@caretaker8960: Same. I'm from West Yorkshire.
No, we have the displeasure of Miller & Carter instead. There's one in Warrington. Used to be 'The Memphis Belle' and was very good. Went to it twice after it became Miller & Carter.
Only went the second time to see if it was possible to be so consistently terrible. Cold chips, cold lobster mac & cheese and a cold, raw rib-eye steak. Plus the side 'salad' was half a lettuce with some parmesan shavings on top. Appalling.
They have loads dotted around the country!
I’ve got plenty of bills 🙈 not sure I want anymore .. keep up the good work Gary 👍🏻
Thanks Roy, far too many bills 👍
I been to bills. Yeah nothing much to hark on about. Only for breakfast though.
Yes I might go back for breakfast
Hi Gary and CM
Not a great start with waiting for quite a long time!!
Starter visually looked pretty good..
Got to say the burger looked ok, but we both said ‘it looks dry’ 🙄, and you confirmed that when you tasted it!! Shame.
Again, visually the chicken looked nice.
Shame it was a disappointment for you..
Yeah we both said ‘nothing great’ and a disappointment for you.
We both said 5 and a half at the most!!
Like you said mate, it’s your opinion. We ate at Bills years ago, and it was ok, but nothing like ‘that was great, let’s go back’!!
Great review.
Looking forward to your next review.
Thank you both
David & Angela x
Very kind, thank you for your comment and hope you have a good weekend. As you said, disappointing
Always love watching a Gary Eats video!! I get what you’re saying Gary mediocre…. Have a great weekend sir. All the best ….Smithy
Thank you very much as always, my friend. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
@@GaryEats thank you Gary
Went to one a few years back, never ever again!!!!!! Expensive, poor service and thought wetherspoons was better, and thats saying something!!!
I went to Wetherspoons in Tewkesbury and had the limited edition South Korean chicken bowl, but the sauce tasted more of chemicals than anything else and I felt ill all night - I am allergic to additives of all kinds and should have sent it back but I was hungry and didn't have money for another meal. I couldn't eat it all, the sauce became too much.
It's just very mediocre, I love your username and photo lol
@@GaryEats thank you! I do recipes, fruit and veg gardening and a variety of food reviews and vlogs. ❤️
Priceless . Keep up the good work Gary . I too don’t like brioche burger buns . Asking for a white bread bun though and you’ll get nowhere . Annoying.
Thank you very much
Another great evening entertainment, thanks Gary. Why are chips served in a bucket these days, can't figure that out lol 😊👍
Thank you very much Nigel
You always have such a good attitude. And I appreciate that you describe the food in depth Another great video Gary. It's interesting seeing UK restaurants as opposed to USA ❤ But sorry the food was disappointing
That is a really kind comment thank you very much ❤️
I definitely used to find Bill's overrated, however after finding out I need to avoid gluten I appreciate them for having a dedicated menu, which is more effort than most chains. lGreat video Gary hope you're well!
That is a very good point thank you very much and please have a wonderful weekend
@@GaryEats thank you, same to you Gary!
The video reminds me of a Guns N Roses album. Appetite for Construction 🤣
Lol very funny Roman
Or Appetite For Indigestion and Constipation 😂.
Went to the one in Lewes East Sussex-had to have a couple of pints of Harveys to recover from the awful meal
Oh dear Jane, that's disappointing
top choice with the Harveys LOL
SAVAGE! Gary, son of Eats, you are an absolute SAVAGE! Not because of the restaurant review. The food looked average (or slightly below), and it rightly got the “Well, if you’ve been trapped on a desert island for weeks without food, and you stumble across a Bill’s as you’re trying to swim/raft to safety, it will keep you alive, probably” score.
What I am referring to is, prior to ordering, you sat straight up, composed yourself, smiled slightly even, and looked at the camera (and, I assume, the cameraman) and said, “I feel so alone!”. What a *devastating* blow to your son! I would have to imagine that his body compressed downwards almost immediately from the impact of the Acme 500 lbs. weight dropping onto his head.
I half expected you to, at the conclusion of the review, ask your son to wait there while you get the car. The camera follows you as you attempt to cross the street (no fatalities this time!), then you get in your car, then you just drive away, while you shout out, “So long, Stinktown!” towards the cameraman. Though implausible, I also imagine that his tears appear on the camera lens slowly inching downwards.
That did make me laugh, you know I was only joking, I really love the cameraman but sometimes it’s good to get one back on him lol 😂
Hi Gary. Love your videos. We went to Bills in Cardiff quite a time ago and at that time it was enjoyable,liked the tins and jars of stuff on shelves around you that you could buy ,it seemed unique.but went back another time and thought it had definately gone down hill and expensive. Take care x
That is not good to hear, but unfortunately many others have said exactly the same as you, please take care and have a wonderful weekend xx
Epic review mate... always takes one for the team our. Gar ....that burger looked dry as hell and the salad that they gave you with that garlic naan..looked sad .... looking forward to the next vid ❤
Very kind, thank you Ricky
That restaurant was awesome Gary, but why get mass produced mediocre when they could get some proper chefs,That restaurant deserves some proper chefs and fresh cooked food 👌
Spot on Daz, the restaurant looked lovely itself mate
Oops. What a pity
It sucks when you pay good money and get disappointed.
Average, not good enough for our Gary!
Bring on another review, Gary! Hope the next one finds you looking for an appropriate adjective, like totally addictive or smashing grub?
That good at Bills looked underwhelming
A big pity on this one Ingrid but onwards and upwards!
All the meat looked dry. I wouldn't be impressed.
I completely agree with you Paul
Hi Gary. Bit longwinded this one. Hope you'll oblige me.
There used to be a Bill’s in my home town and for the first year or so it was OK. Food was ok, service was ok too.
After then, it was a bit hit and miss with service, quality, portions and even bringing out food at the same time as others at the same table, (one time two diners at our table of four received their starters after their main course despite constantly telling the waiting staff they had messed up). But was still prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt as it was busy that evening.
The final straw for me with Bill’s was when I booked a table for 9pm on a Saturday evening and received a phone call from the restaurant at 7.30pm informing me that they were going to shut the kitchen at 9pm so if I still wanted the booking I needed to get there by 8.30pm. So we dutifully rearrange our schedule and arrive at an almost empty Bill’s and get seated in the window, (probably to make it look like it was busy).
Food was OK on this occasion, but they kept the menu outside and customers, after perusing it, kept walking in and being refused after the kitchen had closed, (being in a window seat it was obvious).
I mentioned this to the waiting staff and was greeted with a ‘nothing to do with us’ attitude’. Me being me, I said I would go out and turn the menu around so no one else would come in, (there might have been an F bomb in there to be fair). They still didn’t give a hoot!
Needless to say, Bill’s is no longer in my home town
That is terrible customer service. I’m really sorry you experienced that especially when you’re spending your hard earned money.
I’m with you on the matter of chain restaurants, my one and only visit to Bill’s in Manchester City centre about 18 months ago was somewhat different. We were a group of six and arrived without booking around noon, as you encountered, all the tables were busy, and the manager said we could be waiting for an hour or so for a table, however the staff set us up on the side of the main bar and were so helpful and pleasant, and couldn’t have done more for us. We ate from the brunch menu, I think I had eggs Benedict, which was excellent, maybe I chose it because it’s a dish that has to be cooked to order! The bar staff were attentive and engaging and certainly knew their wine list too….. we ended up staying for over 3 hours and very much enjoyed the experience. I do say that the issue with chains is the inconsistency of delivery and quality of some dishes (I too generally avoid burgers!) overall I would have given my visit an 8 1/2 out of ten. Thanks for the review and disappointed for you that it wasn’t as pleasant as mine 😁
That sounds like a fantastic operation and well onto that franchise mark
Stop going to mickrow wavey gaffs🤖🤢
CHAPTER ONE in Locksbottom is the place to go 💁🏻♂️
I go everywhere Joe, I wasn't to know they cook via microwave lol
@@GaryEats you want some amazing food for decent prices I’ve told you the one
You do crack me up tho 👍👍👍
Great video Gary thanks, that last 10 seconds doing that hand action and noise in public lol😂
Just a bit of fun lol 😂
Recently hooked😂 I really enjoyed the Fallow review too. I live in Spain ...would you do reviews in other countries?
I will be going around Europe into America next year for sure, Jennifer
@@GaryEats I'd recommend the Basque country first!
Gary, thank you for sticking with it for us. As many have already said, they would have walked away in the time it took for you to be served. The shipped in, heated up and put on a plate nature of the food was obvious here.
Thank you very much for your comment, if I wasn’t doing a review, I would’ve left
Loved the end Gary 😂 the food looked very underwhelming it would have been a 4 from me. The starter plate you used looked like a witherspoon one. Love from a very windy Cornwall xx❤❤
Thank you so very much, Caroline. Just a bit of fun. ❤️❤️❤️x
Agree wholeheartedly with you Gary, visited Bill’s in Kensington whilst on holiday a few years ago. Enjoyed our breakfast there and decided to go back for dinner. All our meals at dinner were very ordinary, service was hit and miss and food was overpriced. Never been back.
I’m sorry to hear you had the same experience as me, Karen