Bury St. Edmunds - Ryan Review

Ryan's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 5 (1 vote)
Author: 
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
A few tables occupied
Date of Last Visit: 
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
3.63 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
3 (Not bad. Did everything I asked of them)
Speed of Service: 
5 (Under 5 mins - I had only just got back with my cutlery and sauce)
Quality of Food: 
2.5 (Average but needs more peri spice)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
4 (Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

This branch is located at the Arc - with a £1.10 evening rate from 6pm to 8am, £1.50 if you pay by RingGo. Located near the town centre so close for access by train (10 min walk) and the main bus station (2 min walk). It's a big car park, and is also used by the Cineworld and other eatery goers on the main road. There's a further multi-storey next to this car park which I think is £2.50 for all day parking.

I arrived at 9pm so only a few tables were in use, meaning no wait for a table or to order - and the food came in just under 5 minutes too!

The food was very average though. The chicken was cooked nicely but barely marinaded, so a lot of table sauce was required. The chips and rice were both warm, touching on luke-warm, so didn't have the crispness or moistness. My portion of olives though was the biggest I have ever had, bar none. Thank you Amy - I think she felt sorry for me eating on my own :-) It all averages out to a 2.5 however.

Other than the very generous portion of olives, the staff did do the minimum, so just average.

The branch has a few tables at the front downstairs (about 10) with then six 2-seater tables at the back past the counter and drinks machine. All of the tables downstairs are a bit cramped, with the tables at the back (if left as six 2-seaters) being especially cramped with no easy way to get in/out. also, these back tables are right by a Staff Only door which is constantly opening and closing and banging loudly, shaking all of these tables (and drinks!) each time. Uh.

Upstairs are the toilets (which were spotless with a funky red sink) and then plenty of more tables and room! About 20-25 more tables, with a good mixture of booths and tables/chairs.

There are half a dozen tables outside too with bright orange metal chairs.

The branch has some interesting decoration. Old battered metal filing boxes for the counter (or the fronts of them anyway), nice differently stained wood panelling on the walls and plenty of coloured wooden discs hanging from the ceiling and walls throughout, including a huge 12 foot section on the stairs. Good lighting on both floors too. Averages out to a 4, I think.

Overall a nice visit.

Comments

Dan's picture

No cuttlery couldn't eat our food for ten minutes. Had to wait What a joke, and Not so much an apology.

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