There are two things I knew about TGI Fridays before a recent visit: firstly, they sing 'Happy Birthday' if it's your special day and, secondly, I've managed to live a large number of years without ever setting foot in one. I've tried to pinpoint why this is and I believe it boils down to my lack of enthusiasm for chain restaurants, where the food tends to be mediocre and overpriced. There are exceptions to this, but these American imports have never topped my must-visit list.
But with the chain entering administration, putting 75 UK stores at risk, it might be now or never, so I went. To check they were still open before I sent off (they are, all stores are operating as usual) and to get an idea of what I might be eating, I went online and found a well-designed website brimming with offers. Some were fairly standard, like 'kids eat free', which was convenient given my dining companions were both under five.
But there were just so many of them. It seemed indicative of a business throwing everything it has at attracting customers. It didn't exactly inspire confidence that I was about to enjoy a great meal.
There were offers for unlimited sesame chicken strips on Mondays for just £15 (90 minutes of eating), a half-price full rack of ribs on Tuesdays, endless chicken wings for £15 on Wednesdays and a "burger and a bevvy" deal on Thursdays. On the Friday I visited, it was back to unlimited sesame chicken. Other offers include £25 off when you spend £100, kids eat free, a two-.
