The Real Greek to replace Jaflong?

[Louisa]

Just found this on the planning portal. It seems a planning application to extend the existing Jaflong Restaurant at 41 Lordship Lane has been submitted, with the proposal to increase the number of covers and floor space. The present Indian restaurant then looks like it is about to be replaced by a branch of 'The Real Greek', a restaurant chain with a branch in Covent Garden.

Here is the website for the the replacement restaurant (if I've read the planning application correctly):

http://www.therealgreek.com

Here is a link to the proposed changes:

http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk/documents/?GetDocument=%7b%7b%7b!sVuvVKE5zZtFCx9JRU1%2fPw%3d%3d!%7d%7d%7d

(Edited to add, this small chain which has most of its branches based in central London, is owned by the same group that now owns Franco Manca).

Louisa.

[DuncanW]

The Real Greek is quite nice. There is one near where I work in Spitalfields and there is also one at each of the Westfield Shopping Centres.

I think East Dulwich might be a bold move for them though!!

[Nigello]

There is supposed to be a Greek(ish) place opening opposite the CoOp chemist, just past M and S soon, but The Real Greek will likely be larger.

[Seabag]

M&S was just the top step of the slide

Here they come 'the chains'....!!

[TheCat]

Said to my wife just this week, that what I really would love around here is a decent Greek place; and hey presto....

perhaps I should have wished for something else though....

[Jeremy]

The Real Greek is pretty boring, but probably better than having two Jaflongs.

[Mick Mac]

One less Indian on LL has to be a good thing for choice.

The Real Greek is just ok but at least its different and better than the Melbourne Grove effort at a Greek restaurant a few years back. I'm sure it will do fine.

[JohnL]

It could be worse :)

[DulwichFox]

A decent independant Greek Restaurant serving genuine reginal Greek cusine would of been better and NOT another chain

(9 Branches) all doing the same food to a laid down (Fail Safe) recipe.

Franco Manca... MEATliquor... The Real Greek.. all owned by the same company. All with a very familiar formular.

What next..

DulwichFox

[Siduhe]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

Franco Manca... MEATliquor... The Real Greek..> all owned by the same company. All with a very

familiar formular.

I didn't know MEATliquor was owned by Fulham Shore - when did that happen? I thought they had a small investment but didn't realise they'd taken over. Interesting.

[DulwichFox]

Siduhe Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> DulwichFox Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> Franco Manca... MEATliquor... The Real Greek..>

> all owned by the same company. All with a very

> familiar formular.

>

> I didn't know MEATliquor was owned by Fulham Shore

> - when did that happen? I thought they had a

> small investment but didn't realise they'd taken

> over. Interesting.

There is/was a connection to Fulham Shore.

DulwichFox

[Siduhe]

Thanks - appreciate the clarification.

[fonread]

"All with a very familiar formular"

As opposed to Tandoori Nights, Jaflong, Surma, Dulwich Tandoori, Curry Cabin, Mirash, Swadesh, you mean, DF?

Right.

[Jeremy]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> A decent independant Greek Restaurant serving

> genuine reginal Greek cusine would of been better

> and NOT another chain

> (9 Branches) all doing the same food to a laid

> down (Fail Safe) recipe.

Yep, couldn't agree more. Would be nice to have something unique.

But as Mick Mac says... it'll probably be OKish, and at least it's another choice locally. Hopefully should be open all day, so good for those of us with little kids who want to eat at 5pm or whatever.

[*Bob*]

fonread Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> "All with a very familiar formular"

>

> As opposed to Tandoori Nights, Jaflong, Surma,

> Dulwich Tandoori, Curry Cabin, Mirash, Swadesh,

> you mean, DF?

>

> Right.

Exactly.. when we've got eight Greek restaurants, all turning-out the same stuff following the 'identikit Greek food handbook' step by step - then a complaint might make more sense.

[worldwiser]

The Chairman of Fulhamshore apparently owns shares in MeatLiquor. The other people who run it have variously been involved in Pizza Express, GBK and something called Wild Caper.

[DulwichFox]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> fonread Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > "All with a very familiar formular"

> >

> > As opposed to Tandoori Nights, Jaflong, Surma,

> > Dulwich Tandoori, Curry Cabin, Mirash, Swadesh,

> > you mean, DF?

> >

> > Right.

>

> Exactly.. when we've got eight Greek restaurants,

> all turning-out the same stuff following the

> 'identikit Greek food handbook' step by step -

> then a complaint might make more sense.

I'll tell you Bob.. buy 3 Chicken Madras's / Vindaloos.. tell me 3 restaurants and I'll tell you which one came from where.

The Idea of a chain is it will always be the same where ever you go. A McDonalds will be the same which ever branch you go to.

Foxy.

[Louisa]

What foxy says above. Just because a genre of restaurant has the same dishes named on its menu, doesn't make them all the same. People may love these hipster chains popping up all over the place, talking up the menu, but to be frank - it's going to taste exactly the same if it's served in Windsor, Southampton, Covent Garden, or this new branch here in ED.

Generic chains have their place, but they shouldn't be charging over the odds for generic identikit cuisine.

Here come the chains as predicted. Just watch, and mark my words. Viable retail space, or not, they're coming.

Louisa.

[binkylilyput]

I don't think Real Greek does charge over the odds tbh. It's really quite affordable for many.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of chain restaurants but sometimes it's good to go to one and know what to expect.

I would prefer that to the independents that charge a fortune for something mediocre but sounds swanky

And yes, would probably prefer anything at all to another generic curry house!

[DaveR]

"Franco Manca... MEATliquor... The Real Greek.. all owned by the same company. All with a very familiar formular."

Is that the formula where you find a restaurant or small group of restaurants started and run by people who are really passionate about quality food, invest in them, and then try to expand without losing the original focus on quality? It's not the worst formula; probably the best formula for a chain. Obviously you're going to get slagged off by people who pride themselves on their ability to blind taste a chicken madras, but I reckon they'll survive.

[DulwichFox]

They WILL survive as long as there are people whose only experiance of food is Burgers..Fries and Pizza..

D.F.

[*Bob*]

Just as plenty of bog standard 'curry houses' will also survive ... so long as there are people whose only experience of 'curry' is Chicken Tikka Masala, Jalfrezi and - of course - Chicken Madras.

Everybody's happy. (ish)

[BrandNewGuy]

It's worth mentioning that the numerous Indian/Bangla restaurants survive because of the demand for them, whereas eight Greek restaurants, of course, simply wouldn't survive.

And the Real Greek is dull but predictably OK.

[Seabag]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

I'll tell you Bob.. buy 3 Chicken Madras's /

> Vindaloos.. tell me 3 restaurants and I'll tell

> you which one came from where.

> Foxy.

The best brag i've hear in ages, so so funny!

:))

[DulwichFox]

I do not eat Chicken Tikka Masala although ANY curry requires a lot more skill than making burgers or making Pizzas.

D.F.