Content creator Gary Eats visited the newly reopened Jamie’s Italian restaurant in London’s West End, seven years after the chain went bust, and was impressed by the classic pasta dishes
Content creator Gary Hanna visited Jamie Olver’s relaunched restaurant(Image: GaryEats/YouTube)
A customer who popped into Jamie Oliver’s revived restaurant was left “seriously surprised”. Jamie’s Italian made its comeback last week, over seven years since the chain collapsed, resulting in 22 outlets shutting their doors and 1,000 staff losing their positions.
The chain has been brought back to life through a partnership with the Brava Hospitality Group, the firm responsible for Prezzo Italian. It promises to deliver traditional pasta meals at wallet-friendly prices. The inaugural revamped Jamie’s Italian opened its doors in London’s West End on March 9.
Content creator Gary Hanna, who goes by Gary Eats on social media, has now paid a visit to the freshly relaunched establishment. In footage, he remarked: “First impressions, I like the restaurant, you go inside, really, really fantastic, lots of seating, it’s on three floors.”
Gary reveals you can even perch at the restaurant bar and observe the chefs at work. He also pointed out that prices appeared to be “a pound cheaper” compared to neighbouring eateries in the vicinity, reports the Express.
The content creator was taken with his burrata starter – a mozzarella and cream-based creation – alongside the garlic prawns. He commented: “Beautiful prawns, on the menu it says garlic-y prawns, there’s lots of olive oil and it’s not overpowered on the garlic, that is good.”
Gary enjoyed the ragu, despite initially thinking it was bland(Image: Gary Eats/YouTube)
He continued to commend the “crispy focaccia,” determining that the selection of starters he sampled were “surprisingly very good”. For his main course Gary selected the pork and beef bolognese, following Jamie’s admission he “got the basics wrong” during his initial management of the chain.
Gary remarked: “I know, I know, bolognese is not the most adventurous but in the past Jamie got the basics wrong, so I thought I’d go for something basic.”
He was taken with the presentation and reckoned it “smelled absolutely awesome”. “That’s lovely pasta. I do like that it’s made in house,” he commented.
Jamie’s slow-cooked beef and pork bolognese(Image: Gary Eats/YouTube)
Initially, Gary found the dish “a bit on the bland side” but believed it stepped up considerably once he’d sprinkled on parmesan. He observed: “That’s giving a nice degree of saltiness with the ragu. It’s clinging to the pasta beautifully.”
Beyond the cuisine itself, Gary pointed out that staff had “a smile on their faces” whilst praising the chefs for doing “an amazing job”. Having been pleasantly surprised by his meal, Gary went on to suggest the chef had “over-expanded” previously, “losing control of his empire”.
He explained: “What happens when you lose control, standards drop, you’re not able to produce the food, everything from the kitchen staff to the front of house, it starts dropping. Last time when I went to Jamie Oliver’s I was disappointed, I was very disappointed and that seems to be the running theme. Over-expansion goes wrong no matter who you are.”
Gary was impressed with the burrata(Image: GaryEats/YouTube)
Gary disclosed his final bill came to £44.63 with service charge included. He wrapped up: “All together, that has surprised me. That has surprised me, well done, it’s a new restaurant and it’s opened in style to me.”
Following the announcement of his new restaurant, Jamie expressed: “I’m beyond excited to be opening Jamie’s Italian doors once again – it’s been quite the journey, but I’m truly humbled by the support you’ve shown us over the years.”
Dining and Cooking