The Jam Street Cafe, Whalley Range

It used to be a nice place when it won the observer breakfast awards, but it's gone down the drain in recent years. There are four people 'working' there, but often no-one tends to take your order. The male waiter just hangs around, trying to look 'bohemian'. He's obviously waaaaaaay to cool to wait tables (I wonder what he thinks people think of him). Last time the cook waited till she had 4 breakfast orders so she could do 'em together. More time for chatting with the staff that way. Anyway, getting food took another 40 mins after finally placing an order at the counter. Bit long for a full english, anything over 15 minutes, methinks. It's not exactly Gordon Ramsay stuff, and small portions like that should heat up more quickly. As for the dinners, 22 quid for a bangers and mash or cheap stew menu with a bottle of beer? Decide for yourself, then go somewhere nice.
It may be that the Chorlton crowd is still taken in with this, like the 6-strong family with baby that was there when coming in, and still going strong when we left 1.5 hrs later, without them placing any order in that time. Not economically viable, perhaps, so they'll disappear in these credit-crunched times. A pity, definitely, but you have to do better to keep your customers. I won't be going there nomore, and I will discourage anyone from doing so when I can.
It is a pity - it was a genuinely nice place when it won the Observer awards, now 5 years ago. Now it is just another place, just about acceptable when you manage to get your plate of food in reasonable time.

22 Feb 2009 17:26