US/UK equivalents

[Jeraly 4]

Never say never!! I don't like tea (I know ) but I am sure I am going to soon realise what I miss

[Krikit 1,163]

Who said M&S is equiv to Nordstroms?

If yer movin to FL, there's no shortage of Brit stuff here.

Yes there is. But it's a lot better than some other places, I suppose.

[LeahJane 0]

http://www.britishfoodshop.com/

Get it shipped to your door.

Expensive but you will find it's about the same as the US British stores.

[rebeccajo 14]

http://www.britishfoodshop.com/

Get it shipped to your door.

Expensive but you will find it's about the same as the US British stores.

Yeah, we have been ordering tea since Wes first arrived about 3 years ago. Actually PG Tipps isn't our fave but it's a far better alternative than american teas. We usually order irish teas such as Bewleys or Numbarrie.

What I like about being able to get it off the grocer shelf is I don't have to order a boatload of tea to justify the shipping costs.

[andrea922 0]

I was wondering the other day about the various shops and services that are available in the States, and how closely they conform to places elsewhere... I already had the very dislocating experience of having to suss everything out when I first arrived in the UK (almost four years ago) from Australia; thought it might save me some time if I heard some opinions beforehand this time around!

so accordingly, please let me know what YOU THINK are the US equivalents of the following (caps used because I know this will depend on region, and opinion, and there's no One Right Answer, and some of those places already exist in the US, and it's all a bit of fun really )

Primark -

Waitrose -

M&S -

Tesco -

Next -

Monsoon -

Wagamama -

Jessops -

Woolworths -

Debenhams -

The Body Shop -

Traidcraft -

Threshers -

Med Kitchen -

Paperchase -

Yo! Sushi -

there'll be more... please add some, or I will when I think of them

Next is definitely not like Banana Republic! I would say Old Navy...same for Primark

Waitrose is nicer than Walmart by far, more of an upscale grocery store, maybe Publix

Tesco is like a regular grocery store, Kroger or Safeway

Monsoon is probably like Ann Taylor

Debenhams is like Macys

[T and M 1]

Now, don't you guys think Tesco is more like Giant? We have two giants near us. One is like a regular Tesco, the other one we call Gucci Giant. It's like a Tesco Extra. And it's only 15 days now until I can get in my new car and use my new Tomtom to find my way to Wegman's.... Wegman's is like a cross between Waitrose, and the Selfridges's food hall. Yum yum yum!!! Toshtishtash and I like to get halloumi cheese there...!

Gucci Giant. Love it. You are all making me miss the US tremendously.

In Washington (DC) we had Safeway. So there was the Social Safeway (posh Georgetown), the Soviet Safeway (northeast, never anything on the shelf), the UnSafeway (southeast, bad neighborhood), and the Gayway (Dupont Circle....you figure it out.) There is something about naming each branch that makes the chains not feel so soul-less.

Can anyone explain to me the English obsession with chain stores? I've been in London for two years and keep trying to find a neighborhood with some originality...they all feel like highway exits in the US...same restaurants, same liquor stores, same pharmacies, same bars. Depressing and a little bit weird.

Homesick American.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I don't know - we seem to love the chain stores here in US as well unfortunately

I love the naming of the Safeways

[Krikit 1,163]

In Washington (DC) we had Safeway. So there was the Social Safeway (posh Georgetown), the Soviet Safeway (northeast, never anything on the shelf), the UnSafeway (southeast, bad neighborhood), and the Gayway (Dupont Circle....you figure it out.)

Homesick American.

Yikes! That brings back nasty memories!

[Jeraly 4]

I don't know - I find London quite diverse but then I have never lived there- I think if you go to smaller out of the way places then you are less likely to get the generic bumpf you get everywhere... nice local pubs... ohhh how I am going to miss them

[StillThePrettiest 3]

oh, I definitely see what you mean about the chain places in the UK, but I find there are PLENTY of unique places if you just look

I used to live near Broadway Market in East London (still not that far away, actually), and it's FANTASTIC - in one short stretch we had Russian (Little Georgia - now moved down the road a way), Argentinian (Buen Ayre, with a proper open grill which is, or at least was, the only one of its type in London; the place has been packed nightly since it opened), Mediterranean (Cilicia - there's one other in Stoke Newington, so may technically be a chain, but does wonderful Turkish and similar type food, and has beautiful gourds hanging from the ceiling) and Indian (Joy); there's a great gastropub (Cat and Mutton) and a brilliant taverny type pub called the Dove, with an amazing selection of Belgian fruit beers and a menu of mixed traditional (bangers and mash, burgers) and Thai... and of course there's the ubiquitous fish'n'chip place, and a kebab shop, etc

I know similar places in Stoke Newington - the Blue Legume, just for starters - and loads of places in Soho as well... and I've been to excellent places with friends, but they were more local to them so I don't remember names and locations off the top of my head

and I've managed to live here almost four years and never step foot inside a Maccas, or a Burger King, or an Angus Steakhouse

been to Cafe Nero on and off, and Starbucks occasionally - mainly for the frappucinos - but generally I can find somewhere unique and different a few minutes' walk away so if I do go there it's usually by choice

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

My question is always - who does eat at the Angus Steak House?

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I'm guessing tourists...? certainly no one I know

and I figure that's why they're in such prominent positions in such touristy areas - right on Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue, etc - so exhausted tourists just slump inside and don't bother going that extra block in search of something better

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I'm guessing tourists...? certainly no one I know

and I figure that's why they're in such prominent positions in such touristy areas - right on Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue, etc - so exhausted tourists just slump inside and don't bother going that extra block in search of something better

It's no wonder England has such a bad reputation for food if that's where the tourists are eating

[StillThePrettiest 3]

well, not any who visit ME

and I've never eaten there, so I can't comment specifically on the quality of the food, but I avoid them sort of on instinct

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

To be fair, I haven't eaten at one either though I always imagine they are a slightly upmarket version of Wimpy (if that even exists any more)