Pret a Manger

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Sorry, not a big fan of Pret sandwiches -- too much mayo, and I love mayo. My company has an account with Pret and it's what we get if we're having a lunchtime meeting or seminar. There was some report a few years back saying that their Super Club sandwich had more calories and fat than a Big Mac!!!

I like me some EAT sandwiches -- think EAT is still mostly in London, with a couple in Brum and Manchester, and one definitely in Edinburgh Airport, if I recall. However, I'm not too picky and will miss picking a sarnie up just about anywhere. I have a feeling that when I leave for America I will have recurring bittersweet dreams featuring dancing triangular sandwich packets...

[featherB 1]

Mmmm, I love Pret. Might go there in a minute, in fact - it must be about lunchtime and there's about (let me count) five... possibly six, even... branches within two minutes walk of here. They do fantastic soups as well as sandwiches (the chicken curry one is loooovely)... oh, and has anyone had their Love Bars? Stupidly named, but they're soooo nice.... a kind of flapjack thing with a layer of caramel topped with pistachios and pumpkin seeds & chocolate chunks (and probably other things I'm forgetting now). Must have about 1000 calories per bar, but they're very very very good indeed.

I miss Pret's chocolate pots (a bit like those little Gu things you can get, if anyone's had them - really dark chocolate, um, stuff, in a pot) and the ginger cakes they used to do. And the thai chicken sandwiches they stopped selling in about 1999.

Damn, I'm going to miss Pret... I've seen the one in New York, and was wondering if there were any more about... can't see them expanding as far as Cincinnati anytime this decade, though.

[Lou Lou 1]

Another vote against Pret I'm afraid. There's such an excess of wonderful places to get lunch, why go to a tourist joint?

I miss Borough Market for chorizo sandwiches, Camisas for the pasta, and Gaby's on Charing Cross Road for the best falafel ever. Ahh...office lunch times were the best. The Taj Bengali supermarket on Brick lane is sorely missed by me too.

[featherB 1]

Another vote against Pret I'm afraid. There's such an excess of wonderful places to get lunch, why go to a tourist joint?

In my case, because when I have 5 minutes to run out and grab lunch, the 'tourist joint' is a damn sight better than most of the alternatives (crappy work canteen, a few mediocre sandwich shop/cafe places, Greggs, Benjys, Starbucks, Subway...). Oh, and because I like the sandwiches. And I'm not a 'tourist', either, and am well aware that there are more interesting and individual places to eat out there (god knows I spend enough of my cash in 'em), but.... I like the occasional lunch from Pret, too.

[Lou Lou 1]

Another vote against Pret I'm afraid. There's such an excess of wonderful places to get lunch, why go to a tourist joint?

In my case, because when I have 5 minutes to run out and grab lunch, the 'tourist joint' is a damn sight better than most of the alternatives (crappy work canteen, a few mediocre sandwich shop/cafe places, Greggs, Benjys, Starbucks, Subway...). Oh, and because I like the sandwiches. And I'm not a 'tourist', either, and am well aware that there are more interesting and individual places to eat out there (god knows I spend enough of my cash in 'em), but.... I like the occasional lunch from Pret, too.

Wow, didn't know you'd take it so personally, and didn't realise my post was directed at you. Apologies if you think it was. There is nowt wrong going to Pret if you like it, but I was just expressing it wouldn't be on my list to miss when there are so many wonderful things that you can't get over here.

5 mins to get lunch? Ouch, that's another thing I wouldn't miss.

[featherB 1]

Another vote against Pret I'm afraid. There's such an excess of wonderful places to get lunch, why go to a tourist joint?

In my case, because when I have 5 minutes to run out and grab lunch, the 'tourist joint' is a damn sight better than most of the alternatives (crappy work canteen, a few mediocre sandwich shop/cafe places, Greggs, Benjys, Starbucks, Subway...). Oh, and because I like the sandwiches. And I'm not a 'tourist', either, and am well aware that there are more interesting and individual places to eat out there (god knows I spend enough of my cash in 'em), but.... I like the occasional lunch from Pret, too.

Wow, didn't know you'd take it so personally, and didn't realise my post was directed at you. Apologies if you think it was. There is nowt wrong going to Pret if you like it, but I was just expressing it wouldn't be on my list to miss when there are so many wonderful things that you can't get over here.

5 mins to get lunch? Ouch, that's another thing I wouldn't miss.

Oops, sorry, that must've come out wrong (reading back, yep, I'm sure it did!) - didn't take anything personally, was just typing quickly while pretending to be working! What I actually meant to say was that I agree with you entirely about the excess of wonderful places to get lunch (well, if you have more than 5 minutes, anyway), but that I enjoy my Pret lunches when I have them, too.

Oh, and I also meant to say 'mmmmmmmm' a lot about Brick Lane (hmm, do I have time for a Brick Lane visit before I leave on Saturday? No, I don't think I do.... ). And about falafels. Mmm, falafels.

Sorry for sounding grumpy - didn't mean to be!

[Lou Lou 1]

Oops, sorry, that must've come out wrong (reading back, yep, I'm sure it did!) - didn't take anything personally, was just typing quickly while pretending to be working! What I actually meant to say was that I agree with you entirely about the excess of wonderful places to get lunch (well, if you have more than 5 minutes, anyway), but that I enjoy my Pret lunches when I have them, too.

Oh, and I also meant to say 'mmmmmmmm' a lot about Brick Lane (hmm, do I have time for a Brick Lane visit before I leave on Saturday? No, I don't think I do.... ). And about falafels. Mmm, falafels.

Sorry for sounding grumpy - didn't mean to be!

Hey no problem. I thought my comment could be interpreted that I was snapping at you so we both had crossed lines.

You're leaving on Saturday? How exciting! Although I do remember having such bittersweet feelings about leaving. I'm sure you're making the most of your last days. Cherish them.

[britty 1]

Pret is ok but EAT is better. Did anyone ever try the pie and mash shop inside Selfridges? I think it was called Square Pie?? They did a beefsteak pie with mash and mushy peas that was just to die for. Saw so many celebs regularly there too. Of course Selfriges was (and always will be) the centre of my world. They also had a krispy kreme and a gorgeous deli.

[homesick_american 1]

Pret is ok but EAT is better. Did anyone ever try the pie and mash shop inside Selfridges? I think it was called Square Pie?? They did a beefsteak pie with mash and mushy peas that was just to die for. Saw so many celebs regularly there too. Of course Selfriges was (and always will be) the centre of my world. They also had a krispy kreme and a gorgeous deli.

Hmm, must be nice. We don't have any of that in York except for one Pret A Manger that's usually closed anyway. People who live in London just don't understand.

[Mags 112]

I'm not a fan of shop made sarnies, too much mayo. I do remember that I used to look at the calorific content of one of those sarnies and think "how on EARTH do they manage to get the calories so high??? It's JUST a sandwich!!".

I'm still puzzled, to this very day. Well, to be honest I'm puzzled by many things, but let's not go down that route!

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm not a fan of shop made sarnies, too much mayo. I do remember that I used to look at the calorific content of one of those sarnies and think "how on EARTH do they manage to get the calories so high??? It's JUST a sandwich!!".

I'm still puzzled, to this very day. Well, to be honest I'm puzzled by many things, but let's not go down that route!

Well... I love mayo

Anyway, I think their salads are better than their sandwiches, at least here in New York.

Organic as well.

[Amby 490]

I want a sammich and some cheese & onion crisps. Why did you all have to remind me? *sighs* Will visit London in the fall again I hope.

[no name 1]

Anyway, I think their salads are better than their sandwiches, at least here in New York.

Organic as well.

I LOVE their salads!

Edited April 25, 2007 by devilette

[Mags 112]

Now I'm feeling hungry!

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

England do have nice sandwiches, it must be down to the bread. Only sandwiches I'll eat here are on toasted bread as it seems to kill the texture/smell.

I walked down the bread aisle yesterday here and it has this mouldy preservative smell... puts me off bread altogether. I've decided to invest in a bread maker. At least I'll know what's in it then.

Granary bread sandwiches from Pret were always my favourite.

Fresh loaves from a bakery oh how I miss you!