"Have loved eating in this place for maybe 3 years, but have seen worrying changes in other favourite establishments post-lockdown, so popped in for lunch a few weeks ago, hoping that nothing had changed. I was to be sorely disappointed. I was particularly hungry so...chose a more substantial dish than usual – their burger. I was a bit surprised that the price had risen to nearly £14 – but I felt it would be really good, so… Sadly, it really didn’t live up to expectations. I mean REALLY. It was a mean, tasteless little thing; Birdseye frozen taste better. I glanced at the description on the menu again, as it seemed strangely familiar… “Chuck brisket burger”. As an ex-butcher, I know that there is no taste advantage with using these cuts – flavour comes from sex (beef steers, no cows); breed (definitely no Holstein/Friesians); age, hanging conditions, fat content etc etc. So I wondered why they had included it – to dupe Mr Average into thinking it meant something, I suppose. Then I remembered where I’d seen it before… TESCO stores were, at the time, promoting their “new”, wonderful… yup, chuck and brisket burger, on big signs. I’d already eaten a couple of them, and knew them to be indistinguishable from other economy varieties, but rather more expensive. I mentioned the burger’s poor quality and size to our waiter, and he expressed surprise as “we’ve recently changed our butcher”. Ummm to TESCO mate? I cannot prove that I was served a TESCO burger for £14, but if a butcher can’t tell the difference... I dare say TA wouldn't be happy about me posting a picture from the TESCO website, but you can Google it easily enough. Oh – almost forgot. Our favourite waitress (and possibly others) have deserted 81 for a rival establishment too. Everything has its day, and for me, 81 has had its. Sad."
