Shaggy
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Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
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Post by Shaggy on Sept 13, 2009 7:13:36 GMT
I've not bought any food from the NIC in years because of the high price and (every time I've had some) low quality. Quite frankly, I'd rather go hungry than eat something that is twice the price of McDonalds and half the quality (and I'm no big fan of McD's!).
After seeing what my mate Dave bought last night - and somehow managed to force himself to eat (I couldn't!) - I'm wondering if any of the much-trumpeted 'improvements' to the catering at the NIC have lasted more than a month or so (or even happened in the first place!).
He bought a 'southern-fried chicken burger'. Well... the top half of the bun was rock-solid (you could hear it crunch as he bit into it!) and the bottom half was a misshapen soggy mess... both clearly visible as such. The southern-fried coating was described to me as "sludge". The chicken itself was apparently just about edible... but the worst bit was the lettuce. That was also heated (did they just stick the whole thing in a microwave or something?)... and it both looked like - and was described as having the texture of - "stringy snot".
Did he get really unlucky last night, or is that still the general standard of what is served up there?
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Post by loveday on Sept 13, 2009 7:53:02 GMT
When you go through the gates from the Foyer in the opposite corner to where Dave Pages photo table was you now have a new temporary food outlet.
Last week they served Hot Roast Beef ( Large Joint) with gravy and Yorkshire pudding in a large Bap for £2.50. They sliced the beef as you ordered.
Last night they changed it to Roast Pork also sliced from the roll. I think someone said there was also Hot Soup but not sure about that.
All those we know who had it, said it was great and would have it again. Great value and great food apparently. You cannot argue the price.
Did anyone else try it?
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Gaborik
Jade Galbraith
Meh..
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Post by Gaborik on Sept 13, 2009 9:57:33 GMT
I'd say the service may of improved but the food itself - not much, cold hotdogs for all
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Post by Rob #12 on Sept 13, 2009 10:19:00 GMT
I think it has overall yes. Your mate got one which had been standing a while, which happens. Before I pay for mine (if I eat there), I simply check to see if it's fresh or not by checking how soft the cob is. If not I hand it back and ask for a fresh one. I have only had to do this once.
The burgers (esp the cheesburger) are amazing if you get a fresh one. They are still overpriced, but they are very tasty.
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NP
Lorne Smith
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Post by NP on Sept 13, 2009 10:29:17 GMT
dunno about the food, but the drink has got even more expensive, and is no better. £3.70 for a pint of stella, or £3.50 for the others, wtf.. we are not in central london, actually central london tends to be cheaper than that for a pint!
Anyone up for starting a food & drink boycott at the NIC.
Shall we all start sneeking our food & drink into the NIC, or just nip to the pub, / chippy / subway during period breaks?
Also is it just me, or are the period breaks getting longer, I'm sure saturday games used to start at 7pm, and finish by 9.20pm, it's more 9.40pm by the time you are out of the stadium now!
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Milkman™
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Post by Milkman™ on Sept 13, 2009 11:26:30 GMT
He bought a 'southern-fried chicken burger'. Isn't that what Elvis was eating when he 'allegedly' died
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Post by buster on Sept 13, 2009 11:41:30 GMT
dunno about the food, but the drink has got even more expensive, and is no better. £3.70 for a pint of stella, or £3.50 for the others, wtf.. we are not in central london, actually central london tends to be cheaper than that for a pint! Anyone up for starting a food & drink boycott at the NIC. Shall we all start sneeking our food & drink into the NIC, or just nip to the pub, / chippy / subway during period breaks? Also is it just me, or are the period breaks getting longer, I'm sure saturday games used to start at 7pm, and finish by 9.20pm, it's more 9.40pm by the time you are out of the stadium now! drinks in pubs in central london are about that price. drinks in central london at major live events are usually about a fiver. thus, you have no reason to moan. no-one will be up for a boycott because all people do is moan and then lack any effort to back up their grumbles. people are lazy. shall you start sneaking food in? breaking the rules? yeah that will help? are you going to start going somewhere during period breaks? yeah, like you'll have the time. stop being so stupid. all this talk is pathetic, if you cant stomach the food or the prices eat before/afterward or go without. i dont like the prices of beer, but i expect them to be that high and accept that fact. key words, i accept it. i dont like it but realise if i want a drink and something to munch, what the ice arena serve is the best on offer and the only feasable option. so i suck it up and deal with it. everyone seems to think that the panthers/ice arena personally owe them something. you're not worth it and you're not that special. this is a business. deal with it.
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malc
Jade Galbraith
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Post by malc on Sept 13, 2009 11:47:57 GMT
Last night they changed it to Roast Pork also sliced from the roll. I think someone said there was also Hot Soup but not sure about that. All those we know who had it, said it was great and would have it again. Great value and great food apparently. You cannot argue the price. Did anyone else try it? Yep the Pork was good, and will have again, or try the beef if its on..
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Post by lgs03thelj on Sept 13, 2009 13:30:08 GMT
The pork was very very nice last night I hardly ever eat at the NIC but i was soo hungry last night would recommend it
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DS
Lorne Smith
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Post by DS on Sept 13, 2009 13:48:04 GMT
Buster, of course we have a right to complian!! We dont live in London. Sorry but £3.50 for a pint is a rip off, especially when you can buy them cheaper in centre of Nottingham!!
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Post by pantherdman on Sept 13, 2009 14:06:09 GMT
Just dont buy it, it's a p-take. smuggling food/ drink in is easy, 2 macdonalds cheese burger easily fit into the average mans pockets.
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Post by radford1 on Sept 13, 2009 14:29:47 GMT
haven't brought food/drink for about two years now. can't bring myself to pay for it. overpriced and poor quality
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oldman
Simon Hunt
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Post by oldman on Sept 13, 2009 14:30:28 GMT
When you go through the gates from the Foyer in the opposite corner to where Dave Pages photo table was you now have a new temporary food outlet. Last week they served Hot Roast Beef ( Large Joint) with gravy and Yorkshire pudding in a large Bap for £2.50. They sliced the beef as you ordered. Last night they changed it to Roast Pork also sliced from the roll. I think someone said there was also Hot Soup but not sure about that. All those we know who had it, said it was great and would have it again. Great value and great food apparently. You cannot argue the price. Did anyone else try it? I had the Roast Pork and it was excellent, but in the end you go to Forest the food is pants, you go to any arena gig the food is pants, you go to trent bridge the food is pants, the food though in the NIC whilst generally still the usual big crowd fodder is better than it was! And this new idea on the entrance is the best thing they have done for a long while, just need draught magners in the bars now!
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Post by Rob #12 on Sept 13, 2009 14:47:41 GMT
haven't brought food/drink for about two years now. can't bring myself to pay for it. overpriced and poor quality If you haven't had it in a few years, how can you say it's poor quality? Okay the OP had a bad experience, but on the whole they have given a better quality product for the same price. If you have a fresh cheesburger, I dare you to tell me you didn't like it. Overpriced, yes. Poor quality, nope. Not any more.
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Kadie
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by Kadie on Sept 13, 2009 15:05:41 GMT
I think its a bit hit and miss. Had a hot dog last night and the roll it was in was rock solid - should have taken it back tbh. Then other times I've had one its been nice enough.
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Post by buster on Sept 13, 2009 16:17:30 GMT
Buster, of course we have a right to complian!! We dont live in London. Sorry but £3.50 for a pint is a rip off, especially when you can buy them cheaper in centre of Nottingham!! £3.50 is the standard price for arenas and at large events. like panthers and gigs at the ice arena. deal with it. or dont. its up to you. but if you want to have a beer while watching the game you have no option but to suck it up and stop being so wet about this whole thing. theres some things in life that you can change, some things in life you cant change and some things in life that you can grumble about thinking you can change but you cant. this is one of the latter.
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Post by Peacock on Sept 13, 2009 16:38:30 GMT
£3.50 for a pint at a gig/sporting event is pretty much the norm, in fact it's not too bad at all.
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oldman
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Post by oldman on Sept 13, 2009 16:40:04 GMT
Got to say always a good sign when there is thread moaning about the catering at the NIC, it generally means there is nothing to moan at on the ice!
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sunbeam
David Clarke
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Post by sunbeam on Sept 13, 2009 16:53:11 GMT
£3.50 to £3.70 for a pint? That's more than at Trent Bridge or Forest. Dunno about Meadow Lane.
People I know take their own booze in. Very wise at those prices.
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NP
Lorne Smith
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Post by NP on Sept 13, 2009 19:00:45 GMT
Agreed Sunbeam, it's more expensive than Nottingham's other sporting venues, and the same price as some London venues I know.
Buster - 15 - 20 mins during periods gives you plenty of time to nip to the castle for a drink if you so wish.
and taking a bit of food or drink into the arena shouldn't be a problem, although I know technical you aren't allowed.
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Post by howeaboutthat on Sept 13, 2009 19:08:05 GMT
Weirdly, in the land of 'greed is good', the good old US of A, many sports arenas/stadiums allow you to take your own food and drink in with you, in fact at the Detroit Tigers games I went to last month we took a decent sized coolbag of stuff and folk were wheeling in drag-a-long cool boxes full of goodies. As for the food at the NIC, its cr@p apart from at that new stand by the entrance. As an exiled Londoner I will say though its a shame the food stands don't sell proper local fast food though, like minted mushy peas and potato fritters. Surely it can't be that difficult? On the subject of the beer though I'll stay zipped as my mate is the cellar manager.
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DS
Lorne Smith
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Post by DS on Sept 13, 2009 19:18:25 GMT
Buster, I really dont get you!! The whole idea of a forum is to air your views!!
We get your view that you think about the prices, doesnt mean people cant make a compliant about them. We aint talking about gigs etc we are talking about people who attend over 20 games a season, you would think it would/could be cheaper!!
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oldman
Simon Hunt
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Post by oldman on Sept 13, 2009 19:32:32 GMT
Buster, I really dont get you!! The whole idea of a forum is to air your views!! We get your view that you think about the prices, doesnt mean people cant make a compliant about them. We aint talking about gigs etc we are talking about people who attend over 20 games a season, you would think it would/could be cheaper!! WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a business not a charity, go to wembley check the prices, it is basically your choice, eat before you go to the game, or if you want to eat realise you are in an arena, so you will pay slightly more than the hot dog wagon in the street. Or better still go to the cinema and check the snack prices there for comparison! BTW I paid £3-20 for my pint of Fosters? Are you talking about T&D's prices?
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Post by howeaboutthat on Sept 13, 2009 19:44:33 GMT
BTW, an option for anyone who wants to take their own drink in is a Camelbak Racebak. Its a hydration system that is designed to fit beneath a cycling jersey (not the loosest of clothing so would disappear beneath a hockey jersey) yet still hold 3.5 pints of fluid. I've got one for cycling and have used a normal Camekbak (back pack mounted sort) to carry drink when I went to music festivals. If you like Magners and ice they are perfect but even better if you like a spirit and mixer.
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Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
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Post by Shaggy on Sept 13, 2009 22:57:38 GMT
Bit of an extreme reaction there, buster... you got shares in the NIC's catering company or something?
FYI, I don't moan just for the sake of it and then spinelessly buy stuff there... I eat before or after. I was trying to find out if what I saw last night was typical of the NIC's catering... so far, I'm not all that encouraged.
And I think you doth protest a little too much on this whole price issue. So what if Wembley or something charges more? Just another example of Rip-Off Britain. High price and low quality... either of those two on their own is bad enough... the combination is IMHO beyond the pale.
I might check out this stall near the entrance that people have mentioned... see if that's worth it. Sort of like the jacket spuds that they did for about one season at one outlet, then dropped? Pity, because they were the only edible thing I'd had at the NIC in years...
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