Bill's Produce Store

stressful, chaotic, crammed full...looks like it became money-grabbing and out of control.
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lucy
Monday, July 14, 2008

Good to look at but lacks real substance. Come out of there feeling like you've been mugged.
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Jon
Wednesday, May 21, 2008

We went early evening before the theatre.

We liked the atmosphere. There was no probelm getting a table although I suspect there might have been later on.

The service was very good and friendly.

The food was wholesome, unpretentious with good portions. The pasta I had was really tasty much much better than the usual Italian fare in the chains like Ask, Pizza Express, Zizzis, Prezzos and a dozen others where its so often tasteless and formulaic.

The wine list was a bit limited.

I would definitely go again.
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Sunday, March 16, 2008

I used to go to Bills alot and I was part of that whole Brighton hype over it but I find myself going less and finding other places to go instead, I feel as if though now that they are making lots of money as it always seems to be busy inside I feel staff and chefs dont feel the need to impress anymore. food has gone down hill aswell as size but the prices keep going higher, it is as if they are trying to cut corners to increase profit for themselves by dishing out smaller, less quality food but higher prices. I also feel they need to organize the door more, staff always seem to welcome guests by making them feel as if though a nuisance to find them seating space and once sat down they wonder off, while the guests are smileing politely and the two couples sat uncoftable on each side of them. I cant say anything bad about the desserts only the price of them.
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Ashley
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I used to go to Bills alot and I was part of that whole Brighton hype over it but I find myself going less and finding other places to go instead, I feel as if though now that they are making lots of money as it always seems to be busy inside I feel staff and chefs dont feel the need to impress anymore. food has gone down hill aswell as size but the prices keep going higher, it is as if they are trying to cut corners to increase profit for themselves by dishing out smaller, less quality food but higher prices. I also feel they need to organize the door more, staff always seem to welcome guests by making them feel as if though a nuisance to find them seating space and once sat down they wonder off, while the guests are smileing politely and the two couples sat uncoftable on each side of them. I cant say anything bad about the desserts only the price of them.
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Ashley
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

By way of review, I attach an e-mail to Bill's sent on 15.02.08:

My husband and I came to your Brighton restaurant last night, having booked the week before for the "special" Valentines night dinner at a cost of £24.95 which averages at £8.31 per course. We have been to Bill's on previous occasions, although always for lunch, and have never had cause for complaint. Last night, however, is a completely different story!

On arrival, we were presented with a glass of prosecco (which was ok) and a starter platter of bread, pesto and olives. This is food both my husband and I love and it would normally not hang around for too long - your efforts were rather dismal, though. The pleasure of eating an olive lies in biting into a big, chunky fruit with some flavour and texture. What we had was soft, lacked in taste and was not at all "appetising" - and as for serving big chunks of garlic on Valentine's night, well..........!! The bread had barely seen the grill pan and so all we had, really, was luke warm bread with cold olive oil on top. Is that worth £8.31??

Our main courses led to further disappointment, not to say disgust. My husband's lasagne was completely dry and, on making a complaint about that, your front of house person blocked any further criticism by stating that "chef had cooked it in the traditional Italian way". What a suprise - I have travelled extensively in Italy but have never, ever come across a lasagne like that. If Italians did indeed cook such an atrocity, they have better sense then to serve it to customers at £8.31 a head! And the ones I cook at home (based on a "traditional" Italian recipe) knock spots off yours any day of the week.

My Thai CHICKEN curry had not one single whole piece of chicken in it and, believe me, I dug around for one! The whole thing tasted sickly sweet, it lacked balanced flavours and I did the only sensible thing to do with it - I left most of it!

The desserts (lemon tarte) did, as always, look beautiful but again did not deliver much on the flavour front nor was there any (pleasant) texture to it.

We had a bottle of wine with our meal and ended up paying just a few pennies short of £72 for what was a disgraceful and hugely disappointing meal.

As for service, our starter platter and a pile of dirtied serviettes were left on our table until the desserts arrived - at the time, there were probably more staff than customers on the premises and this, again, contributed to what was an extremely unhappy experience.

I have always loved Bill's in Lewes and, as mentioned before, I have been to the Brighton store on several occasions both to eat in the restaurant and to purchase some of the produce in the front shop. I will not do either ever again and am really saddened that a place that began with such style and "buzz" has come to this - we feel completely and utterly "ripped off" and it is quite offensive for your staff to assume that customers do not know anything about food, especially the "traditional" kind.

Having studied the other diners around us, I am sure that my husband and I were not the only people who felt let down and disappointed - there were no shouts of delight or suprise at what was being served; all faces looked rather glum and your customers ate without enthusiasm or enjoyment. What a pity!

Following our meal we went to see Alison Moyet's concert in The Dome - and thank God for her because she cost roughly the same as your food but was worth every single one of the pennies we paid to see her! Value for money, it used to be called.........
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Liz Hegarty
Friday, February 15, 2008

Took my family for brunch on Sunday,mindful that we nearly walked because of the queue we waited for 5 mins and were seated.Great atmosphere,good food and a memorable experience.We will return
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Chris Boyle
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

a really really stressful experience. we waited for at least an hour which was our choice but then we were made share with another couple who were fighting at our table. I didn't want to hear them bickering. We asked the manager (well i think he was) and he abruptly told us we would have to rejoin the Q. I was embarassed as he said this loudly and the fighting couple heard me and became even more peeved. Well i can tell you it was a barrel of laughs all round NOT!!. the food was ok. pizza base really chewy and topping was more on the burnt side. Salad was lovely. My husband had the bills breakfast and he was smiling but i really didn't feel comfortable in the seating arrangement. we had things to talk about and we couldn't....couldn't get out fast enough.....no intimacy or respect for privacy.....and for that i don't recommend.
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Monday, January 21, 2008

Yes, Yes, all very good and nice. Food always tasty, also, loving the fact i can buy half my fruit and veg weekly shop whilst i eat Eggs Benedict - yum!

However.

Every time i've been there ( 4 times now ), i've been charged more than the menu price for several courses. Not huge amounts, but normally .95 when the menu says .50. Not enough to get fussed about, but enough to stop me going as often as i would - it's 5 mins from home, after all.

Secondly, wish the venue was bigger. I'm sure that deep down, they're lovely people, but i'd rather not have to eat my breakfast sitting literally shoulder to shoulder with some of Brightons finest, especially if they are "prammed up", as the last time.

Other than that, good, wholesome, clean fun for all. hoorah and well done!!
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gbchunks
Thursday, January 10, 2008

Visited Bill's in early October with a friend who lives nearby and recommended it strongly.

Although busy the service was bright and attentive without being pushy.

I orded a steak sandwich which would satisfy a hungry American. It was biiiig.

The delicious looking cakes were not an option.

Well cooked (not overdone) andvery tasty.

I'd go again.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007