Review of: Berrill Cafe, Open University, Milton Keynes

1/5 (minimum 1)

by mgaved on 03 Oct 2007

Don't expect to eat well at the Open University.

I'm sorry to put in a negative review but best be honest eh? The Berrill Cafe confirms everything the rest of the world thinks of British food. I know this because some of my colleagues from other countries have clearly said this, and to be honest, I agree. The Open University is a wonderful place but they've been properly stuffed by the commercial caterers who hold the contract for providing food.

Chips and beans is the best option. The salad bar often has nice fresh looking vegetables but everything's pretty pricey. This must be one of the most expensive universities for a student to dine in across the UK. No student discount for sure. Every day there are 2 dishes, one vegetarian. I am vegetarian so I can't comment on the meat/fish dishes. For some reason every vegetarian dish has onions and leeks in it. Leeks in a stew is fine, but in curries? Aubergines are also a favoured vegetable. I have a belief there is a Buckinghamshire Aubergine Mafia that controls the catering round here. I can't speak about the chicken but the quiches are usually pumped full of water. What does watery quiche mean? not very tasty anyway.

Some fair trade coffees, which is good, and herbal teas. Snacks tend to be high street priced and highly processed (e.g. crisps, Nestle chocoloate bars) or more healthy and over a pound each.

My advice - bring your own food to work. Don't bring somebody here if you want to impress them.

On a positive note the staff are regulars and friendly souls, and the cafe dining air is large and airy, so you can get a good crowd of friends and pull chairs together and form your own dining club, no problem. Plug sockets and wifi mean you can come here for an afternoon's hot drink and session on your laptop.

Review Permalink: http://revyu.com/reviews/dfda22b09c50bdb9e00c26333a4004e5ada5977d

Berrill Cafe, Open University, Milton Keynes

2 Other Reviews, by... Sanyukta tom
Tags: cafe coffee disappointing disaster food lunch milton-keynes open-university
See Also: http://miltonkeynes.openguides.org/?The_Open_University