Jem and I

service excellent, food absolutely divine, staff very friendly, certainly visit again
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Mrs Bennett
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, May 04, 2010

My partner and I ate at Jem & I for lunch on Saturday and were looking forward to the food since many friends of ours had recommended it to us. We ordered the smoked salmon gnochi and the wild mushroom risotto and were very dissappointed with the quality of the food. Their was nothing special about the gnochi, it was something we could have easily cooked ourselves. The risotto was very salty and small in portion size. We have eaten out at many places and do not usually write reviews but we felt incline to share our experience. We did not finish our meal and was never asked at any point how our meal was. We will not be returning or recommending this place.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Saturday, October 31, 2009

We went to Jem & I for the first time on Saturday and can honestly say that the service, atmosphere, music and food were fantastic.

we have no complaints what so ever about the staff who were extremely friendly, efficent and polite. We can't wait to eat there again, it's definatley in our top 5 of favourite restaurants.
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Jill Fabby
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 23, 2008

I went to Jem & I with a couple of business associates for dinner on Tuesday 29th April.

The waiting staff were very pleasant but not particularly on the ball. We were brought the wrong wine twice. On the first occasion we sent it back but we just decided to drink what we were given the second time. It was nice but not what we had asked for.

We ordered veg including spinach with the mains. The spinach didn't arrive with the rest of the food so we reminded the waitress. It finally arrived as we were finishing our meals. To be fair they didn't charge us for it but this is not the service i expected from a restaurant which is trying to sell itself as a high quality dining experience.

One of my colleagues and I had steak, which was fine. The fat chips that came with it were very overcooked. My other colleague had sea bass which was apparently very nice.

In conclusion jem & i needs to have a think if it wants to be thought of in the same league as city centre restaurants like Bar & Grill, Petit Blanc etc.
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Simon
Thursday, May 01, 2008

It's a shame that the waiting staff are letting the chefs down. We went to Jem & I on the 9th March and the whole time I was there I got the distinct impression that the waitress was looking down her nose at us. We decided not to leave a tip when we were informed that we would need to be quick about paying the bill because they were waiting for the table. Little comments like that, although put politely, kind of spoil the atmosphere. It's bad enough that they impose a 2 hour only slot at weekends anyway. The food was excellent, particularly the mains, although the small menu does not leave you with much choice. The wine list is extensive, but if you want to drink beer you have to keep ordering halves instead of pints.

All in all, the food is lovely, but the service leaves a lot to be desired. It was quick and efficient but there is no friendliness.
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Monday, March 10, 2008

I have had similar experiences to the other reviewers. The food is fabulous but the service is appalling. On one occasion, our heavily pregnant firiend was taken ill after ordering her food. She left and we immediately cancelled her order. They still charged us for the food, even though it was cancelled less than 5 minutes of the order being given and we were never given the food. That is one of 4 or 5 stories I could tell.

Whenever you discuss Jem & I with friends and acquaintances, their service and friendlines is always criticised. Why don't they sort it out!??
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Tizzer
Monday, December 17, 2007

Decent food, but service is questionable.

Like the ambience of Jem & I and it's always a good option when taking clients or when looking to impress without being too obvious about the fact that you're doing so.

Which means that it's a great pity about the service - which for the last 3 times I have been there has been decidedly amateur. The first couple of times, I let it go - simple things like getting the wine wrong and charging us for a dish which we didn't order. Not great, but it happens.

The most recent incident was a Friday night, 7th December, and that's why I feel I need to write a review. Too often I'm going to this restaurant and it's letting itself down with silly little mistakes which can and should be easily remedied. For instance, this time round...

- we're asked "can I take your order now?" at the same time as the waiter is handing out the menus.

- the bill comes to £89, I put £100 down and after the waiter's walked past the table 4 times, I have to draw his attention to the money. He then asks me if I want change. I didn't, and told him no, although in hindsight I wish I'd told him not to be so presumptious. If you're out on a date or out to impress clients, it puts the diner in a horrible position.

- upon leaving, two waiters stand and watch whilst a member of our party (in her 60s) struggles to get her own coat from a coathook clearly too high for her.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still a big fan of Jem&I. It's carved out a great niche for itself in Didsbury Village and saves many of us from round here from having to go to West Didsbury or into the city. But silly things like the examples above are starting to spoil it, and if it happens any more often, then I won't take the risk again.
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G Brown
Monday, December 10, 2007