Qype: Pret a Manger in London

London - Cafes & Coffee Shops - Sandwiches

Not normally a fan of reviewing chains but my experience today proves that two can differ dramatically.
Sent to fetch their Italian chicken salad I was not too surprised that they did not stock, nor had the capacity to make this salad option given their size. Looking at the avo chicken salad, I wondered if the two were similar enough to substitute so I inquired after the contents of the Italian chicken salad. They hadn't a clue. No documentation, no inclination, no bloody idea.
They offered to tell me the ingredients of the avo chicken salad in my hand which I thought was remarkable considering it's got a clear plastic top and with my 20/20 vision I'd already worked it out. I explained that I purely wanted to know the difference to save me the walk for, as an example, if one has onions and the other doesn't, then that's a doable swap. 'Most of our salads contain onions, so it probably will.' I could but blink. I asked if they could call their branch up the road to which they replied 'They're very big, I'm sure they'll have it.' 'No, to find out what the difference is between the two to save me the walk.' 'Look we're very busy and they are too.' 'So there's no possible way you can tell me the contents of the other salad?' 'No.'
So I spun on my heel and walked out.
This rather small Pret plonked between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square is ideally placed, but I'd suggest a walk past Leicester Square to a larger franchise and hopefully staff who know their elbows from their *rseholes.
Check out my review of Pret a Manger - I am Urbanite - on Qype