Wetherspoons has thrown us a curveball with a new food menu that branches into upmarket Asian and American-style cuisines – but can it compete with brunch aficionados like Bill’s? Mirror reporter Lauren Haughey finds out
What would you say if someone took you to Wetherspoons for a first date?
Perhaps you’d expect something casual – a few pitchers and a portion of chips as you um and ah over whether this one’s a keeper. Calling it ‘fancy’ or ‘classy’ probably doesn’t come to mind when surrounded by tipsy university students and beer guzzlers watching the footie.
But you may surprised to hear that the budget boozer has thrown us a curveball with its new food menu. Launching today (1 May) the chain has branched out from fish and chips and fry ups to upmarket Asian and American-style cuisines. So, to see whether ‘Spoons could be the next new brunch date hotspot, I took my boyfriend for a little banquet at our local, tucking into three of their dishes.
First up was the breakfast menu, which now includes three new mains: the staple American-style pancakes (£5.57, store dependent), the rather exotic-sounding ‘Fiesta’ poached egg and salsa brunch (£3.88), plus a fresh fruit and yoghurt option (£5.19). Non-meat dishes have also been extended for the existing menu too, with beans on toast (£3.77) and sausage butties (£3.88) all now friendly to vegans.
We decided to kick off our menu-tasting with the pancakes, accompanied by two glasses of orange juice at just 70p each. The pancakes in particular comes as American food mania has taken the UK by storm, with McDonald’s having launched US-style brioche burgers earlier this year.
I was eager to see how ‘Spoons’ sweet treats would compare with the fast food giant’s bold move – and they certainly didn’t disappoint. The generous serving of four pancakes were a big hitter among us both – stacked with impressively fresh bananas, apple slices, strawberries and blueberries.
Drizzled with a not-too-sweet maple-flavoured syrup, you wouldn’t be a fool for thinking these pancakes were plucked straight out of an influencer’s Instagram picture. Albeit, the pancakes were a bit cold, but this dish will still no doubt have brunch-aficionados like Bill’s quivering in their boots.
Next up, were the more obscure lunch options that no one saw coming for ‘Spoons in 2024. This included their new vegan ramen noodle bool which encompassed a range of veggies that you’d perhaps expect at Wagamama’s – from shitake mushrooms and bean sprouts to bamboo shoots, all in a light, salty broth.
It comes with a non-alcoholic drink for £6.99 and an alcoholic drink for £8.52. Though, if you prefer a meaty dish like me, you can also opt to pay extra for chicken breast, poached eggs and maple-cure bacon to be added in too – I went for chicken.
Admittedly, this dish daunted me a little. As a shameless ‘lemon and herb’ Nando’s girl, the double chilli warning next to this menu listing was ringing all sorts of alarm bells in my head. But, as I took my first spoonful, I was once again pleasantly surprised.
Hands down, this was the best chicken I’d ever eaten at ‘Spoons – it was soft, tender and flavoured by the punchy-but-not-overpowering broth. The noodles were thick – perhaps a little rubbery – but great for the price, and the veggies were well-cooked and actually rather delicious.
The small Shawarma chicken wrap (£3.08 without chips) – featuring spicy chicken thigh, onion, rocket, tomato and herbs was another new ‘Spoons option that’s come right out of left field too. This was listed alongside five new alternative mini wraps, including a southern-fried chicken, Quorn nugget and brunch options.
Another confession – I didn’t quite look at the size of these Shawarma wraps before I ordered them and was shocked to see just how small they were at just 10 inches. For context, one half of this wrap could fit in the palm of my hand, so it’d definitely be a bummer for anyone with a big appetite.
But it certainly wouldn’t disappoint among die-hard chilli lovers, with a huge kick from the very first bite. This is all thanks to its medley of Middle Eastern spices giving it a three-chilli rating that’s certainly not for the faint-hearted (me).
While this was my least favourite of the unusual new ‘Spoons staples, it wouldn’t phase me from going back for another round. My boyfriend and I both agreed that actually a first date like this would be rather nice – despite any preconceptions that a pub brunch is cheap and cheerful. If I’m lucky, maybe he’ll take me on another one.
Will you be trying the new Wetherspoons menu? Let us know in the comments…
