Long John Silver's takes a dive.

[New Era Outlaw]

...in Arima, at least. I just came from there, and it looks like they've gone under.

While it's sad that businesses close down (because, you know...that means people get sent home), in Long John Silver's case, I can't help but feel that it was inevitable. The food, for one, was pretty bland. I can't recall one instance where I left a LJS restaurant and felt satisfied, much less get my money's worth. The crab cakes were pretty decent, though. Still, I can't help but feel like I wasn't eating a freshly fried piece of fish more than I was eating breaded cardboard. The sauces didn't help any.

I also felt that LJS was really behind the times in terms of keeping up with Trinidad's culture. Sure, they attempted to introduce new sauces like Mango Chutney and Shadon Beni, but when your food hardly complements your garnishes, what does that tell you.

Eventually, it caught up.
I'd pass there day after day, and even on Wednesday, and there wouldn't be a single customer.

I felt really bad that people would be sent home, but I guess LJS just couldn't cut the mustard.
Adios, Long John's.

[woodyear99]

Interesting I always thought it would do well. I guess you can go wrong in the food industry in Trinidad though with KFC outlets you would swear people addicted to fried chicken eh.

[New Era Outlaw]

Personally, I thought it was just a matter of time, really. I never saw LJS as the type of restaurant that'd do well in this country. As a matter of fact, I think they pretty much keeled over and never recovered since last year. Want proof? Take a brief look at the Long John Silver's Trinidad Facebook page, and observe the last time anybody posted there.

Really sad.

[woodyear99]

Hmm I wonder if the one in Movietowne will follow suit, people used to abuse the self serve soft drinks so that gone...

[Crixx_Creww]

you brought up a good point, their sauces started to rock, shadon beni an pepper sauce were on point, but the food was never as good as the garnishes. We as island people should be eating more fish! but their breaded fried style doesnt fit our fish culture... i could see british style fish and chips kicking ass in Trinidad with those kinda sauces..

BK is the only american change that doesnt alter their food to our style that seems to do well
Its well known that kfc down here is probably the best in the world, leagues ahead of american kfc and thats cause of the tweeks they made to fit our culture.. Mickey Ds paid the price and iam guessing cause they not flame broiled like the king although their fries are legendary mmm...

A white castle might mash up Trinidad..dem lil burgers is no flikkin joke, trust me.
BUt seriously, adaptation is key, even in franchising

[Preston786]

in gulf view is usually full-ish
i don't really go there at all only prob once in a while for shrimp poppers.....
well i hope they don't close down completely cuz then alot of ppl will be jobless and now is not a gr8 time to be without a job....

@ Crixx i wld love whitecastle to come here those little burgers kick ass and
i always wanted to do a harold an kumar trini edition lol
would also like to see a taco bell here they wld flourish with their spicyness.....
mexican an trini food very similar so they wld make a killing
if anyone want to partner up for a franchise lemme kno  

[Crixx_Creww]

in gulf view is usually full-ish
i don't really go there at all only prob once in a while for shrimp poppers.....
well i hope they don't close down completely cuz then alot of ppl will be jobless and now is not a gr8 time to be without a job....

@ Crixx i wld love whitecastle to come here those little burgers kick ass and
i always wanted to do a harold an kumar trini edition lol
would also like to see a taco bell here they wld flourish with their spicyness.....
mexican an trini food very similar so they wld make a killing
if anyone want to partner up for a franchise lemme kno  

taco bell is not mexican food
nor is it remotely spicey

Trinis would cuss cause it too american

[New Era Outlaw]

Taco Bell would fail miserably here. The most common complaint would be: "I paid $30.00 for dis?! WHEY DE FLICKKING FOOD?!!"

Amen to White Castle coming down here, but there's another franchise that has won my heart and soul ten times over.

BK is the only american change that doesnt alter their food to our style that seems to do well
Its well known that kfc down here is probably the best in the world, leagues ahead of american kfc and thats cause of the tweeks they made to fit our culture.. Mickey Ds paid the price and iam guessing cause they not flame broiled like the king although their fries are legendary mmm...

Very true. However, Burger King managed to succeed because they were smart. The way I see it, they knew that your average Trinidadian will not pay $30+ for a hamburger. Those who live in those high profile places like Westmoorings (Movie Towne) and Trincity however? Fo' sure. They knew their market when they came here, and set up shop in the places that they'd most likely gather. And it's paying off, too...nearly every day I'm there, the Trincity branch is never without customers, and the same goes for the Movie Towne branch as well.

McDonald's failed because they tried to pass off sub-quality pigeon feed at ridiculous prices down here. Not to mention that strange, disgusting white puddle that would emerge from the delvery entrance when I passed by. Anybody remember that? It got to the point where they started selling burgers for $2.00 and $3.00, and even offered chicken. By then, though, it was too late.


Long story short, if any American franchise wants to succeed down here, they've got to remember the Royal Castle School of Thought:
"Our culture, Our taste."


...even though that restaurant is crap now. C'est la vie.

[TriniXaeno]

Here are two I'd like to see hit Trini shores

[Crixx_Creww]

nandos hmm never heard

i would loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee a texas grill or new york steak house to hit the scene zomggg

[TriniXaeno]

wasn't Tony Roma's a steak house? They didn't fare so well.

Nandos is only the best tasting chicken you can find in europe.

Both Chilis and Nandos are notorious for their chili (aka pepper). Mind you, their "on fire", blazing hot sauces are equivalent to a doubles with slight pepper. lol

[disciple]

hmm. nah i had like long john silver shrimp special .. in the earlies, u used to get nuff on your plate.. but then they start to lesen the portion and give you real fries.. havent had it in a while

lol@ self service drinks gettin lash tho.. trinis sure kno how to spoil a thing.. i rem i barely coulda finish a cup..


wha we need to do.. is get more proper LOCAL franchise, with foreign standards ( customer service, cleanliness , decor)


castle has a great product.. but in LOUSY , NASTY surroundings, with staff that just seems to want to lash you for talkin to them.. ... the only clean one is probably in the airport. and i've seen that a mess many a time


we have one or two 'okay' casual dining joints ( j malones, woodford..  havent been those two in a while , so i dunno if standards drop.. as i said.. they were okay.. not perfect before) but only castle flyin the local fast food flag ( albeit a very greasy one)


i see someone brought pollo tropical.. wonder how that will turn out
 

[W1nTry]

Last time I had this was in movietowne and paid too much for too little... no wonder they went out of business. Just not viable with those prices and honestly forgettable taste.

[Crixx_Creww]

yeah and i often buy their burgers without the combos so the burger is like 24 dollars an ting
and its pretty decent... not like a restaurant level thick juciy beef burger but good none the less.


As for Tony Roma... steak houses in trinidad are a joke
New york steak house and Texas Grill... for 12 dollars you can get 2 steaks that so big you would find it hard to finish ONE of them in under half an hour...
THere is a challenge at the texas grills in new york... order 2 steaks.. finish them both in under 45 minutes.. get the first two steaks free and get a third one.

SO in my youth.. i went with my Trini mentality... thinking dem men muss be mad!! free food for ah trini! pffft watch me sort dis out!!

.... 2 hours later... zomg this frikkin steak eh done yet?? steups... alright cool yea bag it up for meh ah go take it home...
wowwwww that is serious steak!!

[W1nTry]

And I pay 10tt for a Omaha steak 8oz patti and 10tt for a LOAF of hops and I make a HELLUVA better burger than them. I've NEVER bought a burger from burger king in T&T and GOD willing I NEVER will. I'd venture a home made burger costs you no more than 20TT and tastes DAMN better. FIAH for franchise CRAP, power to meh COW HEEL SOUP, calalloo and meh roti. BK, McD, Fridays, Rubys, KFC, etc, etc, etc can KISS MY @$$.

[TriniXaeno]

usually buy the chicken sandwich, the one with the real grilled chicken breast.

hmmm....hmmmm....good

lol @ crixx couldn't finish steak. That must be a serious steak fuh real.

Been to Pollo Tropical a few times. The garlic cassava wins. The rest was mediocre. Kids loved the shrimp though.

[wesleigh]

with long john silver's leaving it leaves kfc with 3 branches in arima - i watchin to see if thats overkill or not we go see

long john silver's deals were silly, at least in trinidad terms - ent it was like 4 shrimp and fries and drink for like almost $40? couldnt win, at least def not in arima

[SPK]

Hmm....Japs ftw!

In Grande, Japs actually forced Church's/Pizza Boys to close down from slowing sales...and other places are starting to adjust to suit.

For example...in Royal Castle (as far as I could tell), they actually have garlic sauce as a condiment...haven't seen that anywhere else.

[TheApprentice]

Too much reading >.>

in gulf view is usually full-ish

Dunno if mentioned but the Gulf View branch closed down also.

[woodyear99]

Hmm I guess is only a matter of time for LJS in MT to shut down as well...