Comments on The Greenwich Phantom: Rhodes Prices

I bought a loaf on Saturday,the sale assistant tr...

2009-05-31T00:49:17.103+01:00

I bought a loaf on
Saturday,the sale assistant tried to find out if the loaf was mine and touched it with his hands!:( Apart from that the scones are great!

I've noticed the quality of their sandwich filling...

2009-04-12T23:33:00.000+01:00

I've noticed the quality of their sandwich fillings has being getting worse since they opened. The chicken and avocado was great when they opened. But now instead of real chicken they have started using a sliced packet version. The ham has gone the same way,

I hope they can stop the decline sharpish.They need to keep up the standard they set when they opened.
I see they've got a stall in Borough market.

I popped into Rhodes for the first time this after...

2008-12-07T21:09:00.000Z

I popped into Rhodes for the first time this afternoon to get dinner - the fougasse and savouries looked nice from outside.
Having spent my £7.50 on bread and two pastries I feel ripped off.
The fougasse with green olives was OK; but the "smoked haddock" tarts hardly had any fish to mention and the salmon and spinach roll was literally just spinach with no salmon to mention.
I love good bakeries (and might go back purely for the croissants which I miss since moving from Wandsworth, and therefore used to Cake Boy at Battersea Reach - the best in London IMO) but I get the niggly feeling this is not good value in my experience so far...

I have stopped for coffee at Rhodes a few times no...

2008-12-04T11:34:00.000Z

I have stopped for coffee at Rhodes a few times now, and the service is great (along with their food): have to agree that the coffee at the Beehive is still the best in Greenwich, but for access to the ferry it's hard to top Rhodes.

I noticed today that they have started a loyalty programme there now: a voice (customer or staff, uncertain) clearly stated 'thanks to the Phantom' when it was brought up.

So congrats on the public service there!

We finally got round to visiting Rhodes a couple o...

2008-11-28T19:52:00.000Z

We finally got round to visiting Rhodes a couple of Sunday's ago after a vigourous park walk and got 2 slices of cake (one princess and one chocolate) and I think they were approx 3.50 each, which I thought was a little steep - however when we got home and sat down with them, the slices were HUGE and the cake was lovely!!
We also bought one of their mini cupcakes, which I think was one pound (Sorry my pound sign isn't working!) which was utterly tasteless! Good for cake, back for cupcakes!

talking of rip off, I was at M&S the other and pic...

2008-11-09T04:09:00.000Z

talking of rip off, I was at M&S the other and picked up a pack of 4 large bootles of water.
Funny enough, I did something I never do, I checked the price: £1.5
Then my eyes stumbled onto the single bottles that where just next to them: £0.35 ea.
Yep, that is £1.40 for 4...
Walked to the checkout and asked why the difference as typically, the more you buy, the less you pay (right?).
I was told that it is because the 4 were wrapped in a plastic and therefore you would pay the difference for the convenience of it...
More like charge more based on people's assumption that more is less...
Needless to say, I returned the pack of 4 and walked out!

On the Rhodes place, I noticed it only recently and the first thought that crossed my mind was 'oh no, not yet another coffee place'...

Thank you Rhodes for finally bringing a quality pr...

2008-11-01T00:06:00.000Z

Thank you Rhodes for finally bringing a quality product to Greenwich, it's been long overdue. I work in central London where the equivalent is Pauls.
Rhodes has filled a gap in the market that anyone who loves real food must be happy with.
For all others there is Gregs.

TGP, fair point. Although if I preferred coffee A ...

2008-10-29T12:09:00.000Z

TGP, fair point.

Although if I preferred coffee A to coffee B and B offered the 'one free coffee after buying nine'- I'd still go to A as I...er...prefer it.

(Haven't tried Rhodes coffee yet.)

Well, SoC, I do have a bit of a choice to make. Gr...

2008-10-29T09:09:00.000Z

Well, SoC, I do have a bit of a choice to make. Granted Beehive don't do cakes to any great extent, but if I'm just buying a coffee, I'd probably go to them instead of Rhodes. Buns, yeah - no competition...

Damned fine pain au chocolat, though.

2008-10-28T23:31:00.000Z

Damned fine pain au chocolat, though.

Isn't the point of loyalty cards for businesses to...

2008-10-28T17:59:00.000Z

Isn't the point of loyalty cards for businesses to tempt customers to stick with them and not a local rival - both in offering and location (Caffe Nero, Costa etc.)

Rhodes hasn't got a rival as far as I can see.

Loyalty cards would be appreciated by Lewisham res...

2008-10-28T14:08:00.000Z

Loyalty cards would be appreciated by Lewisham residents, who don't have access to Greenwich Cards, and would also be useful for those across the river too.

>> notice the price of their lemon tarts has soare...

2008-10-27T22:54:00.000Z

>> notice the price of their lemon tarts has soared in recent weeks.

I'm not surprised considering a single lemon in Sainsburys is 35p!! THIRTY FIVE PENCE!! For A (one) lemon.

I know it's probably shipped from the other side of the planet but even so! Limes only 15p.

Still not been in. But eat-in food is subject to V...

2008-10-27T21:25:00.000Z

Still not been in. But eat-in food is subject to VAT, whereas takeaway isn't - maybe this is some of the difference?

I love the shop in general. But I've started to pi...

2008-10-27T20:02:00.000Z

I love the shop in general. But I've started to pick and choose; a single espresso is £1.40; that's more than Carluccio's, in the swanky West End, and frankly their coffee is way better. And the Monmouth stall charges £1.00, again for a much better coffee.

I don't mind paying extras for luxuries, but for everyday necessities (like coffee) it mounts up. Likewise, their bread is slightly more expensive than the cheese shop, who buy theirs in rather than manufacturing.

I am still a supporter, but if they're tinkering with prices, I'd like to see some go down, rather than everything go up, if I'm going to trek over more often.

I wonder if their cream horns are going up? I'd gl...

2008-10-27T15:40:00.000Z

I wonder if their cream horns are going up?

I'd gladly pay a penny more for a bun if (i) it's possible to speak to the people - mainly shortish girls it seems - behind the high glass counter (lots of customers' spittle spraying over the unwrapped croissants, um yummy) and (ii) they sort the barmy queuing system which does not explain 'queue here, pay there'. But I think we've covered this one before.

I guess all new businesses take time to get their prices right though. Hats off to food/bread etc.

Noo, not putting the price up on the Lemon Tarts, ...

2008-10-27T10:15:00.000Z

Noo, not putting the price up on the Lemon Tarts, they are the best thing ever.

However i'd stear clear of their sandwiches, i took a bit into my chicken and avacado and came out with a mouthful of undercooked pink chicken and bone which was not very nice.

It's a shame because it has potential to be a great little outlet but does seem very hit and miss.

I bought my usual quiche and sandwich and coffees ...

2008-10-27T09:16:00.000Z

I bought my usual quiche and sandwich and coffees and cake (not all for me!!!) the other day and it didn't seem anymore expensive than usual...

but if they are putting their prices up then that's not goodi n my book!

I notice the price of their lemon tarts has soared...

2008-10-27T08:23:00.000Z

I notice the price of their lemon tarts has soared in recent weeks. What was good value now seems pretty steep!

In case it was marge - I'm having a bit of a minor...

2008-10-27T08:13:00.000Z

In case it was marge - I'm having a bit of a minor war with sandwich outlets on this - these days they call it 'spread' and its a splot of some chemical mix which they give you without the option on the grounds its 'healthy'(actually its cheap).