Well, I had a great experience dining at Fawlty Towers, the boiled sole was marvelous, until heel, then the nails got me. The waiter was a bit nervous all the time, lots of clanging in the kitchen. I'll return, but with a football helmet and false teeth. Highly recommended!

Mark , Spokane, Washington, USA

I was in Hong Kong in January with my son. We both love ribs and we found Dan Ryan's. The waitress even pointed out the message at the bottom of the menu, "remember these are American portions". Nevertheless we ordered the rib and chicken combo. A big rack of delicious ribs hid half a chicken! WOW

Brian Faulkner, Bridgwater, UK

Those who hold up US fast food chains are as guilty of attempts to stereotype, they are not representative of American cooking, any more than Wimpy's or the ghastly Little Chef chains are representative of British cooking. I've had very good English food outside of London.

Marie, Boston, MA US

Peter G, I agree with you. As an American living in London, I do have to point out that there is some amazing food here. Those Americans who only found bad food probably went to tourist restaurants or poor gastro pubs, not some of the better food places known to actual residents.

Liane, London, England

Mr. Waldron:

The statement, "No statue was ever erected to a critic," is attributed to composer Jean Sibelius.

Robert Laughlin, Chico, CA, USA

How come these comment boards end up in some kind of nasty UK Vs US mud slinging. Look everyone, there is both great food and terrible food in America and there is both great food and terrible food in Britain. I love good ribs, I also love a good roast and in London there is plenty of room for both.

Peter G, London, UK

I dont belive all the meat is organic. The UK does not produce enough organic meat to keep regular supplies that a restaurant needs especially the volumes quoted in the article.
It seems someone is lying, either his suppliers or the owner. The price on organic is too dear for a restaurant also.

david b, stockport, england

i think food criticis are way out of touch with people who eat "out"
and critics don 't really careabout it. i was a chef trained by madelaine kamman, one of the best chefs ever who loved great food.
i hope he trend towards more veg'sand grains as being interesting works..chez panesse of berkley ca

gremolata, south natick,ma, usa

Brad
Have you eaten here since 1954. Or did you just read somewhere that the British diet consists of boiled fish and vegetables (Enid Blyton, Biggles?). Or were you just put off by the tiny, tiny portions?
And where is this restaurant that serves baked beans?

Angela , London,

To our American Friends
One of the strangest features of the London restaurant scene is the lack of any native british cooking, at least outside of the high-priced, largely experimental range. But you guys have found lots and lots. You do know that KFC and Ben and Jerry's are american, don't you?

Faisal, London,

I would remind all the Americans spouting the usual "They hate everything American", that all us Brits eat is Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and TV dinners! Now, can you tell me where all that food came from?

Nemo, Manchester, England

If you read the American comments about London food, remember that they don't know better.

With their rapidly declining dollar, the only restaurants they can afford are Wimpey's or some ghastly low-rent mess.

Steve Guy, Lynn, UK

If you want to eat good food or watch a great movie, avoid like the plague anything recommended by a critic. The shrewd consumer knows that is exactly the same as saying that anything they pan is probably the best there is!

Now who was it said there are no statues of critics anywhere?

Andrew Waldron, Bournemouth, UK

I am from the US. Pray tell, what is food on a stick? Kebobs? I wouldn't mind trying chicago style ribs. I was raised in Georgia and am familiar with mostly southern styles of ribs. Different foods need to be appreciated or not for what they are, and eaten in proper proportion.

Deb, Boston MA, USA

"the comments from people from the US make me laugh, this from a nation that eat most food on sticks! "

Really? How fascinating. And you came by this information from...from where, exactly?

Maggie, New York City,

I think many of the bad reviews weren't snobby - they praised other BBQ joints like Bodeans and pointed out how massively inferior this place was. I'm sure some of the reviews have missed the point, and consisted of middle class critics lining up to sniff at prole food, but others were spot on.

drew huge, Tonbridge,

If you look at the picture of the ribs, notice that they are properly smoked: The way to tell is that when you look at the sliced surface, they are a nice pink, instead of grey.

By the way, if you're in New York City, some of the best ribs east of the Mississippi are at RUB on West 23rd.

Dan Schwartz, Sayreville, NJ, USA

As someone who lives in London, the range and diversity of restaurants in the capital is amazing, cuisine from around the globe. Admittedly some places are poor, some outstanding. However the comments from people from the US make me laugh, this from a nation that eat most food on sticks!

Danny, London, UK

What do you have to do to become a food critic in the UK? (insert joke here)

Tom, Dayton, U.S.

Brits don't hate American food. Have any of you yanks ever seen how many KFCs there are in London? Although I do agree, native British food is nasty!

Gary, Miami, FL, USA

There is this steakhouse in London that is in the old Texas embassy (yeah the real deal Texas Republic era) and its ALWAYS packed. Course most Brits say its crap. They think that they are more fit than the US but its really just not true.

joshua, Huntingdon,

I think this is just a reflection on the English taste of food in general....I mean has anyone ever eaten in London? ITS NASTY. Ugly pale vegatables boiled untill just a soggy mess on your plate, nasty fish (probly boiled too), and a big helping of baked beans????LOL . They just hate anything USA

brad, austin , usa

Isn't that the way it always is with reviews? From clothes to movies...these critics are just out of touch.

Kara Tyson, Mobile, AL , USA

I'd be curious enough to try it out next time I'm in the UK. Food on the plate looks good but it appears to be not really seared enough for the true Chicago experience. I'd be the first guy to invite the reviewers to Chicago and show them a few places.

Jack Valentine, Chicago, USA

As an American, I find all this interesting. It also seems the good critics over there are woefully ignorant. Good ribs are a delicacy unto themselves; slow-cooked for many hours to turn them succulent cuts, with just the right blend of dry-rub spices or sauces to complement the meat.

David Marcoe, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

The owner dude's comment about context is spot on. The critic simply forgot where he was and what he was eating. If you go into a rib joint with steak au poivre on your mind you're likely to be disappointed.

Pat Smith, Honolulu, USA

I love this kind of food. Will definitely check it out next time I'm in London. Food critics are worthless.
I disagree with one of his BBQ tips - marinating flank steak (or any kind of meat) in pineapple juice. Pineapple enzimes turn the meat into gray goo! Use acids: lemon/lime juice/vinegar.

Dimitri, New York City, USA

Get someone from Chicago to review it. Then you'll have an accurate review.

I take the advice of Chinese friends on good local Chinese restaurants, Japanese friends for Japanese restaurants, etc.

BTW California generally has mediocre Indian food except some places in Silicon Valley.

Melissa, California, USA

i am originally from chicago. when i was in london, i could not believe how lousy the food was. so in my opinion, the critics probably would not know good food if it bit them. besides, chicago style cooking isn't for everyone---just the ones who really enjoy it.

john, albuquerque, usa

I am a critics critic. I read Gill's opinions and let me say He is, to put it simply, just so you don’t forget, a terribly bad critic. And He is a terribly bad critic from the bad past.

Pierre, Parma, Italy

How can people feel nostalgia for the old "heart-attack on a plate"? It would be irresponsible for any food critic to encourage us to eat this American rubbish. Don't we have enough obesity problems already in this country?

Paul, Gwynedd, UK

in Italy we have a lot of says, one that fit perfectly is:
if you know just a little bit, become a teacher
if you know a bit less, become a p. e. teacher
if you really don't know anything at all, then become a critic.

edoardo chioni, rome, italy

In the case of Gill how would we know?
We know what he thinks about a good number of subjects, but he seldom talks about food except in the odd aside as an adjunct to his witty take on the entire universe...... entire that is apart from food.

Simon Ellis, Exeter, UK

London and all major cities these days are hugely diverse and cosmopolitan places, yet there is no diversity in the make up of critics especially food critics. I don't rate them and dont listen to them. Sonny - I think the food in Bangkok is generally better than in London, best of all the street.

Randeep, London,

I have had concerns for a while about the direction food critics were going. There is a definite visciousness about reviews now that seems to parallel the level of viscous reporting of politicians and celebrities. We who produce food to the best of our abilities need more empathy from the consumers.

Tiffany Smith, Vernet-les-Bains, France

Message to Mr. A.A. Gill : If the clientel of a new restaurant aren't dressed in tuxedos and evening dresses you can be sure that a man of your gourmet sensitivity won't like the food. Don't go in there. Leave the seats vacant for people like me who live in the real world and like to eat real food.

Dr. Jimmy, Nottingham, England

It is all too often the case that restaurant critics don't judge a restaurant on it's aspirations. Consequently an inexpensive restaurant s judged in the same way as an expensive restaurant.

E.g. of it's type MacDbnalds is bad, but some, small, privately owned burger bars serve great burgers.

Marc, Paris, France

I cannot imagine why anyone would pay attention to a paid critic.Go find out for yourself.Why take another's word for it?I notice that a lot of movies that the critics rave over,I find to be terrible.Why would food critics be any different?

ron, toronto,

"Because our meat is organic, people immediately assume its healthy. This is not the case."

What a really silly comment to make!!

Bella, Bath, UK

All food is organic, except salt. What they call 'organic' food is food produced using only impure chemicals.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

Have to agree with the restaurant. Here in Bangkok the dining places that get the rave reviews have lousy service and even worse food and add sky high prices to that. To even find good Thai food here in the capitol of Thailand is hard to do. Better to eat in a sidewalk walk up and take your chances.

Sonny, Bangkok, Thailand

I USED TO FREQUENT THE ORIGINAL and tried the new rib shak recently. It was late lunchtime there was only one other table occupied.The place was teaming with staff but the service was slow.I waited 20 minutes for the meal. The ribs were tender but lacked taste.

LAWRENCE, london, UK

I agree that most food critics are out of touch with the public. That goes to all critics actually, be it food, movie, theatre, etc.

Sarath Palety, Aylesbury, UK