It had been a while since I had visited my beloved Offbeet. I had to mix it up a bit, giving the competition in the area a try when I last visited so I had kept away from there for about a month, which is a long time for me. Before I start with my latest review, if you haven't heard of Offbeet yet and haven't read my previous reviews, then now, I urge you to turn back and read them first. This will be a little different to the style I usually write in and a different style is needed for the level of change I have seen.
For those of you who know and love Offbeet as much as I do, it has seen a big switch up since the previous menu. More experimental, no longer completely Vegan and Gluten Free plus some other surprises. It is still the Offbeet we know and love just a little different, so I felt that deserved a fresh review. After all, I have written so much about this place. A change as big as this cannot be sidelined.
Menu
I will start off with the menu, very much more experimental with some dishes that had to be googled to know what they were. We were going in blind, as the website at the time I was coming in had not been updated with the new menu. (I've checked and it's changed now.) I knew there was a new one due to social media links but anyone else would have had a shock.
They still have the Totally Beet Naked Burger, onto their fourth version of the Burger now. I wonder if they'll ever settle on it, although Nacho Cheese, Mayo and Pickles definitely belong on a burger. I preferred when they had the cloud like bun on top, even for me half an Avocado is a bit much and doesn't qualify it as a proper burger. That is just personal taste though.
The old favourite sides are still there, the Epic Cheesy KFC Fries that everyone adores so much and my favourite, Little Jack Nacho. I have never tried the Slaw but that and the Nibbles are very much the old Offbeet.
From there, it gets a bit quirky and new Offbeet.
I was delighted to see the Asian Fish 'N' Chips on the menu. It is so very hard to come by Gluten Free Batter with the added complication of the insides needing to be Vegan. Great to see that has made an appearance on the menu.
As for the rest, it got a little complicated. I am not too experimental and we needed to google quite a few of the dishes to understand what we would receive. It left my non Vegan companions completely baffled, I've never seen them look so confused at Offbeet. Which also made them less excited for the meal they were going to receive, very unlike our usual experience.
Don't get me wrong, the dishes all sound amazing, delicious and brilliantly innovative. I am just a little baffled that the staples of Offbeet have completely disappeared. No more "Chic-ken" or the delicious Gnocchi, even the Carrot Lox and Avocado Bread has gone. You should never forget where you come from, you'd never see McDonalds take away it's classic hamburger. (Not a very Vegan message but it fits.)
It feels like they're living the message, "go hard or go home" when it isn't necessary with their established customer base. They could have simply gradually added the new dishes, alongside the old favourites. It would have certainly helped us with the transition into their more experimental era.
The last thing I struggled with, the change from being completely Vegan & Gluten Free to having some dishes with Gluten in that aren't even labelled as such on the menu. For somebody coming in who didn't know this change, it is a dangerous game to play. Relying on members of staff to remember to mention it each time the dish is ordered is more than a little dodgy. The only reason I knew is because I'd spoken to Mitch a few days before. I do expect more from Offbeet and I find myself a little concerned this could be a bad turn. Please, please rectify this.
Food
Now if you know Offbeet, you know this section is going to be the most positive of them all. Our table ordered three different mains (I celebrated this, knowing I could try each one) with two sides, making the most of trying the new menu and trying our best to welcome the change.
I of course ordered the Asian Fish 'N' Chips. Words cannot do it justice, however I am going to do my best to try.
The amount of food that came out first of all was a triumph. The Tofu "Fish" was beautiful battered in a Crispy Seaweed and Sesame Seed Golden Batter that was of the perfection standard. Crispy, crunchy and soft in the middle, just how I remember a great batter to be.
The Potato Noodle Fries were out of this world delicious. I have never enjoyed a spiralized vegetable so much in my whole life, it had superiority over any other fries I've ever had. I'm deadly serious they were that good.
The Tartar Sauce was tasty, wasn't as sharp as I remembered Tartar Sauce to be, yet still a brilliant recreation. I was sceptical about the Edamame Wasabi Mushy Beans, I don't particularly enjoy Wasabi although Edamame Beans are always a winner. There was just enough of a balance so the Wasabi wasn't too strong and I enjoyed a solid half of the portion there. I didn't actually use the Sushi Seasoning Vinegar as I found enough flavour in the dish.
100% one of the best, if not the best dish I've had from Offbeet.
I also ordered the Little Jack Nacho side dish, because if you don't have Jackfruit when it's on offer as a Vegan, are you really a Vegan? Delicious as always, with a brilliant kick from the pink Pickles and the Cheese was to die for as always. Good to see an old favourite still doing well.
My friend Ingrid decided to try the Lemon Arancini which after a bit of googling we found to be fried balls of Rice with a filling. She had a tooth taken out the day before visiting so something soft was needed, without the Gnocchi this was the next best dish.
We were somewhat surprised by the portion size. Only three balls and some mixed leaves in the middle, of course looking delicious yet we couldn't help but wonder where the rest of it was. It appeared to be more of a started size than a main course and for the price of £13.50 you can't help but feel a little cheated.
Onto the taste, I do not like olives so this was hard to be objective on. Ingrid however thought the Arancini Balls were nicely crispy on the outside with creamy Rice in the centre. She loves olives so she didn't think the flavour was too overpowering, saying it was not delicate yet not strong either, somewhere in the middle. The leaves were a good contrast to the flavour in the Arancini Balls as well.
My Mum, decided on the El Waffle, which after no googling needed we discovered were some Potato Omelette Waffles with Drunken Tequila Beans and Cultured Cheese. They were not your standard Birds Eye Waffles, not that we thought they would be, it's just what comes to mind. She got a decent portion with the standard beautiful Offbeet presentation.
I tasted a small amount, which I enjoyed though I get a bit scared when Alcohol is in food as I don't drink. I am bit weird like that, though what I tasted was deliciously cooked waffles with some very well seasoned beans. My Mum thought it was more potatoey than an omelette consistency, though she enjoyed it very much and the beans complimented the dish well.
They added the Epic Cheesy KFC Fries as a side when they realised no one had ordered them, that was a no no for Ingrid. She was the one that ordered them as a side before it was even possible. She did notice however the portion size was a bit smaller than before, yet just as delicious as they have ever been.
Pricing
Something all three of us noticed was the big difference in pricing. I joked that it was probably helping them fund the new Offbeet that might eventually open this year. When really this wasn't the greatest of jokes. If we go back to look at the prices before, and I can because I take a picture of the menu each time... (Again, I know I'm a little weird.) There is a massive difference in variety of pricing and a big increase as well.
I remember last time thinking the Little Jack Nacho at £5 was a little steep, I wrote it off as being a hard to source ingredient. Now when I see that all dishes are at least £13.50 I see it a bit clearer. Prices are definitely going up, no more will I be able to have a quick lunch there because I won't be able to justify it.
I think to price a dish with three Arancini Balls and a bit of salad as £13.50 is a little cheeky, same with the El Waffle. Both could and in our opinion should easily have been under £10. To have been able to price the Sweet 'N' Sour Chic-Ken as £10.95 before when now all of these new dishes that are much smaller are all £13.50 leaves it feeling completely disproportioned. I can't comment on the dishes we didn't try as we didn't see the portion size, however just having a look I think at least one may also be a little overpriced.
We agree with the pricing for the Asian Fish 'N' Chips and also the Totally Beet Naked Burger as they are proper meals with big ass plates. They completely fill you up, whereas for a lunch time meal such as the others we simply question the need for the steep price rise.
I want to finish this update review with a few words for Offbeet, I absolutely love your restaurant and I felt pretty uncomfortable writing some of this. The food always speaks for itself and is always delicious, I have no doubts about that plus it will always keep me coming to you all the way from Reading. You are all so welcoming, friendly and bring me some food I would never be able to have otherwise.
There are just some things that have thrown me and both of my companions off this time, which left us feeling less like we were at Offbeet and more like an over priced cafe.
A new direction may be needed for the new fancier place in Southampton. Yet without seeing a big change in decor or visible gear shift in Wickham, changing a tonne of what you are famous for is a little too much when done all at once. I hope you take these words as they are meant, from a big fan who wants you to know their constructive thoughts rather than keeping them bottled up where they can do no good.
Big love Offbeet, I will visit you soon, I want to try more of your delicious food.