2024 Banbury Cross Renovations
- Thread starter bgw enthusiasts
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For the record, the menu listed on BGW's website right now for Squire's is the "new" menu:
buschgardens.com
Squire’s Grille: Authentic English Food | Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The Squire’s Grille serves classic English fare like hand-battered fish and chips and other pub favorites. From hand-crafted ground beef burgers and Philly cheesesteaks to delectable desserts, there is something for everyone on this menu.
buschgardens.com
“Authentic English food”For the record, the menu listed on BGW's website right now for Squire's is the "new" menu:
Squire’s Grille: Authentic English Food | Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The Squire’s Grille serves classic English fare like hand-battered fish and chips and other pub favorites. From hand-crafted ground beef burgers and Philly cheesesteaks to delectable desserts, there is something for everyone on this menu.
*burgers and chicken tenders*
Haha yeah atleast have the fish and chips back
Yeah, in all seriousness, this is a real missed opportunity to introduce some variety into the park's food options. Fish & chips and bangers & mash immediately come to mind as English dishes that would be fairly cheap, easy to serve, and palatable to the average American guest. And, much like Marco Polo's Marketplace was used as a clever way to fit non-European cuisine into the park theme, they could've taken the opportunity to serve chicken tikka masala (the national dish of England, seriously).
Though, I'm not sure I'd trust the quality of any of those foods coming from BGW these days, but that's the sort of creative and diverse menu I'd hope for from a more inspired park with a more competent culinary team.
Though, I'm not sure I'd trust the quality of any of those foods coming from BGW these days, but that's the sort of creative and diverse menu I'd hope for from a more inspired park with a more competent culinary team.
Yeah, the fact that there's not a single even slightly authentic dish is really disappointing. Squire's has long been a BGW restaurant no one should ever eat at—and sadly, despite the BEAUTIFUL renovation, with this menu, I think it still has to keep that "please avoid" reputation.
I understand that BGW has to serve burgers somewhere in the park and I'm fine with Squire's being that place—but they should be accompanied by at least an item or two that doesn't look like it was pulled from the McDonald's menu.
Oh, and honestly, even if they were going the all basic burgers route, why don't these things at least have themed names or other similar visual or ingredient tweaks to make them more interesting? Why is the only specialty burger topped with chili of all things? Surely there was an alternative that they could have at least given a witty name to.
It just feels like everyone working on this project has poured their heart and soul into it—except for, ironically, culinary. It's especially unfortunate when Kings Dominion is down the road doing incredible, themed facility overhauls alongside fantastic new themed menus. Sad to see BGW only doing half of what's required.
I understand that BGW has to serve burgers somewhere in the park and I'm fine with Squire's being that place—but they should be accompanied by at least an item or two that doesn't look like it was pulled from the McDonald's menu.
Oh, and honestly, even if they were going the all basic burgers route, why don't these things at least have themed names or other similar visual or ingredient tweaks to make them more interesting? Why is the only specialty burger topped with chili of all things? Surely there was an alternative that they could have at least given a witty name to.
It just feels like everyone working on this project has poured their heart and soul into it—except for, ironically, culinary. It's especially unfortunate when Kings Dominion is down the road doing incredible, themed facility overhauls alongside fantastic new themed menus. Sad to see BGW only doing half of what's required.
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I wish they were going to do hot breakfasts again. We used to love getting there first thing and getting a great hot breakfast then sitting and enjoying the atmosphere and people watching.
Where the problem lies with this location is the kitchen. Unlike the other mainline dining locations throughout the park (I.e. Marco Polo, Festhaus, Trappers), this location has the smallest and most cramped kitchen of them all. The other locations are able to cook and prepare many more items and/or more specialty food options because they have huge kitchens with plenty of prep space, more appliances, and larger staffs. This kitchen has to work with what it has. The operation has to be streamlined in order to successfully maneuver the balancing act of quality food at a decent speed.
It’s a cliche that every park out there serves chicken tenders, burgers, and fries. It’s at every park because it works. The primary market for the parks is family’s with kids and I don’t know how many kids are going to eat the sausage platter lol. They will however eat the burger or chicken tenders. In the ecosystem of a theme park, there needs to be a “basic place” that serves basic fare. Unfortunately with the space provided in this location, Squires is really only able to be a basic place.
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Given that the park gutted and expanded the entire building, it's impossible to convince me that room in the kitchen to reheat frozen fish fillets couldn't have been accommodated. That and a bottle of tartar sauce is all that would have been needed to serve fish and chips.
And even if I accept for a second that it was somehow completely unreasonable to build in the ability reheat some frozen fried fish back there, something other than a chili burger was definitely possible—and expecting that is not asking much at all.
Burgers on English Muffins are trendy right now. That would have been an incredibly easy tweak for a specialty, themed, "flagship" burger for Squires. Horseradish is a good, cheap, European way to spice up a burger. That's another super easy option. What about worcestershire sauce? It is British and has seen tons of use on burgers. England has a super rich cheese history—classing up a flagship, themed burger with an English cheese would be absurdly easy too. I'm far from a chef—those pitches come from 2 minutes spent Googling. Surely the professionals hired by BGW to design these menus could do better?
I can reluctantly accept that the park needs an eatery focused on feeding people with the food expectations of five year olds, but even in such a restaurant, we should expect MUCH more than BGW is delivering with this menu. Even if they don't serve any authentic food at all, they can still theme the menu. They have the ability—they can do it with minimal effort and negligible margin impact—they just lack the desire, motivation, and/or creativity.
And even if I accept for a second that it was somehow completely unreasonable to build in the ability reheat some frozen fried fish back there, something other than a chili burger was definitely possible—and expecting that is not asking much at all.
Burgers on English Muffins are trendy right now. That would have been an incredibly easy tweak for a specialty, themed, "flagship" burger for Squires. Horseradish is a good, cheap, European way to spice up a burger. That's another super easy option. What about worcestershire sauce? It is British and has seen tons of use on burgers. England has a super rich cheese history—classing up a flagship, themed burger with an English cheese would be absurdly easy too. I'm far from a chef—those pitches come from 2 minutes spent Googling. Surely the professionals hired by BGW to design these menus could do better?
I can reluctantly accept that the park needs an eatery focused on feeding people with the food expectations of five year olds, but even in such a restaurant, we should expect MUCH more than BGW is delivering with this menu. Even if they don't serve any authentic food at all, they can still theme the menu. They have the ability—they can do it with minimal effort and negligible margin impact—they just lack the desire, motivation, and/or creativity.
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Really really random but matters here:
I know of a few people who got BGW food surveys that told me every time they get those they respond that there needs to be more “plain” offerings because they don’t want to ask for certain things to be left off and prefer to dress a burger or something on their own.
Not saying that’s why, but it’s kinda frustrating to me that they give that feedback to the park.
Get better friends @warfelg. /s... I guess. 
In all seriousness though, this menu is 100% plain offerings. The theoretical existence of one or two things that aren't plain has no impact on the wide selection of things that very much are.
Oh, and guess what, an actually interesting option at the top of the menu would expand the restaurant's audience! With the current menu, you'll never find me at Squires. If they had an interesting, unique, good, themed flagship offering—guess what—I'd go from time to time. As long as there's something for people like me at Squires, I don't care if the rest of the menu is basic, overpriced trash.
I am POSITIVE I am not alone in this too—because I've gone to the park for decades with tons of people who would never fathom eating a plain fucking cheeseburger at BGW—let alone paying BGW prices for that privilege. I accept that plenty of people do exist who will gravitate towards these options if they're offered the ability and that's fine, whatever, make your money BGW. I just also expect themed offerings alongside those overpriced, bad McDonalds-style dishes.
In all seriousness though, this menu is 100% plain offerings. The theoretical existence of one or two things that aren't plain has no impact on the wide selection of things that very much are.
Oh, and guess what, an actually interesting option at the top of the menu would expand the restaurant's audience! With the current menu, you'll never find me at Squires. If they had an interesting, unique, good, themed flagship offering—guess what—I'd go from time to time. As long as there's something for people like me at Squires, I don't care if the rest of the menu is basic, overpriced trash.
I am POSITIVE I am not alone in this too—because I've gone to the park for decades with tons of people who would never fathom eating a plain fucking cheeseburger at BGW—let alone paying BGW prices for that privilege. I accept that plenty of people do exist who will gravitate towards these options if they're offered the ability and that's fine, whatever, make your money BGW. I just also expect themed offerings alongside those overpriced, bad McDonalds-style dishes.
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Haha! I should. I’ll admit I’m a very picky eater (thank you Autism spectrum), but I would never push needing only plain options anywhere.
Even just quick thinking here you could do a “Big Ben Burger” that can have little to do with England and is just some of those toppings you spoke of. The fish and chips sandwich.
And though it’s very spicy - Chicken Curry is incredibly easy and it’s served on rice which takes no effort.
Bacon sandwiches are very popular British fare and are even easier than a burger.
Heck even a “Tea Sandwhich” sampler with a cranberry chicken salad, cucumber and smoked salmon, and egg salad would be an easy add.
When KD did a similar renovation to their Panda Express a few years ago to turn it into Grain & Grill, they got creative by adding kitchen space in the front end by the serving area, and then bumping out the serving line and queue area —the latter being exactly what Squire’s did too. It seems like they easily could’ve used that space to expand the kitchen like KD did.
Also, Squire’s used to serve fish & chips and Philly cheesesteaks in addition to burgers. No way the new, larger restaurant couldn’t have accommodated more than just burgers if they wanted to.
There was one Christmastown when they served Salisbury Steak, and it was delicious. They could have easily brought that back. It can be pre-made and stored in a warming/steamer tray and served with mashed or steamed whole potatoes. Whether it is or isn't a uniquely English food, at least it is an English name.
This is the only place in the park to get these menu items. The fact that they haven't added a generic British item to the menu yet is trivial.
Does food really count as theming? And besides maybe one or two restaurants at universal, I can't think of anywhere where the food helps me feel immersed.
Yes. I wouldn’t go into a heavily themed eatery and not expect to see a menu at least inspired by the theme. You don’t go to Olive Garden for a good steak and wouldn’t go to Outback for a good chicken parm (I know neither place is good it’s just and example).
Food absolutely contributes to theming. The intent is to create an immersive environment and tell a comprehensive story. Dining is an essential part of the experience and helps to make you feel transported to a place and/or time.
Most restaurants at Universal and Disney are set in themed environments and serve themed food that adds to the sense of immersion. BGW used to have many themed dining options, as well.
Theming isn't just decorations; it is world-building. It should include sounds, music, attractions, landscaping, architecture, shopping, dining, and anything else that can make a guest feel transported into the story.
Most restaurants at Universal and Disney are set in themed environments and serve themed food that adds to the sense of immersion. BGW used to have many themed dining options, as well.
Theming isn't just decorations; it is world-building. It should include sounds, music, attractions, landscaping, architecture, shopping, dining, and anything else that can make a guest feel transported into the story.
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