“Recently the chicken in several
Dishes has been like rubber. Impossible to break up and spoils each dish- curries, ginger chicken etc. Have shopped Cook for years and am so disappointed at the change in quality”
“Very low meat content for a premium pie at only 15% compared with 30% in most premium pie (Charlie Bingham, Waitrose etc) and the gravy was overwhelmingly oniony. Wouldn't buy again.”
“I had the cod in mornay sauce with spinach. I was looking forward to it but was very disappointed. The flavours were almost obliterated as it was so salty! I have just finished eating it and my mouth is almost stinging with the taste of salt. Great shame as I think the ingredients are good quality- if only you could taste them!”
“Bought the large Lasagne, very sloppy& not particularly tasty.
Bought Veggie Lasagne at same time, still sloppy, but a bit more taste.
Very expensive for what it was, spent over £35!”
“Disappointed with recent Cook meals. Too salty & lacking original quality. Couldn't taste any asparagus in recent Salmon & Asparagus Gratin, far too heavily bulked out with unpleasant tasting sliced potato.”
“I bought a stuffed turkey breast just before Christmas and was very disappointed it was more stuffing then breast and for £16-50 was poor value for the money paid.”
“We had the salmon and asparagus meal. I have had it in the past and it was always lovely but this one was not nice. Asparagus was so woody I couldn’t eat it and it just wasn’t tasty. Shame. I certainly won’t buy it again .”
“I have been a frequent purchaser from Cook, in Hale Altrincham many many times, over several years;
I was always very very satisfied.
However, in 2022, I bought over £150 of canapés, and a full Christmas dinner for 6 people with extra dishes.
The dinner was good;
The canapés were so small that I was actually uncomfortable serving them to my guests;
I did advise Cook, Hale of this, and they said they would note and report to the HO.
They also graciously Offered me compensation.
.
I continued to shop there, following the ‘canapé disappointment’, and have purchased numerous items of meals for 8, 2,4. 2, 1, party deserts,
Pate, all sorts; embracing the idea of ease and the fact that cook is ‘home made’ without additives.
However, for Christmas 2024, I purchased several meal items, etc and different products to serve 4 people.
Sadly, I have been Disappointed with three fishes I have eaten do far - I still have more items in my freezer.
- the steak and red wine pie, was sadly lacking in meat and filling, and the meat seemed of poor quality, and was not tender. The filling overall, was inadequate for 4 people.
- the chicken and leek pie, fared a little better. But again, the meat was not of good quality, and the pie was again, Inadequate for 4.
- the new lobster thermadore starters were again Inadequate with minimal filling, albeit the taste was very nice.
I really hope that Cook, will look to address these issues. It will be disappointing, if corners are cut. I would rather that Cook increased their prices sensibly, if needs be, rather than reduce quality and quantity.
I hope the many other items currently in my freezer are less disappointing.
Elaine Gordon”
“Ordered Christmas meal £90 for 4 thinking it would be stress free lunch . So disappointed I felt I had to apologise to guests. although I followed instructions explicitly turkey breast was quite dry, roast potatoes tasteless and carrots and parsnips bland although gravy was good was very small amount for 4”
“Used to love these but quality has definitely gone down, just had chicken dijon the meat was tough and the sauce had a sour taste. I've also found the same with the beef products having horrible chewy meat.”
“Purchased Gluten Free Thai Chicken curries twice on different weeks and suffered stomach upsets on both separate occasions. Have contacted Cooks Customer Service and registered it. Have eaten the same curries some months ago and no issues. Not feeling confident of trying again after the recent experience!”
“Love your meals. Most things I've had are very tasty and feel like homemade, but I have a major complaint about your shops THEY REFUSE TO TAKE CASH. This is a disgrace when cash is legal tender. You are discriminating against many people who don't have or like to use cards. I've been fobbed off with oh it's safer for our staff not to handle cash, but you are contributing to the demise of our banks on the high street. Until you return voluntarily or the law changes forcing you to take cash again I'm afraid I can't recommend you. I only occasionally buy something in your shops always raising the same complaint with your staff. It's a shame as I would go in and buy more, but I am very reluctant with this refusal to take cash”
“The meals we tried, chicken satay and chilli con carne were tasty ( although not as good as M&S or Waitrose ) but portions were very small so just not filling. Also way overpriced considering rice had to be added.
Overall just not value for money and wouldn't bother again.”
“Tried Smoked haddock and bacon, with sweetcorn & broccoli, liked the combination of sweet & white potato chunks. However it needed 15 minutes extra cooking time as was still cold in the middle. Fish was a bit dry & very little bacon. For the price would have expected it to have a more luxurious taste. Has inspired me to try making it for myself”
“The leek & peas veg dish was awful…the leeks long, stringy & only half cooked , so most of it went in the bin!
The beef stroganoff was good
Chicken Alexander was also good but too much cream & fat for a people on low fat diets, as have several of your dishes.
The fish pie didn’t contain enough fish & too much potato”
“I bought the beef stroganoff as a special treat. With two small children there are times when we are too tired to cook. It’s also a challenge finding a dish that they may warm to - one we can buy and serve at tricky times. We usually cook from scratch so figured this may be a good option. Unfortunately it was not as good as I had hoped. But then what should I expect. It is a ready meal. The children would not touch it after tasting it unfortunately. It got better as I pressed on but it really was a disappointment on the whole. Some of the meat was chewy and the back flavour was a bit claggy. For the price of a meal for 4 it was a shame.”
