Hard Rock
Are the Hard Rock Cafes in London, Rome, Venice and Munich worth the visit. Any comments would be greatly obliged! Thanks!
Brendon
Auburn, Washington USA 3/15/10
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You want to travel 2000-3000 miles, pay thousands of dollars...to see a Hard Rock Cafe?
Brendon, if you like Hard Rock Cafes then yes they are worth the visit.
I usually try to see and do things I couldn't otherwise see and do at home.
Hard Rock Cafes are essentially identical everywhere. The biggest difference is you can get a t-shirt in the gift shop with the name of the city you are in. Some people really like having Hard Rock t-shirts from different places.
What the others have mentioned is true. However, we've been living in Europe for a few years now and while traveling it is fun for us, with our teenager, to go to a Hard Rock if there's one in the city we're visiting. Of those you listed, the Hard Rock in London is probably the most interesting because it was the first and also because of the Beatles memorabilia it contains.
What's the big deal about going to a Hard Rock? Brendon didn't say he was specially going to all those cities so he could visit HR; I'm sure he's gonna take in all the other sites also. Vacations are more than just Art Museums and Cathedrals. IMO it's important to mix in some silly and frivolous stuff as well.
If you want to be treated rudely... then London's worth a visit.
Otherwise RUN!
I took a group there because the girls wanted to go. The service was horrid, they were flat out rude to teen girls because "if you can't drink it's not worth our time" It was also incredibly slow. Talked to an American couple there and they waited about 90 minutes for a hamburger. Wonder why there were no British eating there? Maybe they knew what we learned?
Worst experience out of a whole week in London. Rude service is an understatement . We walked out . Cool to see and get a pin if you are a collector but that' about it. We only went to see the original . Haven't bothers any where else in europe
Brendon, if you are going for dinner, get there really early. These restaurants are VERY busy in the evenings with really long waits. I've been to all except Venice. Be aware that the one in London has a separate location for their souvenirs--I think that's all they sell there (no food). Why eat at Hard Rock? Because our kids like it, and because we know what we're getting. Also, at the end of a long day siteseeing in hot, humid weather, we like an endless amount of refills on our drinks and it's air conditioned. That's just our personal preference. When we had our kids with us, it was more about siteseeing than food. Have fun on your trip!
Thanks for all of your opinions everyone, but we can't do it. Our plane was cancelled leaving London to Rome so we hace to leave a day early and only have a 2 hour layover but thanks again!
Many would consider that a blessing.
Personally, I'd rather swallow broken glass and wash it down with some Drain-O, but there's no accounting for tastes. Hope your trip goes/went well, however you define that.
Pretty much my thoughts, too, David.
After nine days of wursts and other wonderful German fare, the dinner we had at the Munich Hard Rock was a welcome change of pace. Every now and then a good old American burger and fries is just the pick me up and reminder of home that you need. I agree its no different that the ones at home, and yes if you have seen one you have seen them all. and that us exactly the point!
I think that's what McDonalds is for - predictable, processed and familiar, but without the pretentiousness and sticker shock.
This thread reminds me...for those that claim they want to experience the "back doors" and hang with the locals, but decry at the mere mention of somebody visiting a McDonalds or Starbucks while in Europe...umm....do you think these establishments would survive if only tourists frequented them? These places are filled with locals, so stop the hypocritical double-talk. It ain't your time or money these people are spending, so why get upset?
Amen!
James, I agree with you.
Michael...I agree Amen!!
There are several posts here that are very rude and uncalled for...sad that adults would write things like that. Everyone likes different things and thats great...and thats what makes the world go round.
I think if you examined each post here for "aggressive" language, you might be surprised which opinions were stated in a more obnoxious fashion.
I'm glad there's Burger Kings, McDonalds, KFCs, and Starbucks throughout Europe. When nature calls, these are always good places to take advantage of.
If I'm not mistaken, the HR in London, was the first. So, you can say you've been to the very first HR. I had a good experience there. While paying at the bar the guy asked if we were American? When I said yes, he raised his glass and said "God bless America" Then the whole bar did it. I thought that was pretty cool.
I guess it all depends on what you're looking for. The HR in Cario is good for a hambuger, when you're tired of turkey bacon, turkey sasauge etc,,,and it's full of local's at night.
There are times when you're traveling when you just want to be comfortable. Hard Rock (and McD) does that for some people. If you buy a shirt, take it in your carry-on. I had one stolen from my bag by "security" at Heathrow.
I'm glad there are Starbucks in China. Free Wifi and coffee, for those of us for whom tea doesn't satisfy our caffeine addiction.
Brendon is on his trip now.
Well Brenden is on his trip,, but I am still going to add this,,who is nuts enough to pay those prices. We went in the Hard Rock in Paris as my friend was on orders to bring home a t shirt for her son. We thought,, why not have a bite and a drink. We looked at menu,, and literally laughed and walked out.
I can afford a nice dinner in Paris, but I cannot afford to waste money on chain food hamburgers and cocktails that rival the cost of a nice pitcher of house wine,, LOL
50 euros in a nice bistro having authenic local food two or three courses and a glass of house wine, , or 50 euros for a chain burger, fries, and a silly cocktail, no contest...
If I was craving some "home" food, I would go to McDonalds first, at least I would only be wasting less then 10 euros for a full meal deal, LOL