Southampton has recently added a huge restaurant and cinema facility next door to the West Quay shopping complex in the city centre. The latest food addition that piqued our interest was a Scandinavian restaurant, KUPP, which apparently also has locations in Paddington and Exeter. Based on our visit, they may want to change a couple of things before expanding further.
My daughter and I visited on a Wednesday lunchtime when there were about ten tables occupied. The initial service by the waitress was prompt and friendly, and we chose two of their open sandwiches – smoked roast beef and lingonberry and ham and cheese. After half an hour of waiting – during which time we watched one poor waitress struggle to make smoothies while three other waitstaff with seemingly nothing to do just stood around the bar ignoring her – the sandwiches finally arrived. They came plated on a flat cutting board. While this looked good, a plate with no edges makes it extremely easy to knock salad and other bits and pieces off the side and onto your lap.
The dark rye bread was beyond tough. Trying to saw into it was almost too much for the knives. It was unavoidably hard and stale. We both gave up after the first piece. Other than the horrible bread, the toppings were extremely tasty, and the accompanying potato salad was delicious.
We raised the half hour it took to get sandwiches when the restaurant was ¾ empty and the stale bread with the manager. He did apologise and we did receive a £5 discount on the meal.
The prices were fairly reasonable for an informal chain restaurant – $16.50 pre-discount for two substantial sandwiches. Given that it has only just opened, we’re going to give it another go and see if any changes have been made.
