Aroma: end of an era

Whilst Stevenage has gotten better for eating out in the decade I've lived here, when I first moved up from London my most reliable 'cheap eat' was Aroma who's combo of pre-prep buffet and cook while you wait teppanyaki was a far cry from the disease pits of the west end buffets.

Today however I arrived for lunch to find the location shuttered and a sign announcing it 'closed due to unforeseen circumstances.'

Those seem to be the imminent arrival of the Coast to Coast chain pioneered in Brighton by the owners of the Frankie and Benny's chain (which I won't eat at anymore since they served me three inedible meals in a row, one of which was mostly raw chicken and another of which was still largely frozen).

Coast to Coast claims to bring American service standards of service to the UK and has an American menu to match. Hopefully it will be a decent replacement. It seems to have been well received in Brighton, its maiden outlet.

With the arrival of Coast to Coast The Resaurant Group will operate on four plots at Stevenage Leisure Centre including Frankie and Benny's, Garfunkel's and Chiquitos.