First off, if you've never had the good fortune to visit the Staple Tye 'Shopping Centre' in Harlow before, then boy, are you in for a treat. It's probably worth walking or getting the bus there though, as if you park up there's every possibility of your wheels being missing when you get back.
Staple Tye itself has (among other things) a McDonalds, a Papa John's Pizza place, a Chinese Takeaway, an off-licence, a Lidl, and a Blockbuster Video. Still want to go there? Well, OK then.
On approaching the KFC, you will notice a queue stretching out onto the pavement. Each and every time I have been there it has been like this. You'd think it's because it's the best KFC in the land, but I'm not convinced that is the case, for two reasons: 1)KFC is the devils' own 'food' and B)I think it's the best of a bad bunch in Staple Tye. I don't even like KFC, and will go for McDonalds over that when I go there, but my wife and daughter enjoy it for some peculiar reason, so I take my life in my hands and venture out there on occasion.
When you eventually get to the front of the queue you are greeted by a bunch of employees who don't speak English as their first language. This makes it pretty hard to order accurately given some of the perplexing names KFC give their products.
Once you've collected your food I'd recommend a visit to the bar at the entrance to the shop to check it. Invariably, there is something wrong. Mayo when you asked for none, wings when you asked for legs, beans or coleslaw missing, and so on. I'd avoid the Pepsi too, as it's pumped and is both flat and diluted; an unfortunate side-effect of the franchise business model, and fully taken advantage of at this particular KFC. Add to that the soggy chips and you've got a less than rewarding dining experience.
The only reason I've given it two stars is because it's my nearest KFC (still 7.75 miles away), otherwise I'd have to drive 14 miles to Stevenage.
So, unless you're a friend of The Colonel, I'd maybe steer clear of this place. read more