Ribz Reviews Food

Have you tried Monterey Jacks?

Sometimes you visit a restaurant and really enjoy the food, but there’s one thing that puts you off going back.

Maybe it’s the service.

Maybe it’s the portion sizes.

Or maybe it’s simply that you don’t feel you’re getting particularly good value for your money.

And that’s pretty much been my experience with Monterey Jacks in the past.

I’ve eaten at Monterey Jacks a few times over the years, and to be fair, I’ve generally enjoyed the food.

I’ve had some nice burgers.

Nothing particularly wrong with them.

But there was always one thing that bothered me.

Having to pay extra for chips when ordering a burger.

Now, I appreciate that plenty of restaurants do this.

But personally, I’ve never been a massive fan of it.

Especially when you’re already paying a decent amount for the burger itself.

On one previous visit, I remember paying around £13 for a burger.

And when it arrived?

There it was.

A relatively small burger.

Sitting all alone on a big plate.

No chips.

No sides.

Just the burger.

And I remember thinking that it really didn’t feel like great value.

In fact, it put me off going back for a while.

But when I recently visited M&D’s in Motherwell with some family members, I discovered that Monterey Jacks was now including chips with its burgers.

At least with the offering available during my visit.

And that was enough to convince me to give it another try.

So, did the improved value make for a better experience?

Let’s find out.

Please note: This review reflects my experience at the time of visiting. Menu options, included sides, prices and availability may have changed since then.

Visiting Monterey Jacks at M&D’s

On this occasion, I was out at M&D’s with some family members.

And while we were there, we decided to stop at Monterey Jacks for something to eat.

Now, Monterey Jacks wasn’t somewhere I was particularly desperate to revisit.

Not because I’d had terrible food there.

Far from it.

But because my previous experiences had left me feeling that the value for money wasn’t especially good.

And when you’re somebody who visits as many restaurants as I do, that can make a difference.

There are always plenty of other places to try.

So if somewhere leaves you feeling a wee bit underwhelmed by what you’ve received for your money, it’s easy to move on to somewhere else.

But I do like giving places another chance.

Especially when something has changed.

And in this case, it appeared that Monterey Jacks had addressed one of my biggest complaints.

Chips were now included with the burgers.

A small change, perhaps.

But for me, quite an important one.

Why Paying Extra for Chips Put Me Off Monterey Jacks

Let’s talk about this for a moment.

Because I know everybody has different opinions when it comes to restaurant pricing.

Some people are perfectly happy ordering a burger and paying extra for sides.

Others expect chips to be included as part of the meal.

Personally, I’m generally in the second camp.

Now, I’m not saying every burger absolutely must come with chips.

Restaurants can structure their menus however they like.

But when you’re paying a fairly substantial amount for a burger, I think it’s reasonable to consider the overall value.

And that’s where my previous Monterey Jacks experience fell short.

I remember paying approximately £13 for a burger on an earlier visit.

And when it arrived, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed by the presentation and portion.

It was a relatively small burger sitting by itself on the plate.

And for the money I’d spent, I just didn’t feel particularly impressed.

The burger itself was nice enough.

But the overall experience didn’t make me desperate to return.

Sometimes value for money isn’t just about the quality of the ingredients.

It’s about what you actually receive for the price.

And on that previous visit, I felt I could have got more for my money elsewhere.

Monterey Jacks Now Including Chips With Burgers

So when I discovered that chips were included with the burger offering during this visit, I was pleased.

Because that immediately addressed one of my biggest frustrations.

Instead of paying for a burger and then having to add chips separately, I was getting a more complete meal.

And for me, that’s a definite improvement.

I think it makes the overall experience feel better value.

Especially when you’re out for a family day and stopping somewhere for a meal.

It’s nice to know you’re getting a burger and chips together rather than having to keep adding extras.

Of course, I can’t confirm whether this applies to every burger, every menu or every Monterey Jacks location.

I’m simply talking about what was available when I visited the restaurant at M&D’s.

But from my perspective, it was a positive change.

And one that helped persuade me to return.

What Did I Order at Monterey Jacks?

For this visit, I decided to go for a double cheeseburger topped with cheese sauce.

Now, before anybody asks for the exact name from the menu…

I haven’t got a clue. 😂

I genuinely can’t remember what it was called.

But I can remember what I ordered.

A double cheeseburger with cheese sauce.

And to be fair, that sounded like a pretty appealing combination.

I love a good cheeseburger.

And adding cheese sauce on top certainly isn’t something I’m going to complain about.

In theory, it had everything needed to be a cracking burger.

So I was interested to see how it compared with the other burgers I’d tried from Monterey Jacks in the past.

And, more importantly, whether it would make me feel differently about the restaurant.

The Double Cheeseburger With Cheese Sauce

So, what did I think?

Well, the burger was nice enough.

And that’s probably the best way I can describe it.

I enjoyed eating it.

There wasn’t anything that made me think it was a particularly bad burger.

But equally, it didn’t blow me away.

And considering how many burgers I’ve tried over the years, I think it’s fair to say I’ve got plenty to compare it with.

I’ve had some absolutely outstanding burgers.

The sort that make you stop halfway through eating and think, Aye, this is something special.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of those experiences.

It was a decent enough burger.

But nothing that particularly stood out to me.

And that’s not necessarily a terrible thing.

Not every meal needs to be the best you’ve ever had.

Sometimes a burger is simply enjoyable without being especially memorable.

And that’s where this one landed for me.

I’ve Had Better Burgers From Monterey Jacks Before

Here’s the interesting thing about this review.

I actually think some of the burgers I’ve had from Monterey Jacks on previous visits were better than this one.

And that’s despite the fact that I wasn’t particularly impressed by the value on those earlier occasions.

The food itself wasn’t really my biggest complaint back then.

It was the amount I was paying for what I received.

And looking back, I can remember enjoying some of those earlier burger choices more than this double cheeseburger with cheese sauce.

Which just goes to show that a return visit doesn’t always turn out exactly how you expect.

This time, the value was better.

But the burger itself didn’t impress me quite as much.

A bit of a trade-off, really!

And that’s why I always think it’s important to judge each visit on its own merits.

Just because you’ve had a great meal somewhere before doesn’t guarantee that your next order will be your favourite.

And equally, one underwhelming visit doesn’t necessarily mean you should write somewhere off completely.

Was Monterey Jacks Better Value This Time?

Yes, I think it was.

And that’s probably the biggest positive from this visit.

The inclusion of chips made the meal feel more complete.

It addressed something that had genuinely put me off returning in the past.

And while I wasn’t blown away by the burger, I did feel the overall offering was better value than my previous experience.

Now, that doesn’t automatically mean I’d consider Monterey Jacks one of the best-value burger restaurants around.

I’d need to compare current prices and portions properly before making that sort of claim.

But based on my own experiences, I preferred getting chips included rather than paying extra for them.

It’s a straightforward improvement.

And sometimes those little changes can make a difference to whether somebody decides to return.

In my case, it certainly did.

Why Value for Money Matters in a Burger Review

One of the things I try to consider when reviewing restaurants is the balance between price, portion and enjoyment.

Because a good meal isn’t always just about how something tastes.

Of course, the food is the most important part.

But the price matters too.

If you’re spending a decent amount of money on a burger, you naturally want to feel satisfied with what you’ve received.

And everybody has their own idea of what represents good value.

Some people are happy to pay a premium for a burger they absolutely love.

Others would rather get a bigger meal for less money.

And neither approach is necessarily wrong.

For me, it comes down to the overall experience.

Did I enjoy the food?

Was the portion reasonable?

And did I feel the price was justified?

On my previous Monterey Jacks visit, I wasn’t convinced by that final question.

This time, with chips included, I felt more positive about the value.

But the burger itself was only decent rather than exceptional.

So overall, it was a bit of a mixed experience.

Would I Return to Monterey Jacks?

I wouldn’t rule it out.

Especially if I was already visiting M&D’s with family again.

There were definitely improvements compared with my previous experience.

And I’ve had burgers from Monterey Jacks in the past that I’ve enjoyed more than this one.

So I know there are other choices on the menu that might suit me better.

Would I go out of my way specifically for the double cheeseburger with cheese sauce again?

Probably not.

It was nice enough, but it didn’t particularly stand out.

However, I’d be open to trying another burger.

And with chips included in the offering I had this time, I’d certainly feel more positive about the value than I did previously.

Where Is Monterey Jacks at M&D’s?

The restaurant I visited was:

Monterey Jacks
M&D’s
Strathclyde Country Park
Motherwell, North Lanarkshire

If you’re planning to visit, I’d recommend checking the latest menu, prices and opening hours beforehand.

In particular, I’d confirm which burgers currently include chips, as restaurant menus and offers can change.

This review is based on my own experience at the time of visiting.

My Final Verdict – Monterey Jacks at M&D’s

So, was my return visit to Monterey Jacks worth it?

I’d say it was a reasonable experience with one definite improvement.

On previous visits, I’d enjoyed some of the burgers but hadn’t been particularly impressed by the value for money.

Paying around £13 for a relatively small burger sitting alone on a plate just didn’t feel like a great deal to me.

And it had genuinely put me off returning.

But when I discovered that chips were included with the burgers during this visit, I decided to give Monterey Jacks another chance.

And I’m glad to see that change.

It definitely made the meal feel better value.

As for the double cheeseburger with cheese sauce?

It was nice enough.

I enjoyed it.

But I can’t say it blew me away.

In fact, I think I’ve had better burgers from Monterey Jacks on previous visits.

So it’s a bit of a mixed verdict.

Better value than before.

But not my favourite burger from the restaurant.

And that’s absolutely fine.

Not every visit is going to be a ten-out-of-ten experience.

Sometimes it’s simply about seeing whether somewhere has improved.

And in terms of the value of the meal, I think Monterey Jacks has taken a step in the right direction.

Should Chips Always Come With a Burger?

Now here’s something I’d genuinely love to hear people’s opinions on.

If you’re paying £13 or more for a burger in a restaurant, do you expect chips to be included?

Or are you perfectly happy paying extra for them?

Because personally, I’ve always felt a burger looks a wee bit lonely sitting on a plate by itself! 😂

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This review is part of my ongoing Ribz Reviews collection, featuring genuine experiences from restaurants, cafés and takeaways across Lanarkshire and beyond. You can explore more local food reviews and discover places to eat through my interactive food map.

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