SOME would say a classic meal deal is the backbone of British lunches, and usually an affordable choice.
That was until Harrods pushed the boat out and launched an epic lunchtime pasta option – which doesn’t come cheap.
Forget your £3.60 meal deal that also includes a drink and a snack as well as your main of choice – as Harrods’ choice is possibly the UK’s dearest grab and go pasta option in the UK.
Fabulous decided to put this “elite” lunchtime offering to the test to see if it’s really worth the eye-watering price tag.
We set off to Knightsbridge and plunged ourselves into the depths of the world-famous department store.
After getting lost among the sea of glittering jewellery and designer sunglasses, we eventually made it to the iconic Food Hall.
With all things from smelly cheeses to marvellous meats, not to mention the scrumptious sushi options, the Harrods Food Hall is full of tasty treats.
But with the viral pasta bar racking up a whopping 10 million posts on TikTok, I figured it was time to see what all the fuss was about.
Given the hype of the popular pasta bar, we were worried the lunchtime crowd would have swept the counter bare and we’d be too late to try it for ourselves.
However, when we arrived, there were still numerous pasta options on display, and we wondered if this was an indication of the price or the taste.
Either way, we ordered the pricey pasta and headed to the checkout to pay the jaw-droppingloo price tag.
But then came the fun part – the tasting.
I’ve eaten countless meal deal pastas in my life – from southern fried chicken, tuna and sweetcorn, and not to mention the classic, cheese and tomato.
But eating the same old bog-standard pasta dishes can get boring, hence my decision to splash the cash in Harrods.
I decided to treat myself to a boujee lunch at Pasta Evangelists – the fresh, artisan pasta counter in Harrods.
Whilst the basic pasta box is £12.95 (which to me seems steep for a quick grab and go takeaway lunch), or £13.95 for a meal deal, there are a variety of extras you can add which quickly hike up the price.
You simply choose your pasta shape, your sauce and can add sides and extras if required.
To bump up to a large portion, you’re looking at an additional £4, and for extra sauce, it’s a whopping £3 extra.
Not only that, but if you’re on a protein hype and want chicken or prawns added, that’ll be another £4.
I went for the lobster, crab and prawn ravioli, which was £16 alone.
I then added some vodka tomato sauce, which I didn’t realise was an additional charge, as you only get the samphire butter or basic tomato sauce included as standard.
To top things off I added a portion of ‘King’ prawns and some rocket, which almost gave me a heart attack when I spotted the total price – £24.
Not only was I shocked at the price, but I was even more gobsmacked at the cooking process.
It’s all done in front of you – which is a pleasant change from grabbing a pasta pot off the shelf in a supermarket.
Harrods was initially established in 1834 by Charles Henry Harrod as a small grocery store in East London.
In 1849, Harrod moved his business to the Knightsbridge area, where it began to flourish.
Initially a single-room shop, it expanded rapidly, transforming into a thriving department store by the late 19th century.
The store’s reputation for quality and luxury was cemented under the management of Charles’s son, Charles Digby Harrod, who took over in 1861.
By the early 20th century, Harrods had grown into a vast emporium, famous for its opulent architecture and wide range of products.
In 1905, the store was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1883, resulting in the iconic terracotta-clad building we recognise today.
Harrods continued to innovate, introducing the world’s first escalator in 1898, and expanding its offerings to include fashion, electronics, and even exotic pets.
In 1985, the Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed acquired Harrods, ushering in a new era of modernization and expansion.
Al-Fayed’s tenure saw significant refurbishments and the introduction of new luxury services and departments, further enhancing the store’s global prestige.
In 2010, Harrods was sold to Qatar Holding, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, for £1.5 billion.
Under Qatari ownership, Harrods has continued to thrive, maintaining its status as a premier shopping destination.
Harrods is now more than just a department store; it is a cultural icon and a symbol of British luxury and sophistication.
The store has a long history of serving royalty and celebrities, and its motto, “Omnia Omnibus Ubique” (All Things for All People, Everywhere), reflects its commitment to offering an unparalleled shopping experience.
From its famous Food Halls to its luxurious fashion departments, Harrods remains a must-visit landmark in London.
Harrods has also influenced retail practices worldwide, setting standards for customer service, product quality, and store presentation.
Its history is a testament to the evolution of retail from small, specialised shops to large-scale, multi-departmental stores.
Today, Harrods stands as a beacon of luxury retail, blending tradition with modernity to cater to a global clientele.
But whilst the pasta is plunged into boiling water to cook, I was shocked when I noticed that to heat the sauce, it’s simply done in a microwave.
I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting, but if I wanted a microwave lunch I could’ve just gone to Wetherspoons.
Despite this, I had high hopes that it would taste better than the cooking process looked – which to be fair, only took five minutes.
And I have to say, the portion was generous. It was a far bigger serving than I expected, much bigger than what the supermarkets are offering.
It smelt good and the pasta was cooked well – in my books, there’s nothing worse than soggy, overcooked pasta.
The sauce was tasty too – it had a lovely flavour to it, with nice bits of chilli and tomato.
However, the prawns were a huge disappointment. They were advertised as ‘King’ prawns, but they were tiny.
Despite them being cooked well, they were more like ‘baby’ prawns in my books.
And to top things off, as a huge cheese lover, I was bitterly disappointed at the mere sprinkling of parmesan.
As someone who would choose to have a quarter of a block of cheddar on pasta if I could, it’s safe to say there was nowhere near enough cheese on this.
I’m a huge fan of ravioli, and unfortunately, I can’t say this was anything crazily different to ones I’ve nabbed from Tesco or Aldi.
It was a nice meal, but I’d probably give it a six and a half out of ten. It was nothing out of this world.
For £24, I’d much rather go out and have a sit down lunch – maybe a pizza, with a drink included.
There’s also nowhere to sit in the Harrods food hall. Luckily I ate it outside, but it’d probably be cold by the time you got it back to your office if you were patient enough to wait.
I did enjoy it, but certainly wouldn’t pay that money again.
In fact, I’d rather stick to my Tesco meal deal or soggy leftovers if I’m being totally honest.
