Browns Brasserie & Bar UK Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Browns Brasserie & Bar UK cooks with: rapeseed / blended vegetable oil in the fryers (the UK default across Mitchells & Butlers kitchens) — that is what the triple-cooked chips, seasoned fries, onion rings, battered haddock, panko-crumbed schnitzel and salt & pepper squid absorb, so those are the highest-PUFA dishes. The second PUFA source is the cold sauces: aioli, tartare, prawn-cocktail sauce and Caesar dressing are all rapeseed-oil mayonnaise. By contrast a large part of the Browns menu is butter- and cream-based (brown butter sole, hollandaise, Bearnaise, garlic butter, Cheddar mash, creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding) and butter is only about 3-4% PUFA, so the steaks minus their fries, the roasted fish and most desserts score low. Across the 40 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.8g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
Safest Orders at Browns Brasserie & Bar UK
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Braised Blade of Beef + Vanilla Creme Brulee, 4.0g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Vanilla Creme Brulee | 1.0g |
| Baked Sourdough | 2.0g |
| Rocket & Tomato Salad | 2.0g |
| Sticky Toffee Pudding | 2.0g |
| Eggs Benedict | 2.0g |
What to Avoid at Browns Brasserie & Bar UK
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Traditional Fish & Chips | 20.0g |
| Browns Seafood Sharing Platter | 16.0g |
| Chicken Schnitzel | 15.0g |
| Portobello Mushroom & Halloumi Burger | 14.0g |
| 16oz Chateaubriand to Share | 14.0g |
Frequently asked
Does Browns Brasserie & Bar UK use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Browns Brasserie & Bar UK cooks with: rapeseed / blended vegetable oil in the fryers (the UK default across Mitchells & Butlers kitchens) — that is what the triple-cooked chips, seasoned fries, onion rings, battered haddock, panko-crumbed schnitzel and salt & pepper squid absorb, so those are the highest-PUFA dishes. The second PUFA source is the cold sauces: aioli, tartare, prawn-cocktail sauce and Caesar dressing are all rapeseed-oil mayonnaise. By contrast a large part of the Browns menu is butter- and cream-based (brown butter sole, hollandaise, Bearnaise, garlic butter, Cheddar mash, creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding) and butter is only about 3-4% PUFA, so the steaks minus their fries, the roasted fish and most desserts score low. Across the 40 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.8g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does Browns Brasserie & Bar UK cook with?
Our research indicates: rapeseed / blended vegetable oil in the fryers (the UK default across Mitchells & Butlers kitchens) — that is what the triple-cooked chips, seasoned fries, onion rings, battered haddock, panko-crumbed schnitzel and salt & pepper squid absorb, so those are the highest-PUFA dishes. The second PUFA source is the cold sauces: aioli, tartare, prawn-cocktail sauce and Caesar dressing are all rapeseed-oil mayonnaise. By contrast a large part of the Browns menu is butter- and cream-based (brown butter sole, hollandaise, Bearnaise, garlic butter, Cheddar mash, creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding) and butter is only about 3-4% PUFA, so the steaks minus their fries, the roasted fish and most desserts score low. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Browns Brasserie & Bar UK use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Browns Brasserie & Bar UK cooks with rapeseed / blended vegetable oil in the fryers (the UK default across Mitchells & Butlers kitchens) — that is what the triple-cooked chips, seasoned fries, onion rings, battered haddock, panko-crumbed schnitzel and salt & pepper squid absorb, so those are the highest-PUFA dishes. The second PUFA source is the cold sauces: aioli, tartare, prawn-cocktail sauce and Caesar dressing are all rapeseed-oil mayonnaise. By contrast a large part of the Browns menu is butter- and cream-based (brown butter sole, hollandaise, Bearnaise, garlic butter, Cheddar mash, creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding) and butter is only about 3-4% PUFA, so the steaks minus their fries, the roasted fish and most desserts score low, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Browns Brasserie & Bar UK seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Browns Brasserie & Bar UK cooks with rapeseed / blended vegetable oil in the fryers (the UK default across Mitchells & Butlers kitchens) — that is what the triple-cooked chips, seasoned fries, onion rings, battered haddock, panko-crumbed schnitzel and salt & pepper squid absorb, so those are the highest-PUFA dishes. The second PUFA source is the cold sauces: aioli, tartare, prawn-cocktail sauce and Caesar dressing are all rapeseed-oil mayonnaise. By contrast a large part of the Browns menu is butter- and cream-based (brown butter sole, hollandaise, Bearnaise, garlic butter, Cheddar mash, creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding) and butter is only about 3-4% PUFA, so the steaks minus their fries, the roasted fish and most desserts score low, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Browns Brasserie & Bar UK?
Vanilla Creme Brulee is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Browns Brasserie & Bar UK, at an estimated 1.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Browns Brasserie & Bar UK?
Traditional Fish & Chips is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Browns Brasserie & Bar UK, at an estimated 20.0g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. Curious why people avoid them? Read the evidence.
Compare other chains
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See where Browns Brasserie & Bar UK lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.