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Frankie and Bennys - dissapointed


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Old 01-08-2008, 20:43
LorenzoUK
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Today my wife and I went to out to lunch on our own for the first time in a while and we went to Frankie and Bennys.

I read the history of the chain that is displayed on the menus and this started a conversation between us of how nice it must have been to live in New York in the early 1900's etc with all the new family run restaurants opening up, one of them being Frankie and Bennys. The story on the menu is as follows:

"In 1924, at the age of 10, Frankie left Sicily with his parents and moved to Brooklyn’s “Little Italy” in New York. Within a year of moving, the family had opened a restaurant, which is now co-managed by Frankie's long-time friend Benny. The business was taken over by Frankie and Benny in 1953, and combines popular American food with traditional Italian dishes."

I looked up F&B on Wikipedia only to find out that this is all fiction and it is actually a UK only business and opened up in 1995 in Leicester. I was bitterly dissapointed and felt I had been thrown a complete BullSh1t story that they want the public to believe. I was quite upset as it happens. All in all, quite clever marketing.

What do you think to all this?? I feel as though as I have been deceived..
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Old 01-08-2008, 20:56
JOHNOR
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i really like f&b's. i believed that story! bit disappointed now, it gave it a real "family" feel.

what did you have to eat?
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Old 01-08-2008, 21:06
LorenzoUK
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i really like f&b's. i believed that story! bit disappointed now, it gave it a real "family" feel.

what did you have to eat?
I completly agree, it did for us too. I had Potatoe Skins, pizza then waffles. Wife had garlic mushrooms, veg burger and tirimusu..

YUM !
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Old 01-08-2008, 21:10
stud u like
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My friend in New York had never heard of Franky and Benny's! That is how I got suspicious about it.

The music is far too loud and the food was awful.

Went there once and did not like it!
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Old 01-08-2008, 21:15
Xadlei Xemnas
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I like the barbeque flavoured pizza. Nothing else interests me.
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Old 01-08-2008, 21:36
Ads
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Never been in one. Is it as bad and as expensive as TGI Fridays?
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Old 01-08-2008, 21:40
kit123
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you will like it there if you like garlic lol
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Old 01-08-2008, 21:48
00tommo
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Wiki isn't the most reliable source of information on the net.
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Old 01-08-2008, 22:15
creamola foam
 
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The only time i went i sat in shock as my starter, garlic mushrooms, arrived and there was 3 on the plate, i think it worked out not far off £2 a mushroom. And they were crap.

Better going to a proper restaurant that's not part of a chain as they rely on customer loyalty.
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Old 01-08-2008, 22:18
firefliesuk
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Today my wife and I went to out to lunch on our own for the first time in a while and we went to Frankie and Bennys.

I read the history of the chain that is displayed on the menus and this started a conversation between us of how nice it must have been to live in New York in the early 1900's etc with all the new family run restaurants opening up, one of them being Frankie and Bennys. The story on the menu is as follows:

"In 1924, at the age of 10, Frankie left Sicily with his parents and moved to Brooklyn’s “Little Italy” in New York. Within a year of moving, the family had opened a restaurant, which is now co-managed by Frankie's long-time friend Benny. The business was taken over by Frankie and Benny in 1953, and combines popular American food with traditional Italian dishes."

I looked up F&B on Wikipedia only to find out that this is all fiction and it is actually a UK only business and opened up in 1995 in Leicester. I was bitterly dissapointed and felt I had been thrown a complete BullSh1t story that they want the public to believe. I was quite upset as it happens. All in all, quite clever marketing.

What do you think to all this?? I feel as though as I have been deceived..
I love Frankie and Bennys. The food has always been great when we go there. Couldn't care less about the history (or lack of)
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Old 01-08-2008, 22:41
CabbagesAhoy!
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With any 'chain' it's so dependant on the individual restaurant. Have had some great experiences and some dreadful ones too.

Never knew it started in Leicester!!!
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Old 01-08-2008, 22:46
Carry On Doctor
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I went to F&B about six months ago with a friend. The food and service was excellent. The only downside was having to wait over 40 minutes for a table, but it was well worth the wait!
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Old 01-08-2008, 22:48
gmr73
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I agree the music is always too loud in F&B. Have had some great meals though.
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Old 01-08-2008, 22:49
CabbagesAhoy!
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I agree the music is always too loud in F&B. Have had some great meals though.
Hello gmr!! Nice to bump into you in another forum!!

And the music is always 1950's 'mum' pop!!
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Old 01-08-2008, 23:54
gmr73
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Hello gmr!! Nice to bump into you in another forum!!

And the music is always 1950's 'mum' pop!!
Hey you!

Yeah, some Godawful crooner or other.
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Old 02-08-2008, 00:21
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Oh come on!

It's so obvious Frankie and Bennys is a giant gimmick chain. Its so cliched! How can anyone think its actually American?

Its like thinking the Italia Pizzeria down your high street is run by a top Italian Chef

TGI's is the same, though its much cheaper at TGI's with its 2 courses for £9.99 deal, always found Franke and Benny a bit bland
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Old 02-08-2008, 00:31
DaisyBumbleroot
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i went to frankie & bennys aaaages ago in teeeside and it was utter shite, i'll never set foot in one ever again.
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Old 02-08-2008, 01:04
prl100
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I must say I have been in a few times and not really paid too much attention to the story of the origins, however I never thought it was complete fiction!

I also feel quite deceived, other chain restaurants create the illusion of a different nationality but this is a new one to me!
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Old 02-08-2008, 07:07
LorenzoUK
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Wiki isn't the most reliable source of information on the net.
Most of the information i have found on wiki is fairly relaible actually. Where else is there on the net with such information, i would be interested to know.
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Old 02-08-2008, 07:08
LorenzoUK
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i went to frankie & bennys aaaages ago in teeeside and it was utter shite, i'll never set foot in one ever again.
Thankfully I have never found a bad one. Sorry you had a bad experience.
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Old 02-08-2008, 07:47
Helbrown
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I've been to two Frankie and Bennys and have never had a good service.

When we have actually stayed for the meal (instead of walking out because they couldn't be a*rsed to serve us) it's been very disappointing.

Not a patch on certain competitors, and nothing like the excellent food or service you get in the US.
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Old 02-08-2008, 09:51
TommyGavin76
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Never been in one. Is it as bad and as expensive as TGI Fridays?
It's a hell of a lot better than TGI Fridays, but if you have ever been to America you will probably be very disappointed.
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Old 02-08-2008, 09:51
TommyGavin76
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Wiki isn't the most reliable source of information on the net.
It might not be, but Frankie & Bennys is definitely not an American company.
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Old 02-08-2008, 14:37
grimtales1
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I've been to Frankie and Benny's a couple of times and enjoyed it I had the Garlic/Tomato Pizza Bread and the Classic BLT
The only annoying thing was our group had one of the "2 meals for £7.50" deals or whatever it is, so they pratically bring you both courses at once
I think my friend was disappointed with his desert though, it was £3.95 I think and a piddly little thing, f*cking mini size if you ask me.
I went to the one in Watford, it does have the air of a family NY diner to me and the classic 50's/60's tunes add to the atmosphere

I have been to America twice. last time I went the best food I had was actually non American food (I went to TGI Friday's as well), and have been to places such as The Last Waltz and Deano's (Colorado), Shoney's and TGI's (Florida)
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Old 03-08-2008, 01:06
Victoria Sponge
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I went to F&B's in Bexleyheath once for a lunchtime deal. My friend had a veggie pizza and I had hot dog and chips. I think we had a mushroom thing for starters. I asked for a cocktail but the waiter didn't know how to make it so I had a hot chocolate instead. The food was ok, nothing special. The decor was nice. I went to the one at Broadway Plaza in Birmingham and had the mixed grill. It was bloody awful. I won't go back to F&B's again. It's overpriced and very average quality.
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