Originally Posted by
LorenzoUK:
“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..
”
As you said, clever marketing.
Originally Posted by JOHNOR:
“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?”
It has the family feel for me, because families are in there eating. I don't care who I am giving my money to as long as it's decent food.
Originally Posted by stud u like:
“The music is far too loud and the food was awful.
Went there once and did not like it!”
So the dish you had was awful, or did you try them all in your one visit?
Originally Posted by Ads:
“Never been in one. Is it as bad and as expensive as TGI Fridays?”
I think it's better than TGIs, just. I'm not big fan of American cuisine though.
Originally Posted by creamola foam:
“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.”
Chains work too. This myth about single restaurants always being better is just that - a myth. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't.
Originally Posted by firefliesuk:
“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)”
I agree with you, the history means nothing. I'm not the biggest fan of the place but I do go there because my children love it.
Originally Posted by gmr73:
“I agree the music is always too loud in F&B. Have had some great meals though.”
Your local one must be different to the couple we have around here, the music is there but not overly loud.
Originally Posted by DaisyBumbleroot:
“i went to frankie & bennys aaaages ago in teeeside and it was utter shite, i'll never set foot in one ever again.”
I will always try a place twice, just in case the first time was an anomaly, often it has been and I've found some great places to eat despite their first effot being poor.
Originally Posted by TommyGavin76:
“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.”
I've been to America and I was disappointed there in general, but I can understand why people like it.