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Frankie and Bennys - dissapointed
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TommyGavin76
03-08-2008
Originally Posted by grimtales1:
“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)”


TGI's in the US is a mile better than the ones in this country and also less than half the price.
grimtales1
03-08-2008
I enjoyed the US TGI's too
kimindex
03-08-2008
Originally Posted by LorenzoUK:
“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.”

I agree. That's a bit of a cliche. It's been proven in tests that Wiki is more likely to be accurate than other 'set in stone' sources because of the quickness of the editing of inaccuracies, whereas, say, I've seen glaring factual errors in the Sunday Times which stay there forever. Yet al lot of people would trust the ST over Wikipedia, because of the 'received wisdom' about it.

On topic, I've never been to an F&Bs but I was not keen at all on TGIs or the Old Orleans whateveritwas either. I went to some place that specialized in sausage dishes a while back and the mash wasn't fresh. Those places are always a little disappointing, IMO, but OK with a big group of friends.
LorenzoUK
03-08-2008
Originally Posted by kimindex:
“I agree. That's a bit of a cliche. It's been proven in tests that Wiki is more likely to be accurate than other 'set in stone' sources because of the quickness of the editing of inaccuracies, whereas, say, I've seen glaring factual errors in the Sunday Times which stay there forever. Yet al lot of people would trust the ST over Wikipedia, because of the 'received wisdom' about it.”

Thank you, i find it a fantastic source of info. I havent found anywhere else on the web with such a good source on anything.
macca@90
03-08-2008
I won a meal here to the value of £50 from the local newspaper. I think I had bruschetta and a burger. Can't recall what OH had. With a bottle of wine and beers it came to £48 odd. It was okay but I wouldn't rush back :sleep:
corset
03-08-2008
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.
Book-Club_Babe
03-08-2008
The thing about F&Bs is the music is far too loud and all the photos on the wall are the same in every Restaurant!

The Food is ok. The American Breakfast/ Brunch is good. The Steaks are usually good. I would just like to see some really fresh veggies on offer.
purplecatz
03-08-2008
I enjoyed it on my first couple of visits - but the last two meals were really meh. I can think of much nicer places to go
sheddy99
04-08-2008
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.”

strange, have never seen garlic mushrooms on an f&b menu - could you be mistaken? They do mushroom alfredo which is garlic mushrooms in melted cheese, but these come in a little dish with bread on the side, not on a plate
Imus
05-08-2008
Frankie and Bennys? Awful food, awful service, rip off prices. Dining for people who aren't remotely discerning.

TGI's is now the same, agree that it is much better in the USA.
TommyGavin76
05-08-2008
Originally Posted by Imus:
“Frankie and Bennys? Awful food, awful service, rip off prices. Dining for people who aren't remotely discerning.

TGI's is now the same, agree that it is much better in the USA.”

I think it's unfair to compare F&B's with TGI's. I've always had good food at F&B's and I do class myself as discerning.
Happy Snapper
05-08-2008
F&b's is one of my favorite resteraunts.
and while you can get the odd lazy worker.
you get them everywhere you go.
there menu is great!!
I love loads of the meals and always have a hard time choosing.
Ja'mie King
07-08-2008
F&B is a complete joke. I will not be going back as long as I'm alive.

It was very quiet when I went and I got the carbonara which was just awful. Tasteless with cheap fatty processed meat in it.

I know a real italian restaurant which is pounds cheaper and proper, made by a real italian chef.

TGI's is very 'chain' but we had a lovely meal there and would go back any day
tortfeasor
07-08-2008
Originally Posted by CabbagesAhoy!:
“With any 'chain' it's so dependant on the individual restaurant. Have had some great experiences and some dreadful ones too.”

Very true. I enjoy Pizza so usually avoid Pizza Hut, but went to one near Reading last year because I was starving and... actually enjoyed the meal. However, the ones near myself have usually been appalling.
Cstar2229
08-08-2008
Livingston F&Bs not good
South Queensferry is better
Castlepoint Bournemouth - average

Usually it is the service that is slow, the food is usually OK.

TGI Edinburgh is good, the one in Tower Park Poole was a shambles
Sirio63
08-08-2008
The funny thing is that you wouldn't find in Italy at least two thirds of their menu. Garlic mushrooms basically don't exist in a serious restaurant in Italy, and not even remotely mushrooms alfredo (that sauce is not even a creation of an Italian chef, but of an American one). Cheese bread is another item which you'll never find in a house or restaurant kitchen in Italy, the so called Mediterranean Vegetable Risotto (£9.25 for rice with vegetables?? No matter how good, that's a rip-off).
If that's supposed to be an American version, that may be all right, but certainly it's no Italian restaurant.
Ruby Red Shoes
08-08-2008
The goats cheese pizza at Frankie & Benny's is lovely - shame they don't deliver!
Torque
08-08-2008
Originally Posted by Imus:
“Frankie and Bennys? Awful food, awful service, rip off prices. Dining for people who aren't remotely discerning.”


Whilst I wouldn't claim the F&B's is the greatest place on earth, I don't know how anyone can claim that it has rip-off prices! Their lunchtime menu is great value - for £8.45 you can have 3 courses - which is always more then plenty to completely fill me up! I do think they should make the refillable soft drinks a full time thing though, and not just limit it to lunch-times!
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