Frankie and Benny's - A review

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

We took our grandsons to Frankie and Benny's for a treat because they've been very good this week while we've had them. So I thought I'd write a review.

The welcome
We walked in and after a wait of no more than 30 seconds we were greeted by a female member of staff who was very friendly and tried to engaged the boys in conversation asking them if they'd had a good day at school etc., however they were a little shy but she cheerfully took us to our table and made sure we had menus and left us to settle in saying she'd be back in a minute. Score 9/10

The Service
On the whole the service was pretty good, the waitress returned and took our drinks order and left us to peruse the menu, when she brought the drinks she asked if we were ready to order, which we did, the wait for food was around 20 minutes which was acceptable. The boys had kids menus with puzzles and pictures to colour with supplied crayons. Score 9/10

The Food
The was pretty varied, being an Italian restaurant of course there was the usual, pasta dishes, pizzas etc., but also salads, vegetarian options etc. The kids menu again gave a fair amount of choice, the kids could choose a main, two sides, a dessert, a sweet and a drink for a set price. There was a choice of big appetite and small appetite, which was good because the youngest doesn't eat a lot. There were healthy options on the menu too which for kids is good. Our eldest grandson had sticky BBQ spare ribs with peas and sweet potato fries, followed by chocolate fudge sundae with a drink of fizzy. Youngest had the small appetite dish and chose chicken skewers with fries and peas, followed by Ice cream slider and a drink of apple juice. Feeling we ought to be healthy I had Fillet steak on a bed of salad (even though I really fancied a pizza) Mrs. BigTone had Salmon fillet and salad, neither of us had puddings.

Overall the food was good with decent portions but not too big and the selection varied. Score 8/10

Value for money
The kids food was £7.49 for large appetite and £4.99 for small appetite, our main meals were £12.69 for my Steakhouse Salad and £13.99 for Mrs. BigTones Salmon Salad. I had found a voucher online which gave us 40% off the two main meals saving us £10.68 which the waitress cheerfully scanned from my phone without any quibble. The whole meal including drinks came to £34.06, I left a tip of £4 so £38.06 in total. Pretty good value for a meal for four. Score 9/10

Ambience
This is where it gets slightly negative, there was piped music which I thought was much too loud and made it difficult to talk, although I did like the music choice most of which was my era. There were two people celebrating birthday's on different tables and twice during our meal the music was ramped up really loud which actually made me jump and a happy birthday record came on, nice touch but did they have to scare us half to death? Score 5/10

Overall Verdict
A fun place for a family meal, good, fast service, friendly staff, value for money but if you want a romantic meal out with your loved one I would give this one a miss and try somewhere a bit more intimate because you won't hear your loved on whispering sweet nothings  . Overall Score: 8/10

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I've been tempted to have a meal there with my family, when we went to Manchester we almost did - yet it seemed a little too posh.

The menu also wasn't very great, there was plenty of fancy dishes but nothing really practical for awkward eaters. Ava is very fussy, so we struggled to find something before and for this reason we've still never eaten there.

Good review Tony, I know a Notts fan who enjoys doing things like this.

[Magic magpie]

As a former chef and some one who has worked in chains i like the concept of frankie and bennys but the menu is to much fried food and frozen food. But after a number of bad visits due to the management being told to take anyone that comes through the door and not caring if the food quality is there or u get what you pay for this is normally a result of the kitchen being rammed. So I think I will avoid this place 

[ARLukomski 𝕏 ARLukomski Instagram declanweliczko_arlki]

Love Frankie & Benny's. Diner is well set out and the food is great. Recently went their with @Megs_a_million and it is one of my favourites. Especially at lunch when it is so quiet. 

[samwatto2008]

I'm a pub lad through and through. And if by the off chance I am not in one you'll catch me in either Nandos , Bella Italia or some of the local chains around me.

[liampie]

i have eaten in the one in the city a few times, i find it inviting but the food can be very hit and miss.

there have been times when my meals have been perfect, but others when it seems that less care has been taken. i usually eat in fast food restaurants, so i am used to the inconsistency but i do feel frankie and bennys could be better. 

[DangerousSausage]

When I read the prices for food I was shocked until I realised that drinks in Britain are virtually free! Here you spend almost as much on your drinks as on your meal...

I've never seen Frankie and Benny's in Germany. Italian restaurants are ten a penny here, the vast majority of them family run with good honest home cooking. There are some crap ones of course, but I never go to them more than once

Can't say I'm a fan of chain restaurants myself - the staff are often students on minimum wage and don't really care about what they do, and that can come across in the food. When I go out for a meal I want the staff there to really care about what they do. The best ones are really passionate about it - the owner at our favourite Greek restaurant made a point of visiting guests at their tables. Which was nice as long as you could steer her away from the subject of biblical prophecies (she was of the opinion that the end of the world is nigh).

[Northants Pie]

Have any of you guys eaten at the Rose & Crown in Cotgrave?

If not you should its really nice properly home cooked food, we go there after a game normally