Frankie and Benny’s

Disappointing. The pizza was underbaked and very pricey. They have a fun spot, perfect for a bite after a movie. I might give them another chance because the atmosphere and drinks are spot on, but… The seevice met expectations, and the crowd seemed contented.

had a bite to eat and a drink here while we were waiting to go to a match in the kassam. everything is fresh and you can watch it being made. the food was fantastic but what makes this place is the staff. they seemed to be really enjoying their work. they were happy and really helpful.

30 Minutes waiting for a seat sorry that was too long for me.

It’s alright — you know what you’re getting. Food that fills you up but is pretty bland compared to a proper Italian. Decent enough bar to wait in and somewhere ok to eat pre cinema. Wouldnt recommend it on a ‘foodie’ level but does what it says on the tin. Ok service.

This is the best Frankie and Bennys in the area in my opinion. The restaurant is not going to set the world alight for amazing cooking but for a bite to eat on the way to or from the cinema or bowling alley its pretty good. Much better than the rubbish one in Swindon on the retail park anyway.
Staff were attentive and got our drinks and meals very quickly.
If you are planning to pop in for something in a hurry before a movie starts on a Saturday or in the school holidays though I wouldn’t recommend it though as at these times they get very busy

So last weekend Gerry and I took the boys out tenpin bowling, and we decided we’d stop for a spot of lunch beforehand.
We’re trying to avoid the usual haunts of McDonalds and Burger King, and take the boys to places they may not have been before, so for a combination of convenience and speed decided to use Frankie & Benny’s — after all, it’s right next to the bowling alley!
In all honesty, we wouldn’t use it for any other reason.
In style, look, décor and even menu, Frankie & Benny’s feels like the poor Italian-​American cousin of TFI Friday. And let’s face it, even that’s not saying much.
We didn’t bother with starters, instead choosing to share some garlic & tomato bread — a simple pizza base that is almost impossible to mess up, and so it proved on this occasion.
The boys both had pasta dishes from the kids’ menu, Gerry went for Chicken Penne Romana, and I plumped for the Manhattan burger.
The food was — alright. Average. Filling without being satisfying. My burger, for example, was large and well-​topped, yet the meat was a touch overcooked and despite the amount, the cheese was strangely tasteless. The pasta dishes for the boys were bland and the portions too large, especially for a three-​year-​old. Our youngest’s spaghetti bolognese was a pretty daunting size, even to my gluttonous eyes!
Another small niggle I have — and this is aimed at ALL restaurants which have a children’s menu — why do you not have smaller cutlery for children? What’s the point in having a small portion, if the knife and fork are too large for small hands? A teaspoon, while a nice offer from a helpful waiter, ain’t much use for spaghetti really, is it?
that said, in their defence they offered a well-​stocked goodie bag to each of the kids, who also left with a balloon.
Service was attentive throughout, except when it came to paying the bill. I was kept waiting far too long while the waiter chattered with a colleague, and the longer we waited the more fractious the kids became.
Overall, F&B’s offered distinctly average food and an equally average experience, not quite managing to be good in any area, while avoiding complete awfulness. Pricing as well was distinctly average, coming out at £38 including service.
In all, then, Frankie & Benny’s is a place I’d avoid. Mediocrity is never something I enjoy where my stomach’s concerned, and sadly mediocrity seems to be all that F&B can manage.

Average really. Not particularly cheap or friendly. The staff can be very moody. Some very odd clientel in there which is why I disliked it.

A favourite for birthday meals out, although it’s a bit out of the way. Kas73 has said all the important stuff really, but I’d like to add a shout out for the lasagne (delicious, filling and served piping hot), and give a warning that the puddings are DELICIOUS. Absolutely stunning. Well worth the price (still under a fiver for puddings, just maybe a little more than you might expect for a place like this) and great if you have a sweet tooth. Don’t come here in tight-​fitting clothes or with a small appetite! I definitely intend to go back to sample all of the dessert menu. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if they didn’t bother at all with the other courses, but just let you have 3 puddings!

A combination of Italian and American cuisine i absolutely love this restauarnt. Yes, its a chain — yet it still seems like a one off.
The décor is classic italian — italian pictures, photos of the orignal Frankie and Benny. I really like it.
The oxford restaurant is large and spacious and well laid out. If you do not want to eat or need to wait for a table you can sit on one of the tall american style stools at the bar.
The staff are lovely –although some aren’t Italian shock horror– and they know their menu very well.
The food offers a really good choice. My favourite meals include the meaty chargrilled burgers, the wide choice of pizzas and the home made pastas. I love mozarella so i really enjoyed the mozerella sticks. Also, the garlicky mushrooms for the starter are really good too.
There is an extensive wine list ranging from £13 upwards.
All in all, i think the prices are really reasonable and i am without a doubt goint to eat here again and again.