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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why the hell someone would CHOOSE to go out for dinner at Frankie & Bennies

276 replies

GetOrfMoiLand · 26/07/2010 11:52

It has got to be the worst restaurant on earth.

And it's not even cheap.

Vile food, and every 20 mins the lights dim and 'happy birthday' gets sung out the loudspeakers.

It's up there with Harvester and Bella Pasta in my opinion.

OP posts:
belledechocolatefluffybunny · 27/07/2010 12:16

Zizzi is alot better.

PaulineCampbellJones · 27/07/2010 12:18

Flunch is great - brings back many memories of trips to France as a child.

FellatioNelson · 27/07/2010 13:32

I've been to France tons of times and I've nver seen it. I'm going again in a few weeks - I'll actively seek out Flunch and abuse the vegetables.

SylvanianFamily · 27/07/2010 13:41

I'm going to stand up as a F& B fan. In fact, I,ve tried about six branches- and it is true that the quality varies. A lot. However, it is the kind of place where you can take six kids, and everyone ( including the adult) has a good time.

Food - I always order pizza. It,s greasy but fresh and satisfying.

IME, service towards kids is excellent. We have three kids ( at one point that was 3 kids under 5), and I have happy memories of the stream of balloons/colouring/free baby food/ penfolds Chardonnay and, yes, craning our necks to see the birthday parties.

said · 27/07/2010 14:32

OMG yes to Flunch. We always used to go on holiday because my dad was a bit tight careful and liked to know what the bill was going to be before we ate.

moondog · 27/07/2010 14:39

Flunxhisgod. Godknows why peopel think Pizza Express is good though. Dough balls????
O
M
F
G

Crazycatlady · 27/07/2010 14:47

In some towns Pizza Express is as good as it gets sadly.

I've had some reasonably tasty pizzas in there, and even a nice tiramisu. Wouldn't choose to eat there when at home in London because I know where to find better options, but if I'm stranded somewhere I don't know and need to eat, Pizza Express is a good bet.

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 27/07/2010 15:29

Don't have a lasagne at pizza express, £9 for the world's smallest lasagne, no garlic bread and no salad.

BelligerentGhoul · 27/07/2010 15:31

Pizza Express is an absolute rip-off unless with vouchers and then it is just about okay.

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 27/07/2010 15:34

There was a 2 meal+wine+coffee for £30 in the Sunday Times, for use on SUnday only though, a bit pointless IMO.

Original poster
GetOrfMoiLand · 27/07/2010 15:36

I rarelt go to Pizza Express without vouchers - they seem to be in the Sunday Times a lot, and I use those.

OP posts:
ethelina · 27/07/2010 15:59

I love Pizza Express, most especially as mine has a particularly hot waiter with a very nice peachy bum professional demeanour. Sadly i think the smile might be more for DH's benefit...

jellybeans · 27/07/2010 16:00

I like it too and my local one is really child friendly.

ponceydog · 27/07/2010 16:10

never noticed flunch. There can't be that many of them?

ponceydog · 27/07/2010 16:11

But it's silly to compare to france. We stopped at a service station and had a magnificent choice of meats and veg.

moonminmama · 27/07/2010 16:15

I love F&B

NorbertDentressangle · 27/07/2010 16:24

I've never seen a F&B let alone eaten in one, although I don't like the sound of it from what I've read on here.

If we're eating out somewhere quick and child-friendly, of all the 'chain' places I guess we'd go for Pizza Express or Ask and use a voucher.

Similarly we've gone to Strada and Zizzi with vouchers when we've been away but there aren't any around here. They were OK but La Tasca was foul IME.

These sort of places are OK and serve a purpose and some are better than others but they are certainly not my first choice of where to eat

TotalChaos · 27/07/2010 16:31

Nearest F & B is dismal, on a dismal retail park in a dismal area. Food was edible, but it was just a bit bleak overall.

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 27/07/2010 16:45

Oh god, La Tasca!
The last time we went there (last year) there was ds and I on one table and another couple at another. Despite us ordering before the other couple their food turned up first. 45 minutes later (no discount), poor ds asked when the food was going to be ready (he was almost eating the table), the waitress had 'forgotten' to put it through to the kitchen. It's not rocket science, there was only 2 tables with customers, you'd go and check on the food if one was still waiting. The food is really salty so you order more drinks.

AlaskaNebraska · 27/07/2010 16:45

its shit
agree with OP

TeenyTinyToria · 27/07/2010 16:50

I work in Pizza Hut part time, and love F&B's/Filling Station/Bella Italia and so on. I've always found that they serve quick, tasty food.

Can't stand posh cooking and fancy restaurants.

ethelina · 27/07/2010 16:58

Like Ask

Hate Pizza Hut

Only been to Strada once but it was ok.

When i'm out for a day shopping i would much rather use a chain i recognise with a voucher than try some unknown place. I know its a cop-out but there's something to be said for consistency when i'm tired & hungry.

tb · 27/07/2010 17:03

In case lolapoppins no-one else has told you, please tell your sil that zizzi is French slang for penis, and that you couldn't possibly eat in a restaurant with that name.

That should shut her up a bit.

misdee · 27/07/2010 17:05

i like F&B. well i did until recently. when they were rubbish at giving me allergy-related food advice for dd4 who is allergic to milk, eggs and nuts.

at least in pizza hut she can have something other than chips. i am still that the best places for her to eat are McD and pizza hut.

belledechocolatefluffybunny · 27/07/2010 17:06

I think there's alot of french names for penis:

www.whytraveltofrance.com/2006/11/29/205-ways-to-say-penis-in-french/ Yes, we're bored.