Frankie and Benny's, can't help it, I love it! (Frankie and Benny's (Guildford))

Member Name: sarahluvsvintage

Product:	Frankie and Benny's (Guildford)
Date:	13/10/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Manchester one is great atmosphere and music. Good for kids

Disadvantages: Larger ones out of town can be a less so

I love Frankie and Benny's, I have to say, and I've never had a bad meal or time there yet. My favourite one is the one at St Anns Square in Manchester. It's only small compared to a lot of the others which tend to be based in retail complexes, cinemas etc, but it does seem to have extra seating/function room upstairs. The atmosphere is great, I'm a real 50s/retro fan so the whole set up for me is great, in booths on red leather comfy seats and the music is great. They play rock n roll, rat pack and swing stuff and you can buy their own Frankie and Benny CDs too to take home. The walls are usually full of old photos too, lots of jolly men with big cigars next to baseball or ten pin bowling players typically! The food is good and you get good portions. My favourite is the salmon fishcakes and hubby usually goes for the black 'n blue burger, the blue bit I think is blue cheese. Not for me, but he likes it. It's good for kids too, we have two little ones and took them to the Altrincham one in the summer after a film next door. They have their own menu to pick from, an activity pack full of crayons, puzzles etc which keeps them busy while the grownups have a drink. And after they've eaten, the pudding came free. My two had chocolate ice cream sundaes and loved them.
All in all, I do like Frankies and we always end up there even if we say it's about time we tried somewhere else!But try and get to the Manchester one if you can, as it's more atmospheric and more of a night out. But it's busy and gets full very quickly. Last time I was there was Christmas after a shop and we went for about 4.30 and we were lucky to get seated.

Summary: Good food, good atmosphere, good times