Frankies

The food is some of the best Italian I've had, vongole as it should be (open kitchen not the best though as it can get very noisy sitting next to it). The waiters were knowledgeable, fast and absolutely brilliant with all the tables as far as we could see -very friendly. However the atmosphere topped everything, the mix of arto-deco glamour coupled with the size of the room made for a really amazing setting. They also have a piano bar if you want for a more more grown up evening.

Loved it.
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Chris Toner
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

i was disappointed with the service at this restarant, with such good names to it,

firstly i booked in december for the end of january,only not to get my emailed pack sent to me so i printed it off the one from the website.then had to go in after work to rebook a table for 16/17. with my revised menu. told that that would not be a problem,turned up to the restarant and was sat at the back of the resterant with four round tables pushed into a corner, even though they had 2 other larger tables

(given to later arrivals). i introduced myself and when drinks orders were taken i was missed out completely,and the same for my dinner order i had to call my waiter back to the table.everyone got their own drinks from the bar after the first drinks order,i ordered a bottle of wine so that i did not have to keep getting in and out of the middle of the four tables ,because it would mean at least 4 of my guest would have to move so that i could get out, at no point was i told that all meals would be cooked medium, till it was too late,this upset a few diners.but apart from that the food was ok but the service lacking so we did not pay the full service charge. as after all it is optional after all
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Janet.N
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, March 14, 2008

Awful! Arrived on time for our booking only to have to hang around for 3-4 minutes near the bar before we were acknowledged by waiting staff..another 2 mins before we were seating. Nice largish tables, but lacking in certain items of cutlery, which was not picked up on by staff, even after our food had arrived. We were given menus - it was ten minutes before staff returned to even take our drinks order....we didn;t dare chance not ordering our food at the same time for fear of starvation.

However, it was only then that the waitress decvided to inform us that 4 dishes on the menu were not available and we had to send her off while we all reconsidered our choices. Fair enough one might argue if this was 10pm on s Saturday evening, but this was 8 pm on a Monday! Their chef needs some lessons in stock ordering.

Food eventually arrived - smallish portions and nothing special - in fact i can't now even remember what starter i had - so bland it has been erased from memory. There are far better places in Chiswick.
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amanda - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Upon arrival we were greeted by a rather dithering waitress who had trouble locating our booking. We decided to have a drink at the bar whilst waiting for others in our party to arrive. We were 5 in all, not a large party. The bar was extremely grubby and uninviting, the lemonade in the spritzer was flat and the bar smelt of cigarettes. On being seated we ordered wine and an orange juice and lemonade mix - the lemonade again was flat and we sent it back and asked for another. We then waited about 20 minutes before we had to ask the waiter for the replacement and it eventually arrived. The food was average and the service left much to be desired with inexperienced unattentive staff. The Sunday lunch party was a treat from my family for my birthday and the aforementioned was disappointing although we were determined not to let it damper out spirits. Perhaps they should rethink adding a service charge and it definitely wasn;t worth it.
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Jenni Boston
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, December 11, 2007

I had very very low expectations of this restaurant where we went on Saturday night with a group of friends - I had read enough about the Frankies chain to be sure I wouldn't like it. The room was I must say, quite impressive - subtle it wasn't, but it was very nicely set out with glitter balls and good spaces between tables. What was quite amusing was the other diners - I don't think I have ever eaten in any proper restaurant other than a curry house so full of lagered up groups of tattoo covered, pink-shirt wearing blokes with their bottle blonde, footballers wivesesque girls next to them. It was how I imagine a night out would be in Chelmsford. The menu was fairly uninspired - the sort of stuff they serve at those Italian/New York diners that are always in out of town, provincial entertainment complexes next to bowling centres and odeon cinemas - so I went for the Veal milanese and my friends for steaks and pasta. I have to say that when my food arrived any sense of snobbery vanished out of the window. I am stunned to be able to write that the veal milanese was the best I have ever eaten and that includes trying it at some of London's supposedly best Italian restaurants. I also tried a couple of my friends' steaks and they were absolutely divine as was my wife's pasta. The bill came to about 60 quid per couple and considering that included some nice bottles of Montepulciano I thought that was fantastic value. So no it's not classy and it's quite amusing in its own way, but for some great food and an entertaining atmosphere I will be back.
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Jeremy L
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Waited a few minutes to be noticed and seated - then we were left for 20 mins with no drinks. My partner had to go to the bar himself for the drinks as we were sick of waiting. Then barman made wrong drinks. Then we waited another 15 minutes for someone to come and take the order, and this was only through us trying to get the waiters attention.

Food was nice but mains arrived without salad and by the time this arrived we had all but finished. No apology it was just put on the table.

Definately a more family/groups place than a couples place. Not much atmosphere, really nothing special.

We dined at 6pm on a Saturday, the place was half empty but service still just took too long.

If we hadn't made a point of getting the waiters attention I think we would have been seated then would have sat there for 30 minutes or more before any service at all.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 6
Thursday, November 08, 2007

Nice looking restaurant. Swish design and in good location on Chis High Rd. But (and like Beyonce, its a big butt) the portions are absolutely parsimonious. Serious portion control in evidence when I went. My wife is a fan but I won't go back - despite being given one of their 20% lifetime discount cards - as I had to have a second dinner when I went. C'mon guys, when you are charging as much as you are for a main course don't be so mean - it's really counterproductive. You think you are saving money but you won't see any of mine again.
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Nick R - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 19, 2007

Great location, decor is pleasant but I did feel as if it was from an interior design kit as opposaed to 'orginal'. But then again, its mainly about the food - or should be.

The menu is simple and I thought that was a good sign. Instead we had tuna that was so overdone as to be shoe leather - and that having asked for it to be rare!

When we spoke to the staff about it they were difficult and surly. We had also to wait a long time before being served, 25 minutes in fact. I always think that when things go wrong, people have a real chance of winning you over, but they did the opposite.

When we paid, we felt that we didn't want to leave a tip - we had had to wait another 20 mins for the bill. The waiter then told us it was our fault for having taken ages to decide. Well, we would have been much quicker had we been given menus when we were finally seated.

Won't be going back there.....
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Thursday, July 12, 2007

I went to Frankie's on Saturday with my wife and 12 friends and whilst the food was OK (not great, just OK) we were really dissapointed with the service. When we arrived no-one was there to greet us, after standing at the door for ages we had to go into the restaurant and ask someone to show us to our table and we spent the night constantly asking waiters to serve us. One of the main courses got forgotton even though we saw the waitress write it down. In short no-one seemed to be in charge and no-one seemed to care and the whole thing was really amateur. When we left I tried to find a manager but I couldn't so I sent an email to their website and didn't hear anything. I certainly won't go again and, having been lucky enough to eat at Marco Pierre White's restaurants in the past, I am surprised that he has put his name to this awful style over substance venture.
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Terry Coyne
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Thursday, May 17, 2007

My recent visit to Framkies in Chiswick was an out of the blue pleasant surprise, being a lover of all food Italian, my husband and I searched the net looking for something a little different to most of the other High street Chain Restaurants.

We found it! What a gem too, Almost hidden away off the High street, not knowing what to expect we arrived for our reservation. From the moment of walking through the door the whole evening became an experience filled with Gorgeous romantic decor, extremely friendly and helpful staff, and a very cool and sexy atmosphere. The food was brilliant a simple menu with the perfect mix of Italian dishes. The wine did not dissapoint either.

Most amazingly was the cost the entire bill was shockingly reasonable and our waitress kindly gave us a discount card which we can you use for future visits.

This being a romantic evening was perfect, but as a mother I will most definately be taking my children along to sample the menu soon.
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Karen Bailey
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, May 10, 2007