Frankies

Went to the Chiswick one to check it out before taking a friend there for his birthday.

Agree with all other comments. It was a very poor dining experience. No one to greet us on arrival so stood there like lemons trying to catch someone's eye. Shown to the table but waited 20 minutes before maitre'd came to take our drinks order. Saw her bollocking wait staff before one came to take our order. Each subsequent course was provided by a different and completely indifferent waiter. The whole experience was dire. Food was average.

Of course, bill came with service charge.

We will not be returning nor recommending it to anyone else. Which is a shame because the outside seating area looks great for summer but service and average food put us right off. There are better places to go.
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Veronica
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, April 06, 2008

a really dissapointing evening, from start to finish. A group of us booked Frankie's on Saturday evening for a friend's birthday, under the impression that the name's above the door would mean a good night guaranteed.

Service was disgraceful from the start. No one to greet us, no one to show us to our table...we were waiting a good 15 minutes before we had to ask someone if we could sit, and even then we were waved away.

Our starters were poor and brought out at different times, with one main dish being brought out with the starters. There was cutlery missing, plates were cracked, and food was really bland.

The waiters were incredibly rude, and didn't seem in the slightest bit interested in our complaints.

I felt embarrassed to have recommended the place, and definitely won't be returning.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Sunday, March 30, 2008

a really dissapointing evening, from start to finish. A group of us booked Frankie's on Saturday evening for a friend's birthday, under the impression that the name's above the door would mean a good night guaranteed.

Service was disgraceful from the start. No one to greet us, no one to show us to our table...we were waiting a good 15 minutes before we had to ask someone if we could sit, and even then we were waved away.

Our starters were poor and brought out at different times, with one main dish being brought out with the starters. There was cutlery missing, plates were cracked, and food was really bland.

The waiters were incredibly rude, and didn't seem in the slightest bit interested in our complaints.

I felt embarrassed to have recommended the place, and definitely won't be returning.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Sunday, March 30, 2008

Had a table for six on a saturday night at 8pm, the restaurant was only half full but they cram you in so you can barely move your chair back.

The service was a complete disgrace, the waiters and waitresses passed large plate across the table. threw down the spoons in a pile on the side of the table. Forgot orders and scarcely ever smiled on talked. For a restaurant trying so hard to be classy the waiting staff let the whole place down, they just seem rude.

Food on the other hand was nice, without being extraordinary. The salmon was impeccable but others on our table complained that there food was sub standard.

So in all i'd say you could eat better food with far better service in a lighter more spacious venue quite easily.

Don't bank on this place being good just because of the owners!
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Sunday, February 17, 2008

Had a horrible experience here. Main dishes coming out at different times, so much so I was eating my main whilst other's had finished, and it wasn't even busy. When requested that we have something taken off the bill for the poor service and bad puddings, he was not keen. I wouldn't go again, have also been to the one in Putney and wouldn't recommend going there either.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Arranged a meal for a large group with pre ordered food but still took 30 mins to seat us. We then had to ask twice for a wine list whilst everyone twiddled their thumbs - not a great start to a party. When the food arrived half the table did receive their order which took them another 30 minutes to rectify. Desset's were a bun fight with them shouting out random desserts people having to put up their hands to collect - what's the point of sending a pre order??

After much debate we received free bottles of wine but no discount offered and the bill still came with a service charge.

The food and venue could be great but sack the staff if you want people to actually eat here.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 13, 2007

Put simply, this place was A DISGRACE!!

We (a group of 8) were very much looking forward to going to Frankie's for a friends birthday.....The restaurant is stylish, but the amount of noise is unbearable. We had so many problems from start to finish.

- Service was very, very slow

- Waiters had almost no knowledge on food (we were asking for the vegetarian options)

- When served, they got some of the meals wrong and the pizzas that we ordered were stone cold. It then took over 25 mins for 'replacements' (everyone else had finished their meals)

- The birthday cake that was pre-ordered for 8 (£40) was abysmal in size (we complained and they didn't charge us)

We were offered 20% off our bill, however when it came to paying there was no 20% discount, while the service charge was still on the bill! The manager then said that he had not offered us 20% off and refused to budge, only giving us the pizzas for free.

So our night was successfully spoiled by a venue that is supposedly a quality, well regarded restaurant. There were limited apologies and the only additional discount was monies off for our next visit...as if we'll ever go back!!!
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Toby
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Sunday, November 25, 2007

Went last Friday night for a bit of an occassion - family in town visiting and thought it might be suitably showbiz and fun. Had booked a table but was made to wait for half an hour in the bar 'until it was ready' even though we could see it was empty and we were hungry. Eventually, after prompting, waitress took us over and that was the last we saw of her. We asked another waitress to take our order - wine and drinks were slow but food came quickly afterwards and was pretty good. After finishing, we had lots of time to look at our plates as no-one came near us (except the brilliant magician) so after she went I got up and asked someone for dessert menus. Again, they were pretty good.

Felt let down as it was a bit of a treat for some people visiting London - while it looks great, the service is so slow and painful (with the nice 12% service charge lobbed onto the bill automatically).
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Shamrock
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Wednesday, November 07, 2007

I agree with a previous review. Bad.

We came here for Sunday lunch.

Knightsbridge was very very busy and most pubs and restaurants were packed.

We were worried that we had no reservation, but when we arrived the place was empty. Bar a couple of table with families. I now know why it may be empty.

Service was sloooooooww. Bearing in mind there was enough staff (if you include the manager and magician) to have a dedicated waiter per occupied table.

Sat down, expected to be asked if we wanted a drink. Time past before they asked. And when they did we had no drinks menu. So we couldn't really order. So we ordered a round of cokes to refresh us. these came about 20 minutes after. We were parched. Then we ordered from the drinks menu.

Same with food. If i were a waiter and knew my table had had their menus for over half an hour and had put them down (meaning that they were ready to order)

I would ask them what they would like. We had to prompt them.

Food itself was okay. And not bad prices considering the 20% discount on both food and drink. Roast beef was very good with a nice large yorkshire pudding. Let down by the lack of gravy.(two spoonfulls at most)

Of course we had to ask for sauces. They were never offered.

To top it all, the in-attentive service. The bill came and it was incorrect.

And we had to basically argue with the waiter. He wouldn't budge despite him being wrong. We eventually asked to see the manager who credit due, corrected the mistake and apologised but went no further.

We left with a distinct bad taste in our mouth several hours after we arrived.

No reason for slow, slapdash and rude service obtained here.

Not enjoyable.
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Monday, October 22, 2007

Went to Frankies in Knightsbridge yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime. Our reservation was ignored and seemed unnecessary, as the restaurant was only half full. The waitor service was incredibly slow, even though there wasn't many tables to serve. The "grand" entrance of Marco Pierre White (walking through the dining area with a lit cigarette in hand), shortly after we had arrived, meant that the staff were even slower, as they all seemed to be more interested in joining him for a cigarette in the bar area -this has been illegal since 1st July 2007.

The food wasn't particularly great. Spagetti Bolognese was bland, veal was dry as was the traditional Roast Beef (and cold) with just a teaspoon of gravy. The magician saved the day on the service, as whenever she wandered in our direction we asked if she could conjure up a waitor!

Prices would have been reasonable if the food had of lived up to expectations. Even though we were all given a 20% discount card off our next meal, we wont be hurrying back........wonder if the discount incentive is a sign of desperation for customers!
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Sturgess
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Monday, October 15, 2007