TRIED & TESTED: FRANKIE & BENNY'S, MK1
Deceptively spacious and airy, while retaining all of the warm, family friendly attitude that is served up alongside the plates of pasta and pizza it is famed for, the latest Frankie & Benny's restaurant at MK1 is both familiar and fresh.
Sliding into the booths after a tiring day, the seats prove a little too comfy - it looks like we might be staying put for some time.
We nibble on wafer thin, triumphantly tasty garlic pizza bread while waiting for our starters proper - a portion of garlic cheese mushrooms and a trio of potato skins loaded with melted cheddar and homemade bruschetta mix.
The mushrooms are smothered in sauce and accompanied by toasted garlic ciabatta bread.
There is no scrimping on ingredients here - both are generously portioned, and both pay proper attention to the task of preparing us for the main course.
We go steady though - there is plenty more tasting to be done.
Frankie & Benny's does deliver for vegetarians (we spy a tempting looking veggie breakfast on the menu for early bird visitors too), but the choice isn't mammoth, and so this pair of non-carnivores opt for a failsafe - a plain old margherita pizza. Except that it's not plain at all, and the slices of fresh tomato laid politely over the delivery gives a juicy ending to every other mouthful.
'Simple but delicious,' is the snappy description in the menu, and F&B have got it spot on.
We share a portion of house fries on the side, which could win a medal.
We stop chewing and start chilling before daring to peek inside the desert menu - alas, it doesn't take too long before our eyes are drawn to the sweets ready to seduce our tastebuds.
Eli's salt caramel cheescake or how about a peanut butter cheesecake?
Chocolate and honeycombe waffle, or would you rather get (maybe) one of your five -a-day and go for the banofee?
Just when you think you've made the right choice, another cheeky devil calls out from the menu - 'Try me' screams the chocolate pancake, or we could sample the palate cleaning sorbet, which is always a winner...or how about The Godfather.... or the sticky toffee pudding...
We're confused. It's time to once again ask the expert.
"If you have a really sweet tooth, I suggest the Banoffee Waffle," declares our server.
"It really is delicious..."
A short while later I am faced with a warm cinnamon waffle with banana slices, toffee sauce, crumb and two scoops of toffee ice cream.
We don't often warm to the chill of ice cream, but this toffee temptation is something that we could clearly return for.
Across the table, a perfect individual apple pie, with cinnamon spark - accompanied by a steaming hot jug of custard, and vanilla ice cream is doing what it promised - working itself as a crowd pleaser.
Frankie & Benny's and its American meets Italian cuisine is a perfect hit for a family feast, and while we're enjoying the restaurant this evening, there are two birthday celebrations around us.
F&B mascot Sketch even puts in an appearance to aid celebrations.
F&B doesn't suffer from that most nasty of meal ruiners - dreadful, overly loud music - the retro rock n roll soundtrack gives the chain the character it is famed for - where else can you dine and be entertained by music by artists like Fats Domino, Otis Redding, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent?
Take the family for guaranteed empty plates and smiles all round.
Visit: Grafton Street, Bletchley, MK Dons Leisure Park, Milton Keynes MK1 1ST
To make a booking call 01908 366785.
The mushrooms are smothered in sauce and accompanied by toasted garlic ciabatta bread.
There is no scrimping on ingredients here - both are generously portioned, and both pay proper attention to the task of preparing us for the main course.
We go steady though - there is plenty more tasting to be done.
Frankie & Benny's does deliver for vegetarians (we spy a tempting looking veggie breakfast on the menu for early bird visitors too), but the choice isn't mammoth, and so this pair of non-carnivores opt for a failsafe - a plain old margherita pizza. Except that it's not plain at all, and the slices of fresh tomato laid politely over the delivery gives a juicy ending to every other mouthful.
'Simple but delicious,' is the snappy description in the menu, and F&B have got it spot on.
We share a portion of house fries on the side, which could win a medal.
We stop chewing and start chilling before daring to peek inside the desert menu - alas, it doesn't take too long before our eyes are drawn to the sweets ready to seduce our tastebuds.
Eli's salt caramel cheescake or how about a peanut butter cheesecake?
Chocolate and honeycombe waffle, or would you rather get (maybe) one of your five -a-day and go for the banofee?
Just when you think you've made the right choice, another cheeky devil calls out from the menu - 'Try me' screams the chocolate pancake, or we could sample the palate cleaning sorbet, which is always a winner...or how about The Godfather.... or the sticky toffee pudding...
We're confused. It's time to once again ask the expert.
"If you have a really sweet tooth, I suggest the Banoffee Waffle," declares our server.
"It really is delicious..."
A short while later I am faced with a warm cinnamon waffle with banana slices, toffee sauce, crumb and two scoops of toffee ice cream.
We don't often warm to the chill of ice cream, but this toffee temptation is something that we could clearly return for.
Across the table, a perfect individual apple pie, with cinnamon spark - accompanied by a steaming hot jug of custard, and vanilla ice cream is doing what it promised - working itself as a crowd pleaser.
Frankie & Benny's and its American meets Italian cuisine is a perfect hit for a family feast, and while we're enjoying the restaurant this evening, there are two birthday celebrations around us.
F&B mascot Sketch even puts in an appearance to aid celebrations.
F&B doesn't suffer from that most nasty of meal ruiners - dreadful, overly loud music - the retro rock n roll soundtrack gives the chain the character it is famed for - where else can you dine and be entertained by music by artists like Fats Domino, Otis Redding, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent?
Take the family for guaranteed empty plates and smiles all round.
Visit: Grafton Street, Bletchley, MK Dons Leisure Park, Milton Keynes MK1 1ST
To make a booking call 01908 366785.
