Frankie & Benny’s Leigh Christmas Menu Review
Reviewed by Michelle Wright
On a cold wet blustery evening, the welcoming and friendly atmosphere of Frankie & Benny’s in Leigh was just what we needed. As we came in out of the cold we were greeted by Martin who would be our server for the night. He showed my party of two adults, two 9 year olds and a baby to our table and then went to get a highchair for us.
I love Frankie and Benny’s – it’s great for families, very relaxed and informal, yet I think the food is really lovely and great value.
Tonight we were here to try out their Christmas menu, which although is small, it all sounded delicious. The meal options were 2 courses for £16.95 or you could choose 3 courses for £19.95.
We chose the 2 course option, as although at the beginning of the meal I am determined to have a starter and a dessert, the reality is that I can’t make both! So, a main and a dessert won!
I chose maple flavoured glazed gammon and fries, and my mum chose peppered salmon fillet. For my baby son, I order some pasta in cheese and the girls ordered burger, and sausages and mash from the children’s menu – bargain at only £4.95 each including their dessert.
Before our main courses arrived I decided to go and check out the changing facilities; these can be found in the disabled toilets where there was a pull down changing table. The room was clean, a great size and laid out with consideration (believe me, I have been to some restaurants which have the tiniest changing rooms and tables that fold down actually over the toilets!). Another pleasant surprise was a small rattan chest of drawers containing wipes and nappies for emergencies. A very thoughtful resource, and again one that scored brownie points in my mummy book!
When I returned back to the table our food had arrived. The girls moved their Christmas colouring and activity packs to one side and eagerly tucked into their food, with sounds of ‘mmmm’ and ‘yummy’, I guess they were being received well.
My son was enjoying his penne pasta and so I started on my delicious smelling gammon. The aroma of the maple glaze was just heavenly and the taste even better. My mum’s salmon was a substantial size and very tasty – and was finished in no time… Way before the rest of the table!
As my little boy is only just one the portion was way too big for his smaller appetite, so I asked our server Martin if we could have it boxed up and take it home. Nothing was a problem. Martin returned back to the table with a take away box, portioned up the food and then wrote on the lid what it contained. Fantastic!
After our plates were cleared we moved on to the desserts. From the Christmas menu we decided to try the Yule log served with mint ice cream and a red, white and blue sundae (a mixture of blueberry and strawberry ice cream, berry compote, crushed shortbread and cream). As it was approaching bedtime for my son he was getting a little restless so I decided to take him to look at the Christmas decorations whilst the others finished their meals in peace. The Christmas tree was beautiful, classically decorated in red and gold and numerous stag ornaments throughout the restaurant… But alas it wasn’t the lovely tree and flashing lights that caught my son’s eye, it was the balloon stand in Italian colours! My children love coming away from a restaurant with a balloon, having the obligatory balloon fight in the car on the way home!
When I did get to eat my dessert, I have to say the Yule log was lovely. As a non-Christmas cake eater, I always have Yule log on Christmas Day, but never with mint choc chip ice cream – but I will from now on. The combination was so lovely!
There were lots of positives from tonight’s dining experience, and to be honest I can’t think of one negative: Frankie & Benny’s Leigh, is directly opposite the shopping centre on a small retail park. It’s very easy to get to and you can park right outside the front door. The staff were obliging and polite, in fact nothing was too much trouble. Martin joined our 9 year olds into the conversation – another reason I love this chain of restaurants…
I will certainly be returning with my family very soon.
Rating: 5/5
For more information or to make a booking visit:
www.frankieandbennys.com/restaurant/frankie-bennys-leigh
Frankie & Benny’s, Unit 1, The Loom, Derby Street, Leigh, WN7 4BA | 01942 675776
