Frankie & Benny’s Trentham Gardens Stoke Review
Reviewed by Dotty Winters
I visited Frankie & Benny’s at Trentham Gardens with my family to sample their new menu. Trentham Gardens is a popular visitor attraction in Stoke, not far from M6 Junction 15 and very well signposted. It’s easy to park and there is lots to do on site. The restaurant itself is well presented, with a lovely outdoor seating area. Inside, seating is in booths, which allow you to comfortably hear each other, even when the restaurant is busy.
The stand-out attraction in this branch are the staff: friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, without ever being pushy or in-your-face. The team working that day knew that we were coming to review, but as I watched them around the restaurant, everyone was getting the same special treatment. It was especially noticeable that the team were smiling, laughing and communicating with each other, not simply turning on the happiness for customers. We were talked through the new menu, and everyone we spoke to was able to tell us about the dishes and make recommendations.
The children chose a cheeseburger and pizza, our waitress talked to them directly, asking them about what they wanted to accompany their choices (not even flinching at the 3 year old’s slightly strange request of pizza, mash and beans). Both kids enjoyed their meals and made good use of the activity pack and colouring pencils which were provided during the short wait for food.
Mr Winters opted for the Mac ‘n Cheese Calzone, a new addition the menu. He accompanied this with bacon and cheese fries, because if there is one thing which pasta wrapped in dough needs, it’s more carbs! He described the portion-size as “Man v Food”. Despite being more like a food challenge than a main course, the pulled pork and mac & cheese filling was delicious (I know, because I tested it, just for research purposes obviously).
Based on the recommendation of one of the team I chose the Chicken Saltimbocca, also a new addition to the menu, accompanied by some zucchini fries, which were a real taste revelation, even though I definitely didn’t need them. The chicken was wrapped round Italian salami and sage and served with some delicious spaghetti in a lemony-Neapolitan sauce accompanied by lots of vegetables. Everything we tried tasted freshly cooked, and the vegetables were cooked perfectly.
The kids both ordered the Candy Shop Ice Cream, and I’ve never seen them look so delighted at the arrival of anything in a restaurant. Each of them was presented with a wooden shelf which held a bowl of ice cream, a tub of very rich chocolate sauce, a tub of mini marshmallows, a packet of popping candy and little glass bottled filled with coloured sweets. It looked exactly like a dream desert designed by a 5 year old, in a good way. Again the portion was very large, but this desert came with its own stripy paper bag so that excess sweets could be safely stowed for the future.
The quality of the food and the experience exceeded my expectations. Frankie & Benny’s show real attention to detail, from the superbly trained staff to the varied new menu which neatly combines the Italian-American classics with some intriguing new twists and combinations. They’ve also created a truly family-friendly restaurant without resorting to primary colours and plastic-everything. The kids felt like they’d had a real grown-up dining experience, whilst the grown-ups ate their own body weight in carbs and had the choice of an exciting menu. Special hat tip the drinks menu. Whilst we didn’t sample any, there was a very impressive choice of beers (including craft beers), cocktails and mocktails on offer.
Ciao Frankie and Benny’s, we’ll be back!
Rating: 4/5
For more information, to view the new menu or to book a table visit
www.frankieandbennys.com/restaurant/frankie-bennys-trentham-gardens
Frankie & Benny’s, Trentham Gardens, Stone Road, Trentham, ST4 8AX | 01782 645 180
