Carbonara Carbonara

A classic Italian pasta dish with creamy egg sauce, pancetta, Parmesan, and a touch of black pepper.

Frankie & Benny's

Frankie & Benny's

Clarks Village, BA16 0BB, Mendip, United Kingdom

Pizza • Steak • Pasta • Seafood


"We popped in on a Sunday after some shopping. Coffee shops in the area were packed, no tables busy but we needed a respite after some shopping with our 11 month old baby. We stood at the door waiting to be seated which felt like an eternity. When we got in with our baby who was sleeping in the pram we were told that there was nowhere to pop the pram while he was sleeping but he could be popped in a highchair no problem at all. No checking how old he was etc (he was under his rain over not visible) what if I needed to breastfeed once he woke up? Or if he was a newborn the parents just wanted a bite to eat? There was adequate space for a pushchair, fancy turning away a family with a sleeping child. While I completely understand that you don’t wish to place a child next to friends couples dining out it’s a little unfair to turn away people on the basis of what are your restaurant regulations or whatever you want to call it do what’s morally right surely? Anyway the host was lucky our child decided to wake up at that moment because we were about to walk away considering the rather unwelcome greeting. We were hungry. Once we were seated it was all great from there. They managed to get a £50 lunch out of us! Myself my partner had black blue burgers which were cooked lovely came out within 10 mins of ordering. Our waitress was really lovely very friendly toward us smiley at our baby. Our baby had fish goujons with veggies fruit chocolate pot for dessert. He thoroughly enjoyed it. The highchair was a bit low for such a small baby so would be better if they got some with trays to avoid mess help out baby eat be more supported but he was excited either way. The high hairs were definitely more suitable to toddlers as opposed to infants. Generally a friendly service once we were there felt full satisfied so thank you to the lovely waitress for changing our experience. Just a quick fyi to the restaurant in general not all babies are loud cry. If your younger clientele aren’t happy with children in the middle of the day then maybe they shouldn’t be popping into a family restaurant?"

Portobello Garden

Portobello Garden

269B Portobello Road, London, W111LR, W11 1LL, United Kingdom

Cafés • Pasta • Pizza • Italian


"Out and about on a lunchtime constitutional along Portobello Road last week something interesting caught my eye. Set back from the road, hiding behind vintage clothes in the arcade, was an alluringly attractive Italian restaurant. On my own, without reading material and in a hurry to get back to work, I had no intention of sitting down to eat but I was compelled to go in and investigate. I glanced at the menu and clientele, was charmed by the decor of hanging dried meat and flowers, and decided I would return imminently.<br/ <br/ Thankfully an opportunity arose this week. I had taken it upon myself to arrange a lunch for myself and nine colleagues, and presented them with an option of four restaurants (secretly hoping that democracy would work in my favour). At first, take-up was slow as the more adventurous-sounding alternatives were far more popular, but risk aversion gradually set in and the simple Italian became the winner; a culinary hare and tortoise situation, if you will.<br/ <br/ “What if they don’t cater for big groups? What if it’s awful and I’m forever ridiculed for my restaurant choice?” Such questions were running through my mind, distracting me from my morning tasks.<br/ <br/ An amiable Italian gentleman saw the first sub-group and exclaimed “group of ten, this way please!” so we followed orders and went inside to our long table, immediately looking above us at the conservatory style ceiling and feeling as though we had walked into a Tuscan summer.<br/ <br/ Our charismatic waitress brought over an alternative to a complementary bread basket; a plate of amuse-bouche sized pieces of courgette frittata served on a forest of rocket. I was very impressed by this. They have foreseen that I’m going to be ravenous, having not eaten since my 11:00 AM apple; that I may not wish to bloat up on bread; that I enjoy being surprised, which I most certainly was. I had only been there ten short minutes and these people already knew how to please me more than some people who have known me for decades. If that isn’t customer service, I really don’t know what is. <br/ <br/ The menu is slightly unusual in that there isn’t the usual long list of pizzas and pastas to choose from, instead there were a couple of al forno dishes (baked in the oven), several paninis (with pizza bread), and a list of specials, a few of which were mains. I took from this that a decision had been made to offer a limited number of dishes, but to do them well.<br/ <br/ I had top-notch, considerably portioned gnocchi with bolognese sauce for £11.50, served whilst the tomato sauce was still bubbling from the oven, with fresh basil scattered on top.<br/ <br/ To make the experience even more superior, they should consider investing in a second credit card machine to take two payments simultaneously since this was a bit slow.<br/ <br/ I was really fond of this restaurant and highly recommend it. Now I just need to think up another reason to go back next week.."