Arbuckles Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Arbuckles is an American-style restaurant chain primarily located in the United Kingdom, with current locations in Downham Market and Ely. It's worth noting that there was a previous chain called "Fatty Arbuckle's" which was popular in the UK but has since been rebranded and the remaining restaurants operate under the name "Arbuckles." Here's a detailed review based on the available information: Overall Ambiance and Design: Arbuckles restaurants generally boast a modern design with clear nods to the classic American steakhouse aesthetic. They are often described as big, open, and light, offering a spacious dining environment. Comfortable booth seating is a common feature, making it suitable for families and groups. The Ely location has a slightly different feel than the Downham Market one, with a stylish design and an upstairs mezzanine area for more intimate dining. It also features a large outdoor seating area. The Downham Market location has expanded significantly since opening and includes a unique "Secret Garden" dining area for adults only, offering a different kind of "date night" experience in sparkly glasshouses. Food Quality and Menu: The menu is extensive, featuring a wide range of American classics including BBQ, grills, burgers, ribs, and fajitas. They also offer breakfast options and a selection of desserts. Portions are generally described as generous, offering good value for the price. While some specific items like burgers might not reach the heights of dedicated gourmet burger joints, the overall food quality is considered good and satisfying, especially for a family-style restaurant. A significant highlight is their thoughtful and clearly labeled vegan options, including dishes like BBQ jackfruit fajitas and vegan burgers, making it an inviting choice for those with dietary preferences. Appetizers like the Vegan Nachos and Chilli Cheese Taquitos are popular. They also offer a variety of drinks, including their own brand of "American lager" at the Ely location and vibrant cocktails. Service: Service is consistently praised as exceptional, with staff described as friendly and attentive. The staff are often noted for being accommodating, even when dealing with sharing dishes. The service is generally considered fast and efficient, although during busy periods, some reviewers have noted potential for slight delays. Value for Money: Arbuckles is generally considered to offer good food for a good value, with reasonable and competitive pricing. The generous portion sizes contribute to the perception of good value. Accessibility and Facilities: Both locations offer ample free parking. Wheelchair access is available. Baby changing facilities are typically provided, making it family-friendly. Atmosphere: The atmosphere is generally described as pleasant and welcoming. It's considered a versatile place that appeals to a diverse range of people, from families to couples and groups of friends. The Ely location, being next to a cinema, benefits from the lively atmosphere of the leisure park. Potential Downsides: Some reviewers have mentioned that while the food is good, it might not reach the standard of highly specialized restaurants in certain categories (e.g., gourmet burgers). During peak times, service might occasionally be a little slower due to the restaurant's popularity. Vegetarian options, while present, might be less extensive than the meat-heavy offerings, although vegan options are a strong point. In Conclusion: Arbuckles Restaurant offers a reliable and enjoyable American dining experience in the UK. With its extensive menu, generous portions, friendly service, and welcoming atmosphere, it's a popular choice for families, casual outings, and those seeking classic American comfort food. The thoughtful inclusion of vegan options is a significant plus. While it might not be a destination for highly specialized cuisine, it consistently delivers good food and a pleasant dining experience at a...

My family and I entered the establishment on 15/06/24, a quaint Saturday evening although i entered this dining experience, and was transported to a busy, densely filled diner. Seated instantly in a modern booth, this particular one able to seat 6 easily, so the 5 of us was very comfortable. Even though the restaurant was heaving, and the area was noisy, we could all still hear each other without raising our voices. There was no music, which helped with the noise. We got our drinks quickly, and for other coke 0 fanatics, they only come in glass bottles which was good enough for me! We ordered a vip platter for four, between 5, and it was more than enough, the wings were well seasoned and the spicy mayo sauce (?) was amazing, stand out for me. The chicken strips were tender and had an amazing coating, freshly made, really couldn’t fault them. The Mac n’ Cheese bites really let it down for me. The coating was crispy and perfect, but it was just sweet sickly and overly creamy inside. The ribs were very tender and had a perfect texture, but i’m not a fan of barbecue sauce and it was dripping with it, If your a fan of barbecue you will be a fan of these ribs! Also shout out to the onion rings, really crispy, and perfect. Our seconds came appropriately timed after the starter, and I ordered calamari and chips, with some coleslaw. The batter on the calamari was crisp and perfect, and most of the filling was too, although I feel it could’ve been flavorous for me. The chips were the worst thing i had there, large and soft, with no flavour, I’d ideally cut them thinner and make them more crispy and it felt like i was eating boiled potatoes. A nice option would be a seasoning like peri peri dusted over the top. The coleslaw was a huge portion for the price and was really perfect with a nice purple colour. Another person in my party order the 10oz Serloin Medium rare, The texture and colour ways really goals, and for not being a dedicated grill, it was great. The taste on the thinner part of the steak was somewhat faded, but ultimately a good steak somewhat appropriately priced. The bill came out to around 150£, 30£ pp. I...

Amazing experience again tonight at Arbuckle's. We had a table booked for 5pm, but had to push this back after half our party were in a minor car accident while on their way. The lady on the phone could not have been more empathetic and helpful and said to turn up whenever we could and they would make it work. Amazing service! When we arrived at 6pm, we were greeted by a friendly young man and waited while he seated the crowd of people that had arrived. He was very polite and communicated that he would be with us soon. Another passing member of staff also said apologies for the wait, and that someone would be with us soon. All of this is fab service. We were then seated and made to feel very welcome by our server Ricky, even before we had sat at our table! As we walked past him, even then he had said hello with a big smile. He greeted us at our table and was a breath of fresh air. So welcoming, polite and friendly. Very patient as we were still deciding what we wanted and gave us plenty of time.

Throughout the whole meal, he was attentive and nothing was too much trouble, serving us with a lovely big smile the whole time. We were really impressed with his customer service.

The service provided at Arbuckles is always second to none! Always made to feel so welcome and looked after. Their staff are all absolutely brilliant! Many eateries could learn a lot from all of you, so huge kudos!!

The food was delicious.....only slight criticism is that the sharing platter starter could have been slightly bigger (only one of each item per person, whereas 2 items per person would have been better ideally) however it was all very delicious.

Everyone loved their food. I had the steak skewers and they were perfect! The steak was so soft and perfectly cooked. The bourbon glaze sauce was amazing.

Thank you once again Arbuckles for another thoroughly enjoyable night and huge thank you to Ricky for looking after us so well and for fantastic 5* customer service.

Looking forward to...