After a number of pleasing visits to a similar nearby establishment, we decided to take a coffee and cake at Francos for the first time. Approached the desk with the "wait here to be seated" and we waited.... and waited while staff were wandering around seemingly a little lost. Then we were taken to a seating area with a fab view over the bay while the sun was setting. Plenty of room in the place and seating areas were comfortable enough. Access throughout appeared to be suitable for wheelchair users as was access into the place... and disabled parking spaces were very close by. After a reasonable wait (and chance to view the menu) we were approached by a waitress who took our orders... coffee and a cake each.. nothing too complicated. In a short space of time, our order was brought to the table in a rather haphazard way.. another waiter brought a knife and napkins while the 'order' waitress brought the food. Must have led to confusion because my friend's ice cream needed a spoon which was not present, there were no spoons with the coffees so the accompanying milk could not be stirred in... there was no sugar with either cup where most places will give a courtesy sachet or two and most places will give a small biscuit with a coffee.... here, we didn't even get the spoons !. The coffees both had a little after taste suggesting a machine that had not recently been cleaned out thoroughly. Well, we finished the food and I paid a visit to the toilet. the approach passes a full view of the side of the food preparation area where stacks of large catering trays were on full view and were dirty awaiting washing... the shelving and flooring area was nearly as dirty and grubby looking along with the broken floor tiles which are a good place for germs and bacteria to live.. very disappointing for a food establishment. Inside the toilet there were damages that had not been repaired and holes left in the walls within easy reach of a child who could be injured. Not good. The final straw for me was the bill payment process. First stunner was that a caramel shortcake which cost £3.50, but an equally sized portion of carrot cake that cost £6.50 !!! What??? Then again, it WAS marked up as vegan friendly so are vegetarian and vegan customers getting stung?? The last straw was the use of the card payment device... gone all American and the customer is required to make a conscious decision of whether to make a 10, 20 or 30% tip donation before one can pass to the payment.. the alternative is to consciously select the 'skip' button and this selection is all done in front of the waitress and brings about a situation on the customer where one feels under pressure to make a 'tip' selection. Even the buttons on the screen are set so that you cannot mistake them.. large clear buttons where the skip button is a small and different colour... very awkward since I chose NOT to leave a tip.. the service or experience did not warrant a tip. Even if I WAS to leave a tip... I would have preferred to be able to choose the amount, not be dictated to with a choice of 10, 20 or 30%. On my bill this day, the minimum tip would have been £1.64 while the higher selection would have had me giving a tip just eight pence short of a fiver!!!! Well, I have ticked the box now and tried this place, but can safely say that with the experience, I shall not be returning at any time. The photo shows unrepaired damages in the toilet, two of which were two inches...
Read moreI recently visited Frankos and ordered spaghetti bolognese. The meal was awful, the entire meal had been microwaved. The spaghetti was incredibly dry and sticky and because it had been microwaved it had a crispy film and released alot of oil. The meat was stuck to the pasta, the food wasn't even mixed in you could clearly see the shape of the tub that it had been reheated in. The garlic bread was overdone and the bolognese had no sauce. I didn't eat my meal and when asked by the owner if anything was wrong with my meal my sister said I was expecting fresh pasta, not microwaved. The owner just proceeded to say "oh okay" and charged me full price for my meal.
It should never of left the kitchen, it showed a lack of pride and care for the food. When we stated fresh we meant not precooked and reheated - Frankos does great fish and chips we can't fault them for that but I will never dine in or order anything else other than that in the future. It was a really poor experience. I ended up going home and making myself food anyway.
I was essentially served leftovers and was expected to pay the same price that I'd pay for a fresh, well made meal. I left feeling very disappointed and dissatisfied with the meal and the customer service. There was no point in asking me what was wrong with my meal if it wasn't going to be properly addressed, not even an apology. I wouldn't of felt so disappointed if I had at least received an apology for the poor food quality.
I dislike confrontation and just wanted to leave as soon as I could. I felt uncomfortable with being approached multiple times by waiting staff and the owner before I left then to only have nothing come of it anyway, like I said not...
Read moreNew review- Sept 2024
Was ok, food was cold, overpriced and substandard. Service was ok. Toilets dirty and opened out onto the kitchen!
New review- feb 2022.
Arrived at 11.40qm to be told they weren't serving lunch at 12pm as usual and there would be a wait. Finally ordered at 12.20pm. Food arrived at 12.45pm. Considering they had only just started cooking the peas were cold and the chips certainly weren't hot! No difference between the large cod and chips and the small cod and chips.
Member of staff was stroking dogs and letting them lock her hands; then didn't wash her hands!!! I flagged with a member of staff who then did speak to that staff member, but it made me feel very uncomfortable given that in my opinion hand washing, especially in covid times should be a VERY high priority.
Overall, we keep giving Francos a chance but it remains overpriced, poor service and substantial food.
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Really expensive and poor quality. The chips were rubbish, the sausages I think had been in the heater for hours.
Nearly £8 for 1 bag of (small) chips, 2 sausages and a diet coke...just so expensive. Its disappointing because their clearly using their position, as their the only chip shop on the seafront to take advantage.
Kids chips and sausage in a bucket, with a carton of cheap juice, £3.60!! Literally a scabby little sausage and maybe 15 chips (tiny tiny portion)....but comes in a bucket with a spade so of course kids want it. Again, feel like their just ripping people off.
We won't visit again. I'd rather call somewhere else on the way home and get proper quality food for better...
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