The 2015 main menu of Frankie & Benny's has a nice wrap-around cover Photograph depicting a typical New York street view during the 1950's.
A little research on some if the landmarks revealed the scene to be that of Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, of Manhattan. The shop in the foreground being that of the SKS Novelty Co. The building still looks pretty much the same today, except the corner spot is now occupied by the Rosario Pizza house.

On the inside of the menu, the Italian-American theme is carried through with alternate green, white, and red text mimicking the national colours of Italy.
The menu is varied. As well as the expected pasta and pizza dishes, you can also find burgers, steak, and even a few *fish dishes.
Another point worth noting is the establishments purported 'family run' business.
On the inside cover is a legend that reads like a Mario Puzo storyline.

'Frankie Giuliani left Sicily at the age of ten, with his Mamma and Poppa; landing at Ellis Island, New York in 1924. They moved in with relatives in Little Italy. From the home country his Poppa brought a little money, and together with much ambition opened up a restaurant within a year. His Mammas home-style cooking and recipes were the success that allowed Frankie to take over a thriving business with his 'ol school pal Benny, in 1953.'

The caption is embellished with a photograph of the owners taken some point during the 1950's, all of which goes to cement the restaurants credibility as a long running and trustworthy place to take your family. Or, so they would have you believe.
I was so intrigued that I decided to do a little more digging into this fascinating story. But, what I uncovered left a sour taste in my mouth.

Themed restaurants are a comfortable relaxing dining experience, specifically because there is an understanding between you and the restaurant that you are suspending your disbelief in order to take part in an illusion that you are sitting in; a cafe in Paris; or, a medieval banqueting hall; or, a real Irish Pub, etc. You know it's not real, but neither is any ride in Disneyland actually taking you into the future of Tomorrowland or back in time to meet with pirates of the Caribbean.
On the other hand, if you are allowing your choice of eating establishment to be driven by reputation and a long established presence, indicating a quality of service or a certain skill for prepairing good food stretching back 90+ years; it is a betrayal of trust to find out that the intricate web of 'facts' that you have been fed turns out to be a corporate lie.

The entirety of the Giuliani story; the sicilian roots, the whole lower east side, Little Italy, back story was cooked up along with Mamma Giuliani's meat balls in 1995 on the desk of some advertising executive with the brief to create a mythos that would instil trust in the public to dine at a chain of British restaurants fighting rivals in the catering industry, presumably some with a genuine claim to an authentic family run history (there are a few out there).

When the buying public are no longer actively taking part in the 'gag', then the tables are deceptivly turned and the joke is played on you! Advantages are taken, and this is what is known in the trade as a 'confidence trick', and it is wrong.
Add to that, the companies poor record in environmental issues:
*In November 2015 the chain was given the lowest rating (red) in an assessment of the sustainability of its seafood products.
Old man Giuliani would be spinning in his grave (if he'd ever had one!)

Four stars, reduced to half a star for being a cheating corporate Fat Cat, with low moral standards, and no soap in the bathroom at Basildon festival leisure park 15/02/2016. (Just think about it when the waiters who have answered 'the call of nature' serve you your salmon fillet on a bed of mixed salad) - nice!

Shame. Otherwise, a nice menu. ( )