New York Italian American restaurant announces new look.
The family favourite restaurant Frankie & Benny’s is looking back to the future with its biggest brand refresh in its nearly 30-year history.
The restaurant, famous for its delicious burgers, pasta and meatballs, has been a much-loved part of the restaurant landscape, appreciated by many as a place to celebrate with family and friends.
The back-to-the-future refresh takes the restaurant back to its original concept roots when it first launched in 1995, embracing the swagger of the city that never sleeps, the unique and energetic vibe of New York.
From the beginning, Frankie & Benny’s captured the essence of the NYC diner culture, blending the comfort and warmth of Italian family dining with the fast-paced energy of New York. The restaurant’s hearty, crowd-pleasing meals were designed to evoke that sense of indulgence and togetherness, offering something for everyone.
The refresh brings back those big portions, bold flavours, and the casual, family-friendly atmosphere that feels like stepping into a bustling diner on a New York City Street corner.
The delicious new menu combines timeless Italian tastes with proper New York City vibes. The best brunch on the block has generous portions of Frankie & Benny’s favourites such as loaded bagels, fluffy buttermilk pancakes stacked high dripping with indulgent toppings.
Crispy, stuffed calzones, classic meatballs, sourdough pizza, mouth‑wateringly juicy burgers, saucy bowls of pasta and more – there’s something for everyone. Slide into a booth and tuck into the Chicken Parm Triple Stack and giant mozzarella sticks!
There’s also Baked Pretzels, the taste of Manhattan’s streetside: soft, golden baked pretzels, served with a side of tangy cheese fondue, honey mustard, and gherkin dip. A perfect sharing starter or snack for when you want to enjoy a bit of New York nostalgia. There’s also Hot Cookie Dough, the best way to end your day. Hot, gooey cookie dough with melting vanilla ice cream – a Frankie’s bestseller for a very good reason!
The Frankie & Benny’s team are particularly proud of The Great NYC Breakfast, the quintessential New York brunch experience with crispy smoked streaky bacon, eggs sunny side up, a savoury sausage patty, crispy potato tots and fluffy buttermilk pancakes with a side of maple syrup. For a larger appetite, go big with an extra helping for a truly indulgent start to your day.
Frankie & Benny’s announcement follows extensive research gained from thousands of old and new and potential customers who gave their insights into their wants and needs from dining brands.
Customers revealed that Frankie & Benny’s do a lot right but needed to return to its roots of being firmly inspired by New York Italian dishes and bold flavours as you would expect in New York, with dishes that bring the essence of Little Italy to life.
Connecting with customers
Frankie & Benny’s Managing Director Debbie Husband said: “From our customer focused research it was quickly very clear we had a strong business, a solid platform to build on. Over the last year we have stabilised the business and got the engine ticking well, now it is about driving awareness and connecting with customers so we can drive growth and move forward.”
Debbie added: “We have shown commitment to the brand, and fast. It was only acquired less than twelve months ago and in that time we have turned the business metrics to the positive, developed a whole new menu and proposition with staff training and engagement that is ready to go. The next phase will be key to creating more brand love and more customers choosing Frankie & Benny’s.”
Alongside the food Frankie & Benny’s want to continue to create a lively, warm dining experience that reflects the energy of New York’s dining with the heart and warmth of Italian family spirit. Frankie & Benny’s wants to be known to have a generous heart and even more generous portions, Italian gratitude and New York attitude.
There is also a focus on employees with a more contemporary uniforms, all new crockery with branded plates with a little New York attitude, updated imagery as well as a more contemporary approach to lighting and music so the ambience is more current New York; not old-fashioned but without losing that classic New York feel with leather booths, brass and brickwork that Frankie & Benny’s customers love.