phoenixrose314's Qype reviews
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108 High Street, Rochester ME1 1JT
My experience of Don Vincenzo has been a very pleasant one! I have been here three times - once with a large party to celebrate my engagement, another time with my husband, and just this week I went there between work and an appointment in Rochester to have dinner alone.
phoenixrose314
wrote on 23 May 2012
My favourite experience has to be this week when I went alone - the man who I presume to be the manager was pleasant, charming and helpful. I asked him to recommend me a pasta, and he made a couple of suggestions - I chose the gorgonzola and pecan tagliatele, and oh my goodness it was incredible. The staff were attentive and smiling, even though I was eating alone and not spending a lot of cash. It was also lovely to hear "Ciao, bella!" when I left the restaurant, even though I'd been at work all day and feeling less "bella" than I'd ever felt before. It put a smile on my face!
I would recommend this restaurant, the food is delicious and doesn't break the bank either. The only thing that could really improve the dining experience is to have some italian music playing in the background, to set a little more atmosphere. -
145 High Street, Rochester, Rochester ME1 1EL
phoenixrose314
wrote on 9 May 2012
I have been going to Tony Lorenzo's for ten years now (oh god I feel so old!) - when I was at Sixth form in Fort Pitt, we used to have one person take orders for all of us, then go down and get lunch for the whole gang. It was affordable and, most importantly, had a LOT of variety on the menu when it came to sandwiches or baguette fillings. I strongly recommend the minted lamb, the italian chicken, and the salmon and soft cheese - personal favourites of mine.
If you have a real sweet tooth, Tony's will be right up your alley - their cakes are a very generous size, and always delicious, not like the cheap nasty tat you get at most bakeries nowadays. I am a big fan of the London cheesecake, and, as another reviewer has mentioned, the local Gypsy Tart. Yum!
The only thing really missing here is a bit of personality - to eat in is a bit of a pointless exercise as the atmosphere is more than a bit lacking (would a few candles or warm accents really hurt anyone?) and the space available is small and therefore limited to gatherings of four or less people. I'd much rather order out and go home, get in my pyjamas and pig out in front of the TV.
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60 High Street, Rochester ME1 1JY
phoenixrose314
wrote on 28 April 2012
(updated on 14 May 2012)
Topes is a fantastic little restaurant in the heart of historic Rochester, and it's dark beams and exposed brickwork create a quaint, cosy and intimate atmosphere - perfectly fitting with the rest of the odd, quirky little town.
I had the fortune of growing up in Rochester, so I know it well, but I have only eaten at Topes twice - once when I was nineteen with a group of friends and again seven years later with my husband. A lot can change in seven years, however I can definitely say that the quality of food and attention to detail has not changed in the slightest - the food is cooked and arranged to perfection, the flavours brilliantly complimenting each other. The meat falls apart in your mouth, no matter what you order, and even the salads and basic desserts like cheesecake and chocolate cake are made imaginitively and with a delectable flair. People who prefer large portions will probably be disappointed, as they are compact - but it is the price you pay for delicious food, and to be honest by the time you've had three courses you find out it was the perfect amount to eat after all.
The drinks list has enough to please most people, although it can be a little pricey.
My only complaint is that both times I have eaten at Topes, I have gotten mixed feelings about the waiting staff. Some of them are smiling and helpful, and wished my husband a happy birthday when they realised it was his birthday - and others were cold and unsmiling, not even making eye contact and treating us in a very businesslike way. I may be a little old-fashioned here, but I don't think it's a lot to ask for a smile from your waitor on an evening out? Especially when you're paying an arm and a leg to eat there?
I have given five stars to restaurants with much less to offer in terms of taste and luxury, just based on the atmosphere and the attitude of waiting staff, so until Topes makes some changes I am afraid I am going to have to give it four stars and an "Almost there - could try harder."
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Medway Valley Park, Rochester ME2 2SS
phoenixrose314
wrote on 28 October 2011
Okay, so clearly everybody else who has written a review has no idea what they’re talking about.
I have been going to Frankie & Bennys since it first opened – I was a young teenage girl back then, and I recall vividly that it was the only restaurant I had ever been taken to where I felt at home, welcomed, warm, comfortable no matter how old I was. Many years later, I still feel the same way – I went there for lunch this week and was blown away yet again by the immense quality of the food, the friendly banter and eager-to-please staff, and the speed at which our food was delivered.
If you are a cheese lover (like me), I STRONGLY recommend the American Black and Blue pizza – I’ve had it twice now and I am amazed that the second time lived up the almost orgasmic memory I had of the flavour! The blue cheese pasta isn’t bad either. My hubby always has a steak and they always cook it just the way he likes it – they actually LISTEN (a fault we have found with many other restaurants) and although the pasta on the whole is nothing to write home about, the Pizza and meat dishes are to die for.
But above all of this, it is the SERVICE which keeps me coming back to F&B’s – for my eighteenth birthday meal, for my Uni graduation celebration, for a lunch date with my husband on a day off, or for catching up with friends, I will always choose this restaurant because I am always met with a smile, as is every other person I know who has been there. The waiters and waitresses are always happy to banter (which I enjoy) and I have not once been disappointed with the attention I have recieved here.
To me, Frankie & Benny’s will always be “my” restaurant, the one I remember from childhood and well into adulthood. Please keep up the great work, and I shall keep coming back!!!
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164 high street, Rochester, Rochester ME1 1EX
phoenixrose314
wrote on 29 August 2011
I booked the karaoke function room upstairs for my birthday meal on a bit of a whim – I walked past the posters on Rochester High Street one afternoon and thought “karaoke AND chinese? Two of my favourite things! Score!” – without knowing anybody who’d eaten there before. A bit risky, but I took the chance knowing that even if I hated the food, I could have a few drinks and sing my heart out.
This was possibly one of the best birthdays I have ever had – and trust me, I have thrown a good few parties in my time! The service was good, and very friendly indeed. We were waiting a little (say 10 mins) for drinks, food, etc, but as there were so many of us enjoying a good catch-up it wasn’t so much of an issue. The food was – the only word for it – EXQUISITE. The lamb ribs are to die for. Seriously.
I loved the share-style spinning plate in the middle of the table, even though I am not usually one to share my food!! There was plenty for everyone, and some left over, such good value for money.
The only down-side to this evening was that although we had enough 90s cheesy music to see us through the evening, a good 85% of the music on the karaoke machine is chinese. Still, it wasn’t as if we ran out of music, so I think this would only be a problem to people who did this on a regular basis, or who didn’t like really cheesy pop music! (but who would do karaoke if they didn’t?)
I would recommend this to anybody who wants a good meal out to celebrate, I honestly was amazed and blown away by the wonderful atmosphere, decoration, friendliness and range of wonderful dishes available at this restaurant. FABULOUS.