Friendly's: They are friendly but the food is just average
Written: Apr 19 '05 (Updated May 11 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, cute ice cream creations for kids
Cons: Not a lot of healthy options, lots of formica and vinyl
The Bottom Line: Friendy's is a generic American chain. The food, service and decor are average, at best.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Friendly's |
I have eaten many times at Friendly's over the years including the West Roxbury, Massachusetts and the Hyannis, Massachusetts locations. This review is of the Hyannis location although most locations I have visited are very similar.
DECOR / AMBIANCE
This is the ultimate family restaurant. The interior has a generic, yet bright and cheery, decor. There is a country flair with wood shelves, dried or silk flowers and framed country-style pictures. The tables and chairs have a low-end chain restaurant feel with lots of formica and vinyl on the chairs. The tables are too close together. We sat with our backs against our neighbor's backs and had to excuse ourselves everytime we tried to adjust our chairs.
Diners are generally families with kids and couples. This is not a romantic restaurant at any time of day. Any clothing is welcome although casual clothing is best.
FOOD
The food is the thing I like least about Friendly's. You definitely get the feeling that you are in an ice cream store first and a restaurant second. There are freezers in the lobby for ice cream to go and lots of flavors to choose from. In fact, the creative sundaes for kids are the reason we always end up at Friendly's. My kids see them advertised on tv and beg to go. The ice cream is arranged as faces or monsters with those bright red cherries and lots of jimmies (sprinkles for those of you who don't live in New England) and whipped cream. They sometimes run specials where you get the sundae for free with the purchase of a meal.
The food itself is generic American-style food. There are hamburgers, fries, grilled chicken and chicken fingers. There are some more creative attempts at upscale entrees that tend to change with the seasons. However, most of the food is high in fat and low in flavor. Even the salads are smothered in dressing. I prefer a McDonald's burger to a Friendly's burger. Both are high in fat, but the McDonald's hamburgers taste more like beef. The Friendy's food is just completely forgettable.
Friendly's also has a breakfast menu with eggs, french toast, breakfast meats and a few other things. The kids' breakfast menu had one dish with breakfast items arranged so they looked like a face. That was fine with me but the face included a lot of whipped cream which seemed a little too sugary for breakfast. Of course, the kids loved it.
The portions are generally big enough for me and the kids could barely finish the portions from the children's menu.
SERVICE
There is a hostess stand at both locations I have visited and all the times I have visited, I have had to wait for a table. There is a generally a little lobby area with freezers full of take home ice cream and a few chairs. The Hyannis location had one of those games where you put in 50 cents and there is a claw you direct to try to grab a stuffed toy. Of course, the kids spent the entire time we were waiting begging to use the game which really detracted from the experience.
The servers at Friendly's are generally, well, friendly. They take and deliver the orders reasonably quickly. They are not good about special orders. I once asked for one piece of bread for our baby and it took twenty minutes to arrive and we were charged for it. I didn't mind so much paying for the bread but the special order took longer to deliver than our meals.
KID FRIENDLINESS
Friendly's advertises frequently on tv and they always make the point that families are welcome. This is definitely a family restaurant. There is a kids menu, kids ice cream, high chairs and lots of other families around.
OTHER THOUGHTS
They take credit cards.
The locations I have visited are all on one level and seem to be handicapped-friendly. However, the tables are close together and might need some rearranging for a wheelchair.
Vegetarians will have a few options on the menu.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
Friendly's is just okay for me. I take the kids when they want to get an ice cream. I haven't really found anything on the menu that really appeals to me and I don't care for the formica and vinyl decor.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? TRY THESE BOSTON-AREA RESTAURANTS:
BOSTON: Radius; Caffe Vitoria; Excelsior; Jacob Wirth.
BROOKLINE: Mr. Sushi; Fugakyu; Takeshima; Tsunami; Anna's Taqueria; Zaftigs Delicatessen; Bangkok Bistro; Golden Temple.
NEWTON: Appetito; India Paradise; Blue Ribbon Barbeque; Ice Cream Works; Baker's Best; Bill’s Pizzeria; Cafe Nicolas; Union Street; O’Hara’s; Yeradi’s.
CAMBRIDGE: S&S Restaurant; The Japanese Mall; Jasper White’s Summer Shack.
WEST ROXBURY: Cafe Misono.
BRIGHTON: Tasca.
ESSEX: Woodman’s.
SAUGUS: Kowloon.
CHAIN RESTAURANTS: Not Your Average Joe’s; Bertucci’s; Legal Sea Foods; Cheesecake Factory; Rainforest Cafe; Fire & Ice; Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse; Bruegger’s Bagels.
Recommended:
No
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modernmarvel
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