Bennigan's Grill & Tavern abruptly closes.

[nattyk]

Just seen this on the Perez hilton site....

Effective immediately all Bennigan's restaurants are closed for business.

The chain owns and operates around 800 Bennigan's across America.

I will miss their french onion soup!!!

xx

[faz1964]

That's a shame for the restaurants where we had good experiences:cry:

But for the one's where we had bad, serves 'em right:)

[orlandosgr8]

We had our first meal in Florida in 2002 in a Bennigan's, we were hoping to go back again this year.

[KACY]

That's a shame.:(

I also miss Jungle Jims and Darryls. They were both regular haunts of ours:cry:

Only about a thousand to choose from now;)

[Catherine]

Thats a shame, we always had a good time in there. The food was quite average but the atmosphere was great. It was on our list of eats this year.

[alan&pauline]

enjoyed bennigans when we first went but i think it went downhill so wont be missed

[BEC]

We went in 2006 and really enjoyed it, we planned to go back this year that a shame.

[Bozza]

The parent company, Metromedia (http://www.metromediarestaurants.com/default.php), also own Ponderosa, although Ponderosa seem to be unaffected for now.

[ruthhutchinson]

:omg::omg:
thats quite a big shock we normally visit bennigans a lot because of the resonable prices and good food :cry:

[kcanderson]

Used the one in LBV a few years back and it was just ok ,but used one in fort lauderdale last year and it was one of the best meals (steak) we have had ;)
Chris

[winnie97]

thats a shame we enjoyed the ones we went to:(

[SnapperJohn]

Headline in todays Orlando Sentinel
Bennigan's Grill & Tavern abruptly closes East Colonial restaurant - this seems to be part of a nationwide closure plan due to poor trading.

Sorry if this was somewhere that you liked and were planning on returning to. :(

[Tink20]

:cry::cry::cry: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I am gutted!

[slifex]

Headline in todays Orlando Sentinel
Bennigan's Grill & Tavern abruptly closes East Colonial restaurant - this seems to be part of a nationwide closure plan due to poor trading.

Sorry if this was somewhere that you liked and were planning on returning to. :(

was hoping to visit here to try the irish burger
:(:(:(

[rusty30]

There are more though - there is one on I-drive and another in Kissimmee. East Colonial Drive is nearer Orlando city itself. I can understand why that one would be shut as its well outside the usual tourist enclave.

[Bozza]

Already a discussion here (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=229145). Hopefully the woes don't extend to Ponderosa - I'm not a fan but plenty of others seem to be.

[SnapperJohn]

Already a discussion here (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=229145). Hopefully the woes don't extend to Ponderosa - I'm not a fan but plenty of others seem to be.

Sorry I missed this other thread......that what comes of working all day instead of Dibbing! ;)
Just shows you the effect of the credit crunch though with Americans not traveling.

[Bozza]

Sorry I missed this other thread......that what comes of working all day instead of Dibbing! ;)
Just shows you the effect of the credit crunch though with Americans not traveling.

Not sure that's the case though as it sounds as 800 stores nationwide have closed which, to my mind, makes it sound like they do largely cater for locals as opposed to tourists.

[SnapperJohn]

Not sure that's the case though as it sounds as 800 stores nationwide have closed which, to my mind, makes it sound like they do largely cater for locals as opposed to tourists.

I suppose what I meant to say was the American's are not going out - still sounds like the credit crunch is at least somewhat to blame.

[crid]

It's a pity, was one of our favourites as they had the best honey mustard dressing in the world!

But, on my trip in April it had gone really downhill, the chicken strips tasted like they were more flour and bread than chicken and the service was also very bad so I wasn't planning on returning anyway with so many better restaurants out there to choose from - just goes to show if you let your standards slip you won't keep going for too long.

[slowmo]

Yeah I,m afraid it looks as though they have all closed.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-bennigans-closures-072908,0,2588339.story

[summerlily2002]

This is terrible! Going to Florida just wont be the same without guiness glazed steak :cry:

[Villainlover]

I have to agree that they used to be great places to eat but last September the one near seaworld had really gone downhill, place looked and felt grubby and the food was terrible.. I won't miss them..

Now Darryls ( earlier comment) I really do miss ..

but that said ... the Franchised ones are not included in the chapter 7 .. and will remain open.. you may be lucky

[Villainlover]

Steak and Ale too it looks like but doesn't include the franchised ones ... I don't know if any of the other orlando/kissimmee bennigans are franchised ..

[jovial]

Oh we ate in the LBV one last sept and loved it in fact we went twice we liked it so much ,hope it doesnt close:nonono:

[tilly]

o no this is really bad where else will i get my batterd sandwich, hope the i drive one is ok:(:(

[ambersmom]

Steak and Ale too it looks like but doesn't include the franchised ones ... I don't know if any of the other orlando/kissimmee bennigans are franchised ..

We got chatting to the server at LBV, she said they were a franchise,

[jonh]

I'm gutted too, we went on Saturday and was planning on going again whilst were arre here.

[sweetemotion]

i went there once, i cant remember whether i liked it or not, i dont think it was horrible but didnt realy stand out for me and i think my dad was ill after eating in there lol but i dont think that was the food that did it

[Gepetto]

Headline in todays Orlando Sentinel
Bennigan's Grill & Tavern abruptly closes East Colonial restaurant - this seems to be part of a nationwide closure plan due to poor trading.

Sorry if this was somewhere that you liked and were planning on returning to. :(

Thanks for the update John, East Colonial was our favourite Bennigans! Thank heavens that we have people who scan the Sentinel for news like this.
G

[Jaydee]

o no this is really bad where else will i get my batterd sandwich, hope the i drive one is ok:(:(

You took the words right out of my mouth :) I loved that
sandwich :cry:

[tilly]

yes it was even better than a deep fried mars bar.though i must admit on our last visit in 06 the food was still fab but the place was looking rather shabby and the service wasnt as good if they have all closed it will be a great shame

[The Durrigan's]

That's a pity, we ate there a few times, wasn't there 1 on I-Drive

[Dabies]

I'm really hoping that the I-Drive restaurant is a franchise and it's still trading, we went their a few time last visit and enjoyed every meal. I'm also a fan of the battered sandwich, didn't really get chance to do it justice last time and could only finish half of it, I was really looking forward to that. :(

[ju_itfc]

Yeah I,m afraid it looks as though they have all closed.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bk-bennigans-closures-072908,0,2588339.story

It only makes reference in that article to the corporate owned restaurants which it says total 200, although on other websites this has been quoted as being 180.

Both East and West Colonial are away from the tourist areas and it may well be that the restaurants on I Drive and LBV are franchised and will remain open.

It's not all doom and gloom just yet. Perhaps someone over in Florida can report back to us on the I Drive and LBV locations?

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Steak and Ale is also part of the closure. They did confirm that some of the Central Florida locations are franchise and might remain open but they wouldn't name them. I've not scoured the paper though so it might be mentioned there.

It is worth noting that Steak and Ale on I-Drive was on fire this morning. Immediate speculation started for obvious reasons.

To be honest it isn't a surprise about Bennigan's. Bennigan's was the Bahama Breeze/Outback/Friday's of the 80's and it was THE place to go eat. Over the years competition has slowly squeezed them out because they weren't new anymore and the other places popping up took the business. It is a shame to see them go as they were a classic. Fingers crossed a few of the franchise locations keep their doors open.

[ian2494]

We never ate in Bennigans as we were put off by one of there servers who we saw on the I-ride on his way to work, he had on an apron which was filthy as were his clothes, Ian still wanted to go, but I just couldn't face it. Shame for all the people who have lost jobs

Sharon

[FLGirl-UKNow]

They've just said on the news that the locations in Kissimmee and 535 will remain open....not sure how long though. I might just have to go get some French Onion soup before it's gone.

[orlando blue]

Today i was reading that Bennigans has gone into liquidation & that they are closing down all bar & resteraunts as from immediate effect iam very sad as this was a popular place to go:(

[cumbrian lakes]

They are closing the ones on Colonial Drive. The ones that are a franchise are not closing.

[Angellore]

Thats a shame - we liked it there - especially the puds! I hope Ponderosa don't go too - I am looking forward to going back there.

[Angellore]

Just done a quick google news search - Ponderosa is not affected. Franchise locations are also not affected. Anyone got free phonecalls to America to check? LOL. The bennigans website is still working :confused2

[Bullpeppar]

Thats a shame. Its not a place I was overly fussed on but decent grub always. I know alot of people will miss them.

[slowmo]

If the franchised ones stay open then what are they franchised to as the parent company will be gone?
My understnding of a franchise is you can use the company name and will be supplied the official merchandise witch in this case I imagine would be the signature sauces and such that are preprepared elsewhere in bulk. Take that away and they are just another restaurant free to make what they want.
I will miss them though. The one on I-Drive was where my DW and I had our first meal if Florida way back in 1990 on Honeymoon.

[Florida_Bear]

See the story here (http://cbs11tv.com:80/local/bennigans.restaurants.closing.2.782514.html)

[kerryh]

Thats a shame, always had a good meal there.