Benny's Diner in Barnet

This restaurant appears to have shut its doors for ever. and the last review was months ago. we have been in the area for a week and it has remained closed, without any sign to indicate its status.

We attended Benny's Diner, as a party of 10, on a Sunday evening having previously booked a couple of days before. The Diner rang us on the Sunday afternoon to confirm the booking. Nice, we thought, they must be really busy and wanted to confirm a large table would attend. Understandable. We told them then that we wanted a reasonably prompt service and not wait an hour between courses. The person on the phone said, "We'll pull out all the stops". Little did we know.... We ordered in the usual way, we gave the order for two courses in the expectation that the meat for the second course would be put into the ovens immediately and be ready shortly after we had had our starters. However, the first course came in dribs and drabs over a period of around 15 minutes. The chicken soup for two of us was lukewarm and in cold dishes and was immediately sent back for an appointment with the microwave to warm it up. Chicken wings for two came also in two increments, five minutes apart. Whilst we sat waiting for our "mains", some 45 mins plus later, we noted with increasing annoyance that there was a constant stream of takeouts being delivered from the kitchen in brown carrier bags and disappearing out the front door. It was obvious that these takeouts were being prioristised over the eat-ins. BAD. Our temperament was further jolted when we observed another customer at another table sending their small basket of chips back for re-heating. Chips! Straight out of the frying pan - how can chips be served cold? And one other party of three who came in long after we did getting their meal before us. Whilst we were there, there were only two other small tables being served, one of which was the aforementioned cold chips so it clearly wasn't a matter that the restaurant was rushed off their feet by being packed full. Eventually, after the 45 minutes, one of our party went up to the serving hatch and saw our burgers, still frozen, being put on the grill for heating. This was the last straw. A group discussion rapidly came to the conclusion that service was appalling, takeouts were being prioritised over eat-ins and we would have to wait at the very least, another 15 minutes for our mains. Our patience had been fully used up, and after some educational words with the "manager" we left, still hungry, the main courses being abandoned. At least the manager had the grace to completely write off our bill. It has to be said that unless Benny's Diner gets its act in order or if you have all evening to wander through a lukewarm meal served in spaced-out stages, avoid it like the plague. SAD. Not recommended.