Friars Training Restaurant in Gwynedd

Had lunch here a few days ago with friends. We were given a lovely warm welcome, coats taken and shown to our table. Great choice of food, with full explanations of all dishes given if required. I can not fault any part of this experience, the young trainees worked very hard to make sure everything went well. The staff were all very professional and it would have been easy believe you were in a “proper” restaurant. In fact I have had much worse food and service in many restaurants! Very generous portions of food, very well presented and good service. Excellent value when full price but we were lucky to go when a 2 for 1 offer was on. I can definitely recommend and will without doubt visit again soon. Thank you and well done to the youngsters.

We are a group of old boy of Friars School who were pupils in the 1950's and 60's; we try to visit this restarurant every year for a Christmas Reunion. We have just been to the restaurant and we are happy to say that we all found the food interesting and tasty. It was well presented and served very well by the young students who assist with the running of the restaurant. We were all pleased with the modest prices and the quality of the wines. Foedere Fraterno.

10 members of our walking group turned up unanounced for lunch today at the coffee shop the food was supurb and theprices were so cheap the service wasexcellent and thestaff were so freindly and proressional highly reccomended Thank you C

Had a very nice lunch at this cozy and spotlessly clean restaurant. Pumpkin soup and Salmon fish cake starters were particularly tasty. Very good value for money. The atmosphere was relaxed and the Training staff polite and welcoming. Well done to the chefs and waiting staff! Will be back soon.

Really tasty lunch and fantastic value for money. Today I had the smoked meat & pickles, the vegetable and nut parcel and the cheesecake. All Delicious!

I was lucky enough to be there recently on the last night this term for a wonderful Italian themed taster menu. I have been there regularly over many years and it has always been good but the standard of food in the past year has been exceptional and we have loved the taster nights, such a great idea. The students obviously change from year to year so I assume the improvement in the standard of food is due to their current tutors. It has been a great pleasure to see the development in the the students waiting on, from being rather diffident in the Autumn to being much more confident and proficient at our last visit. You obviously have a great team of tutors so we look forwards to resuming our regular visits after the summer break and hope you continue with the themed nights as well as the fantastic Christmas & Dydd Gŵyl Dewi (St David's day) menus.

We have been coming to Friars training Restaurant for many years, and last night had the best food ever. I would like to congratulate Sarah who runs the kitchen and Louise who is in charge of front of house on the fantastic job that they do. The food has always been good, but this year has been exceptional. We especially enjoy the themed nights, where we enjoy the taster menu. Keep up the good work and look forward to seeing you next year with the new trainees. It's also fantastic to see the students develop and mature over their 2 year training.

This week I have had a facial, a flotation massage and a hot stones massage. The students were very proffesional, thorough and so well prepared. I love having these pampering sessions.

Nice to see young people doing to so well, the main earing hall was set up banquet style. Service was quick and efficient. Food was quite good not quite there but their are learning. All in all a happy customer who will ne calling again.

Lovely Christmas lunch at Friars today. Filling vegetable soup, traditional turkey and a light chocolate bavarois for dessert. Students were confident and professional considering this is a training restaurant. Lovely to see it full! If you get a chance to visit, do so. Its well worth it!

We have been coming here for years now to support training nights for students in Coleg Menai. As you would expect therefore it can be a bit hit and miss, however you are always guaranteed a good night out as they aim to train students to high standard and the trainers are very experienced and want us to enjoy our evenings out without placing too much pressure on students. The themed nights are especially good and May's Italian night was excellent with the professional chef Sarah and 4 students providing us with excellent taster Italian menu, fantastic staters, excellent mains and sweet desserts with coffee to follow for a fantastic £14.00 value. Good wine menu as well if you wish. If you are local, please support, you will not be disappointed.

I wish I had known about this place before. Fantastic lunch cooked and served by the students of the catering course who were friendly, polite and efficient. The only down side is that they are only open during term time! I will be going back here as soon as they open again in October.

Great food and professional service - the trainees are doing a fantastic job. Good vegetarian options. Prices were great too!

Lovely food cooked by students, really affordable meals. Well cooked and a good portion size. Excellent training centre

I had the most amazing reflexology treatment from Vicky on Weds. Thank you, I love coming to the salon, well worth a visit.

Very enjoyable lunch time repast-3 course meal of a near excellent standard , especially considering the inexpensive ( and subsidised) price. The service was not sleek and as timely as the ordinary diner would expect, but this is a training restaurant and these waiters are learning on the job-they will also be at the mercy of the pace and efficiency of the kitchen on any one day.The menu is interesting but certainly not unorthodox or challenging to the conservative palette. Dine with confidence but makes sure you have the time in the middle of the day to enjoy the experience.

Absolutely brilliant night, amazing food, Salmon Fishcakes, Trout with bacon, Teisen Cariad, Coffee!

Booked a table at lunch time for a change and the guys are just a good as they are of an evening. Highly recommend a visit. Well done guys keep up the good work

Lovely lunch today at Friars , the buck rarebit was tasty, plaice goujons so light , the lemon meringue pie beautiful. Thank you everyone a fab lunch time treat 🤗

this was my first visit and I was very impressed with the high standard of service the young people provided.

Had a lovely 3 course Christmas dinner with friends, could not find fault with any of it, everyone was friendly and attentive, will definitely be going back

Lunch 09/12/2016. Very friendly welcoming staff. Excellent service particularly as large parties there for Christmas menu. I have a thing about hot plates, ours were warm but! I had mushroom risotto, thought rice a bit soggy, my wife had what was effectively prawn cocktail, good. Main course for us both was turkey, very nice, but both thought roast potatoes could have been crisped a bit more. Puddings very tasty. Portions more than enough. Atmosphere/surroundings very good. Overall a good experience, will go again.

Great time, wonderful food! Brilliant to see youngsters being trained in catering, Friars do a great job, they need our support throughout the year!

Excellent xmas dinner and service. Would recommend anyone to try. The young staff and chefs are only training but are doing a brilliant job.

this is the second time we have visited the restaurant and we were not disappointed. From the chef to the waiting on staff they all looked like they we're more than happy to be there and we were too. Looking forward to calling again for some more fantastic food and banter with the staff. Well done guys and lassies a job well done. Xx

This restaurant is a training venue for Colleg Menai students but don't let this put you off. The young people/trainees work really hard as they learn to make it an enjoyable evening and that for me added to the experience. It is a relaxed but smart atmosphere. I started with the mushroom risotto - delicious then very hot and tasty soup, Turkey roast main and plum pudding with brandy sauce for desert. All served by friendly young people. I wish them all well for the future. Parking is excellent.

A group of us had a lovely meal. Beautifully presented and served by charming students. Well done all of you!

This restaurant is based in the old Friars School building in Bangor Once more the trainees gave us excellent food and service They really are a credit to the trainers and to their sponsors. Well done all round.

In this day and age, and especially in a rural non industrialised area, the hospitality industry must be the strongest contender where real life career prospects lie.

What a gem! Beautiful food well cooked and presented.Very relaxed atmosphere with attentive students.Will return without a doubt.

Visited with my husband for a spot of lunch. It was lovely! Gorgeous soup with homemade bread rolls, haddock florentine was superb and a traditional steamed jam pudding was a delicious end to it. Good food, even better price, whats not to like.

Was treated today to a lovely lunch out. The students are a credit to the College. We arrived at 12 noon and were greeted and taken to our table. The students were very helpful . The food was beautiful, hot and nicely presented. Thank you to everyone for a lovely lunch

This restaurant should be marketed better to the public, because you all need to know about it and book a table. The food is fresh and absolutely lovely on every visit. Because it's a training restaurant you get amazing food for so little, it's really is cheap (3 courses for £10). They're open lunch times and evening and they sell alcohol too so you can enjoy your wine with your food. One not to be missed. I will be back and can't recommend here enough.

I keep forgetting to come here, I booked last week table for 2, well I'll be coming again, and again, and again, £13.50 for a 3 course meal, cooked to a high standard, the lamb was stunning, served by keen and attentive students. I am very impressed.

Went here for the first time last night. The food and service is extremely good, and fantastic value. Would highly recommend a visit. To add to the enjoyment of getting great food at a great price, it was really interesting talking to the trainees and finding out what they want to do in their future careers. All extremely polite but friendly and very good cooks. Check their website as they are only open at certain times. Give this restaurant a go and you will not be dissapointed.

Excellent lunch at Friars training restaurant , wonderful food and excellent service. Great location , easy to park , lovely historic old building Diolch

Bearing in mind that this is a training restaurant I was pleasantly surprised. The food and service was great but the menu was a little limited. Advance booking is essential, look out for special deals (i.e 2 for 1). I'll definately be back.

Had a wonderful Christmas lunch with colleagues - you could be forgiven for forgetting this is a training restaurant!! My first time eating here but certainly not the last. Beautiful food, reasonably priced served by professional staff. An extremely pleasant dining experience.

My two friends and I went to the restaurant a few weeks ago. We had a beautiful Christmas meal and Gareth and Jack our two waiters were superb and very attentive and professional. Thanks to all the staff and students for a wonderful evening. You'll see us again in 2016.

We go to this Coleg Menai hospitality branch for lunch as often as we can. The setup and atmosphere is such that I always feel like wearing a jacket, collar and tie. My wife's attire will always be as we would dine in a top class restaurant, as this venue is exactly what that is. It is rare to see a student not trying their best to achieve excellence. The tutors are attentive but, in the majority, unobtrusive. A number of front-of-house students are exemplary and compare to top professionals we have encountered on cruises, for example. We've never had reason to criticise the food nor its presentation. One could easily render forth on the value for money here but that is not our motivation. Rest assured, whatever the charge, the standard and atmosphere could not be bettered. My wife, when possible, will take advantage of the hairdressing department next door and we also hit the cafe upstairs. Our last visit was for an evening of xmas festivity and dinner. Again up to the usual high standard in every way. One front-of-house student in particular shone as a professional. One can't write a review omitting a mention of the all-informed Bethan. Ready with help and all the answers. I gloi, mae pawb yn barod i siarad Cymraeg.

delightful Christmas lunch at Friars today. 3 courses plus a coffee and mince pie all for £12! A freshly cooked meal at a low price, and served by top class students. This place is a little gem.

I love the combination of high quality and low prices, and when you add in a warm atmosphere and eager-to-please staff, it all adds up to an excellent experience. The food is as good as anything you'd get in a really tip-top hotel and the location in an historic building helps.

This is a great training restaurant - the 'staff' there are still learning so they can sometimes be a bit unsure of themselves - for me that's ok because that is reflected in the prices and it's important to give trainee catering learners the chance to gain experience with real customers and to grow in confidence. I have visited several times with work colleagues and friends and each time the service has been very good. The food has been tasty, well presented and excellent value for money. I have had full meals there for around ten pounds which is an absolute bargain. It is conveniently located and has a carpark, so access is no problem. I highly recommend it for a meetup with your friends in Bangor or for an affordable evening meal treat.

I've visited this restaurant a few times in the last couple of years, including Christmas lunch. It's excellent value for money (3 course lunch/evening dinner for approximately £10 - £12) freshly cooked food by the students. They come round after the meal to say hello and ask about your experience.

I visited Friars last year with a group of friends and colleagues.

I visited Friars restaurant with a group of work colleagues thinking it would be a welcome change from my usual "aldesko" lunch routine - we were not disappointed.