I went/have been there

[Proficiencystudent]

"That's my favourite restaurant, I........... there many times."

Why should I use 'have been' instead of 'went' in this sentence?

 

[Proficiencystudent]

But doesn't "I have been there" mean "I am in that restaurant right now" ?

 

[tzfujimino]

(In addition to Piscean's reply)
... and the comma in your sentence should be a semicolon.

 

[tzfujimino]

But doesn't "I have been there" mean "I am in that restaurant right now" ?

No. In that case, the sentences should be something like "This is my favourite restaurant. I have been here for over eight hours. I really love the atmosphere."

 

[Matthew Wai]

(In addition to tzfujimino's reply)
... and the error in your sentence is called a comma splice.