- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 8 am - 2 am
Sun 11 am - 3 pm
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
621 reviews for Frank
Review Highlights
"And don't forget the waffle fries."
(in 189 reviews)
"He also sampled some chocolate covered bacon."
(in 26 reviews)
"The Red Headed Stranger (the bloody mary) is delish."
(in 21 reviews)
Loading...
621 reviews in English
-
Review from Jelena Z.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Smell that? Love, my dears, is in the air.
Immediately following a 19-hour drive to my new home (hello, Austinites!), I had a taste for the filling and the exotic. Something that would both impress my friends back in Chicago and make their mouths water with envy. Since I never had the chance to nosh at our emporium of encased meats (Hot Dougs) (I won't wait for 2 hours), the culinary calling was clear as bell and rhymes with tank. Oh hi, Frank!
My roadtrip buddy and I assessed the room which was pretty empty around 9pm on a Monday. Because we love sitting front and center at the bar to talk shop and good local beer with bartenders, that's where we went. It took only but a quick pass through the menu to feel like kids in a candy shop - or, better yet - a sausage shop for the encased meat enthusiast. Gotdammit! They named a dog 'The notorious P.I.G.'? More delicious words have never been written. Canadian poutine waffle fries and two artisan dogs were ordered as two cold craft beers were delivered. Capital SIGH.
But wait, there's more: I tried a daily special dog which was stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and beautifully tucked into a pretzel bun among other indulgent treatments... no, we won't speak of the F word (fried, that is). E-Money made the best choice, however: The Carolina Pork It. With its Vienna beef base stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon then deep fried and topped with grilled coleslaw and housemade green chile pimento cheese, it's no surprise we lost him on the operating table.
I kid! He hung on for dear life so he could finish the artery-clogging pièce de résistance. Oh - the waffle fries were stellar too, but the artisan sausages are better calorie blow for your $.
A special shout out to the most darling of bartenders - just the right amount of scruff too, hot child.
See y'all soon!Listed in: ATX is for Lovers.
-
Review from Rebecca L.
Austin, TX
Updated - 2/5/2012
I had lunch with my honey on Friday and the joint was jumpin'. We ordered us some poutine (waffle fries drowned in gravy and topped with mozzarella cheese curds), he ordered the Jackalope, and I ordered the buffalo habanero special. Well, the poutine was aces. I couldn't get enough of that tasty Canadian calorie bomb; something about gravy and cheese really got me going.
However. The buffalo habanero sausage left me teary-eyed and downing water like it was vodka. There's a fine line between being spicy and delicious, and nuking your taste buds. It didn't help that there was a side of jalepeno cornbread, which I thought was just regular cornbread. On the bright side, I stole a bite of the Jackalope dog and it was tasty, albeit messy to eat. All the stuff kept falling out of the bun.
Now that free parking is as easy to find as hen's teeth, it's going to take a lot for me to eat here. I do like their food, and I would return again if the parking situation weren't so darn complicated.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/23/2011
MMMMMmmm Ginger Cherry Limeade. Did not try any of their culinary offerings, but will probably be… Read more »
-
-
Review from Dana S.
Round Rock, TX
2/4/2012
So bear in mind that I was predisposed to like this place simply from reading all the deliciousness with bacon on the menu. Additionally, I got a Google coupon ($10 for $20) and usually when I'm getting a price break it makes me like something even more (you know....how free or really cheap food generally tastes better and the more expensive it is the higher your standards?). What I really use as a yardstick to determine how good a place is, is whether I want to go back. Unfortunately, I will probably never eat at Frank again.
First of all, there is the fact that before you even get inside the door, you have probably had to pay for parking (for us that was $10). I took my 12 yr old son and for the 2 of us we had only one tea (my son had water), 1 small appetizer (bite sized corn-dogs made with little smokies), 2 hot dogs ("porked" chili cheese dog for him and a "porked" nacho dog for me), 1 side each (small waffle fries for him and corn cup for me) and then we shared 1 piece of chocolate bacon and 1 chocolate chip bacon cookie. The tab before tip was $31 before deducting my Google coupon. When you add tip and the parking to that, it seems pretty expensive, at least to me.
For the place itself, we found that it had a charming older feel and they had a neat lounge area where sadly no one was congregating (maybe because it was only 6ish). Since there was just 2 of us, they sat us on what looks to be a stage where they squeezed several tables for two. My son pointed out how dangerous it was because many of the diners' chairs were just inches away from a drop off, with no lip or anything to keep from scooting backward off the elevated area. A little later on he scoped out the 2nd floor area and agreed that if we ever came back we would sit up there since it seemed a bit more fun and cozy.
Now about the food, I thought everything tasted good but not so good that it blew me away. Not sure if it is a positive or negative, but I was amazed by how unmessy the dogs were. The buns were toasted or something so that they didn't fall apart which is a good thing but then the toppings weren't all ooey-gooey which to me had an impact on the taste. The chili had the consistency of Spackle and didn't have much chili flavor. My nacho dog had some delicious refried beans (I think they might make them from their "ranch" beans because they tasted a bit like what I would imagine Ranch-Style beans would taste like all mashed up). The Nacho dog was supposed to come with beans, cheese, sour cream, pico and jalapenos. I asked to leave the pico off (I don't like tomatoes much) and have some raw onion. That was a 25 cent extra charge and I realized when paying the bill that the dog didn't have onions, sour cream or jalapenos. I didn't say anything at that point since it seemed silly to debate over 25 cents and I wasn't planning on going there again even if they offered me a free dog at a later date.
My son and I both got our hot dogs "porked" because it sounded too good to pass up (it is where they stuff it with white american, wrap it in bacon, and then fry it). While good in theory, the execution wasn't that good. We couldn't see any actual cheese and have to assume it ran out into the oil when it got hot. I think I expected all these wonderful flavors to really knock me over, and that is why it was a bit underwhelming. I had the corn cup and that was probably the most delicious item I had. My son had the waffle fries and agreed they were good, but certainly no different than the waffle fries at Pluckers or even Chick-Fil-A. The chocolate covered bacon was good but the chocolate was more thick than I imagined and it was cold (wasn't exactly what I was expecting). On the cookie, bear in mind that although the menu implies that the cookie has chocolate chips and bacon in it., in actuality it is pretty good chocolate chip cookie with bacon crumbled over it and dusted with powdered sugar. It tasted good in a sweet and salty way, but wasn't what I would think of as a "bacon" cookie if you know what I mean.
Lastly, I feel I should touch on the service. Not sure if our waiter assumed he would get a lousy tip because we were using the coupon and it was just me and my son, but the service was not that good (so self-fulfilling prophecy he only got a $5 tip). We heard him assure a lady sitting near us that all the fries were fried in a separate fryer since she had to be gluten free and wanted to make sure there was no cross contamination, and my son said he was lying since our corn-dogs came with a fry stuck to them which would lead us to believe they were fried in the same oil.
So in conclusion, the food was okay but certainly not worth the trouble and expense of going there. I thought the drinks looked good and can only assume that when you have been drinking and you're ravenously hungry the food tastes much better. Either way, feel free to try it yourself; you can have our seats since we won't be seeing you there :). -
Review from Caden T.
Fort Worth, TX
2/9/2012
Can get crowded and noisy once it becomes more of a bar at night, but still worth it. The dogs are delicious!
-
Review from Melissa A.
Austin, TX
Updated - 1/23/2012 2 Check-ins Here
In case you didn't know, at night time, "Frank the hot dog joint," turns into "Frank, one of my favorite new music venues."
I went there last weekend with some friends. The basic structure is 4 local bands, doors at 9, shows start at 10. So, be forewarned that if you are like me and sometimes feel a little too old to stay out to the bitter end of the evening, you should plan accordingly. We got there in time for the second band at 11PM, and stayed through about half the set of the last band, that went on at 1AM.
I probably could have stayed until the end of the last set if: (1) the band that went on at midnight had not been so soul-zappingly awful and (2) if leaving downtown at 1:30 instead of after 2 were not the smartest thing you can do on the weekends. Seriously, that little bit of a head-start makes all the difference in your escape from downtown.
Aside from the one band that literally cleared the room through the course of their set, the one other detractor I saw was that the set-changes seemed really long. Y'all need to practice for SXSW: andale! Also, when we came in, everyone was standing really far from the stage and making it all crowded around the walkways and bar. There are just musicians, they probably won't bite you, but I might body check you if you're unnecessarily blocking the path to the bar.
I really enjoyed the two other bands we saw and appreciate that the cover charges at Frank are reasonable enough that you can go explore new bands without feeling too much of a pinch. That's definitely one thing Emo's never quite figured out: people will go out more if you don't exploit them on cover charges. Further, the acoustics and sound are so much better and it is generally a more interesting and classy venue than Emo's with all kinds of beers, mixed drinks, clean bathrooms, and hot dogs.Listed in: Keepin' It Live
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/18/2011
This review is for brunch. I went to Sunday brunch at Frank with the lovely Tara D. There was a… Read more »
-
-
Review from Virginia Y.
Austin, TX
2/4/2012
I'm always searching for cheap, vegetarian-friendly places to rustle up some late-night grub, and Frank definitely hits the spot. With vegan and vegetarian options aplenty, a decent beer selection, a conspicuous lack of bro-ed out bouncer dudes and a nice upstairs dining loft -- not to mention a pleasant mix of alternative tunes (Sonic Youth, Pixies, etc.) -- I think I've found a new place to hang out. Major bonus that Frank is locally owned. We also got to hear some decent live music while enjoying our veggie dogs (highlight: the jalapeno cheese dog) and waffle fries.
-
Review from Solomon W.
Austin, TX
Updated - 1/21/2012
Quick question: is it OK to serve medium rare sausage at a house-made joint? I liked my sausage medium-rare here, but I do not know if that is kosher (not in a religious sense).
After a two year break from Frank and its house-made sausages, I felt it appropriate to give Frank a second chance. I enjoy a nice gastropub, an establishment that specializes in craft booze and a good hodgepodge of comfort and bar food. Furthermore, who does not appreciate swine ground up with some assorted ingredients, pushed into a casing, and cooked alongside other assorted gut-filling grub?
My last experience gave me a few bad takeaways: high costs, unsuccessful combinations, and poor preparation. I returned for a sit-down meal, and I had quite an enjoyable experience. Plus, it was cheaper, as I stuck with some real nitty gritty fare.
Frank is a true Austin dining establishment. This joint provides you with a communal feel without having too much sloppiness. The dining area is tight, but you still feel like you have enough room to breathe as you indulge in the various preparation of the aforementioned "greasy spoon items."
The most unique item we had was the curried sweet potato soup. Though slightly bland and overly curried, it provided a nice rich consistency. The simplest selection was the Currywurst. Slices of Hudson's house in a zippy curry sauce were topped with 4 nice slices of buttery toast.
Between the straightforward pub grub exists some nice choices that range from waffle fries with assorted toppings or unique combinations of sausage and the like. So, we went with poutine. This Canadian staple of waffle fries, rich gravy, and cheese curds sat quite heavy, but it was mighty good. Texturally, the dish was perfect: soggy, gravy-soaked fries on the bottom; crispy, cheesy fries on top! We went with the weekly special Soul Dog. Collard greens, turnip and turnip green sausage, sweet potato fries, black eyed peas, cornbread. This was actually quite disappointing. The fries and peas were bland, the cornbread was dry; the sausage was the saving grace; juicy and not cooked all the way through.
My advice here is to stick to something more diverse than just processed pork-based items. The poutine was good, the soup was acceptable, and the sliced sausage with bread was quite tasty. The atmosphere is good, and the high prices are not bad for certain delicacies.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/7/2010
Frankly, if Frank wasn't so freaking expensive it would be the most awesome restaurant. Mostly… Read more »
Comment from Daniel N. of Frank 1/9/2010
C'mon Solomon - these are things you tell me why you are… More » -
-
Review from Anthony D.
Austin, TX
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Happy that small business continues to thrive in Austin, but Frank is a complete dud. Frank is another example where the Austin hype just is not reality,
Our hot dogs were a disaster, really small, bun was dry and too big for such a small hot dog, and the toppings were drenched on top of the dog. The waffle fries were OK, but nothing great.
Everything that seems quaint and cool about Frank is quickly ruined once you experience the food, then it just seems dirty and crappy overall.
Frank will survive on hype for a while, but the quality is not there. -
Review from Mara F.
Austin, TX
1/19/2012
Really a fun little place. Releaxing, great bar area/drinks.
Hot Dogs like you never thought you'd want them! I had the Chicago Dog.....it was so good.
You can even host parties there - they have an upstairs loft area. -
Review from Robert D.
Austin, TX
1/20/2012
Being a new yorker...I kinda know my Dogs....
They are pretty good. But the atmosphere is the best.
I enjoy the golden tee in the back as well.
Will become a regular spot. -
Review from Brandon C.
Austin, TX
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Chocolate Dipped Bacon gets 5 stars alone. Everything else was sheer bonus!
So a friend of mine had been pushing us to go to Frank for awhile and I could never get down with going downtown for a hot dog. Well after we got a party of 10 to go I relented.
Thinking that there was no way one hot dog would fill me up I ordered the Sonoran Dog (more on that in a moment) and a small side of waffle fry nachos. Well let me tell you the hot dogs are huge and the sides are big portions, as I couldn't even finish half of the small waffle fry nachos and the dog was enough by itself.
The Sonoran is a 100% Vienna Beef, stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and deep fried; grilled onions, diced onions, diced tomato, pinto beans, jalapeno sauce, mayonnaise, mustard. (copied from the menu) I never thought I would want half of these things on my hot dog but now I am not sure if I can ever eat one without it. This thing was amazing. I will upload a photo to the page later this afternoon. This thing must be tried to truly understand the complexities of flavor. That's right hot dogs can have complex flavors!
The Waffle Fry Nachos are the standard variety, if you have ever had these anywhere else like Plucker's there are the same. In case you have never heard of these this is what they consist of, crispy fries loaded with refried beans, jalapenos, cheese, sour cream and salsa. (copied from the menu) Good flavor.
My favorite part was the chocolate dipped bacon. DISCLAIMER: I LOVE BACON, I HAVE AN I LOVE BACON BUMPER STICKER ON MY CAR AND A BACON AIR FRESHENER. It is a thick cut slice of bacon dipped in chocolate and frozen. It is the perfect blend of savory and sweet. Perfect ending to the meal.
Also if you are a bloody mary fan they have the Red Headed Stranger, House-made bacon-infused Tito's Vodka, Frank bloody mary mix, garnished with bacon, cheddar cheese, jalapeno stuffed olive, peperoncini, which many of my friends raved about but I am not a fan of bloody marys.
Let me be FRANK and say that this place is worth a visit for the hot dogs, sides, desserts, and drinks. Also a lot of veggie options for those non-meat eaters out there so if you have a friend or significant other that's a vegetarian you can still take them too. -
Review from Matthew D.
Cypress, TX
2/4/2012
Great little restaurant in the heart of the warehouse district. I recently visited Canada and developed a severe addiction to poutine, to my surprise, Frank has poutine on their menu! It was pretty fantastic! There hot dogs are juicy, plump and delicious. They have a range of toppings but I stuck with the classic(read boring) ketchup and mustard. The waitstaff is decent overall, very friendly. Warning: stay away from their bacon chocolate chip cookie. It's pretty terrible. Their flour less chocolate cake however is decadent and rich and oh so very yummy.
-
Review from Heather-Lynn L.
Austin, TX
1/18/2012
I'm in love with Frank. If you happen to find yourself aimlessly wandering the streets of Austin in search of the ultimate hangover cure, LOOK NO FURTHER. This is the kind of place your doctor warns you about.
They put chocolate on bacon.
They put bacon in cookies.
They have hot dogs with cheese, some cheese, and even more cheese. Oh yeah, and jalapenos, and onions and MOAR CHEESE.
The service is excellent. The staff is very friendly, and quick. It's a rather big establishment with cool decor and great music.
They have a plethora of dipping sauces, of which all are delicious.
I highly recommend Frank if you want some good grub, in a chill spot. -
Review from Liz B.
Houston, TX
What can I say about Frank that hasn't already been said? Nothing. Reading this review, you probably already know that Frank's hot dogs are yummy, the drinks are stiff, and you are in for a wait on most evenings. And those waffle fries are AMAZING. nom, nom, nom.
As a vegetarian, I appreciate that I can swap any dog for a vegan-friendly dog. I don't really like the extra quarter I have to pay, but I guess having vegetarians in Austin, Texas is a brand new thing. May take a few years for the other restaurants to get used to this...
Why three stars, you ask:
Drinks: 4 stars -- damn stiff, delicious, good price if you sip slowly
Hot dogs: 3 stars -- It's a hot dog, not that complicated.
Waffle fries: 5 stars -- amazing
Service: 3 stars -- not the best, but far from the worst service ever
Overall feel: 3 stars -- its a nice place, but I don't need to go there all the time.
I hope this helps, Yelpers! -
Review from Chad J.
Austin, TX
1/25/2012
Wasn't impressed. Really stale waffle fries. Wieners for hipsters.
-
Review from James D.
Austin, TX
1/28/2012
This place is pretty cool. I have been there for coffee once this past summer and for lunch a couple weeks ago. The coffee and food this last time were both really good. It has kind of a little bit of a hipster vibe and the staff there is definitely fairly hipster but that doesn't bother me. My waiter was really nice and willing to help out in the beer and food suggestion department. He knew what he was talking about. They have a fairly good beer selection. Not super extensive, but pretty good. Their "handsome" coffee was delicious. The soup was also exceptional. The hot dog was solidly good and would have been kicked up a notch if I had thought to ask for barbecue sauce with it. All in all a nice spot.
-
Review from Tj H.
Lincoln Park, NJ
12/27/2011
Hehe.. another Hot Dog place? yep!
Now this time.. it was a sausage with pork, antelope, and rabbit... called the Jackalope. Yes.. I ate Thumper....... o.O
It was quite tasty though! Nice mix of flavor in the meat along with a compote that added a sweetness.
The waffle fries were not that great. Still worth a stop!! -
Review from Tonya P.
Austin, TX
1/16/2012
I loved the atmosphere and the music. I wasn't really all that impressed with the franks that were offered, but I did like the fresh sausages. The waffle fries were just waffle fries - nothing special. However, anything fried and dipped in condiments is delicious! I would definitely return here, and this will be one of my stops when friends and family visit from out out town.
-
Review from Laura H.
This place was so good, I tried to go twice. Seriously. The second night the place was so packed that we couldn't get in. Great live music at night as well!
I had the Jackalope: custom-made antelope, rabbit & pork sausage, huckleberry compote, sriracha aioli, cheddar. Spicy, sweet, yummy yummy yummy.
I also had the 100% Vienna Beef Plain Dog, but decided to Pork It: Split, stuff with white American cheese, wrap with bacon and deep fry. IT. WAS. HEAVEN.
The bartender also made me a custom drink, some delicious concoction of peach and beer...I have no idea what it was, but I gave him parameters of what I liked and he came up with a home run. Didn't hurt that he was super friendly and efficient, even though the place was completely packed.
My only tip: Get there early if you want to eat! -
Review from Amelia O.
Austin, TX
1/22/2012
I love this place. Veggie Dogs and mason jars are great, but my heart belongs to the potato salad. Yum!
-
Review from Matthew O.
Austin, TX
1/5/2012
OMG!!! Can you get any better of a place to eat a nice exotic and tasty hot dog? NO I was stunned by the food and how good it tasted! My girlfriend felt the same way! I just wish that there was bigger portions and a little bit more of friendly/attentive service, other than that... My girl and I will DEFIANTLY be back!
-
Review from Bethlyn T.
Travis, TX
Updated - 1/15/2012
Veggie hot dog - I was skeptical, but it was amazing!!! Not a vegetarian, but thought I would try to lean a little healthier with my selection. I was pleasantly surprised and devoured it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/30/2009
Their really knowledgeable bar manager put together a phenomenal drink menu. The prices are great… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jenny L.
10/26/2011
The last time I had a "real hot dog," I was probably in junior high. That was two years ago. What? You don't believe it? Psssshhhhtt.
So as one of those people, "a vegan," I miss out on most of the good stuff, like fast food, hamburgers, hot dogs, cheese, steak... Everything.
Every once in awhile, I get a weird hot dog craving. I feel like a little kid. This happened not too long ago, so I headed to Frank.
The place was stupid packed. It was full of downtowners, and I felt quite awkward. Soon enough, a vegan hot dog with chili and onions was in front of my face, all daunting like.
But it was good. Like good.
Frank had a super adorable photo booth in the back that made for a silly and fun night.
A+, frank. A+.Listed in: Vegan and the Beast
-
Review from Frank D.
Austin, TX
1/15/2012
Our Saturday to-do list took us downtown around lunch time and we decided to visit Frank for the second time. I have to say we were not disappointed. Staff was courteous and the food was good. I had the Sonoran and my wife had the Jackelope. Both were tasty and came with so many condiments they were hard to pick up. I was a bit concerned that the sausage part of the Sonoran was deep fried, but needlessly so. It was a great dog, not greasy at all. Also, it's just around the corner from Antone's a great place to stop before or after a show. Frank is a keeper, we'll definitely be back.
-
Review from Candace B.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2012
We came to see a show, and there was a great scene. Lots of locals, great indie folk music, casual vibe. It is a large space too, so it felt like a venue and not a bar/hotdog joint.
-
Review from Stephen H.
Overland Park, KS
10/23/2011
Review #600 is for a food item that is literally life-changing: the chocolate-covered bacon. You can get hints of this in dessert and different dishes, but never had I had a well-cooked slice of bacon simply covered over with dark chocolate, then chilled and served. It's pure genius.
Frank is completely dedicated to serving the very best in everything they present. The owner tries not to take it too seriously (we serve hot dogs, for crying out loud), but he'll be the first to tell you how excellently his coffee is sourced and how his baristas are trained, the provenance of his meat, or the importance of making a great drink to go with your meal.
Go here ASAP.Listed in: Austin Top 55
-
Review from India R.
Austin, TX
1/9/2012
this place is interesting ... and maybe trying a little to hard to be the hippest thing around.
the hot dogs and waffle fries are good, service is good - choc chip and bacon cookies are very good!
the 500 pound man sitting at the table next to me drinking some sort of bloody mary and dipping pieces of bacon into it?!!! not very good.
trying to hard to be unique, but pretty good food. see also, how to get a heart attack before the age of 25. -
Review from Everett T.
Austin, TX
10/16/2011
So the upside is that Frank is deceptively large inside, don't let the tiny storefront fool you. The down side is...pretty much everything else.
A small group of us went for the Soldier Thread show recently. The place was packed, but after a short wait we got what we thought was prime seating. After sitting down, we realized we were in the dark....literally. The overhead lighting didn't work. We complained to the waitress (who was 100% on the ball the rest of the night, btw) who informed us that the circuit breaker that controlled that one light was broken (?). Alright then, we'll order by iPhone light!
Wife had the jackalope, I went with the more pedestrian hot polish. Neither were amazing. I'll give credit, they weren't the sodium-bombs that I've come to expect from hot dogs, but they weren't that flavorful either.
Kudos, Frank. I paid $4.50 for a mediocre hot dog...you got me.
We shared a chocolate chip and bacon cookie. All of the bacon was candied, so rather than having a salty/sweet counterpoint, there was sweet with more sweet. Bleh.
The kicker was that several hours after eating, both the wife and I woke up with stomach cramps. That was the only meal we shared the entire day, so I don't know what else it could have been.
At least the Soldier Thread show was amazing, and I can always get a tasty Costco dog for $1.50, hell, that even includes a drink! -
Review from Amy S.
Austin, TX
10/15/2011
Food is great, but service needs ALOT of work. Doubt I'll be back.
I showed up for brunch to celebrate a friend's birthday recently. Walked in with 9 of our party (of 11 total) as soon as they unlocked the doors at 11am on a Sunday. Despite that fact, we were told that we'd have to wait until everyone was there to sit down. Really?? There were like 4 tables of people seated...place was still empty. I assured them we would be ordering plenty of drinks and appetizers right away (there were 9 of us!) but they needed to "think about it and see what they could do." I get that rule generally, but it just didn't make sense given these circumstances.
We finally sit down with our beautiful birthday cake, and are then told that we have to pay TWO DOLLARS PER PERSON to eat our own cake. Are you serious?? We are spending ALOT of money at this establishment, not just sitting around eating only our own cake and none of their food. Easy way for them to make $22 bucks, I guess. But at the cost of losing customers.
Besides that, our server was not able to manage a smile once during our brunch. Neither did the hostess. We felt like we were putting them out by being there. It was just a very disappointing experience, especially for the birthday girl.
Sorry Frank... a great concept and great food does not allow you to short-change on service. You really have an awesome restaurant, just don't forget about those small details that make or break an experience. -
Review from Katie D.
Austin, TX
11/27/2011
Great bloody mary, slow service (especially at the bar), and I thought just okay hot dogs. We had a couple and they did not do much for me. Personally I think Man Bites Dog is much better.
Cool setting and a fun time with friends though! -
Review from Lil T.
Austin, TX
1/5/2012
The best thing about Frank is the coffee. I know it's a hot dog place, but hot dogs are hot dogs and that's all there is to say about that. For hot dogs of equal quality, I can go to a few other joints that have (better) parking and aren't so loud. People don't go to Frank because the dogs are awesome (because they ain't). They go because it's downtown hip(ster). I've been to Frank a few times for lunch, dinner, and brunch. I have to say that brunch is the best of the three, and that mainly because of the coffee. The dudes there are obsessed with the stuff, and I'm super glad they are. In fact, if there was a Frank coffee shop somewhere with parking, they'd get more of my money. Damn, I'm craving a cortado right now.
-
Review from Nina M.
Brentwood, Austin, TX
1/4/2012
How anyone could not give this place 5 stars is beyond me. I don't care who you are a hot dog and a beer throw in some good live music and that's about as good as it gets. It is lord of the hot dog realm as far as I'm concerned. They have delicious food, quick and friendly service, an extensive beer selection, and live music all with great prices to boot! I really love the layout of the restaurant too with the upstairs and downstairs layout. I have never eaten anything bad there, but the Slaw Dog is my absolute fav. If you go ask for Olly for your server if she is there. She is a a sweet heart who has great suggestions.
-
Review from Chiqui B.
Kyle, TX
Brunch:
Duuuuude $2 mimosas? Right on! Try the apple juice one, it's fantastic!
I had chicken and waffles for the first time in my life and it was here at Frank. It was ok- I wasn't sure what to expect. I don't eat a lot of bread so I passed on the waffles(which had bacon in them btw) to the boyfriend.
Would I come here again? Yes to try their hot dogs. Would I come here again for brunch? Probably not. Also, don't come here if you're in a hurry. The waiting line is well, normal for a trendy place like this. Oh and one more thing, Paul is a great server! -
Review from denise m.
10/31/2011
I went with a large family group for Sunday brunch a few weeks ago. None of us had ever been to Frank before so we were looking forward to checking it out. It's not easy to find breakfast fare right downtown so we were excited to see that Frank served breakfast (weekends only). Thanks, Yelp!
The server was nice and the drinks were good. Most of us had either bloody mary or pear mimosa (tasty). Please note that it's not a brunch buffet -- just breakfast menu selections.
We all ordered different things but many of us opted for the banana bread as our bread choice. (I'll get back to this in a minute.) I have to say the food was all satisfactory and no one was disappointed, but I wasn't particularly memorable either (hence the 3-star rating). I don't feel an overwhelming desire to go back again, but I would if I happend to specifically need a breakfast place downtown.
Now, back to the banana bread. The loaf was obviously overcooked as the bottom and sides of every slice was burnt black (inedible unless you like the taste of burnt stuff). We all just ate the middle and left the burnt rinds on our plates. We didn't have time to complain and send them all back so we just dealt with it. The waitress never asked us how everything was until the end of the meal when she came to clear our table at the end of the meal. I mentioned that the banana bread was burnt as evidenced by all the rinds she could see on about 5 of the plates. All she said was, "oh, sorry."
If it had been my restaurant I would have been a little more concerned that I served burnt bread to an entire table. Granted, we ate the middle of it and didn't send it back, so I guess it was our own fault, but still, she might have expressed a bit more interest. If I had guests over for dinner and saw that I served them burnt bread, I'd personally be horrified, so I guess I was looking for a little more horrified empathy from the waitress. Oh well.
Bottom line for breakfast -- it's decent but not great. -
Review from Teresa S.
Austin, TX
1/1/2012
Franks, I really want to love you... I really really do, but I just can't. I like everything on your menu (thus far) that isn't a hot dog, which is just strange. I mean, that is your specialty afterall. I have tried several different options, but I just don't like the flavor or texture of the meat. Sigh. I gave it a valiant effort.
-
Review from Dorie B.
Pflugerville, TX
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I'm scrolling through all these reviews and am not seeing a whole lot about their amazing drink menu! The dogs are great but lets not forget about the booze! The Cherry Rhubarb Margarita is killer! Their drink menu does not disappoint. The bar staff put a lot of effort into creating unique drinks. The loaded cheese fries are something that I am currently thinking about and longing for. Yum! Our waitress was great too!
In addition to the food, the atmosphere is perfect. The artwork on the walls looks amazing and fits the place perfectly. Love the loft area and the phone booth is a nice touch! -
Review from Jimmy L.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 10/12/2011
I came back on another night, and it was busy at 9 pm. There was no hostess; waited a minute or two; and seated myself at the bar.
There was no bartender, waited a minute or two, and went back into the dining room to seat myself.
I waited about five minutes before someone came around. Nonetheless, the service was quick and dirty after that (i.e. super pleasant, but not good enough to feel like it was personal).
I ordered the Polish at $4.50 - Vienna beef Polish sausage, spicy Dusseldorf mustard, and sauerkraut.
I also had them add cheese and jalapeno, so it came out nice and warm. I was charged extra for these items. Luckily I ordered it with peppers cuz the mustard didn't seem spicy at all; nonetheless, it was super good.
I asked for a dessert, that I had seen on their website menu, but wasn't listed on their in-house menu - the "Ice Cream Cookie Sammich" (at $3.50) with Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream sandwiched in between two (plain) chocolate chip cookies.
I asked the server about it and she was flabbergasted, because she had said that they had just gotten their menus re-printed, and didn't realize that this was no longer on their menu. She went to the kitchen to double-check, which took more than a few minutes, and came back indicating that this was an item that I was still able to order.
I asked for coffee, and she said that they stopped making it at 6 (didn't know if she meant am or pm)! This was kind of disappointing. Actually I have never been to a restaurant OR bar that didn't serve coffee.
All-in-all, the bill came out to just over $11.00, which was a steal. I have some comments and suggestions, though -
1. I've had bigger, and my dad was a butcher. The hot dogs really aren't jumbo size, but I guess that this prevents the gut bomber experience.
2. They should toast or grill their buns, which would prevent the moisture from making the bun stick to the dog in a really weird way. If they're worried that they might fall apart in doing so, get a more dense button that can be toasted, or get a hot dog toaster!
3. Get your menu straight.
4. At the very minimum, serve drip coffee all day long. You're not only a restaurant, but a bar! ...not only that, they tout themselves to be a coffee bar in the morning (according to their website).
I'd still come back, though,. Still well worth it for me, yet bumping down to 4-stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/10/2011
YEEEE-HA! Haaawt Dawg.
I had just flown into Austin, and was walking around the 6th St. Warehouse… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jason D.
Austin, TX
9/4/2011
9/6/11 UPDATE: The co-owner of Frank emailed me tonight regarding our experience below, and was very apologetic, candid, and seemed genuinely concerned about what happened and wanting to make it right, so I'm upping my rating from a 1 to a 3.
-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Worst dining experience I've had in Austin. Been to Frank before, liked it, when our friends came into town thought we'd go there for an Austin dining experience. The food's all right, but with service as bad as we had, definitely not worth it. Our server spilled some beer on the table, which is not a big deal, except rather than clean it up he actually rested his arms in it while taking our order; we eventually had to ask for a rag after his third trip to our table.
Three of our orders had to be sent back because they were completely wrong, and one friend didn't get his food until the rest of us were well into our own orders. Vegetarians, take note: All of the vegetarian orders had to be sent back because they weren't vegetarian, and when my friend bit into his hot dog after having returned it when the server realized it wasn't vegetarian, guess what? Still not vegetarian.
Best/worst moment of the meal: Vegetarian friend, who is now clearly established with the server as a vegetarian, orders cheese waffle fries. The order comes back as waffle fries loaded with cheese and bacon. Server realizes the order's wrong, takes the bacon fries away, comes back and tosses them on the table and says we can just eat them anyway, THEN comes back again and takes them away because it's actually an order for a different table. Punchline is when we get the order of waffle fries with no cheese.
Honestly thought we were on some kind of episode of Punk'd because the service was so ridiculous. On top of that had to pay 20% gratuity because it was a party of six, and this was most definitely not 20% gratuity service.
If you want a hot dog, go to Sonic. It's cheaper, just as good, and the service is way better. -
Review from Phyllis K.
Austin, TX
Updated - 8/29/2011
I finally worked up the liquid courage enough to go back to Frank. Mostly because I've heard tale of their poutine waffle fries and I freaking love poutine. Actually, I love most things with gravy and cheese. But let's break this time down...no maths.
Food:
Poutine "A" that is some amazingly bad gravy, but in a very good way. Like that nasty gravy your mama make at Thanksgiving that comes from a jar, it's that bad but that's why you love it!
Chili Cheese Dog "B" they do have a fantastic hot dog, but the chili was super heavy on the dark paprika. I felt like I was simply pouring an entire bottle of paprika down my throat. I choked on it ( the spice, you perve).
Chicago Dog "A" as long as you have a good wiener, there's not much you can do to muck it up, pretty solid.
Service:
Waitress "C" first of all, she was dressed like a hippie, which is definitely surprising when you see the hostesses in cute dresses and the other servers and bar staff in T-shirt jeans regalia. I don't think I've ever been served by a woman in a flowing skirt and it's amazing how much I've come to loathe it. Plus, you can try hippies, but you still give off the vibe of being a little dirty. That kinda freaks me out. If you don't shower, at least look like you do. And if you are showering, at least take pride in your cleanliness. She was also wearing a fanny pack. Fine, if you were carrying straws or what-have-yous in it. Just weird if you're just wearing it for no apparent reason.
Her service overall was a little slow, but nothing terrible. And I shouldn't be picking on her for her outfit. I'm a terrible person
Music/Ambiance:
Restaurant look "A"
Music "E- - - -" What is that? Trance? Are you playing trance while I'm eating a chili dog? What happened to your DJ's shirt? Why is his shirt off? Didn't he just start a second ago? Why? WHY?!
So Frank in now back on my OK list. Just not on Thursday nights, when trance guy is around. And that drum circle they were setting up didn't look too promising either. :|1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/5/2009
I love a lot of things.
I love maths.
I love Maker's Mark, and I may love bacon just as much. So I… Read more »
Comment from Daniel N. of Frank 8/5/2009
Phyllis, I am sorry that our menu options weren't agreeable… More » -
-
Review from Cory C.
Austin, TX
12/2/2011
Ok...so let me start by saying my 2 Stars is not because of the food. I actually thought it was a great dog! However that being said, I sat at the bar and received horrible service. Actually the service wasn't even horrible, it was non existent. I was there almost an hour and I think the server may have said 4 words to me. Now I realize I may not be a hipster or cool enough for the server to want to be buddy buddy with me, but at the end of the day he is paid to provide customer service not sit there and look cool serving hot dogs. I would absolutely return to Franks for the food, unfortunately because of the service I will certainly not return again!
