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Mon-Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
I've been going to franks for many years, back in my UHD college days i really enjoyed just walking in the cool shadows of downtown to get to this little joint in downtown. I used to take girlfriends in the second floor and do as i please but since then they installed a camera up there, i guess for them to catch us in the act!
Now i've never been to new york but this to me offers the closest feel from all the movies i've seen to replicate the "real dea" down town new york new york pizza joint. when you enter you'll notice all the movie posters along the wall, many of those posters are from movies actually filmed in houston.
to order a pizza you line up to the counter along a a narrow corridor that runs to the rest room and people will wait in line for their slice of pizza along that same narrow corridor so if you have to use the restroom make sure you're ok with some ass spanking cuz i'll give you a good spank to the ladies just to say hello. the lines move fairly fast so don't be deterred by the traffic of this place. once at the counter I usually go with 2 slices, one of the meat lover type deals and a pepperoni pizza.
If you're budget concious like me just go with 2 pepperonis and a water. guaranteed to keep you full for under 5 bucks, its actually one of the better bargains in downtown that many of the local homeless eat here due to the low price and value of food at this place, give the change to the homeless if you want lol. the pizza slices are pretty big too! the cheese in these pizzas has more flavor and a pretty good crust.
to me a good pizza is not determined by its tomato based sauce, a good pizza is determined by the quality of its cheese, texture of the bread and flavor of bread as well. I'm not a big fan of chicago deep dish pizza due to the over whelming taste of the tomato sauces in them. the pizza at franks is pretty good to my standard, very light on the sauce and good cheese and bread. I've taken many friends here over the years and many of them return and call it their pizza place now. Its probably one of my top pizza places in Houston, I refuse to give it 5 stars till i try a good new york pizza though, so if it wasn't for that i'd probably rate franks a 5 star.
I could eat there every day....
I love Frank's. Fortunately, it's a long walk, or I'd eat there every day and weigh 800 pounds. Ideally I'd like a thinner NY style pizza, but Frank's is about just right to be filling after a lots of walking downtown, on just one slice and a Lone Star longneck...what more could I want! No waiting usually, just grab a slice and go. Sit down with a beer...there's an upstairs area if the bottom is full, or just fold a slice and be on your way down the sidewalk! That's what eatin' pizza is all about for me! :)
I checked out Frank's Pizza Monday afternoon after a job interview nearby. I was starving and Frank's did the job quite nicely. It's a small and cozy shop, well at least downstairs, and since it was mid-afternoon, there wasn't a line, so I was able to order my food at the counter quickly. I ordered a slice of cheese pizza and lemonade. The pizza wasn't anything special, I've had better, but it was better than what I expected. I was lucky enough to get my pizza hot and fresh because as I was ordering, one of the workers was pulling the cheese pizza and another pizza from the oven. Their lemonade however, was very good. It kind of reminded me of Chick-fil-a's super sweet and slightly tart lemonade.
I'll definitely check the place out if I'm ever in the mood for a cheap slice of pizza and I'm in the area. A word of caution though, if you go to the their restrooms, just know that their doors don't lock, so someone may walk in on you taking care of your business. Luckily though, that didn't happen to me, but I have a feeling it may have happen to some unlucky patrons.
So I figured something out: Frank's during the daytime is a hella lot better than at 3am.
I ordered a few rounds of pizzas a few months ago during our pre-show meet-up at Charbar before the OYE with Broadway Across America. I think it was about 70 bucks for 5 pizzas (3 pepperoni; 2 plain cheese). Straight from the oven and piping hot, I was truly *shocked* at how much more amazing it was. My friend Marisol B was raving about how much she loved Frank's and how it was one of her favorite lunch places downtown, but I had no idea. My only past experiences were standing in the late night line at 2am and whining over the slim pickings (they always run out of spinach!). Glad I was able to try it out during normal eating hours.
Frank's Pizza is the perfect spot for a grab and go downtown lunch or a "late night" bite. I use… Read more »
Franks kicks all sorts of butt. Two large slices of pizza and a soda for less than $9 makes me a fan. Hot and fresh from the oven, with a healthy amount of toppings and usually some grease, the pizza has great flavor and is very filling.
I am not sure this place ever actually closes, and I am OK with that. We need more stability in our lives anyways.
Now when the pizza craving hits, which I admit isn't terribly often for me, I often look for 3 basic criteria.
Can I get it quickly; Is it delicious and hot; and Is it cheap if not just good value for money?
Can I get it quickly: Sure! From my house, When i order it, Franks usually has it ready for me by the time I get there. I don't live terribly far so that's awesome. (arbitrary numerical score: 17.9)
Is it delicious and hot?: Another affirmative They have loads of choices and all of them are fresh-tasting and scrumptious. Ya, that's right, I said scrumptious. (arbitrary numerical score: 43.2)
Is it cheap if not just good value for money?: I am a bit torn on this, because they are a fair shake expensive... It IS pretty dashed good pizza though, so I give this higher up on the value for money scale even though it is un-cheap. (arbitrary numerical score: 12.6)
So by my count that is a 73.7.... but since I have no idea what the score is out of I will settle for 4 stars.
I've only had their pizza late at night after leaving the clubs. Honestly, It wasn't anything spectacular. I wouldn't come here during the day but for a late night greasy food it does the trick.
Frank's is one of my favorite downtown Houston lunch spots. For $6 I get two yummy slices of pizza and a fountain drink.
The pizza is delicious. Make sure they warm it up though; a couple of times it was sitting on the counter for a while and they didn't warm it before serving.
Get here early for lunch. I like to get there at 11:00 AM when I go. It's not crowded and you usually have your choice of seating downstairs and upstairs. Frank's isn't a very big place, so it can fill up pretty quick.
Service is usually quick; if they don't have the pizza you want out already, they'll usually make one for you. The TV upstairs is usually on ESPN so you can watch SportsCenter while you eat.
One small negative (and this is just personal preference): Frank's serves Pepsi products. I'll still drink it; I just prefer Coke.
You got to love this place late at nite when you are drunk and wobling around out of the bar looking for a place to eat. This is the only place open within walking distance from all the bar and they sell pizza by the slice. The line go by quick, plus they will bring the pizza to your car, if you got exact change.
Good things: Pizza slices are huge and delicious. You can buy whole pies or just a couple of slices.
Bad things: Prices are steep. Decor is basic pizza place and not very inviting. Crowd can be rough and a little crass.
Six Choir Guy and I met up for dinner and he prepared a list of places that we hadn't tried out along with some of our usual haunts. We decided to try this place out and arrived around 930 PM tonight. There were about 4 other people in the place but right after we sat down, another dozen people showed up.
One group was made up of about 6 people, all dressed up for a night on the town. Problem was that 2 of the ladies were super loud. I mean really loud. So loud that the manager had to beat his pizza serving insturment and ask them to quiet down. So loud that Six Choir Guy and I had to yell to talk to each other across the table.
What makes people think that at 10 PM on a Friday that being obnoxious is appealing?
Anyway, if this is the crowd that Frank's draws, then I don't want to hang out here. I'd rather go to one of my regular haunts where I can have a lower decibel conversation and a good meal.
Sooooo I wandered into Frank's last night with a few of my buds at about 10 pm. There was a nice, older guy that waited on us, offered us our slices etc... My buddy was like, "Em, that's Frank." I was like reeeaaallyy?? So, I don't know if it was the vodka/sprite I was walking around with, or my superman underoos that had me feeling spiffy, but I decided to strike up a convo with Frank.
He's really, really nice. And, he's heard of Yelp, though he said he hasn't read any reviews in a while. So I finished my beer, and my lil walking concoction, and he said, "here, have a slice on the house, I can't have you talking bad about us now can I."
Behold the power of Yelp.
Raise you're hand if you've stumbled into Franks, buzzed, and starving at 2 in the A.M.?
Good, I'm…
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If you're downtown and it's a Friday or Saturday night and you're starving, there's no where else to go but Frank's. This is partial due to the fact that there's pretty much nothing open for late night munchies and partial due to the fact that Frank's has some kick ass pizza.
The pizza is really tasty - the cheese is ooey gooey good, the pepperoni delicious, and it's the perfect thing, especially after the bars close and you've been drinking. A piece or two really hits the spot. You can also get a beer or beer-like drink (I get a Smirnoff Ice when here) to go with your slice.
Occasionally, the pizza's taste has been a little inconsistent, especially earlier in the day, but at least 90% of the time it's been incredible.
Unfortunately, though, the only nights they're open late are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The rest of the nights they close at 9:00 pm, so if you're looking for dinner on any of these nights, you'll need to get their earlier.
A word of warning, though, if you go around the time the bars let out, be prepared to have to stand in a long line for your pizza. As I mentioned before, with this being pretty much the only place open late at night for food downtown, it fills up and the lines get really long. It can also get pretty hot in here with the crowd and the ovens.
I also love all the movie posters on the wall and didn't realize until Eric S. pointed it out that all of the movies were filmed here in Houston. I had no idea that "Blind Fury" (a perfectly cheesy movie with Rutger Hauer as a blind (!) samurai swordsman) was filmed here in town. If only they had a poster of "My Best Friend Is a Vampire" too!
Bottom line, the pizza is delicious and it's an awesome place to grab a slice for your late night munchies. Just keep in mind that you may need to wait a bit.
Paid $3.50 for a slice of their supreme pizza and loved every bite. Definitely will be going back soon, just as the girl at the counter said I would.
Ofttimes ere one gig or another, I will step off the bus and stop by Frank's for a couple slices of pizza and a Sprite. Whilst enjoying watching TV (mainly FOX or CNN, I think) there, I usually order two supremes, but if all they have on-hand is pepperoni or meat/pepperoni, I'll have that.
I'm always a sucker for pizza (and Shipley crack - I mean doughnut holes), and unlike Domino's, Frank's crusts are actually not something from which one can fashion shoes - not just edible, but very good indeed.
The one time, though (back in September or so), I tried ordering something they did not have on-hand at the front counter, they could not get it for me (spinach penne, I think). Thus, I've just stuck with what's out there. And yes, I agree with Jackson that their pizza is very much best when fresh. A little salty, but I'm still coming back.
Jeff
My co-worker and I are in Houston for some training and all we heard before flying out of California was, "Eat steak!"
Well, let me tell you, steak was one of the most disappointing things we've had so far, but thankfully, that's another review.
There's really nothing better than pizza and beer as far as I'm concerned. Frank's Pizza has both. We called in advanced to see if they had beer on tap and the person who answered enthusiastically listed every beer they had, draft or otherwise.
We arrived and ordered a large pizza to split. He ordered supreme and I ordered ham, jalapeos, and mushrooms. We both ordered Fat Tire beer from the tap after much raving from the guy behind the counter.
We sat out in front and they flipped the television to ESPN so we could catch the tail end of a baseball game and then the beginning of the Houston Rocket's basketball game. Very accommodating.
I love pizza! And while I don't really have a marker for comparison in Houston, their claim to being the best pizza in Houston sounds good to me. Haha. The cheese was stretchy, the toppings fresh, the dough uniform through the middle, and the crust was oh so delicious!
Half a large pizza and 2 Fat Tires later, Frank's Pizza got my stamp of approval.
Who needs steak anyway?
After reading all these reviews... I think that perhaps I just got a bad slice. But this weekend someone brought over some pizza's from Frank's and this was nothing to write home about. Now due to the fact I didn't get it hot and fresh... that could easily account for a star. I'm up for giving Frank another chance.
In the vein of NYC 'zza this place fits the bill. Cheese slices are $2, and there are oregano, chili flake, and garlic salt condiments on hand. Tasty pizza with tomato sauce on point (not sweet, tastes like tomatoes), crust that is crusty, it is A-OK.
The DIFFERENCE with NYC 'zza is that Frank's refuses to be open past 9pm during the week. What's the point of having a slice place near bars, clubs, and my home if it's only open during dinner hours? slices taste best at 3am.
* Nov 07 - delivery was the WORST pizza I've ever had (except for the sweet nasty slice i had on south st in philadelphia). it was undercooked, the sauce was raw tasting, and i shudder just remembering the floppy, pale crust. In sum, the pizza was foul. and they only had to go 2 blocks for delivery! even if it were a busy night, there is just no excuse. Frank's is a disappointment.
OMG I live this place. When my husband came down here to interview , he was on a limited budget and Frank's pizza was there to feed him. When we lived Downtown we would take the train there and eat pizza all the time. Now I make a trip to pick up my husband so we can have a slice on the way home. GREAT place and very friendly. I always get just the peperoni and it's yummy!
Ok, so yes it is great after bumping and grinding and throwing back Grey Goose and Red Bull in the club all night. Please be aware - It is also great on a Saturday night playing games and watching movies with your friends. I just love the plain Pepperoni pizza or even more basic the Cheese pizza. They are so convenient and fast. If you are riding with someone, you can have them drop you off, they can circle the block and you will waiting outside by the time they get back. My favorite saying from SJP, "Get it while it's HOT!"
I heart Frank's because of its location. The pizza slices are great if you get them fresh, pretty bleh if you get them on their second wind. Ordering a pizza ahead is not at all a bad idea - it will be fresh, and it will keep you warm on your walk back to, say, your friend's apartment at the Rice lofts.
The atmosphere is...there is no atmosphere, I'm not going to lie. There are some tables, and you should at least stop at them long enough to smother your slice in whatever shaker-based condiments you fancy. I would never make this a destination restaurant, but I have stopped in several times for late-night-downtown food. The lateness varies - they're open at least until midnight on the weekends, sometimes much later in my experience.
Our company just moved downtown and we have been out and about checking the local establishments. This is the best Pizza I have had downtown yet. I will be going back frequently or hitting up Cabo's right next door!
01/29/08 - Went back today and was in the mood for Pizza but decided on a Philly Cheese. EXCELLENT. It took a little while to get it but that didn't matter after taking one bite. I definitely recommmend!!
Frank's Pizza is wonderful. Very dangerous that it's right across the street from the Houston Chronicle, where I work. I love their meat pizza -- pepperoni, sausage, ground beef. However, you MUST have it fresh. It's one of the few pizzas I've had that doesn't taste all that good the next day, or cold. I like cold pizza for breakfast, but not Frank's.
And get this -- their burgers are just as good as their pizza! They come with wheat buns, are very fresh, with spicy fries. The swiss-and-mushroom burger is the best choice.
I like this pizza. There open late, which makes it great when your stomach starts to growl late at night. Best pizza around.
It was ok... I was hungry, it was pizza. The end.
I think it's pretty good NYC style pizza. Not as good as Romano's but I'd give it 2nd place. I agree with Liz that it's only really good when it's fresh.
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