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Uncle Frank's BBQ & Catering - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Barbeque Restaurants Southern Event Planning & Services Caterers Barbeque, Southern, Caterers [Edit]
1214 Apollo WaySte 403
Sunnyvale, CA 95051
(323) 481-8606
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Mark T. said: "Come here for the all-you-can-eat, which is only offered during dinnertime, 'nuff said. I've come here twice, once during the all-you-can dinnertime special, and another time for lunch. I give the all you can eat experience 5 stars,…" read more »
298 reviews for Uncle Frank's BBQ & Catering
Review Highlights
"I had the cajun corn and candied yams, loved both."
(in 66 reviews)
"The brisket is so FREAKING delicious."
(in 161 reviews)
"Next time I go, I'm going to try their sweet potato pie."
(in 14 reviews)
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298 reviews in English
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Review from Marry J.
San Jose, CA
8/26/2011
Great barbeque take out. Wish they were open during the day so I stop and pickup on the way home from work. Traditional southern barbeque in a bar, nothing more to be said
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Review from Janelle V.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011
CLOSED. I went there- nothing there! I also drove to Old Middleway, which is where Google told me to go for Uncle Frank's- also closed.
I sent in an update to Yelp, and I hope they confirm it soon, because this wasted a lot of my time last night. -
Review from Cameron S.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2010
The place is CLOSED!
I'm sure Uncle Frank's BBQ was good once upon a time. Maybe even great. I'm sorry I missed out on it.
But I'm even sorrier that I invited a friend to meet me there for lunch today. The bar is there, but Uncle Frank is no where to be seen and there is no food. A nice lady behind the bar told me that the intent was to bring Uncle Frank's food there, but that it did not work out.
I hope that Yelp posts this and that no one wastes their lunch hour trying to find the legendary Uncle Frank's BBQ. -
Review from Joseph K.
Redwood City, CA
2/12/2011
This place sucks, seriously. Way over-smoked brisket and the sides are out of a can, or at least they seem that way. Their ribs are terrible and chewy as well. The staff has an attitude to boot. You'd be much better off going to any number of other bbq place in the area.
Uncle Franks - You suck.Comment from William G. of Uncle Frank's BBQ & Catering 8/11/2011
We have been closed since December 2010. If you someone… More » -
Review from Tony D.
San Jose, CA
7/12/2010
I've been a fan of Uncle Frank's since it's last location in Mountain View. When I heard it had reopened I was eager to go back and dig into some brisket and cajun corn.
On Friday night, the listed hours had them serving until 11pm. We arrived just after 8:30, stood at the bar for a while (there is almost no indication anywhere that Uncle Frank's is even here) and finally the barmaid came over and we inquired about the food. She left to the back, returned and told us with the most "I couldn't care less" expression that they'd stopped serving a few minutes ago.
Really? At 8:40, with two tables in the bar eating? We went elsewhere, but I decided I would give it one more chance before I wrote them off.
On Sunday we returned, during some sort of Blues show, which to be honest was good music but at ear-splitting volume. We again asked about the food and this time got to order.
The small menu has been pared down dramatically to a handful of items, and sadly the cajun corn appears to be one of the casualties. I ordered the brisket with spicy BBQ sauce and the baked beans.
The brisket was thankfully great, and the sauce maybe the best I've ever had, although the portions seem to have shrank slighty since the Mountain View location. The baked beans were just as good as I remember, but in place of the excellent cornbread were two small slices of wheat bread.
I suppose I should be thankful that they even exist at all now, but it's hard not to be sad at what was lost in the fire that forced the move. Hopefully it's only temporary and eventually they will bring back all of the things that made me a fan. I miss the table service and not having my eardrums mutilated. Not to mention the bar must be for vampires, it's so dark.
For anyone who loved the old place and hasn't been to the new one, now you know. -
Review from Tim H.
Sunnyvale, CA
Updated - 11/1/2010
I thought Uncle Franks packed up his 'Q" and went back home. Good to see he back in business.
I miss good BBQ! cant wait to get back to Franks! if you have a party, tailgate or just love good BBQ stop in and see Frank.
My only concern is its hit or miss on occasions, one night the food is good as gold, other nights its pretty bad. So my suggestion is to only go there on Thursday - Sundays, that way you get the best off the smoker.
So on Thursdays thru Sundays check them out!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/21/2010
BBQ, its been a mission to find a constant, reliable source for the best, well my search continues:… Read more »
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Review from CJ C.
Milpitas, CA
7/31/2010
I am offended this place is highly rated.
Terrible customer service. Their phone sucks so you can't call in and order. "Just order when you get here."
Food tastes like it was smoked 4 days ago refrigerated and reheated in the microwave. Over smoked and tasted like gas. Food was also cold.
The best part was the sliced bread. -
Review from Sally L.
Seattle, WA
7/26/2010
Sorry Uncle Frank, but I'm in love with Mack's.
Unle Frank did a catering event at my company and we felt that the meat was dry and overall dishes were just not that tasty. Average but not rage worthy. They did bring us more brisket on a later date to compensate for the dryness in the meat but.. it still really wasn't that good.
The smoker they brought was cool though. -
Review from Carol L.
11/19/2008
Two important bits of information for those who have never been here:
1. Uncle Frank's is the back area of a dive bar called FRANCESCA'S! So, if you are driving around on Old Middlefiled at night, you will not be able to find Uncle Frank's because the lit up sign says "Francesca's instead of "Uncle Frank's!" Just FYI, since plenty of our party got lost both times we went there.
2. Uncle Frank's is closed on Mondays!!! Their hours on this Yelp page and on their website is wrong. We came on a Monday once, and their dinner area was closed. I called to check another week, and they confirmed that they are only open Tuesdays-Saturdays.
Now that we've got that settled, let's talk food. Their brisket comes in a very large serving, which was tender and drizzled in BBQ sauce (choice of mild or spicy). Their spicy actually has a little kick to it, so if you are wary of the spice, might want to order mild. The ribs were overly blackened, so we weren't impressed. The hush puppies however, were yummy! They had a house-made tartar sauce then went perfectly with it.
They have a large variety of sides -- we ordered the collared greens, cajun corn, cole slaw, and baked beans. I found the baked beans to be the best, and the cajun corn was actually REALLY good after I added some of my spicy BBQ sauce to it. The cole slaw is a little weird because it had pineapples in it, and the collard greens were just okay too.
A little weird also that all drinks come from the bar area, which the waitress says is a "separate business." Even if you want water, you have to pour it from the pitchers by the bar. The service is also slow, as there is only two people in the kitchen and one waitress serving all ~10 tables. -
Review from giggler E.
San Francisco, CA
5/27/2008
Ok...ok...I went to Uncle Frank's because I was talked in to it.
I'm giving it three stars because my Blackness won't allow me to give it one star.
All I can say is that after reading all the reviews on Yelp about Uncle Frank...well. I guess all you people just need to get out more often and go to Black communities and eat at the lesser known BBQ joints. I will say that that was some of the worse cornbread I have ever eaten. I might even open up my own place...it looks like there is a need for BBQ joints.
Nah, on second thought, I'd hate to share all my recipes with the Gen Pop. -
Review from Ken K.
8/24/2009
It's da Beef No' Guy again!
O - wasaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!
\-|-/
/ \
OK so at Uncle Frank's there's no noodles, no broth.
But prep a fine a$$ piece of bovine that makes a man (or a woman) go mooooooooooooooooo (at the table that is), and tha' Beef No' Guy is sooooooooo there.
Got the brisket off the lunch menu and I think it was close to $9.99. Good portion of smokey succulent juicy melt in your hands (and mouth) quality cuts that required very little tooth pressure for the most part to separate the strands, with the hot sauce (spicy max) providing a much needed BAM! and luckily not causing any problems with
O
(POOOF!) { }_ /|\
{ } / \
or
O - how bout a courtesy O
/|\ flush man?! Peeeeeew! /|\ | TOILET
/ \ || ----
later, made this a real winner.
Good solid 3 star work, but in order for a four star to happen....
- the cole slaw dressing seemed a little bit too watery for my liking
- for starch you only get two pieces of untoasted wheat bread (with the crust trimmed). This makes for a real sloppy sandwich if you try to do it. A thicker loaf (like a dutch crunch, country, or sourdough) would have been better.
- an option to say add or upgrade side for a small fee (say $2) that includes Uncle Frank's signature sides (whether it be beans or collard greens, or a little bit of corn), even if a miniscule portion, would have enhanced the lunch combo experience and value.
A decent taste of Suthun BBQ in Mountain View otherwise. -
Review from Art S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/21/2009
In the spirit of full disclosure, here is my very recent email exchange with Will the founder of "Uncle Franks". Will seems to be someone who is trying to make his business better. I give him credit for being responsive to my negative review. I do think he is sincere about turning things around and I wish him luck.
Hello Art. Thank you for visiting our business and I apologize for the unpleasant experience. The server that waited on you was not experienced on taking orders but he was put in the difficult position of trying to fill in for one of our regular waitresses. Your timely visit was inexcusable on our behalf and I can assure you we are taking steps to minimize these type of occurrences. If you do change your mind about coming back I can assure you we will make sure you visit is pleasant. Thanks for helping us better our business.
Sincerely,
Will Griffin
Founder
-------------------------------------------------- --------
Hi Will,
Thank you for taking the time to write to me. Unfortunately, the last three times I have been to your establishment over the last three months the service has been extremely lacking. I work hard for my money so when I spend it at a restaurant I expect reasonable service. If I were you I would take a close look at your servers and the skills they bring to your establishment. As you are aware, for every person who complains, 10 people leave without saying anything. There were 5 people at my table and every person said they won't be coming back. The silent majority votes with their feet! Good luck and I hope you turn around things. But as I mentioned...I will not be coming back.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write to me.
-------------------------------------------------- ---------------
Greetings Art,
Your decision is quite understandable and I appreciate you taking the time to express your feelings. I made the decision a while back to convert our service to "TO GO" and the last few months of reviews have confirmed my decision. Thank you for your input; it is truly valuable.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/16/2009
OUCH!! Uncle Frank's has jumped the shark. Someone has to tell the King he has no clothes on! Sad to… Read more »
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Review from Scott L.
Mountain View, CA
8/15/2008
What's not to like - great BBQ. You'll want to get some catered for an event at work. Flavor, smell, the whole atmosphere. This is what BBQ should be like. It can get expensive at dinner if you eyes are really big. And they close at 8pm for dinner (and closed Sunday).
More updated review to come. -
Review from Jim C.
Redwood City, CA
Updated - 12/13/2008
UPDATED 1/2009:
William, the owner of Uncle Frank's, wrote me a personal note "...I can assure you that we have taken additional measures to ensure our off days are minimum and that our service is consistently friendly, prompt and honest. Thank you for helping us address these issues and please feel free to make any further comments our suggestions in the future. We value your business."
Bottom line: I do appreciate the personal note and their attention to customer feedback. For now I'll move them to 3-STARS from 1-STAR and will give the Uncle another chance. Then I may reconsider welcoming him back to the family...
***************
1 STAR OVERALL. Uncle Frank used to me my favorite uncle. But his food has gone so downhill and has adopted shady selling practices that I may have to disown him from the family.
In the past Uncle Frank used to deliver the most juicy and smoky beef brisket and ribs. He was also a very generous uncle giving huge portions. Now it seems like prices have increased, the food quality has definitely gone down, his portions are skimpier, and all the side items seem store bought.
Beef brisket - 3 stars - still decent with a nice smokey flavor. However, you now get slices of beef brisket that are rather dry instead of nice big juicy chunks that they used to serve. And I used to love the very smokey flavor - now it's barely there.
Smoked chicken - 2 stars - was dry chicken that didn't have much taste beyond the smokey skin.
Sides - 2 stars - most definitely taste store bought. Saw them take the potato salad out of a huge Costco sized plastic tub and it tasted just like it (I buy the Costco stuff every so often). Cornbread was stale and didn't taste homemade. Only the cajun corn wasn't bad actually.
The Caucasian waitress there was friendly but I felt like she was being to aggressive trying to push me from a lunch size meal to a full dinner meal (it was only lunch time!) and kept pushing the peach cobbler on me. And when I asked her if the peach cobbler was baked daily, she hesitated and played it off by saying "virtually everyday but you know we keep it fresh". If you're peach cobbler ain't fresh, don't go peddling old peach cobbler on me then! I don't know if it's just a sign of the times, but it really seemed like she wanted us to desperately order more and increase her tip. (There was no one else there for lunch on this weekend day.)
ONE THING THAT REALLY PISSED ME OFF was the same waitress nicely offered us both medium and hot sauce on the side when we couldn't decide. However, she DIDN'T TELL US both that an extra little tiny cup of BBQ sauce cost an EXTRA $1.50 each! Talk about misleading your customers. I was going to raise a big stink about it but these guys looked like they needed the money and business so I just let it go.
Bottom line: Uncle Frank - you've really disappointed me with your now average BBQ and pissed us off with your shady selling practices. You used to be my #1 BBQ place ever but are nowhere even close anymore. I may give you another chance but you are on Santa's crap list this Christmas.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/30/2007
BEST FRIGGIN BBQ IN SF BAY AREA. Can't believe that I haven't written a review for this place yet… Read more »
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Review from David P.
3/29/2008
First figure out that its actually at the back of an old bar frequented by contractors, get through the phalanx of butt cracks at the bar and maneuver around the fight about to break out at the pool tables to make your way to a dead on authentic barbeque shack complete with grungy walls, a decor that hasn't changed in years, a staff that has total respect for the cuisine and rolls of paper towels at every formica table.
Ambience/experience was a solid 5 while the food was actually closer to a 3. Since they are basically the only game in town for authentic BBQ, I settled on a 4 star rating.
Pros:
- Incredibly tender meat with permeated with a light smokiness.
- Flavorful sauces
- Authentic atmosphere
- Baked beans flavorful
- Waitress very sweet and helpful
Cons
- While dinners are voluminous, rather expensive at $15~16 each (better to get more realistic sizes that one can actually finish)
- Corn bread dry and crumbly
- Yams, corn, and beans on the mushy side
- Everything overly smothered in sauce: lighten it up man!
- Long wait*
*I know I should have called ahead for 5 take out dinners, but still, it seemed to take a rather long time. I mean, come on, wasn't everything already cooked for 10 hours or whatever in the back?
As there is nothing that comes close on the Peninsula, "I'll be back" (as the Governator would say)-- frequently.
Special thanks to Liz L. for the heads up on this place!Listed in: Bay Area BBQ Round Up
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Review from Laurin A.
San Jose, CA
9/26/2007
Uncle Frank's definitely has potential. Unfortunately the whole dive bar set up isn't working for them. I've been here twice and it's really depressing to see how the restaurant and kitchen are set up. Also, the waiter we had couldn't get our order right to save his life. Not to mention, you have to get all of your beverages yourself from the bar.
I know Uncle Frank will someday get out of this dump. You can doooo ittt Uncle Frank!!!
On a side note, even though it's a BBQ joint, their fried catfish is reallly tasty and fresh.... no gray slime at all. They close pretty early and as with most true BBQ places once the BBQ is gone, it's gone. Time to close shop. -
Review from arnold g.
Fremont, CA
12/14/2006
Picked up some food here after picking up a smoked turkey from Dittmer's on Thanksgiving eve. My car smelled amazing!
Brisket was excellent. Ribs were pretty good, too, although I'm not a big fan of spare ribs. Comes with a nice smokey and sweet sauce. Peach cobbler was dissappointing...waaaay tooo sweeeeeet. I'd go back if I was in the area again. -
Review from Archie R.
Updated - 4/21/2009
Frank!!
Don't be like Google.
Don't create a dominant brand and then just rest on your laurels and give up.
And while I am at it, what the hell are laurels? And who the hell rests on them?
Anyways, I have been to Frank's twice recently and they have slipped. The first time I got the obviously leftover "let's get rid of these" ribs and the second time the service was horrible.
They didn't even acknowledge us for at least 15 minutes and messed up the order many, many times over.
I loved Franks but having moved to SF and experienced a few other places, it saddens me to say that Franks is no longer my BBQ fix provider.
Damn.
Shame.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2007
The ribs here are so good that I now:
- Belong to the baptist church
- Own a gun
- Think George Bush is… Read more »
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Review from Kevin P.
Santa Clara, CA
4/18/2007 1 photo
Yesterday was the day, the day I found "Uncle Franks BBQ".
When I first walked in, I had a odd feeling in my stomach. All I saw was a bar to my right with some stools, to my left a pool table. After standing in the doorway with a confused look on my face, the voice of heaven said something.
"The restaurant is around the corner"
As I rounded the corner, the smell of the wood burning, the environment, everything was perfect. I made the mistake of taking a seat myself, I did not know about waiting "sorry". I sat down at the booth with my friends, we were very excited to enjoy some food. It was a long day at work and it's only lunch haha.
The server brought over the water, which were in the plastic cups that almost folded in on them self when being picked up. Which made Uncle Franks even better.
I took a look at the menu, notice the lunch menu which was 3 ribs "which I thought at the time was a small amount" so knowing me, I ordered the 5 rib dinner. After my friends placed there order, we took a look around the place. News articles all over the walls, reading a few made me even more hungry.
The food came, I was in shock. The basket of ribs, basket of frys, and cornbread. I was in shock due to the fact I have never seen, smelled ribs like this before.
I take a look at the ribs, my eyes are as big as a kid in a toy store. As I slowly bring this amazing rib towards my mouth, I can smell the smoke of the wood the ribs were cooked in. My mouth drooled some more, I took my first bit.
Heaven, thats all I could think of. OH MY GOD this is amazing, I took a look at the cornbread, which while growing up just never enjoyed it. As I take a piece i notice the top is very firm and the bottom is also, the center just crumbled. It made it look amazing, as I took a bit. I was amazed, this is the most amazing cornbread I have ever had.
Well after eating a little more, I was left over with 2 boxes of frys and ribs upon ribs all in togo boxes.
I was bested, this does not happen much but I was, and I was happy about it.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Johnny J.
San Jose, CA
6/20/2008
Haven't tried a new "Q" place for a while and I had read good things about Uncle Frank's so I took a little drive up 101 to check it out. Where else should you be able to get some good smoked bbq but in the back of a dive bar right? Sounded like the perfect spot to get some grub. I ordered take out of a slab of ribs and a two way combo with brisket and Louisiana Links. For sides I got the potato salad and cole slaw.
The Meat
Ribs.... A little tough for my taste. I like it when I can chew through the cartilage at the end of the rib. I know it's gross but growing up in a Chinese Restaurant where ribs were a daily endeavor you get some bad habits. None the less the meat was a little tough.
The links..... I asked for the mild sauce and it was mild. I like mine a little sweeter but it was ok.
The Brisket.............. Now this was definitely the star of the meats. Tender and not dry it kind of melted when I ate it. Very good.
The Sauce
Rich, garlicky, and smokey. Not bad I would have liked to have tried the spicy but it never made it to my take out bag. :( I asked for spicy and mild sauce on the side of my ribs and but received none. My fault for not checking and theirs for forgetting. I had to make due with the sauce slathered on the brisket and meat. Again it worked but shouldn't have to.
The sides
Forgettable and the comped corn bread was hard until I microwaved it but who should have to do that.
The Service
Prompt and polite.
Sorry Uncle Frank maybe it was an off day but gee I am easy to please, especially with meat, and my meal just missed the mark.Listed in: Cueing up que in my queue
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Review from Brad P.
Redwood City, CA
6/19/2009
I finally made it.
From Yelp's earliest moments, some of the most boisterous food reviews from these parts have come from the kindred neices and nephews of Uncle Frank. So, to come here today, for the very first time is equally satisfiying as it is humiliating for knowing that I am *that* out of the loop.
Like the default order of lumpia at a philipino restaurant, I tend to order the briskit when I step into a bbq place for the first time (although Texans I've found may steer me toward the beef ribs - get it?).
Despite having come of age during college in a land where vinegar and pig flesh equate to the word barbeque, I've admittedly evolved into quite the briskit rut. (and, hook me up with a toothpick, while you're at it)
Like meat? Come see Uncle Frank.
Awesome 3 way vibe (eating, bar, pool hall) that makes anyone feel at home.
Minus points for no iced tea. Huh? Also, what is up with faux, synthetic, squishy, roll it up as a ball *WHEAT* bread with the meat? What, did Wonder go out of business. Hello? -
Review from Lex L.
San Jose, CA
6/13/2008
Hole in the wall. Dive. Great BBQ. These are all phrases that can describe Uncle Franks's
My co-worker and I were in the mood for some good old fashion BBQ and decided to give this place a try. We got to the place about 15 minutes after it had opened and almost drove past it getting there.
From the outside you couldn't tell it held a bbq joint inside. The outside of the building is a run down 70's style bar. Upon getting inside, it felt like we had walked out of the Bay Area and into some dive bar you might find in Jasper, Arkansas circa 1973.
The restaurant itself is basically the back room/kitchen of the bar and seats somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 people. We were the first people there and the waitress, Sunshine, greeted us warmly and lead us to our booth. We ordered the Louisiana hot links with cajun corn, cole slaw and corn bread. For drinks we went to the bar where they had pitchers of water out that you could fill up yourself.
The food itself was awesome. The hot links were all beef. Tender on the inside (no gristle) with a nice skin that snapped when you bit it on the outside. It was accompanied with a great sauce that just accentuated the flavor explosion. I love spicy food, unfortunately a little bit of heat gets me sweating. These links were no exception as my forehead was drenched in perspiration in a matter of minutes.
The cajun corn was also delicious (Reminded me of the cream corn they serve at House of Prime Rib, but with a lot more flavor and spice to it).
The corn bread was soft, moist and crumbly and felt like it had just gotten out of the oven. I'm not sure if they have changed their recipe but it didn't taste anything like the corn bread they serve at Boston Market as others have said.
The cole slaw was just normal cole slaw and I didn't really touch it that much as the other food on my plate was so good.
The portion sizes are fairly large and I ended up taking a lot of it home with me for dinner that night. 2 meals for the price of one. HIGH FIVE!
Unfortunately, I was so full by the end I didn't have a chance to order the peach cobbler. The people at the table next to us had it though and said it was really good so I will have to try it next time.
At the end of the meal, Sunshine came over and chatted with us and helped pack our things together in to-go containers in a way so that nothing spilled in the car. I almost felt like I was at home and my mom was packing my lunch up for me again. She was a very sweet waitress.
This restaurant is truly a gem in the rough. -
Review from Alison T.
2/4/2007
FIVE MAGIC WORDS:
The Super Tailgater saved me.
Last weekend, hubba suggested that we have a combination Super Bowl/Birthday Bash with his whole family at our house. That would be 9 people + one newborn at our place, and it would also be a change of plans. Our original plan was to go make someone else's house messy ... haha. So since I knew I wouldn't have time to cook, I had to think fast.
It hit me like a hot link mid-week ... dear ol' Uncle Frank's came to mind. Delicious ribs, moist chicken, spicy hot links and southern sides --- YES! That's what I'd do! I'd order a Super Tailgater (10 links, 2 rib slabs, 2 whole chickens and 3 pints of sides) and do minimal cooking!!!! It was a genius plan!
So after we picked it up the day before, all I had to do was mix a store-bought salad, fix some munchies, and whip up some mashed potatoes. Voila! A full-fledged delcious meal in less than 2 hours.
Uncle Frank's + Hubba's Birthday + No Fuss + Family + Fun = A GREAT SUCCESS -
Review from Veronica B.
Campbell, CA
6/18/2009
Mama T (head cook) will help you choose your meat if you are having issues making a decision or simply need company. Choosing your cut isnt an easy task when you have the delicious choice between smoked brisket, ribs, sausage and more. Mama T says she smokes her meat for more than 20 hours! I finally decided on the combo plate of brisket and ribs with spicy BBQ sauce and a side of Lousianna style beans and Cajun corn!! I do believe the food here would be Sam Merlott approved! (All of you True Blood fans know what I'm talking about ) :P
The brisket! Unlike any other protein I've experienced. The smokiness and chewiness dipped in there spicy BBQ sauce took me straight to the bayou on a perfectly humid Baton Rouge night. And I've never been to the South!
The restaurant is a little run down with a dusty performance stage that needs to be risen from the dead a la bluegrass banjo or an open mike night. I asked Mama T about the performances and she stated they hadn't had a performance in months and she has no one to do the planning for her. :(
There is a bar adjacent to the restaurant so after you get your meat on buy a corona for 3 bux and hustle some old man at pool in the billiards room. -
Review from dan m.
San Francisco, CA
9/26/2008
I may up to 5 stars after I have the BBQ... I know... what??? I didn't have the BBQ??? WTF!!! You see, I have a problem with Fried Shrimp Po'Boy sandwiches. It was on the specials board, and, well... I had to do it.
SHRIMP PO BOY
Dame! Tasty! Fried up fresh and the shrimps were big and juicy. I didn't see any shrimp turds either (not that I was looking too closely). Sandwich was well big for the 9 bucks. The sauce was good but not spicy (Louisiana in Cali I guess) but the hot sauces on the table fixed that up fast and it was good eat'n!
POTATO SALAD
Yum! Small ass portion (bummer) but so good! Good chunks of celery, some bell pepper (not too big, not too crisp), but the smallest hints of carrot, and other who knows what. Mayo was only as much as it need be. VERY tasty.
ATMO
Was waiting for McFly to come in before he heads back to the future. The restaurant is connected to the Bar (one space, sharing) and dame is this place old school. Bar area was bumping with locals who never made it to the 90's, much less 2000. I enjoyed it.
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I'll be back to get the BBQ, now that I got that PO BOY thing out of the way... though it IS one of the better PO BOYS to be had in Cali I'm sure. -
Review from Sarah P.
Palo Alto, CA
8/29/2009
I gotta say.. YUM YUM YUM!~!
I wouldn't say the dishes are cheap but they are very reasonable. Especially for the taste that you get. We ordered both ribs and brisket to try them out. I normally prefer ribs but in here, I liked the brisket better. There's just something about Uncle Frank's briskets that just melts in your mouth.
I was eager to meet the 'real' Uncle Frank but the ladies told me that he's back in South opening another Uncle Frank's restaurant. If I ever do come across him, I definitely will be giving him a thumb up! -
Review from Mark T.
Mountain View, CA
3/6/2007
After getting the lunch portion version of the ribs (3 ribs), I am really curious as to what the dinner portion looks like. When I ordered, I wasn't sure if 3 ribs would fill me up, but lo and behold, my food was delivered to my table, and they hooked it up fat! They really wanted me to leave happy.
My friend and I both ordered our ribs with the hot sauce. Our waitress asked us if we were sure that we wanted it, and she also put down a pitcher of ice water afterwards because she knew we'd be needing it. Good looking out. The sauce was pretty spicy, and it was, as another yelper described it, like "Mud." It was damn good, though. The meat was very tender. Not the falling off the bone type, but it had the right consistency to go along with the sauce. Our waitress along with Uncle Frank himself checked up on us every so often to make sure we were holding down the spiciness. Also cracked some jokes here and there, so our experience was a very enjoyable one.
The spiciness of the sauce was very interesting. If you've ever been to Cluck U's and ordered the devil bites with any spicy degree of sauce, the spiciness tends to stay in your mouth for a good amount of time. At Uncle Frank's, the spiciness is definitely there, but it didn't stick around for too long, and I wasn't sucking on ice cubes to get rid of the hottness.
Don't be fooled when you walk into Francesca's and see no signs of a BBQ place. It's definitely there in the back, and Uncle Frank's there to make sure you leave happy. -
Review from Scott B.
San Jose, CA
1/17/2009
This is the best BBQ we've found in the valley, it's reasonably priced at about $15 to $18 a person for dinner (ok, upper bound of reasonable) and the lunch specials are all under $10 a person. The meat is smoked and tender, they are known for the house special beef brisket, their sauce is homemade and you can even buy a bottle to take home.
No ham here! One of the frustrating things about ordering BBQ in the valley or turkey legs in Santa Cruz is that everything ends up tasting like ham!! Nothing at Uncle Frank's is like that -- this is good southern BBQ.
As great as we rate their meal, please be warned their sides are often lacking. There is nothing special about their coleslaw -- which was a HUGE disappointment to me! I love a good homemade southern side of coleslaw whether oil/vinegar is used or mayo -- but at uncle frank's it tastes like it's out of a can and old. I'm not penalizing them for their sides, but I hope they get their act together here.
The corn bread is excellent, but I wish there was honey and butter (hmmm... whipped honey/sugar butter spread??) available -- but we always take it home and add our own later. And by the way, you'll probably be taking home a good portion of your meal, we can never finish two sides, corn bread and a huge serving of beef brisket!
If you're bringing anyone under 21, call ahead and they'll setup the back patio area with the heaters -- it's very nice back there and secluded. Those under 21 are not allowed inside the restaurant (because it's actually a bar). Do consider bringing the kids, the wait staff, especially Tanya (the manager) LOVES kids -- she's definitely got grandma written all over her and has lots of love to share! -
Review from stephy s.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2007
I love BBQ. I mean, I REALLY love the Q and as a result of this love affair, I have to admit, I am quite the Picky Patty. With that admission out on the table, I sadly have to say, I wasn't all that impressed with this stuff.
They catered a recent company outing and when they pulled up with the smoker attached to the truck, I was like an eager little kid in a butcher shop and as happy as can be! I could already smell that incredible BBQ smell permeating the air at Golden Gate Park and for the hour or two that we had to wait to eat, I was soooo excited.
Finally it was time to grub and the assembly line of food was out and proud and I scooped up a mean plate of food. Ribs, Trip Tip, Chicken, spicy corn, mac n cheese and even some potato salad. I then practically ran to the table and dove in.
At first I thought it was okay. The meat was tender enough, but the sauce was on the side and because of that, it was a bit dry. The corn had a definite kick to it, which was good, but then the mac n cheese was just really bad. Where was the flavor? Did they leave it in Mountain View? I realize that's mean, but I adore m&c, so when it's lackluster like this, well, frankly, it just hurts my feelings!
Maybe the food lost something in the catering process and maybe in a sit down indoor setting it would be different. All I know is this meal was anything but memorable and my overall impression was a big ole, "Not so much." -
Review from Michael L.
San Mateo, CA
4/24/2007
Going to Uncle Franks is like a sociological experiment and truly a social commentary on how to bring different groups of people together.
Really good food can do that.
Uncle Franks BBQ is a small hole in the wall located in back of a
bar on old middlefield road... and when I say bar..I mean BAR...
Nothing fancy..or exciting about it.. Just a run of the mill dive bar, where you'd expect to see guys w/big bellies and dirty stained t-shirts w/flannel shirts and trucker hats watching the game on a knob tv set(Which you do see there).
When you first walk in, you are greeted to this and almost EVERYONE asks the same question.
"Am I in the right place?"
I guess the bartender's seen that look before on many a straggler, and as soon as he see's my puzzled look, he says "Frank's is in the BACK" w/a grin...noting the look of confusion on our faces.
IN the back of a bar? There's this famed bbq restaurant in the back of a dive bar???
Well YES THERE IS.
And the BEST BBQ you've had in the bay area....
Me and my pack of 8 friends walk to the back of the bar and we walk into an adjacent room w/no signs/signals and see very simple chairs, old vinyl sitting booths, and a very big, and initially intimidating man named Frank.
The BEST part to me, is that Frank is african american, his servers are mostly african american.
..but his patrons are 90% white and asian.
Most asian people I know, would not even step into a dive bar like that...let alone the BACK ROOM of a dive bar.
Two reasons why people of all demographic backgrounds would come into this room:
1)The man
2)The food.
I spoke to frank the first minute I was in there, and he is a very warm, engaging guy. Kinda shy, and actually very unassuming about his bbq food, and really doesn't seem to let the attention his food gets..affect him. Frank just enjoys coming in and making the food and having people like it.
We are greeted to very full flavored ribs, barbecued chicken, and the best sausages you'll have ever tasted. Most sausages are a bit salty for my taste, but franks, are seasoned so well and are just slightly salty. I never ate so much bbq before.
Everyone should come in, and try the ribs, brisket, chicken, and sausage.
It's truly a melting pot of patrons. You'll run into coporate silicon valley folk w/suits/ties, asian pop culture kids who would normally be at Japan town, sitting in the rickety tables and happily chomping away at the great food.
Uncle Franks just brings people together. I've not witnessed another place that can accomplish that ...like this very unassuming restaurant does.
I've heard that many corporate folk in the silicon valley area, have offered to work w/Frank to move to another location and turn his place into a "first class restaurant"...
I don't think Frank needs more corporate money to have class at his restaurant..and to us...his food always comes first. -
Review from Stephanie L.
San Jose, CA
11/7/2007 9 photos
Ohhh damn good BBQ! So far I've been here twice within a 2 week period and I just love it!
Alright, so it's located in the back room of a bar, but who cares? It's all about the love of BBQ here. The first time we came here, I believe Uncle Frank took our order and I just fell in love with everything. Who doesn't love a beer with their delicious pork ribs? The sauce is deep, rich, sweet, savory, spicy and has just an overall great flavor to it. Not to mention, this is one of only a couple other BBQ joints (including Armadillo Willy's, which I will never go back to after having the real stuff) in the area.
Come prepared with a very empty stomach though. The portions are huge. Don't forget to order the Cajun Corn. Mmm... -
Review from X L.
San Jose, CA
1/9/2009
Now this is really a food find/hole in the wall. Franks occupies small back room inside a Bar. Great BBQ!
Pros
- Tasty Brisket & Ribs. Incredible smoke flavor in the brisket
- Friendly service. We went at nearly closing & they were almost out of stuff & ready to close - but they accommodated us, and let us do take out.
- Super large servings ($15+ per order)
Cons
- interesting location
Return visit
- have told friends about the place & they really like it
- Would definitely returnListed in: BBQ
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Review from Westcoast Wildcat W.
Palo Alto, CA
7/21/2007
"Get in my BELLY!!! I want my baby back baby back baby back..."
Holy sweet southern baby ribs! I finally hit Uncle Frank's after hearing all the hoopla. Let me tell you... having grown up in Kentucky and then spending 4 years in North Carolina, California BBQ has never impressed me... until now.
Uncle Frank's is the real deal. I had a combo of BBQ smoked chicken and the pork ribs... this came with two sides (cajun corn and baked beans)... and I chose the hot sauce for the meat. The chicken was excellent, but the pork ribs were a tour de force. Succulent, slow cook pork that literally fell of the bones... Every says their ribs fall of the bones, but this meat was cooked so perfectly. And, the hot sauce was perfect... not too spicy and just the right consistency for covering meat and dipping.
The cajun corn was average, the baked beans good... but what carnivore makes the decision to go to Uncle Frank's for the side dishes. I did finish off my meal with a slice of sweet potato pie... this was a slice of heaven... the only time I've had a real flashback to growing up in the south... It was small in size but worth it for the taste.
I have tried BBQ all over Norcal and the Oregon coast... but Uncle Frank's is the only place that can hold its own with the likes of perennial powerhouses Moonlite BBQ in Owensboro, KY or Bullock's in Durham, NC. Serious props to Uncle Frank's to bring a slice of the South to Nor Cal.
The prices aren't cheap though... over 17 bucks for my plate. That's palo alto prices. I'd give this place 5 stars, but one star is lost for the just average corn and the pretty high price.
BUT... when I feel the urge for BBQ there's only one place in Norcal that I'll frequent. -
Review from Kelly W.
San Jose, CA
1/17/2007
Five Stars Folks! We stopped at Frank's House of BBQ last Saturday night 30 mns before it closed and had a great meal. The portions are huge! I had the brisket and loved it. I ate it for two more days at home. My friends got the pork ribs (no likey) and the smoked chicken (loved it!). Ordered up some peach cobbler fresh from the oven and loved it!
The beans are great! Thick, homemade and slightly sweet. The coleslaw was not a favorite of mine. It is freshly made but it's not sweet enough for me. The cajun creamed corn was delicious! I can't wait to try all of the sides!
The BBQ sauce is definitely the best! We all ordered mild which I thought needed a little kick... so i asked for a sample of the spicy and dripped it on each bite.. perfect! My friends loved the sauce as is!
It is very intimidating to walk through the Francesca's bar to the back room, aka Frank's House of BBQ, but at least there's a dress code to get into the bar.. can't be too bad. No shorts or flipflops allowed.
The service was really wonderful. The waitress truly went out of her way to serve us. She packed up each container to go, cleaned off the table after we ate (crumbs and all) and seriously was a Doll.
I just read some of the low scoring reviews. If I said what I was thinking I'd be kicked off of Yelp! If you're expecting anything better than just plain ole good BBQ don't bother going to Uncle Frank's. It's BBQ, pure and simple. Not grilling... smoked meat! At least at Frank's you get a plastic basket to eat from... in Texas and Louisiana real BBQ is served on a piece of paper with white bread and pickles! -
Review from Tony S.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/31/2006
Personally, I'm partial to Texas-style barbecue, west Texas, to be precise, but Uncle Frank's Louisiana-style BBQ is just dang good eatin'! The brisket is extremely fine with that "red raing" that runs just below the surface of the char. The only other thing that I'd call "real" BBQ that I've had in the area is at Central Texan in Castroville (and that's not really in the area, now, is it?). Chicken's just OK, ribs are decent but not great and the Lousiana-style hot link are fair. My suggestion: come here for the brisket! The sides are passable and, for lunch, not that big, but the pile of meat you get at lunch is HUGE! All that aside, the brisket keeps me coming back.
One other thing: every so often the chef (yeah, they have a chef) will occasionally fix cajun-style fried crab. Expensive but very tasty! -
Review from Cheryl P.
San Jose, CA
4/1/2009
If Uncle Frank were there, I would've given him a hug! There's nothing like southern food. Sometimes I just ccrraavvee this stuff!
Hole in the wall place connected to a bar. You can only get your drinks (this includes soda & water) @ the bar. Grab a menu, take a seat and get ready to order! We shared the 3 combo plate which came with 2 sides and cornbread.
Chicken - tender & juicy. My fave meat!
Brisket - good
Ribs - dry
Collared greens - loved it! Fresh w/no bacon fat
Candied yams - sweet & delish!
Cajun corn - had a little kick from the spices, not overly sweet
Cornbread - a little dry but great w/butter
Mild/hot sauce - perfect dipping sauce for our food
We came around 7pm as they close at 8. Disappointed when I was told that they ran out of food and there was no more peach cobbler....booo
Service was friendly and fast. Coming back for more @ an earlier time. :p -
Review from Albert Y.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/29/2008
This place looked like it belonged on the Diner, drive-in's, and Dive's show on the Food Network. To get to the restaurant, you have to walk through a dive bar all the way to the back. The decor didn't improve when we got there but when we got our food, it made it all okay. We ordered a 4 item combo which you get to choose up to 4 different meats. We ended up selecting the bbq chicken, the pork ribs, and 2 briskets. The chicken was a little dry but the ribs and briskets were sooo good. All the meats had a good smoked flavor and you can even see the smoke rings in the meat. The ribs and the briskets were pretty tender and moist. For the sides, we ordered the cajun corn and the baked beans which we thought was okay. The beans were a little too mushy for me.
Overall, the meats were tasty and it satisfied my craving for good authentic Southern bbq. Next time I go, I'm going to try their sweet potato pie! -
Review from Tom B.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2007
The brisket is heavenly!! I have to say that the brisket here brings me back to memories of living in Texas among all the other roadhouse BBQ's. Armadillo Willy's has nothing on Uncle Franks. Be advised that each of the main entrees could feed two EASILY. I've had both the pork ribs and the beef brisket and I'd say that the brisket edges out the ribs, but not by much. I'd definitely make this place a work lunch favorite, but be forewarned that you'll be leaving this place with that smoky flavor.
Added 11/2/2007
So I just visited recently for a work lunch and had the full meal Brisket Special which was enough to last me 3 more additional meals during the week. I might add that I LOVE spicy food so naturally I pick their hot sauce. On the downside, my intestinal tract doesn't agree as much with spicy food as it did in my youth. So drawing out a meal over the course of a week and causing myself to scream bloody mercy on the toilet doesn't make much sense right? Of course it does cause the brisket is just that good! You know when a guy is willing to put up a pain threshold equivalent to giving birth through the anus that the food is going to be God's gift. Ya heard? -
Review from Carol L.
8/17/2006
Absolutely the best place for BBQ!! The BBQ chicken is amazing - you don't need a fork to tear the tender pieces of meat from the bone. The ribs are lip-smacking delicious too. If you're a fan of sauce - layer on the BBQ sauce they provide. When I'm in the mood for meat..this is the place to go!
I hear it gets pretty crowded here, but so far, I've gone during off hours, so absolutely no wait at all. The owners are incredibly friendly, full of southern charm. If you're a BBQ type person, gotta try this place out!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Jessica C.
Cupertino, CA
7/12/2007
Oh man, I don't know what is wrong with the people who gave this place lower star ratings. If you love meat... which I honest to goodnessly do, this is the place to have it. I have had this place bookmarked on my yelp for the past year but because they have relatively early closing hours for the dinners, my friends and I have never been able to make it before last night.
I admit, it's kind of a dive in appearances, but it reminds me most of a pub in Ireland where you have to go to the bar to get your drinks and they have delicious food. The bartender was friendly and joked with our group and even came back to our table to chat with my friend's husband when he had a free moment. The servers were super nice as was "Uncle Frank" who sat down with some patrons next to us and started having a conversation.
My friend and I decide to split the tailgate with mild sauce, which is honestly too much food for 2 people, but we had wanted to try to taste everything. Our other friends got the combo platters. The chicken was so soft and tender, impeccable flavor. The rib meat would just break apart when I would try to fork them, it was so tender moist and delicious. The links were semi spicy, but still really great. And I was most impressed by the brisket. At all BBQ places I always avoid brisket, because no matter how tender they claim it is, it is never tender. It always feels like eating into a rock of meat. But here at Uncle Frank's it was AMAZING. So soft, so moist, so tender succulent and all around brilliant. I was so impressed.
Everyone was so amazingly nice too, and the best part comes when we're leaving and my friend has to use the bathroom, but it's occupied. That's when we hear a lady yell out from the back, "Hey you can use the ladies room over there, but you only if you promise to put the seat down after, k?" Hilarious. And yes, he put the seat down.Listed in: Mah Meats
