Restaurants
Frankie's
Frankie's is not, as many curious onlookers might assume, a new restaurant. Nor does it have (as it boldly claims on its front signage), the world's best burgers--but they're pretty damn good.
Frankie's has, in fact, been a West Queen West diner fixture for around 35 years, serving a changing community from its cross-CAMH location. However, much like its Ossington neighbours, a stone's throw away, Frankie's needed to evolve with the times, and its significant refurbishment came as a mixed blessing in the form of Restaurant Makeover. I overhear that they were closed for two weeks while the spot was gutted and overhauled, and there is much hand-wringing.
But the result is truly a sight to behold, and their initial concept of subway tiles has translated into gleaming white-tiled walls, industrial stools, a white marble wraparound bar, and a nod to the area's history through vintage photographs framed in blue wood. There's an almost Eastern Canadiana feel to the worn blue plush seats and white-slatted backing of the benches, paired with blonde wood tables.
Although it looks swanky, the prices are refreshingly low (and reminiscent of its previous incarnation), and I should warn that the menu is admittedly in flux. But they have Labatt 50 and Mill St. Organic on tap for $6, Cool ("beer-water," my boyfriend dubs it) for $4.50, and bar rail is $5 across the board.
We start with a rustic Greek salad ($6.95), which is a colourful, heaping bowlful of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, and black olives. The dressing is simple olive oil with a touch of balsamic, and the feta arrives (rather intimidatingly) as a thick slab atop the rest. It has all the familiar flavors of a dish that would be difficult to execute poorly, but my preference would be to exclude green peppers, and don't skimp on the acid. In this, as with many of the dishes, there's an excess of salt.
For discerning burger eaters, you should note that there are regular burgers (plain ol' Canadian beef) and specialty burgers (8 oz of Canadian chuck, and served with hand-cut fries). Both of ours were the latter--go big or go home (or go big, and then go home in a meat-induced coma).
First up was the Aristotle. The burger itself is quite large, and comes topped with feta cheese, tzatziki, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, and a drizzle of olive oil. Delicious? Yes. This might sound like an odd combination of flavours, but it neatly approximates the flavours of a gyro. Unfortunately, I've had something very similar with a lamb burger, and my loyalties remain with that.
Next up was the Smokin' Hot Honey. This one is a behemoth, and unwieldy for any two hands (particularly my small, stubby-fingered ones) to handle. Jalapeno havarti, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a smoked mayo, which I opted to get with beer-battered onion rings. This is one flavourful burger--spicy, smokey, and packing a double dose of meat--and might do well as a shared plate. However, the beer-battered onion rings even look hand-made. Thick onions coated in thick, uneven batter, deep-fried and paired with a smokey, spicy mayo--heaven.
Family owned and operated, the eponymous Frankie's sons look almost embarrassed by the change, and are frequently heard to offer unnecessary apologies--"our first day back"--and even a 10% first-day discount. Despite this, they're surprisingly busy by 8 p.m., with equal parts barflies, take-out customers, and families.
I hear that they're planning a dessert menu, with apple pie and banana splits, but have yet to cement the details. Their menus are, for now, printed on paper, until they settle on a selection that matches their new digs with their long-standing tradition of good, simple food and a $5 breakfast. "That foot-long hot dog ($6)," one of Frankie's sons tells me. "I wanted to name it the Ron Jeremy." And really, why not.
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While there I witnessed one of the regulars order a shot of sex on the beach, a pint, and a bottle of beer. He proceeded to take the shot and immediately afterwards down his pint, all while pouring the bottle into the pint glass and finishing it all off in one smooth motion.
I'm still not sure how it was physically possible, but I will forever be impressed.
I've not been back in a while but wow does it look different. I assume the old clientele (aka the magician I mentioned above) is gone with these increases prices.
LOVE LIVE WEST QUEEN WEST.
Then now I have fucking huge clash on it!!!! I wanna eat it again! now!!!
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
Old School.R&b.House.BossaNovaBeats.ClassicRock.Top40>;MuchMore.
Frankies GoodFood.GoodMusic.GoodTimes.
EVENT PAGE:http://www.facebook.com/events/358031367617698/
FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankies/165804026892771?ref=hl
e will be there friday.
Also we have the Movember Event Different dishes all month From 1-99-1617-2324-30 Our Movember campaign supports men's health issues like: Prostate cancer and Mental Health. Be part of it! Pass by and find out more about Movember Menu @ 994 Queen St.W 416.588.1936. Events online-info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankies/165804026892771
Also the the Movember Event are still on with Different dishes all month From. Frankies Movember campaign supports men's health issues like: Prostate cancer and Mental Health. Be part of it! Pass by and find out more about Movember Menu @ 994 Queen St.W 416.588.1936. Events online-info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankies/165804026892771
Just watched restaurant takeover last night, very sweet family- wishing you all the best!
The new burgers sound and look quite tasty.. But I'm surprised the original is still on the menu..
Before in the 90's was indeed Galaxy Donuts. Since moving back i have been in this place twice. First Around May/June don't remember well, the place did't change at all. For my surprise In August i went back The place had renovations...everything as changed. So i went thinking that finally this Frankies had new owners and now i would have a good restaurant close to my home to bring my family for nice Diners. But let me tell you the service is good, the food is not bad but the major problem is that the owners are the same. So that says it all! If Frankies had new owners or new management things would be nice. It is easy to know why, special if you know the history of place. They will always attract the same clientele from CAMH,that i don't care much. But they occupied the bar at the entrance and looks bad women don't like it. The breakfast is the best in the area... low cost and very tasty. So apart from the day service they should have a Professional manager, or a promotional team like other new places in the west side of Queen. Sexy bartenders with knowledge of what are doing and knowledge of what the night life bar is all about. Making new cocktails, attracting new clients. To bring new ideas. At night they should had a different menu with real food. I high recommend to take down "The world best burgers slogan". They are not Professional the management that don't understand the business of the new night life at the Queen and Ossington area. I wish all the best, but there is no way that this Frankies Diner will succeed until new administration will come.
BUT they do have some of the BEST burgers on Queen and in Toronto not to mention a reputable chef working there.
Why do people always feel the need to leave such negative comments.
I just left Frankies and had a breakfast for $4.95 haha, like are you kidding me, where in the downtown core can you find such a good cheap breakfast. The people working there seemed very friendly, it’s a family run business.
You see fewer of these places around town, and in my mind we should support them as much as possible unless we want a city completely run by corporations.
This isn’t the first time I have eaten here, every single time I was treated good by the servers working there.
They have great burgers.
Keep things POSITIVE people. Enjoy.
Cheers.
I know when I go into Frankie’s the owners show hospitality and they really care about your visit and making sure you had a good time and had good food. I have to say the burgers are really good and the prices are as well ... and we need to appreciate the family run businesses that make the area truly what they are. We don't want to lose them so let's support them!
I highly recommend you drop by and see for yourself! The food is really good !
Tonight I had the "Con Carne" burger; an excellent combination of chilli, beef and vegetables. Just like all the other burgers I've had at Frankie's, it did not disappoint.
Just like the burgers, the service at Frankie's is exceptional. Their server Jordan (think that's her name) is amazing! She is very welcoming, attentive and kind; always making sure that every customer is happy and enjoying their meal!
Love Frankie's!!
Amanda & Ethan