At Frankie’s, a burger can take up the better part of a dinner plate. Some are described in the less formal but more vivid measurement of being as big as a guest’s face, which gives a pretty good indication of the restaurant’s approach to lunch and dinner.
This is an old-time corner bar where the food arrives with real weight behind it: oversized burgers, piled-up sandwiches, crisp fries and a menu broad enough to keep a table from having to agree on one thing. The portions are substantial, but the appeal is not merely a stunt. Frankie’s puts the same attention into a good bun, a flavorful filling and the familiar pleasures of straightforward American bar food.
A Burger That Needs Some Table Space
The burgers are the main event, served on locally made buns that include a Sheboygan roll. That local-bakery touch matters when there is this much burger to contain; a sturdy bun is not an afterthought here.
A Blue Eye Burger with bacon gives blue-cheese fans a particularly rich direction to take. It is one of those combinations that fits the setting nicely: bacon, beef and blue cheese, all delivered without pretending to be delicate.
Bring an appetite, or bring someone willing to split the work. A large burger can easily turn fries into a shared side rather than an individual assignment, and leftovers are a perfectly sensible outcome.
Sandwiches With No Interest in Being Modest
The sandwiches follow the same house scale. Steak sandwiches, ham-and-cheese, grilled cheese and BLTs all sit comfortably beside the burgers on a menu built for serious bar-food cravings.
The BLT has an especially outsized reputation, thanks to a portion described as including a full pound of bacon. A BLT is usually an easy, familiar order; this one turns it into a commitment.
The fish sandwich is another substantial plate, built around a large lightly breaded fillet with a crisp exterior and an exceptionally hefty bun. It is a useful option for diners who want the size of a Frankie’s sandwich without ordering beef.
Broasted Chicken and the Rest of the Menu
Frankie’s also has broasted chicken presented as a family-recipe specialty. One chicken meal includes half a chicken with potatoes and coleslaw, giving the menu a full dinner-plate lane beyond burgers and sandwiches.
The chicken is crisp on the outside and juicy within, the sort of dependable contrast that has kept broasted chicken on Midwestern menus for generations. It makes a good counterpoint to the bar’s beefier specialties.
Cheese curds, wonton wraps, chili and fries provide plenty to pick at or build into a meal. The fries are crisp and generously portioned, so a basket on the table makes more sense than ordering too many individual sides.
A Bar Where You Can Settle In
Frankie’s has the relaxed look and rhythm of a neighborhood bar, with booths, counter seating and a bar area inside a compact room. Much of the crowd is local, but the atmosphere is easygoing enough that newcomers can settle in without feeling like they have wandered into a private club.
Service keeps the visit informal and personal. The bartender may be the person taking a food order and later bringing the meal over, which suits a place where the bar and grill are closely tied together.
The room can be quiet on one visit and moderately lively on another. Football adds another reason to linger for diners who enjoy a game with their burger.
Bloody Marys, Beer and a Wide Drink List
A broad range of drinks and beer gives Frankie’s the bar side of its identity as much room as the food. A Bloody Mary is a natural match for a late lunch, a game on television or a plate that has arrived large enough to draw comments from the next stool over.
The seating works for a solo lunch at the counter, a couple in a booth or a small group dividing burgers, fries and appetizers. With so many sizable orders available, sharing is less a strategy than a pleasant way to sample more than one thing.
A Few Useful Details Before You Go
The interior is small and can fill up quickly during busy periods, so seating may require a little flexibility. That compactness is also central to the mood: booths, bar stools and counter seats keep the place close to its corner-bar roots.
Free parking may be available in a lot or on the street, though space can vary from visit to visit. Once seated, the practical question becomes simpler: how much of that burger are you planning to finish?