Frannick's Cafe — Restaurant in Dallas

This is a mixed review because we regularly eat breakfast and lunch at Frannick's. In a town like Hiram where just about every restaurant is a part of a chain, it's nice to have one that is locally owned right down the road. We love the food and the hometown feel of the place. While the drabby gray walls are not all that welcoming, the service is top notch...until today that is. Today, the service was very disappointing. When we arrived, we told who I think was either a manager or the owner that there were 4 in our party. He quickly went to clean off the last table crammed into a dark corner right by the bathrooms. I hate that table and I've requested more than once not to sit there during previous visits. Luckily, while he was cleaning it off, a young server dryly greeted us and sat us at one of the 4 tops that shares the long pew with a couple of 2 tops and another 4 top at the front of the restaurant...thank God! After sitting for just a few seconds, the manager/owner came to the table and said we couldn't sit there because they reserve that table for larger parties and escorted us to the dark corner table by the bathrooms. I adamantly (and a bit rudely, I'll admit) told the server and him that I didn't want to eat my breakfast crammed into the back of the restaurant, so he cleaned off another table right across from the first table we were offered. At this point, I was irritated, not because of the excuse for why we couldn't sit at the pew table, even though we have sat there on numerous occasions with less than 4 people in our party, but mostly because the guy made us get up after we had already started sitting down. To top it off, our server (a young blond girl who goes to or went to Harrison HS according to her tee shirt) was as friendly as a robot who I didn't see smile at anyone in the restaurant. Then, the absolute kicker, the reason I was now chomping at the bit to make a scene...the same manager/owner guy who wanted to put us in the dark corner so that he could save a table just in case a larger party came in, sat TWO PEOPLE at the table he refused to let us sit at! Seriously!? I don't know if I will go back. The food is good and every other time we've had great service. But today really left a bad...

Long review to match years of patronozing Frannick's Cafe.

Having lived in the area for over 20years - I can name only as handful of restaurants that get my attention enough to leave a review. I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite spots! At one point I would stop in 3x a week. I would order breakfast/brunch items or lunch w/my dinner to-go. Sometimes I get stuck on only having only breakfast at a place - not here -- I order it all and it's all good! Those flattop tatars are everything! So is the Mediterranean omelet. The fries... burgers,... Salads... I can go on. A mainstay in Paulding‼️

I think my biggest complaint or rather only complaint was a server actually expecting me to help flip the table for a new customer to be seated (my guess is because I was working on my laptop at her table for a while that particular day awaiting a friend to call when ready to be picked up). And another time a server failing to remove empty plates/napkins from in front of me. Now, that's a personal pet peeve... I think it's what I'm really paying for when I dine out (the service) because I can cook at home and save my money for fine dining or something. I leave my house and pay to dine out for optimal service! I don't hold it against them much... But it is worth mentioning -- because even mgmt wasn't understanding my "concern" at the time. Clearly - cause dishes remained a while longer. I recall ordering a lot of different foods to sample that day. I literally remained at that table until they cleared empty plates and used napkins from in front of me. I sounds ridiculous that I was trying to inspire my server to earn her tip, because I'm never in a mood to beg people to take my money. {I guess I had time that day.}

Of course, never had THAT issue after that day.

Even when moving away from the area, instead of typical pizza or wings... I ordered a variety of entrees for my moving crew from Frannick's. Nearly everyone had a taste for something different and they delivered beyond expectations for every individual's picky tastes and special orders.

All things considered... a...

I want to like frannicks more, as many others already do, but I struggle. I like their diner/restaurant style and their seemingly ethical business practice along with our shared christian beliefs and their attentive WAIT staff. Where I find fault is with a less than clean looking atmosphere and on two separate occasions with how their food was or is prepared, presented and tastes.

Honestly, it felt to me like they're taking our food orders but then putting "close enough" on a plate, calling it home style and sending it out. Along with my take on their actual food I also note the atmosphere lacks in the lustre of ownership pride and competitiveness the vibe seems tired and routine. To me it conveys the sense they are just starting out (which I know isn't true) or they're having a hard time staying open (which I also believe to be inaccurate). There is a smaller but similar business in the area who has been doing it in an "aged and tired" atmosphere for decades and even now with a different owner continues to thrive. Frannick's has a much better location on the 278 corridor but honestly the dining experience comes across as only having "enough" effort put into it to remain popular "enough" with a loyal customer base to stay in business. I would offer this unsolicited advice.. Put more pride and effort into your business we all want to love and see prosper. Clean better daily (and weekly deeper) for sure .. but more importantly give much needed attention to training your cooking staff in cooking an authentic homemade menu. With attention given to its plating and presentation because it matters (even in small town Georgia). But ESPECIALLY ensuring the food is properly seasoned and...