Frankie's The Steakhouse — Restaurant in Duluth

Drove 30 mins to have my favorite steak (ribeye cap) and it turn into a a horrible experience. The bartenders, Joe & TJ, were overly accommodating during our entire experience including the mishaps. The 2 caps came out cut up into weird portions & placed on the same plate (see picture). Joe and (manager) Joel, both said we aren’t sure what happened don’t touch it let me go ask the chef. 10-12 minutes later Joel returned explaining the chef mixed up the order and cut up our steak and was trying to correct it. Joel then said try it and see if it’s to your liking….it had gotten cold waiting on him to return. Joel took the steaks to be warmed up. We asked if we could have fresh Brussels, there was foreign object in the Brussels that stuck me in the top of my mouth. Joel said oh no that definitely shouldn’t be in there - ‘I don’t know what that is.’ He then threw away the foreign object and walked away.

When the check came, the Brussels were removed from the ticket and the two caps and veal meatballs remained. Asked Joel if there would be any adjustments based on the unfortunate mistake with the caps, the foreign object and the overall dining experience. Additionally, letting him know my girlfriend didn’t eat as she was frustrated with the ordeal. Joel said ‘we were lucky to get the caps and there were other options available.’ I ate two of the four pieces, the other two pieces were medium well and not eaten. Decided we would give the remaining two pieces to the kids. Joel then asked to see the uneaten portion and wanted the chef to see the uneaten cap if it was over cooked or not - although Joel didn’t take the caps initially for the chef to inspect which is why the caps needed to be warmed. Joel took the to-go container and removed the cap from the ticket.

After he removed the cap from the ticket, he didn’t return to apologize or invite us back to give them another try. I asked the bartender if he could get Joel to come back. The bartender searched for him but initially couldn’t find him as he returned giving an update stating he was still looking for Joel. After 20+ minutes, Joe, the bartender returned and said Joel was in the office ‘talking to people’ and that Joel wouldn’t come until he was done. I have many choices when deciding on a dining experience and I left dinner last night under the impression that Frankie’s doesn’t appreciate my patronage.

I’ve been coming here since Frankie’s opened and while every experience hasn’t been perfect - this is in fact the first time I’ve left unsure if Frankie’s respects its customers. At the minimum, I hope someone will work with Joel on understanding what the Frankie’s experience is about and client’s...

Disappointing Experience at Frankie’s on Our Anniversary My wife and I chose Frankie’s to celebrate our third wedding anniversary on Saturday evening, as we have always enjoyed exceptional service, quality food, and a welcoming atmosphere in the past. Unfortunately, this experience did not live up to our expectations. Upon arrival, we were pleased to find a thoughtful “Happy Anniversary” card waiting at our table, a gesture we have come to appreciate from Frankie’s. However, this positive impression quickly diminished when we realized that our table was situated directly in the high-traffic area at the kitchen entrance. We requested a different table but were informed that none were available at that time and would require a wait. Despite the inconvenient location, we decided to proceed with our evening. Regrettably, this decision was not ideal. Our coats were repeatedly stepped on by staff rushing to and from the kitchen, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere and detracted from our experience. In hindsight, we should have waited for a better seating option, but by then, we had already placed our order. Additionally, our request for water without ice and a lemon wedge for my wife was not properly addressed. Throughout the evening, our glasses were repeatedly refilled with ice water, and at times, our drinks were not attended to at all. While this may seem like a minor issue, we have grown accustomed to the high level of service at Frankie’s, and this evening felt like a departure from that standard. When our meal arrived, the food was visually appealing and tasted great, with one exception. The macaroni and cheese was overly salted. We intended to request a replacement, but unfortunately, no one checked on our meal until we had nearly finished eating. At that point, I simply requested the item be removed from our bill. To further complicate matters, we were surprised with a dessert that we assumed was a complimentary gesture. However, it was later revealed that we had been charged $22 for it, leading to an awkward conversation with the staff. While Frankie’s did remove the charge for both the dessert and the over-salted side dish, the experience left us feeling frustrated and disappointed, especially considering the special occasion. Given the challenges we faced, we have decided to explore other options for future celebrations, such as The Capital Grille, STK, or Cuts, as we look for a more reliable dining experience for our...

I went to Frankie’s for my birthday dinner, and I must say, I left feeling disappointed. First, despite having a reservation, we were informed that it would take 15-20 minutes to secure our table. Ultimately, it took the full 20 minutes. If they were going to make us wait, what's the point of having reservations at all?

Finally, after a long wait, we arrived at our table and reviewed the menu before placing our order. We decided on the lobster ceviche, NY Strip steak, wild mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts. It was surprising to wait around forty-five minutes for the lobster ceviche, especially since ceviche is typically prepared in advance and served quickly. After the appetizer, we waited another fifteen minutes for our main courses to arrive. When my steak finally arrived, it was lukewarm, so I sent it back. Fortunately, they returned with a new NY Strip steak in just five minutes.

Now, let’s talk about the food. The ceviche was delicious, but for $24, the portion size was disappointingly small. The Brussels sprouts were delicious, bursting with flavor thanks to an excellent Asian sauce. The wild mushrooms were decent, but I was confused by the labeling. When a restaurant claims to serve "wild mushrooms," I expect exotic mushrooms; what we received could easily be called mushrooms, just like all restaurants do.

As for the steak, the meat was of good quality, but it lacked seasoning. It was bland, tasting as if it had simply come off the grill without any effort to enhance its flavor.

As I was leaving the restaurant, I took the opportunity to speak with the manager about my disappointing experience. He explained that the kitchen was an hour behind and that he needed to delay seating to help the kitchen catch up. I couldn’t help but wonder why that was a concern for me as a customer. He mentioned he was unaware of the delays with our food and the fact that my steak had to be replaced. However, I found it completely unacceptable that, despite this situation, he did not offer a discount on our bill or make any attempt to encourage us to return in the future.

Overall, there were some notable moments, but the execution was severely lacking. I hope for a better experience if you decide to try this restaurant, but I will not be returning. If the restaurant chooses to respond to my post, I want to make it clear: don’t pretend you want to fix things now. You had your chance when I was there discussing my concerns, and you did nothing to...