Uncle Franky's — Restaurant in Minneapolis

I hadn't been to Uncle Franky's in about 20 years , but after doing some quick internet digging on where to get some Rum Cherry Ice Cream, was reminded of this little nook in my childhood stomping grounds ...& decided to take the trip back. I'm glad I did.

The food was even better than I'd remembered, though some names had changed , the quality hasn't. From the photos I've included you can see my better half and I ordered the following

Chicago style Italian Beef ($12.95) (with extra Au jus/drippings ($ 0.95) )

Review - Show stopper. Amazing size & flavor. Peppers and onions were extra ($1.25) which was disappointing, but they were necessary as just having a meat only sandwich would've been too overwhelming. Even with the meat being seasoned & cooked perfectly. The bun was soft & the juices turn it into a slimy pile quick so flip it often & eat it quickly. When it cools it got a tad dry, so the added warm drippings were perfect to bring it back to it's full life. (score 9.2/10)

Jucy Jucy ($9.95) - When I had my first stuffed cheeseburger (way back in 2005, it was at this very Mpls location and a major reason why I wanted to revist) and while it's ADVERTISED as a STUFFED burger, this was actually just an ordinary (though large) cheese burger with the cheese on top of a 1/2 lb patty. It was a tad overcooked to boot and took extra effort by the end to get it down. It was the most disappointing thing we ordered. I still crave that 1st Lucy from 2 decades ago. (score 5.0/10)

Italian Sausage ($8.95) This was another often ordered from my youth when it was on their chalk board simply as "the red" the Calabrese Italian sausage was exactly as I'd remembered. The ciabatta roll was way to large and should've been back on the brat style bun it used to be. that just worked better. This sausage really got lost in all that bread like a little kid wearing their fathers winter coat. The uniqueness here is the red sauce (I opted to leave off the Giardiniera peppers, which I don't care for). This dish could only been improved by adding some sweet yellow onion (raw) which would've been a nice counter-flavor to the sausage. (score 6.8/10)

We also ordered a regular side of tater tots ($3.75)which were perfect. Usually I refrain from ordering any fried potatoes, when I go out to eat, due to places constantly putting a pound of unnecessary salt on them . I'm happy to report that not only were these cooked perfectly, they were very lightly seasoned which let me focus more of my taste attention on the sandwiches/entrees. (score 10/10)

and finally ...the superstar of he show/meal. That Rum Cherry Shake ($5.95). This alone would've made the drive worth it. I used to get this every summer and that's what it tastes like....the summer happiness of childhood. It could've been blended less as it was thinner than I like, plus the cherries had almost all been blended down to grit...but there was enough to make me happy. (score 10/10)

If you have never been here before, go before their lunch rush. Review the menu online first and then ask their friendly staff of any questions you might have before ordering. They'll steer you right. It's a very "cozy" dinning in experience but there are 3 tables outside if you want to enjoy the evening breeze or lunchtime sun too.

Highly recommend , especially if you live within a mile , to just walk on over...

Uncle Franky's Italian Beef

I live in the neighborhood and have been eating here since it opened. I lived the first 30 years of my life in Chicago and I have had a lot of Italian beef sandwiches, maybe one per week for 10 years. I've tried Franky's beef a few times now over the years becasue I want to love it, but I just can't.

First, it seems like only the bread gets dipped becasue the roll literally falls apart, you can't pick this sandwich up, it's sopping yet the beef is really dry and bland. Today, I wound up with a pool of giardinera oil in the bottom of my carry our container in addition to the pieces of bread that had disintegrated into mushy shrapnel.

Second, they simply pack too much beef into it, it's not really a sandwich with the way they load it up with the dry stuff, it's more of an open face concept. A sandwich, by definition, can be picked up with your hands, it's impossible with this beef. For me, I don't perceive value in quantity, I am looking for quality; I walked out spending $17 for a sandwich and bag of chips. I'm fine paying that, or even more, but bring the goods.

As is the fashion lately, their payment system defaults to a tip screen which is another rant - so irritating when I order at the counter, pick up my food, and bus my own table, but I'm always afraid I will get something lesser because they are asking for a tip before providing the service, come on guys stop milking us. I tipped 18%, such a weird number, but the team can see before they give me my food. In what world does a cashier and cook get tipped? I know it's en vogue, but be better. Pay your people and raise your prices to reflect that if needed, stop depending on us to supplement wages, it's ridiculous. It also lacks transparency for the customer. How can I even rate the service when it's self-service? There is literally no service, which is appropriate for this type of joint, I went in for carry out. I got the same service I get at McDonads.

So, my recomendation is go to Uncle Franky's and get a Chicago dog, these are all but impossible to screw up. I also like pizza puffs, these are premade and they simply deep fry them from frozen, also difficult to make a mistake unless not cooked to proper doneness. I'm a Chicago guy so I have not tried any items on their menu that aren;t traditional Chicago beef/dog joint...

How was this only my first time experiencing Uncle Franky's?? This hidden Minneapolis gem is not any sort of secret to locals who love Uncle Franky's for its nostalgic diner-style charm and classic burger, sandwich, and hotdog baskets, but if you're from outside the cities, you need to visit Minneapolis and check out this legendary landmark for the food and atmosphere! The Chicago dog is true to form, offering the classic, mouthwatering topping combo layered over and alongside a snappy red hot hotdog, all stuffed inside a pillowy poppyseed bun. The Franky burger is exactly what you expect of a good old-fashioned diner burger, complete with griddle-toasted bun and a slather of ketchup and mustard. The mesquite chicken sandwich comprises of a generously sized, well-seasoned grilled chicken breast, iceberg lettuce, and fresh sliced tomatoes served with mayo on a grilled burger bun. The tots are perfectly crispy, and the cheese curds are delightfully hot and melty, both served in sizes small, medium, and large to satisfy one, two, or a whole table (or just one very hungry you!) There are so many more options on Uncle Franky's menu, each with its own unique, mouthwatering appeal. I'll be back soon to experience another round of Franky's classics, though I will admit it may be a struggle to choose...