Latest news with #Frankie's
San Francisco Chronicle
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F.'s window onto the world has three must-visit eateries
Perhaps we've been taking food too seriously. It's become a form of art, an obsession: California cuisine, celebrity chefs, rising stars, Michelin stars, the good life in Wine Country. Maybe we forget sometimes about ordinary American food, like what they serve at Frankie's Java House eatery and bar on the waterfront next to the ballpark. The featured dish is a smashburger, and you can get a hot dog and beer for $10 and a shot for $5. California cuisine? How about a fish taco? Unlike the French Laundry, reservations are not required, especially on slow days when the Giants are not playing down the block. On game days, customers are three deep at the bar. No Michelin stars, but 3.7 on Yelp. 'It's really a little oasis,' said Pat Belding, the manager and sometime bartender. 'And it's been here forever.' Frankie's is one of a string of three small eateries on the waterside of the Embarcadero between the Ferry Building and Oracle Park. One is the Hi Dive at Pier 28, where Bryant Street runs into the bay, the second is Red's Java House, not far away at Pier 30-32. Frankie's, a few blocks south, is the third. There are other, better, classier places in the neighborhood, but these three stand out, mostly because they have a San Francisco style to them, hard to define, part salt water and fog and inexpensive food and a sense of the city 'reminding people of what San Francisco was and is,' Belding said. Of all the places in San Francisco that have changed, the waterfront has changed the most. In its prime, the Embarcadero was the city's window onto the world, the piers lined with ships. The customers in the little waterfront joints were longshoremen and sailors interested in beer and cheap eats. The oldest of the waterfront places was the Java House at Pier 40, opened in 1912. Tom McGarvey and his brother Mike owned it for a while. They also owned the better known Red's Java House, not far away. Eventually, Philip Papadopolous bought the Pier 40 Java House. That was in 1984 and the waterfront was in decline; the ships had all moved to Oakland, the warehouses that filled the neighborhood had shut down and the Embarcadero was lined with rusty railroad tracks. The Java House was just a waterfront shack in the middle of nowhere. When Sotiria, Papadopolous' wife, saw the place, she burst into tears. But the family, including Philip's wife and daughters, made it work, especially after the baseball park opened in 2000 and changed everything. A new day. But things change. After a run of 33 years, the Papadopolous family sold the business to Michael Heffernan, an insurance executive who is a member of an old San Francisco family. The place was a bit rundown, colorful but grungy. Heffernan put in a new bar, beefed up the menu and opened up more outdoor seating. It was newer and better — and it was renamed for Mike's father, Francis Michael Heffernan. Everybody called him 'Frankie,' a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan and an admirer of martinis. I dropped by the other afternoon to have a look around. A quiet summer day, a touch of fog but warm by the bay. The Giants were on the road, and the grounds crew at Oracle Park were cleaning up after a big concert a couple of days earlier. The concert, featuring the Colombian pop superstar Shakira, is a reminder that history is still being made on the old waterfront. The Chronicle said she was the first Hispanic artist to draw a sellout crowd of over 35,000 to Oracle Park. 'A cultural milestone,' the paper called it. Good for business, too. Frankie's was packed. Frankie's is in the food and drink business, and Belding describes the menu as 'Simple bar food.' Every restaurant has a signature dish. Frankie's is the smashburger, which is different from the conventional hamburger, which is usually larger. A smashburger is thinner; the meat has been pressed down, or 'smashed,'' with a spatula or press which gives it a unique flavor. Smashburger historians say the dish was invented in Colorado in 1975, and caught on slowly. Now, they are all the rage. 'Smashburgers are having a moment,' Martha Stewart wrote the other day. Frankie's uses a taco press to do the smashing but Belding says the secret is grilled onions, good quality meat 'and our own special sauce.' He also admires the clam chowder. 'My wife's from Boston and she likes it,' he said. The bar offers 15 or so beers on tap. The biggest seller: 805 brewed in Paso Robles. Also, Barebottle: a craft beer brewed in San Francisco. Baseball and concerts last only in spring and summer; the rest of the time waterfront places have to depend on the South Beach neighborhood of about 5,000 people who live nearby, people out for runs on the Embarcadero and weekend sailors with boats in the South Beach Harbor — regulars who keep these places alive. One of them is Jason Lalley, who lives not far away. 'I like it here,' he said. 'I like the food and the company,'' he said. A simple answer.
Daily Mirror
24-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Frankie & Benny's give customers another chance to get a free burger
The popular restaurant chain is giving away thousands of free burgers to celebrate the launch of its new menu Frankie & Benny's have extended their burger giveaway following massive demand. Following yesterday's announcement that they were giving away £100,000 worth of free burgers, the restaurant chain have updated the offer by releasing an extra 1,000 codes today, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. This means those who missed out will be able to try again tomorrow, or the rest of the week. The promotion is part of a bold new menu launch, which features five indulgent new burgers inspired by the restaurant's New York roots. The new menu and giveaway mark a return to Frankie & Benny's roots, focusing on bold flavours and American-style indulgence, as the restaurant celebrates its big 30th anniversary. "These new burgers are a celebration of everything people love about Frankie's, they are bold, unapologetically indulgent and deliciously piled high with unique toppings," said Sarah Sculpher, Marketing Director at Frankie & Benny's. To snag a free burger, customers simply need to pop over to and sign up to receive a unique code. There's no catch or minimum spend required, but with 6,000 already snapped up customers will need to be fast if they want to get their hands on a free burger before the end of the week! The giveaway aligns with the unveiling of the eatery's revamped menu, which was introduced on Monday, 17th June. The fresh selection showcases five signature burgers, each crafted to encapsulate the essence of New York dining. Standouts include the Double Stack; the plant-based Central Park Burger featuring a soya and wheat patty; crispy cauliflower bites and vegan cheese sauce; and the Mac Daddy, a beef burger crowned with smoky bacon and creamy house mac 'n' cheese. Other new additions are the Little Italy Burger, which combines breaded chicken parm, pepperoni, marinara sauce and mozzarella; and the Steakhouse Burger, stacked with tender brisket, onion rings, and peppercorn sauce. Classic favourites such as the Crispy barbecue Chicken, Crispy Chicken, and Grilled Beef burgers are also part of the giveaway, so customers have the opportunity to select from eight different burgers. The free burger offer will be live between 24th and 29th June, or until all the codes are redeemed. And is valid across most UK restaurants.
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Frankie & Benny's launches £100,000 burger giveaway - here's how to claim yours
The popular restaurant chain is giving away thousands of free burgers to celebrate the launch of its new menu Frankie & Benny's is firing up appetites this summer with a massive nationwide burger giveaway worth over £100,000, celebrating the launch of its new burger range. From Tuesday, 24th June, the restaurant chain will be dishing out more than 6,000 burgers for free, to fortunate customers across the UK. The promotion is part of a bold new menu launch, which features five indulgent new burgers inspired by the restaurant's New York roots. The new menu and giveaway mark a return to Frankie & Benny's roots, focusing on bold flavours and American-style indulgence, as the restaurant celebrates its big 30th anniversary. "These new burgers are a celebration of everything people love about Frankie's, they are bold, unapologetically indulgent and deliciously piled high with unique toppings," said Sarah Sculpher, Marketing Director at Frankie & Benny's. "Giving away £100,000 worth of burgers is our way of sharing the love and letting people get a taste of what's new at Frankie & Benny's." To snag a free burger, customers simply need to pop over to and sign up to receive a unique code. There's no catch or minimum spend required, but with only 6,000 burgers available, fans are urged to act swiftly before the offer ends. The giveaway aligns with the unveiling of the eatery's revamped menu, which was introduced on Monday, 17th June. The fresh selection showcases five signature burgers, each crafted to encapsulate the essence of New York dining. Standouts include the Double Stack; the plant-based Central Park Burger featuring a soya and wheat patty; crispy cauliflower bites and vegan cheese sauce; and the Mac Daddy, a beef burger crowned with smoky bacon and creamy house mac 'n' cheese. Other new additions are the Little Italy Burger, which combines breaded chicken parm, pepperoni, marinara sauce and mozzarella; and the Steakhouse Burger, stacked with tender brisket, onion rings, and peppercorn sauce. Classic favourites such as the Crispy barbecue Chicken, Crispy Chicken, and Grilled Beef burgers are also part of the giveaway, so customers have the opportunity to select from eight different burgers. The free burger offer will be live between 24th and 29th June, or until all the codes are redeemed. And is valid across most UK restaurants.
North Wales Live
23-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Frankie and Benny's giving away £100,000 of free burgers with no catch
Frankie & Benny's has announced a giveaway to celebrate the launch of its new burger range. The chain is giving away over £100,000 worth of burgers. The restaurant is introducing five new burgers and from Tuesday, June 24, when over 6,000 guests will be able to claim a free burger with no strings attached. Customers can visit to sign up and receive a unique code. Once these are gone, the offer closes Frankie & Benny's Marketing Director Sarah Sculpher said: 'We wanted to go big this summer, big flavours, big fun, and a big thank-you to our guests in our 30th year. These new burgers are a celebration of everything people love about Frankie's, they are bold, unapologetically indulgent and deliciously piled high with unique toppings. Giving away £100,000 worth of burgers is our way of sharing the love and letting people get a taste of what's new at Frankie & Benny's.' The giveaway celebrates the launch of Frankie & Benny's new menu which went live in restaurants on Monday, June 17. The burgers include the Double Stack, the plant-powered Central Park Burger, with a soya and wheat patty, cauliflower bites and vegan cheese sauce and the Mac Daddy with smoky bacon and house mac 'n' cheese. The Little Italy Burger includes breaded chicken parm, pepperoni, marinara sauce and mozzarella, while the Steakhouse Burger is brisket, onion rings and peppercorn sauce. Frankie & Benny's is also including three of its most popular burgers, the Crispy BBQ Chicken, the Crispy Chicken and Grilled Beef as part of the giveaway, bringing the total selection up to eight. After nearly 30 years, the restaurant has a fresh look and a new menu. The free burger offer will be live between 24 and 29 June, or until all the codes are redeemed, whichever comes first. The offer is valid across most UK restaurants, excluding select airport and central London locations. Terms and conditions apply.
Boston Globe
09-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
This Vermont college town has grown-up taste
Cindi Kozak, owner of Frankie's, an award-winning restaurant in Burlington, agrees that Burlington's culinary offerings are diverse, plentiful, and top-notch. 'I think a lot of it has to do with the passion people bring and the access we have to such incredible products,' she says. 'Also being such a small state, we can establish strong connections with our farmers, brewers, distillers, cheesemakers, etc. There are a lot of world-class products being made right at our doorstep, and we get to choose the best of what's out there.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Granted, you can find a good college town cheeseburger, but it's likely to be smothered in a local, award-winning cheddar, served with an exceptional artisan-crafted pint of beer. Advertisement 'The underlying theme of locally sourced ingredients is still alive and well, and the driving force behind a lot of menus around Burlington,' says Cara Tobin, chef/co-owner of Honey Road and The Grey Jay. Advertisement The Farmhouse Tap & Grill is a farm-to-table gastro pub and outdoor beer garden, serving fresh, tasty food, like this specialty burger and side salad. Pamela Wright That goes for Burlington's beer scene, too. According to the National Brewers Association, Vermont leads the country in the number of craft breweries per capita, and Greater Burlington has the highest concentration, with more than 25 breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs. If you're a beer lover, you probably already know this and have visited some of Burlington's highly regarded breweries, serving some of the country's most sought-after beers. But we mentioned a few here, like the You could spend a lot of time checking out Burlington's breweries and pubs (the Advertisement Blind Tiger, a Lark Hotel property, is located just outside of Burlington's bustling downtown and a few blocks from the waterfront. Pamela Wright First, we checked into In the end, it's tough choosing the best restaurant hit list, but after much sleuthing and eating, here are some of our favorites in Burly. Dishes at Frankie's are well-crafted and creative, spotlighting fresh, in-season ingredients, like this Lebanese cucumber dish. Pamela Wright 'We're hoping to do something a little different but still honor our desire to focus on what Vermont and New England food means to us,' says Kozak. This stylish restaurant, one of only 14 restaurants in the country named to Eater's 2024 Best New Restaurants list, is helmed by Kozak and Chef Jordan Ware. It's an unpretentious space, with low ceilings, whitewashed walls, and simple, light wood tables, flourished with a large marble bar with dramatic black, white, and gray swirls. The genuinely warm and friendly staff keeps it homey. Advertisement The dishes are well-crafted and creative, spotlighting fresh, in-season ingredients and showcasing Kozak and Ware's love of all things New England. We tried the fluffy, almost creamy fried oysters with pickled celery root and capers, and the grilled turnips with blue crab and crème fraiche, followed by a tasty pork schnitzel with lemon vinaigrette, and an herb fazzoletti with zucchini and red Russian kale. We couldn't resist a side of their sourdough bread with Vermont honey and sea salt. A favorite among locals and visitors alike since it opened in 2013, it's the sister to its original restaurant in Waterbury, Vt. The bustling outpost has a dark, rich sports club feel, with beams and wooden ceiling trusses, stacks of firewood, burning fireplaces, leather chairs, and a cozy bar. There's also a chef's counter with front row views into the kitchen. The food is well-sourced and well-crafted, consistently good. The menu changes frequently with the seasons and available products, including small plates like scallop crudo with green garlic and pickled turnips, braised rabbit tart, and beef tongue with shitake mushrooms, and large plates like black cod with hen of the woods mushrooms and tagliatelle with grilled zucchini and crispy garlic. You can also count on an extensive cheese menu (you're in Vermont!) and their famed Parker House rolls (yes, you should order them with local honey). Try the ever-changing flatbread choice at May Day; this one features whipped ricotta and an abundance of spring veggies. Pamela Wright This friendly neighborhood bistro tucked in Burlington's Old North End is not-so-slowly being discovered, thanks to rapid word-of-mouth. And it's helmed by Chef Avery Buck, who's been named a James Beard 2025 finalist for Best Chef: Northeast. The space is small, with about 20 tables or so, a bar counter, and an open kitchen. The menu is selective and focused on local in-season preparations. This is the place to go with a handful of friends to sample several plates. On our recent visit, we shared beer-battered skate cheeks with hot pepper mayo (thumbs up), duck liver parfait (so-so), and chunks of crunchy Lebanese cucumbers in a pool of tangy ramp yogurt (delightful!). But the standouts were the baby bok choy grilled to a nice char, doused with a sweet miso vinaigrette and topped with crispy sunchokes, and the house flatbread, with a layer of creamy whipped ricotta, spring vegetables, and hot honey. There are larger plates, also, like chicken schnitzel with a homemade green goddess dressing, steelhead trout with spring alliums and sorrel, and a ricotta gnocchi with baby spinach, pea shoot pesto, and oyster mushrooms. We'll be back to check out the next in-season menu. (P.S. They have a nice wine and cocktail list, too.) Advertisement The Grey Jay features Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, like this nicely seasoned shawarma wrap. Pamela Wright & Both manager/co-owner Allison Gibson and chef/co-owner Cara Tobin of Honey Road and The Grey Jay are finalists for the James Beard 2025 Outstanding Restaurateur, a national honor. That's quite a recognition, and their talents show at these Mediterranean-style restaurants in downtown Burlington. They opened Honey Road in 2017, serving Eastern Mediterranean small plates. Consider their 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. HoneyTime small plates: tahini hummus, baba ganoush, house-made pita, spiced fried chickpeas, braised lamb, kale salad, and more. Or go later for dinner; you'll find some of these same items on the menu, along with other mezze-style dishes. Advertisement Head to The Grey Jay for breakfast or lunch. This small, first-come, first-served eatery has great pastries and breakfast items, including a nicely flavored shakshuka topped with creamy feta cheese. Come lunch, go for the kale salad, one of their most popular signature dishes, served in a large bowl with crispy quinoa and flavored with a tahini vinaigrette, or the nicely seasoned chicken shawarma wrap. The Tunisian deviled eggs with harissa and fried capers are a nice munch, too. The potato gruyere tart at Majestic is a sure winner. Pamela Wright One of Burlington's newest arrivals is this little gem in the South End. A couple of warnings first: They're not open on Saturday or Sunday, and they don't accept reservations. During prime dinner hours, you may have to wait (albeit with a drink in hand), but it's worth it. The open kitchen restaurant, with about 25 seats, has a fun, convivial vibe, with creative cocktails and a smart wine list. And the food, mostly small plates, is worth going back for again and again. In fact, we noticed that many diners were past guests, and the staff greeted them by name. The menu changes frequently, but you can expect a handful of cheese platters, in-season vegetable-centered plates, like a white bean salad with garlicky kale, sweet potato, and herb pesto, or roasted mushrooms and barley with pea shoots. We also enjoyed the signature meatballs, swimming in a bright tomato fennel sauce, and the layered potato gruyere tart. Special mentions Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
