Frank

407 Colorado St. Austin, TX 78701 (512) 494-6916

Mon-Wed: 7am-Midnight Thu-Fri: 7am-2am Sat: 8am-2am Sun: 11am-10pm

 

Breaths there a man or woman with soul so dead who never to themselves hath said: “Man, I am craving a hot dog?” Probably not. It is the universal American comfort food in my opinion. The only thing shat surprises me is the lack of good dog and sausage joints in Austin. That’s why we’re here today on Colorado at 4th at Frank.

There is much to like and admire about Frank. Everything they make is done with great passion and creativity. Consider their Artisan sausages. Let’s begin with the wonderfully named Notorious P.I.G. This is house made pork, sage, bacon and jalapeno sausage with, and you might have guessed this, mac and cheese along with a Texas BBQ sauce. Good Lord, this is delicious. First bite bliss here with a mélange of savory flavors. And I would be remiss to ignore the Beer Soaked Brat. This comes from Hudson’s Sausage Company, a local purveyor, and it’s grilled and simply served, with kraut and mustard. And unlike some brats I’ve tried around central Texas, this one is top notch! The texture is key with brats along with the flavor and this delivers on both fronts.

The Hot Dogs at Frank cover a wide variety of options and taste profiles. The Chicago Dog is faithful to the styles of this Midwestern Mecca. This is a 100% Vienna dog with pickles, tomatoes, onions, relish, celery salt and sport peppers on a very fresh and soft poppy seed bun (the bun is vital). The Sonoran Dog is a great idea as it’s stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and deep fried. If that’s not enough add grilled and diced onions, jalapeno sauce (yeah you heard me) mayonnaise, mustard and diced tomatoes. Phew. Muy caliente! And the Hot Polish dog is another favorite of mine. Technically it’s a sausage but I’m not gonna split hairs. It’s the bomb with Dusseldorf mustard and sauerkraut.

There are some sides here that absolutely make my day at Frank. The Canadian Waffle Poutine is the best place to start. You take fries and smother them with brown gravy and cheese curds. Mon Dieu, this is some serious taste Cherie. The Corn Cup takes grilled corn sliced off the cob and mixes it with cotija cheese, chili mayonnaise, lime juice and cilantro. Great execution and flavor. And try the Boudin Balls which are three house made fritters with a green remoulade. Again, serious flavors.

So let me be Frank! You need to come to this restaurant. I will see you there.

082420120802