CASE #038 | Frankie’s

Saturday night dinners are really something precious for me and Hubby. It’s our date night, our quality time together doing our most favorite thing in the world…eating (😁I know what you are thinking!). We are getting bored and fed up with Eastwood City, so we went a little farther to explore a neighboring place: UP Town Center.

Grab fares are all surged up that night. I forgot that it was a payday weekend. Well, I really couldn’t get it with Grab these days. UP Town is just a couple of kilometers away, yet their prices are way overboard. I spent almost half of my rewards points purchasing discount vouchers to cushion our fare.

We were supposed to go Casa Verde. We haven’t been there since they moved to their new place as the ground floor level. But I thought to try something new, so we opted to go to Frankie’s instead.

Image Source: http://frankiesnywings.com/

Frankie’s is a Filipino owned restaurant established back in 2012 by a group of friends. Looking into their organizational chart, I can see the youthful energy running down the very veins of the business.

Their branch at the UP Town Center (which is the nearest in our area) is at the second floor of the building fronting Katipunan Ave. You can spot their signage from the street itself. It is accessible though public commute. Just board the UP Ikot jeeps stationed under the Katipunan flyover corner Aurora Blvd. across Petron. If you are coming from Commonwealth Ave., you can board a jeep going to Old Balara and get off near Maynilad and board another jeep going to Katipunan. Get off before the stop light of C.P. Garcia. You will see a footbridge right in front of the UP Town Center Middle Entrance that could be you landmark as well as your safe passage in crossing the busy intersection.

Better yet, you can book Grab and pin it directly at UP Town Center. You can also hail a cab and instruct them to pass by Katipunan Avenue. For those bringing their own car, there are parking spaces available courtesy of UP Town Center. This can entail some fees so be prepared with your loose change.

Ambiance ★★

A receptionist is stationed in front of the store that would help you be seated. During our time of visit, the place was packed and there was a queue of customers waiting to be seated. Our names came sixth on the list. There were chairs available for waiting guests. But it was not enough to accommodate the building queue of your teenagers all wanting to eat and hang out on a Saturday night.

Yes, most of the customers are teenagers. Hubby and I just came from church and we looked like we were their parents. “Anong ginagawa natin dito?” was all I can say.

The façade of the restaurant was very much like that of TGIFridays with the red and black striped canopy hanging out their front door. Big glass windows gave us the view of how packed the restaurant was inside. There were tables and chairs outside should you prefer to dine in al fresco. But at this moment, any available table would do.

They have a standee that featured their bestseller: buffalo wings. Walls are designed like they were made of bricks. The red wood and glass door reminded me of those old school phone booths. Their interiors were dimly lit despite the splurge of LED lights around the area. The dimness was probably because of their black, brown, gray, color theme. The ceiling is in black. There was a mural of Darth Vader on one side of the wall. What could be darker than that?

I don’t know if their goal in putting those leafy things on one side of the wall is to give the place a feel of nature, but it didn’t work for me. It added amplified the chaotic feel by making it look like there is a jungle behind your back.

There are small booths, and couches. Chairs and tables are all made of wood. We were placed in a corner table for two which unfortunately was not big enough to hold our orders. But I think they lack the space to make their tables bigger. The goal is to have more customers inside that is probable why they cramped all things together. 

Our table was the worst. We were beside a window so the whole world outside could see my every bite. So, does the table right outside my window. We were also near the speakers which were blaring too much music it felt like we were on a bar or a club. In short, hindi it para sa mga Tita na ang hanap ay night out, good food, at chikahan. Sa ingay ng sounds at ingay ng mga bagets, tignan ko lang kung makapagchikahan pa kayo. Baka paos ka na paglabas mo ng restaurant.

The spaces to walk around weren’t that big. Di keri salubungan, besh. One way only. Give way. 

I just don’t know if the ambiance is the same with their other branches. Baka masyado lang maliit iyong space na ni-lease nila. Pero for ambiance, I’d say Denny’s, Army Navy, and Buffalo Wings N’ Things won in this department. I chose them as comparison as they were the stores that offer the same food with a more decent ambiance.

Food ★★★★

I was complaining about the table because we ordered quite a lot. We wanted to try as much as in their menu as we can, so we ordered Hungarian Sausage with Rice, Burger Steak with Rice, Garlic Parmesan Burger, Hickoy BBQ Wings, and Korean Wings.

We enjoyed the Burger Steak with Rice and Hungarian Sausage. The sausage was big and juicy. The burger patty was all beef and the steak sauce complemented well with the patty. You get two patties in one order. Hubby gave me one patty and I cut the sausage in half to share it with him as well.

The Garlic Parmesan Burger had sunny-side egg, cheese, bacon, and beef patty. Hubby and I ate it in parts and skipped the buns, so I can’t really tell how it was entirely as a burger. The fries that comes with it was okay. I would still go for McDonald’s fries or BK Fries or even Potato Corner.

 As for the wings, they were chunky, and savory. It just felt that there was too much flavor in it. Mali yata kami ng flavor na in-order. It was good on the first few bites but as we try to finish it, medyo may umay factor na. I’d say Buffalo Wings N’ Things still won my heart here. The Hickory Barbecue was too sweet for my liking. The Korean Wings were spicier and stingier that the actual Korean chicken I’ve tried as a Korean restaurant. Maybe I should try ordering a different flavor next time.

Service ★★★

I have a lot to say about their service as the experience was not much enjoyable than I expected it to be. 

First, when we approached the reception and greeted them. Take note. WE greeted them. We asked to be listed but the two staff at the reception turned their back on us to attend to other customers. Sana man lang they have the courtesy to excuse themselves or endorse us to other staff. We were just standing there trying to catch attention of other staff that could accommodate us.

When the two staff finally had the time to face us, we told them that we need a table for two. He asked us our name and wrote it on the list. I asked him kung pang-ilan kami and he said pang-anim. He then pointed at the waiting area for us to sit down and wait.

After 20 minutes, our names were called. Akala ko naman may table na. Iyon pala kukuhanan lang kami ng order. We gave our orders. Then pinaupo kami ulit. Then a few minutes later, tinawag kami ulit for order taking. I told them our orders were already taken. Akala raw wala pang order. Upo na lang daw muna at susunod na kami. 

Unfortunately, we lost our seats already. Kasi nga tinawag kami sa reception. We have no choice but to stand and wait. Sige na nga. Malapit na man na daw. We kept hearing other people’s names being called out except ours. And if we were on the 6th, then bakit lampas anim na iyong tinawag? 

We opted to patiently wait pa rin. Marami lang sigurong tao. After 15 more minutes, our name was called. We were led inside. Akala ko naman inside. But no, just right across the door. Sa isang corner. Masikip, madilim, mainit, maingay. There was a table outside being offered to us, but I opted a table inside, so I can fully experience their ambiance. Sige na nga. Pwede na.

Waiting time for the orders took another 20 minutes or so. I was wondering why they were taking our orders in advance when we still have to wait for that long. Ibig palang sabihin kung hindi pa na-advance order mas matagal pa pag-aantay namin?

When the food arrived, they had a hard time putting it on the table. The staff even gestured to us na para bang kami pa ang inuutusan to clear the table and create some space. Eh maski nga phone namin hindi na namin mapatong sa table eh. It was not our fault you put us in a small table. You knew our oders in advance.

We wanted to ask for Tabasco pero all the waiting staff are just whizzing past us. Walang lumilingon sa corner namin as we waved at them. I stood up and marched to the counter where I can see a Tabasco bottle standing. Ako na ang kumuha kasi mukhang busy lahat ng staff. Pero buti na lang when Hubby wanted catsup for the fries, may pumansin naman sa kanya. Akala ko ako na naman ang kukuha eh.

Alam niyo kung saan sila mabilis? Sa pagbigay ng bill. A staff approached and asked if magbi-bill out na ba kami and if we are taking out the left overs. Pero hindi naman namin hinihingi iyon. Di ba ang bilis? We said yes kasi mukhang pinalalayas na kami. Gusto pa naman sana namin mag-try ng dessert so I can add it up in my review. Oh well.

Cash, credit cards, and debit cards are all acceptable.

Pricing ★★★★

If there was one good thing about the place, it was their price. For those big servings of food that well, does not taste that bad at all, it could be a deal. Pwede na. 

This is good for students, young professionals, and those that would want to have a decent meal on a budget. Just don’t expect much on the ambiance and service kasi the cost can only cover as much. As in pwede na.

Overall Rating = 3.25 ★

Medyo disappointed lang ako ng kaunti dahil tiniis ko ang surge ni Grab and went all the way to UP Town Center for a not so good experience. Siguro babalik ako for the food so I can try out other flavors of their chicken wings but not on a payday weekend. O kaya sa ibang branch ko naman i-try baka mas okey. Sana hindi kasing toxic ng experience ko last time. 

Imagine dining in a food park with all the chaos and the noise. Ganun siya. So, kung thrill and vibe ang hanap niyo, this could give you that food park experience in a more intimate set up. 

Pero kung chill at chikahan ang hanap niyo or romantic date, try a quieter restaurant. And if you are planning to dine on weekends, make sure hindi kayo gutum na gutom and you still have the patience to wait.

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All reviews are based on my own experience. My views and opinions may vary from others. If you have a different experience with this place, feel free to let us know through the comments section. The descriptions and prices mentioned are based on what I have actually encountered. It may vary from time to time or in different branches. Again, feel free to comment for updated information.