Fran’s Place

Our first trip to Fran’s and we will be back! Solid Midwest comfort food advertised to be all homemade. We came in for breakfast and ordered the corn beef hash with hash browns. I really wanted to try the hash browns with the optional onions and peppers, but my hubby would not have it, so I got an extra order on the side.
I’m originally from a small town in Nebraska and this place took me back to those yummy Midwest diners I grew up with, especially with all the regulars that were walking in for breakfast and the guys shooting the breeze over cups of hot coffee. The dining room was small, about 8 tables or so, and it was pretty full on a Wednesday.
The hash browns were the bomb with the onions and peppers, fresh and crunchy, but still griddled just right. The corn beef was just okay. It was more like the canned corn beef hash, but still a comfort since that was the way I had it growing up.
Fran’s has specials every day of the week. Wednesday was cabbage roll day and I had to try them. We ordered two to go, a la carte, and while we were waiting, someone came in to pick up an order of 42! I was pretty excited to give them a try!
We ate the cabbage rolls for lunch and they were amazing. The sauce was sweet with extra chopped cabbage. They had substantial amounts of meat, not too much rice, just right.
We really want to try some of their other specials, potato dumplings, pasty’s, meat loaf and goulash. Can’t wait to go back!

Truly my favorite breakfast and lunch place in Arizona, Chicken fried steak and eggs are absolutely to die for. If you don’t like Fran’s food. you must not like to eat at all! Don’t forget their Friday fish fry, a digestive delight.

This place is extremely cute. It’s got that «home-​y» Mid-​Western feel (or what I imagine it’d be like LOL). My friends and I checked this place out for a late breakfast/​post-​exam pick me up. And we loved it! Owners are from Minnesota and they put up cute pictures and posters of the place all around. Servings are great for the price (pretty cheap!) and the servers are incredibly sweet. Definitely feel comfortable and relaxed here. I got biscuits and gravy with an egg on the side and it hit the spot! (My carb, sweet spot –to be exact). My friends ordered some other usual breakfast foods, and all were pleased. They have items for lunch and dinner too, and it’s all pretty standard «diner» type food. We’ll definitely be back though, and I’m personally looking forward to a nice, tasty stack of pancakes or a waffle. Yum!

Good food. Not a huge *wow* factor, but a good solid breakfast spot.

First trip here 9÷27÷15. Service was great, so was the food.
A small diner, easy to miss. It’s near the north-​east corner of Main Street and 63^rd street, on the north side of Main Street, almost across from Filberto’s.
I may be wrong but I believe this small restaurant is supposed to be ethnic Minnesota. That’s based on comments I heard the staff make, but nobody said it the way I just did.
I ordered the Denver Omelette and hash browns and got a Denver Omelette and home fries instead. Home fries are just diced potatoes cooked on the grill.
The meal was very filling. An excellent value, served quickly. The atmosphere is friendly, small town, try to know you on a first name basis without being too intrusive.
Next I want to try the hamburger and fries and some of the other lunch meals. My waitress said their ‘Hot Beef Commercial,’ is a sliced beef on bread under gravy which is very popular but it didn’t sound interesting to me. The word Commercial is Minnesota slang which refers to a particular way of serving a sliced beef sandwich under gravy.
My server said the entire menu can be made for carry-​out and you can order lunch anytime they are open, not sure yet about breakfast items in the afternoon.
Inside, the dining area is small and plain. There’s maybe something like ten tables with four chairs each. Their hours change during the year so call them first. As of today, the sign says Closed Thursdays but I bet that may change when the snowbirds return. I think their regular operating hours may also be subject to change. The hours are clearly posted on the front door, inside and out. I also learned they have two more dining rooms in the back end after all the tables up front get filled.
Summary: this is a small restaurant with a decent menu. The menu is similar to most of the other diners around the USA. The food is above average, average price, good service, clean inside, friendly, easy parking. It’s locally owned, not a chain. Being local gives them an extra star. The only reason I would go to Waffle House instead of here is this place is not open ²⁴⁄₇.
If you were confined to a wheel chair this may not be the best place to dine out.
10÷18÷15. I actually saw this place filled, every table occupied, and people standing by the door waiting for tables. Their burgers are fries are very good.
10÷23÷15 If you order lunch during breakfast the order to delivery time will be about 15 minutes.
1÷27÷16 First time here for lunch. I had to get the special, stuffed cabbage rolls (wednesdays). Your choice is one or two, comes with mashed potatoes and gravy. They were huge. My mom made these when I was a child, but hers were easily half the size of the ones they serve at Fran’s. My only complaint was the tomato based sauce on top was sugary, like catsup and tomato sauce mixed. Otherwise they were fantastic, maybe a little too big. The place was full, all three dining rooms. There was a line out the door at noon. No wonder! Excellent lunch, service, etc.

Fran’s was a great little surprise on a quick road trip to AZ for a memorial service. We checked out of our motel and looked on Unilocal for somewhere to stop for breakfast. We were not disappointed. It reminded me of a little home town diner. Food was great. I had a ginormous pancake for the side with my omelet. Will go back if I ever find myself in Mesa again.

Honestly was just looking for some good breakfast food… Unilocaled and found this place. Sooooo glad I did, They didn’t have a few things we asked for ie Apple juice or waffles (their waffle maker was broke) but they certainly made up for it with their warmth and friendliness. My daughter wanted choc chips in her pancakes and they didn’t have that but still made her choc drop pancakes. Honestly the sweetest people! And I was told when we come back to call in advance and they would make sure they had choc chips on hand. Great customer service and the food was fantastic. Thanks for helping us have a great morning!!!

Love the Midwestern cooking especially the hot beef. Can’t go wrong in this family owned restaurant. GREAT FOOD!!!

Fantastic place. Great for breakfast, good hash browns, have them add onions and green peppers. Excellent home made pies. Ask for Brenda or Cathy. Everything is home made.

Darling spot! Family run fun spot that’s been around a LONG time! It’s run by (or at least partially) Fran’s daughter in law. Food is literally homemade. We overheard them discussing freshly made pies and bread pudding, fresh from the oven. Cool!
My split pea soup wasn’t as thick as I usually have it but the taste was great it was paired with ½ ham sandwich which was an old school tasty throwback served with a side of chips.
My husband, the burger meister, got big happy eyes after his first bite. The meat was fresh, juicy and an awesome squishy white bun. The patties are hand formed deliciousness. The fries are coated and are an add on, otherwise it comes with Lays style potato chips. His root beer float was old fashioned, made with two scoops of great ice cream, quality root beer and free with the burger and fries.
We both left stuffed, charmed and charmed by our waitress.

Wife and Iwalked in and a waitress picked up two menus and walked to a table, no hi, follow me, nothing. There was a glass of water on the table with some already consumed. She brought another glass of water and one straw. We ordered coffee and when my wife drank half there was a ring of old coffee around the inside of the cup. we told the waitress and she brought another cup already filled. This cup had caked on egg on the top of the handle. My wife was half way finished with her meal and had to ask for her toast. Waitress dropped a fork on the floor and it was still there when we left. Not the cleanest place to eat.

Lupe is the super-​waitress. Ask for her. The food is high-​quality. Fran circulates and assures that everything is done right. She is charming but blunt. I order low-​carb things. The sausage patties are NOT greasy and rich – they are perfectly balanced and delicious. The egg orders come out PRECISELY as requested… and quickly. There isn’t an ironically-​bearded hipster in sight. The conversations are friendly and light-​hearted. The patrons are mostly retirees and working class folk who deserve a decent meal and some simple human kindness. They get plenty of both here. It is my «go to» place in the Phoenix area.

Wow. Perfect place if you are looking for GREAT FOOD and a «mom and pop» feel atmosphere and rock-​bottom prices. My husband ordered bread pudding and it looked like it would feed a small, hungry Army. He said it was excellent. Would’ve given five ***** if they had better ‘light’ or salad selections. This is a place for people that aren’t counting calories!

Sitting for 15 minutes & no one has taken our order. The customer service was just horrible. Can’t say anything bad about the food. It was delicious.

Went for breakfast and was glad we went. The ambiance may be no frills but the food has that rare home made taste. The French Toast is great; just the right amount of sweet with a hint of the bread’s flavor. The gravy is thick and rich with sausage and can be a bit on the peppery side. The pancake was basic and good enough, your usual greasy spoon affair in that respect. They really got the hash browns down I must say; crispy on the outside and soft but not mushy in the center.
Portion size is on the right side of filling as a healthy breakfast for two is $ 20ish.
I will go back when I have an American sized appetite for those basic but essential American staples.

Tasty home style food for a good price. Clientele was an older crowd. I had the country fried steak and eggs with home fries and coffee. I enjoyed it. Service could’ve been a little friendlier but overall not bad for our first time there. Will be back :)

My dad Larry comes here all the time but I have only been in 3 times and today it was great. I ordered the fish is was hot and moist on the inside with a crispy crust. My daughter ordered 2 pancakes and bacon the pancakes were buttery and fluffy and the bacon was Applewood and thick slices. I really felt as though I made this meal myself. Great job to our cook Brenda and waitress Heather.

My breakfast spot on special occasions. I’ve been 10 or so times. One time I got a waitress I’ve only seen that one time and the service was bad. Every other time it was great. Sometimes the eggs are done badly. I’ve yet to find a breakfast place on planet earth that doesn’t mess up eggs from time to time. But they get it right more often than most.
I gave them 5 stars, so these are nitpicks. This place is great.
These pictures of waffles are forcing me to try their waffles next time.

The wife and I have come here several times over the past year. The food and service has always been fantastic. It’s a Midwest style down home cooking. The food is all made from scratch and definitely not health food! We always come early and they are usually busy. The crowd is mostly older folks. I highly recommend the works omelet. It’s one of the best breakfast places in the east valley. Definitely worth a try.

Simple old time American food. Nothing to shout about. It is made there … okay. Small place. Staff was okay friendly.
Coffee was like dark water — no flavor — go find a Starbucks if you want coffee.
I will not eat here again. Expensive for what you get.