The buzz around Franks Corner Bar and Grill has swept through the Cape Winelands town of Franschhoek like a breath of fresh air. Located in the heart of the village, Franks is the passion project of American entrepreneur – and proud Franschhoek resident – Frank Rodriguez, who tapped into the culinary skills of his close friend, acclaimed chef Reuben Riffel, and the hospitality acumen of his business partner and co-owner of the restaurant Alex McCormack, to create a contemporary dining destination serving up a fresh and simple take on modern American cuisine.
The contemporary decor is American imbued with a touch of New Orleans style. The double volume dining room is a warm and inviting space with wooden floors, oversized leather banquettes and custom-made hand-crafted furniture lit by bespoke pendant lights. The green walls and tiling are offset by beautiful, lush ferns that are suspended from the ceiling.
The menu at Franks is best described as contemporary American with the focus being on simple, fresh, quality food at an accessible price.
“You can’t put American cuisine in a box. It’s so diverse, with so much regionality, and that means we’re tapping into a whole range of flavours and food traditions” – Reuben Riffel
On the menu the starters also serve as a collection of small plates; ideal for a light lunch. Choose from a wide selection like baba ghanoush and tuna tataki, to the classic cream-and-wine sauce of the steamed West Coast mussels. The Corn Dog – a classic American snack – is given a lift with homemade ketchup and pickled cucumbers.
I opted for the Salt & pepper squid served with spring onions, coriander hot sauce and aioli.
The main courses of focused on steak – generous portions of premium grain-fed beef – broiled in the kitchen’s imported Pira charcoal oven and finished on a flame grill.
There’s a concise selection of salads, burgers and pastas also on offer.
I tried the Hake & Chips and it was simply delicious. Crispy beer battered fresh hake with lemon-caper mayo and fries.
The menu has been carefully created to pair neatly with craft beer from The Franschhoek Beer Company, available on tap at the bar.
And you won’t have to choose just one: with the entire range on tap – including ‘Small Batch’ special releases – guests can also opt for a Tasting Tray of all six.
The complete range of The Franschhoek Beer Company’s flavoured seltzers are also available.
What sets Franks apart is the time, effort and passion that have gone into transforming seemingly simple concepts into memorable plates. While some dishes may seem straightforward, there’s no shortage of attention to detail in the layers of flavour built into each dish.
Franks Corner Bar and Grill is located at 42 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek and offers an all-day menu from noon until 10pm daily.
Book via www.franks-corner.com and follow Franks on Instagram HERE.
