THE unequivocal success of Frank’s Steakhouse has not gone unnoticed among Northampton diners.
Getting a table at the restaurant, which serves the best steaks in town, has been increasingly difficult in recent months and now the bosses have opened a second venue to cope with the extra demand for their brilliant beef.
The less formal Frank’s Hamburger House, just a stone’s throw from its big brother, opened last month and offers a great selection of burgers for a young professional crowd.
Frank’s specialise in the authentic grilling of their meat, cooked in a top of the range “Josper” charcoal oven and served in a rustic style on wooden boards with chunky chips.
The meat is locally sourced and perfectly matured.
Continuing the local theme, the burgers are all named after nearby shops or landmarks.
The Pick-a-lily burger is named after a nearby flower shop, the Common burger gets its name from the shoe shop next door.
The signature dish, the double cheese burger with bacon is called Lift Tower and needs little explanation: It’s a beast.
A platter of mango and lime chicken wings to share was an excellent starter, the lime just coming through on the palette at the end to provide a pleasant zesty tang.
The main event saw the arrival of one Lift Tower (£11) and a Pick-a-lily, a burger with bacon and guacamole, (£7).
Both looked superb, with a neat bundle of twice-cooked chips and a side salad.
However, there were a few gripes.
It may have been first night teething problems but we were not offered any sauces . A small pot of homemade relish would have been a welcome and suitable addition to any gourmet burger.
The side salad was also a bit of a let down: one piece of chicory, one slice of tomato and one single slither of red onion and no dressing.
The burger itself was the undoubted star of the show. A beautifully treated piece of meat, it had been cooked to perfection with a great charcoal-flavoured bite.
It was encased in a ciabatta bun which, although decent, wasn’t helped by the lack of sauce and only served to add to the dryness of the dish.
The Lift Tower’s cheese was good although the bacon was only average.
It was a similar story with the Pick-a-lily. Faultless cooking of the burger itself but let down slightly by a lack of guacamole and some fairly tasteless bacon.
Don’t get me wrong, Frank’s burgers are excellent, but at the moment they are still a work in progress and problems with the other components of the dish need to be ironed out if it is to equal the huge highs of its established sibling over the road.
I’d go as far to say as I can’t remember ever spending a better £4 in any restaurant than the brilliant chocolate brownie sundae.
A knickerbocker glory was also particularly tasty and ensured the meal ended on a very, very positive note.
The bill, including drinks, came to £34 which for a three course meal represented pretty decent value. Some may argue it’s plenty for ‘just a burger’ but it compares favourably with similar gourmet burger venues.
With a few minor changes, this could become a very, very popular restaurant and certainly offers something different in Northampton.
Dan’s Rating 7
Value: Reasonable
Food: Excellent quality
Service: A little slow
Disabled Access: Garden an issue
Parking: Nearby car park
Final Total:
The total cost for the meal, including a cider and a diet Coke, was £34.
Frank’s Hamburger House
159 Wellingborough Road
Northampton
01604 948904