Have you ever had a neighborhood eatery that was practically part of your everyday life, but you didn’t truly realize how impressive it was until out-of-towners also liked it? It could be the …
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already a member? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue |
Have you ever had a neighborhood eatery that was practically part of your everyday life, but you didn’t truly realize how impressive it was until out-of-towners also liked it? It could be the local sno-cone stand or a tasty pizza joint. You take the quality for granted because it’s always been there. Suddenly you realize how good it must be to keep going back.
Frankford Family Diner was that spot in my life. My family lived a convenient drive away, so it became an easy dinner option. A. Lot. The food was always solid, so we just had to choose whether we wanted a thick sandwich, big salad or entrée.
Then one day, my coworker—who lived in another town with many restaurants—mentioned how much he enjoyed Frankford Family Diner because of the big portions, good flavor and affordability.
I was actually stunned because he had put into words the underlying thoughts that my family had innately known for years, but never really discussed. The food and the staff were always spot-on.
I recalled my favorite menu items: chicken cheesesteak wraps with golden French fries; barbecue bacon Texas burgers; tall bacon turkey club sandwiches that can feed two adults or one teenager; lemony chicken française; and massive Greek salads with fresh olives, feta and pepperoncini; and more.
A gigantic, crispy, fried chicken breast was used for both the Frankford salad (with fresh bacon and shredded cheddar) and the chicken parmesan (smothered in cheese and marina). Plus, every single sandwich and entrée comes with a cup of soup.
Recently, this conversation from 10 years ago returned to mind when I stumbled upon online reviews of the diner.
People are still talking about the flavors and price. “Don’t be fooled by the word ‘diner’ or by the simplicity of the location,” people seemed to say, as they posted photos of prime rib, shrimp scampi and crab-stuffed dishes.
It was a whole other realm of menu items that I’d never tried: broiled or fried seafood, Italian pasta dishes, at least 15 chicken dishes, porkchops, broiled or country-fried steak.
Sunday morning at the diner is jumpin’ with hungry, chatty folk. People go here after Saturday nights, after church, after a weekend in Ocean City.
My mom and I visited last month for breakfast (Dad requested carry-out waffles and sausage). We had our classic eggs over-easy with bacon, home fries, grits and yes-more-coffee-please. I was too focused to even take good photos of the meal.
Breakfast is served all day, with eggs, French toast, pancakes, sausage gravy and daily specials. And for someone who firmly believes in the sanctity of breakfast meats—I admit to also enjoying the vegetarian omelet with melted Swiss cheese.
Now, this former railroad town is more residential than culinary, with a pleasant library, a wide playground lot and a new traffic signal at that-one-intersection-with-the-grain-silos.
But by its very nature, a small-town diner should be tasty, homey and good-valued. The red building has housed various restaurants over the decades, and Frankford Family Diner continues to be a central player for the community.
Look for the kids’ menu, holiday dinner options and a tall dessert case (for which, Mom sent me back out to purchase a block of cheesecake).
Frankford Family Diner is located at 34067 Dupont Blvd., Frankford, Del. Learn more at (302) 732-9292 and www.frankfordfamilydiner.com.
Bay to the Beach: Byways is an opinion column in which we explore interesting places and projects on the Delmarva Peninsula. Videos and more photos at baytobaynews.com/bay-to-the-beach-byways