Folks returning from their summer break were probably startled as they drove in from Interstate 787, as a new plaza sprang up just off the exit ramp in Green Island. You’d think that any building constructed with such rapidity would be filled quickly, but as of right now, the only tenant is Frank’s Diner.
My dining companion and I visited there around 1 pm. She wanted lunch and I was in a breakfast mood, so a diner was the obvious choice.
Frank’s is a tidy little place that went into business only three months ago—construction on the plaza it resides in wasn’t even complete when it opened its doors. The dining area is a single small room, and patrons can seat themselves at any table they like, or at the counter.
We both ordered coffee, and were thrilled when we were brought two mugs and a small pitcher—no need to ask for refills every five minutes. The coffee is good, too—mandatory for any diner worth its salt.
The menu has a fairly limited selection of breakfast and lunch staples—pancakes, eggs, hamburgers, sandwiches, and the like. The prices are good: The two of us got out for around $15, including tip.
Our server was friendly and timed things well, waiting until we had closed our menus to take our orders. My companion went with a simple grilled cheese with tomato; I opted for corned beef hash, eggs, and homefries.
The food arrived with due haste, and it was tasty but not extraordinary—basically what you would expect from a diner, except that we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of grease.
The one drawback is the atmosphere—both literally and figuratively. There are no dividers anywhere in the restaurant, and cigarette smoke hangs in the air. Also, the restaurant seems barren; the walls are hospital white and the decorations are fairly spartan. Finally, the chairs are really uncomfortable—it’s not someplace I’d want to sit and talk for hours on end.
As usual, though, the quality of the food overrides most other concerns, and I’d certainly recommend Frank’s on that basis. They close early since they don’t serve dinner, but if you’re hungry early in the day, you should consider Frank’s.
To get to Frank’s, head down Peoples Avenue into Troy. Cross the Green Island Bridge and take a left at the traffic light. Frank’s is on your right, in the big empty new plaza.
