We want to be regulars at Frank’s.

So Tom took the day off today so we could go to lunch with Katie. This meant we got to spend the whole day together…so that means we started at Marshall’s and planned to go out for lunch… We decided to head to Kenosha to hit up Frank’s Diner, which we’d seen on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.

Our experience started with a literal bang when I went to slide open the train car door and it was much easier than I anticipated so I literally slammed it open. Everyone looked up at me and one of the waitresses made some smart ass hilarious comment and I opened my arms wide and said something to the effect of “I’m here! The party can start now!” She came back with something about knowing how to party and tequila and right away we knew these were our people. 🙂

So we ordered drinks (I got a bloody Mary and Tom got an Irish coffee) and shortly after they deliver them she came back with two shots of tequila for us. Okay, we’re in. So Tom and I cheered each other and drank them and then the waitress came back in a few minutes and chastised us for not waiting to drink with them. Apparently they all drink shots when they have first-time guests. So…she gave us each another shot so we could all drink together…and we did. 🙂 (By the way, the bloody Mary was really very delicious.)

So we were sitting at the counter directly across from the cooktop so we watched everything. I saw the cook pulling bacon out of a…greenish liquid…so of course I asked. Jalapeño juice. So…jalapeño bacon. 🌶🥓 Let that sink in. She said they used to buy it but making their own was better. So as I’m thinking about that, she hands us this:

OUR VERY OWN SAMPLE! I made some comment about it being in the shape of a heart and she laughed and said it was totally accidental. So we tried it and OMFG IT WAS AMAZING. I said it would be awesome in the bloody Mary…so when we ordered another—SURPRISE!!—they gave us more bacon. 🥓🥓😳🤤 (Don’t expect it if you go, though. They said it was a lot of work to offer it. But if you ask, tell them Jennifer Hudson sent you. 🙌🏻)

This was our view while we ate. We were actually there when they closed after lunch which is why there’s nothing on the stove.

The whole time we were there they all just had the most amazing fun happy attitudes amongst themselves and the customers. You could tell that most of the people in there were regulars. We would be regulars too if we lived closer.

I didn’t get too close to this (so it’s a bad picture). Of course now I want to go back and watch the episode again.

And a photo taken on the way out (since it was pouring on our way in).