Frannie’s is a friendly oasis along Highway 7
The commute along Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph hasn’t improved in recent years, but Frannie’s Restaurant and Bakery might be an oasis along the way. Conveniently located at the intersection of the highway and Shantz Station Road, Frannie’s opened two years ago to offer homestyle meals and freshly baked treats throughout the day.
The first thing I noticed about Frannie’s when we arrived for lunch on a dreary Tuesday were the whimsical decorations outside the building. The fairly plain exterior came to life with brightly painted bicycles, overflowing flower arrangements and a sprinkling of Halloweenthemed items.
I was pleased to see the clever use of decor was echoed inside the restaurant, with even more elaborate and clever Halloween displays. Fortunately, the gigantic spider over the attractive wall fireplace was more friendly than fierce, as we chose the table directly beside it.
The dining area is a long rectangular space, with a durable tile floor and simple dark wood tables and chairs. Tables are arranged along the front windows with several more organized in the centre area. The back of the restaurant contains the kitchen, shelves of baked goods for sale and the checkout area.
It was nearing 1:30 p.m. by the time we sat down, but there were still plenty of diners. Our friendly server said that although business is steady early in the week, the restaurant becomes much busier when the weekend approaches.
After requesting a soft drink ($3.25) and a glass of water, we looked over the extensive menu. It offers a good selection of salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and paninis. For those with a larger appetite there are several full entrees, along with a few specially priced items for customers aged 60-plus. There’s even an all-day breakfast section.
My husband chose the grilled cheese and bacon sandwich ($10.99) from the daily specials listed on a nearby blackboard, which came with a bowl of the daily soup. I ordered breaded dill pickles ($7.99) and the Rocking Roast Beef Sandwich ($13.99).
The soup arrived almost immediately and was served piping hot in a good-sized bowl. It was a simple and comforting version of cream of mushroom, with plenty of small pieces of mushrooms and a slightly creamy broth. It was flavourful and nicely executed.
The two sandwiches and pickle appetizer were served at the same time, at our request.
All of the bread is made on-site, and from the very first bite it became apparent a skilled baker was in the kitchen.
My sandwich was made with a ciabatta bun that stood up well to the generous fillings. The bun stayed slightly crispy on the outside but had a tender interior that enclosed a thick stack of thinly sliced roast beef, fried onions and Swiss cheese. I added a little horseradish for some heat, and it was delicious.
The pickles were dipped in a batter rather than the anticipated breading. Unfortunately, the batter did not adhere to the cucumber, so although the pickles themselves were tasty the exterior remained doughy and wet.
My husband’s sandwich contained a good amount of cheddar cheese and bacon, but it was slightly overdone. Both of our sandwiches were served with a large side of fries that could have used a couple of
extra minutes in the fryer.
Frannie’s desserts turned out to be well worth the drive to Breslau. The carrot cake ($5.99) was cut into a very generous slice and had three full layers of tender and flavourful cake with just the right amount of cream cheese icing. The slice of coconut cream pie ($5.99) was equally decadent and had a tender flaky crust, thick coconut filling and a fresh whipped topping.
There is something very appealing
about Frannie’s and despite some errors in execution, their food is fresh and satisfying. Their baked goods are what will keep people coming back for more.