Franky and Johnny's

Located in Uptown off of Tchoupatoulas, Franky and Johnny's is one of the best examples of casual New Orleans neighborhood cuisine and culture. Half bar, half restaurant, Franky and Johnny's offers every type of typical Louisiana cuisine in a very New Orleans fashion. The restaurant is dark and a bit dingy, the bar tender is notoriously cranky, some of the help is a bit crazy and the patrons range from local celebrities to local drunks. Welcome to the mixing pot that is N'awlins. Franky and Johnny's offers something for just about every taste. From salads to po'boys to fried seafood platters, their menu includes all the staples, as well as daily specials that also highlight local favorites. The restaurant is always packed during crawfish season, when they offer both boiled and more traditional preparations such as crawfish etouffe. Their gumbo is delicious, as is their red beans and rice, two of my favorite things on their menu. My husband usually orders the fried chicken, which comes with potato salad and a green salad, which is always surprisingly fresh. Oversized onion rings and a stuffed artichoke seem to be the appetizers of choice, and their cheese fries are above average. In general, the food is good but inconsistent. Prices are not the cheapest but are about what you come to expect in New Orleans. The restaurant is family friendly, plenty of high chairs and a mostly friendly waitstaff. There is not specific kids menu, but there are plenty of options for your little ones. Franky and Johnny's is a great place to take non-locals to give them a great New Orleans experience, but if you live here there are other places that offer slightly better food at comparable prices. I will always think of Frank and Johnny's as the restaurant that introduced me to New Orleans cuisine as it was one of the first restaurants my husband and I ate at when we moved down here, and we ate there on a pretty regular basis until we started to venture out. It has been awhile since we've been back, but I am sure we will make an appearance again soon. I give Franky and Johnny's 3 stars.

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