If the flight Down Under is a little bit too long {or expensive for an evening out} — we’ve got the next best thing: a visit to Frankie in Jersey City. This Australian bar and restaurant located at 264 Grove Street in Jersey City that boasts natural wines and house cocktails as well as housemade flatbreads and some vegan and vegetarian eats. Said drinks are all served in the most unique of spaces, as Frankie is a restaurant/bar that has an Australian surfer vibe {see pics below for evidence}. But without further ado, here’s a peek inside our trip to this Jersey City restaurant:
Atmosphere
The signage outside of Frankie is enough to pull a passerby in; the blue neon hue with a shade half pulled down feels mysterious, yet inviting at the same time. If it’s nice out, there will be people dining outside {dog-friendly!} as they have tables set up all around. Inside, a retro couch is placed to the left with a surfboard hanging on the wall — reminiscent of Bondi Beach vibes, of course. Before even getting to the food, it’s important to note how magical this place feels; archway doors, greenery, retro seating, and hanging lamps make for a very fun ambiance.
On a Thursday night, it was crowded but not insane to get a table = win. We waited a max of about 5-10 minutes and were seated in a cozy booth section at the edge of the front {underneath the blue sign, but from the inside}.
Drinks
Cocktails were immediately ordered after the turquoise place settings placed down — beach house dishes in the house! The Wonderful Life {El Dorado Rum, Carrot Juice, Ginger + Lime [hey, it’s all about balance]} and Black Crow King {Activated Charcoal, Gin, Rosemary + Lemon} were tasty but had very intense colors due to their ingredients.
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Food
The menu itself consists of a mix of shared plates {things like housemade flatbread — an Australian staple which can be paired with a variety of dips including the carrot & cumin dip with za’atar, spicy steak tartare, with harissa + hazelnut} as well as small plates with vegetarian and meat options.
The carrot and cumin dip came out with flatbread — which was doused in oil {slightly too much, but it’s bread, so cannot complain} and fun to dip. Ordering more is $5 for two slices, if extra hungry. On the small plate menu, we opted for the grain bowl {complete with lentils, barley, sweet potatoes, and greens} and while writing this, STILL thinking about. If into healthier veggie options and struggle to find them in Jersey City, this may be exactly what you’re looking for. The lentils were crunchy, {not uncooked, just toasted} and the sauce and other add-ins were on point. For the gluten-free crowd, this did have barley in it, so make sure to ask for a separate bowl if possible. Either way, HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you’re jonesing for a healthier option.
On to the large plates: TBH, we were almost full and probably could have gone without. But if you’ve never been to Australia, or are just hungry, you should spur on.
The Veggie Burger was yum with carrots between burger and bun, but truth be told the standout item was the fries. Huge, crispy, potatoes. Nothing better. The Beef Burger was also delicious, tender and done to order.
READ: Fresh Seafood in Hoboken: A Visit to Tutta Pesca
Final Verdict
Frankie was built on a love of travel, coastal destinations, and founder Rowen’s home of Sydney Australia, by design and hospitality duel Rowen and Rebecca {named after their very spunky chihuahua}. It’s clear from first arrival that they’ve outdone themselves.
On weekends, Frankie is open for dinner until 11:00PM, and the bar is open till 2:00AM. All in all, a wonderful and unique experience in downtown Jersey City. Frankie, we’ll definitely be back for more.
Have you been to Frankie in Jersey City? What did you love about it? Share with us in the comments and be sure to tag us in your foodie finds on Instagram @HobokenGirlBlog + #HobokenGirl
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