• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill

  • Home
    • Blog
  • Best Restaurants and Bars
    • The Best Restaurants in Raleigh, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Durham, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Cary – Apex, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Chapel Hill – Carrboro, NC
    • Best Food Specials and Deals in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill
    • The Best Bars and Lounges in Raleigh, NC
    • The Best Bars and Lounges in Durham, NC
  • News
    • Coming Soon to the Triangle – New Restaurants and Bars
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Cary and Morrisville
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Durham
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh
    • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2022 Edition
    • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2021
  • Index of Reviews
    • Cary – Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Chapel Hill and Carrboro – Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Durham Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Raleigh Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • NC Video Reviews
    • Travel Reviews
  • Food Photos
    • Food Event Photos
  • About
    • NCTD Blogger- Ron Wen
    • NC Triangle Dining Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog Policy
    • Working with NC Triangle Dining
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog and Social Media Statistics
  • Home
    • Blog
  • Best Restaurants and Bars
    • The Best Restaurants in Raleigh, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Durham, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Cary – Apex, NC
    • The Best Restaurants in Chapel Hill – Carrboro, NC
    • Best Food Specials and Deals in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill
    • The Best Bars and Lounges in Raleigh, NC
    • The Best Bars and Lounges in Durham, NC
  • News
    • Coming Soon to the Triangle – New Restaurants and Bars
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Cary and Morrisville
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Durham
    • New Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh
    • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2022 Edition
    • New Restaurants and Bars of the Triangle, 2021
  • Index of Reviews
    • Cary – Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Chapel Hill and Carrboro – Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Durham Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • Raleigh Restaurant and Bar Reviews
    • NC Video Reviews
    • Travel Reviews
  • Food Photos
    • Food Event Photos
  • About
    • NCTD Blogger- Ron Wen
    • NC Triangle Dining Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog Policy
    • Working with NC Triangle Dining
    • NC Triangle Dining Blog and Social Media Statistics

Frank’s Pizza in Raleigh for Classic, Throwback Italian Eats

Home » Restaurant & Bar Reviews » Raleigh » Frank’s Pizza in Raleigh for Classic, Throwback Italian Eats
August 20, 2018 by Ron Wen

Frank's Pizza, Raleigh- This old-school pizza parlor has been doing it well for over 30 years putting out classic Italian-American eats!

Front of Frank's Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com
Front of Frank’s Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com

If you never lived through the 80’s I’ve got a recommendation for you: Check out Frank’s Pizza out on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh!  Why?  Well the pizza is good and this place also feels like a time capsule to another time and place.  Located in the eastern part of the city, Frank’s is tucked away in a suppressed strip plaza with no signage facing the street so you’ll have to search a bit to find it.  The outside looks a bit weathered and worn but when you’ve been around as long as they have, it’s to be expected.  Frank’s does NY Style pizza and does it REALLY old-school!

Order counter at Frank's Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com
Order counter at Frank’s Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com

Once you step inside Frank’s you’ll notice the darkness and 70’s type decor. Old, wood paneling and wood spindle separators, a formica order counter and a small pizza oven in the corner.  It’s hard to describe the interior but if you were around during the 80’s, it’ll look familiar!  The place is pretty busy at 1:15 pm so you know it’s a popular spot!  Nicely mixed crowd, a table of firefighters, locals from the hood and Frank in back putting together the pizzas.  The place smells of freshly baked dough so I’m hopeful.  There’s a line at the counter waiting to pay up but I grab a seat in the dining room so I can enjoy a fresh pie.

Dining room at Frank's Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com
Dining room at Frank’s Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com

The menu here is pretty basic: salads, sandwiches, basic pasta and of course pizza!  It reminds me a bit of Vic’s Italian Restaurant in Raleigh, just your Italian-American classics!  I order up a pizza with sausage and green peppers along with a diet coke which should eliminate any extra calories.  (In my head, that’s the way it works out for food math)  It takes a bit of time, about 25 minutes for my pie but yes, the oven is sorta on the small side.  My pie shows up on a pedestal and it looks good!  Heavily covered in cheese with thin slices of sausage on top, I give it a good 5 – 10 minutes to cool since she just came out of the oven and I have NO desire to sear the roof of my mouth.  I grab a slice and yes, the cheese is soft and thick, the sauce garlicky and a bit sour.  The crust is nicely crisp but still holds up well to the heavy toppings.  It’s a good balance of cheese, sauce and crust but on the heavier side.  Overall I’d give the pizza a 6 or 7 out of 10 which isn’t bad but not great either.

Sausage and green pepper pie at Frank's Pizza, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Sausage and green pepper pie at Frank’s Pizza, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Lasagna special at Frank's Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com
Lasagna special at Frank’s Pizza, Raleigh- nctriangledining.com

Service at Frank’s was a bit casual and slow but I’m guessing that’s just the neighborhood feel.  But as soon as I was ready to leave, the lady waiting my table had my pizza boxed up and ready to go so thank you there!  Overall I think Frank’s is a bit of a gem in this neighborhood.  A popular classic that’s still doing things well but maybe a bit more appreciated if it was 1987.  So while the food is still satisfying, it’s stuck in a time warp with the decor and ambiance.  Just don’t expect too, too much and you’ll be fine.  They do a nice thin-crust NY pie here at Frank’s and if I lived in the hood, I’d be back every now and then.  But what I’m really hoping for is some Phil Collins or Madonna the next time I’m visiting to truly complete the 80’s experience!

 

Frank’s Pizza

Longview Shopping Center

2030 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27610

919.231.8990

Frank’s Pizza menu

Location on Google maps

Save

Save

Related

Category: Raleigh, Restaurant & Bar ReviewsTag: Italian Restaurants, Pizza
Previous Post:Classic Italian Eats and Pasta in Apex at the Classic Daniel’s Restaurant
Next Post:European Style Shopping and Dining in Lafayette Village, Raleigh

Sidebar

Subscribe to NC Triangle Dining

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

New Reviews!

  • Ajja in Raleigh For a Quirky Menu and Flavor-filled Dining Experience
  • Madre in Raleigh for a Mother Lode of Delicious Small Plates and Stylish Ambiance
  • Bonjour Banh Mi and Tea, Morrisville for the Best Banh Mi in the Triangle
  • The Velvet Hippo in Durham for Cocktails and Rooftop Vibes

Categories

Inspiration

“Do a little better each day.”

– Thomas Keller, French Laundry

Popular Posts

Copyright © 2023 · NC Triangle Dining Food Blog · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme