When I was looking up places for breakfast in Onawa, pretty much the only place that came up was Frannie’s, which became one of my driving factors to visit this little town. Taking 3 days
When I was looking up places for breakfast in Onawa, pretty much the only place that came up was Frannie’s, which became one of my driving factors to visit this little town. Taking 3 days out of my month, I drove back and forth to Onawa, which is only half an hour drive from Sioux City, and planned my own mini tour of this Midwest treasure.
My first day I had a late start, and did not realize Frannie’s closed at 2:00 p.m. Meaning they are primarily a breakfast and brunch diner, therefore I made it a priority to have breakfast there on my next visit to my mom who lives in Omaha.
Center of all the action
Situated on Iowa Ave, which is the main street in Onawa (and it truly is the widest main street I’ve ever seen!), it is very easy to find. Walking through the front door, I was immediately greeted by two ladies letting me know I can sit wherever. Spotting a corner table which was being cleaned up from the previous patrons, I patiently waited, then took my well-chosen seat allowing me to view the entire restaurant and its comings and goings of both customers and employees.
From my strategic spot, what I saw was heartwarming. The waitresses (known as “Frannie’s girls”) knew everyone by name and greeted them as they came in, ladies young and old fueling up on their eventful afternoon of shopping, families connecting over breakfast, and regulars having conversations with each other from tables across the dining room.
A breakfast feast indeed!
Not knowing what to order, I decided to play it safe, and order what looked like the house special, the “Breakfast Feast”, which is their chicken fried steak, and also included two eggs, hash browns and an English muffin. In fact, this was by far THE BEST chicken fried steak I’ve ever had! The breading on it was phenomenal, and far superior and more flavorful to anything similar I’ve had in the past; and that’s comparing it to several different breakfast spots my husband and I frequent around Siouxland.
Plan your visit
Overall, this may become a meeting spot for my mom and I, allowing us to enjoy a homestyle breakfast and inspire each other to an afternoon of window shopping and sightseeing. And now that I’ve tried one thing on their menu, I’ll have to try more! So, make sure to check out their menu on their website (http://www.franniescafe.com/), and plan your visit by going over to their facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/franniescafe/).
Finally, being a locally owned small business, Frannie’s is all about supporting other small businesses, and by doing so, they sell products made by artists and creators. From soy candles to soaps, make sure to check out their souvenir corner, and maybe even get your own cute t-shirt to show your support for this one-of-a-kind diner.
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Sat: 6am to 2pm
Sunday: 10am to 2pm
712-433-1200
812 Iowa Ave
Onawa, Iowa 51040
