Pancakes better than Cracker Barrel? Try Fran's in Austin

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It's the favorite breakfast place of my in-laws. Fran's in Austin looks like one of those neighborhood greasy-spoon establishments. They advertise themselves as "Hamurgers." They have no web site. No slick sign out front. It's in a declining part of town. Nothing about it looks all that remarkable.

Then there are the stories about the owners. It used to be Dan's until a divorce. I guess Dan lost the place and Fran now runs the show.
Kind of like the barbecue divorce in Abilene, Texas. One of the most famous barbecue dives there was a place called Joe Allen's. It was less than a hole in the wall. But it was famous. Ranchers would show up in the evenings to eat steak. People of all kinds would order their brisket, burgers, ribs, turkey -- you name it. All of it was smoked or grilled over mesquite. Great stuff. Until Joe's wife Sharon caught him cheating on her. After the divorce, Sharon opened up Sharon's in a new location. Joe built a new place and closed the old dive. Sharon's didn't take off right away. Today, however, Sharon's is thriving and Joe's isn't doing as well. Nasty stuff, these restaurant divorces.
Another friend of mine was talking about the owners of a luxury country club in Ontario. They went through a terrible divorce that divided all the property in half. Today, there are two 9-hole golf courses where there used to be one 18-hole private course. Bizarre!
At any rate, Fran's might seem unassuming from the outside, but the food is fantastic. The pancakes are seriously better than Cracker Barrel's. It's the standard by which I measure pancakes since I used to live where CB started. But Fran's -- yum! Great atmosphere. Great food. And a stone's throw from my wife's old high school. Who could ask for more!?

What is it about these old-school places that is so good? In a world where most eating establishments have corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, San Jose or Louisville, it's nice to find a local eatery with real local ownership. Not all local places know how to cook. I don't have to be a chef to recognize bad food when I get it. But when you do get quality food from a local restaurant, why not patronize it as much as possible?

The place sort of reminds me of Country Fare in Fresno. I've never had breakfast there, but I hear people rave about their pre-lunch menu. Now I'm wondering if it would be in the same league. Gotta check it out.

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