Franco’s Restaurant and Catering

Fried Chicken was great! Pork Chop was super tender and tasty. Please Franco’s, leave the gravy off the meats! Put it as side on the tray. People are very friendly at this restaurant.
Give it a try! Tell them King Louie sent you!

I’m a vegetarian so most of the menu items I could not eat, either because it was meat or cooked in meat juices. However, the sides that I did order were cold. I had ordered the vegetarian plate. The other people I was with had sides that were cold as well. I don’t know, maybe it was an off day or something but my first experience here was not good. The line was really long too.

My buddy at work loves Soul Food and we’ve been to a bunch of places around Louisville, this so far has been my favorite place. They have a limited menu (which has my wholehearted support, do a little and do it right!) but everything on it is superb! I usually default to the chicken and I would suggest splitting the dessert with a friend because they are all really rich. The staff is friendly and efficient. I also like the sides are all made fresh, when in many cases they aren’t or aren’t very good.
There is also ample seating and parking which is a huge plus in my book.

Franco’s is the top soul food restaurant in Louisville. Always consistently great vegetables, fried fish and rotating meats including boiled pig’s feet, salisbury steak, meatloaf, etc. Really good cornbread, too.

Diners and soul food both hit the spot for me. They are the epitome of comfort food, wrapping me up in the food equivalent of a soft, warm blanket, decking me out in culinary sweat pants.
And Franco’s fulfills this comfort need many times over.
My book club decided to meet at this Shively staple, since we were meeting to discuss «Louisville Diners,» which was recently published by fellow book-​clubber Ashlee Clark Thompson.
(Quick disclaimer: I was interviewed and included in the book, but if you were to take my section out, I would still whole-​heartedly recommend this book. I hadn’t realized how much of Louisville’s history and heritage could be traced through diners — the restaurants, not the people. Definitely fascinating!)
And Franco’s provided a great backdrop for our discussion.
So a little bit of background that I learned from the book: Franco’s is descended from Jay’s Cafeteria, a popular spot that was on Louisville’s West Side. It was started by Frank Foster, and after Jay’s Cafeteria closed, Foster’s son, Domanic, opened Franco’s. And Foster still helps out with the restaurant today.
When you walk in, you find several tables and some booths in the small eatery that has a feeling of a different era in it. You walk up to the cafeteria-​type line, grab a tray and choose your entrée and sides.
As Foster is quoted as saying in the book, «People buy with their eyes.» And my eyes were hungry. Everything looked absolutely delicious.
But for my first visit, I opted to go with the catfish, mac and cheese, yams and cornbread, which came to about $ 11.
The fried catfish pretty much took up the entire plate. It was crispy on the outside, without any sogginess, which I’ve experienced with other breaded catfish filets. The meat was soft, and all in all, it was easy to break apart the fish with my fork.
The mac and cheese was so smooth and creamy, and the yams were soft and sweet. The cornbread was more on the savory side, more hushpuppy than yellow cake.
I also got the sweet tea. I don’t know if they make the sweet tea themselves or if they get it from someplace else, but I could drink this all day. I went back for a refill for the road before I left!
The book club made it in just before they closed. Franco’s closes at 7 p.m. during the week. I wish they were open later, but the employees were on top of everything — getting orders and getting food out fast.
They also told us thanks for coming in as we left. While I’m not in Shively often, I have a place to definitely go back to soon.

Had to get my soul food fix before heading back to Arizona and this place did not disappoint! The fried chicken was smack your grandma good! The greens and green beans weren’t too shabby either! I was immediately reminded of down home holiday dinners.
If you were raised by southern folk you will LOVE this restaurant. It’s not fancy, but then again, neither am! I would have kissed the cook, but I was afraid they would have freaked out if a little Caucasian girl wanted to see the cook! If you know the cook, please give him a big ol kiss for me! He earned it!

Enjoyed the southern comfort food and friendly
atmosphere. Left full and plan to come back soon.

Awesome fried chicken, green beans and corn pudding. Others in our party had ribs and fried catfish. We all had plenty to eat at a great price. Friendly staff and lots of good choices!

My first stop off the airplane. Awesome fried catfish dinner with potatoes. Definitely a local spot with local flare. From the counter attendants yelling from behind the counter to the owner sitting in the dining area eating with his old school buddies… a great spot for a quick soul food lunch. However, be prepared to leave smelling like fried chicken and cornbread.

I’d been wanting to try Franco’s for years as I’ve passed by this Dixie Hwy establishment more times than I can tell.
So, after picking up my oldest son after a dental appointment, why not try out that new filling on some good ol’ home cooking? Seemed like a plan at the time.
Franco’s is located just off Dixie Hwy, going toward Shively if you’re coming off the Watterson (aka Shawnee Expressway on this end of town). The signage is noticeable as is the distinct red shingled roof, so you shouldn’t miss it.
The interior is spacious and this is cafeteria-​style dining, so you might want to call ahead for the day’s specials. However, all the food is good so it’s unlikely you’ll pick a bad day. This is no-​frills eating, good food, friendly counter service but the presentation is based on taste only, and if you like your food based on the way grandma used to make it, Franco’s presents just fine. I give it 3.5 stars, leaning to the 4.

Good olé soul homecoooking! The pork chops and roast beef were great along with all the sides. We had Mac n cheese, green beans, yams, corn bread all were just right. The atmosphere was nice and friendly! Good food good prices!

I can’t believe I am the first person to review this place on Unilocal,much less that I had to add the listing myself. This place has by far the best soul food in this city. The collard greens and brisket are amazing. Only Smoketown USA compares in terms of brisket.