Franks' Pub & Grill 88

I read an online review of this place written by WQED's Rick Sebak. It turns out that Rick lives in Bethel Park, and he really loves Franks' (plural) and visits there quite often. I had stopped in for a beer in the past, and one night after reading Rick's review, I decided to take my wife there for dinner. We were pretty impressed by the menu. There were many items that you would not hope to find on a pub's menu. It was hard to decide what to have. The food being brought to the tables around us all looked like it was very well prepared. Since it was wing night (Wednesday) we decided to try the wings. They were not the typical bar wings, and they had a light coating of breading on them, making them extra crunchy on the outside and extra juicy on the inside. The hot sauce for dipping was not your standard sauce either - it was very good. Even the blue cheese served with the celery and fries was unique - orange colored because it had some chili powder added to it. Yes, it looked strange, but it was quite delicious. Franks' is small, and can get pretty crowded. The wait staff is quick and efficient, but still friendly. They keep the tables turning over, and everybody seems pretty happy. I was not impressed with the tap selections, which included no micros or imports. They did have Blue Moon and Amber Bock, which are a cut above what is typically offered in local pubs. But the food was good, the beer was cold, our time waiting to eat was brief, and the staff was friendly. A lot of folks seemed to know one of the owners, who was making the rounds saying hello to the patrons. It's a very friendly neighborhood place, and we will definitely visit again to explore the menu a bit further.