Franks Gourmet Market

In my line of work i have to travel all over NY, and all of the wonderful gourmet shops around. I've noticed that many products that Zabar's or Dean and Deluca carry are all at Frank's. They are medium priced but what do you expect? you are getting grade A products that vary from meats to produce to great cheeses they even have bread and pastries that bake every 15 minutes, on my way to work i always grab a chocolate croissant! The atmosphere is great! The store also caters, they recently catered for one of our neighborhood building parties and it was excellent, they really know what they are doing. In addition to that they are also very charitable, each year they give out pumpkins, and always help out the church and surrounding schools. Overall, the store is great, and whoever disagrees with me is seriously disturbed! I know good quality food and this is it people! p.s We might be in the "hood" but many would like to change that reputation. This is a store that helps change the neighborhood to a family oriented pleasant place to live. more

Franks Market is exactly what is wrong with this neighborhood. I agree that it is good for people in the community to have a place to shop for nice organic produce and meats, but sadly Franks isn't it. It has super high prices, much higher than Fairway, the produce constantly looks wilted and old, and they don't have a great selection of meats. The best thing I can think of from Frank's is their olive and cheese section, and even that's not too good. As a chef, I feel that I know about shopping for food, and what a good gourmet store is, and Frank's isn't it. Frank's tries too hard to cater to the new gentrified population of the heights, and doesn't really do a good job at being gourmet. Instead of trying to be this cool "neighborhood" place where everybody knows your name, and where you can finally get "gourmet" food in the hood, they should focus on stocking their shelves and especially their produce section with good quality products, and include some items of a median price range for the blue collar people who still live in the neighborhood. If I am going to pick something up in the neighborhood, I'd rather shop at Jin's on 181st. At least they have firm tomatoes. more

Franks is home to the best produce, sushi, baked goods, meat, and fish. Some of there cheese is imported directly from France and Italy. It is a conveinent place to shop and the manager, Demetri, caters to customer's needs. The store consistently helps with neighborhood projects and delivers free of charge for any purchase. They will special order certain products for customers and maintains a friendly, homey atmosphere. The two owners grew up in the neighborhood and know almost every one who walks in the door. more

Frank's is the best grocery store in upper Washington/Hudson Heights, that's for sure, but you certainly feel that in your wallet. They offer an excellent range of produce, meats and gourmet foods, but the prices are a bit too high to make it an everyday shopping place. I only go on special occasions or if I'm just stopping in for a drink/snack -- otherwise I order from Fresh Direct. They do a great business in the neighborhood, to the point where they've recently expanded the interior and swallowed up the adjacent hardware store. I've never had a bad product from Frank's, and would likely shop there more often if I had money to burn. more

Ok, Zabar's and Fairway are far away and you need a cheese for a picky Manhattanite gathering or some Trappist Ale, pomegranate juice, or some organic meat & you don't want to trek or wait for Fresh Direct. Go downstairs to Frank's.The prices are high, but not highway robbery. They provide a much needed service to this knook of upper Manhattan. The store is cheery and pleasant & carries a variety of essentials and wonderful-to-have extras (like a nice supply of wooden spoons & a bakery-quality cookie counter). Even though the store is not big, it has a suprising facility for fulfilling almost all your desires.Please patronize this place if you live here. It's definitely something that helps make this neighborhood pleasant and worth keeping around! more