It is first come, first served at Frank's Diner on 58th Street off Sixth Avenue in Kenosha, Wis. Customers line up to wait for a table or a seat at the counter in the 10-foot-wide diner. Slinging more than hash for more than 80 years, Frank's is thriving under its newest incarnation made possible by two diner divas, Lynn Groleau and Chris Schwartz.
Is the wait worth it? Guy Fieri thinks so. Fieri featured Frank's on his Food Network television series "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." The broadcast attracted out-of-towners like us, and residents who had forgotten about how special the place is.
When we stopped at Frank's for breakfast, there were plenty of kids in line with their parents or grandparents. They looked like they knew what they were doing so we decided to follow their suit.
You don't have to be a kid to order kid favorites. So we ordered what we saw the kids eating.
PBJ pancake: A plate-size pancake topped with a schmear of peanut butter that is still melting when served. Dollops of jelly and a small ice cream-scoop-size ball of butter were melting simultaneously into the pancake. One big pancake per order with syrup on the side.
Cinnamon swirl French toast: Cinnamon swirl bread transformed into French toast, topped with the aforementioned ball of butter and sprinkled generously with additional cinnamon. Order by the slice.
The most popular item on the breakfast menu is the Garbage Plate.
We ordered a half order of the Garbage Plate, made with three eggs (organic available), sausage (also ham or bacon) mozzarella (choice of cheese), green pepper, onions, and held the jalapeno. The fluffy egg mixture is served on top of hash browns with slices of buttered and lightly toasted homemade bread. Worth every bite.
Pay at the counter where your bill awaits. Somehow the staff remembers who everyone is and where you sat. Wonderfully irreverent customer service. Oh, it is cash only; there is an ATM in the basement.
Frank's Diner serves three squares but breakfast is the most important meal of the day and starting out at Frank's puts a smile on our face. 508 58th St., franksdinerkenosha.com.
A humdinger
Walking the downtown harbor area, we discovered no shortage of kid-friendly kitchens in Kenosha. Hanging out around Sixth Avenue we found plenty.
Lunch, anyone?
It's easy to find Trolley Dogs. It's smack dab on the corner of a streetcar stop. It boasts its own trolley too. This one is on the ceiling where miniature cars make the circuit from the back room to the front.
Owner Joe Catuara is easy to recognize; he's the guy in the hot dog hat.
A transplanted Chicagoan, he knows a thing or two about hot dogs. As a young man, Catuara had his own cart in the Brighton Park area on the southwest side. Trolley Dog's Vienna Franks are topped with di rigeur condiments that make up a Chicago-style hot dog, but what's a "Trolley Dog?"
It is a version of a "humdinger," he says because it includes a half of a frank and a half of tamale on a single bun. Catuara kept the combination but changed the name to "dinger" or Trolley Dog. Sticking to his southwest side roots, he says that catsup is available, but only on request. 5501 Sixth Ave., Trolleydogs.com.
Desserts, too
Scoops Ice Cream and Candy on Sixth Avenue is a short walk down the street. And well worth it for the conversation with Jeni Heim and the concoctions she puts together for those who love ice cream and all the fixings.
Let it be known that milk chocolate-covered potato chips are the best-selling chocolate product in the store. Also let it be known to parents with children who have food allergies that Scoops offers homemade ice creams that are gluten-free, egg-free, peanut-free, nondairy and in nine vegan flavors.
"No added coloring," Heim says as she nods toward the bright green ice cream she is scooping into a mini cone for a taster palette -- your choice of 14 different ice creams served in bite-size cones on an artist's palette. Lime zest provides the green in this tangy sweet ice cream. 5819 Sixth Ave., downtowntoystore.com.
Snackies
Sandy's Popper is adjacent to Trolley Dog. A brightly decorated shop, it features gourmet popcorn popped with care and creativity. Sandy Hawes and her husband David do the honors and offer flavorful combinations to tempt palates of all ages.
She says that kids love the colorful "Silly Rabbit" combination of fruit-flavored popcorn and the guaranteed-to-change-your-fingertips-to-orange cheddar cheese corn.
Parents? Hawes says they usually request white cheddar cheese popcorn or the "Moose Mix," a toffee- and dark-chocolate-covered corn tossed with cashews. "Penguin Tracks" is another adult variety. She makes it with white-chocolate-covered popcorn, dried cranberries and almonds. 5503 Sixth Ave., sandyspopper.com.
Dine-in or deliver
Villa D'Carlo Restaurant is still hopping after 50 years in the business. You'll find large, cushy booths and table service in the restaurant that is famous for Carl's Pizza. And they deliver. Thin-crust pizza, pasta dinners and American faves like barbecued ribs. Children's menu includes Italian favorites like gnocchi, Italian meatball and a 9-inch pizza. Weather permitting, dine outdoors. 5140 Sixth Ave., foodspot.com.
Mary Lu Laffey is a Chicago-based travel writer. Contact her at mlaffey@earthlink.net.Heads up at Frank's!
From the menu at Frank's Diner:
"Do not read the following paragraph.
"Last orders are taken a half-hour prior to closing. No personal checks accepted. Cash only. Nothing larger than a $20. No Cash? ATM located downstairs. Be nice or leave. Don't shout. No singles in booths on Sat. or Sun. SLIDE! Feet off the furniture. Don't talk about yourself, we'll do that after you leave. Frank's Garbage Plate should not be confused with the garbage in New York. Sit up straight. Everything is good today. Whining is unattractive. Tapping is even worse. Stop fidgeting. Don't play with your food. Did you wash your hands? Eat your vegetables. Don't look, just cook. Never drink a beer bigger than your head. Elbows off the table. Cheer up. Tony, call your mother. Close your mouth when you chew. Everybody against the wall, stay in line and don't block the doorway. Order what you want, eat what you get. Quit scratching. Have a nice day. Use your napkin. Liberals like to control people. It's nine o' clock somewhere. One-one-n-one. It's nice to be nice to the nice. If you like us, tell others. If you don't, call corporate. If you substitute an item, we substitute a price! We reserve the right to add 18% gratuity to parties of 5 or more (we'll eyeball you to decide). Time to go? Don't be a stranger. Thank you. Please pay at the register."
Five not to miss
1. Dinosaur Discovery Museum features life-size replicated casts of dinosaurs plus an actual working on-site paleontology lab. Family programs, too. By the time you leave Kenosha the entire family will know the difference between eras and periods. 5608 10th Ave., dinosaurdiscoverymuseum.org.
2. Heim's Downtown Toy Store provides a huge selection of classic toys. Favorite playstops are the Thomas the Train track and a sand box with real sand. Adorable gifts like plastic boxes of mixed-wear socks for little girls and Bella B natural body care products for moms. 5819 6th Ave., downtowntoystore.com.
3. Kenosha HarborMarket hops each Saturday through the end of October. It is a European-style market with live music, entertainment, even chef demonstrations plus crafts, locally grown organic produce and flowers. Great spot for vacation photos. Along 2nd Avenue between 54th and 56th Sts. kenoshaharbormarket.com.
4. Best Western Harborside Inn offers great views of the Kenosha Harbor and access to the Harborside romenade and park. The hotel features an indoor pool, spacious rooms with Internet access, and complimentary continental breakfast in the lobby. 5125 6th Ave., bestwestern.com/harborsideinn.
5. On the way home: Kenosha's Electric Streetcar Circulator is a great place to start and end a stay in Kenosha. The restored cars rumble along a two-mile loop through HarborPark, and parts of downtown too. 50 cents for ages 13 and older; 25 cents for 12 and under. All-day passes for two bucks. McCarthy Transit Center, 8th Ave. and 54th St., (262) 653-4287.