Inside: Frank & Tony's

Frank & Tony's is the down-to-earth, a little rough-around-the-edges cousin in a family of neighboring wine bars, brewing companies and microbrew venues that inhabit downtown Willoughby. A popular hang out on weekends, the bar attracts locals during the week due to its cheap selections and laid-back vibe.

Atmosphere: While Frank & Tony’s is advertised as a homey, Italian cuisine-focused venue (the sign offers up the friendly slogan, “Where good food and good friends meet” next to an image of Italy), this representation is a little deceiving.

Inside the dim interior, classic or alternative rock is often blasting and the vibe is decidedly more edgy then a cozy place to share spaghetti with friends. Still, we have no doubt good friends do meet here, as the bar provides a good place to catch the game on one of many plasma TVs and fills up fast on weekends achieving a great neighborhood bar vibe.

A wall of booths and a large bar provide a good amount of seating, but you’ll often be left standing on weekends. The outdoor patio is a popular spot during warmer months and is often crowded with chain-smoking, colorful characters that enjoy heckling people in the neighboring parking lot.

Food: The menu offers your typical bar food—completely terrible for you, yet irresistible and delicious. The menu offers fries covered in fluorescent cheese, greasy burgers, pizza and even some “Italian entrées.” Stick with the wings on Thursdays; Frank & Tony's offer them for just 20 cents a piece, so you won’t be breaking the bank.

Libations: The bar is fully stocked and offers some great specials that continuously change. Shots are popular around here so don’t be surprised if a stranger buys you and your drinking partners a round. Wine drinkers and those who desire more than a giant draft of Miller Lite will want to continue on down the street. 

Service: A little aloof, but maybe they couldn’t hear us that well with Kings of Leon blasting in the background.

Insider Tips: The bar's happy hour runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and its specials include $1 domestic drafts and $1 well shots.

Bottom Line: Frank & Tony’s offers a casual and cheap place to meet during the week, and is a great, albeit rambunctious, late night spot on weekends.

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