Great Fried Chicken, Good Burgers: Boca Raton, FL [Pictures]

LTH,

So I'm hanging out with my dad in sunny Boca Raton, wife and mom have gone shopping, and he says, "let's go to lunch," which in Boca Raton terms means one of 8,000 deli's, their current favorites, subject to change, are Bagel City South and Bagel Works. My parents are healthy eaters, not crazed about it, but enough so that I was more than a little surprised when my father suggested we have fried chicken for lunch.

I'm half expecting lightly coated oven-roasted boneless, skinless chicken breast with a side of tomato when we pull up to a little oasis of deep fried heaven, Fran's Chicken Haven.



Two high energy chicken haven mavens were performing all duties, frying chicken, serving, all the while being friendly and utterly charming. My father said they reminded him of Alice and Flo from Mel's Diner.

'Alice' manning the deep-fryer, 'Flo' did not feel up-to picture taking, even though she was cute as a button, with red hair and big smile.


Fran's fried chicken is simply terrific, tender, juicy, chicken flesh, crisp greaseless skin, everything one could want in fried chicken.


We also had a basket of livers which were tasty, but slightly overdone to my taste, though not to the point of dry.


Beans were ok, my dad and I disagreed on the slaw, he liked it, I thought it just ok, fries were ok as well, but the real winner, next to the fried chicken, was the gravy we were given to taste. Actually, more like a really concentrated chicken soup, slightly gelatinous from long slow simmer, packed full of flavor. 'Alice' and 'Flo' disagreed on the best use, Flo liked it on everything, especially for french fry dunking, Alice on mashed potatoes.

Fran's Gravy. (notice the second table pulled up, we ordered so much we needed a second table. Though, in our defense, they were small tables. )


Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger serves up a good old school burger. Family run, been around 30-years, only two locations and has a great burger stand vibe.


Burgers come without lettuce, tomato, onion, peppers, you choose, though for a small charge.

Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger Menu


A large assortment of condiments, including mayo, horseradish, pickles, ketchup, and Great Tasting Mustard are available for no charge.


I went with a med-rare 1/2-lb burger with grilled onion/peppers and lettuce/tomato. Burger was very good, fresh ground, not too tightly packed, med-rare as I asked.


In summary, Fran's fried chicken is a must-go for lovers of fried chicken, and well worth a detour for anyone in the general area. Jack's serves a very good burger in a family friendly, non cookie-cutter environment and is a great place for a burger fix in the Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale area.

Enjoy,
Gary

Fran's Chicken Haven
1925 N Federal Hwy.
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561-395-3689
The Original Since 1964
Same location for 42 year

Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger
4201 N Federal Hwy
Oakland Park, FL 33308
954-565-9960

Jacks Old Fashion Hamburger
591 S Cypress Road
Pompano Beach, FL

Bagel City South
6006 SW 18th St # B2,
Boca Raton, FL
561-393-5383

Bagel Works
8177 Glades Rd,
Boca Raton, FL
561-852-8992

i remembered the delis i was thinking of, in fact, one of them is next door to frans. flakowitz. it's in the ne corner of that same stripmall. best whitefish dip i've ever had. great bialies too.

rascal house on glades is very good, but the one in miami is slightly better.

jazzfood wrote:i remembered the delis i was thinking of, in fact, one of them is next door to frans. flakowitz. it's in the ne corner of that same stripmall. best whitefish dip i've ever had. great bialies too.

Jazzfood,

While I probably hit 897 delis in my short visit with my folks, Flakowitz is one of the few I did not try, though my father agrees with you 100%.

jazzfood wrote:rascal house on glades is very good, but the one in miami is slightly better.

Rascal House on Glades is no more. I disagree with ~slightly~ the Miami Beach Rascal House is/was light years better than the Boca version.

RIP Rascal House Boca Raton


Enjoy,
Gary

i left after the hurricanes last year, so it must have been since then.

after last pm's meal (fanny must be rolling in her grave) i checked out honey 1 today for lunch. just got back from the most serious q i've had in many years. saw your pix as well on the wall. this place deserves as much business as we can steer their way. most excellent. another great find through lth.

saw your pix as well on the wall.

Actually mine, from this post.

i defer. hadn't seen this post, but that is the man.

LTH,

Fran's Chicken Haven has changed hands since I was last, that makes, by my count, three owner, Fran, 'Alice & Flo' and the new owner, who was not in residence when I was there with my father last month.

Ownership changes aside, the chicken was as good, if not better, than ever and nothing, menu or space wise, seems to have changed.

Fran's Chicken Haven (5.12.08)


Enjoy,
Gary

Fran's Chicken Haven
1925 N Federal Hwy.
Boca Raton, FL 33432
561-395-3689

Heading to this part of Florida tomorrow for a spice trade conference. Fran's is the first place I want to stop. G Wiv, do they let you order that gravy as a beverage?!
Anyone else who has been there recently have more suggestions?

lived there for a decade prior to coming back to chi. there's a better thread for this: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=24583&hilit=south+florida


I stand by what i wrote then:

For Broward my go to's are Pelegrino's in Deerfield Beach (the maternal side of the Rao family). Frutta di mare, sauteed chix livers and porkchop w/peppers and egg are all very good. Amarone is reasonably priced as well. Cafe Martorano on Oakland Park just e of the intercoastal. Philly Ital American. The chef djs from the line w/the Godfather playing on monitors. When Freddo gets shot in the rowboat, they turn it up real loud. Used to have a framed copy of the front pg of the Philly Enquirer of the chef's father being led away by cops on a RICO charge in the 60's over the urinal in the bathroom. The pinky ring capital of S.Fla. Huge portions. Great pasta and scampi bread. No menu, they charge whatever they want. Quite expensive and quite a scene.

Michael's Genuine Food in the design district is worth a detour. There's a thread on it. Tap Tap in S Beach is among my favorite restaurants ever. The place works on so many levels, food, music, ambiance, the definitive mojito. Akra, goat tidbits, spinach w/coconut, pumpkin soup, abalone or whole roasted fish, beignets. More if you're interested.

For the best fish, going a bit north (and well worth it) is Captain Charlie's Reef Grill in Juno Beach. Lots of day boat fish. Huge menu. Pompano, hog snapper, yellow tail, grouper cheeks, great food done well, reasonably priced. The owner is kind of a mentor to me, a great restauranteur.

In season, these are all busy. Expect to wait even w/a reservation.

Thanks so much, going to make sure to get to Juno Beach now.

If you go say hi to Ross for me if he's there. Consumate pro others would do well to study. I know I did. Huge menu of mostly day boat items. Can't go wrong w/what I've already mentioned and must have apps are: tempura grouper cheeks, ti-wa shrimp, roasted oyster gratin, grilled caliamari and tortizza. I usually make a dinner of the apps and fill it in w/an entree or two. Hog or yellowtail snapper, or pompano. Extremely thoughtful and reasonable wine list and stellar peanut butter pie for dessert.

hh

Jazzfood wrote:For the best fish, going a bit north (and well worth it) is Captain Charlie's Reef Grill in Juno Beach. Lots of day boat fish. Huge menu. Pompano, hog snapper, yellow tail, grouper cheeks, great food done well, reasonably priced.

I went to Captain Charlie's a few years back on Jazzfood's recommendation and all I remember thinking about the place is that he didn't steer me wrong...once again!