Frank's Karma Cafe

Driving back to the north shore from a tree nursery in Woodstock, we stopped for a late lunch at Frank's Karma Cafe in Wauconda. Not our first visit but my first since joining LTHForum last week.
Wonderful homemade soups, sandwiches and pies are offered in this small cheerful lunch spot, 6 days a week, 11:00-4:00. Today's Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup had a slightly sweet tomato taste with a nice bit of a kick. My partner's Cheddar Cauliflower soup was satisfyingly creamy with a good balance of cheese and cauliflower flavors. A sandwich special of roasted red & yellow peppers, roasted zucchini, roasted eggplant, provolone cheese and a bit Italian dressing on homemade focaccia bread provided a tasty vegetarian bite. Another sandwich special, Mediterranean Flank Steak with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, red onions and a spring mix of greens on a grilled baguette, was very tempting. Also featured was an Asparagus Fritatta and a Four Cheese (Swiss, Provolone, Havarti and Goat) Quiche. In addition to the specials, they have more than 20 sandwiches and several salads available every day.

Returning to the ordering counter to pick up the mini banana cream pie we had spied and reserved when we ordered our lunch, we saw a freshly baked angel food cake which made its appearance as a special today after the baker noticed they had a lot of egg whites available after making their custard pies. Fresh strawberries topped our shared slice.

They also vend their lard crusted pies at more than half a dozen Farmers' markets in season, including Andersonville, Palatine, and Chicago Botanic Gardens.
Specials are posted daily on their web site: http://www.frankskarma.com

Frank's Karma Cafe/M. Belle's Pie and Bake Shop
203 S. Main Street
Wauconda, IL 60084
847-487-2037

Nice post. No exaggeration, this is a GNR type of place if located in an area more populated by LTHers. I visit Andrew for pies his excellent pies when I have parties.

I'll have to try out this place some time. By the time I went to the Long Grove location for lunch, the store had already closed for commercial operation.

Spoke with Cliff at Frank's Karma Cafe and he confirmed that the Wauconda location is now their only restaurant and retail pie location though he reminded me that their pies are available at several Farmers' markets, in season.

B2B wrote:Spoke with Cliff at Frank's Karma Cafe and he confirmed that the Wauconda location is now their only restaurant and retail pie location though he reminded me that their pies are available at several Farmers' markets, in season.

They said that they are going to these farmer's market - Palatine, Woodstock, Barrington, Libertyville, Andersonville, and Cary. My list might not be complete.

Not to pick nits, but I think they are at 203 S. Main. I remember previously there was a deli there called the Deli at 203. I like Wauconda. There used to be a semi-Cajun/Southern place that was on Main street (or Liberty) overlooking the lake. I can't remember the name, but I recall it was pretty good. I used to stop there with friends on the weekend and sit on the second story outside deck sipping beers and ordering one of every appetizer on the menu while watching the sun set. Like many places, the appetizers were more interesting than the entrees (like raw oysters marinated in bourbon). Very pleasant memories. I noticed there is a coal-fired pizza place across the street. Does anybody know if it still there and if it is any good?

d4v3--

That southern place you mention in Wauconda may have been The Biloxi Grill, which for a few years in the late nineties / early 2000's was in the spot now occupied by Dock's on Rte. 176 (Liberty St.). Biloxi was quite ambitious for the area, serving up entrees like South Carolina pan-fried trout, but the building was falling apart, and in the summer the A/C kept going out. Dock's took over after that and food has been truthfully hit & miss--they've tried to be part supper club, part fine dining, and part pub. Too many parts. However, they fixed up the place, built a beautiful outside deck & it's truly a gorgeous place to sit outside overlooking Bangs Lake, chew on some wings & a cold beverage.

The owner of Dock's also owns Lindy's Landing on Main St., where I agree the apps are far better than the entrees. And across the street is Slyce, the coal-fired pizza joint that I've posted on in the past, which IMO has probably the best pizza of that kind in north or northwest suburbia.

I would echo jnm's thoughts on Slyce...not worth a trip from far, but quite serviceable.

jnm123 wrote:That southern place you mention in Wauconda may have been The Biloxi Grill, which for a few years in the late nineties / early 2000's was in the spot now occupied by Dock's on Rte. 176 (Liberty St.).

That's it. thanks. It is a great location. I will have to find an excuse to check out the remodeling, and make a stop at Frank's.

Frank's lard-crust chicken pot-pie looks awesome. It is cool that you can buy one uncooked, to go, by paying a $5 deposit on the ceramic ramekin. Since the pot-pies are just $6.95, that makes a great idea for a quick dinner, a nice switch from pizza. If I lived in Wauconda, I am sure my kitchen would be full of unreturned ramekins instead of pizza boxes. The rest of the menu looks inviting (and also very reasonable). Plus, I like it when people name their restaurants after a dog, instead of themselves.