Gwinnett's answer to the Buckhead steakhouses — without the drive into Atlanta. Frankie's pairs a traditional chophouse menu with genuinely good Italian cooking, and the third-floor setting above Sugarloaf Parkway makes the whole thing feel like a well-kept secret. This is my special-occasion pick.
The Food
Steaks from an 8oz center cut up to a 24oz bone-in ribeye, plus the Italian side of the menu that sets it apart: lobster fra diavolo over linguine, a cioppino loaded with shellfish, and Dover sole meunière finished tableside. Starters swing big — foie gras, prime beef carpaccio, jumbo lump crab cake, and a tiered seafood tower that turns heads on its way through the dining room.
Price Range
This is white-tablecloth steakhouse territory — plan on a special-occasion bill, especially if you go steak-plus-starters-plus-wine. You're paying Buckhead prices, but you're getting Buckhead quality without leaving the county.
The Atmosphere
Dark wood, white linen, and a clubby hush — it sits on the third floor of the 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway building (home of the 1818 Club), and the elevator ride up is part of the occasion. Dress up a little; you'll be glad you did.
Where It Is
6500 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, right in the Sugarloaf corridor — minutes from Gas South District, which makes it the natural pre-show dinner.
6500 Sugarloaf Pkwy, 3rd Floor, Duluth, GA 30097 · Official website
Menus, hours, and prices change — always check the restaurant's official site before you go. Photos courtesy of the restaurant's website.