Reviewing Frenchies: The best Italian restaurant in Clear Lake.  

Frenchie’s is owned and operated by the same family that moved to Houston in 1979 from Capri, Italy. This establishment makes all its dishes, dressings, and desserts from scratch daily. The menu items are made with tremendous love for reasonable prices and very filling sizes. Every dish comes with a complimentary soup or salad. The menu is varied in pasta dishes with both Americanized Italian favorites and authentic Italian orders. Some well-loved dishes include their eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti with meat sauce, lobster ravioli, and cannelloni. Some of their famous desserts include chocolate mousse, chocolate almandine cake, cheesecake with blueberry topping, tiramisu, and zabaglione.  

The front of Frenchie’s blends in with some of the nearby businesses, such as the King Chinese Buffet and Baskin-Robbins on either side of it. This place is hidden in a way that may not stick out from a distance but will be noticeable when close enough due to its unique name written stylishly.  

Once guests walk in, they will first see the kitchen as well as numerous pictures of celebrities and NASA employees. Frenchie’s is immensely popular among locals and even past visitors who still make a trip here when they can, as they did decades ago. The restaurant looks like an old one-story house with a comfortable atmosphere. The main owner, Frankie, is with friendly hospitality and genuine care. Frankie’s other relatives also work here. 

I purchased cannelloni for my main dish and chocolate mousse for dessert on my last visit. The complimentary salad was cold, refreshing, and plentiful with a tart, homemade Italian dressing. My main meal was unbelievably flavorful, rich, and dense. The meal was delivered to my table still sizzling a bit from being in the oven. A thick layer of cheese with oven spots laid atop the pasta. The pasta tubes were two large pieces with a soft, absorbent texture filled with ground meat. The meat filling was seasoned with aromas plus a little hint of sweetness like pastitsio. The red sauce was thick and mildly tart. It was not as abundant as the meat and cheese in the order, but still enough to add a nice tomato flavor to the savory ingredients of the meal. The cannelloni is a greasier option, but also an excellent dish for those desiring an authentic pasta order. 

The chocolate mousse had a light and creamy consistency. It had a wonderful chocolate flavor that could really satisfy a dessert craving. The egg yolks and butter were noticeable, and the entire dessert was homemade like the other dishes. I normally do not like whipped cream at all, but the one used to top this mousse was clearly made in its own style that I could appreciate. It was a little thick with a creamy texture rather than one of canned foam.  

In my experience, the service at Frenchie’s has always been done with hospitality and high efficiency. The main owner, co-owners, and the rest of the employees that I met were all friendly and attentive. In particular, Frankie gives off that old Italian grandfather vibe whenever you speak to him and is incredibly kind, lovable, and genuine.  

No matter how hungry I am walking in, I am always stuffed when I get done eating. Frenchie’s is one of the very few places down here I would highly recommend to people traveling from northern states who hold high standards for decent Italian food.