Famous Uncle Al’s Hot Dogs & Grille (Coconut Creek)
Famous Uncle Al’s Hot Dogs & Grille, 4861 Coconut Creek Parkway, Coconut Creek, Florida 33063 (954) 975-6226.
Famous Uncle Al’s is a “hot-dog, burger, french fries” joint located in Coconut Creek…This afternoon… I tried Famous Uncle Al’s 1/2 lb. cheeseburger ($6.45)–onion rings ($4.99)–french fries ($2.25)–hot dog ($2.50)…let’s just say, cute place, piss-poor location…OK onion rings, OK “grilled Sabrett” hot-dog, lousy french fries, horrendous cheeseburger.
Just so you know, Famous Uncle Al’s is a small chain which currently has 8-9 locations, with 3 of them in Florida. The Coconut Creek joint has been in business something like 2-months. The problem with this concept which features waiter-service is, that the food isn’t very good. Like I said before, the hot dog and onion rings were OK, but nothing great…while the french fries and cheeseburger were absolute disasters. The cheeseburger that I was served, was perfectly “formed” just like the stuff you buy frozen in Publix or Costco’s. The french fries had an oily after-taste, “like” when the oil in the fryer hasn’t been changed for some-time. It is absolutely beyond me, how Famous Uncle Al’s thinks that it can compete with guys like Five Guys who serve fresh-burgers and hand-cut french fries.
Anyway, I wish the owners well, but I won’t be back.
FAMOUS UNCLE IS A SMALL CHAIN. THEY HAVE ABOUT 8 STORES AND 3 IN FLORIDA. LIKE YOU, I TRIED THE PLACE IN COCONUT CREEK. FIRST THE LOCATION STINKS. IT IS IN A PUBLIX SHOPPING CENTER WHERE ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE STORES ARE EMPTY. THE JOINT IS OKAY TO LOOK AT BUT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS PLACE CAN SURVIVE IF IT SELLS THE CRAP THAT IT CURRENTLY MAKES. I HAD A HAMBURGER AND IT WAS JUST A FROZEN PATTIE HEATED UP. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN A PLACE LIKE THIS THINK IT WILL COMPETE WITH 5 GUYS? THE OWNER OF THIS RESTAURANT IS GOING TO LOSE HIS SHIRT. I GIVE THIS PLACE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS.
jeff eats: have been reading you for about 2 years. i have enjoyed many of your picks. you really cover the geographical area and like you i really enjoy good italian food. i also love good burgers and fries. back in 2006 you spotted 5 Guys when it was an unknown. now 5 Guys has grown to close to 400 stors and seems to be opening new stores everywhere. i just wanted to compliment you on your fine site and great down to earth reviews. keep up the great columns.
Jeff,
I am a salesperson for a broadline food distributer in South Florida. I have been reading your reviews for the past year or so and I have to tell you, you are right on. You pretty much see through a joint and call it as it is. I like that. Too often I see idiots pour all of their home equity line into their version of a restaurant and cut corners on the food & service, thinking that customers are too stupid to notice the difference.
You catch them every time. Keep up the great work!
Jeff,
I must say for someone who has been in alot of restaurants in south florida and is suppose to be an expert on places to eat down here, you really blew it on the famous uncle al’s thing. I have been there at least 3 or 4 times in the past couple of months and for a native of brooklyn (myself included) you should know when you eat a good hot dog. Their dogs are absolutely the best down here. A s far as the burgers and fries are concerned, you cant not love an angus burger and as far as the fries go, they are awesome!!!!! So you might wanna try it again because everything that you wrote is a complete farce. And i highly doubt that you have the courage to post this either. With that being said have a great day!!!
Joseph Cohen: Just had a chance to read your post.
All I know, is that when I ate there, the hot dog was just ok…and the rest of the stuff stunk. Now just maybe…it has improved since that outing, but my current plans don’t call for spending more money in this joint for a retry…
Tell you what…since- just maybe you “know” the owners, have them invite me for a FREE retest and I’ll give them another try. I’ll wait for their “invite.”
One other thing, every and I do mean every comment Jeff Eats gets, gets published…that’s one of the reasons why Metromax-AOL voted this site in 2008 the BEST EVERY DAY FOOD BLOG IN SOUTH FLORIDA…not accepting advertising makes it real easy to call it the way it really is.
I’ll be waiting to hear from Al’s.
Thanks for reading…
Mr. Eats,
I was just recently made aware of your food blog (through Joe Cohen). I am really shocked at the review that we got from you. I honestly am surprised that you think our dogs our just ok.We use Sabrett dogs on Martins Potato Roll buns, I mean how could you go wrong with that. Also if you add 50 cents to any dog on the menu we will give you a 1/4 lb. jumbo Hebrew National.Now I don’t know what you think but those are pretty much the two best dogs out there. As far as everything else on the menu, our burgers are Angus beef,the Philly cheese steak is spot on, our sausages are Fontanini, all of our chicken is Purdue, and the fries are well loved by our customers. I would definitely like you to come back and try our food. You can bring someone with you if you like. The meal is on my partner and I. I really think we can change your mind about this place. Sincerely,
Rick Litts
WTF, I have been to Uncle Al’s 4 times and the service was very good and the Chicago Dog very tasty. When I went today, which was a busy one for me, I knew I would be able to squeeze in a stop at Uncle Al’s before going home. The “Hours Sign” said that the hours were 11 A.M. to 7 P.M.. I pulled on the door at 5:55 and it was locked. Two more people tried to get in as I walked back to my car. How do they expect to build up a customer base if they are not being true to the customer. On a previous visit I talked with the cook and the waiter about them staying open past their closing time. They both said if we have customers we stay open. Well how about giving the customers a chance to get in the door.
The Hours Sign is a contract. We customers have to be able to count on them when we need them. I will try them one more time and deliver this message in person.
Uncle Al’s is closed , sad great Hot Dogs