Chapman’s II

Flank Steak is a must!
We were visiting the Franklin Farmer’s Market and this food truck was there. We hadn’t had breakfast yet and were looking for a breakfast sandwich even though it was almost 10am. The chef gave us a sample of the flank steak he was cooking. Forget breakfast! My husband and I ordered the steak sandwich. It was served on an onion roll. This was without a doubt the best steak sandwich I’ve had in a really long time. I will be stalking this truck when I have steak sandwich cravings!

The chef is a «Rock Star». Chef out the specials. If they have the shrimp POBOY, you have got to get it. It is off the hook!
You have probably never had flank steak this tender and they give free samples! Ask for the homefries. They don’t always have them but when they do… heaven!

Heads up! Since my June 20 review, below, the chef responded saying Chap II is now a regular fixture at the FFM each Saturday and the menu does change. Hmm. I hate putting my money on the wrong horse! As a foodie I’ll have to give it another shot. Even if it is a food truck and the steak sandwiches reviewed below are considered their signature dish (not encouraging.) Until then:
June 20, 2015:
I sang Chapman’s II’s praises in 2012. Today, I can only whistle in disappointment. A lot has changed including my 5-​star to 1-​star rating.
No longer is it found moored at Landmark Booksellers. I was disappointed not to see it there. So, off to the Franklin Farmers Market… a place where Franklin bites. And what to my wondering eyes? Chap II! There it was! Well, sort of. I knew it had been sold to a new family and it was different, but still pleasant… maybe last summer?
It seems to have been sold again. No longer is it the quaint and quirky comfort food worth sitting outside for. No. That’s all gone. Those enamored with the food truck experience may like it. Chap II is now just another food truck hawking semi-​palatable grindage at excessive prices.
Today’s menu? Disappointing. Based upon the pride and enthusiasm they put behind their steak sandwich I suspect that’s their new market and wonder whether the menu ever changes now. The whimsy of surprise and expectations of what may be on the day’s menu is lost. This trip, it’s a Philly-​style steak sandwich, sliders, a salad, or try the next truck. I’m betting that’s THE menu. Steak samples were offered and it was a flavorful meat. But I don’t care for steak sandwiches, so I ordered sliders. Oopsie! They’re just little steak sandwiches on slider-​sized pretzel rolls. I don’t like pretzel rolls either. The onion «jam» was OK and the fried green onions were a nice touch, but none of it worked together.
A tongue-​in-​cheek advertisement on the window described the sandwich as being filled with «…salty tears of a clown with a nicotine habit.» No doubt. Salt was the overpowering assault on my taste buds. There was so much that you could barely enjoy the onion jam. By the second bite I was hoping I’d actually taste some nicotine! I picked at some of the meat then let the meal live up to its name. I looked at the stuff that just minutes before had been my twelve dollars in trade and slid it into the waste bin.
Your milage may vary.

(I visited Chapman’s II Pie Wagon a little before they went on hiatus to repair the truck. As of this review timing, they’re still under construction, but they’re coming back eventually!)
Chapman’s Pie Wagon was a Franklin staple from 1922 – 1946. The Perkins family brought the wagon back to life a few years back, bringing with it the eclectic menu and old trolley feel. Now under new ownership but with the proprietary recipes, the wagon is still serving up good eats next to Landmark Booksellers in downtown Franklin.
My coworkers and I had talked about hitting up Chapman’s for lunch for a long time. It’s not a true food truck, more of a food stand, but it’s known for great service and food. We finally found a Friday afternoon with time to head downtown, so we were very excited. There’s a good amount of parking behind Landmark and near the wagon. We had to wait in line (and wait for the fresh-​cooked food) but it was well worth it.
I chose the lunch special, a flank steak with red potatoes and mac ‘n’ cheese. The steak was delicious, though I wish it were a little hotter and less salty. The potatoes and rolls were great too. The mac ‘n’ cheese was hands down the bomb. I actually wonder if they’d serve me a Frank with a Flair with the macaroni on top. My coworkers’ hot dogs (sliced lengthwise and served on sandwich rolls) looked so good I wish I could have eaten to meals. Our other coworker got her favorite Jazzy Yum Bowl, which are like ultra fresh burrito bowls with some secret sauce.
It was a rainy day, but there were umbrellas over the outdoor seating so we were able to eat near the wagon. You can tell the new owners are doing a great job, because even with the changeover there’s still a lunch crowd at Chapman’s!