A K A Friscos

Totally amazing. Upon entering you don’t really know where to go. Just order your food by the menu sign. We asked for suggests and were given samples of the exploded potato! That made up our minds! The most amazing mind blowing potatoes — better than any I’ve eaten and I teach culinary arts! The guy suggested the skirt steak with toppings (can’t remember what it was called) on the exploded potato, soooo delicious! I live in Utah and come here once or twice a year. Can’t wait to bring friends this spring — we’ll have to rent a car and drive from DC but totally worth the trip!

My coworkers and I order food from here all the time as it’s a restaurant close by to where we work. The food is excellent and we all find something we like. My specific favorite item is their S.F. FATBOY sub, which is massive but absolutely delicious. They also have good spicy chilly and exploded potatoes. The price is reasonable and the service is quick, which makes this a great lunch spot during the work day.

Here’s another place I really want to like more, but ultimately feel like it’s just okay. I can’t be sure, but it seems like Friscos may have some creative applications of the microwave in their kitchen. Portions are a bit overwhelming, and food is pretty heavy. That said, I ordered some kind of loaded potatoes with a steak on top, and the meat was prepared better than expected. And if you ever need 3000 calories quickly, you know where to find it. I keep coming around every few months, so there’s something reassuring about Friscos. I wish they had some lighter, fresher options, maybe.
The staff is friendly, and there’s a good beer selection. In fact, their beer/​wine store is GREAT — five stars for convenience, helpfulness, and affordable selections. They’re also kind of an oasis in an industrial park, and I’m really glad they’re here.

a.k.a. Friscos is a restaurant/​catering company that is situated in a warehouse-​like area, offering fresh sandwiches, salads, grilled items, vegetarian options, desserts, and beer & wine. A couple of friends and I came here for a quick bite, and we shared an Alcatraz (sliced sourdough bread with sliced turkey breast, avocado, sprouts, and tomato slices, drizzled with honey mustard — the sandwich itself was of a generous size, and while the ingredients were super fresh, I wasn’t really a fan of the honey mustard dressing as it made the sandwich a bit too sweet; however, the sandwiches remind me of one of my favorite sandwich places of all time, the Cheese Shop, down in Williamsburg, and I can’t wait to try out the other varieties!) and their famous Exploded Potatoes (a potato salad that has a mashed potato consistency, mixed with a generous amount of scallions and bacon; this had a slight sweetness to it, but I loved the fact that it contained potato skin, the amount of bacon bits, and that it was seasoned well; super addicting!; a small cup size is more than enough for a person, as the place really packs it in!). The place itself has a dive-​y type of a feel to it, with small wooden table and chairs, and some patio seating by the side. I’d love to come back and try out the Trans-​Am and the Glen Park sandwiches, as well as their grilled wings, the spicy chili, and the pizzas. You can watch the staff make the sandwiches and prepare your food in this open wooden structure, set in the middle of the dining area. A great little gem in Frederick that is not to be missed! :D
+Exploded Potatoes: D
+generously-​sized fresh sandwiches
+friendly staff
+private lot to park your vehicle

It’s a popular lunch spot in an industrial park. Best thing about this place is they serve beer.

This is a great sandwich shop with fresh flavorful meats, nice breads and the salads look and taste great too! Odd location but it doesn’t seem to bother the constant stream of loyal customers. Definitely steps above all the chain sandwich shops!

Ate here on a Friday afternoon, was really crowded, but was lucky to get in line when it wasnt too bad. I did feel a little confused on where and how to order. My sandwich was good, but my potatoes were fantastic!!! I really could have eaten just those. Staff was friendly, and there were certainly a variety of sandwiches to come back and try.

So, my sister has raved about this place for years. I’ve even tried it over the years and have always been unimpressed. Today was no different. I ordered the Presidio sandwich and a side exploded potato. The potato was GREAT. You can’t really mess up a baked potato and fixins all mashed in it. Yummo. The sandwich on the other hand was a total yawn. The bread was a bore. A real hoagie or sub roll should be crusty on the outside and soft inside. This was your run of the mill nondescript roll that could have been bought at any grocery store chain. Also, there was no real way to eat this sandwich. Everything was just laid on top as if it were on display. I just wanted a lunch that I could eat without fear of it being spread all over my face or my blouse. The sandwich was supposed to contain Sliced turkey breast with salami, aged sopressata. I’m not sure where my sopressata was, but I did have the saltiest thickest, toughest salami in the world.
My feelings about this place are in the minority. The line was nearly out the door when I arrived. They must know something I don’t, but I think this will be the last time I visit at AKA Friscos.

Loved the exploded potatoes, best part of the visit. My sandwich was pretty good, I’m just not a fan of horseradish. 4 stars would totally go back!

Ok, so right before heading out on the honeymoon we wanted to meet my new in-​laws for lunch some where yummy and quick in Frederick. AKA Friscos looked perfect.
Location: it’s definitely in a conspicuous location, but I don’t mind that. I actually thought it gave this place a cool, «members only» feel to it. It was busy, so that made me feel like this was a good choice.
The food: overall, I wasn’t impressed. I got the hummus platter. The pita was cold — I think warming it would be a quick little upgrade to this dish — flavor and texture! The hummus was good (this coming from a hummus snob) and I was really diggin the side of pesto — YUM! The olive tapenade was also really flavorful. But the strange part is that it comes on a bed of shredded lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower. None of your usual fixins (tomato, cucumber, sprouts). I was not into this, but it sure made for a great dog treat to keep my pup from yapping at the other dog lol
Wifey got The Alcatraz. Not so good… especially the brown sauce/​spread that was aSALTing this sandwich. If you didn’t catch that… it was too salty. She struggled to scrap it off, as it was quite gooey…
Her parents shared a South of the Market which they liked fine.
The verdict: we will be back, there are lots of cool options, including the exploded potatoes. Hoping for a home run the second time around!

This place has so many choices it might take you a little while to get though the menu. But the chili is awesome, has really good kick to it. They offer beer too. If you get a sandwich, be preparred to take some home, huge portions. Definitly a must visit.

Can you say EXPLODING potatoes?! Mmmmmmmmmm!!! From sandwiches to salads to baked and exploding potatoes – everyone can find something delicious on this menu. My favorite is the Salsalito. Great for lunch or dinner and there’s always plenty of leftovers. Portion size and price are terrific!

Best restaurant located in the middle of a very unassuming industrial park I have ever been to. Thanks to Unilocal found this little gem while looking for somewhere quick in an area of mostly chain restaurants.
As first-​timers it was a little overwhelming. Line out the door, people yelling, menu board with about 10,000 things that all looked delicious.
I settled on the Haight Ashbury as spicy is kind of my thing. Sandwich was HUGE. Flavor was great, especially the wicked wolf sauce. Not gonna lie, the amount of meat was a little much for me, but the boyfriend loved it. He ordered the Embarcardero. Loved the horseradish sauce, but we agreed would have been better served hot. Also got a side of the exploded potatoes (free with a Unilocal check in!) Those guys were good.
Service was not the friendliest, but at places like this I think thats part of the charm. You order at the counter then pay at the bar and pick up your food on other side of the counter. Hard to figure out if its the first time and they are just calling out names to get orders picked up.
Great patio area on the side. They also have a beer/​wine shop next door that we went in. Apparently you can buy whatever you want there and have with your meal.
Since the Flying Dog Brewery close by doesn’t serve food, this is where most visitors end up we learned. Would definitely go back if ever in Frederick, Maryland again (unlikely).

Satisfying, standard, American grub.
Very happy with the meals I’ve had and it’s convenient location near Flying Dog Brewey. I can’t think of a greater pairing than a huge, delicious sandwich from Frisco’s and a cold beer from flying dog.
I ordered the chicken salad sandwich. Loved the sprouts and the light curry flavor. I think it’s be even better with raisins to add a pop of sweetness. The pesto turkey is good and packed with flavor. Beef stew was tasty, but a bit greasy. Salads are huge with tons of texture; exactly like the sandwiches they are named after. I would ask for extra dressing since they use cabbage in the salad which does not absorb the dressing as well as lettuce. It’s downright delicious, though!

Favorite sandwich place in Frederick. Wonderful sandwiches, the exploded potato is a must have. Have had salads there as well. Everything is fresh and made right there. Can’t recommend this highly enough!

I highly recommend it. This is one of the best places for vegetarian food. Though the options are less, I loved the freshness of the veggies. It was yummy and healthy. It is a must visit and I would give it 5 stars.
PS: If the weather is favorable, definitely opt for the outdoor seating. It is beautiful.

The menu is enormous, so I suggest checking out the website to narrow down your choices before heading out. The restaurant is in an industrial park and the interior is very casual. Don’t let that turn you off because the food and service make it worth a little downgrade on the atmosphere. The sandwiches are HUGE and the portion sizes is enough for two. All the sandwich meats are top quality and the exploded potatoes are rich and flavorful. Once you go, you will
Be back!

I’ve eaten plenty of potatoes in my time — French fries, baked potatoes, potato skins, mashed potatoes… but I’ve never had a German-​style exploded potato. Delicious!!! Don’t be fooled by the exterior because this place is dishing up some mighty fine food and topnotch hospitality.
Upon driving up to AKA Friscos, I thought I had accidentally gone to a storage facility. Once we entered the main doors, I knew I had arrived at the right place. At the front counter, my husband and I were offered samples of their soup of the day (chicken noodle) and their exploded potato, which is a German-​style mashed potato with bacon, green onions, and chives. The texture was slightly lumpy, which is how I prefer them! I immediately knew that I wanted more of this so I ordered the Santa Fe on an exploded potato instead of a baked potato. My exploded potato was piled high with chicken, Monterey Jack cream sauce, salsa, shredded lettuce, sour cream, and spices/​This dish was super home-​y and oh-​so-​comforting! The creamy spice-​tastic chicken was a perfect match to the exploded potato. I loved every bite of it and brought home half of it for leftovers. Oh, and did I mention that this was only $ 9? Yasss queen!!! To go with it, I got a bottle of Reading Draft sarsaparilla! It had a refreshing bite and was perfect with my entrée. They also carry bottles of root beer, birch beer, and more. They have an excellent craft beer selection, and I’ll definitely be trying some out next time.
The staff was really friendly and super helpful when it came to ordering. I was overwhelmed by the menu, and both employees behind the counter gave us their recommendations. They also told us that any of the sandwiches could easily be turned into salads if we preferred. I told them that I was definitely wanting something on an exploded potato, and they explained that any of the baked potato menu items could be replaced with an exploded potato for $ 0.75 extra.
The interior has lots of great sunlight and plenty of seating. Although the walls are made of cinder blocks, they’ve been painted with cheerful scenery and decorated with various flags, photos, and posters. The setting is kickback casual with checkered table cloths and spindly wooden chairs a la Cracker Barrel. Your food will be served in tin containers with plastic utensils, but who cares when you’re getting food and service this good AND at these prices!
Lastly, don’t forget to use your Unilocal check-​in for a free exploded potato!

POTATO! Exploded potato! German style with bacon and such with a slight vinegar taste. Ho ho! Mmmm… And the sizes they sell are perfect if you’re already ordering one of their sandwiches…
Ordered the Alcatraz. Inspired by… You guessed it San Frans Alcatraz… So it must have Avocado on it! Turkey sandwich on thick slices of bread. Great dressing. Sprouts. So you feel healthy while eating it. And it keeps well for the next day… Yes… So good.
As for the exploded potato? Ask for a sample if you’re not sure it’s for you… Nom nom… Also keeps well for the next day… And yes. So much food that I have leftovers for the next day…
Also tried the white and blueberry birch sodas. Go with the white. Also they ran out of the ginger one… Next time!
So if I’m this way… You know where I’m coming… Not to mention interesting décor, seating and great service!

Who doesn’t love a surprise? While waiting for a Unilocaler event our stomachs started to rumble. So, we went off to find a cup of coffee. We noticed AKA Frisco’s and noticed their rave reviews. We stopped and I am so glad we did. Have you ever heard of an exploded baked potato? The awesome servers gave us a taste. It was heaven at first bite. Think of a mashed potato with bacon, scallions, and tons of flavor. It was smooth, creamy, and delicious! Then we ordered the Alcatraz sandwich. The bread was sourdough and freshly made. It had turkey, California avocado, sprouts, tomato, and honey mustard dressing. It was like a breath of fresh air. We washed it down with white birch beer. That was so tasty and refreshing. I want to go back and try the wings, chili, and of course more exploded baked potato. I am addicted. They have take out and will have your order ready, if you call ahead. The servers were so nice and helpful. This is truly a hidden gem.

Home of the Exploded Potato. Don’t try to figure out what is in this treasure, just order it and enjoy.
Not sure how the owners picked the location, the middle of a warehouse park, but find this place. Come inside. Order anything on the menu and enjoy. I guarantee that you will be happy and satisfied with whatever you get.
Portions are more then generous, and the pricing is more then reasonable.
Get to Frisco’s and bring your appetite!
Fat Boy Rating

Finally I made it to the restaurant which is spartan and trendy. It’s in a warehouse space. They have a selection of beer and indoor/​outdoor seating. You order, pay, sit and the food is brought to you.
The steak sandwich was heavily spiced like a packaged product. The food the company brought in for the demo (see below) was better. I like the Ledbetter but won’t get the steak again.
A company demo group brought in lunch and the food was good so I asked where it came from, Friscos. The potatoes were unique, the meat sandwiches nicely seasoned and the desserts good.

If you want a good portion sized lunch with incredible options, then Friscos is the right place for you.
Located in a business park you don’t really have to look out for it. The menu has a good amount of items, plus vegan and vegetarian options. My kids loved the exploding baked potato, I got the Greek /​Italian salad and the humus appetizer was excellent.
They also have a large selection of craft beers in can, bottle, and on tap. For 6 of us it was $ 53.00

Need the latest Flying Dog offering but the brewery is closed? a.k.a. Firscos is where to go.
I can’t comment on the food, but when traveling back to Virginia from a work trip in Baltimore this place hooked me up with a couple of six packs of Flying Dog’s latest seasonal and brewhouse rarities release. Thanks!

By far my favorite place in Frederick. I hadn’t heard of this place until I found it via Unilocal,and boy, I’m glad I did! The location is tucked away in an industrial district, but well worth the trip.
The homemade soups are what I love the most. They change daily, are always AMAZING and are perfect for warming the heart on those cold, rainy days. I love the soup samples they offer as soon as you walk in the door, and I always end up getting a bowl. …The salads are incredibly tasty (Pacific Heights is my favorite!). The sandwiches are always wonderful, and of course the Exploded Potatoes are a must-​try.
…THIS is the kind of place I think of when I think local «hidden gem» mom-​and-​pop food joint. The atmosphere is casual and friendly (lots of chatter and classic rock in the background) and the staff is always very nice. :) I always bring family and friends here when they’re in the area.