Frankie’s Pizza is on Lakeshore Drive (U.S. Highway 2), in the eastern part of Ashland and has been family owned for 54 years.  The Mickey and Chuck Iverson family bought it in 1963 from Frank Ledin, who was thought to be the first to offer commercial pizza sales in Ashland.  Frank and Joyce Ledin started with a root beer stand that was later remodeled into Frankie’s Pizza.  The Iverson’s children now run the place that survived a fire in 1982 and a visit from Johnny Mathis who tipped every server $20, Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and Bridget Fonda.  It is a medium sized place that is open every day for lunch and dinner, except for Sunday when they don’t open till 4:00 pm.  It had windows on three sides of the place but it is still a little darker inside than out.  They offer a combination of booths or tables for dining and the walls are lined with cute signs, awards and pizza related items.  Hanging lights and nets adorn the ceiling.  The menu is almost all pizza with the addition of salad, burgers and an assortment of fried snacks.   Service was friendly and helpful.  For example the server suggested we order a pitcher of soft drink rather than by the glass cause it was a cheaper deal.  They do offer beer and wine.  

The pizzas come in 3 sizes and while they have several combinations already printed you basically pick your size of cheese pizza and then add whatever you want.  The charge is based on size and number of ingredients, with a few of them carrying a slightly higher upcharge.  The pizza is a thin crust variety but the crust does have a nice chew to it and the edge gets a slight puff.  Ingredients are generously distributed as was the cheese.  The sauce has a nice taste combined with the ingredients and it all left a good taste in my mouth afterwards.  We ordered a jumbo, 14″, with sausage, mushroom, onion and green pepper.  Each of the ingredients added $1 to the charge.  The sausage was a mild and very tender variety that was in small pieces.  The onion and green pepper were both in a small dice that blended well and didn’t sog out the crust.  It was a fine lunch.

We went back again to try another pizza, Pizze Man’s Favorites “Special” which was pepperoni, sausage, mushroom and onion.  The pepperoni was thinly sliced and underneath the cheese and sausage.  The mushrooms were canned but the overall affect was great.  Really tasty with a great crust and sauce.