A hidden treasure in Boston's south end. Superb foodie spot- open late ~1am full kitchen service, some of my favs: Zucchini matchsticks steak frites chicken livers (i never knew how delicate these could be) i must return. Note- they do not do desserts... read more

I used to love Franklin Cafe. The table service is attentive and the food is really quite good for the price. The no-reservation policy can be a pain on a busy night with waits over an hour at times. Here's my beef with Franklin, though... The bartenders. On several occasions, I went to Franklin for drinks and received crummy service. The last time I was there is was deplorable. I consider myself a very patient person but I waited 45 minutes to be served. No joke. The two others in my party had their drink orders taken and they never came back for mine. To make matters worse, the bartenders I have encountered there are unfriendly and seem perpetually irritated when you order a drink, any drink. There are many bars in the neighborhood that have drinks that compare, if not exceed, Franklin's so I won't ever go to the bar there again. read more

I struggle with only 3 stars. On a late Friday night we stopped to continue drinking and get a bite to eat. I ordered a salad and a burger. both arrived quickly at the speedy hand of our server who was most pleasant. Both the salad and the burger were way too salty which distracted me from the taste. I ordered the burger without sauce and had to be sent back. The manager came over to apologize which was a nice touch and suggested they really do care about customer satisfaction. They were so nice I'd return and give a second shot. Based on good drinks, friendly staff and good service I will go again. read more

Update: I am CRUSHED. CRUSHED. By the Franklin's new decor. It is God-awful. So bad, it's hard to look at. I'm very upset, as this was probably one of my favorite places in Boston. More time at Toro, I suppose... -------------- The Franklin is basically my living room, but I do have one complaint: It seems to suffer from the curse of notoriety. Every dish that people rave about is pretty bad when I go (the steak frite, the Franklin Sidecar), but everything else (the scallops, the tuna, the cava) is to die for. Strange... I feel like the chef does not exert enough quality control. If you're charging the same price, the steak that you serve at 1 a.m. should be of the same quality as the one you serve at 7. Period. read more

Came here for a low key dinner. A great find! Steak frites is the way to go. Everyone loves steak juice and fries. Finally a place that serves it together!! Server looks like jack black! read more

Franklin is great because they stay open so late.. The food is always prepared perfectly, and the menu chages every once in a while. The service is good, although my girlfriend asked for a drink reccomendation, and the server brought her a GROSS manhattan Mairtini, I only know 1 girl who would want that drink......That really was a poor reccomendation..I felt so bad for her while she cringed with every sip she took...Good for her for drinking it anyway... Sometimes the bar floor can reek of wet dishrags, But not always....Yuck! although I hav 2 negative remarks of this place, I will surely come back, Cause the space is cool, The music is always good, and the food is great... I will just always know what drink to order... Oh yeah, plan to wait sometime for a table, unless you go very late!! read more

I'm not sure what else to say about the Franklin that has not already been yelped. I liked the ambiance. Smaller inside, a wait for tables in the evening, but a fun bar setting to sit and have a cocktail pre dinner. We started with a Bibb salad (nice, refreshing dressing), and split the pork chops (SO moist! And the sauce was delicious) and the ravioli (it has chicken with it). With a bottle of wine, it was a great dinner. No dessert is served at the restaurant. The only thing I did not like was how loud it was in there. Probably because there was loud dance/club music playing, which then made everyone have to shout at their companions. But not enough to deter me from going again. read more

We came in at around 6:30 -- right before the place got super busy -- and managed to grab two seats at the bar. Our bar tender was a little bit on the cold side. But that's where the complaints stop. Everything else was solid to solid-plus. The atmosphere/ambience was stylish but also comforting and friendly. The cocktails were priced right and delicious. For the price, the food was pretty good. The grilled calamari was incredibly tender. The steak tartare was well spiced and buttery. Overall, a great apps and drinks experience. Try it! read more

I ate here just over a week ago and had a great experience. They were serving char-sui (chinese bbq) pork ravioli. It was heaven on a plate. I usually don't order ravioli b/c the portion sizes are too small for me. However, I was totally glad that I made the exception this time! The people I was with enjoyed their food as well, but I can't remember what they got. :) Interestingly, for a Saturday night, we were able to be seated without any wait, which was cool. The place was busy, but not jam-packed like I know it can get. The only bummer for me is that there's no dessert. However, we rectified that by going for a walk for some chocolate elsewhere... Bottom line, I need to eat here more often. read more

On our first trip to Boston, we waltzed over to Franklin Café. The place was packed like a can of sardines, we were told it would be a 20 minute wait and to hang our jackets at the back. We decided to stay and got two prime seats at the bar within in minutes. The potato gnocchi was fantastic and the smokey skillet roasted mussels was fresh and tasty. The bartender apologized for the lateness of our meal but all is forgiven since I had a drink in hand. Otherwise the service was excellent, food was top rate and the atmosphere made it feel like the place to be. read more

Drinks - prepared as ordered. Service - When the first thing your waitress says is "what do you want to drink?" you know you're in for an experience. Food - ill prepared, lukewarm, salty. Pork belly was a disgustingly large hunk floating in a briney stew. Voted "best of Boston for casual romantic." How is this possible. What a disappointment. We'll not be returning to any of their family of restaurants. read more

This is sort of an off the beaten track type of bar in the South End that was actually quite nice. Went in for some drinks with the gf and her parents. They had an interesting selection of drinks that you do not often see in Boston pubs. Some beers I saw were: la Chouffe, Rapscallion, Saison Dupont, Brooklyn Lager (I had this one, it was delcious. Somewhat Harpoon IPA like, but less hoppy). Gf has a Cucumber Collins. This was a great light, fresh, summer drink that I thought tasted great! It had organic cucumber lime vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda. They topped it off with a slice of cucumber. We did not eat here, but saw several other people get food. It looked good and we would go back to try it. read more

I almost burned down the Franklin Cafe last night. True story, sort of. Ask me about that sometime. I'll be the guy looking guilty and smelling like smoke. Picture if you will, 3 very average looking white males sitting at the bar at the Franklin Cafe. If you haven't been there, this would look like 3 very average looking white guys sitting at any really clean, neat, dimly lit and lively bar. Now picture these guys all sauced up, getting loud, swearing like truck drivers, getting stared at and getting hungry. SURPRISE I was the drunk loud guy at the Franklin Cafe! Sorry! But, Franklin Cafe, you got me drunk so it's your fault! It's also your fault that I ate that much food. Pretty decent food too. I ate the crap out of that steak tartar and I did damage to your mussels and then I laid waste to whatever my drunken cronies did not finish. Franklin Cafe, I thought you just a wee obnoxious, relatively well priced, very crowded with all make and model of bar-space vultures but I liked your bartender. She was very nice to us rummies. I'm really sorry about almost burning you down. read more

I like the laid-back ambiance of Franklin, but my friends and I came here for drinks and were swiftly kicked out of tables/booths consistently because we weren't ordering food. At midnight. I mean, maybe it's bar policy because their kitchen is open until 1am, but I just found it quite ridiculous that the bar was half empty and we still weren't allowed to sit at a table that nobody else was sitting at. And nobody WOULD be sitting at through the end of the night. Alas, after 5 tries and possibly wearing down the staff, we hit progress. If you can call it that. We weren't allowed to sit at one 4-seater table but were, for some illogical reason, allowed to sit at the other 4-seater table across the room. Because apparently 4 seats are different from 4 other seats. I liked the chill crowd and ambiance of this place, but I'm not too keen on coming here again if I have to have a Gandhi-like Sit-in every time I come here in order to sit down. read more

I'm back in town visiting the family for the next two weeks, and I was lucky enough to score two Celtics tickets thanks to my sister. Since my father didn't feel like going, I called up my friend Jason, a huge Celts fan and someone who's always down for some good food. He'd been wanting to try Franklin Cafe, so we made the trek over before the game with another friend. Situated in the idyllic South End, Franklin Cafe is small and chic. You have to push your way through series of heavy curtains to enter the place, which I found a tad pretentious. Where the hell was I? Hogwarts? Anyways, I met my friends at the restaurant with my menu item already selected from having done some reconnaissance work the night before. Problem was, they changed the menu that day, at least according to our brusque waitress. No more gnocchi. Damn. Anyways, I ordered crab cakes with a cucumber salad. Light, refreshing, lots of delicious crab. My friends tried the pulled pork slider, while the other tried the ravioli. Both enjoyed their meals, but I didn't think anything was stellar. Good, but nowhere near great. However, where Franklin Cafe went the extra mile was with their bread. From one bread whore to another, this was some of the best. The bread was an Italian boule cut into large, hearty slices. Tough crust, soft interior. Usually I like bread to be served warm, but not here because instead of butter, the restaurant provides you with DELICIOUS hummus! Absolutely fantastic, and the place didn't smack a fee on its bread selection. Having just visited the Linkery in San Diego, which charges you $2 for burnt toast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, this was a steal. I would go back to Franklin Cafe just to be the cheap bastard I know I can be, and I would order a Coke and bread. More bread, please. Stat! Overall, a decent place. Prices fall around $17-$19 per entree, appetizers $9. Worth trying for bread/hummus alone. read more

THANK YOU Boston yelpers, for your recommendations! I will definitely be back, and I don't see how I could order anything else. I'm okay with that though. The place is quaint, so I don't see myself going on a popular night out, but a group of 5 of us went on a Monday night and were seated right away. It's a cute little pub atmosphere. Service was great and friendly. In terms of what to order, that's simple for me: steak frites and ginger beer. A couple of people ordered the turkey meatloaf and loved that as well. I just don't see how I could order anything else though. I love a good ginger beer, but it often tastes too sweet for me. I asked the waiter for his honest opinion, and he promised me I would like this one. He couldn't have been more right. Especially in the summer, I could drink those all day. Can't wait to go back...but not too often since steak frites isn't the healthiest option. read more

I have not been here in years, and I have to say that I enjoyed it. I was apprehensive because some places don't always welcome {older people who used to hang out here} with teenage kids, We were welcomed on Saturday night by a very friendly bartender who set the tone for a great experience. Our server was great, the price point very good and food was excellent. read more

Why has it taken me so long to get around to writing about the Franklin Cafe?? The secret has been out for years now. A business partner (that lived in the South End) had recommended it shortly after it opened, and I went there with he and his wife, had a spectacular meal, and have been going back ever since. There is so much on the menu that is good (and it changes frequently) I don't want to talk particulars. Great "Vibe", great crowd, great staff, and my favorite place to eat. (Not the BEST, I've had better but for that you have to pay FAR more (Except perhaps at DBar in Dorchester)). It stays open late and (though I'm not as young as I like to think I am) had a great time at a great bar with great food, after midnight, in Boston. Almost felt like a small place on an off street in Manhattan. I LOVE this place PS: Parking is hard but, unless your still terrified of walking in the South End, I always find spaces a short walk away on Washington Street. read more

Yes, this place really is as good as people say. It's arguably my favorite restaurant in the city. Why? I'll tell you. Every time I leave there, I walk away thinking to myself "That was really good." The drink menu is filled with great choices. They spice up traditional drinks and even make bourbon taste like a summertime favorite. The food is never "good." It's always "very good" or "great." I'm a big fan of the mussels, followed by hanger steak w/ steak fries. But I always make sure I try everyone else's food so that I know what to order next time. The meatloaf is a knock-out, but not always on the menu (I think it changes seasonally?). The atmosphere is superb...dimly lit, rich colors without the distraction of a tv over the bar. Don't be put off by their lack of reservations or small size. We walked in with 8 people one time, and before we ordered our second round they had us seated. The drinks are so good that you'll want a second one anyways! Do yourself a favor and get your a$$ in there. On second thought, don't bother. I want it all to myself. read more

I'm between 3 1/2 and 4 stars on this one. It definitely has many redeeming qualities, but I'm not 100% sold yet. Went on a first date there on a gross rainy day, and when I walked in I could tell the guy had game because this is great date place. Small, intimate, dimmed lighting, candle light. You are looking to impress guys, this is a good spot to do it at. The drink menu is extensive and has tons of great options, but I unfotunately found my drinks to be too sweet. I started with the french laundry, which consists of gin, st. germain, lime juice, and grapefruit bitters. I enjoyed it, but definitely could only have one. I switched to the cucumber collins, had them omit the simple syrup (my waiters suggestion) and add a mint leaf. It was delicious. For an app we split the beef tartare with homemade potato chips. The beef was very tender and fresh, but I wasn't a huge fan of the marinade. The chips were a great touch though. For my main dish I got the baked stuffed hake, which was delicious. Good portion size, not too buttery, and the fish was very fresh. My date got the pork belly, which I tried and enjoyed quite a bit ( i preferred my dish though, so no order envy here). The food is definitely comfort food, well suited for the rainy gross day I was there, but I'm not sure it's great for the hot sunny weather we've been having as of late. I would definitely go back to try some other options, because I think the potential is definitely there with this one. read more

awwwwww. something about this place just didn't sit well with me. I feel like a black sheep giving this place a 3 star rating because all of my friends like it so much (so sorry Mom, look away from this review, your baby is a weirdo). In all fairness, I would give it 3.5- but that's rounding up from from 3.45. Yelp says to write a review like I would talk to a good friend... so here goes: The place is really cool... like rrrrrreeeeeaaaaalllyyyyy coooooooooooolllll. and it seemed like you should be equally as cool to be there... or at least dripping with south end money. The place is amazingly dark and the servers are super duper hip and funny. I suppose these should be good things (and usually ARE for me) but there was a disconnect. The first time that i went, four of us sat for dinner. I ordered my steak Medium... it came absolutely rare... totally rare... grossly rare. I should have complained but i was starving and had eaten the outsides off before our server came back. I KNOW that he saw how undercooked it was when he threw 1/2 of it away- but nothing was said- so its my fault. and the kitchen's for sending it out so rare. The server was funny and friendly- maybe too friendly. We had the misfortune of sitting near the bread-cutting stand, and he would chat it up every time he was there. Meh. Just meh. Sorry dude, but four ladies can drum up our own line of conversation. The second visit, I went for a little cocktail outing. I felt WAY under-dressed and WAY not wealthy enough to be there. Couldn't find a seat at the bar at 6:30pm... booooooooo..... but again, no fault of the restaurant. All in all, I just wouldn't call this a must-see place with must-eat food or must-meet customers. a 3.45... and the .45 is solely due to their connection to LUPEC. Great cocktails if you know what to order... good food kitchen till 12. If you can find parking and don't mind a 30-90 min wait... why not. read more

We went there on a Saturday night after midnight (came from the Beehive). The place was still busy but we managed to get a seat right away. The server was friendly and helpful and suggested very good stuff for us to eat when asked. The four of us shared three appetizers and one bottle of white wine. We got the Fried green tomatoes and shrimp, mussels, garlic grilled calamari, which were all very tasty. My favourite was definitely the Friend green tomatoes though. A little on the salty side but sooo good!! My only problem with the place is that it's so small and dingy!! We've been to the Franklin Cafe in the Southie and it was pretty good as well. I would say the ambiance in the Southie one is better because it's bigger and brighter. But the fried green tomatoes were so good I'm giving it a five start anyway! read more

Not too bad if you're a foodie. I always decide based on whether I could do better at home. Occasionally I can't, but usually I can. For an app, I had the tuna fish meatballs in tomato sauce -- a smack upside the head with oregano, parsley, thyme. And some cute Arborio rice grains cooked in. Pretty cool. I'm a sucker for tuna. And the Tilia Malbec that Joy, my bar server, recommended to go with it was to inhale the South American air. Lovely. She was cool, too. Then I had the grilled octopus with cavatappi. A nice plum tomato reduction with shaved garlic, olive oil, fennel seeds, swathes of chopped fresh basil (in January?) and big grinds of black pepper. Alas, the chef shaved fresh parmesan on top of the dish, because that's what you're supposed to do right? Wrong. Cheese with fish is still the biggest faux pas in Italy. On the other hand, he was channeling Greece. Octopus with a tomato sauce and pasta says the Cycladic islands to me, not Venice. Not by a long shot. Bottom line is I left wonderfully warm, dreaming of scuba diving in the Aegean, Greek music bubbling up in my unconscious, dark eyes offering me another shot glass of Raki. (And the chef thought he was preparing something Italian, for sure.) Emotional time travel. Cheaper than a seat on Olympic Airlines. And faster. If you're lucky, there won't be a wait. Save yourself for a midweek night in January after a snowfall. Otherwise, the rest of the reviews have told you what may befall your party. read more

Ok I have to say it was lousy I ordered 3 apps and two entrees The calamari had no taste it was like eating water chestnuts the tuna tartare was great And warm cabbage salad ok The brisket was served in a cast iron skillet! Horrible and 1/2 way thru my meal is was so greasy I couldn't eat it. When the waiter took it away he never asked me how it was and that bothered me My buddy had the steak frite Ok .... We laughed what part of the neck the meat came from but the fries were great It was truly disappointing read more

One of the best dinners I've had in a really long time. We started off with the calamari, which was different than expected. It wasn't pre-cut or battered, but was rather a full in-tact piece of calamari accompanied with an amazing dipping sauce. Different but in a good way. For my entree I had their "pork two-ways" which was perfectly cooked; not too dry and nicely seasoned. The tangerine gimlet was really nice and refreshing. I believe their menu changes every season so it gives diners something new to try every once in a while. There seems to always be a decent wait but a good tip is to just try and get a seat at the bar. The place is small and can get a little too crowded, but it's well worth the wait. read more

If I was a restaurant, when I grew up I'd want to be just like Franklin. In addition to unpretentious cocktails, they serve the epitome of comfort food in a unique new england way. Staff and service are second to none. The best part? It's hidden away so when you find it and (finally) get a table it's like you won the food lottery. Interesting choices for wines by the glass and extremely reasonable bottle prices. I almost didn't want to write this review because I don't like to share. This place is worthy of a new religion. Franklin Cafe, I love thee. read more

Franklin Cafe lived up to every expectation that I had going in, which is saying a lot considering the heaps of praise that my friends have always lavished on it. Despite hearing rumors about the hour(s) long waits to secure a table here, I was pleasantly surprised when our booth was available after only a 15 minute wait during peak hours (Friday at 8/830ish). While much of the drink list looked appealing, I went with the Ginger Rodgers, essentially a gin and ginger-based take on the mojito, which was delicious enough that I had several. My gf opted for the shochu white cranberry and the sparkling peach, both of which she enjoyed. As part of my continuing quest to sample every plate of mac and cheese that Boston has to offer, I decided to start with the mac and cheese gnocci. While it offered a perfect balance of roasted tomato, sausage, gnocci and goat cheese, they are probably taking a bit of a liberty with the term 'mac and cheese'. No matter, it was excellent just the same. For our main course, I went for the classic steak frites. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, and having the roquefort butter as a complement only made it better. Similarly, the frites alone would have been fantastic, but when paired with the port demi glace, they became even more flavorful. My gf also really enjoyed her miso grilled salmon with orange glaze and bok choy. Considering the VERY reasonable prices (all entrees under $20), cozy atmosphere, and fun speak-easy nature of the place, I don't think it's a stretch to say that this may already be one of my favorite spots in Boston, even after only one visit. Can't wait to come back soon to try the meatloaf that everyone keeps raving about. read more

Ok. I have been here twice. The first time gets 5 big ol' fat stars, the second time gets 2 stars. So... 3 stars in the end. The food is amazing. It's some of my favorite in Boston, in fact. The first time I went there everything about the experience was wonderful: service, food, drinks. The second time, the food and drinks were amazing, but our service was really sub-par. Our waitress was unfriendly and upset at us for getting 5 apps (which was certainly enough for the 3 of us!) instead of each getting an app and entree. What? If you have a policy of that, just let us know, or print it on your menu. She was sort of passive-aggressive about the whole thing. All in all, I will certainly be back. The food.... oh, the food! Some of my favorites are the matchstick zucchinis, mashed potatoes, and calamari. Favorite drinks include Boston bog, Tangerine gimlet, and Poma cocktail. read more

This little hidden gem is just that. Great food, cozy ambiance, perfect for a date night, or a cold evening. Definitely gets a local crowd. They are tucked away in the south end not far from Tremont street, and almost hidden between brownstones. The inside is small, meaning you might have to wait a while for a table, but the bar is first come seating. My favorites are the beef carpaccio (they do a nice Asian spin on it), the spareribs and the beef brisket is amazing! read more

I don't venture into the South End often so my friend took me here as a way to introduce me to the area. I can't say I was disappointed. The food was delicious enough for me to think about coming back again. We shared the wild mushroom ravioli and the slow roasted pork. I am particularly picky about the latter since my main meat staple has been pork for the last two years due to a medical condition. (I wish I was kidding. My Chinese herbalist/acupuncturist put me on that diet.) At most places, the slow roasted pork is still too dry enough for me to know that it was not exactly slow roasted. At Franklin Cafe, they do it right. It almost melted in my mouth. This would not have happened elsewhere. Service-wise, it was good enough for us since all we wanted to do was eat and talk, and not have our conversation randomly interrupted. They approached us at the right times, brought us our check, and did the whole nine yards. read more

The food here is fantastic! A dinner for two with three glasses of wine, two apps, and two entrees was way under $100. I would highly recommend the scallop appetizer. Haven't had scallops that good in a long time. They were cooked to perfection and served under wilted spinach. I would also recommend the duck confit. The meat was tender and it was served cassoulet style with sausage and beans. I would have given this place five stars if it wasn't for the level of noise coming from the bar area..two feet away from the table. read more

Been here twice and loved it both times. The best: The steak and fries my boyfriend ordered. Salty, crispy, deliciousness + blue cheese butter + medium rare steak. Does it get any better than that? (And I don't even eat meat!). The good: Wonderful host (a little miscommunication here - he thought we were going to sit at the bar and we were waiting for about 45 minutes, but he apologized profusely and sat us at a great table by the window). Starter salad was tasty (buttermilk dressing? yes please.). Drinks are great (had the Franklin Sidecar, a touch strong but tasty). Good beers on tap. Vegetarian and gluten-free menus (huge plus). The location (how cute is the South End?). The not-so-great: Gnocchi was a little to sweet. The calamari was a little chewy. read more

I'm always surprised by how much I like this place, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's so unassuming. Maybe because the ambience is just right for date night, or for groups. Maybe because they do a mean cocktail and have a good beer selection (for the East Coast, anyway). Maybe it's because their smoked mussels, roasted chicken, or steak frites are ridiculously good. Whatever the reason, this has become one of my favorite places in Boston, and I highly recommend it. read more

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The atmosphere is the only remaining redeeming quality. The food quality is far from what it used to be (with the exception of the mussels), the stake tartar was actually partially frozen. And some of the pricing is ridiculous! A McCallan 12 is $24!!!! read more

wholeheartely agree with the other yelpers who love the franklin. laid back attitude with honest subdued decor. i've been here on the weekend when it's super busy - great for getting drinks with friends. and also during the week for dinner when it's relaxed. food is excellent. always comforting and well prepared. good value for the price. recently had the grilled chicken entree - skin was nicely charred and crisp, meat was firm and moist, and the sauce was delicate and slightly acidic to complement the chicken. the zucchini/squash side was good, but not outstanding. my friend had the pea shoot ravioli - delicious. another excellent sauce combining mint, parsley, and basil. i thought that the sauce would be very pungent and strong, but the flavors were gently blended together. i also ate the cappelini pasta with a fresh tomato garlic sauce - simple and fresh. yum! great place for a quality meal and great drinks. read more

I got a very nice Yelp message from the owner Dave offering to buy me dinner to prove that Franklin Cafe isn't what I have portrayed. He also informed me that he would be talking to all service people about how to treat guests. I replied to his message, thanking him for his interest in his restaurant's online presence, as well as his kind words. However, I did point out that my experience was over two years old and my opinion is rather mired at this point. No changing my mind now... but appreciated none the less. read more

Franklin Café has a 5 star atmosphere w/ 3 star food. I'm rounding down since I'm not in a rush to come back. Food rundown: - Grilled shrimp app had a bit too much grill char - meh - Average steak frites with a little too much grill char were a miss. Pass - Crab ravioli - excellent; wish I had ordered this as my entree - Fried Chicken - average read more

I've been here a bunch of times with different people. None of us has ever had a bad meal. I've been for drinks, I've been for dinner, and my experiences have always been good. I usually show up just after work during the week, and have never had to wait for very long, despite the restaurant's small size. One of my favorite things about the Franklin is that the menu changes with the seasons. The menu is small, but the food is really good. Sometimes I miss things I've had in the past, but I know there's always the chance that it might make it back on the menu... read more

Thesis: Looks great, but lacks substance...... Been here for drinks before & enjoyed it. Down the street from my place & had never tried the food, so I took my parents for an early Sunday supper. Excited about their menu, which is more adventurous than the standard Boston bistro, we ordered tons of small plates and shared..... Disappointed! Half the food was under-seasoned. Roasted beets weren't roasted to their natural sweetness. Veal cheek was tender, but not tasty. Pumpkin bisque looked great, but lacked depth. This was the theme of the whole place. Menu looks great, but not well-executed. Franklin Cafe has a great space, but our blond waitress on Sunday night couldn't care less. She brought our side late (at the end of the meal) and kept heartlessly asking us if we wanted another beer (once when we had half-full beers and twice after we declined a second one). I didn't pay, but I think her 20% was rolled on to our next restaurant's waitstaff. Is Franklin Cafe slipping? Or do people like to reward sub-standard performances? read more

If you are looking for authentic neighborhood tavern with truly great food this your place. We started with the grilled calamari. It was fresh and flavorful. We both had the steak frites and it was delicious. Highly recommend this dish. The service was excellent. There two cute tables by the window, the rest are booths and not much decor. But the food makes it worthwhile and very affordable too. read more