There are usually two restaurants in Camden worth trying amongst the many tourist traps and Franny's is one. I first went to "Francine's" over 2 decades ago! While it was a lot cheaper then, and maybe a bit better, we throughly enjoyed our meal here. The biggest improvement is the comfy outdoor dog-friendly tent. Service was very sweet and prompt. Our ribs and swordfish were excellent. The tent has a large floor rug which added a homey touch. The only downside was the 70s rock canned music. Otherwise, this is one of only a few worthwhile dining experiences here. read more

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We moved to Rockport 5 years ago and have enjoyed coming to Franny's for special occasions ever since. Unless things radically change, this evening's dinner will be the last time . Our waiter was pleasant, but the service itself was glacially slow: 15 minutes for 2 drinks to be delivered; and it should not take an hour from the time you order to the time your dinner is served. The steak frites, previously a favorite, was a disaster. Steaks were undercooked, fries were overcooked, and the grilled ceasar salad I remember really enjoying was an over-dressed, over-cooked soggy mess. The Kraken appetizer, again an old favorite, was cold and soggy. While sitting outside on a summer's evening can be pleasant, their tent is dank, dark and chill. Even the paper menus were wilted. They have heaters, why not light them? This evening at Franny's was a sad disappointment. read more

Franny's is a must eat for us on our annual trip to Camden and this year was no different. We held our engagement party there in 2024 and Jen and the rest of the staff went above and beyond for us and really made it a special day to share with our families. We came back this year and as always the food was amazing. Started off with crab cakes for the table delicious bites of tender crab meat and the salad/slaw that comes with it was so good. I ended up gettin the mussels and scallop entree which paired together so well with the savory grits they come with. We also go the Tuna and Halibut specials and the steak frites which is always delicious. Amazing food as always. And our server Mark was super personable and fun we had a great time. We love coming to Franny's and will be back next year. Thanks for the great food and memories! read more

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Great spot, great food, great staff. The food was amazing and great prices. The ambiance and fire pit added to it read more

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Franny's Bistro is a complete gem. I saw that someone described it like a restaurant with a 'Napa' feel and I completely agree: It's rustic, homey and a little bit eclectic. Exceptionally curated menu highlight classics like steak frites, comforts like shrimp and grits, and of course seasonal and local favorites like shrimp linguine, scallops and mussels. We got the Franny Bistro salad which was generously portioned: they did not skimp on the feta, bacon, or ripped/toasted focaccia. Husband got the ribs and slaw. Ribs were extremely tender and the Hoisin glaze was so savoury. I got the shrimp and grits, with good ratio of jumbo shrimp to sausage. The cheddar grits were perfectly done. Impressively personable service. We celebrated our anniversary and all three staff (host, primary waitress and food runner) all congratulated us. I think there were two primary servers and two runners that evening, but they were effortlessly moving about the room. I was very pleased with the timing of dishes and never felt like we were waiting or not being 'attended' to. Bonus: my husband and I were amongst the last patrons in the restaurant as it closed for the evening and got to meet Franny! read more

Our dinner was delicious!!! The French wine very good! It's a very unique bistro in a shabby chic tent...it was great!

Such a different menu for the area which we loved. Very much like a Napa restaurant. The ambiance was great . The chef did a great job on the timing of our dishes and we never felt rushed. Service was great as well. We shared the fried goat cheese arugula salad with a tasty Raspberry vinaigrette. My husband had the halibut special and said it was the best halibut he has ever had. I had the creamy grits and lobster fritters, which was delicious . Kudos to the chef and staff . Well done read more

Franny’s Bistro - Dried goat cheese arugula salad with raspberry vinaigrette - New American Near Me - Camden, Maine

Franny's is a lovely, small restaurant. My halibut special was delicious with its fresh corn and tomato salsa, potatoes and asparagus - all perfectly cooked and seasoned. Their Sauvignon Blanc was the perfect complement. For dessert, the almond cake was moist and delightful. In addition, the service was excellent. Definitely stop by Franny's when you are in Camden! read more

My first Franny's Bistro was highlighted by excellent food! I enjoyed everything I ate with my favorites being the grilled Caesar salad and the Grilled Lamb Chops. While the lamb took 40 minutes to prepare, the restaurant stated it from the outset, and it was well worth the wait. We sat outside underneath a tent with fans. It was very pleasant, but I also wondered what the vibe inside was like. My only question mark was the number of items on the menu by the time we arrive at 7:45. I know dining in Mid-Coast Maine tends to be early, but it seemed like they were out of a lot more than normal restaurants would be at that hour. read more

Franny’s Bistro - The Grilled Lamb Chops (with the surprise winning flavor of grilled avocado!) - New American Near Me - Camden, Maine

Fantastic meal tonight at Fanny's Bistro in Camden, Maine. Sat outside in the heated tent area, it was cozy. My wife ordered the Roast Poussin, I went with the Portuguese Seafood and Linguine. We had Lobster Fritters for our appetizer. Nice batter on the Lobster Fritters, we both loved the remoulade. Our meals were outstanding, my wife's chicken was so tender, it melted in your mouth. The Portuguese Seafood and Linguine was spicy, but I felt it didn't cross the line, it was certainly the best meal I've had on this vacation (and quite frankly, one of the best meals I've had anywhere). Pasta was cooked perfectly. Service was stellar tonight also. Franny's Bistro is Top Notch. An Easy 5 Star rating. read more

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This year we dined at Franny's twice, each time choosing to sit at the bar. Each of our 4 entrees proved to be the 4 best of the trip so maybe we should dined there more often. On the first night my wife and I each chose the halibut special that included a topping of roasted peaches with fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus. Two nights later, same bar seating, we decided to follow different paths to culinary bliss with my wife opting for wood grilled salmon, basmati rice and grilled broccoli rabe. I made my taste buds happy by choosing pan seared scallops and rope grown mussels with creamed corn and bacon grits. Service on both occasions was very good so a return visit or three is almost guaranteed. read more

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I was stopping over in Camden on my way up the coast and wanted a nice dinner--but nothing fussy--and also something really local and if possible, mellow during the height of the summer season. Enter Franny's, where I had a lovely meal in a sweet little spot on a side street downtown. Franny's take on "bistro" features classics with their own twist based on whatever's fresh and local. Peekytoe crab is in season so I started with an appetizer of crab cakes: these come with a crunchy slaw with a hit of citrus and ginger. Yum! I followed this up with steak frites for my main and was delighted that it came out as a *perfect* medium rare, along with some yummy garlicky frites and grilled Romaine. Servings are generous, and I several other delicious-looking and smelling plates passed by my table as well: shrimp and grits, mussels, grilled lamb, halibut. Trust me when I say that even if you come to Franny's really hungry, like I was, you'll leave nicely full! I had no room for dessert this time, but that's a perfect excuse to return. Solo diners: you'll be very comfortable here! I'd made a reservation a couple of days beforehand and at the time the only option was a bar seat, but when I arrived and saw that there was room on the patio, they were super nice about seating me there instead (it feels like a secret garden with all of their pretty plants draping around). This is definitely a spot for both locals and visitors in the know (I chatted with other diners), and it seems they keep some seats open for walk-ins too. Delightful staff as well, from the host to the servers to (I think) maybe the owner or manager stopping by tables to make sure everyone was happy. Franny's was everything I was hoping for in a bistro and I'll be making a point to visit again. read more

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Wow! Exceptional service, great food, and ambience. Everything from the cocktails, to housemade focaccia, to the main meal to dessert were aces. Will definitely be returning next time I am in the area. Cheers read more

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We had a reservation. We walked in the front door to a woman at the bar yelling at the people that arrived before us to wait outside. They also had reservations. The woman who seated us was lovely. Our server was a nice young man, but he disappeared on us. We dined on the bread service 4.5/5, shrimp dumplings 4/5, halibut 4/5, and Shrimp Linguine 4/5. Good beer, wine, and spirits choices. read more

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Food was outstanding. My wife had the swordfish with rice which was cooked to perfection. I had the poussin which is chicken but small. It had a reduction on it that was to die for. The service was good but the hostess saw to it that we were comfortable outdoors on a cool damp evening in mid June. The outdoor dining under a tent was just ok. If you are ever in Camden Maine or plan to go there, make a reservation way ahead of time otherwise you probably won't get in. read more

Franny’s Bistro - Poussin (Small chicken with smashed Yukon gold potatoes and broccoli rabe. - New American Near Me - Camden, Maine

By far, the loveliest meal I have had in a long time! I cannot recommend this establishment enough! The food was phenomenal. The team was warm and welcoming and provided attentive service. We enjoyed the shrimp dumplings with cucumber salad for an appetizer, the root 'n' grits and the scallops and mussels for our entrees, and the almond cake for dessert. We were quite full and happy when we left! read more

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Stellar service and excellent meal. Be sure to make a reservation! This place is popular. Nice outdoor seating.

Tuna special not the best BUT Drinks delicious! Best fries ever! Hands down 10 out of 10 server lovely, ambience perfect! read more

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This place is fantastic! My family and I booked a reservation for dinner and loved every bit of the experience. The server we had was incredibly friendly and attentive. The food was spot on. All of it. The interesting thing about these folks is that they're able to execute a variety of cuisine well, which is quite unique. I ordered some Asian seafood spring rolls and I wasn't sure what to expect, as this isn't an Asian restaurant. However, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The flavor is exactly what a spring roll should taste like, Asian flavor and all! I ordered the Portuguese seafood and linguine for my mains, and again it was delicious. Packed with flavor and the seafood was cooked to perfection. The pasta was cooked just right and everything was great. We also ordered some lamb and other items that were, again, perfect. This place fires on all cylinders! I will note that this is a fine dining establishment, so you need to be prepared to drop some coin in here to properly enjoy the experience. With alcohol, appetizers, drinks and dessert, I would budget $100 a person to get the full effect here. That's including gratuity. You'll spend some cash in here, but it's worth every single penny. I highly recommend these folks! read more

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This place is simply fantastic. My wife and I were there in early August on a perfect summer evening. The outside seating is elegant, peaceful and romantic. The indoor seating is lively with very interesting furnishings. The service is attentive and friendly. The location is a 5 minute walk from downtown Camden, tucked away a few blocks in an upscale, peaceful neighborhood. Their food is seasonal, creative and delicious. We ordered entres from the specials menu (halibut) and the main menu (scallops and mussels). Both were exceptional. We also shared the Shrimp Dumplings and Cucumber Salad as an appetizer. Don't miss this dish! It has a sesame, Asian flare and is unbelievably scrumptious. I can't wait to come back in different seasons and sample more of their creations. The cocktails were also top notch. We both enjoyed a of a signature cocktail before dinner. They also made me a "Man About Town," a Gramercy Tavern creation. This was exceptionally well done, which I determined later was due to their use of an unusual, upscale Spanish vermouth. They get everything right at this place. I highly recommend! read more

I had a very disappointing food exp. I ordered the lam special($45). It was very chewy, not very tasty either. When I mentioned that to our waitress, she didn't really respond. I asked to talk to manager, he came over and refused to accept anything I said. He said they haven't had problems with it before and it looked good. Yes it looked good, but abs not anything I expect from a high end restaurant. The fact that he wouldn't even try to do anything about it, very disappointing. I do not recommend this restaurant for 2 reasons: food and the staff! I have never written a review for a restaurant before, how strongly I feel about this exp. Very costly dinner with terrible exp. They don't really care, no one came around to ask how the dinner was. I def don't recommend this place, so many other options in town. read more

From service to food, it's One of the best meals I had in Maine. Enjoyed every bit of it read more

This isn't just a good restaurant in Maine. It's a great restaurant anywhere. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. In the summer they have a nice outdoor tented area but it's the food that is so outstanding. Last night I had the Char which was a special and it was so delicious. Made with pear and so flavorful. We always share the dumplings and spring rolls and crème brûlée for dessert. The menu here has great choices. You can eat here weekly or more and never eat the same dinner. Can't recommend this place highly enough. The servers, bartenders and owners are all talented hardworking people who deserve great success. I only hope I can get a reservation. read more

Food and service was fantastic. Every course was absolutely delicious. We were seated in the outdoor dining area that was very nice. read more

Thank you Jen For your very unhelpful response to Elliott's review. As you mentioned appropriately, you were not there that night. I however was there that night, and there was no excuse for the abominable service, the lack of customer service and your inane response to such a poor customer experience. Your server was CLEARLY NOT in the right job for his skill set. Aside from being a regular patron in our very close dining community, I am also a 45 year veteran in managing Human Resources. While I found Francois sweet - I found him unable to perform the essential duties of his job. It's a no wonder his feelings were hurt. Your web site is of no use to a customer who has dined at your establishment for years - prior to Franny's when it was Francine's. Additionally, we made the reservation through open table where there is no mention of take out orders. If our ordering an additional meal for our table put an undue hardship on your chef being able to serve your future customers coming in after 5:00pm seating - perhaps you should consider smarter planning options for your restaurant. Both Elliott and I had incredible empathy for Francois being in the middle of this ridiculous dilemma about food to take with us after our meal. He first delivered some other tables drinks to us in error - and then rightly delivered our drinks. I don't know your bartender at all - she was not there the last time we were. we agreed to have drinks that we ordered and leave to find food for ourselves and our sitter whom we promised to bring food home to. Elliott has an incredible tolerance for variety in his expectations- me not so much. We both sipped said cocktails and decided it best to leave THE WORST drink ever (cosmo and espresso martini - not rocket science). Lastly- I found it most interesting your establishment canceled our reservation-when in reality-we cancelled you. You just didn't want a bad review. As long time Camden residents and former Franny and Francine patrons - we shall not be back again. read more

One of the best meals I've had in a long time. We had a terrific goat cheese appetizer and a very good shrimp dumpling appetizer. My wife had a halibut special that was excellent -- a great piece of fish, wonderfully prepared. I had the shrimp and grits which I found fantastic. It is a dish I quite like in general, but this was unusually good. There were half a dozen other things on the menu I wished I'd had enough room to also try! The service was also great. Helpful and friendly without being intrusive. We're very eager to get a chance to return. read more

My wife and I had a bad experience at Franny's last night. After being seated Frank, our waiter, reviewed with us the process of how he would be serving us this evening, which seemed strange, but ok. A few minutes later Frank returned again to introduce himself a second time as our waiter which was odd. Frank returned a few minutes later and literally pulled the menu out of my hands so he could discuss the specials and his thoughts on different dishes. Frank did take our drink orders at this point while my wife and I continued to look over the menu and wine list. My wife and I enjoy good wines and found the wine list disappointing. Additionally the wine list was printed in a very small font making it difficult to read. The menu looked interesting, but many dishes featured cheese grits. Frank returned with our cocktails, setting them down and was ready to take our food orders. My wife said in addition to our meals she wanted to order a third entree to take home to our sitter. Frank said they couldn't do that. We said we didn't understand this so Frank said he would check with the chef. Frank returned and said the chef said they were too busy tonight to do take out orders. We looked around the dining room and only saw 3 other tables besides ourselves. It was approximately 5:30 pm at this point. My wife said we wanted to order 3 entrees and one we would box up and take home. Surely the Chef was fine with people taking leftovers home. Frank goes off to ask the Chef again and returned to say they couldn't do that. The majority of tables were still empty. I asked my wife if she would like to go to another restaurant or stay. She said lets finish our cocktails and go. My wife took one sip of her Cosmopolitan and I of my Espresso Martini and each of us almost spit out the drinks they were so bad. Whoever was making drinks had no idea what they were doing. We paid for the cocktails and left. We will never ever attempt to dine at Franny's again. We were fortunate to get a table at another local restaurant which had excellent food and service last night. read more

Adorable dinner spot in Camden with amazingly delicious food! Fresh quality dishes for very reasonable prices! We ordered the lobster fritters and Cesar salad for apps. The blueberry lemon cocktail was strong and delicious and I was super impressed by their vast wine selection. I ordered the halibut special dish which was lightly seasoned and filling. My mother ordered the steak dish; fries on the side were too salty. The coconut rice that came with the tuna special was also delicious! Service was outstanding and we can't wait to come back next time we're in Camden! Make sure to make a reservation 3-4 weeks in advance! read more

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Decided to give this place another try as it had been many years since our last visit. What a change. What an upgrade! Really cozy, comfortable vibe and the seating was perfect. Comfortable upscale chairs and benches. A varied menu of seafood items and specialties like ribs and slaw. Based on our server's recommendation we chose Jen's Mussels. A great call. Delicious creamy broth, enough mussels for sharing. I had the swordfish with mashed sweet potato. Perfectly cooked with great flavors. My husband had the ribs and slaw- very good. We shared the crème brûlée for dessert. Again perfect. Service was really well paced and our server, Jess, was wonderful. This place is back on our list! Street parking so plan ahead during busy seasons. Also, reservations will be a must as this place very popular with locals and tourists. Ps- I saw lots of Gluten Free options on the menu. read more

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Our experience was different from most. First I should say we went there in the best of moods and with reservations as a special night out. It was a Tuesday night and we were one of the last ones seated for the night. We could tell the staff was stressed. We ordered the specials on the menu that night and the mussels. The mussels were delicious. As the night progressed our food seemed to be taking quite a long time and when we finally got our food it was overcooked. Not to the point I was likely to complain but none the less disappointing. What redeemed the night and the review was that the staff noticed both the time it took and the fact that the food was not up to their standards. They gave us a round of drinks and offered to pay for the lamb I had ordered. I was very impressed that they took their food so seriously and really appreciated it so despite Franny's having an off night when we went I still give them 5 stars. read more

Excellent dinner bistro nestled in the adorable Camden, Maine. Our service was amazing, perfect pacing of courses throughout the evening. Jen and the rest of the service staff were extremely accommodating, even with a last minute change to our reservation; adding an additional person. We had the shrimp dumplings and mussels for jen appetizers, both were delicious and would eat again. I personally had the rack of lamb special, which was perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth. The rest of the table had the chicken and the halibut special, all loved their meals! You can't skip the desserts - especially the crème brûlée! Can't wait to come again! So delicious and great service. read more

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Wonderful food with a European feel. We sat on the quant little patio which is shaded. The service was efficient and friendly. I would recommend getting a reservation before you go, It is a very popular restaurant! We did not make reservations but the waiter graciously made room for us with a minimal wait! I highly recommend! read more

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Absolutely wonderful place. It is nicely decorated and cozy. The food, oh the food, was absolutely wonderful. Dishes were well presented and perfectly cooked. They came out hot. The menu has a good variety of choices making it easy to find something you like. Try the spring rolls, they used smoked shrimp to get a very distinct taste. Service was also terrific, with very helpful staff that were well trained and very polite. There is seating inside, on a covered front porch, and in a nice tent. You cannot see the water, but the food more than makes up for it. read more

Far more positive than negative. And the negative is nit picking. However, this place seems to be a "go to" restaurant in the area, so I'm going to judge it more strictly. It's the type of place where reservations may be needed far in advance during the busy season, and you have to give a credit card to hold it. The waiter was very attentive. My wife felt overly so. The owner also checked in often. I had little issue with this, and felt they tried to make it a more prestigious experience. The restaurant is small, like eating in a someone's home. But that's part of the charm. The oil that came with the bread was almost non-existent. But the bread itself was good. Our salads were excellent. My wife had the lamb, and I had a seafood pasta dish. Both very good. My wife had a chocolate dessert that she was very impressed with. I found the crème brûlée excellent. Drinks were good as well. My wife's only other complaint was milk with her coffee - she prefers cream. Again, nit picking here. The price was also reasonable. Overall, I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Intimidate dining setting. Food was tasty and service staff was attentive. Not kid friendly but wonderful for a date night.

Amazing meal. We tried to go back a second night but they were full! The charred Caesar salad is off the hook.

We visited Franny's Bistro on Wednesday, July 7 in the evening with a reservation for a party of four. This was our first time here, and I am happy to report that this was our best and favorite meal of our entire week long East Coast trip. Not only that; however, it ranks high on the scale of one of our best meals of all time. We were seated at our reservation time, and our server was very friendly, patient, kind and just great all around. The atmosphere of this restaurant is awesome. It is cozy and comfortable with indoor and outdoor seating. However, the food is what stole the show. Our table started by sharing an order of the Frites, which was an amazing start to the meal. They had an amazing garlic taste and were seasoned perfectly. I had the shrimp and grits. It was a very generous portion of cheddar grits with a super delicious kind of spicy sauce with some sausage and quite a few shrimp. I was overly impressed with this dish. I can tell you that all members of our party loved the meal. Two of them had the scallops and mussels and are still talking about it almost a week later. I hope to visit Franny's again when returning to Camden. Top notch all the way! read more

I live locally and my sister was visiting from out of town so I had to take her to Franny's because I knew she would love it too. The outdoor space is my favorite because it's so inviting and it's filled with beautiful flowers. The staff are all very nice and always friendly. If you like steak, I recommend the Steak Frites. It comes with garlic seasoned fries and grilled romaine. I also had the shrimp and dumpling cucumber salad for an appetizer. I need to try something different next time, but can not seem to get past the steak frites! Anyway, you won't be disappointed. read more

Franny’s Bistro - New American Near Me - Camden, Maine

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Great place, great food... make reservations b/c there's a line out the door, but it's cozy and a place you want to like and then actually do. read more

Generally the cuisine here is excellent, very nicely done, good service. But one offering to be warned against is the shrimp and grits. It's ridiculously hot with pepper and too much chorizzo sausage and the dish is flooded with a tomato sauce. Swordfish and Halibut were very good, nice sauce, not overcooked. But negative on the shrimp and grits. I also got tired of hearing the energetic bartender shaking ice; there must be a quieter container to use. read more