Located right near our home, I've visited this neighborhood bar twice in December--once on a Thursday night and again recently for brunch. With 38 years in the hospitality industry, I have a strong understanding of how these businesses operate. The food is good, and the service is very solid for a neighborhood bar. I genuinely want to support this place. That said, ownership and staff may benefit from viewing a few aspects of the experience through a guest's perspective. I offer this feedback sincerely and hope it's taken in the constructive spirit intended, because with a couple of small adjustments, the overall experience could be noticeably improved. First, the use of Fabuloso is extremely overpowering. While staff and ownership may be accustomed to the scent, guests definitely notice it. It overwhelms the smell of the food, and even after walking home, the scent lingered on my jacket. Second, the music selection feels more aligned with staff preference than with the bar's atmosphere. Music plays a significant role in shaping the guest experience, and this is another area worth reevaluating. I recognize that this bar has been around for a long time and has clearly been successful. I'm simply offering my perspective as someone who has spent many years in the industry. I will return, but I do believe these two items deserve closer attention from ownership and staff. read more

I enjoyed myself on Friday night, but beware of their gimlets. They were secretly strong! My boyfriend and I stopped in when our original plans fell through. We were looking for something casual and affordable, and The Franklin Inn fit the bill. The restaurant was pretty busy around 6:30 pm, but we were lucky to grab a booth in the back near the kitchen. I ordered three gimlets and he had two gimlets (at $9 each). For food, I ordered the mozzarella logs to share plus the Franklin Clucker with plant-based chicken and (real) bacon. Added a side of ranch for my fries. My boyfriend ordered 12 jumbo wings and somehow ate them all; it was quite the feat. All told we spent about $120 for everything, which isn't terrible these days. Service was prompt, and everything tasted good. It took me three days to finish my sandwich, so I'd say that I got my money's worth. read more

See all

A late girl dinner with Mimi last night at @thefranklininn and it did not disappoint! Quaint little spot where the neighborhood locals and fellow foodies alike in the Museum District come to have a sip, a good plate, and conversation with friends or strangers! We typically ask the server what's popular or one of their favs and they suggested the mozzarella sticks or should I say logs as they were huge lol (3.6/5 we didn't get a good cheese pull but the smoked tomato cream sauce was good). Mimi also ordered the Habanero Marg in which she said was perfect level of heat and packed a punch (kudos to the bartender, lol 5/5). I opted to try "The Smash Burger" and listen to me...this was indeed one of the best burgers I have ever had (super juicy and so flavorful and the meat quality was great and not gritty at all 5/5) paired with a simple side salad with ranch (and here again some of the best ranch I've had ever 5/5). Mimi opted to try "Grilled Chicken Club: Sliced grilled chicken, ham, bacon, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on rye ( the rye bread was amazing, the sandwich as a whole was filling but could've used more seasoning (ideally the bacon/ham would give the salty factor but a tad more on the actual chicken would've made it a good sando 3.4/5), her fries were cold so we can't in fairness rate them but we didn't bother to send them back as we had so much food between the two of us. The front of the house staff which consisted of two great servers (they worked the bar as well). If in the area do yourself a favor and go! read more

See all

Wednesday night is burger night and it's worth the trip. Tonight's special was the double patty Smash Burger with cheese for only $8 (fries $2 extra). Lively small place with friendly efficient staff. A bit loud, but not too bad. Most definitely not a "corporate" place - very local. Will be back! read more

The Franklin Inn - Smash burger! - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Had a not so great Sunday brunch experience. Here are the pros/cons to get down to business - Cons ONE person serving entire bar and restaurant both inside and patio - in a fully packed place. There was an old dude there too but he only doled out menus and waters. That's it. Whys he even there?? Food came before the drinks Food was wrong - 1. the chopped salad was not chopped and had a fried egg cut up into pieces, not hard boiled as described on the menu. 2. The Franklin Mess per the menu comes with home fries or grits. I asked for grits. When the grits weren't delivered I asked for the grits but was told no, they don't come with grits. It would cost extra if I want them. I declined. Clearly states on the menu it does but the server never came back until we flagged her down to pay the bill. 3. Maybe more a preference, but the Mess was the greasiest dish I've had in my life. Had other similar meals elsewhere and hasn't been the case. So idk.. Pro Server was nice and doing her best. Apologetic for the long waits (took forever to order drinks/food and receive drinks) Chicken salad added to the salad was DELICIOUS! read more

Franklin Inn is always so friendly to me and my dogs...they bring the water and me beer, and on Wed. the have a $6 somethin smash burger that is fabulous! Nice neighborhood place where I've met so many different waljs of life. Can't do better than here as a local. 5 stars. I can't believe I haven't rated this yet. read more

See all

LOVE the Franklin Inn. They have THE BEST Mozzarella Sticks in Richmond. Order them for a meal. Its just plain and simple deep fried mozzarella. Also, $7 burger night on Wednesday. ALSO brunch is amazing, biscuits are great. Great atmosphere, great people, what a gem in the fan. read more

The Franklin Inn - One singular mozzarella stick. Sorry I didn't get a photo for the first 3. - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Everything! Food great! Specials great. Neighborhood spot, excellent. 6 minute walk from my apartment. read more

I had a wonderful time at this Museum District local gem with a friend of mine. First of all this spot is super Richmond. It has a local feel and is incredibly cozy. It's a tinier space so feels very intimate. Our waitress was extremely kind. They also have great happy hour deals. You can find both food and drink deals. On my visit I ordered the wings with smoky barbeque, a side of broccoli, and a mini mac. The wings were so juicy and tasty. I wish they had a bit more of a crunch on the outside, but they were still so good. The sauce was great. I really loved the way they prepared their broccoli. I devoured the mac and cheese. I can be picky with homemade mac and cheese, and really enjoyed this one. If you're looking for a casual and yummy spot for food, I highly recommend visiting The Franklin Inn. read more

See all

The atmosphere is great! It is very charming and old (in a good way)! The staff is super friendly and prices are fair! The food is normal bar food, but they do have good weekly deals. Definitely recommend going! read more

The Franklin Inn - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Came here to say for a business meeting a few weeks ago and only had appetizers. The mozzarella sticks were awesome and the wings are pretty good too. The seating outside is nice. Service wasn't terrible. read more

We had a great night at Franklin Inn, and look forward to joining them on burger nights in the future! On Wednesdays, they do a six dollar burger, usually almost $15. The french fries were great, my favorite part of the meal. The bun for the burger was nice and soft. The wings were good, could be a bit meatier. The service was good, and there was a friendly atmosphere in the bar area. This is definitely a cozy neighborhood bar, and I hope to visit again soon! read more

The Franklin Inn - Burger - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

Best part of living in the museum district! My boyfriends and I come here at least twice a month and if we had the money we'd be here as much as possible! I almost always get the vegan burger and he gets the regular and they are some of the best in the city! Even when we try other items on the menu, they are all great! Would recommend the clucker as well as the quesadillas! We almost always get the mozzarella logs and a drink as well! The staff is all phenomenal and the gentleman who we believe is either the manager or owner is very attentive and great to talk to! read more

DO NOT RECOMMEND. Opened front door to ask if I could sit outside with my dog, grumpy man behind the bar immediately was rude and said no dogs inside. Your google page claims you are dog friendly, clearly not despite having a dog bowl on the patio.Proceeded to Sit outside for over 20 minutes and no one came outside to offer a menu, drinks nothing. Rude, horrible service, would never come back. read more

Great place that I am lucky to live close to. I've been several times and everything I've had on the menu is solid. My favorite is the Reuben. Get that with fries and ask for a cup of malt vinegar and dip both in. Sex happening in my mouth. The baby is coming after 9 Kentucky mules. Seriously great place for food and drinky. read more

My husband and I tried this cute neighborhood corner spot for brunch today. It was super cute and cozy and welcoming. We chose a little booth and were immediately greeted. We ordered coffee, a mimosa, the veggie biscuit and the southern biscuit and a side of potatoes. My husband loved his mimosa. The biscuits were delicious: light and flaky! The breakfast potatoes, not so much. But we won't hold that against them because they took it off our tab and everything else was great! read more

The Franklin Inn - Southern biscuit and veggie biscuit - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Service was good, last year when I visited , I remember having a great burger experience, fast forward a year later I went for brunch, I don't recommend brunch here unfortunately, the eggs benny was actually not a poached egg but a fried egg (undercooked) on a biscuit (I couldn't understand why they advertise it as a Benedict), the breakfast potatoes were soggy, we ended swapping the inedible eggs "Benedict" for a burger which was fine but the fries were undercooked and had to be sent back. If I return it'd just be for their great burgers read more

For starters, a coworker and I were working in the area and decided to grab a quick bite to eat here. - seemed nice and cozy. We were wrong. Before we could even walk into the resturant a man came running from behind the bar area and grabbed the doors shut AND HELD THEM telling us "you people cant come in here!" We are hispanic- and had on work clothes. He called me "all dirty" and was still yelling some pretty mean things. It took us a minute to grasp what was going on. But its very clear now. We will spend our "dirty people" money other places. read more

Was there this past Saturday, wait a great little neighbour's resturant/bar. Great selection of beers(craft included), and wine. Bourbon for days!!! Lol. But the best part for me was they had this tiny little kitchen but the food that left it was amazing to look at and listening to the guests down right good! If you have not been there ,please try it out read more

One of those places that you're not sure if you should post a review because the regulars may hunt you down and silence you, this cozy little gem has been serving arguably the best burger in town for years, and also features a great brunch menu. Not the biggest place, so a meal at peak time may mean a wait, but the food is worth it. With my "Smash it all the way" burger were fries so fresh that the potato was still mad for giving them up. The "all the way" part features pickled jalapenos (not too hot to overpower the burger's taste), fried onions, bacon and pimento cheese. Usually pimento cheese will make the burger useless without a fork, but this was the perfect amount to make the double patties gooey but not unable to be picked up. If you want to visit old Ben Franklin head downstairs to one of the washrooms to see a portrait of the original C-note gangsta up on the wall. Otherwise grab a brew and a burger and go all the way! read more

The Franklin Inn - Franklin Inn's "Smash It All The Way" burger with bacon, fried onions, pickled jalapenos and pimento cheese. - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love finding restaurants nestled in historic neighborhoods and the Franklin Inn is no exception. Although it's a tiny little place, I love the tin ceiling and stained glass. Rustic and quaint little booths make for quick lunch or a cozy dinner. I ordered the chicken salad and it was off the chain phenomenal! Some of the best I've had. The server was kind and accommodating and the place was tidy. They have a lovely tea selection and a well stocked bar. There's plenty of street parking, and many of their patrons just walk here! The inviting patio is the perfect setting for an al fresco meal. (Because it's so small, it was a bit loud-but we did arrive at the height of the lunch crowd). I'm looking forward to coming back to this historically memorable, charming spot and trying the brunch! I hear it's fantastic! Update: I love the food here and have been here many times. Today though, is the first time I've ever used the restroom. Oh-Ma-Gawd...talk about gross... GA-ROSS... you walk down a dangerous, rickety staircase into a dank dungeon basement, roaches were crawling on the wall... the toilet seat was broken, it was disgusting and was like a dank cesspool. C'mon! Clean that filth up, paint and get some new fixtures. I deleted a star * but should have deleted two... let's see if they resolve this DIRTY port-a-potty!! read more

See all

I'm a sucka for the clucka --the Franklin Inn Clucker that is. Excuse the 1/2 finished plate, I couldn't wait. I add some and pickled jalapeños cause I'm extra AF, but as is -- Tender, buttermilk chicken. Their own breading that includes ranch seasoning (trust & believe...it elevates), pickles, crisp romaine, FRANK SAUCE (way better--we're on this journey together)! A beautiful buttery toasty bun & hand cut fries completes this masterpiece. read more

All I can say is... best mozzarella sticks in rva. Lowkey bar in the fan for a quick drink and a burger. Definitely will be back! read more

The Franklin Inn - Mozzarella sticks - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Get the smash burger!!! Best burger I've had in Richmond. I could see into the kitchen while they made the food, and it was definitely made with love. Fries are homemade too, not those nasty frozen ones. Overall, it's a tiny but cozy place with great food and drinks - would recommend! read more

The new menu will not disappoint! The Signature burger was juicy with a generous onion ring, pimento cheese and delicious tomato jam on a toasted bun. The Franklin Clucker was so crispy and juicy with Buffalo blue cheese sauce!! Perfection. If you haven't been in awhile it's time to rediscover this quaint neighborhood haunt. Covid friendly with outdoor seating and take out menu for online ordering read more

See all

The food here is undesirable. I ordered the chicken sandwich and the sandwich was raw the French fries we cold and soggy. My husband ordered a well done burger It came out pink they never offered to remake it or put it back on the grill so we paid for a burger that could not be eating. Maybe it was for the best we were seated right next to the open kitchen where you could see everything. The cook never washed his hands no matter what he cooked and did not wear any gloves. If you go there make sure you have a stomach of steel. read more

The Franklin Inn was pretty good. My friend and I ended up going here for lunch on a Sunday because the first place we went to had an 1.5 hour wait. I thought it might be super busy, but it wasn't. There was only about 8 tables or so & then bar seating. It's pretty much an old tavern. I got one of their biscuit sandwiches & they served me the wrong one. It was still good so not that much of a problem. The sandwich came with a fried egg though & it's only because I ate the egg separately that I realized it was extremely salty. Saltier than the bacon that was on the sandwich. This place is alright. I might have caught it on a bad day. read more

The Franklin Inn - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

Fantastic food. Whoever is doing the cooking knows their stuff! Also a nice neighborhood vibe. Great ambiance too.

We had a wonderful meal here last week. The staff is friendly with a fun neighborhood vibe. It is small - think 5 tables small and maybe 20 around bar. On nice days there are a couple small tables outside. So I would say definitely not a place for a group larger then 4. I had the burger with sage sausage and egg. It was very good. If I had to do it over again though I would order with regular ground beef. I think then it would have been a near perfect burger for me. Highly recommend. I don't normally give 5 stars on a first visit but if it's as good next time as this it may get that. Just go in knowing this is a Neighborhood type bar nothing fancy. read more

I have been coming to this place off and on for the last 7 years. The food has always been good, but their last chef hire has brought the menu to a higher level. They know have THE BEST SMASH BURGER IN TOWN. Also, they have the best chicken wings in town. You all can say Hooters has the best wings, but I challenge you to get wings at Hooters on a Sunday and then Pack your Family and head To The Franklin on a Thursday, load up on their fantastic wings and then slap your Momma for not telling you sooner! (No mothers were hurt in this post). But I have one complaint about the current Franklin Inn. I am a 58 year old Widower and all I want to do is have a couple beers and enjoy the GOOD food. However, lately random, attractive women have interrupting me while I am eating and drinking. Even though it is obvious that I amhaving personal time, these women feel that they can share their various tattoos and piercings. I am a friendly guy, but sometimes their random hugs are might cross the line. I talked to management and they have offered me the option if the "safe booth" in them back. I will always love their fantastic staff, cold beer and wonderful food! read more

What a great find and what an awesome new menu. Shishito peppers, huge and delicious burgers, dynamite mozzarella sticks, refreshing cocktails and some killer pasta. Very very satisfied to have given them a visit. We will be back! read more

I came here because a few people had said they had an amazing grilled chicken sandwich. I'm not sure if I just came on a bad night, but my first sandwich came out suspiciously fast, and it ended up being cold to the touch. I told the server, who took it back to the kitchen. Not soon after, another sandwich came out suspiciously fast. As someone who cooks chicken at home pretty often, I know the time I waited was not enough to reach 165 degrees. When I opened up the bun, the piece of chicken was roughly two inches at its widest point, with tons of jiggly chunks of fat on it. I ate the parts that seemed edible, paid, and left. The place is super cozy, and the staff is kind. Food just suuuuucked. $30 down the drain. read more

Great Wed burger special, but the burger will be amazing one week then not so great the next week. Service is.... lackluster during the day - god forbid you need a refill or a condiment... the evenings have a fun local crowd & staff. read more

I love this charming spot on the corner of Franklin and Cleveland in the Museum District. A neighborhood gem! Tiny and cozy, jazz music playing in the background, beautiful décor. Great service. Stopped by for lunch today and grabbed the 1/2 sandwich and soup special for $8.95. The chicken salad w/ bacon is to die for. Almost as good as mine! ;-) The tomato eggplant soup was okay. Small portion. They could do better. I also got a slice of apple pie. Also good. Their bottled beers leave a lot to be desired, but their taps make up for it. I've never been for dinner, but it's on my list to come back. read more

The Franklin Inn - Apple pie - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

Good food, divey feel, beery beer. But don't ask for the "whacky sacky" unless you're ready for a wild night!

This place used to be one of our favorite spots in Richmond for a quick bite and a beer. However, the past three times have been atrocious. From the drunk waitress who ignored us, to the cockroaches on the walls in the dining room, or the cook who was preparing food, touching his phone, smoking outside, and then touching the food again without washing his hands, I think we'll indefinitely black list this place. This is tough to write because we really love local spots with character, much like this one! However, we also believe in success of sanitary, clean establishments that don't pose a risk to our personal health. read more

This is pretty much the avatar of "neighborhood joint" - in RVA or anywhere else. Small, simple(ish) menu, a bit scruffy in that cute/appealing way that nabe-joynts must be. The lagniappe is that I get the sense, from one lunchtime visit, that despite a somewhat slapdash look/feel to the service, what lands on the plate is pretty gotdamn prime. To be clear, our server was SUPERB, but he also appeared to be the line cook. That always means one or the other of those jobs gon' get short-sheeted. In this case, the service shortcomings were charming, not in any way a downer. I ordered simplicity itself - a grilled cheese and tomato sammich, on rye, with housemade chips - and this is what I got (see photo). It was glorious. The bread was grilled to the perfect point to make picking up and biting into the melted cheese and soft tomato gloriosity-goo-fest manageable. The chips were ridonkulus. Crisp, fresh, seasoned to perfection. My lunch buddy ordered their Senate bean soup - the server was apologetic that the beans might not be quite fully soft (they weren't, since they'd only been simmering since 9:30am, and it was now 11am), but the flavor negated any demerits that might have arisen from firm-ish flagolets. I'll go back here, enthusiastically - and I'd LOVE to live in this nabe, just so I could call this place my corner bar. read more

The Franklin Inn - Grilled (cheddar) cheese and tomato sammich on marble rye. WILDLY good. Oh, and housemade chips, ditto. - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

What a cute small place to come across. Everything else was super busy in the area and we were starving. We came across this place on yelp and decided to stop in. Beer on tap is a small variety yet carry some good brands. Also in bottle. Menu is not super dense but they have the normal burgers. Sandwiches. Salads. And meals. Prices are prime! Not too highly priced. Food was good quality and everything was cooked fresh... we could see the kitchen from the spot we were sitting. Thanks for the friendly hello and good bye! read more

The Franklin Inn - Franklins chicken sandwich - American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The somewhat new bartender and kitchen staff on the weekends are the best. In my humble opinion, you won't find any better in the metro Richmond area. read more

Love this place. A sorta dive bar/neighborhood joint kinda place, and this is meant in the best possible way. Very comfortable spot. Nothing fancy. Have always loved their chicken wings....really excellent. Went there today for brunch. My Franklin smash was superb. Their french fries are excellent! My daughter had biscuits and gravy which she loved. The bloody Mary was also great. Also, the service is always very friendly. I highly recommend a visit. read more