Went to the Franklin Cafe for the first time last night with a friend. Â I've been to their location in Gloucester, so I was expecting an experience along the same lines. Â I'm not sure if it was my mood, but it just didn't live up to my expectations based on my previous visit. Â I was hoping they'd have more special martinis on their menu--yes, there's a full bar and you can just order whatever you want, but I guess I was hoping to find something new and interesting. Â For food, I had the Fried Green Tomatoes with crab, which was really tasty. Â All in all, I'd try this place again.
Review Source:Food and drinks are awesome. Atmosphere is a little dark/dingy. 5 stars on the food, 3.5 on the ambiance.
I got an Old Cuban (drink) and the Corn Agnolotti (ravioli with lobster meat on top, shiitake mushrooms and basil). Both were delicious and worth every penny. My friend got one of the drinks with Gin and Duck and loved both.
Almost no wait on a Friday night too. +1 for South End dining.
Franklin cafe is supposedly where the industry likes to go (and with good reason). Â Located on the frequently passed Shawmut ave, in an unassuming row of brownstones, Franklin is a small, dark no-frills place that just serves great food and drinks at a sub-Tremont street price.
Entrees seem to rotate, but certain delicious selections that I remember feature the oxtail risotto with smoked blue cheese, apple, red wine ($18). Â Other heavier entrees such as the steak frites and mushroom/potato stew are classically done and fall in line with most Boston restaurants.
I'm a big seafood fan and both their catfish with black rice, mango, citrus aioli, and
butter poached cod, eggplant, fried brussels sprouts, caramelized soy (a nice slight asian twist) are light and flavorful. Â Portions tend to run on the smaller side, and it certainly gets crowded on the weekends (stop by on the weekdays). Â
Food (8/10)
Service (4/5)
Decor (2/5)
Wow those drinks are strong. Came here about a year ago and the drinks stand out the most, in a good way. On the other hand, the corned beef was piss poor. Dry and pretty unpalatable; pretty much worse than what you could do on your own. The fried green tomatoes were excellent as was the beef carpaccio, but how can you go so wrong with corned beef...
Review Source:The bottom line: Inspiring vegetarian dishes (really - two of the best I've had), but mediocre steak and soup and loud atmosphere.
The pro's: The vegetarian dishes. I had the carrot. The wife had the English pea ravioli. REALLY good. My friend said the beef tartar was very good.
The con's: The place was too cold. The noise level was too loud. The steak my friend had was mediocre (a bit burned on the outside). The soup was a bit sour.
Franklin Cafe is a cozy little lounge/bar in the South End. The ambiance is warm and welcoming. They don't take reservations and there are only about 10 tables so if you go on a Friday or Saturday night, try going before 8:00pm if you wanna snag a table.
We started off with the beef tartare which also contained caramelized onions and was served with potato chips. This is good, but nothing amazing...3.5 out of 5 stars.
For dinner, I had the carrot cooked in embers served with black rice, curry and mango. This was a rather unique dish and quite flavorful. I enjoyed it however it did not fill me up very much. I wish they had served me a whole carrot instead of half of a carrot. I also ordered a side of grilled asparagus which was a great supplement to my entree.
I also tried a piece of the baked stuffed hake which was stuffed with crab, shrimp and broccoli. I have never had stuffed fish before so this was definitely something different. It was really tasty again the portion was so small.
My brother tried out the classic steak frites and he absolutely loved his meal. I tried a bite and must admit it was quite flavorful. It was served with Roquefort butter, which tasted like truffle butter! This portion size was actually larger than the others. In my opinion, this dish has the best value. If you enjoy steak, I highly recommend trying it out.
Value: Good value. The prices at are reasonable...about $18-19 for most dishes. But the portion sizes are small. I wouldn't mind paying a little bit more to have a little bit of a larger portion. The steak frites have excellent value.
Overall, I had a fond experience at Frankin Cafe and will stop by here if I am ever in the neighborhood.
We came upon the Franklin when we went out with friends and they wanted to go out to the South End. I had only been familiar with the places on Tremont, and the Franklin really looks more like a bar than a restaurant. But we were seated in a cozy window nook which we really enjoyed (but probably contributed to us being out of the way of the waitstaff). The drink menus were wonderful and when we were ordering, the waiter was very helpful and the four of us ordered double of two entrees - the duck and the turkey meatloaf. It was all wonderful. There is no doubt this food is delicious, and this place is so laid back - it's definitely the place to go for a delicious laid back meal.
Review Source:I like the Franklin Cafe, I really do, but last night was just awful.. I have been going there for years. Â It wasn't the food, although they do have menu additions for spring and are still working out the kinks. Â It was our waiter. Â We go in at 11 p.m. for a late night dinner after finishing our taxes. Â The music is blasting and the place was half empty.. We sit down and the waiter came over and I politely asked him if he could turn the music down.... He looked at me and said ..Well... a little... Clearly he did not like my request, but he did turn it down, so we stayed. Â Just before our food was severed a few of his friends came in and he turned it even louder then it was before! Â So now we are trapped with loud music (and I love loud music, but when I am trying to have dinner and converse with someone) and a waiter who is ignoring us.. He whole attitude was just beyond the pale..
Review Source: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.
No one can argue with the amount of quality restaurants in the South End. The only thing I dislike from time to time is how much of a scene it can be with parking and occasionally the over done experience. If you feel the same, check out Franklin Cafe.
Food is delicious and seems to have decent variation for my periodic visits. The general feel of the place is that of a quiet and dark neighborhood place. You walk in and feel like you stumbled upon a secret. Doesnt hurt that its virtually impossible to arrive there in a car unless you really planned to take that exact route.
Its always dark in there, but in a good way. You feel like you are only really interacting with the person/people you are there with.
The staff is responsive but never seem too involved with your meal.
Great date spot
It would be a 5 if it was just a shade less expensive. Would clinch the real neighborhood diamond in the rough.
I came across the Franklin Cafe by sheer accident. My friends and I were in Boston for St. Patty's day, and after a LONG day of drinking (and napping), we woke up too late to eat elsewhere. After Yelping, we found out that the Cafe serves their full menu until 1:30am (awesomeness when you're just getting out of bed at 11:30pm!).
I am not going to lie... when we arrived, we were a little skeptical. Away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, the street seemed very quiet and deserted. Once inside, my opinion totally changed. The restaurant was charming, dimly lit, and quaint. The three of us were seated at a table by the window. This was awesome, considering that I LOVE to people-watch. The menu had something for everyone. When the fresh bread and homemade hummus came out, I was in heaven! The hummus was all creamy deliciousness. For starters, I went with the Calamari and black-eyed peas, and the arugula salad. The arugula had pears and a date-paste (I am Middle Eastern and it reminded me of Harosit). The flavors melded together very nicely for a light pre-dinner 'eat'. For my main dish, I ordered the turkey meatloaf with fig gravy. It was a MAN-sized portion and I ended up sharing. It was definitely comfort food! Both of my friends went with pasta dishes and both were hearty and tasty.
I wish that I could recall our waitresses name because she was amazing (she was working Saturday night, March 16th - does that help anyone?!).
When again in Boston, I will absolutely be returning to this lil' neighborhood gem!
You know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you're falling in love? Â The skies part, birds chirp, violins play and you have a constant silly smile pasted on your face? Â
Yeah, gross. I know.
But that's exactly what happens to me when I'm at Franklin.
There's a warm comfort in the familiar ritual of walking down Shawmut and looking for the always unlit martini glass sign that is the grand entrance to Franklin. And yet, the heavy curtains shielding it from Boston's cold winters, dark, moody lighting and wooden benches make it mysterious enough to be edgy.
The bartenders are infamous for their generous pour and making unquestionably good drinks; favorites being the St. Germain cocktail with beautiful prosecco flavors, Lost Barrel with Jameson and Domaine de Canton and of course the Eastern Essence with spiced rum and ginger.
Ask for their classic steak frites, oxtail risotto and smoky skillet roasted mussels - they are delicious. Other picks include the mushroom and potato stew, butter poached cod and winter beets which is in my opinion, how an ideal salad should be made.
With a wait staff that will make an effort to remember you by name and an interesting mix of people who will always engage you in great conversation, Franklin has much more to offer than you would expect out of a local neighborhood bar. They play old classics, jazz & blues and make you forget how much time has passed, making you even more grateful for the kitchen that is open till 1:30.
If you're in Boston, go to Franklin. I miss it sorely.
Still my favorite place in the 'hood!
The last five times I've been here in the past three weeks, my boyfriend and I always opt for the Winter beets and the steak frites! Gah! Those steak frites are mindblowingly good. So good that every sliver ignites my palate and makes me want to shed tears... tears of ecstasy. Haha.
Service is aces, drinks are balanced (the pear gimlet is the bomb!) and the wait is never ridiculous. Keep up the good work, Franklin! I love you.
The atmosphere here was amazing, it was quiet, no TV's and nice and dark. Â The music selection was awesome, and I've heard that it only gets better on a weekend night as well! Â Of course it's tiny, and I can imagine that if it gets busy it can be quite crowded and uncomfortable, however the night we were there it was comfortable crowded.
I loved the craft drink menu and the beer selection.
The service was attentive without being annoying - they were a little slow on the beer refills, but overall it was a perfect amount of paying attention to us. Â The server also didn't flinch at the multiple credit cards we tossed in - which is always a great sign - and we really appreciate that.
The food was quick, the orders were right, the timing of the meal was impeccable.
The food itself was good, but not great. Â I had the steak, and we shared the mussels. Â My entree was just average - didn't really stand out in any way, so I'm not sure that I'd try it again. Â The rest of the entrees got better reviews than mine did, so if I were to go back, I'd definitely try something else.
Overall pretty great atmosphere and service. Â I'd definitely go back to try another entree item to see if the food gets better, either way, I'd be back for a quiet drink and a chat with friends.
The food here is AMAZING. Â The menu changes all the time, so everything is really fresh and homemade. Â Some of the best food I've had in Boston. Â Their pastas are amazing. Â Also really reasonably priced (almost all entrees under $20), which is great for the South End.
Taking away 1 star because they don't take reservations and the restaurant is tiny, so I only go if I'm eating a really early dinner and can beat the crowd.
Very san francisco- esque restuarant- grimy, good drinks, and unpretentious food.
Downside: the food was very hit or miss.
- bone marrow app was delicious
- beef tar tar, not so much, pre-mixed and tasted full of pickles
- steak frites were good
- cod, not so much, kind of water logged
Came here on a Saturday night for dinner and drinks. Food was cold and tasteless; we ordered steak, grilled calamari and arugula salad. Given the quality, not worth the price at all.
Our server was high, he could not even tell us what was in the special menu: "winter salad". He rushed us by coming over to ask if we were done with the plate over and over again. We ended up being there for only an hour.
The restaurant is gloomy, not romantic, too dark. Very disappointed given the good ratings on yelp.
An obscure storefront with a cozy nondescript wood-paneled interior, this little South End hotspot of all-American comfort is easily passable. I passed it by for years. My loss.
My evening at Franklin Café started with a Sweet Potato Soup keeps out the bitter cold.
The Honey Crisp Apples were sweet and festive and added a fruity fall feel, but despite the best efforts of the pomegranate and almonds, this salad was forgettable at best.
Then came the Butternut Squash Agnolotti with a creamy, sweet filling and cute little mushrooms for texture. The sage brown butter pulled together a perfect plate. My one complaint is that the dish itself was a bit pricey at $19 for 5 little logs of agnolotti, so I think they covered it with a salad that looked suspiciously like remnants of the honey crisp apples to mask the puny portion. The pasta was perfect, but I would have liked it better if I didn't feel like I was digging it out from the upended remains of someone's half-eaten salad.
The Butter Poached Cod was pretty awesome too. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth fish with bitter Brussels sprouts? Fine by me.
When the check came, I figured we'd need a lot of Franklins of the Benjamin variety, but the prices were reasonable with the exception of the agnolotti. Now that I know what I've been missing at Franklin Cafe, it looks like I'll be making up for lost time!
Came here for the first time last week and had a great time. The drinks were different and quite tasty. I got the French Laundry cocktail, a little sour and very tasty. The bartender definitely knows how to make a good drink.
My vegetarian husband had a lot of options and they even gave him a separate vegetarian menu. I ordered the oxtail risotto which was very creamy and cooked perfectly.
The service was great. We started dinner around 6pm on a thursday night and by the time we were done eating the place was packed.
This smallish bar/restaurant is great for dinner with a few friends. Â For whatever reason (acoustics of the space?) it gets quite loud--so it has a nice and vibrant feel. Â Good for a date if you can both project your voice. Somewhat dark lighting but comfortable booths. Â
Solid and reasonably well priced "new american cuisine" and drinks. Â The muscles were very solid. Â Our server seemed a bit off his game and was pretty snarky (dare I say, kind of mean), but he wasn't able to ruin the good food and the overall good vibe!
Went here last week for dinner on a Saturday night.
There was a bit of a wait, as to be expected on a weekend in the South End. The place itself is so quaint and comfortable, with a nice modern vibe great for a night of dining between friends.
The hostess was great, so accommodating and kept in contact throughout our wait. Once seated I had one of the best cocktails I've ever had: the Eastern Essence. Our waitress was a little cold, but she kept checking in on us and was great about recommendations and was not overbearing, which is my biggest pet peeve.
I had the Oxtail Risotto, while my friend had the Pan Roasted Chicken. Both dishes were outstanding. My risotto was perfectly al dente and bathed in a sweet, creamy sauce with nice chunks of oxtail meat.
Absolutely would recommend for a lively date night or for small groups. Looking forward to going back.
Everytime my boyfriend and I are in Boston, Franklin Cafe is always on our list. We have been to some of the grandest restaurants but always fall in love with Franklin Cafe. From the food to the ambiance, this is a wonderful spot for a intimate conversation, dinner and drinks with your significant other or a group of friends. We've always been for a late night eat in between drinking and it has never failed us. It has become a tradition for us to visit Franklin Cafe every trip to Boston, no matter how full we are.
Review Source:We came here for an early Sunday dinner after an event in South End and almost immediately fell in love. I'm a big fan of new American restaurants - think seasonal menu, fresh local ingredients, nice but not frou frou - and this one is a stellar example.
He got the sweet potato bisque with duck ham (!) and the catfish entree; I got the pan roasted chicken. The bisque was out of this world. Smooth and silky with the smoky after taste of salted duck. YUM. The fish dish was a bit salty, but still good. My chicken was solid. It was definitely comfort food with a modern twist.
I got the spiced pear cocktail with my dinner. I'm not sure what the spices consisted of, but my mouth had a healthy burn after each sip.
Franklin Cafe is dimly lit and cozy with attentive service :) great date place!
We ate here on the recommendation of a waiter at a nearby bar/restaurant that we frequent. He said Franklin's was the industry favorite, perhaps because it serves decent food at a late hour. This is probably a great place to grab a drink, but not a dinner spot. It's not that our food wasn't good (it was fine, although nothing spectacular), but this is definitely a bar and it feels like you are eating in a bar. I much prefer The Gallows.
Review Source:My wife and I often eat here (like one or twice a week). Â My favorite thing on the menu is the quinoa salad. Â Dead simple but still delicious and I always eat it thinking, I could make this but you know what? Â I'm too lazy and so I come here to have it and it's really good. Â The food is always solid and extremely reasonably priced.
The vibe is low key and very hospitable. Â If you don't like something, you tell them and they will look to have it corrected right away. Â The bartenders are friendly as heck and if even you aren't a drinker (I'm not), they still take great care of ya! Â The crowd....well interesting. Â You kinda never know what you'll get and I guess that kinda goes along with the vibe in Southie and Dot these days.
After hearing this craze about the corned beef, I tried it. It was OK. Kinda dry. The cabbage was pretty good.
One of the appetizers... with the thinly sliced raw meat was really good.
Noticed this place had an Asian chef, so there were many asian inspired dishes.
Chicken was just ok. Â Strong drinks. Kinda expensive, but at least you walk away full.
Even though I was not impressed by the Franklin's famous corned beef brisket (too charred) or my dining companion's anemic plate of steak frites, I would consider coming back based on the strength of the braised lamb short rib we had to start. I can't remember the last time I had an appetizer that was so beautifully composed. The succulent meat fell off the bone at the slightest caress of a fork, and played well with a host of accoutrements including watermelon, figs, red onion, and some of the best feta I've ever had.
Drinks are pretty affordable, not to mention potent. That being said, the Franklin may be best enjoyed at the bar, where you can order a few apps and sip on a host of fun cocktails.
And last but never least...dessert. What do you mean there is none? Who are you people?!? At least Citizen has its signature sticky toffee pudding...
Intimate and cozy are the best words to describe this place. This is my go-to spot on cold nights and always my top recommendation for those looking for a first date spot.
Tucked on quiet Shawmut, the crowd is mostly local and the food is *always* wonderful. Drinks are strong, staff is nice and food is great - steak frites are super nommy. Even better - no entree is over $20.
Also - the kitchen is open until 1:30am, which is always awesome.
I went here at the suggestion of a colleague for a late dinner and have to say it was one of the best places and meals I've every had in Boston. The food quality, the prices, the drinks and overall atmosphere seemed to be beautifully synched together.  It's  a nice hidden gem that is a wonderful change from the over advertised eateries nearby promoting traditional pub grub that is neither unique or captivating as the Franklin Cafe is.  I like how there is no real sign other than a martini glass over the door.
I had a crisp Narragansett from the tap to accompany my hand cured corned beef brisket with sauteed onions and new potatoes. Â My meal was skillfully presented in cast iron skillet and was more than I expected. Â The beef was prefect and tender and paired well with the sauteed onions along with sea salt that I sprinkled over the dish. Â The beef carpaccio (which I've haven't seen very often on any menu) was expertly crafted and tasted fabulous. Â Both of my colleagues and I continued to rave like "foodboys" (my take on restaurant fanboy) over how impressive our meals were.
The service was a tad slow at the start and overall was attentive and hospitable. It's a small place so I assume that it would be hard to get a table during peak dining hours. People seemed to have no problem getting a table after 9pm.
If you want to go somewhere, chill, and have a solid quality dining experience, this is the place.
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!
This place is the bomb. Located on the South End of Boston, this place is considered a local's joint. Small and intimate, this place has fantastic food. I definitely loved the chicken I ordered and the grilled calamari. The calamari wasn't rubbery like you'd typically get from other places.
When I go back to Boston, I'll be sure to schedule dinner here again.
I did not think I would dislike it this much... but I really did. Â This place looked so trendy and packed with people when we walked in for dinner. I was expecting more of a cafe or restaurant.. but it was like a bar with some booths for food.
We waited about 40 minutes for a table after I did a wine tasting down the street in the lovely South End neighborhood. Â I didn't mind the wait... when we sat down we could barely read the menu because this place is soooo poorly lit.
The bread and hummus were good. Â I will give it that. Â The real downfall of the place was the waiter... and the food was less than stellar esp for South End standards.
The waiter finally came by and was flat out rude to my friend. Â She couldn't drink that night because she was on medication so she asked for something non-alcoholic. Â He asked her if she liked non-alcoholic beers... she said no... he came back with a ginger beer. Â When she sent it back he gave us complete attitude. Â She asked is there any guava juice or any special blends of juice... nope, all they had was ginger beer, cranberry juice, and soda... was she going to take the ginger beer? Â I think he was miffed she didn't drink the entire night as he didn't come back to check on her.
The mussels were bigger than most places but problem with it was they put so much salt on the outside of the shells and there was no broth in the bowl. Â I did try the mushrooms appetizer dish as well which was good... the polenta was cooked well but only one type of mushroom appeared on the dish. Â My friend told me the salad with the figs was gross as they used blue cheese instead of goat cheese. Â My other friend's shrimp pasta was bad.. he could barely finish it and the hanger steak didn't seem too good placed on top of a pile of frites and in a bowl. Â Aren't steaks supposed to be served on a plate?
The only thing that could have made it worse was the uni-sex bathroom closets they had. Â It was so gross since they are uni-sex. Â Oh and it was really loud in there.. which would be fine if we were standing at the bar but it was really more like yelling across the table all night.
Yelp... you have definitely let us down.
4.5 stars for one of the best South End spots I've come across for food & drink. Â My friends and I came by for snacks and drinks to round out an awesome Friday night and Franklin Cafe delivered on all fronts.
Food consisted of the Garlic Grilled Calamari, Yukon Potato Gnocchi and Asian Mushroom Duxelle. Â Get. Â The. Â Calamari. Â Cooked to absolute perfection achieving a crispy char that led to mad tender meat without so much as a hint of rubberiness. Â The spiced prunes on the gnocchi provided a delicious, tart contrast to the starchiness too. Â And did I mention that these gems were a mere $8-9 each?
Our drinks had quite a range both in terms of potency and choice of liquor/liqueur base. Â My bro's Gina's "Ginger Beer" was crisp, (not surprisingly) gingery and not at all excessively sweet. Â The Maple Manhattan was very well done and had a well-integrated balance of maple notes and oak from Old Fitzgerald. Â My French Laundry, beyond its awesome name, was right in between the other two drinks - citrusy yet weighty.
It's truly a rare combination to have excellent food and drinks without costing an arm and a leg. Â If the apps are any indication of the quality of the entrees, we'll have an update on our hands in no time.
La Chouffe on tap? Yes, please.
This is my favorite go-to place and I definitely don't get here quite as much as I'd like. Great place for date night or to bring the out of towners too. Walking through a picturesque neighborhood doesn't hurt either. Caution: they do not serve dessert but never fear, South End Buttery is a half a block away!
Went here with a friend after he did some research on gluten free menus and I was thrilled with it. I know, those of you who know me are sick of me writing about gluten-free items/restaurants/menus, etc., but it's not always all that obvious which places are safe for celiacs to eat, so these reviews will hopefully help spread the word...grassroots-style.
My friend and I split the pan-roasted chicken and the steak frites and dove into the succulent dishes with abandon. Everything was seasoned to perfection. The fryer they used for the fries is dedicated for gluten-free items, so no cross-contamination issues (for me, anyway).
An additional plus is the fact that it's very dark and sexy in Franklin Cafe, meaning if you aren't looking your best and/or you spill some food on your cute top, no one will notice. Until you walk outside. Shame-free dining garners bonus stars for my reviews.
This place is also pretty affordable, especially for the area. The bartender made me a wicked margarita that was delicious and clearly made from scratch and not some gross, syrupy pre-made mixer. Delicious. Does a margarita go with steak and chicken? Um...just....don't judge me, okay?
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