This place, a cousin of the two Franklins downtown, is always good. Unlike many restaurants in Cape Ann, it has an adult feel, darker interior on the main floor, no TV, a small bar. The menu changes frequently, the staff is friendly and professional and you can order until midnight or 12:30 on Friday and Saturdays. You're welcomed with bread and a nice spread of  some sort.  There's a decent sized menu, lots of fish (duh) and seafood (the calamari is always good)  but enough meat choices to satisfy. They have live jazz some nights downstairs and an upstairs patio  scene in the summer. A very cool place.
Review Source:I have to give them props. I'm not the type to eat at the same place over and over, but I find myself at The Franklin at least once a week. The service is not spectacular, but the food is very good. The menu is small (a bonus in my book), and interesting. The atmosphere works for me too. It's a little on the dark side, but it does feel nice and cozy. The Jazz trio on Friday nights is a really nice touch.
Review Source:I've eaten at the Franklin a half-dozen times in the last three years. I really enjoy the atmosphere; downstairs has a small bar with dining tables. If you are lucky a trio is serenading...like Linda Amero who sings beautifully. Up a long flight of stairs is a dining room with another small bar tucked in the back. I prefer upstairs...nicely decorated and bit more quiet. For the pricing, however, I would expect more consistent food. This place gets very, very busy so make reservations in advance...even off season.
Review Source:I'm a long-time patron of the Franklin and am never ever disappointed. The food is always great, the atmosphere - music et al is great and the service impeccable. Â Elizabeth who is generally behind the bar, is one of the best if not THE best in terms of service, drinks, etc. Â Highly recommend!
Review Source:Franklin Café seems like it is "the" happenin' spot on Main Street on a Friday night.  The have live jazz and reservations are a must even in the dead of winter!
The St. Germain cocktail was very refreshing and was quite strong. Â
At the recommendation of our host and server, I got the peppered seared ahi special with mashed potatoes. Â It was ok. Â A little too peppery for me, and I'm able to hold my own with peppery/spicy things. Â A huge portion! Â I packed up half to go with me.
Props to them for offering a gluten free and vegetarian menu, which can also be made vegan on request.
...Okay, i have loved the atmoisphere here, and fund it a great place to stop in for snacks and a drink. we held it in pretty high esteem.
the other night we brought my visiting family there ( and they know food). they didn't complain, but the booth was too tight ( and we're not fat ) my s.o. did not care for his pizza crust at all and i have to say, the salad ( field greens with goat cheese, walnuts, cranberry ) was the worst of its type i've ever had .
i sent it back for more walnuts topping ( there were like, 3) but still, it was a huge pile of limp old greens, no distinguishable dressing, all mush, no textural contrasts...
i do like the nice big delicate wine glasses for the red wine but this does not a meal make.
i'm very dissapointed and i hope they will raise the bar a bit again !
we really enjoyed the franklin cafe! the manager and service were extremely nice and accommodating, and were very nice about our changing reservation time.
for appetizers we started with the lobster ravioli, fish quesadilla, and wedge salad. the lobster ravioli was very crispy, but not greasy, and came with a very nice soy dipping sauce. i really liked the quesadilla, the fish was grilled and it was filled with black beans, creme fraiche, and guacomole. the wedge salad had a bit too much dressing, but my fiance's parents really liked it.
the appetizers were a great start, but the real hit were the two dinner specials. we ordered the tuna special, which was a pepper crusted seared tuna with mashed potatoes and greens. the tuna was cooked perfectly - very rare, with a beautiful crispy crust. i got the fluke, and it was extremely flaky, moist, and paired nicely with a lightly oiled spinach and a bit of mashed potato.
both of my martinis were strong without being overpowering, and reasonably priced at $9. we also got the blondie brownie sundae for dessert, which came with an amazing toasted coconut topping and vanilla ice cream.
i enjoyed every dish, and would look forward to returning to franklin cafe.
I have been coming here for 10 years. Â The last 2 meals here have been so poor I promise not to return. Â Under new ownership over the last couple years the food has really lacked and the service is kind of a joke. Â I used to live next to the one in South End and eaten there hundreds of times. Â I have been to the Gloucester spot about 50ish times and it made me sad last night where the restaurant has gone. Â Drinks were great though and bartender was really personable and great to talk to. Â What seemed to be the head waiter made me feel like i was in the Jersey Shore!!!
Review Source:I've been here twice. Â The first time was some time ago (1.5 years, maybe?) and remembered it being pretty good so a group of 8 of us went back after a day in Gloucester.
The atmosphere is small but nice and interesting. Â The service was also good but nothing spectacular. Â
The main issue I had on this night was the food. Â I ordered the Pan Seared Cod. Â The portion size was good but it lacked real seasoning and was pretty mediocre. Â I tried the Salmon and the 'twice fried rice'. Â Altogether pretty gross. Â The twice fried rice is a bad version of 3 day old rice that has been microwaved. Â Maybe it's just me... Â Maybe I don't get it, but I certainly don't who does. Â Salmon was cooked well but really sweet with no heat to be found.
I don't know if I'd go back... Â The Franklin Cafe in the South End was much better from what I remember. Â I'll probably try that one again.
We showed up at 6 p.m. on a summer Thursday night with five people and no reservation. Â Five is an awkward number for this small space, but the hostess shuffled their seating plan a bit and graciously accommodated us. Â The room quickly filled up and the noise level increased, but we had a wonderful dinner.
Our party of five started out with two orders of the tuna tartare and one of the warm matchsticks of zucchini. Â The tartare was delicious, but it was the zucchini that blew us all away. Â Delicious! Â Perfectly tender-crisp matchsticks sauteed with sliced almonds and topped with thin slices of pecorino and a balsamic gastrique. Â Not a pairing I had ever considered, but I'm definitely going to try to recreate it.
I had the hanger steak with frites. Â The steak was perfectly medium-rare and tender with a luscious slab of gorgonzola melting on top and delicious pan sauce. Â The serving of crisply delicious frites was HUGE! Â All five of us munched on them and I still couldn't finish them. Â Two of our party had the filet. Â Both reported that they were cooked slightly more than ordered, but the filet was so tender and flavorful that they didn't care. Â The other two diners ordered the baked salmon and the tuna sashimi special.
Our party ordered three desserts: Â the blondie sundae, the chocolate lava cake, and the fresh blueberries with brown sugar and whipped cream. Â I only tasted the blondie sundae (which was very good), but all three desserts disappeared in no time. Â One diner requested the blueberries without brown sugar and we were pleased to see that the kitchen happily complied. Â
Our overall assessment was that this was a WAY better dinner than we were expecting to find in Gloucester!
I have always wanted to go this place after reading positive reviews in magazines. I have been to many restaurants in the Gloucester are (Lat 43, Passports, etc.).
I invited two couples to go (7/28/12) with us because of the reputation.
What a letdown!
The service was nonexistent. It was very busy which is ok with us but trying to get her attention for drinks, water and coming back to the table to see if everything was ok did not happen. We had to pay 20% service charge because of the size of out party. Ouch!
The food was ok. We had the salmon and haddock entrees. The haddock portion was so small and the sides were bland. My salmon was prepared properly but the sides were nothing to brag about.
The six of us all agreed we would not consider coming back again.
Very disappointing to say the least.
My wife and I have been enjoying the Franklin Cape Ann almost as long as it's been in business (13 years) and it's always been our favorite restaurant on the North Shore. The others that have come close, but are much more expensive are Tryst in Beverly (now closed) and Duckworth's in Gloucester.
We love the cozy ambiance and the booths in the lower level of the Franklin, and the service has always been friendly and attentive. They take reservations, they have the most interesting and subtle cocktails I've ever had, and we've NEVER experienced a disappointing meal there. Yes, the menu is smaller than some other restaurants, but there are enough choices to make everybody happy, and the ingredients are always fresh and well-prepared. Oh, and the portion size is just right. None of this Boston-nouvelle-cuisine that leaves one feeling ripped off.
We ate there recently, and I had the special - braised short rib with a reduction sauce on a bed of risotto that absolutely melted in my mouth. It was the best meal I've had there in a string of superb meals.
If you try the Franklin, for dessert, get the Chocolate Lava cake on vanilla bean ice cream. So good!
Solid food: oysters are fresh and tasty (nothing -say, assortment-, that blows your mind), tuna tartar is delicious, clams were ok, asian cole slaw hit the spot. Wine selection was nothing to brag about but a good and decent variety. If my Sauvignon Blanc was any indication, then their limited menu might be enough to cover plenty palates.
Place has a nice romantic ambiance. Yes, of course, it is pricey, but nothing you'll regret if you order well.
We went there because I'd been to the one in the South End and had the Pumpkin Ravi's (they were spectacular). Â As we were walking in I noticed that the sign on the door was no longer the Franklin St Cafe but just "The Franklin" so I suspected new ownership. Â I was right.
The menu was limited. Â I don't mean that in a bad way, I actually give it points for that. Â The chef can make only so many things in one night and even less to perfection so when faced with a one page small menu you know you're getting something meticulously prepared (you yelper-foodies know this) . Â Jessie had the Short Ribs and I had the Tuna Shashimi Special. Â Both were outstanding. Although I did not get a chance to try the Short Ribs as Jessie inhaled them in 8 seconds, that's why I'm saying they're good. Â
The Staff was great and the customers were mainly locals who were friendly and engaging in conversation. Â
***To Note: Â We were out without a res on Saturday night at about 7:30, our first place (Alchemy, another great place) was an hour wait, The Franklin was packed, but we got seats at the upstairs bar and even with that our hostess found us within 20 minutes with a table. Â We declined to stay at the bar. Â But i love noting places you can get into during prime time..
We're going to be spending a lot more time in Gloucester so we'll be back here, they had Chicken Thigh Tacos that I need to try ASAP and the App/Small plate menu is all under 10 bucks..
P.S. Â They had great drinks, just like the old place...
Place was okay. Location used to be an ice cream parlor from what a 90 year old Gloucester resident told me. The bar looks to be original. Old wainscoting and a dimly lit kind of atmosphere are nice touches. The food was okay. The menu seems to be a bit limited and portions are on the small side for what you'll pay.
Review Source:We walked up to the hostess stand and they were able to accommodate us (with a short wait) even on a busy Saturday night during the town's "block party" weekend, which was an unexpected plus.
Zucchini app was the superstar - they really elevated the humble veggie. Corn ravioli was rich, tasty. Others in our party got the shrimp scampi and steak frites and took home their leftovers. Loved the bread and hummus. Drinks were fine - red wine and sangria. Charming waitress who was able to give advice on menu items.
Would definitely return.
This was my first time at this restaurant and I went with a good friend of mine. Â I cannot wait to return! Â The food was outstanding and I loved the atmosphere. Â Low key, cool with amazing food. Â Great date place with friends or sig. other. Â We started with the house made buffalo mozzarella with sliced tomatoes and olive tapenade, a burst of flavor and so fresh. Â The matchstick zucchini was to die for, the calamari was grilled and not fried and perfect, the cod was seasoned and cooked to perfection and dessert was delicious. Â The upstairs is a bit more casual than the downstairs but I think this place is truly a Cape Ann gem.
Review Source:I have been here with my DC at least half a dozen times and last night she commented, "this is the best overall restaurant in Gloucester" and she may be right. Â I wish I could give it half a star more than "4" Â because while not perfect, the Franklin Cape Ann is damned near close.
First, they don't over-reach. Â The menu is progressive American cooking without being pretentious and they make something simple like a salad vibrate with authenticity and creativity. Â The 2011 Spring menu is actually hard to choose from because everything sounds so good. Â And from seeing the plates of nearby diners, everything is finely presented and the room buzzes with happy eaters being served great food. Â You all know that kind of place when you are there - and this is one of them.
I opted though for the bistro style hangar steak and frites, which are just right and crisped with a waft of truffle oil. Â Nice touch. Â Its what makes going out extra special when something is executed perfectly like steak and frites - big plus too when your order comes out medium rare just as asked. Â This dish seems to be a standard that 'regulars' order and often come in for just this steak, and I can see why. Â I totally dig it and do every time.
The service even on a busy but sodden Saturday night on Cape Ann...wine glasses stayed full, silver was changed out quickly and they even asked if I wanted ketchup but I will take the 5th on my reply : )...
My delicious DC had the salmon and it was tender and moist with a beautiful herbed pan sauce and roasted baby veggies...sweetly presented on the plate as are all the dishes.
We even had a slight * problem * with our bold and spot-on tuna tartar appy - a small shard of cello plastic made its way into the dish. Â We were immediately comped it and the waitress thanked us and also sent an apology directly from the chef. Â Classy, straight-up and we moved on to the rest of our meal.
We were too stuffed for dessert but they sounded amazing....maybe someday we will stop back in around 11 PM and just have dessert at the bar with an aperitif. Â Its that kind of place, you want to go back be it upstairs in the 'soft cool' dining room (which has an adjacent bar which was hopping but our of earshot - a well designed loft-style hang-out - duly noted) or downstairs in the more 'classic' Â downtown bistro.
Oh what the hell, I will give it 5 stars. Â I love you, Franklin / Cape Ann. Â Just don't let a top-grade stop you from always getting better as you always do with a fresh menu, great stand-byes and specials.
Thank you. See you again, and soon.
We had a 50+ person dinner event in the upstairs room at Franklin Cafe this past weekend. The servers did a great job all night, and really kept the wine flowing. The jicama salad was tasty and had a great citrus dressing. The hangar steak entrees were high quality dishes. All the steak was cooked at a perfect medium, a job well done considering they served en masse. All the food came out in a timely manner. Nice execution by the chefs; they also had a full dining room to serve  downstairs.
Review Source:Three of us had a few cocktails here on a Monday night to kill some time.  The atmosphere is not at all what I would expect to find  in Gloucester, but I can imagine that if you are a local with some money to spare, you'd  welcome the change of pace.
Didn't get our bartender's name, but he made 3 very well crafted cocktails and was friendly enough. Â It was dead, and servers tend to hang together in the service areas during these time... Understood... But he would come over from time to time to answer stupid questions about Port and entertain the bored tourists. Â
The menu looked tasty, and was reasonably priced considering the ingredients and atmosphere. Â The bar is very dark. Kinda like you are eating in an old French nunnery's library chamber. But I love that!
We did order some "handcut fries" Â which came surprisingly with cheese, parsley?, and truffle oil. Â Yummy. Ate them all. Â Even the parsley.
I would venture to say that this is a fabulous, albeit trendy and a bit pretentious, bar. Â My girlfriend, roommate and I liked it, and will definitely return!!
If you like drinking in a closet, take a walk to the upstairs 'bar' and squeeze yourself in. Â If you are a local and want to know where all the 'supermodels' in high school went, you can find them there. Â
They tried to bring a Boston atmosphere to Gloucester, along with Boston prices. Â
Save your money!
My fiance and I are big fans of this restaurant. Â The bartenders are always so friendly and accommodating! Â My fiance loves the tuna tar tar - which is often an appetizer special most weekend nights. Â It is truly fabulous!! Â The best that either of us have ever had.
As for me, I LOVE the duck. Â This restaurant takes duck to new heights. Â It is always succulent and so creatively prepared. Â I have had it many ways over time at this establishment. Â Duck egg rolls (to die for), duck quesadilla (so, so delectable), and duck breast as it is on the entree menu. Â It is always so juicy and tender and melt in your mouth good!! Â The duck is a feast for your taste buds - truly! Â This chef knows his/her way around a duck.
As for the bar, the Mo Cocktail is my favorite one on the list! Â Yum - and strong!! Â For some lighter fare to share - the fries are shoestring fries and so salty and crispy!!
The atmosphere is great. Â There is a bar upstairs and downstairs. Â You can usually find a couple of seats at one or the other. Â If you care to dine, I recommend the upstairs dining area - the paint color and furniture in the upstairs dining room make for a very passionate and sensual in a sexy way environment. Â Great place for a romantic meal!!
First visit in two years and happily the service, food and experience were still terrific. We had hummus, a shrimp appetizer, steak, Mahi Mahi and a salad, plus wine. Â The service was excellent and the food was good...outstanding sauces and flavors. Â My wife thinks the Franklin has the best steaks that she's ever had, including years living in Texas!
Review Source:I thought this was a pretty nice place, but not too expensive. Me and my boyfriend got martinis and steaks. The martinis were so-so, but the steaks were fabulous. They give you bread and hummus before your meal-I love when places do that (and it's actually good stuff), but I wasn't feeling the hummus with the bread; I say, just stick to butter or maybe flavored butter.
Review Source:Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Â 3. Â We ate at the bar - bartendress was very nice but did spend some time chatting with co-workers instead of checking to see that we had empty wine glasses. Â However they made requested substitution with no problem at all.
FOOD: Â 2. Â Really disappointing -- especially because the South End location has unbelievable food. Â My gnocci app was nothing but salt and butter. Â My wife's calamari was rubbery and her cod entree was way too salty. Â
AMBIANCE: 4. Â Especially for downtown Gloucestor, this is a nice cozy barroom/restaurant feel. Â The upstairs actually has even more tables and its own big bar as well, plus a small outdoor patio. Â They had live music (it was a Friday) which is good - although it was kind of cheesy cocktail jazz/vocals.
VALUE: 3. Â The price is always good at any of their locations. Â But paying anything for lackluster food immediately decreases the value.
I'd only ever been here once before for drinks and I was craving the tangerine gimlet I remember loving so much, so when it came time to decide where to head out on Friday night, I suggested trekking up to Gloucester for the Franklin. Â We arrived to a packed restaurant, but were lucky enough to find two seats at the secret bar upstairs.
The upstairs dining/bar area were a new discovery for me. Â When you walk into the restaurant, there's a doorway to the right with stairs leading up to the second floor. Â They really need to do something with that stairway, as it kind of felt like I was walking up an emergency exit only stairway, and not climbing up to more swanky lounge-y goodness. Â Thrown some art up on the walls and put some better lighting in or something.
I ordered a tangerine gimlets and it was just as magical as I had remembered. Â So magical I had to have two of them. Â I had the cod for dinner, which came with oyster mushrooms and some sort of sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes. Â I was a little weirded out by the concept of fish and mushrooms for some reason, but it was quite good. Â In fact, my only complaint is that there wasn't more of it! Â
I was a little peeved at one point when one of my dining companions asked to substitute fries for the mashed potatoes and was told that they do not do substitutions on the weekends. Â What? Â I'm sorry, this isn't some Chinese takeout joint. Â You should be able to make substitutions within reason. Â It's not like we asked them to make something that's not on the menu. Â
Other than the strict menu rules imposed by the kitchen, I really enjoyed this place and will definitely go back when I'm up in Gloucester again. Â This place teeters on the brink between $$ and $$$ in price range, so it's good for a casual evening or when you feel like being a little fancy.
We went here on Friday night to have dinner and meet a co-worker of mine for a drink. Â I was worried about finding space at the bar because it's so darn tiny, but I was alerted to the fact that there is a very secret dining room and bar on a very secret second floor. Â We were able to score 2 seats at the upstairs bar, but it quickly began to fill in and I felt like I had to work hard to hold onto a seat for my co-worker who would be arriving a bit later.
I don't care for the upstairs ambiance as much as I do for the downstairs. Â While the downstairs feels like a classy little restaurant, the upstairs felt more like a townie bar. Â I have nothing against townie bars (see my review of The Willow Tree in Peabody), but I think of the Franklin as an upscale place.
For dinner, I had the chicken (natch), and my companion had the cod. Â I was more impressed with my dinner, but the drinks were excellent. Â The bartender irritated me and lost this place it's 2 stars when I asked if I could have fries with my meal instead of potatoes. Â The line she gave me was that on weekends, the kitchen is firm about there being no substitutions. Â Really? Â In a place that's charging what the Franklin charges, they can't sub-out fries for potatoes? Â That gets a big thumbs down.
I'm not done with the Franklin by any means. Â Everything I ate and drank was marvelous, I just would rather have had the fries.
I walked in looking like a hot piece of ass and walked out appx. 12 seconds later. Â I immediately said, "No." to the bf and out we went. Â This place looks like it could be on Dawson's Creek (it would be the cool place to go and see your locals) Â boy, it was lame! Â I couldn't give it a chance due to the fact that this seemed like a big time townie bar and it was tiny. Â I had to leave and go elsewhere and I had a much better time.
Review Source:Almosphere is amazing. Â I think I might love the North Shore and eating here made me want to move there. Â There's just something so cozy and lovely about this place. Â Food was good but it came out lukewarm and it would have been soooo delicious hot. Â Servers were amusingly young- I felt like when our server was telling us the specials that she was giving an 8th grade oral report. Â She seemed so nervous and angsty! Â Good place though, I can't wait to try more restaurants in the area when the weather gets nice.
Review Source:This is a Mr. Chang favorite!
You don't have to drive in to Boston to get an excellent meal. While it caters to a clientle that enjoys top notch food it offers a twist with the two different dining atmospheres provided by the two floors in the restaurant.
The first level is more of a classic setting. Â It can be a bit dark but I do typically enjoy that type of atmosphere. Â It's the main dining area and the level you walk into when entering the restaurant. Â The second level offers a more modern dining atmosphere. Â The music on the second level is perfect for the setting and isn't loud enough to drown out conversation. Â They have a large flat screen in the middle of the bar which is always showing a local sporting event. Â It allows patrons to enjoy a game without detracting from the atmosphere.
The Manager, Maria, is the nicest person around and goes out of her way to accommodate you. Â Ricardo and Elizabeth know how to make a drink and offer up great conversation. Â The food is 5 star and the atmosphere is something you'd find in Boston. Â The kitchen is open until midnight! Can't beat that... I tend to eat after 10pm.
One of my favorite meals ais the hanger steak which is called Steak Frites. Â I had the Cod dinner the other night (March 8, 08) and it was out of this world. Â Iceberg Lettuce is a good light starter. Â I've had just about everything on the menu and have yet to find something I don't like. Â They put a lot of effort into their menu which changes seasonally. The wait staff does a tasting before the new menu comes out so you always get an honest opinion on the food and know they've actually had it.
TIP: John and Matt are at the bar upstairs on Fri/Sat nights. Â Head up there for a drink or two and you won't be sorry. Â They also have entertainment through out the week.
I really enjoyed this place. The food was good. Nice clean flavors, with no "throw-in" ingredients, huge portions, and comfort food which was exactly what I was looking for on this particular night (It was 3 degrees outside. I do not miss that at all.) The drinks were quite tasty and strong, and the atmosphere was good. (I really liked how the servers wore jeans and black tops-sweaters, t-shirts, etc. It didn't seem to matter as long as it was black-yet the food it self was a little more upscale. Will definitely come back here again.
Review Source:Very nice place with good ambiance. The place is fairly small with dimmed lighting, dominated by the bar with only a dusin tables or so. We waited only 5-10 mins for a table, but that might have been because it was Monday.
The menu is fairly simple. We ordered calamari and scallops wrapped in Bacon. The scallops were great (how can you go wrong with a scallops/bacon combo...), while I'd put the calamari above average. It was slightly chewy but not too bad compared to what you sometimes get.
My main was the mixed grill and I'd say everything was pretty juicy and tasted pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but definitely solid.
The only real disappointment was the wine. I randomly picked one of the few Pinot Noirs on the menu as I didn't know any of them. It wasn't the cheapest, but it definitely didn't taste that good. It was too young and unbalanced.
All in all, I would be back again if I lived in town. But I don't go to Boston that often and next time, I'll probably want to try something new.
I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for reasonably priced, good food in this part of Boston and want to avoid all the big and better-known places. But I don't know the area well, so there might very well be something better right around the corner...
Great spot for dinner with friends. Â Can be loud in the dining room but the way it is set up; it is still initimate. Â Booths are desired over the middle tables for two which seem a bit close. Â Jazz is offered on certain evenings. Â Extensive wine list. Â Bread is fantastic. Â Â Even with two large seating ares - there is an upstairs - weekends can be hard to get in.
Review Source:A wonderful atmosphere of dark wood, brass and glass. Â The Franklin is a great place to have a dinner with friends or sit at the friendly bar by yourself for dinner. Â
The downstairs dining is booths and tables mixed and a bit on the dark side if you like a light-filled atmosphere. Â The upstairs, however, is lighter and brighter with big windows. Â The bar downstairs feels more friendly and open as the upstairs bar is kind of tucked in the back.
The appetizer menu could be more extensive for my tastes. Â It is generally four or five offerings and priced in the $8 - $15 range. Â The dinner menu is in the $18-$30 range. Â The food is excellent, fresh and well prepared. Â
The service is good and reservations are recommended. Â I have overheard the staff speak about the pressure to turn tables and they can appear a little stressed if you want to get an appetizer each and then split a meal. Â
Two for dinner with wine and appetizers generally is about $100.