Went in on Monday night and was shocked to hear they were playing some amazing Heavy Metal... Chad (bartender with the crazy Mohawk ) has a "metal Monday" theme for late night... Incredible tunes, bar was packed full of very "happy" people... Great vibe, and as always food and drinks were fantastic.. Love this place now a little more that now I know I can have a steak and hear Iron Maiden... Nice job Chad and Franklin
Review Source:I love the Franklin in southie. Being a south end girl I have always liked the Franklin over on shawmut but the southie location has won me over. It's much largerer and a different crowd. Scott I believe the tall and charming bartender is a doll, he apparently works both locations, he just makes everything perfect. The cucumber Collins is my new summer cocktail, though everything I've had there is great. I love the steak tartare, lettuce wraps and oysters are always great. I only took away a star because I hate trying to find parking. When it's super hot and gross out, cold/snowy or rainy I'm not walking. Also there is a slightly hipstery bartender we once had who was terribly rude, ignored attempts to get another drink and yelled at me for having my purse on the seat next to me even though the bar was rather empty. Maybe he was hung over or something but whatever my favorite bartender and the good food and drink with great prices for Boston makes this a favorite.
Review Source:This was my favorite restaurant in Southie, but unfortunately it has consistently gone down hill. We have given it several chances and it gets worse each time. The menu is very limited and seems like a Winter menu. The best appetizer was tuna tartar, but they did away with it. We sat outside and there was bird crap, that had been there a long time on our table. The place wasn't crowded at all, many tables available outside, and it was a sweltering hot day. Â After looking at the menu, we decided not to drink our meal. Â The waiter was clearly pissed and said that in order to sit outside we had to eat. So, we ordered fries. How can you mess up fries? Â I'll tell you, the bottom of the frying pan, tiny, crunchy, greasy & overdone. I feel like I've lost a good friend. Franklin Southie, please come back to me.
Review Source:I used to love this place. Sadly they must have a new chef who has some sort of salt deficiency. This is the second meal in a row where I sent back food. Every dish tasted as if it had marinated in a bucket of MSG; the burger, the hake, the pork, even the braised greens. Â Who salts Hake???? Oh I can not forget the three pieces of 100% pork fat someone took the time to pan sear and serve to me as if it were food. Who is this new head chef? Who is running the line? Franklin you need to step it up especially with Stephanie's opening next door.
Review Source:We absolutely love Franklin Southie. Â We go probably every other week and it's our go to restaurant. Â The food is different and awesome! Â Best steak frites around. Â And the service is so nice and they make you feel like you are part of the family. Â Definitely go and check it out.
Review Source:I loved this place! Glancing at their unique food options and the nice appearance of the place I expected it to be a bit pricey but it wasn't.
The rabbit/pasta dish that I got was to die for. Everything that my friends and I got was really, really good.
Drinks are strong, location is convenient from the T, food was amazing, and prices are average. I'm definitely looking for an excuse to go back again.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston! I live in Southie and my boyfriend discovered this place and suggested that we go there and I fell in love on the first visit. The Poached Pear is my favorite drink from their cocktail menu, but all of the others are great as well. If you're a drinker, you definitely have to try the Hot Rod shot. It's pretty amazing. I've been here many times and I've never had a bad experience. Their Sunday brunch is awesome too, fun music and delicious Bloody Marys. The waitresses/waiters I've had have always been really friendly and helpful. You'd think that after eating here 10 times I'd be sick of it but I keep going back for a reason and that's because the place is simply awesome. The food is great and there's usually at least one new dish on the menu. I've recommended this place to friends and will continue to do so.
Review Source:I like the cut of Franklin Southie's jib. In an "up and coming" neighborhood, Franklin is a sight for sore eyes.
Your best bet is first visiting this place on a week night. It'll be quieter and I bet you'll get more attentive service than on a busy weekend.
That said, any concern about waiting on a Friday or Saturday for a table or longer-than-normal gaps between your server's visits to the table are best met with a gentle reminder that you're out on a weekend night in a neighborhood with few options similar to Franklin, dummy. Patience. Get a cocktail (they are yummy) and enjoy the ambiance.
I've yet to have a bad dish or drink here, so dig around the menu for something that suits your fancy. The burger is great. Bleu cheese if you swing that way or cheddar if not. The fries are delicious.
My husband likes the cucumber drink. My preference is for the mule.
Outdoor seating on a warm night is pleasant but best avoided for first dates or breakups, since you'll spend half the night shouting over ambulances heading up to BMC.
We have also done the Franklin's pig roast, which was a blast. They were great, the food was amazing, and we all had a wonderful time. Grab your 9 dearest friends and give this a shot.
Do yourself a favor and check out Franklin Southie. A 5 in my book, except for noise levels and occasionally spotty service (although I believe this is getting better).
I have mixed things to say. Â We got there at 6:30 on a Friday night...pretty early if you ask me. Â They were already packed, but we got a couple seats at the bar. Â We figured we'd order a drink before dinner. Â Only...the bartender was rushing around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Â He was the only bartender working a bar that could clearly use 2 or 3. After waiting 15 minutes to get his attention, we asked if they had a cocktail menu. Â He said of course, like we were idiots, and then walked away and didn't bring us one!!! Â I was about ready to leave at this point, when finally he came over with a menu and said sorry, we are slammed. Â He got my boyfriend a drink, but since I didn't know what I wanted yet, mine took another 20 minutes. Â Finally I said "What's going on? Â Why would a bar in Boston only have 1 bartender working on a Friday night?" Â He said that the 2nd bartender was coming on at 7 and would be there any minute. Â Okay...poor planning, but whatever. Â After finally getting my drink, the French Laundry, it was pretty good, so my irritation subsided. Â We got sat at a table, and the menu was very simple (not huge---maybe 3 salads, 5 apps and 8 entrees to choose from) and reasonably priced. Â I admire a restaurant that does a few dishes really well instead of pandering to the masses with a million mediocre ones. Â I got the rabbit pasta and it was amazing! Â It had these kinda sweet mushrooms in it. Â I don't know but it tasted maybe like they were pickled in red wine and vinegar? Â It added a great pop of flavor. Â And then there were snap peas in it! Â This sounds like a slightly odd combo, but it was really delicious. Â Overall the food was great, which is the only reason I'd go back. Â Oh, and maybe to sit on the outdoor patio once the weather gets nice. Â The atmosphere of this place is clean, sleek, modern. Â All good things. Â My only complaint is that they are trying to be a little too hipster. Â The waiters and bartenders were all in jeans...very casual. Â One waiter had all these cheesy tats and was wearing man bracelets, and he kept walking by our table, and I swear to God, was visibly flexing in my direction. Â It was strange. Â And then they had cocktails on the menu that were made with...wait for it...PBR and Bud Light Lime. Â Okay people...getting a little too emo hipster for me. Â If I'm gonna spend $10 on a cocktail, I'm not gonna ameliorate my high priced, high quality St. Germain with PBR. Â This isn't Chelsea (although my gay waiter was wearing an "I love NY" tee-shirt. Â a questionable choice when in Boston!) Â ;-) Â Overall, I liked it enough to go back, but I'm not writing home about it yet.
Review Source:I went here for the first time at 10:00pm on a Monday (Holiday) after the blizzard. Â First of all the kitchen was open, major points for that.
Atmosphere is good to average, but the food is out of this world everything everyone ordered was great. I had the satler chicken, friends had pot pie, and a salad or two. Â Food was thoughtful and full of great flavor. Â Everyone was very happy and full after we left. Â Service was great and very quick.
Looking forward to trying brunch here!
My girlfriend and I went here one night because they are open late night which is nice. Its rare to find a place open until 2 am. We were sat quickly, although our server wasnt very attentive. The food was great - we ordered a few apps, and meals. The beef cheeks were great, as well as the salmon tartare. Its a great place to get together with friends and have a few bites.
Review Source:I can't believe I haven't written a review of Frankline Southie yet, it is basically my home away from home. Â This is the place I come to when I just want to grab a drink or two with a friend, I come here on dates, I come here for birthday dinners, when my parents are in town...or sometime to drink the night away and get silly - it is one of those places that is great for anything you might want to do! Â My favorite thing to do at this place is sit at the bar, their bartenders (especially Peter) are amazing and are great to chat with, they chat and join your conversation, but not in an annoying way, they genuinely want to chat and get to know you. Â They remember you and your drinks, and always notice an empty glass.
The food never disappoints, the menu usually rotates with the seasons, but I have never been disappointed with anything i have eaten. Â They have an amazing brunch too, you can even get a bowl of cocoa puffs should you feel so inclined.
Their patio in the warmer months is really nice, sure it's on a busy corner but the fence really helps cut down on the noise, you barely notice it.
oh..and did i mention you can do a whole fix roast with all the fixin's with 10 or more people? Â it is AMAZING. Â great for a birthday or other celebration. You just need to order in advance.
If you live in Southie or even beyond, you should really check this place out. Â it is about 25 seconds from the Broadway Red Line T stop, and bus stops are right out the door so it could not be more convenient.
I guarantee you will like this place for whatever reason you go!
I cannot believe last night was my first time here!! Â HELLO, was I missing out??! Â I met up with a friend around 9:30pm and we sat at the bar. Â It wasn't crowded but there were enough people there on a Thursday night. Â The bartender was cool and cleared the spot so we could sit right away and gave us menus. Â I wanted to try all the specialty drinks but decided to be boring and get my Hendricks dirty martini. Â It was not boring and was made to perfection. Â Just enough olive juice for my likings!
I couldn't decide on what I wanted to eat because all the items looked amazing. Â I finally made my decision and went with the sugarcane poached salmon. Â I was so excited when it was placed in front of me and as I was eating it never wanted it to end. Â It came with sugar snap rices and some greens. Â AMAZING!!! Â My friend ordered the lamb bacon tacos and they looked great but I didn't try them. Â I was too engrossed in my own entree. Â
After my martini was done I ordered their Pinot Noir by the glass and it was different than any other I've had. Â It was very earthy and went down smooth. Â We couldn't leave without ordering dessert. Â There was only one and it was a fudge brownie, vanilla ice cream, peppermint patty and caramel sauce. Â Can you say Heaven???!!!!
Needless to say my first experience there was everything and more. Â Friendly, cool bartender, awesome food and drinks, great music and atmosphere. Â I think will be my new go to spot in Southie and definitely need to try out their location in the South End.
Came here for a nice birthday dinner on a Thursday night and was pleasantly surprised by the food, drinks, service and the chill, laid back atmosphere.
We started off with a bread basket and garlic hummus. It's the fresh crusty kind of bread with a fluffy, chewy center and the kind of hummus you just want to dip your thumb into and lick off. Needless to say, we asked for a refill.
I went with the St. Germaine Cocktail for my drink and LOVED it. Proseco, soda, lemon twist and St. Germaine. Can't go wrong with the sweet, citrus flavors. You can barely taste the alcohol.
Cocktail shrimp appetizer - big, plump, sweet, juicy and fresh. Nothin' less, nothin' more.
I got a pan fried whitefish for my entree and really appreciated the flaky fish, cooked to perfection. It had a nice crust and tasted buttery and fresh.
My friend got the duck pot pie, which in my opinion was a homerun. Flaky puff pastry covering a ramekin dish full of smoky duck and a rich yet not-too-creamy sauce.
Wonderful service all night long. So attentive, professional yet not overbearing. I just wish the menu was slightly more extensive, but hey, they switch up the items regularly so you don't get bored. 4-stars!
My buddy and I were looking for a new spot for dinner and a few drinks on Friday night. Co-workers recommendations as well as Yelp pointed us to Franklin Southie. Â The atmosphere was vibrant and we were greeted the second we walked through the door. Â We ordered the grilled flat bread and fresh chevre gnocchi as appetizers. Â Both were amazing and the presentation was excellent. Â I ordered the braised, bone-in short rib over chive mashed and broccolini. Â Short rib was fall-off-the-bone tender and the mashed and broccolini were cooked perfectly.
I like to go out to dinner once a week and I can easily say this is one of the meals I have had in a long time. Â I will definitely be back.
As other reviewers have noted Franklin Southie is only a block from the Broadway T stop which is accessible by bus or Red Line so no worries about having 1 too many with that dinner, no need to drive.
A friend from Southie introduced me to this spot. We were looking for somewhere nice on a weekday to have a drink and grab a quick meal after work (we get out at midnight). She suggested Franklin Southie, which for me was a stretch, as South Boston has always been an intentionally unexplored Boston neighborhood....but I digress.
Anyhow, I agreed to go and, oh my, was I pleasantly surprised! The place was pretty empty except for a few patrons (it was a Tuesday night) so we were immediately seated. As a palette warmer, Franklin Southie provides each table with warm bread and homemade hummus. I swear it was the best hummus I ever had, which prompted me to ask our hostess for the recipe. We then ordered two drinks, the Poached Pear and the Cucumber Collins. The both were great and they weren't cheap on the liquor either. We shared the Salmon Tar Tar as a light meal and just enjoyed each others company.
I would describe the drink and food menu as very creative and not the place to go if you're looking for typical bar food/drinks. The foodies will appreciate this place. It's also one block from the Broadway T station, so it's T accessible for those who don't drive. But I think the best part about Franklin Southie is the ambiance of the place. It was a restaurant/bar but felt as if you were in someone's home. It was just very comfortable. And the music they played was a nice mix of everything. This place is great for meeting up with friends or a date night.
Franklin Southie would have been 4 stars if i'd reviewed them a year ago.
WHY ??? Pray tell?? I only went there after 10 pm and the service/ food was always great!
However, I've been three times (yes, one can say I've tried!) for brunch and each time it's been one joke after the next. All three times it was the service, not the food. Each time the servers have been Ummmmm, Not Sa good! Latest brunch meal was on the house but really ... I want to just go, have good food, good service AND PAY, not feel like I've been abused.
This place is awesome. Â I can't decide if I like the atmosphere/vibe of this place more, or the food. Â I love sitting at the bar because the bartenders are so friendly, nice and good at what they do. Â The dimly lit space has loungy music playing and is perfect for a date, catching up with a gf or grabbing a drink before you go out. Â It's casual in that it's not pretentious, but you can still get a little dressed up, which I like. Â When it's in season, the tuna tartare over tofu is out of this world. Â The pumpkin raviolis were incredible, too (although I wish the portion was a little bigger). Â I've never had anything bad here and everyone I have brought has liked it, too. Â The drink menu is creative and all that I've tried are delic.
Review Source:A few of us came here last night for my friends birthday dinner. The atmosphere is really nice and the staff was great. My friends liked their duck pot pie and chive mashed potatoes. We got the burrata and fried green tomato appetizer. It was good but it really needed some type of remoulade or aoli to go with it. I liked my tomato soup and beef sliders and we all liked the brussel sprouts. The bread is good but I prefer butter to the hummus it comes with so we asked for butter. I also like that they leave water on the table for you. Overall it is a very nice place and we would return
Review Source:I stopped here with a friend for some drinks and a quick bite. It was pretty busy, but after a little wait at the bar, we scored two chairs! I loved the environment, fun and lively. We grabbed a couple of cocktails and started checking out the menu.
The drinks where great, as where the bartenders. I ordered the sirloin burger with cheddar which came with some delicious fries. The burger bun was horrible. It fell apart minutes after arriving to me. I asked for another bun which ended up being just as bad, and by that time the burger was cold. I took about two bites and completely lost interest. The fries where awesome though.
The drink menu was pretty sweet. I love a fun creative drink menu... so I would go back for drinks, but I would probably skip the meal.
This place is great. It has a comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff.
The food menu is creative American fare. The menu selections remain fairly consistent but do change seasonally, which keeps things interesting. Many of the other restaurant locations in the area have really typical bar food, so this is definitely a welcome change.
Their drink menu is much more interesting and creative compared to a lot of the other locations in Southie. It's also one of the few locations in the area where you can go to get oysters. Always a plus.
Only reason for not having 5 stars is sometimes the seasonal or temporary dishes don't stand up to the regular menu items. Overall a great spot!
This place is great!
Came here last night with my best friend and since it wasn't busy we got a nice big booth for the 2 of us and enjoyed the quiet restaurant. I've been here before for drinks and it was packed, so it's a good scene either way.
First thing i really love here is the amazing vodka selection and the creative cocktails. My friend had the cucumber collins and it was fantastic. So refreshing and goes down like water. She doesn't usually drink that much haha
I usually stick to my vodka sodas and the variety that is offered is pretty incredible. I got reyka, but there are plenty of other interesting options on there (and most are only $7-9 which is a steal).
We shared the shumai and it was fantastic. The ginger scallion sauce and radishes complimented the shumai so well.
I was craving a cheeseburger, got it and loved it! The seasoned fries were soooo yummy. She had the tuna and i can say in all honesty, it's the perfect plate. the portion is not huge, but not small. Chive mashed potatoes and a little side salad...everything on that plate pairs very well.
Our server was fabulous and hilarious. He was such a sweetheart and entertained the crap out of us.
Overall, great atmosphere. Especially for a date.
We had 3 drinks each, an app, and each had an entree and the bill was $125, tip included.
The only thing that sucks is the parking. We found a spot right away, but that's because the place was quiet. If it was packed we'd probably have to walk 4 blocks from the spot. There's no garage or parking lot or anything and there's almost no street parking.
The same owners run Citizen Public House in Fenway, so no wonder I loved it here. Can't wait to go back and visit their South End location.
Four Words: Whiskey Caramel Bread Pudding. Awesome! In our top two list, easy.
We could go here all the time, yet even the bartender told us to try another spot... in Southie, no less. Highlight, tonight, was a perfect Ketel One Martini. Unbelievably good! As was the Ultimat Mule just before. She liked her dirty sapphire martini.
For apps. we got chicharrones and four Island Creek oysters. Nice pairing.
For entrees, seared yellowfin tuna and, she got shrimp, chorizo & grits. Might have licked our plates if it were appropriate.
Divine meals and, as if there were no more reason to return, there was the dessert and, a round of Tawny 10yr Port on the house.
I go to Franklin Southie all the time for 3 reasons:
A) the staff is awesome. Â Super friendly, well versed in a variety of things and quick to make you feel at home. Â The also don't take any crap from the occasional dbag that stumbles in, which keeps the environment nice and tidy.
2) the kitchen is open until 1:30. every. single. night.
d) I'm pretty much an alcoholic and they have a 2 o'clock license which isn't that prevalent in the neighborhood.
But this isn't the reason why I am writing this review. Â Rather, my intent is to praise the direction that the menu has gone recently and how solidly their current kitchen staff has been performing recently. Â After some needed turnover in the kitchen the past year, Franklin Southie has landed with a "greatest hits" menu featuring items that have graced the menu over the past few years. Â I've sampled almost all of them and there isn't a miss on there. Â I highly recommend the shumai, the cajun mac n' cheese, and the chowder for starters.
Franklin Southie has lost it's way. This bar has slowly started to suck over the past year in all facets. Let's start with the menu. Â Several months ago there must have been a chef change. A few great items on the menu disappeared. The supplement quality of the food is fine, but definitely lost that extra 10% that makes it great. Service. Fucking slow and generally inept. Bartenders are fine and social. The table service, particularly outside is utter shit. Slow, forgetting orders, mandatory food orders to sit outside are just assy. No other outdoor seating place in Boston acts like this.
Unfortunately, Franklin Southie has been micro-managed to the point that it has eliminated the positive experience that it once had. Please don't try to be something you are not.
I will look to spend my money elsewhere.
Much like its South End counterpart, Franklin Southie is a solid, reliable performer. Excellent cocktails, pretty awesome food, and, in an advantage over its sister (brother?) in the South End, it's usually pretty easy to get a table here.
It can be a little on the spendy side, but the quality of cocktails (personal fan of the Franklin Sidecar- especially in the fall and winter) and food is pretty commensurate with the prices.
The menu changes on the regular, so providing menu highlights is a bit troublesome- but the tuna tartare is always fabulous, and if you are in the mood for cooked fish, I've never had a bad experience. Last fall, though, they had this lamb meatloaf that I still have dreams about. It was seriously fucking delicious. If you ever see that on the menu: GET IT. (And, Franklin people, if you see this, please, please, pretty please, bring it back this fall. It was lamb-y heaven).
So I've been here about 25+ times more since my last review. When it comes to good food in Southie - I really would be hard-pressed to suggest a more constant, always delicious, ever-changing seasonal menu kind of place. I have to up it to 5 stars!
I came here with my little sister who is moving to the Boston area. I wanted to show her some of my local haunts - give her a taste of Southie, if you will. She isn't moving to the Southie neighborhood, but after Franklin...she wishes she was!
My go-to meal is always the Hangar Steak with Frites - it's so flipping good. On a good night (or maybe it's a bad night...depends on your perspective) - I can clean the whole plate. After you've eaten all the delicious steak...you have a bowl full of steak-juice, melted bleu cheese buttah and fries that have soaked up all that essence. What I would do for a serving of this right now!! You probably don't need to know what I would actually do...moving on then.
I wanted to add in this update that my fiance and I chose Franklin Southie for our New Year's Eve dinner this past year. We made reservations late in the game and they still accommodated us. We really enjoyed the vibe, the food was (as always) amazing and the service impeccable. We are sadly moving from Southie in a few days, but we will make trips back just for Franklin Cafe!
My husband and I are used to places serving dinner late (we lived in LA for a while). So it is great that they serve dinner after most places close.
I was underwhelmed by the food and the service but it could just be what I ordered. Â
The server forgot my entree but I was pretty full on the apps. Â I had the cold crab soup which in retrospect sounds kind of creepy.
My husbands burger and fries looked great and he enjoyed it.
Way better than fast food and there are not a lot of late night options. Â I want to go back and try some other things.
Although I've only been here for brunch, the Smokey and the Bandit eggs benedict blew my mind: pulled pork, BBQ sauce, onion rings, tater tots. Absolutely amazing.
The biscuit is also so delicious, I don't think I took a breath until the entire thing was consumed. If it's on the menu, get it.
To those that have been to the Franklin Cafe in the South End, this space has a completely different vibe: more open, tons of natural light and a huge patio. Odd location, still fantastic food.
I really wanted to try the one in the south end but ended up in southie because it could fit our party.
Parking is really hard to find but once you park, it's well worth it.
It's definitely not your typical menu for southie and some dishes were surprisingly innovative. Â The tofu entree was delish. Just took a look at their menu again and it's everchanging.
The food is pretty good but what makes this place stellar is the service. Our server was excellent and catered to all our needs and was all smiles.
Mark this on the calendars. Today is the day I will review a place because of quinoa.
You saw that right. I said quinoa. I have never really eaten it before, but wanted to keep it relatively cheap for dinner, so I ordered Franklin's quinoa salad with feta and arugula, and a side of fries. The salad was awesome. I want to eat it every day.
The fries were perfect - hand cut, crispy, with a hint of truffle, a nice surprise since it wasn't on the menu.
My St. Germaine cocktail could have used a tad more lemon, but it was good and I do prefer them on the citrussy side.
My meal companions all had very good things to say about their food... A burger, beef tacos, and pork belly.
The wait was a hair longer than the estimated 45 minutes. The service was good... Waitress didn't need a pen for our group of five and wAs very quick with the bread basket and the bill.
The waitstaff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about gluten allergies.
I had a cucumber collins that was amazing and refreshing while we waited for a table. Â About ten minutes later we were sat and for starters we had a delicious quinoa salad. He had the Long Island Duck for dinner and I had the Twice Cooked Pork Bellies. Our food was out of this world!
I highly recommend it!
A personal late night favorite.
Something savory, something sweet, spent many a late nights dining here on delectable treats. Hard to believe that Boston could boast of such tasty food late night. Seems as though pizza and or Chinese are the only options. Until a friend introduced me to Franklin Southie. Good drinks, solid food, friendly patrons, awesome bartenders!
Date Rating: 6
Pick up Scale: 7 (crowd seems to mingle quite a bit)
Strong Suggestion: Pork belly + Bartender's choice.
For some reason I end up on a lot of first dates here. While the dates haven't seemed to last, my love for Franklin Southie is burning stronger than ever. My standard go to drink is the Cucumber Collins and while they were on the menu the Korean BBQ tacos. It was a sad, sad day when I came in and they were no longer on the menu. But I wasn't sad for long as I can say without a doubt I had one of the best burgers I have had in quite some time.
Service is overall fine but at times can be a little slow. I usually don't mind as I'm enjoying the conversation but on a couple of said first dates I could have used a drink much faster. Note to the servers-if you see a poor girl awkwardly avoiding eye contact with the person she's with-send reinforcements!!
This review is for drinks only. I've never eaten here due to the fact that it's always pretty late by the time I finally make it over to Southie.
It's more or less worth the trip for me, though. Franklin has a reputation for delivering quality cocktails on top on quality service. I've never been disappointed by their house cocktails, though it tends to be hit or miss when I order an old classic from the cocktail cannon.
My standby is Laslo's Hammer, which combines Bols Genever with Carpano, Zwack, and chocolate bitters. In my experience, it takes a talented bar staff to make a cocktail with genever that doesn't just taste like, well, genever. The Carpano cuts down on the bite and adds a nice peppery touch to the drink. YUM.
Another favorite is called the Another Word, which is a twist on one of my least-favorite revered cocktails, The Last Word. They make it with vodka, but I've also ordered it with mezcal and the aforementioned Bols Genever to great effect.
I reluctantly have to pass on giving Franklin five stars, though, because I've had limited success when I attempt to go off menu. I'm an impassioned fan of the Negroni, and I've yet to have a good one there. It seems the current trend is to go gin-heavy on the drink instead of the proper 1:1:1 ratio. Maybe Campari is a shock to most modern palates, but I feel like it's an integral part of this classic cocktail and should be poured accordingly. Even when I explain my preferences to the bartenders there, I still get a drink that tastes mostly like gin.
Stick with the (great) drink menu, though, and you're golden.
Been here three times and have yet to have less than a stellar experience.
Tonight I had the pea soup appetizer because it was in season, not because I'm a big pea soup fan, and it was beyond. Never expected a purée soup to taste so fresh and vibrant - truly made from fresh peas. (bacon garnish always helps.) I also recommend the "duck pastrami" - cured in house - it was a risk with great payoff.
Entrees... Last time I had the Dover sole and it was a revelation. Cooked perfectly, moist and buttery. This time I tried the pork Milanese, and while it was a tad underseasoned it was cooked to perfection - shatteringly crisp crust but every morsel was juicy and tender, and the light touch of cream sauce and balsamic drizzle with the mesclun salad was just right to accompany. Both entrees are priced in the teens. I can't find better quality food for the money in this city.
Peter the bartender is a wonder to watch in action. A master of juggling 20 things at once, yet he somehow manages to give individual and prompt attention to his customers, always with a warm smile and handshake. I wouldn't have as sunny a disposition if I had to man the bar on my own on a night as BUSY as tonight.
The food and value gives it 5 stars, but the service will keep me coming back.
I stopped here for dinner with a friend after work one day, and it was very good.
I spent some time at the bar chatting with the bartender while waiting, and had a beer. The staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was relaxing. Both solid positives after a painful day at the office. I let the stress of the day melt off me at the bar, and I was very comfortable when my buddy showed up.
We sat at a booth, which was comfortable, and I stayed with beer, while my friend had one of their cocktails. Some fruity martini I believe. I had a sip, and it was your standard sweet martini.
I had the chicken, because I have little to no imagination after work. She had the duck, and said it was very good.
Cooking chicken is a crap shoot at home, but I tend to think that a professional chef can cook it without drying it out. The chicken I had was tender, juicy, flavorful, and really spectacular. I would recommend it without hesitation.
I didn't try the duck as I'm not a big fan of duck. It's too greasy for me typically, but she seemed to really enjoy it, so there is that.
They have valet depending on what time you get there, but there is usually street parking around there.
I wrote a super long review which coincided with a Yelp update, which meant my fabulous review is forever lost somewhere on the internets. So here's take two...
I was in Boston a few weekends ago, and to celebrate, we made reservations at Franklin Southie for 7 people on Friday at 8pm. My friend called the day before to confirm our reservation, and they didn't have it on record. Crisis averted- they still had an opening (I think they only take reservations for bigger parties), so we just made another reservation for the same time.
On Friday, I arrived a few minutes early with one of my friends. We grabbed a cocktail at the bar, which was cute. The whole restaurant was cute, but a bit smaller than I expected. The cocktail list sounded amazing and made my mouth water. I got the St. Germain Cocktail ($9), which had St. Germain, Prosecco and Soda. I was expecting it to be amazing, but it just tasted a bit watered down.
We got seated around 8pm when the rest of my friends arrived. The waitress was really nice but was sporadically a bit MIA throughout the night (although, of note- she was very awesome about letting us split the bill among 4 or 5 credit cards). They also had a coat room up near the front, which the hostess didn't mention, but the waitress told us we were welcome to put our coats there. Which then meant we had to walk across the room through the tables and hang up our own coats- which was a bit of a production for 7 people with big winter coats in a small restaurant. Eventually we got settled in and scoped out the menu.
I ordered a steamed basket of Old Bay shrimp ($9) and a side of wilted spinach ($4). I was a little disappointed in the sides- they only had 3 (french fries, mashed potatoes and spinach), all in the $4-5 range. My friends ordered various things, mostly meat/burgers. One of my friends was a vegetarian, and since we knew Franklin Cafe had a vegetarian menu, we asked if this location did too. They did have one, and brought it over to us- it was slightly longer than the vegetarian options on the normal menu, but not huge. My friend ordered the "mac n cheese" gnocchi. I also ordered another cocktail (Cucumber Collins, $9) which also tasted watered down, so at that point I just switched to wine, which was tasty.
When my shrimp came, I was surprised that they still had their shell and vein on, and they were also covered in spices. Which meant that when I went to de-shell them, I got spice all over my hands. They did give me a few wet wipes to use, but the shrimp turned into such a messy production that I was just thankful I hadn't ordered them on a date or something like that. But they did taste good. The spinach had some garlic on it but was mostly a bit blah. But at least I felt like I was getting my veggies in!
My friends who ordered meat dishes loved them- the burger especially looked tasty ($14). People ordered the steak ($19), the beef short ribs ($19) and more, and I didn't hear any complaints :-). So two thumbs up on the meat. My friend's "mac n cheese" gnocchi mostly tasted like gnocchi. Delicious regardless, but the "mac n cheese" theme didn't really come through that much.
Overall, I thought our dinner was so-so. It got a bit loud towards the end of the night, as the bar started to get busier. I wasn't that excited about my meal, but other people had ordered tasty dishes. The cocktails weren't very strong, but once I switched to wine I was happy. They had also lost our reservation, but luckily my friend had called to double-check. I'd come here again if someone suggested it, but I wouldn't come back otherwise.
Whether its your umpteenth cocktail or your night cap, the Franklin in Southie is the only thing you need to know about when you're in the mood for (very) late-night snacks and a last-minute adult beverage!
It's like that friend's apartment you always end up at after a long night of eating and drinking and gallivanting about town, except this place has all the booze you could ever want (so you don't have to resort to those last few random beers floating round in said friend's fridge), there's food and nice people to bring it to you (no more gross late-night take out or cold pizza leftovers you have to heat up yourself) and they eventually close (which forces you to be an adult, go home and sleep in your own bed and avoid the walk of shame in daylight the next morning).
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