Franklin Cafe

On the last day we were in Boston, we happened upon this bistro. Since it was shortly after noon, I had no intention of eating a cocktail or even brunch, but the Dark Manhattan and the chicken fried steak and eggs were both quite good. We arrived hungry and exited satisfied. Lovely tiny location; I'd love to return a bit.

Love the vibes at Franklin, the food is always good. Ricotta, burger, chives mashed, and 20 clove chicken are my favorites! It’s a weekly spot for me, and Andrea always makes the experience infinite times better!

Nice neighborhood spot with innovative menu and variety. Although the menu is not large, you have enough choices. I had a pan seared Atlantic Cod, the plate was very much empty in the end. Different music at lower volume would do good, and it was too dark for my taste.

What a great find, all our mains (chicken, steak and cod) were terrific (we went straight to mains), the beers and wines selections were really good. Menu wasn’t too long and dish sizes were perfect. Staff were extremely friendly and service was excellent. If lived in Boston (we live in Australia), would come back again and again and again. Well done!!

We dined as a group of four, our first time visiting. We were greeted warmly. Our server helped the food selection. The recommendations proved out well. My Chicken was excellent, backed up by sliced sweet potato. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Would definitely come back.

We arrived late to Boston and needed a place to grab a bite. Their kitchen was still open so we ordered some food and drinks. The food and drinks were delish. The atmosphere was fairly lively. It’s a small footprint so having a few groups of people in there made the atmosphere pretty loud. Not a bad thing, just a notable observation. Overall the Franklin Cafe fit our need with good late night food and drinks.

Everything we got from here was amazing, we are coming from out of town and actually went here two nights during our visit. I would say the service is pretty slow, and while the prices of the items are very reasonable for the quality, they did make mistakes on our orders both times we were there. The drinks are eh, the food was out of this world amazing. I day the drinks are "eh" because I've been to some of the best cocktail bars in the country, and these drinks (while good) were kind of "off." A little bit too much lime makes a sour mai tai, a little bit too much violet makes an unpleasant purple rain.

I visited Frankkin Cafe recently with a friend. We had a reservation and arrived on time. On arrival, there were 3 open seating areas, two in the rear right outside the kitchen/restrooms. The other was a window both for two. The surly hostess gave us an annoyed look and started to lead us to one of the two tables in the rear. We asked if it were possible to have the window booth however, the hostess told us it was already reserved. We decided to sit at the bar. The server/ bartender was superb and helped blunt the surly hostess. The drinks were perfect and the food was fabulous. We were there for about 90 minutes and the place had pretty much emptied out. However, we noticed the "reserved" window booth was never occupied the entire evening. I'd hate to assume any profiling but, we were the only folks "of color" and this caused us pause. We will return as the food and other servers were both pleasant and welcoming. However, the hostess is the only "black mark" on an otherwise delightful evening. Hopefully, management will have a conversation with the surly hostess!

Always a favorite spot. The food is great and always consistent. Many of the portions are sharable...fyi. The drinks are great, too. Check out this little, longstanding gem in the Southend.

A small restaurant in South End with no sign name just their icon at the entrance. I came here for brunch with a few friends and had a hard time choosing which dish to get. I opted for the eggs Benedict that came in puff pastry instead of an English muffin and thought it was a perfect swap. The eggs were cooked nicely with a runny center and went well with the crispy puff pastry. The service was good and we enjoyed our meal. There are also two single stall bathrooms that are super tiny. Overall, a nice place to grab brunch on the weekends in South End.

Really enjoyed my crostini and risotto. A nice tucked away neighborhood spot for Al fresco dining, although the occasional loud car will still pass by. Friendly service. Able to walk in for Sunday dinner without reservation.

I wanted to like this place more! It definitely has a cozy neighborhood spot feel which is nice. For a cafe I feel like they should have lattes or some sort of espresso/cappuccino option instead of just coffee. The food was good but not memorable for me (this is referring to brunch maybe their dinner service is better).

I ordered food through a delivery service and this photo, alone, should say it all!!! It's unconscionable that any establishment would allow this to leave their kitchen, let alone their restaurant. Franklin Cafe, this is REALLY bad.

Went back the other night after a bad experience, one of the managers reached out and invited me back for dinner. I gave it another shot and for apps ordered the grilled calamari and wings which were very good. Dinner entrees consisted of the salmon and the sole fish plates. The salmon was my favorites and it was cooked perfectly, also the mango mai tai is a must try Service and food was on point and I thank your for the great night and make it a better experience.

I visited Franklin Cafe for a solo dinner and ordered the Rosemary Paloma cocktail, Smoky Skillet Roasted Mussels, and the Slow Braised Lamb & Mint Risotto. Everything that I ordered was perfectly paired and delicious. Maybe a bit too filling for one, but I enjoyed every bite. The restaurant ambiance was dimmed and intimate, great for a first date, anniversary, or to catch up with a friend or two. The service was also excellent and quick. I'd definitely return if I am in the area again to try their other entrees and drinks.

I haven't been here in more than twenty years, mostly because I've lived out of state for most of that time. My husband and I went to the Franklin Saturday night for dinner and drinks. We were greeted by Sophie, who couldn't have been more pleasant. After she seated us we were told that the other server called out for the night, which left her as the only server for inside and the four or five outside tables as well. Somehow she managed since we got our drinks and appetizers pretty timely. And I should I add the place was quite busy. I'm not sure how she managed all the tables. For drinks he had the Ideal Manhattan. I'm not a fan of the Manhattan but had a taste and found it to be smooth and tasty. I had the Mo Cocktail and felt it to be a perfect blend of the Kettle One with Chambord and lemon juice. For dinner my husband had the hanger steak with Roquefort butter. It was tasty and cooked to his order. I had the 20 clove chicken that was prepared Statler style. It was delicious! And it was served hot. I've been to restaurants so many times in which the food served was barely warm by the time it was served. Not this place. Clearly they have seasoned staff in the back of the house as well as the front. And for these reasons I can't wait to go back for dinner again!

Bar tender seemed to have taken a few shots and was aggressive towards the patrons. I think his name was Tyler

Absolutely Dissatisfied This is the second time I visit this restaurant in the past few months..This use to be one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants, with great atmosphere. Unfortunately Food was fair. Had the pork schnitzel which was dry and should have some sort of starch for a 23 dollar plate with slaw and two pieces of apple slices just doesn't do it .. I have been coming to Franklin since it first opened.. Biggest disappointment and I will say disappointment again was the waiter very big guy with cap absolutely not interested in doing his job unfortunately same guy like the last time. He spent more time watching the Saturday night football and running to the bathroom several times using his cellphone and really neglecting to attend to our table. When attempting to take our order with absolutely no warmth and terrible personality.. Our food order was messed up instead of the giving our friend what he had ordered he looked at my friend and say do you just want to take this instead NOT COOL. No apology for his mistake.. never coming by to check in on us to see how the food was or seeing if we wanted another beverage., Unfortunately the place has gone downhill and not the same place we expected like we have had many times in the pass..They can't blame it on the restaurant being busy it was very quiet. My honest option is that if the service continues to be like what we experience people will stop coming. Update: My friend that got the wrong meal quotes Finally feeling better. That spicy Lamb entree WRECKED my system yesterday. I should have sent that thing back :( I barely made it into my house from the drive up. It was rough He agreed with me on the server commenting Yeah, that server needs to find a new line of work

The last time we dined here was 2015 when my husband and I were dating and we loved it si we decided to revisit and celebrate our anniversary. We were not disappointed. (We made an early dinner res, day of, on a Sunday) The bartender was excellent. Made great dirty martinis and concocted a delicious mocktail for me (I've had v bad mocktails...). We ordered the steak frites, ricotta ravioli and the farm salad. All tasted great. The salad could have been more flavorful on the dressing though.Then we received a cheesecake slice on the house for our celebratory dinner. Our waitress was so sweet! They also only charged $4 for the mocktail when most restaurants would've charged it as much as a regular cocktail. Now that we moved so close we can't wait to bring our soon to be little one to frequent this spot.

This has been my late night spot for over a decade. It may be a different vibe but still amazing. The food was tasty and employees all pleasant. Thanks for a great night.

Love this place!!! A hidden gem with amazing food and great drinks! Never had a bad meal here and affordable :)

Andrea is the best. She slings a great beverage, while also having a great smile. Franklin Cafe is a gem.

Limited menu, small portions, high prices, inattentive service, at-table pay portal while the waiter watches you enter a tip: these are NOT a few of my favorite things.

My fave spot for great late night food and drinks. Ambiance, service, quality ingredients and a friendly staff. Go !!!

One star review comes from the manager calling a my friend "fat and horrible" while belligerent. The drinks as food were solid. Terrible management

What a delightful place. Cozy and dark inside, bright and comfy outside. They were clearly a little understaffed (as pretty much everyone is), but we never felt neglected. Our server (dark-haired, headed off to college) was a ray of solicitous, warm sunshine; she was never intrusive, but always helpful. The bartender made me the cocktail I wanted (not on the menu) and executed possibly the most perfect version I've had. We shared a salad and the hangar steak and both were simple and perfectly executed. The kitchen thoughtfully split each serving onto two plates, not leaving us to do it as most restaurants would have. A minor touch, but emblematic of our experience here. I think I'll dream about that hangar steak. Medium rare, a little bleu cheese on top, served with hot, crunchy skinny fries. So yes, if you're wondering whether to step inside, do.

So update, I ordered a couple times during this week and it was good but today (Sunday) I ordered the Burrata Ravioli and it was the probably the best I've ever had made from Franklin's cafe ever and especially during the weekend since before it was not as good. Very happy with them.

Fun times! Very lovely hosts and overall a great neighborhood spot. I'd come back again.

I came here after a negative experience finding a table for one at another restaurant near by. Love The waitress (Emma) was incredibly kind in finding me a space and checking in. Additionally the food was great, I ordered the Corn Ravioli and Harvest salad and can only say I was sad to end finish every piece off my plate only because it meant it was my last bite! The atmosphere inside too looked homey and welcoming! For sure if you aren't from here or a local check it out :)

We came here on a whim after dinner and it was definitely a pleasant surprise! We had to order food to sit at a table so we got hummus and some fries which were great! The service was a bit slow since there was only one waitress for all the tables on our side, so no fault to her. The stars of the show were definitely the drinks, which tasted great and were very reasonably priced! Would definitely come back :)

After Franklin's manager invited us back we did indeed had a great dinner with an attentive server and no issues. Thank you, Amelia

The food was amazing both times I have gone however if you not going to sit at the bar I would recommend sitting outside as the inside gets very busy and loud.

I just love this place. The menu is eclectic, food is exceptionally good, service is friendly, and prices have remained reasonable. If you get there early (this is important for old people), it is quiet, and if you get there REALLY early (before me), you can sit at one of the window tables and feel as though you are in a private dining room. Big surprise last evening: they have a dessert (cheesecake); it was delicious.

I've been coming here for two decades. Never had anything less than stellar food, drinks and service. Everyone in the restaurant industry flocks here. That should tell you something and if it doesn't, you're an idiot with the wrong priorities. One of the things that I love about the kitchen here is that they never hire young "rock star" chefs. They hire old-school professionals. That means that you get everything cooked to perfection. It doesn't mean old and stodgy menu ideas, rather you get great classics with a new and thoughtful twist, respect for vegetables, and impeccable technique. Take tonight's meal. Grilled calamari (perfectly cooked) over the most exquisitely cooked white beans I've ever had anywhere (Michelin three stars included), and a little salad of fresh lettuces tossed in a beautifully balanced lemon vinaigrette. My twenty clove garlic chicken had super crispy skin, succulent meat, delicious Sherry jus and was served over the best baked sweet potato ever. It melted in my mouth. My husband's hanger steak was exactly medium rare as ordered with a yummy port Demi-glaze and Roquefort butter and a plethora of very good French fries. I understand the chef's name is John. Take a bow, John! I'm giving you a standing ovation and, judging from the happy faces I saw all over the dining room, everyone else was feeling the same. I also had the most perfectly balanced Manhattan I've ever had. Make that two of the most perfectly balanced Manhattans. And can I tell you about our server? So genuinely sweet and real as well as so knowledgeable and professional. Honestly? EVERYTHING tonight was five stars. Move over trendy, let the grownups show you how it's done.

I actually love this place, they have great food and drinks, this is more about our waitress. When the waitress asked my girlfriend what she wanted to drink, she said a glass of Chardonnay (ended up having two glasses). We paid our bill without looking at the receipt but when I looked this morning I noticed two glasses of $26 per glass Chardonnay. I'm not usually one to complain but I have never had a waiter pick a super expensive glass on wine for a customer without asking them first. When you ask for a glass of wine without asking for a specific brand, I would think they would go with a house wine or something on the less expensive side. I've been here numerous times and have always had a great experience but this really irritated me. Maybe I'm crazy but I don't think that is standard practice anywhere.

Bummed. We have had so many good meals and service on our trip to Boston. When I read that this place was an industry and neighborhood favorite I was like sign me up! The place was loud. The service was lousy. The food was ok. Not planning on going back. Looking at the reviews I wonder if it was a bad night or what...... I had to update this review because there are many restaurants that deserve a three because they are good but I don't need to seek it out again and by giving this restaurant a 38 gives those threes a bad name. So because of the lousy experience, I had it this place I have to downgraded to a two star.

I've been to Franklin Cafe on a couple occasions and I cannot recommend this place enough, the bartenders and wait staff are attentive, the food and drinks are delicious, and it has a nice upscale neighborhood bar atmosphere. 10/10.

We came to this place reading it was the industry place to go.... Boy were they wrong.. or confused? Terrible service, less than par food.. drinks?.. Don't get the cucumber Collins. I never leave bad reviews but this one was worth it! Don't go unless you're a local I guess. Not worth your time or money. Would never go back.

OMG. Shelby is AMAZING!! This is my first time to Boston and it was recommended by a friend and I couldn't be happier. We attended this restaurant for my best fiends birthday and she went above and beyond! Not only did she attended to our every request, but she recommend drinks. I can definitely say without a doubt, this night would not be complete without out Shelby. I will definitely be visiting again

Franklin knows the recipe for South End success: offer a neighbor-friendly dark and cozy with solid cocktails, affordable wines, comfortable entrees and warm, crusty bread with a white bean dip. The latter is paramount. I've been a handful of times and always seem drawn to the grits dish. Shrimp and grits, catfish and grits, steak frites with Roquefort butter while looking at my dining companion's grits - it resonates. Sizable servings will nary a square inch of room for dessert, which is a shame because Franklin doesn't do anything poorly and I'd really love it if I could go one meal without licking the plate clean. Impossible to not like. Pop in with a close friend or a third date.

Franklin has great food (the burger, ravioli, chicken wings and steak frites are some staples), atmosphere and a friendly staff. Their Sunday brunch is new but is absolutely fantastic, which includes a world class Bloody Mary made by Patrick behind the bar!

This is a bad news, good news story! Before the pandemic, we dined at the Franklin Café. To be honest, we were disappointed. The inside of the restaurant was tired, and the food wasn't as good as expected. Fast forward to August, 2021. We gave The Franklin another try because their new outdoor patio looked inviting and attractive. Once we sat down, we learned that the entire inside of the restaurant had also been remodeled, complete with a new menu. We had a wonderful evening with great food and very attentive service. We recommend the neighborhood give The Franklin another try. You won't be disappointed!

5 I was a customer this evening with one of my daughters. We sat at the bar And had the pleasure of Blue being our server and of course bar tender. My daughter ordered the cod.. outstanding and sooo unbelievably delicious. Dinner ,drinks and Blue was friendly, efficient and a fabulous bartender..she was great and our night was delicious and fun. Thanks, Blue! We definitely will be back... Fabulous outstanding food and Bartender Blue!

The atmosphere was great here, my boyfriend and I got a little booth in the corner for our date and had a view of the streets. It was a bit loud but it wasn't anything the restaurant can be faulted on. We had the star crossed spritz cocktail which was delicious. I got the wild Chesapeake blue catfish which was delicious and very smooth to cut through and tasted great with the mash potatoes that it came on top of. My boyfriend got the Franklin burger that he enjoyed very much. Will definitely come back to try out their other drinks and food!

Double burger comes with a large portion of fries. Also had the chicken wings. Delicious drinks. Service is fantastic.

Amazing food, great atmosphere, stellar service. Perfect for a date night or night out with friends. Easy to loose track of time and have a wonderful night at this humble little spot. Steak frites are delicious, but the grilled calamari was what really blew me away. So good, we ended up with two orders, plates scraped clean. The sole meunière was also incredible. If you like mushrooms, and you like fish... you will love the sole. Will definitely be back again soon.

Not a bad place to sneak into when the places you want to eat at has a 2-3 hour wait! Burgers decent and my pasta dish was surprisingly excellent. Fresh pasta too. Reasonable food and service

Such a wonderful neighborhood restaurant! I was so excited to see them reopen after COVID. It's a small restaurant but only adds to its vibe. It's a great spot for dinner and drinks after work. There are a great variety of drinks and not just a place that focuses on one or two spirits. The ideal Manhattan is fantastic. Staff are super friendly and the food is outstanding. My favorite is the beef tartare and salt and pepper chicken wings. The wings are crispy on the outside and cooked to perfection on the inside. They come with a side of sweet chili sauce which is tasty but honestly the wings are great even without the sauce! If you're in the south end and looking for a great dinner or drink spot you have to check them out.

Came on recommendation of the folks down at Coppa while we waited for a dinner res. It is just a short walk down Shawmut and a beautiful design. Everyone was very friendly and polite. My cocktail was some sort of gin delight with an edible flower for decor. I'm a sucker for a well decorated craft cocktail. It was delicious and well poured, something hard to come by in Boston these days. We only came by for drinks, which were very good! Service was a little slow at the bar, but we are hoping to come by and give Franklin another try.

A family favorite! Always the best drinks, food, and service. Love going here and so our kids!! The friendliest place which has now become a regular for us!

Delicious combo of sophisticated American cuisine and comfort food. Warm and intimate New York city type of atmosphere. Casual but sophisticated crowd. "Ann" was our bright, genuine, and skilled waitress. Fast friendly service. Server made us feel special and helped rock our birthday celebration. Check it out.

Solid place for drinks and food! The lighting here is dim and the vibes are chill. They serve sophisticated drinks and food without an attitude. I recommend this place without hesitation. One time I left my credit card here and they remembered I mentioned I was going across the street for dinner, so they came and found me! Only annoying thing is that it can get crowded at the bar but they don't let you sit at tables/booths unless you're ordering food

Went here tonight for dinner with my girlfriends. We live close by and always wanted to stop in because it looked so cozy. The food and the service was phenomenal!! Drinks and food came out quickly and everything was delicious. We got the steak frites, burger, and the shrimp pasta. Highly recommend- fair prices and good atmosphere!

I was here for the first time, The bartender was auper nice & Funny, inthink his name was Alejandro, I will be be back!!! As long as he is working

We were so looking forward to our first post-pandemic venture to FC, but we were sorely disappointed. We absolutely love the steak frites, and to their credit, it was as delicious as always though a bit cold. One of ours was undercooked, which leads me to the real problem: HORRIBLE SERVICE. Our waitress phoned in (literally and figuratively) her role the entire time. She couldn't answer any questions about drinks and couldn't be bothered to ask the bartender. She literally spent most of her time on her phone or joking with the other waitstaff. She never once asked how our drinks or meals were but handed us the check and said, "it was my pleasure to serve you." Ummmm....I'm not quite sure what she's basing that statement off of. She never even introduced herself to us. Rewind to when we came in. We were given a very uncomfortable table which abutted the back wall of the booth next to us. We asked if we could have the window seat and were told it was reserved. Five minutes later someone came in and asked for the window seat instead of a booth and were told, "sure." We then asked if we could have a booth and were told "those are also reserved." Again, a couple came in and asked if they could have a booth and were told, "sure, pick whichever one you'd like." To add insult to injury, there were two remaining booths that were never used the entire time we were there. Not cool. When we mentioned this to one of the waitstaff as we left, she gave us a blank stare and said, "I didn't seat those other people." Clearly, this is not a team effort. I know good help is in short supply these days, but surely you can do better than this. We love FC and used to drive up from Ri just for the food and atmosphere. After today, we won't be rushing back.

This place is INCREDIBLY easy to miss. Take my experience for instance, I walked by it only 5 times.... totally not embarrassing. The ambience is so great - dim lit, great drinks, fantastic food! Best part: their kitchen is open till 1:30 AM even during the week. Truly a gem in the South End. Do yourself a favor, go in. We ordered the squid, wings and many drinks. Unfortunately, I only took one photo of the wings but trust me - GO!

This was one of my better meals in a long time! Although they do not take reservations, we walked in around 6:45, and we were seated in 10-15 minutes. The host was very kind, and we just got drinks at the bar. We ordered drinks and before they were ready, we were seated where the host brought the drinks to our table. My fiancé got the "Mo cocktail" which I and she enjoyed very much. I got a martini that was good, but I switched the order up after that. Our waiter was great. He was informative, and he gave us some great tips on what his favorite dishes were. He told us that his favorite dishes were the mussels, shrimp-pasta, meatloaf and salmon. We ended up ordering the turkey meatloaf and the salmon (really just splitting them). After we ordered our waiter brought us some bread and humus that is made right in the kitchen. It was simply delicious. A couple of minutes later our food came out. The meatloaf was so delicious. It was sitting on top of chive mashed potatoes, and the kicker for me was the dog sauce. It was all so good. The salmon was very good as well. Although I don't love lentils, the fish made up for it. I can't wait to go back to Franklin Cafe and order more food and drinks!

I haven't been back to Franklin in quite some time for obvious reasons and recently was delighted to see the renovation and one of my all-time favorite neighborhood bars! And with that one of my new favorite people who is a great bartender there, Shelby is a delight and a breath of fresh air! She is swift , makes beautiful drinks and Incredibly friendly and she is hilarious! I know that time has passed and some of my favorite bartenders are no longer at this Franklin. I am so glad for this perfect new addition as long as she is there I will continue to come!