Franklin Cape Ann

My wife and I dropped in early for dinner on a Tuesday night, and were lucky to get a table. (Make reservations.) The main room is smallish, but even when it was busy, it wasn't super noisy. In fact, there was live music - a jazz duo of string bass and clarinet - that was amazing. I had their special Manhattan, which was good but not to my liking. We split the arugula salad, which was tasty. I loved the morsel of fried goat cheese. We also split a bowl if the fish chowder, which was delicious. The fish chunks were substantial, and the over all flavor was subtle, with a touch of heat (maybe white pepper?). I would order this. For dinner, my wife ordered the pan seared cod, which was concealed between a generous portion of mashed potatoes and a pile of oyster mushrooms on top. The mushrooms were especially good, and basically stole the show (over the cod). I had the hanger steak and truffle fries. Id probably swap the fries for a different side, but the steak itself was delicious. It had substantial bark/sear and was still very tender. All in all, we had a great meal. The food was delicious ans the vibe was awesome.

We arrived in Gloucester after a long drive from nyc on a friday evening, absolutely starving and looking for dinner around 9pm. Most restaurants had already closed for the night, and we were about ready to give up when we thankfully found Franklin Cape Ann. This small, cozy restaurant welcomed us even at that late hour. At first they brought out fresh bread before our appetizer, which was very nice. The grilled octopus was excellent. I had the pasta of the day with perfectly cooked shrimp. My dad got the sautéed mussels, and my brother went for the fresh ground sirloin burger with fries. Everything was perfect and delicious. So happy we found this place - it really saved the night!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had an absolutely fantastic experience at The Franklin! The food alone is worth five stars—the sushi was incredibly fresh and beautifully prepared, and the steak was cooked to perfection with amazing flavor. Pair that with their expertly crafted cocktails, and it made for such a memorable night out. What truly elevated the experience, though, was the service. Our server, Grace, was phenomenal—warm, attentive, and knowledgeable, making us feel genuinely cared for from start to finish. And the owner, Maria, was so friendly and welcoming, taking the time to connect with guests and create such a positive, inviting atmosphere. Amazing food, fantastic drinks, and even better people. We can’t wait to come back!

We hosted our company Christmas dinner at Franklin Cape Ann in Gloucester, and it was absolutely outstanding. Our group of 21 arrived at different times, yet the staff handled everything with such grace and professionalism that the evening felt effortless. We pre-ordered several appetizers to be on the table right at 6, and they were not only perfectly timed but incredibly delicious—an ideal start to the night. Everyone was able to order their own drinks, entrées, and desserts from the menu, and every dish that came out was exceptional. From the first bite of the appetizers to the last spoonful of dessert, the food was consistently flavorful, beautifully prepared, and generously portioned. Our waitress deserves special praise. She was attentive without ever feeling intrusive, quick with refills and requests, and impressively organized given the size of our group. Her warm, upbeat energy added so much to the experience. Franklin Cape Ann delivered a seamless, memorable evening for our entire team. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate the holidays, and we’ll absolutely be back. Highly recommended!

10 out of 10. Best dining experience and scratch cooking I've had in years. Halibut special with scampi sauce, asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes. Tuna sashimi perfectly quick seared with a side salad and mashed potatoes. All desserts made in house - so hard to choose, but the key lime pie was a perfect end. Three of us dined in last night and raved about our meals even after we left. The Franklin is worth every penny and calorie. Highly recommend. **November update. I Finally ordered something other than the Tuna! The Organic Grilled Salmon with Warm Sweet Potato Salad, Honey & Sriracha Glaze is also very easy to recommend. Top 3 salmon dish I've ever had.**

We stopped in and sat at the bar for drinks and an appetizer. We had the zucchini appetizer and it was healthy, tasty and unique. We’re looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu.

My girlfriend ordered sushi but it wasn't fresh I ordered a burger and asked for it to be well cooked but they brought it burnt and the frise was not very fresh but the decoration and interior design is very nice and the waiters inside are friendly

We lucked out because we didn’t have a reservation but there was a spot upstairs. Staff was really friendly and accommodating. We got the short ribs and butternut squash ravioli. The meals were good, but we are looking forward to trying something new next time.

Fantastic experience! The ambiance was lovely - it was myself my mom and my 5 month old baby. They were so accommodating of our stroller even though it's a more intimate restaurant. Wonderful food options - I had spicy tuna sushi roll and the haddock piccata - both were delicious! My mom had the chicken and a side of green beans which she also loved. She also said her cocktail was one of the best she's had in a long time! Service was amazing as well - very attentive and on top of it! We will definitely be coming back!!

Place rocks ! They do the best providing great food and drinks. Great job. We will be back soon!

My husband and I weren't in love with the menu here but, everything we ordered was wonderful. Fish chowder and lobster empanadas were great. The fries my husband got with his burger were actually amazing. I got a pasta special of chicken Marsala with fresh pasta and it was also good, besides the chicken being a bit dry. They seem to go really heavy on pepper in general. We loved the humus with the bread, it was a unique touch. Not a big place, as there are only about a dozen tables downstairs. They let us call ahead on a Friday night, so I was glad we got in. I'm not sure if we would opt to go back without done menu additions or specials but, I didn't really have complaints. The food was impressive.

We hosted our son's rehearsal dinner at the Franklin 9/6/24. From my first conversation with Maria till the end of the night it couldn't have been any better. She was flexible with menu options. We chose chicken marsala, grilled pork chop and scallops for the main meal and each was AMAZING. The ambiance in the room is quaint, with beautiful lighting, our own bar and bathrooms. She was flexible with timing and in no way did we ever feel rushed. I am so glad we chose the Franklin and thank you Maria and your staff for making it such a memorable night! We will be back!!!!

So happy to see this restaurant still flourishing! Great dinner with friends. Cozy interior. Oysters, soups and seafood entrees killer. Drinks spot on. Colleen took care of us at the table and she was the perfect host and guide. Great job all around!

Ambiance, food and service is 10/10 The menu changes with the season so many yummy options The deserts are delicious The drinks oh the drinks :)

We came here for my dads birthday and they were so sweet and attentive to all our shenanigans! The food was amazing! The wine was delicious. And I just loved the paintings on the wall. It felt like a really cozy night in!

My husband and I have been going to the Franklin for years, 2-3 times a month. The menu changes 4 times a year and always has a great selection of meat, chicken, fish and pasta dishes. My husband usually orders the cod or fish special and it's always perfect. I am so fond of their Faroe Island salmon that I won't order salmon anywhere else. The fries are the best I've ever tasted. We often sit at the bar, and it's friendly and comfortable without ever seeming crowded or too much. Did I mention the cocktails? Excellent and inventive - and if you want them to make something unusual, they're happy to do so. The lighting and ambience are great. My (grown) kids love this place and whenever we have guests staying from out of town, they ask to go. The consistent quality of this place is really amazing. I've rented out the gorgeous upper level for private parties, brought family, friends, and clients here, and honestly, have never had a bad meal or experience. The waitstaff and service is topnotch.

Excellent food, I had Cod and wife had Salmon both outstanding. This was our first return since Covid and we were not disappointed!

Great dinner last night. Was actually going to a different restaurant down the street from here but they were closing early. We decided to pop in and couldn't be happier. We shared the crispy eggplant salad and pork dumplings then I had the short ribs for dinner and hubby got the steak. We really enjoyed it so very much. Staff was so friendly.

Everything was excellent..the service, our dinner, and the table near the window on a rainy night !

First thing you should know is that places close really early here. We got in to town at 6:30 and had a hard time finding a place for dinner because everything was booked and they close so early. We stopped in to Franklin Cafe Cape Ann and the lady at the hostess station was just lovely. She was so kind and helpful. She had an opening but it was an hour and a half wait. So she gave us a suggestion for another local restaurant and even called to see if they had a table for us. We decided to go since we had been traveling and were really hungry. Once we got in our car, she came running out to tell us some seats had opened up at the bar and we could order the full menu there. So we stayed. The bartender was great and even made a special fall cocktail for my sister which was delicious. We ordered our food and unfortunately we were disappointed. I mean, we are from TX so we know a good steak. We both ordered medium rare and both steaks were more like medium well. Yuck. The bartender was very understanding and agreed by looking at them that they were overcooked. So he took our plates and had them made all over again. The second round, the steaks were literally raw. It was a bummer. The atmosphere was lovely, and the staff was great. I would probably come again and order something different if I ever make it back there.

We went to Cape Ann/Gloucester, Massachusetts for our 25th wedding anniversary. The Franklin cafe cape Ann was suggested to us by our hotel concierge. She said it was a great place to eat, but you probably needed reservations parking on the Main Street in Gloucester is a nightmare. The street is very narrow at night. It is very hard to maneuver if you're not from the area. You can park down in the parking lot by the bay and walk the block or two up to the restaurant. We took a chance and got there at 7:30 and someone had missed their reservations and they were able to seat us immediately. It was a very small place, great looking atmosphere and very busy. Our waitress was wonderful and very attentive, very informative, very courteous. We were seated with bread that had a hummus spread, which was very tasty. My husband said he would've rather butter, but did enjoy the hummus. They did have specials to offer. The drink specials. There was a nice selection choices of bottles of beer, drafts, white wines, red wines, sparkling wines. I had an appetizer of lobster dumplings fried with a soy sauce. They had to be one of the most delicious dumplings I've had in a long time they were the perfect temperature you were able to scoop up the soy sauce a little bit inside, there is plenty of lobster highly recommend. My husband had a Caesar salad that had a nice dressing. My dinner was the shrimp scampi. It came with cheese on top of it and a light sauce. Nothing too buttery for your stomach not to handle plenty of shrimp. my husband enjoyed his hamburger, the sirloin burger was juicy, nice size portion. It was served over an abundance of great french fries. He got green beans as a side. They had garlic on them and they were not soggy. Very crispy and delicious. Definitely check out the Franklin restaurant. We were at a couple of other restaurants and I would have to rank this place the best. Be sure to make a reservation. It was worth the walk.

Solid choice for American fare in the middle of Downtown. If you're looking for a darkened intimate candle lit space the main floor dining area works well. Head upstairs for a second bar and a slightly more casual space.

Excellent service at the bar ,the menu is quite extensive. Totally enjoyed everything we ate. I also appreciate a wine list that isn't ordinary, some nice French and Italian wines.

My husband and I have been coming to Gloucester for years and always make a point to have dinner here before the rest of our family joins us. The staff is friendly, attentive and professional and the food is the best! The owner, Maria, is one of the nicest people, she doesn't think twice about lending a hand where it is needed (she was actually our server on one of our visits) and a great person to talk to. Every meal we have had there has been fresh and delicious! I definitely recommend the filet mignon dinner with risotto and green beans! Can't wait to return next year!!

Went here a week ago for the first time and loved it! Food was great, cocktails were delicious (Hot and Dirty, my favorite!) and the service was even better. Our waitress was from Texas and could not have been any friendlier. Look forward to going back, hopefully soon!

Burnt food... shitty manager... Don't BOTHER. The manager tried to excuse this awful food. Maybe just apologize . BTW we tipped 25%

I think if I had come in planning on nice bar food, and ordered a burger, I would have enjoyed it more. Instead I thought it would be upscale, and I got the fish because we were in Gloucester, which was disappointing. Our food was boring, and it's not cheap. Our apps were the best - we had an arugula salad with fried goat cheese and the duck with cabbage. Both were good, not amazing. The salad was a bit plain. Then we had the tuna which comes with chive mashed potatoes and a salad. The fish was good but boring. The parm fries were also fine. Overall, this place has nice comfort food, but it doesn't have interesting flavors. Seems hard to get that in Gloucester.

Everything was soooo great from the drinks to the food and the music! The front of the house staff was so friendly including Elizabeth who had an amazing playlist and suggested the key lime pie, which was TO DIE FOR!!!!! Will definitely be back!

Food is delish. And our server, Colleen is the blueprint, exactly what everyone is looking for. Great night out. Enjoy

Super friendly host. We had a reservation, and we had to wait outside a little bit. The host came outside to us and kept us informed often. The waitress was pleasant. The food superb. We came in a bit full, which we regret because we wanted everything on the menu, and the specials for the day sounded to die for. We ordered sushi rolls and the marinated grilled calamari appetizer. I'm a big fan of sushi, and although the sushi choices seemed "simple", they were so fresh, so perfectly made, AND delicious, it made up for the lack of typical "chef's special" sushi options. We did NOT expect how the calamari appetizer was going to be so amazing. The flavors were unique and worked together perfectly - it was also perfectly grilled, fresh, and delicious. The bartender also made a great cucumber gin & tonic. The interior was clean and pretty. No white tablecloth, but it still felt higher-end. The diners were dressed nice.

Wood paneling on the walls, cozy ambience, fancy clientele...next thing you know I'm ordering Woodford Reserve, calling myself Christopher Moltisanti and ordering hits on shmucks. Just kidding ... but the feel of the restaurant is nice -- really tasteful. We shared the arugula salad and butternut squash ravioli and both were fantastic. The ravioli had the nice buttery oil sauce or whatever it was with the pine nuts and some herbs, really good. Normal people would probably want to order 2 dishes for people as the dishes are not huge. Also had the moose for dessert and it was good. (Mouse? Moosse? Musse? Mousse?) The waitress was really nice, attentive and friendly. Someone mentioned a vegetarian menu in their review and we didn't see one. The main downsides are that the entree prices are maybe $5 too high and the menu is limited. I was thinking sushi but the rolls were $18 apiece, so then I suspected maybe they were made of some special power fish that only spawns every 180 fortnights, but no they were just regular fishes at an obscene price. For these relatively minor reasons I rated this place 4 not 5 stars. Our experience was really good beside that.

We have been going to the Franklin for a number of years and the food is always good and the servers friendly. The only complaint we have is that the menu never changes.

We stumbled upon this restaurant our first evening in Gloucester. The food is was terrific - great clams and octopus appetizers and the sweat corn ravioli was delicious. Kudos to Grace our waitress- she and the rest of the staff were very helpful and friendly. I highly recommend!

Great food. Casey/ Texas was my favorite person ever. Cheers. Had tuna sashimi special and grilled octopus. Highly recommend.

Fantastic food, ambiance and service! We recently attended a rehearsal dinner for my daughter hosted by the grooms family who are from out of state and did not know where to go in Gloucester. I gave them a list of possible options with a strong recommendation for the Franklin. Maria and her staff did a fantastic job! The food was excellent along with the service. We used the upstairs room which provided a big space with plenty of privacy and easy access to amenities. We highly recommend the Franklin of any events or just a great night out.

The food is perfect!!!! Service is exceptional. Our server was the best by far, polite, very entertaining and made the atmosphere perfect. A+++++++ Coleen is exceptional at her career. Will be back!

Stopped by with my wife and friends for dinner. Once again, the Franklin continues to provide top service and quality food. At the end of our meal Maria stopped by to ask how everything was. We told her we had been in 2 nights earlier and sat outside and it was another great night at the Franklin. Maria even remembered one of our visits over a year ago where 8 of us took the center table and had a great meal. Looking forward to our next visit. Frank Sablone

The whole evening was wonderful! A rehearsal dinner for 40. Planning with the owner, Maria, was stress-free and personalized. The passed apps and raw bar were yummy. Meal options of butternut squash ravioli, filet mignon with risotto, and pan seared cod with garlic mashed arrived to the table hot amidst rave reviews. Servers were attentive, polite, and accommodating. The venue affords intimate private dining and space to mingle over cocktails. I would choose the Franklin again for any memorable occasion!!

Surprising nice dinner here when we couldn't get seated at Passport nearby. I wanted that popover! As a person who can't eat meat often they were accommodating with allowing me to have the risotto with the filet mignon as my main course. It was excellent with asparagus. My 3 companions all enjoyed their fish meals. It's a busy place and I can see why.

not pretentious anymore, good waitress although paid much more attention to my companion because he paid good eggplant but not great so breadcrumby and crunchy not amazing flavor maybe less breading? cauliflower was ok in that eggplant dish but not great too much balsamic grapefruit juice was way too sour maybe a fresher bottle?? bathroom was good parked a fair bit away

While this restaurant is pricy, it's not the kind that has forgettable food. I can still taste the short rib, sauce and veggies that came with it. While it seems like the menu changes very frequently, if you happen to catch the short rib, I recommend you take it. It was melt in your mouth delicious and accompanied by these crunchy root vegetables and an amazing sauce. We also got lobster bisque and lobster dumplings as appetizers, which seem to be permanent items, and both did not disappoint. The lobster dumplings were good while a bit overpriced for such a small portion, but the bisque was amazing. I personally don't love seafood, but the bisque was so good I couldn't resist. I also tasted some of the cod with mashed potatoes and mushrooms, which was good but nothing special. We ended with orange flan which was just tart enough. Overall great experience and homely staff.

This place is real nice inside. The waitress we had was amazing and couldn't do enough for us. Great wine list....That's where the goodness ended. The wines were expensive and they were very stingy with the pour. The appetizers and dinner plates were good but so small that even Smurfette would be hungry.

Definitely one of the best restaurants on cape ann! The food is AMAZING. Maria, the owner, helped me organize and execute the rehearsal dinner before my wedding. They have a private room upstairs that accomodated all 34 guests. We had our own bar and servers and everything ran smoothly. We had a 3 course menu caesar salad, choice btw steak frites, lemon chicken or chili soy glazed salmon and orange creme caramel for dessert. Everything was perfect! I went back with a friend saturday night because i was craving the steak frites and the food wad incredible once again. We also tried a salmon sushi roll and the blackened catfish. Yum! Joe, marias brother, was our server and took really good care of us :) I cannot wait to go back!

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. At the recommendation of our host and server, I got the peppered seared ahi special with mashed potatoes. It was ok. A little too peppery for me, and I'm able to hold my own with peppery/spicy things. A huge portion! 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.

This is a review of clientele. Last night I sat near a group of 5 that had made a reservation and never stopped complaining from the waiter greeting them til the owner having to appease their every complaint. All which were unwarranted. The owner showed tremendous restraint over and over again. The restaurant was full and everyone-seemed to be enjoying there dinners. Except for the 5 curmudgeons with an obvious agenda. Next time they think about dining out dont.

I love this place. Perfect date night restaurant. The filet mignon is my favorite. Always cooked to perfection. I can't wait for them to reopen.

Coming out of Yelp retirement for this one because wow... Being a novice chef myself, I don't go out to eat much these days as I feel the love and care I put into making my dishes is unrivaled. But we found ourselves in Gloucester for a little break from the industry. After researching a few articles on head Chef Brian Reyelt we decided to give The Franklin a shot. We ordered the vegetarian baked Mac w/ sautéed greens and a Greek salad for starters. Absolutely delicious and fresh. The baked Mac was honestly intoxicating. Both plates were cleared. Our main dishes were the honey glazed lavender salmon and the house made butternut squash ravioli w/ pine nuts. Once again they absolutely hit it out of the park. The salmon was perfectly cooked and allowed the natural flavor to shine through with the perfect balance of the honey glaze to make you savor every bite. Both dishes would visually turn your head if you saw them coming out of the kitchen as the platting was superb. I witnessed my partner scraping the ravioli plate if that gives you an idea of how much she loved it. Both dishes were absolute perfection! What's a delicious meal without great service? Elizabeth, our server was a true master. Me and my partner both work in the service industry and have pretty high expectations when it comes to service. We certainly know how challenging of a job it can be but also how important of a job it really is. Elizabeth was very welcoming and kind with a real knowledge of the menu and particularly the ingredients. She made us feel very welcomed and comfortable. The review is a five star review because as a team, the kitchen and service were completely on the same page. Other restaurants take note of that! Thank you for a magical evening folks. Can't wait to return!

One of the best restaurants in Gloucester. The food is just consistently outstanding. The service, like family.

Wish I could give more stars!! Always good but most importantly consistent!! My spot for anniversaries and special occasions- my only complaint is that it isn't closer to where I live otherwise I would go twice a week- please open a location in Stoneham!!!

Last night we were seated in the upstairs dining room. It has all the ambience of a cafeteria. Rows of stark unadorned tables and ridiculous noise levels. The menu is great and so is most of the food, but we couldn't wait to get out of there.

We stayed in Gloucester for the weekend and could not find any place with the kitchen open past 10pm that doesn't involve a fryer... Besides Franklin! They have an entire vegetarian menu! Everything we ordered was great! Came here on two different nights, both nights the servers were awesome! I had the vegetarian tacos, tried the lobster ravioli and my boyfriend said the salmon is the best he's ever had! They give you bread with hummus to start, complimentary, and it's amazing!! Highly recommend for some late night quality food and drinks!

Great cosy date night venue. We swung in there after a drive to the beach, ordered delicious oysters and listened to live string music.

The last time I ate here I was at the upstairs bar, it's a really loud crowded inhospitable space. A waitresses dumped a salad all over the back of my brand new imported designer leather jacket. This was a $3000 jacket, mind you. Well, they wiped it down with a dirty dishrag and offered to pay for my dry cleaning. I had to take it to a specialist cleaner which cost over $100 and the jacket was never the same, unfortunately for me. It took me forever to get reimbursed and they didn't even offer me a free appetizer. I'd never go back, as it was clear they really didn't care. I also noticed they treat the musicians who play there pretty rudely. Gloucester's got better places to eat, plenty. This place is foo-foo to the max.

Came in on a Tuesday with my husband and daughter. My daughter can be picky, but there were enough things for her to choose from on the menu. Her appetizer of mozzarella and sliced tomatoes, with olive tapenade was delicious and the portion was very generous. She had trouble eating her entree, a creamy fettuccini primavera. I had the veggie burger with a mountain of crispy, nicely seasoned french fries, and my husband had mushroom ravioli. Service was friendly, atmosphere was cozy, live music was a nice touch.

One of my favorite restaurants to go to in Gloucester. Friendly servers and amazing food. I love the hanger steak and the eggplant salad! They are my favorites. I highly recommend the Franklin. Very clean restaurant with great atmosphere.

Nice atmosphere save for the TV. My zucchini appetizer was perfect. Seafood mac n cheese was loaded with seafood and the pasta was perfectly cooked but the cheese sauce was a little to milky than creamy. Good service.

The Franklin is one of the Big Three on Cape Ann (the others being Tonno and Duckworth's Bistrot). It's warm and welcoming, the vibe is trendy but unpretentious, and the food is amazingly consistent. It's also open late - the kitchen is open until 10:30 on weeknights, which makes it just about the only fine dining restaurant still open after you see a show at Gloucester Stage Company. Always good, always a step above! Highly recommended!