The Franklin Room

Andrew and Jeanie were amazing, so welcoming and attentive! We’ve been here before for drinks (which are always incredible), but this was our first time trying the food, and it did not disappoint. Everything was so good that we ordered the same dishes twice. The steak was great, the potatoes were delicious, but the truffled ricotta tortellini completely stole the show—so rich and flavorful it practically melted in your mouth. Highly recommend this spot for both food and drinks. The vibe is elevated but comfortable, business casual attire fits perfectly. Can’t wait to come back!

Wow, The Franklin Room was hands down the best meal of my Chicago trip! Seriously, it hit a flavor profile I've been searching for years. They do Western dishes with this incredible Asian twist that's just perfection. As a huge seafood fan, the Spicy Bourbon Mussels were my absolute favorite. The homemade spicy miso in that bourbon sauce just adds so much depth – seriously delicious. And the Chilean Sea Bass? One of the best I've ever had, cooked absolutely perfectly. Another major highlight was the oysters. The chef's Thai-style dipping sauce was a game-changer for me – honestly, the best way to eat oysters, in my opinion! And the yuzu mignonette added another fantastic layer of flavor. I legit wish I could buy those sauces and bring them back to NYC! Overall, every single dish was bursting with flavor. The vibe is super nice too, perfect for a night out with friends or a date. They've got a great cocktail menu as well – their espresso martini was spot on! Highly recommend everyone checks this place out!

We celebrated a birthday and anniversary at Franklin Room, and it was great! Our server was amazing, as was the food. I really liked that we could hear each other all evening as the music wasn’t crazily loud. We’ll come back.

Love love this place for food and drinks. Great vibe. It’s a busy place, needs reservations even at the bar as limited area. It’s a full bar, they have variety alcohol on shelf. Recommend to try.

The server was meek and hard to hear but the food and atmosphere were amazing!!! The branzino was the best I have ever had. It was cooked to perfection and seasoned with just the right balance. Not so much to overpower the taste of the fish, but enough to enhance it. The oysters were a fantastic start and I highly recommend the tartare.

The Franklin Room is a small, intimate space, but it has a lot of character. Despite the portions being on the smaller side, I still left feeling full and satisfied. The drinks were unbelievably amazing! I definitely recommend this spot to anyone looking to explore restaurants in Chicago.

The food is good in a dim, intimate atmosphere that is not too dark. My favorite fish we tried was actually the kale salad. Staff are super friendly. Great place especially if u like whiskey! If you order a whiskey, they'll leave the bottle for u to examine and then u know what others are drinking too which is cool. You can also pay to have a bottle on reserve here.

The Franklin Room has outdone themselves yet again. Every experience we have there has been phenomenal. We take all of our friends there and suggest the restaurant to anyone who is visiting and asks for recommendations. We have been going there for 2 years and nearly always see the same people working. This tells you they take good care of their employees and that care shows up in the guest experience. We really appreciate their commitment to excellence.

Holy moly! This place is a bit of a hidden gem, but don't sleep on it! Came here with a friend for dinner and everything was impressive. We shared the tuna crudo, tortellini, branzino, and broccolini. The tortellini was by far my favorite (it literally just melts in your mouth!) but it was all good. The flavor on the tuna crudo was also incredible, and it was super light. On Mondays, they do 1/2 price bottles of wine. We really wanted to try their old fashioned, but once we discovered a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape on the menu, we couldn't pass that up (you don't normally see those on restaurant wine menus)! Andrew, our server, was excellent. He was friendly and attentive without hovering, and gave us great advice on the menu. I would definitely request to sit in his section the next time I come. It does have a speakeasy vibe, but in a cozy way. It's lower lit, lots of candles, and not overly large inside. When we sat down it was pretty quiet, though it picked up a bit as we sat there. It never got overly loud, though. I will definitely be back, and soon!

Came on NYE and had a lovely time! My husband and I shared the crab cake special, steak and broccolini and all were really incredible. Service was quick and friendly and the aesthetics were spot on for a somewhere in between casual and classy NYE. My only complaint is that tables in the high top area w a shared booth wall are VERY close together. When someone at the next table had to get up they were touching our table- we actually ended up chatting with them as they overheard our discussion about the menu. In our case this was not the end of the world, but not the best setup if you want any conversational privacy.

Came here on a Tuesday and was blown away by the great dinner that we had unexpectedly here. From beginning to end the meal was delightful. We made reservations and were seated right away and the restaurant was bustling and I am so happy that I did make reservations because they were turning away people at the door. I think we sat in the best seat of the house which is like all the way to the right and it's big comfy booth that sat all of my friends very comfortably with enough tablespace to fit all the dishes we were getting. This place gives me swanky lodge room vibes. Our waiter got us our drinks, posthaste. We ordered many appetizers one of which was the muscles and that was absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked that came with toast, points, finishing touch - our waiter even offered to bring more baguette for dipping after we finished ours. Lamb chops were phenomenal as well- so good infect, we ordered two! The mushroom tartine was yet another absolutely breathtaking appetizer that you should absolutely get if you're a mushroom fan. I got the steak and was not disappointed, perfectly cooked to a mid rare with roasted garlic and I squeezed that all over my steak. We all shared our meals just as good friends do and the scallops were perfection. The tortellini was fantastic. The cid was perfectly flaky and had be thinking of it as I type this. Sides were perfect for this fall - squash and charred broccolini! Franklin Room thank you for not having a super large and overwhelming menu, you're doing everything very well. I will return very soon. I highly suggest this place for great craft cocktails, good food and good service.

Went in for another solo date and still as great as the first one. The bar seats makes the slightly upscale interior less intimidating/more approachable going in alone The mixologist was a great conversationalist, he knew exactly when to check in / leave me be (to savor the truffle tortellini). The drink he made me was sensational (off menu so I can't even order it again ) and honestly why I love letting mixologists choose my drink/design a drink for me. The only reason I'm taking off a star here is the portion sizes for the food - definitely on the smaller size for an entree.

The food presentation, drinks, service, ambiance, and the flavor of everything were all great!! We celebrated a friend's birthday here, and the staff was incredibly accommodating. What we ordered: - Wagyu steak tartare: I'm usually not a fan of steak tartare, but this one was SO GOOD. I still remember the mustardy taste and the garnish. Perfection. Definitely ordering this again. - Spicy bourbon mussels: Delicious! The sauce was great, and we had plenty of bread on the side to dip in it. - Wild mushroom tartine: As a mushroom fan, I loved this dish. The mushrooms soaked up all the sauce, adding a good texture. - Bristol Bay scallops: These looked as good as they tasted I will definitely be coming back here. It's the perfect spot for celebrations and date nights.

Special wagyu burger from 5:00-6:30 pm only! Make sure you get your order in on time. Franklin Room has delicious food to pair with a dim, vintage ambience. If you have someone to impress, I highly recommend taking them here. Even our waiter seemed to have a sense of pride over how great their menu was. That PASTA AL PESCE... Delicious. - AT

Wow this place is really yummy! On a trip to Chicago eating at a bunch of spots, many of my party voted the Franklin Room as the best tasting. My personal favorite dish of the evening was the pasta al pesce, which came with a lot of seafood, great portions. My drink was also delicious and went well with the food. I saw that the bar tender can also personalize a cocktail based on your tastes, which is really cool.

The service was impeccable but the food was mediocre for the price. I probably won't go again. Whipped Formaggio: 9/10 this was my favorite dish. The mixed herbs and green peas gave the cheese a unique flavor. Prime Bone-In Ribeye: 5/10 the steak was very fatty. The roasted garlic that came with the steak made the edible amount of meat taste better. Roasted Butternut Squash: 5/10 would have been better if the squash was blended.

One of my favvvv places in Chicago, this place is fantastic. I had the salmon (which was delicious), my bf had the sea bass (which was even better), the mussels were so tasty with the yummy broth. Espresso martinis were also perfect and good cozy but elevated vibe! 10/10 will be back

Alright, let's talk about The Franklin Room--aka the place where your taste buds go to party. This spot is like stepping into a swanky, dimly lit cellar that's dripping in sexy vibes. It's got that secret club energy, but make it *gorgeous.* Now, let me put you on to the real star of the show: the mussels. Seriously, I've been gatekeeping these bad boys because they are THAT good. Spicy bourbon mussels with miso, cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic purée, herbs oil, parmesan, micro cilantro, and toasted baguette--are you drooling yet? The baguette is actual perfection, and the mussel stock? I'd legit bathe in it. Honestly, just order five servings and call it a day. Pair those with the most delicious old fashioned you've ever had, and you've got date night perfection. The cocktails here are next level, with a focus on independent distillers and rare releases that'll have you sipping like a pro. And if you're into whiskey (and who isn't?), the Whiskey Keep club is your new obsession. Picture this: your very own locker to store a bottle of something bold, rare, and totally unexpected, with no membership fees. It's like an elevated bottle service experience that'll have you feeling like a VIP every time you walk in. So yeah, The Franklin Room is where it's at for anyone looking to mix classic flavors with a modern twist, all while soaking in those seriously cool Chicago vibes. Go for the mussels, stay for the whiskey, and you might never want to leave.

I was staying in a hotel nearby and wanted to get good dinner while in Chicago but did not want the hassle of calling an Uber or any other mode of transportation to get quality food so I headed to Yelp for some direction. The Franklin room was the first thing that popped up under the "you may like" section and from seeing the star rating and a quick look at pictures, I decided to come here. It was a last-minute decision because my hungry belly did not have time to deep dive through the reviews as I usually would. My colleague and I had reservations for 6:30p but arrived a little bit earlier and was seated promptly. Entering the restaurant and walking down the steps we did not know what to expect. It was a cute space! Definitely giving me speakeasy vibes & intimate, but not stuffy. Our waiter Anthony was an absolute gem and greeted us with an amazing smile and had bubbly personality. He was warm and made us out of towners feel welcomed immediately. The menu wasn't long, which I liked, but the description of the dishes on the menu was not your average so we definitely had questions. Anthony did not rush us and gave us great recommendations while answering our 1 million questions. In the meantime, he talked about the cocktail menu and the different kinds of whiskeys they offered as that is their specialty. I decided on the smoky old fashion, and it was smooth and delicious! We ordered our entrées and a few sides. The special of the evening was the Branzino dish so we opted to share that as well as the butcher steak. Our sides were the squash and the fingerling potatoes. When the dishes arrived to the table, not only was it visually stunning, but everything was delectable! Chef's kiss! I had to call Anthony over and tell him to please tell the Chef that whatever he did tonight to keep it going! Not only were the dishes delicious and gorgeous, they were so creative. Never in my life have I ever had fried artichoke, with toasted pepitas, sesame olive, oil, crispy sage, pickled onion, & caramelized onion cream in a roasted butternut squash dish. This is just one example of the ingenious that went into creating these dishes! I can go on and on about each dish we ate that night and how pleased we were, but I will say just go there and try it for yourself! Your tastebuds will thank you!

I always wonder why this place has so many open reservations because it's really good! The wait staff is so friendly and always helpful with recommendations. They also have great drinks! My favorites this time we're the Wild Mushroom Tartine, the Truffled Ricotta Tortellini, and the ribeye. The mushroom Tartine we actually got by accident, but thank god because it was so good! Maybe a little hard to eat, but very tasty. The tortellini is a classic here and never seems the disappoint. Just enough truffle and cheese. As for the ribeye, I'm not usually a steak girl but wow, the sauce, the garlic, and the steak itself were all great! We also got the butternut squash which was my favorite dish last time I went but got upstaged this time. The steak tartare which I thought was just ok. The whipped formaggio which was too much greens. The taro fries which were great for snacking on the side. And the crab cakes which were a little flavorless to me. The chocolate cake was a great way to end the meal!

Such a great find! Was visiting the friend in the area and decided to make a reservation. We walked in early and they were very accommodating. Great ambiance and service. We got the butternut squash side and chicken roulade, both were phenomenal. We even asked for more of the chicken sauce on the side because it was that good!

From the moment we walked into The Franklin, we felt right at home. The ambiance was so chic and rustic, almost like stepping into a hidden speakeasy bar - it really set the mood for the night. We were greeted warmly and taken straight to our table. Julia, our server, was fantastic and added to the experience with her friendly and attentive service. The food was incredible - every dish we ordered was packed with flavor, and you could tell the chef put real care into each one. Honestly, it felt like we were eating at a Michelin-star restaurant. We'll definitely be back!

The place is so awesome and unique and it gives you the sense of being underground. Love all the food there , tuna tartar is a killer, love my Chilean sea bass ! Would recommend everyone to try. Oh don't forget the Franklin old fashioned!!!

I will say that my five stars is really a solid 4.5. I usually rave about appetizers but am disappointed with the main at new American restaurants. Here it was opposite. The apps we're terrible or bad just weren't my speed. People did enjoy them. Tuna crudo was absolutely delicious and I highly recommend it. I ate most of it. The wild mushroom tartine was good but I felt like the mushrooms they chose did not have the bold umami I was looking for. Whipped goat cheese was just not there and needed more garlic for sure. The fingerling potatoes were very delicious and loved up to the hype for sure. The broccolini an squash were pretty average but good. Service and the bone in ribeye were the absolute highlights of the night. I actually saved some ribeye to bring home for the wife. For a non steakhouse, the meat was absolutely perfect when cooked to chef's choice temperature. The mango cheesecake was delicious but I was way too overstuffed at that point.

Service was excellent. Food had a great balance of flavor. Lots of whiskey to choose from. Recommend highly!

Recently moved down the street and have been walking past this restaurant, so excited to finally get to try it. Really enjoyed the drinks, atmosphere, and food. As usual, I asked the server for a recommendation for the fruitiest/sweetest drink, and he recommended the Aviation. It was so tasty! Probably my favorite gin drink. The salmon was delicious and had very unique sides. The salmon croquette really complimented it. I can't wait to come back and try the other dinner items.

The Franklin Room is probably my #1 recommendation in Chicago. I took a friend here for a birthday and had the absolute most amazing experience. It checks all the boxes: ambiance, service, food, price, and experience. There seems to be a lot of street parking available even on a Friday night which was super convenient. I made a reservation weeks ahead and was checked in without a wait. My friend loves whiskey, which was why this was my first choice. It's such a classy speakeasy. We both loved the interior and atmosphere. There are whiskey bottles lining the exposed brick walls - it's beautiful. They have lots of whiskey and unique cocktail options. The food was exceptional. For the two of us, we ordered: -truffle ricotta tortellini -pasta Al pesce -marinated butchers steak -roasted butternut squash side and some drinks Everything was absolutely amazing.. PHENOMENAL in flavor and presentation and quality. I will definitely reorder the truffle tortellini and roasted butternut squash. So far - my absolute favorite place in Chicago. Our server was very nice and took very well care of us. We will definitely be back to try more off their menu!!

The establishment in question warrants attention despite its sporadic reservation availability. The service excels, showcasing attentive staff who offer insightful menu suggestions. Signature dishes like the Wild Mushroom Tartine and Truffled Ricotta Tortellini exemplify culinary finesse, though their accessibility can be challenging. The ribeye, while notable for its rich flavor profile, may not cater to all palates. However, the dining experience benefits from a well-curated drink selection and a vintage ambiance that enhances social interactions. Overall, this venue presents a compelling choice for discerning diners seeking a memorable meal.

Fantastic!! I had a wonderful dinner with my family at the Franklin Room. It was highly recommended by two different colleagues, and they were certainly right! We started off with their craft cocktails and starter. We ordered oysters on the half shell, lamb chops, spicy bourbon mussels, taro fries. The oysters were accompanied by an amazing spicy green sauce and a mignonette. I wanted to buy a bottle of the green sauce. The same with the spicy bourbon mussels. The spicy bourbon sauce was divine. For cocktails, we had the Winter Wanderer, You Dirty Bird, Long Train to Fresno, Lock-Loaded and Night Scene. They were so delicious, we had another round of these awesome spirits. For dinner, we shared the Pasta Al Pesce, Truffled Ricotta Tortellini, Mediterranean Seabass, Bristol Bay Scallops and the amazing Prime Bone-In Ribeye. Even with five guests, we were full and had leftovers to take home. Next time, we will be mindful to save room for their desserts! Even in 13 degree bitter cold, we walked to the restaurant from our hotel (12-15 minuted walk). It was well worth it!!

If you find yourself traipsing through Chicago and hunger is gnawing at you, ditch the mundane eatery options and march your way into the culinary fortress known as "The Vault. " Let's cut straight to the chase: the seafood pasta--think oceanside freshness slapped onto your plate with a generous serving that'll push your appetite to the brink. The staff? They aren't just nice; they master the fine art of turning an empty stomach into an experience to remember, with the agility to whip up a drink that's pretty much you in a glass. And if your palates lean high-brow, their wagyu burger window, as strict as a speakeasy's last call, is your golden hour. Don't just eat here; devour the vibe, the flavor, and the swagger.

The entrance is awkward-- you open the door and then head down stairs that end at a host stand so if there are several groups at once it's a little strange... That being said our server was wonderful and ALL OF THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE. We had the mushroom tartine- must try Spicy bourbon mussels- so good Truffle paste- best pasta of my LIFE the mango cheesecake- sweet, tart, & creamy A few different drinks but "you dirty bird" was magical You will not be disappointed if you give this place a try! Just get past the host stand!

Wow. Just Wow. From the minute you walk down the stairs to this lower level restaurant, you know you've made one of the better decisions in your life. First up - Ambiance. Such a cool place. Be sure to look around. The decor, the architecture, light fixtures....even the ceiling. The Franklin Room really does it right. It's a small spot. Very small, in fact. But that's one of the things that I loved about it, to be honest. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive and always on point. We could not have asked for better serice. Next - The menu. You take a look at the menu. Concise but extremely well rounded. Beef, seafood and even something for our vegetarian guests. There's something just right for everyone. You may also notice the moderate prices. This truly was shocking. I would consider The Franklin Room "high end". Even though the pricing doesn't scream "high end" every other aspect did. Finally - The Food. Out-of-control! I'm serious. Appetizers and mains were out of this world. I had the Bristol Bay Scallops presented with pearl couscous, pea and basil cream, asparagus, shallot, bacon pangrattato and pea tendril. Now, I'm not a chef so I don't even know what all of those things are. But I am a certified and highly seasoned eater. This was one of the best meals I have ever had, in my life. With the Charred Broccolini as my side, my meal was beyond words. Would I go back? It's a blessing and a curse that I don't live in Chicago anymore. The Franklin Room is a good example why. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants in Chicago. And anyone who says they're hungry in Chicago, has nobody to blame but themselves. The Franklin Room is a diamond of the highest quality. I would urge you to maybe take a break from the standard old school steakhouses in Chicago and branch out. Sure, you've been going to that one place that's been around for 30 years. Do you drive the same car you drove 30 years ago? Get your appetite in gear and have dinner at The Franklin Room! Another note - My visit was for a business dinner. Keep something in mind -Whether this is a date, business dinner, family situation or whatever, The Franklin Room is a place that will impress, without fail. So if you're looking to make a splash with someone, look no further. Five Star Reviews are a rarity for me. An establishment truly has to knock it out of the park to earn that fifth star. There was no question here.

The Franklin room is a decent neighborhood spot. There are good drinks and decent food. I wasn't in a whiskey/ bourbon mood and there weren't many refreshing options. I tried spring wanderer cocktail per recommendation and it was pretty good. The flavor profile was more veggie focused than fruity- but I prefer fruity flavor- but there weren't any fruit based options. For food, the portion size is on a smaller side. I got pasta al pesce which was good, but for $34, I'd expect more seafood and pasta to be handmade. We also ordered butchers steak which was good but much smaller than expected. Overall, it's a decent spot and everything (food, ambiance, service) was good, but nothing was mind blowing. The high top tables were also very close to each other and people next to us and servers kept dropping things from the table next to us which was a bit of an inconvenience. I am not sure if these tables and chairs need to be hightop because they are just a bit less comfortable compared to the regular height tables and chairs.

I'm always have a such a special experience here! The manager and my server also made me feel super welcome. I can't wait to come back! This place has all the good vibes, food and drinks!! The scallops were amazing.

Love the swanky vibe here. Perfect spot to sit at the bar, grab a good meal and drink. I got the kale salad and miso salmon. Both were delicious- I did have to ask for the kale salad to be less dressed though. But other than that, service was excellent! Definitely recommend checking out this cool spot hidden in river north.

BEST END-TO-END NEW AMERICAN RESTAURANT in River north $55pp @franklinroomchicago River North, Chicago I don't know about you, but a lot of river north spots are quite expensive, not very good, or hard to get a table Ben and I celebrated our anniversary here and instead of going to river north for food before going to fireworks in Navy Pier we walked slightly further to Franklin Street. SUPER worth it Incredible meal where everything was super well executes. We finished all dishes : steak, huge seared scallops, tuna crudo, mixed cocktails, and an off-the-menu extra toasted pavlova with raspberry sorbet Thank you for the hospitality this is now my go-to staple spot in River north . Total meal with 3 cocktails + 2 mains + 1 appetizer for $165 with tax , $55 per person

Fantastic service, delicious food, and knowledgeable bartenders. Previous statements of a speakeasy vibe are on point. The ambience is perfection Ask for recommendations is you get swallowed up in the whiskey options. Highly highly recommend

It was our first time in this restaurant. We took advantage of restaurant week. We got lamb chops, tuna, steak and chicken. Basically whatever was in the restaurant week menu. Everything was amazing. Lamb chops were my favorite. If you love chicken, this chicken roulette was not dry at all. It was juicy. My husband does not eat raw fish, but he loved tuna dish. Mezcal espresso martini was definitely was different. I love espresso martinis. And i wouldn't order that again. But waiter warned me when I ordered. Anthony our server was amazing. Really friendly, takes care of you. Very positive. I actually wanted to write this review because of him. His hard work needs to be noticeable!

Hidden gem in R North. My bf and I visited this place and were impressed by every item we ordered. Will definitely be returning!

July 2022: amazing service and great cocktails! Great spot for dates. The staff was pleasant and accommodating for our group of 10 people. Service was incredible through the entire meal. Atmosphere is very pleasant, nicely lit bar, dimmed lights, great interesting interior design. Cocktails were delicious, and quite unique. Highly recommend. Food was very good, had a few unique options (like zucchini cakes - similar to arancini balls but made with zucchini), potatoes, steak tartare, all tasted good; salad dressing was too garlicky for my liking. Desserts were incredible! Chocolate crumble is their famous dessert, however I was impressed with their mango cheesecake - super light, delicious, and flavorful. Easily one of the best (and lightest) mango cheesecakes I've tried.

I have had dinner here twice, and both times were awesome! The mussels are cooked to perfection with the perfect sauce. The steak tasted soooo good with butter. And the Taro fries were so unique & amazing with the garlic aoli sauce! They brought my dad a free dessert for his birthday which was so kind on the restaurant's behalf. Our server was great, receptive, and very informative. Overall a very cool place with good food & good vibes. Definitely recommend trying this hidden gem! Thank you for your hospitality

Where do I start? Upon entering the restaurant I knew I was in for a good time. The menus are clean and simple which is a green flag. Every dish has a simple ingredient list. We started of with a glass of sparkling rose and spicy bourbon mussels. I know the broth is made of, but I suspect there is extra passion behind it. Phenomenal. I enjoyed a perfect serving size entree of truffle ricotta tortellini. Chefs kiss. It was a little salt at the end, but overall the mixture of several different mushrooms, ricotta, truffles and parm was amazing. Flavor and texture. My husband enjoyed the miso branzino and broccolini. I had some broccolini and it was another surprising flavor combination. Our waiter was amazing with recommendating dishes! Run, don't walk. I highly recommend The Franklin Room. We will be back.

It's so cute here with a swanky ambiance. Drinks are pleasant and their lamb chops are juicy and tender.

Love the ambiance of the place, food was really good, drinks were delicious but service was exceptional. Probably the best service we've ever had at a restaurant, top notch!

When you go out, you want knowledgeable staff, friendly service, and a great experience. If the food is excellent then it makes it all worth it. Everything was in place last night at the Franklin room! We were blown away by this American bistro with Italian roots. Each course Anthony recommended exceeded our expectations. We could have eaten "All Day!" The signature old-fashioned with 4 kinds of bitters is a must try along with anything mushroom! But that wasn't all. Joey Swanchara... coolest host we've met in a long time. Joey made every effort to ensure our experience was superb! Thank you. We will come again!

Another fantastic meal at The Franklin Room! I dunno how this place got less than 5 stars bc our experiences have been absolutely stellar thus far!! The mussels were just as tasty as before and the bone-in ribeye had my normally pescatarian bf in literal tears of joy. (I'm a bad influence, I know.) I can't even think of anything bad from tonight's meal. This place is a must for food lovers!

Second time there and can confirm our first impression of superb service, food, drinks and ambiance. Highly recommend this incredible place.

Tried The Franklin Room for my birthday. Every dish was very intentional. The perfect sized restaurant for intimate service. They do a great job with fusion style dishes without being overwhelming. Amazing crab cakes, mushroom tartine, pasta, and steak. Look no further, this is your spot.

Everything was wonderful and the prices were reasonable given the quality and portions. The mussels were phenomenal but they should really include more baguette but they brought more when requested. I could have drank the broth. Loved the tortellini. Just enough truffle without being overwhelming. The salmon was great and cooked well but a little underwhelming compared to the other dishes. Cocktails not pictured were delish. Beautiful interior and excellent service.

If you want to impress someone from out of town this is the place to go. By far one of my favorite dining experiences. The bartender we had was amazing. He has invested a lot of time in making this place great. He even let us try a cocktail he's been working on. The restaurant is beautiful and tucked in a basement under the L. As far as food goes it was amazing. The Seabass melted like butter and the tartare was great. Dying to go back again.

Stopped here for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Made reservations but showed up early and was seated right away. This place is small but cozy. Cool vibe. Lots of bourbons! Our espresso martinis were VERY bitter. Would not recommend. Food was good but main entree came out almost at room temperature.

This place was absolutely fantastic with a cool, almost 1960s-esque Al Capone speakeasy vibe. Very Chicago feel. But the vibes aside, the real key here is in the food. Absolutely fantastic from top to bottom. We came here with a very large group of around 10 and they did a fantastic job with bringing the food out in a timely manner and remembering all of our several orders. Some highlights: Mussels: pro tip ask for extra bread to mop up that amazing juice they have at the bottom of the mussels, which also stand alone as a huge burst of flavor. Scallops - mouth wateringly good with a unique sauce. Marinated steak - cooked to perfection, comes with some fantastic mushrooms and a foam sauce that adds the perfect creaminess to the sweet tang of the marinade. The meat melts in your mouth from the proteins breaking down under the marinade. Overall a fantastic experience and would recommend for those looking for a cool upscale experience without breaking the bank.

I stumbled upon The Franklin Room by happenstance via Open Table and after seeing it included in the Michelin Guide, I was sold. Located below the streets of River North is a tucked away gem with a modern American flair. The ambiance is perfect for a Friday night with friends or date night, surrounded by exposed brick and over 300+ bottles of whiskey displayed along the wall. The cocktails were top notch and our server, Anthony, was spot on with his recommendations. We started with the Wagyu steak tartare and mussels, and they were delicious! The mussels had two dipping sauces that paired perfectly. For entrees, I had the marinated butchers steak and truffle fingerling potatoes. It was one of the best meals I have had in a long time! My boyfriend had the scallops, at the recommendation of our server, and they did not disappoint. He also had the taro fries as a side. To top off the night, we shared the mango cheesecake, thanks to the rave reviews online. Overall, an amazing experience and dinner at The Franklin Room. I would highly recommend!

Service was amazing. Sat at the bar. Ambiance was cool. Cocktails were good. Honestly the food was just okay. Especially for the price. I expected a lot more on that end of things. Way too much "sauce" on the ahi tuna app, beef carpaccio app the bread was wayyy to toasted and hard, the beef was okay I guess. Salmon entree was good.

Very nice place in the River North area. Very friendly staff - thank you Ugna! - and a great selection of drinks and a wonderful menu. The setting is in the basement and it is very nicely done. Will definitely return!

Came here with work colleagues to celebrate a colleague's anniversary! Really enjoyed it. Nice ambience, good wine, loved the aviation! Another cocktail I liked called the lazy bird I think? Dirty bird? I don't know! Get the muscles! So good and the broth with the bread wow! Enjoyed the fish and other entrees too plus bread with mushrooms! So good and the service was great. Definitely a good spot in river north away from the ruckus on Hubbard. Sorry I didn't take any pics this time. I was busy stuffing my face! Eat, drink & be merry. Great spot! Enjoy

Earlier this month, I came here with my co-workers to celebrate the holidays and we had a table of about 12 with a 5:30pm reservation on a Tuesday night. Our party was one of the first ones there, but the restaurant filled up quite quickly. The ambience was very cool, almost speakeasy/wine cellar vibe as it was downstairs underground, but clean/modern. This would be good for date night. The Franklin Room is known for their cocktails and apparently they have a very good whiskey list. I had the Franklin Room Old Fashioned and the Aviation cocktails. Both were outstanding! The Old Fashioned was very well balanced, but definitely sweeter than normal with the Vanilla bitters. The Aviation cocktail was gin based with Violette and Citrus. I totally missed the Violette and I didn't realize that the Aviation cocktail was purple until I ordered it so it was very girly looking, but it was amazing as well! As with most gin cocktails, it was very refreshing and this one was very sweet, yet delicious! We ordered a number of apps to share (mussels, whipped formaggio, lamb chops, and steak tartare). They were all good, but my favorite were definitely the mussels. The broth had great flavor, a little spicy, and mussels were actual pretty big so they were filling. The apps portion sizes were enough for 2-3 people They gave you some additional bread to dip into the broth, which was a nice touch. I was in between the Ricotta Tortellini and the Miso Salmon, but I went with the Salmon as I know that I need to eat more veggies and fish, SMH... But the Salmon was an outstanding choice! It was very tender, fresh, and it had a good portion size. The sauce had some great flavor as well! We also ordered the Chocolate Crunch and Mango Cheesecake to share for desserts. Both were good, but I preferred the chocolate crunch as the mango cheesecake was a little out there. The mango cheesecake was not my cup of tea, but I am glad I tried it. The chocolate crunch was very rich and it reminded me of Portillo's chocolate cake. Overall, everyone in our party loved their meals and the cocktails. Service was good and cost was above average for Chicago. I think the food was very good and definitely worth the extra cost. I would definitely be down to come back and try the Tortellini and definitely come back for their whiskey. If you are looking for a very good overall restaurant in River North, then check out the Franklin Room!