I'm fairly new to the area and after trying out a few local restaurants that were just "blah" I stumbled across this quaint little gem. We did not have a reservation as it was a Wednesday night and I figured we didn't need one but lucky for us the young girl who greeted us quickly found us a table. Shortly after we were greeted by our waitress Cathy, or Christy? I don't normally do restaurant reviews because I find it a bit tacky but our experience here was something I will never forget. I have food allergies and our waitress took the time to go through the entire menu with us without making us feel like a burden. She was wonderful attentive, and made us feel like family. We got the Salmon dish, it was cooked to perfection and the filet mignon, which was equally as great. Our waitress recommended Key Lime pie for dessert and it was delicious. Everything about this restaurant is spot on. We will be back. read more

Well having a pleasant time at the Franklin in Gloucester after a day of rediscovery of Rockport and Gloucester! The restaurant was remodeled and the food was the same as I remember it from years ago. Blue greay walls and bar redone and lightning redone and booths redone! The upstairs is being redone as well. Its a pleasure to have a great meal... And it was quiet and slow! Votive candles on bar as well. Bathroom redone as well. Food comes out quickly and ..the Slade was huge! Such a pleasure to stop by again! read more

Ambiance was very nice and the service was also good, but that's where it stopped. I ordered the special that evening of bolognese, it was far from any bolognese, it was a charred burger cut into pieces with some tasteless sauce, thrown in with pasta, topped with a tasteless cheese. The only flavor I could distinguish was charred beef. Sad I say I will not be back, which is a shame as it is a pretty little spot. read more

This is one of our favorite places to grab a drink before dinner. Their cocktails are excellent. The ambience is chill but nice and the service was good too. The location here is in the heart of Gloucester too which is really fun. We love this town and the food is great but for the best cocktail, look no further than the Franklin! read more

For years, the Franklin Cape Ann in Gloucester has been a staple of our local dining choices. We love the warm, inviting atmosphere; the friendly, attentive staff; the great drinks, and of course the fabulous fresh food!!! We were craving all of that, and last night's dinner at the Franklin did not disappoint. We were seated in a cozy booth, and immediately water was brought to the table, along with their fresh bread and their fabulous hummus dip. Yum!!! Our waitress Colleen, is quite possibly my favorite person ever! She is so incredibly attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu, specials, and drinks... that I let her pick out our wine, and my entree. I told her what I was craving, and she chose perfectly. The wine was so good we ordered a bottle, the octopus appetizer was cooked perfectly, with a nice grilled flavor. My husband got the incredibly fresh off the boat seared pepper crusted tuna special. I was torn, and wanted the meat to his surf, so I got the braised beef, and oh my goodness... we couldn't decide which was better, the surf or the turf.... Sadly, we left no room for dessert, and that was a shame as their desserts are fabulous and made in the restaurant. Another thing we love is that they have a 2nd floor for busier nights, and bigger parties, along with a cozy bar on both floors to grab a drink, or meal if no table is available. I highly recommend the Franklin if you are looking to impress a date, or have a special dinner party, or just want to have a casual dinner, you will not be disappointed, but try to save room for dessert. read more

Franklin Cape Ann - Grilled Octopus appetizer. Pepper crusted tuna (fresh off the boat), and to die for Braised beef short rib. So so good! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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This place is fantastic. The food is so profoundly good ---and not over the top expensive. Clayton, the bartender, is top-notch. The rest of the staff is as well terrific. The eggplant mayonnaise appetizer is a big favor across the board for many. Cozy & easy access right on Main Street.. read more

I got the Tuna special. Was supposed to be blacked. Was not. Came with a plan salad and mashed potatoes.If you look at the menu everything comes with mashed potatoes. They must be able to make a ton of mashed potatoes. Told the waiter it was my wife's birthday. Did nothing read more

Elizabeth was an exceptional bartender. She made me an awesome Dark n' Stormy! She had a very pleasant demeanor and considering the doll house size bar she was working, she was very calm. She's like a size 6 and apparently not claustrophobic cause this was the most narrow bar I have ever seen. My husband and I shared the fried eggplant salad appetizer and it was very good. It also came with fresh Italian bread and hummus which was yummy. The restaurant is quaint and the bar area had a TV but it wasn't on. The Red Sox were playing so it would have been good if it were on. There was music overhead but very faint. The globe light fixtures over the bar were very cool but needed dusting. We decided to go somewhere else for dinner 'cause it was a tad boring staring at this narrow bar shelf. I can't explain it but picture sitting in an upscale walk-in closet having a cocktail. Good for 35 minutes but then you have to leave. read more

wonderful food and great service. weve become regulars husband had cassoulet and I had the tuna specia. Both were delicious read more

I'm giving five stars. The food is very good but what they got the extra point for service and friendliness. We feel as though we were part of the family. A very quaint place that makes you feel relaxed and loved. read more

The atmosphere, the food, the martini... all wonderful and delightful. I can't wait to go again!

I have been coming to this restaurant for many years and I have to say the quality of the food wasn't the same. You have to reserve the first floor I. Advance which was not explained to me when making the reservation as stairs are issues for people with knee problems. The hostess was rude. Even some patrons were ignorant and rushing to the hostess to get seated. I don't think I will go back after this past experience. The service was fine but the food was Luke warm as being on the second floor didn't help. read more

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!! read more

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. read more

Great food and great service. It's nice little place, we had 9 people and they are very helpful with seating us. The waiter is great, took his time explaining the special for us. read more

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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 :) read more

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!!!! read more

Franklin Cape Ann - Love the lights and the entire vibe! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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

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! read more

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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! read more

Franklin Cape Ann - Chocolate cake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Gloucester, Massachusetts

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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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!! read more

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

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. read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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

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! read more

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

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. read more

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 read more