We had dinner here tonight. The restaurant is very inviting with booths and some tables. The hostess and waitress were wonderful. We went early and got to chat with the hostess about the restaurant. I ordered a Franklin Pina colada but it was quite different than I was accustomed to. They took it back and got me another cocktail. My husband had a pasta special and he really enjoyed it. I ordered filet mignon and it was done to perfection. It came with garlic mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus. The menu had a variety of fresh fish dishes. I would definitely go back. read more

Wandering around Gloucester without dinner reservations, our party of four took a chance and popped into Franklin Cafe. They had one table free and seated us immediately. I'm glad! I loved my hanger steak and my dinner companions enjoyed their dinners also - one person had a halibut special, one had ravioli and the other a burger. The atmosphere was wonderful and the service prompt and courteous. Could not ask for more! read more

This gem in Gloucester has NEVER let me down! I can say I have eaten here over 30 times and it consistently leaves me totally satisfied. My husband threw my 40th birthday party here - surprised by the way - and we had over 40 people there. Everyone was happy with the experience. Favorites are their filet mignon, pan seared tuna, seasonal soups (butternut squash us to die for), salads are always fresh... wine selection is superb. Wait staff is informed and friendly. Always recommend! read more

Food and service and wine was excellent! Bowl of clams and the Tuna steak special was delicious!

We were a party of 6 and had a lovely meal together. The calamari appetizer was delicious, as were the mussels. I had the cod for dinner and it was very tasty. The service was very good. My only two beefs are the loudness of the main room which made it hard to have a conversation among the 6 of us, and the fact that we were asked to vacate the table when we were done (at 10:30!) because there was a party with a reservation. When you spend a few hundred bucks on dinner, you like to feel that you can sit and chat after your meal. It's a drag when you are rushed out the door. read more

Consistently consistent. Consistently good. Always my goto gloucester place. Stephane is the best, but they're all pretty exceptional.

Quality all around, food was excellent. We sat at the bar with kelly who was pleasant and welcoming, couldn't give a better recommendation for a great place to eat! read more

We stopped in early on a Friday evening. Experienced very bad service, cold food, and flat beer in the upstairs dining room. Perhaps it was an off night, but it put me off enough to stay away from all Franklin ventures. You would be better to stay away too. read more

I've eaten at the Franklin a half-dozen times in the last three years. I really enjoy the atmosphere; downstairs has a small bar with dining tables. If you are lucky a trio is serenading...like Linda Amero who sings beautifully. Up a long flight of stairs is a dining room with another small bar tucked in the back. I prefer upstairs...nicely decorated and bit more quiet. For the pricing, however, I would expect more consistent food. This place gets very, very busy so make reservations in advance...even off season. read more

Definitely worth a visit! Half our party was late in arriving, we thought they cancelled, but our server managed to get our entrees fired together and we enjoyed a great meal. A fluke entrée special was perfect and the lobster ravioli did not disappoint. A bit too much cheese on the evening's flatbread was the only complaint. Excellent wine selection, great service. Music was a little loud, which made the other diners talk louder so it was difficult to have a conversation. But don't let that stop you from going, the food is terrific! read more

Food, drinks and service are all fantastic. Great ambiance - we were staying about 20 minutes away and it was well worth the drive.

This is our favorite go to restaurant for a date night, family dinner or with out of town guests. Service has never been a problem and the food never has disappointed us. The atmosphere is cozy and charming. The tuna special is exactly that special. Joe and Grace are our favorites! read more

Promising but additional lighting is advisable. I had to use my iPhone flashlight to read the menu, and I could not make the distinction between the potatoes and the cod on my plate. Fish well cooked, but garlic overwhelming throughout the entrée. Wait staff very attentive and courteous. read more

Almosphere is amazing. I think I might love the North Shore and eating here made me want to move there. There's just something so cozy and lovely about this place. Food was good but it came out lukewarm and it would have been soooo delicious hot. Servers were amusingly young- I felt like when our server was telling us the specials that she was giving an 8th grade oral report. She seemed so nervous and angsty! Good place though, I can't wait to try more restaurants in the area when the weather gets nice. read more

We chose this place based on past reviews mentioning that it was good for vegans and meat-eaters, and it did not disappoint. I had the vegetable ragu, which was fresh and tasty, although not outstanding in any way. The three others in our party, however, had fish (2 haddocks and 1 cod), and all agreed that it was one of the best fish meals they had ever had. They raved about the freshness and flavor. "Exquisite," they said. We highly recommend it! read more

Pork dumplings are excellent, fries amazing. Atmosphere is great, service prompt.

Been here a few times and the food is always good. The service was poor on our most recent trip. The waiter never asked for a drink order, took our soft drinks from the table half way through the meal and we had to ask to get the refills back 10 minutes later, and he never followed up with us once the food was delivered. It wasn't particularly busy when we ate so I'm not sure what caused the poor service. read more

One of our favorite restaurants! We have lived in Gloucester for 3 years and visit The Franklin Cafe a couple of times a month. The staff is always so friendly, service is wonderful. The food is consistently fresh and delicious, which is important to us. The menu has something for everyone, we love when the seasons change to see what new dish makes the menu! Boston quality food but not Boston prices! read more

I have to say the food at the Franklin is excellent. I have never had a meal that I didn't love. The atmosphere is relaxing and the service is wonderful. We live in Gloucester and come to this restaurant almost every week. The staff I think must know us by first and last name by now. There always is a special that makes your mouth water especially the tuna tartar appetizer. I frequently get the iceberg salad as it is my favorite and would recommend it to anyone. The Hanger steak is also one of my favorites as well as the Cod. Great place to relax and have dinner or even to have a drink as the bar selection is extensive. Enjoy and you won't be unhappy at the Franklin Cafe. read more

This place is fantastic! The ambiance, the food, the service - it was all top-notch! As a vegan who is married to a meat eater, it's not often that we find a place that caters to both of us (it's usually me who has to take the hit). The Franklin Cafe, however, has an amazing separate vegetarian/vegan menu, as well as a menu for those who are gluten free. A lot of restaurants don't put a lot of thought into their vegetarian dishes; they usually throw together some sort of bland pasta as an afterthought, but the Franklin Cafe has put together some really creative and delicious options. It was really nice to finally be at a place where I have several options to choose from! My husband loved his meal as well. We will definitely be back! read more

Best restaurant on Cape Ann! We are very picky. We eat out alot and have tried all the restaurants around. We love great food and a great vibe. The Franklin has the best of both, in addition to the greatest service in town. Whether a chic date night, a nice family dinner with our daughter, or a cocktail at the cool bar, The Franklin is the BEST spot. Both the appetizers and the entrees are generous portions. If the tuna tartare is on the menu, order it fast. The duck mac & cheese, the calamari, the matchsticks of veggies appetizers-- all yum. On the entree side, the cod is to die for, the salmon terrific, and the steak delicious. More casually, the hamburger's great too. Save a little room for a light dessert. And, if you are into cool cocktails or a nice glass wine, The Franklin is the place to go. Great live jazz on some nights too! read more

Barely 3 stars. Hip dark cool atmosphere. Service was pretty good. Had the duck confit and the mussels appetizers. Both were really tasty. Wife had the linguini and clams, fresh pasta good flavor. Now..... the beef. Huge huge thumbs down. The person next to me got the short rib and said the meat tasted weird. I was going to order the short RIB but after hearing that i opted for the hangar steak. IT TASTED REALLY WEIRD TOO. I sent it back and got a burger to be safe. IT TASTED REALLY/BAD TOO. not sure who they get their meat from. Pretty bad. I think its hermetically sealed stuff. It reminded me of beef in a butch shop that all the meat is sealed. I'd go back. But i wont order anything beef. read more

My husband and I recently held our rehearsal dinner for our wedding at the Franklin. We could not have been happier! The service and food were excellent and the manager Maria and her staff did such a great job accommodating our large group (about 60 people.) We had our own private room and bar which was a great perk and the staff just made it so easy to host this event. I highly recommend the Franklin! read more

After the annoying surprise that Alchemy closed without notifying reservation holders, this place was extraordinary. Excellent cocktails (Moscow Mule with Bourbon Gimlet with pear vodka). Very fresh Wellfleet oysters. Creamy, chunky lobster ravioli. Surprisingly good, eclectic, and affordable wine list. Great bread pudding. Friendly, knowledgeable, attentive, and discrete wait staff. read more

We keep trying to like the restaurant, but we can't. The menu is limited for me - I eat fish and chicken, but no other meat- and the food is just okay. Prices are high for the area. The decor is tasteful: contemporary and chic. The service has been uneven - sometimes good, at other times we have waited quite a while to even place an order. We have stopped giving it a second or third try and just go to Passports instead. read more

My wife and I have been enjoying the Franklin Cape Ann almost as long as it's been in business (13 years) and it's always been our favorite restaurant on the North Shore. The others that have come close, but are much more expensive are Tryst in Beverly (now closed) and Duckworth's in Gloucester. We love the cozy ambiance and the booths in the lower level of the Franklin, and the service has always been friendly and attentive. They take reservations, they have the most interesting and subtle cocktails I've ever had, and we've NEVER experienced a disappointing meal there. Yes, the menu is smaller than some other restaurants, but there are enough choices to make everybody happy, and the ingredients are always fresh and well-prepared. Oh, and the portion size is just right. None of this Boston-nouvelle-cuisine that leaves one feeling ripped off. We ate there recently, and I had the special - braised short rib with a reduction sauce on a bed of risotto that absolutely melted in my mouth. It was the best meal I've had there in a string of superb meals. If you try the Franklin, for dessert, get the Chocolate Lava cake on vanilla bean ice cream. So good! read more

Food is very reliably good here. They don't seem to take your patronage for granted, which I appreciate. Really good meal & service the other night. Pan seared cod was delicious. Desserts really good as well. We ate in the upstairs dining room overlooking Main St. My only criticism is how dirty the windows are--detracts a bit from the ambiance. read more

Good restaurant with friendly staff. Awesome sushi starter with interesting flavor twist. Seared tuna entree made my husbands night and I had the cod dish. The dessert of limoncello gelato was amazing and the perfect finish. Main Street had several other restaurant choices we would love to check out on a future visit to the area. We were told by our inn keeper that this restaurant was a popular spot for the locals which proved correct since it was busy on a Wednesday night in late April read more

Good food, service was great. I had the Chicken Primavera and it was delicious, good size portions too. Definitely recommend!

I wish I could write two separate reviews. The food is amazing but the service it so-so. Making the review average. Reservations suggested. read more

My husband and I hosted a rehearsal dinner for our son and his wife in August. The space upstairs was perfect. Maria was professional, knowledgeable and pleasant. She answered emails promptly. Our guest commented during the dinner about how good the food was and also after, suggesting when they are back in Boston they will be going the the South End Franklin for the Hanger steak. Maria took care of every detail. It was a pleasure planning the party and we had a wonderful event. Highly recommend! read more

It's not very glam, but this is excellent food & drinks and the kitchen is open late! They also have a chic upstairs dining area and bar open on weekends and busy nights. This is truly one of the best spots on the North Shore. read more

Geez I go here a lot and I have always prided myself on never being a regular. food drinks environment.

An impressie escape. I spend most of the year in Manhattan and The Franklin is my go-to place for a cool relaxing place to unwind in Gloucester. The staff is knowledgable and down-to-earth and the food always incredible. The vibe is moody and dim but still warm and inviting. It's nice to have a place like this in Cape Ann without having to travel to major city. Well done. read more

I'm a long-time patron of the Franklin and am never ever disappointed. The food is always great, the atmosphere - music et al is great and the service impeccable. Elizabeth who is generally behind the bar, is one of the best if not THE best in terms of service, drinks, etc. Highly recommend! read more

I have to give them props. I'm not the type to eat at the same place over and over, but I find myself at The Franklin at least once a week. The service is not spectacular, but the food is very good. The menu is small (a bonus in my book), and interesting. The atmosphere works for me too. It's a little on the dark side, but it does feel nice and cozy. The Jazz trio on Friday nights is a really nice touch. read more

We were turned away from the Duckworth Bistro, because we had not left a phone number in our reservation request (never mind it was 3 hours before dinner time and said we couldn't be accessible by phone), so we cruised Gloucester, and chose the Franklin Cafe. It was dark, but one party going in and one going out both said the food was excellent. And so it was. The service was excellent and all the courses (and wine) were delicious. The evening was saved! read more

The food is excellent! We had the hanger steak and pasta primavera and both were outstanding. The restaurant is smaller- so make a reservation or be prepared to wait a little. read more

I recently moved from the city to the North Shore and have been to multiple places for Sushi, Seafood, and Sangria (my favorites). My friends had a girls night and randomly chose The Franklin for that evening because we are familiar with the one in South Boston. We started off with oysters that were the perfect size and extremely fresh. Then we did an appetizer called "Match Sticks Zucchini" and I don't even like Zucchini and it was fantastic! Then we did a few sushi rolls the "Chef Special" and the "Spicy Tuna"... AMAZING! Best sushi I've ever had! We also had a few sangrias too and I am very picky about my Sangria some places make it way too sweet and this sangria was perfect! As for the staff they were extremely personable and fun and made our girls night a success. I am now a fan of this place and can't wait to return! read more

Loved dining there. It was a great experience. Our waitress was so polite and kept us very happy. Food was great, everything was tasty. And the dessert was so gooood. I think it was named blondie or something like that. Anyway, will come back For sure. read more