Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Franklin

    4.3 (302 reviews)

    The Franklin Photos

    THE FRANKLIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Moderate noise

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Franklin

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Fresh oysters
    Jenny S.

    Made a RSVP for oysters before our dinner reservation and in hindsight we wish we stayed here for dinner instead! ---oysters: so fresh and they have happy hour oysters that were yummy! ---fish tacos: took a little time to come out but these were yummy! The hubby even enjoyed them even though he doesn't like corn tortillas If were back in town, we will have to come back and try their other dishes

    Norman C.

    I came here with my friend for happy hour oysters on a Sunday afternoon. Their HH oysters are $2 a piece and quality was decent. My only complaint (as well as my friend's) is that when they shucked the oysters, they didn't remove the bottom attachment of oyster itself. We also got the fries as they were highly recommended to me. Decent fries with dipping sauce! Definitely a nice spot and would be interested in trying their other menu selections in the future.

    Peach Pound Cake Dessert
    Dillon T.

    I love coming to The Franklin. A nice small space with attentive service. I regularly get the raw oysters. They have a $2 shuck happy hour from 4p-6p. Hot food is great, pricey for portions but commiserate with all the other "bougie" Portsmouth restaurants. Pictured in this review is the steak and the broccoli app. Very tasty very good. We also got the dessert special which was a peach pound cake and that was perfect.

    Chicken and Waffles
    Dave D.

    This spot is a must try when in Portsmouth. The staff is incredible, everyone I had an interaction with was welcoming and friendly. Waters were being filled up without asking by time you got to a half glass. Everyone was on point. Drinks- Tamarind Margarita was good but then I got a spicy margarita that hit the spot, made with homemade Ghost pepper tincture, just right. Zack was a great. The food was amazing. I've added pictures for an idea but it was very tasty. I had the Flat Iron steak with Purple potato Puree, fresh mushrooms sourced locally, broccoli, carrots. My buddy had the Chicken and waffles and they may have been the best chicken and waffles I've tried. The Franklin Fries were sooo good. If you don't stop by, you're missing out!

    Oysters
    Daniel O.

    Came in just for the Oysters. I'm from Texas so couldn't help myself. Great service and atmosphere. Highly recommend for the delicious Oysters

    Stacey H.

    Wandering through Portsmouth and noticed the mellow and tasteful vibes of the Franklin, we stopped in for some "shuckers dozen" locally sourced oysters (fantastic) and their famous "Franklin Fries". These were incredible and makes sense why they caveat with "while supplies last" as I'd imagine they sell out quick- for good reason! Their restaurant week menu looked amazing- will definitely return (with an appetite beyond appetizers)!

    Happy Hour Oysters
    Emi H.

    Excellent service and quality food! Reservation is a must. You can make reservations through their website https://franklinrestaurant.com. They do $1.25 oysters everyday from 4-6pm. I originally heard about this place from friends who said this place has amazing fries. I was skeptical at first. What could be so special about fries? Since I was going there for their oyster happy hour anyways, I decided to try it out and wow, I was impressed! The Franklin Fries were cut in thick long batons, crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. They tasted great on their own but even better with the two sauces that they came with: sriracha aioli and malt vinegar aioli. This is a must get when you come here! As for the oysters, they had 3 selections for happy hour: Pirates Cove, Pleasure Bay, Wellfleet (I'm sure these selections would change depending on when you go). We ordered 8 of each and we liked Wellfleet the best. Everything was shucked and cleaned pretty well. They even offer horseradish with the oysters. Overall, I had an enjoyable experience. I would definitely go back to try some of their other dishes.

    Nicole F.

    Such a cute historical little restaurant. Definitely take advantage of their happy hour! 3 Rotating Oysters for $1.50 each, pair it with their $5 bubbly or featured cocktail. Always a good time and great selection at this place. My favorite oysters are the sunken meadow oysters from Eastham, MA!

    $2 happy hour oysters

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Meghan B.

    Meghan B.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenny S.
    2235
    2994
    10355

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Meghan B.

    Meghan B.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E. L.
    1
    21
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave D.
    2
    40
    92

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Thanks, Daniel! Hope you enjoyed your time here in Portsmouth.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E A.
    26
    383
    11

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C B.
    0
    8
    4

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick C.
    31
    92
    63

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Curtis M.
    300
    54
    7

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeff B.
    0
    66
    56

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Drew D.
    0
    42
    20

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wayne M.
    149
    20
    19

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marc B.
    420
    483
    3296

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Wow, thanks so much!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K E.
    0
    299
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Incredibly fresh & delicious food, good quality of service. Atmosphere was also nice.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jerry A.
    0
    120
    61

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lauren B.

    Lauren B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 8

    The Franklin Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Franklin

    What time is the happy hour? Coming into town from Atlanta tomorrow and hoping to snag some delicious oysters.

    Wednesday-Sunday 4:00 - 6:00 pm

    Hi, is this a kid friendly place? I have a 4 year old and I am struggling if I should bring her with us.

    I am going to agree with Ralph. Can you? Sure you can bring her. Should you? She may get bored rather quick and hopefully she has a good palate.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Moxy - Whoopie Pie Sliders

    Moxy

    4.1(471 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We made a same-day reservation at Moxy, not knowing it was restaurant week. The interior was cozy…read moreand colorful, and we were seated in the upstairs area, so we had a balcony view of the bar. For drinks, I got a glass of Malbec (which was very nice), but they also had many enticing cocktails and mocktails. The restaurant week menu consisted of 4 pre-fixe courses. For the first course, I chose the Salmon Tartare, which was fresh and tasty. It wasn't very salty, which I appreciated. I also tried my friend's carrot soup, which had a nice creamy texture with crunchy peas for contrast. For the second course, I chose the Mushroom Labneh. This one was awesome! Next was the Chicken Thigh, which was so juicy and paired well with the garlic sour cream. I also loved my dessert - Griddled Corn Muffins with wild blueberry compote. Service was friendly and seamless, and we left full and happy. Highly recommend for dinner!

    Restaurant Week in Portsmouth was the perfect opportunity to try out Moxy. Plus an added bonus of…read more$42 for a 4-course meal made it more interesting. We found street parking close to the restaurant so that was great while paying close attention to the fact that street parking is not free in the area until 8 pm. I made a reservation and we were seated right away after we entered the restaurant. Our table was situated on the first floor so the area was small but we had enough space between table to have a private conversation. I started out with salmon tartare and it was my least favorite of all. I found the pita to taste somewhat stale and I ended up not eating it. Salmon was good but I did not find that cream cheese added to the dish. It might be a matter of personal preference but I wished I started out with something else from the menu. My shrimp scampi was delicious and I would come back for this dish. Pasta and sauce were great and shrimp were a nice size. I then went with the beef stew. I found the pastry to be somewhat salty but it balanced with the stew that was slightly underseasoned. Maybe it was intended to be that way. It was a decent dish overall. I loved the strawberry panna cotta. Their rhubarb chutney was beautiful and the dish was a great way to end my meal. I would come back to this restaurant in the future to try out their regular menu.

    Photos
    Moxy - Inside

    Inside

    Moxy - Salmon tartare

    Salmon tartare

    Moxy - Moxy Bread

    See all

    Moxy Bread

    Cava

    Cava

    4.3(427 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    I honestly am not sure where to start and end with my wife and l anniversary dinner at Cava this…read moreevening. My wife and I have close to or more than 1000 dining experiences in our time together. If Cava wasn't the best overall, it was an extremely close second. Our server Dan was awesome from start to finish. On point, Attentive, professional, and exceeded expectations on every level. Cava is a very intimate dining experience with a warm comfortable indoor and outdoor seating option. It is also very practical as a stop before going to the Music Hall, an important date or like us an anniversary. Cava is unlike many of the places we have visited over the years in the food category. Every course was exceptionally prepared, thoroughly thought out and professionally executed with excellent plating. I won't go into detail on every dish but suffice it to say there was enjoyment with every mouthful of every course. I ordered: Espresso Martini An Italian Pinot Grigio (with dinner) We shared the charcuterie plate First course - Mussels Second Course - Italian Meatball dish Third Course - Braised Flank Steak Fourth Course - Torte My wife ordered: A wonderful Rum with blackberry cocktail An Italian Pinot Grigio(with dinner) First Course- Warm Potato Soup Second Course- Stuffed and wrapped dates Third Course- Shrimp with Polenta Fourth Course- Blueberry Cheesecake

    Located in a cute alleyway of Portsmith New Hampshire. Definitely grab a table out on the patio to…read moreenjoy the fresh air and ambience. I would recommend making reservations. We snagged a last-minute reservations and had the chefs tasting menu. We enjoyed everything!

    Photos
    Cava - Downstairs bar

    Downstairs bar

    Cava - Basque-style cheesecake

    Basque-style cheesecake

    Cava - August 2025 cocktail

    See all

    August 2025 cocktail

    La Maison Navarre - Blackberry sapphire

    La Maison Navarre

    4.5(405 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    It was such a warm and welcoming atmosphere on a cold winter morning. Pastries looked amazing and…read moreall the packaged goods on the shelves were authentic and well sourced. The delightful scent of coffee was in the air and the staff were absolutely friendly as you approached the counter. Despite a buzz of patrons trickling in and ordering, the coffee was delivered to the table shortly after I sat. The staff obviously had a strong momentum going as I watched other tables being served just as quickly. Before I could even really start sipping on my piping hot Cafe Au Lait, I was served my salad and crepe. It was fun to watch how each person worked their station passionately. The lady preparing the crepes meticulously cleaned her station as she cooked. The staff on coffee were brewing away and sending cups out to diners. Other items were coming out from the back kitchen. They worked in unison like a well oiled machine. I definitely enjoyed my coffee. My salad was generous and hit the spot. The crepe was acceptable. Would I come back? Yeah, definitely my type of breakfast spot when visiting Portsmouth again. I definitely will try their croissants next time as well as check out their wine bar in the evenings!

    While in the area and looking for a sweet treat. We came across. MN. We had 2 options. We could…read morestand in line and order and sit in the general seating. Area or opt for service at the wine bar, we chose to seat ourselves at the bar after we placed our order. There was a line when we arrived. But service was very efficient, and we were quickly helped. There was a wait for our beverages. However it was well worth it. My mother was looking for a standard drip coffee and due to none being available.An excellent option of an americano was offered and she fell in love with it immediately. The deserts were also very well crafted and had excellent flavor. Definitely a place to stop. Relax people watch and enjoy a little treat with some great coffee options.

    Photos
    La Maison Navarre - Spacious

    Spacious

    La Maison Navarre - Fall pastries collection

    Fall pastries collection

    La Maison Navarre - Sugar & Lemon Crepe

    See all

    Sugar & Lemon Crepe

    N To Tail - date night KBBQ set

    N To Tail

    4.1(233 reviews)
    47.5 miOld Port
    $$$

    We always love eating at N To Tail. Living in Los Angeles for a long time cannot fool me if this is…read morea great Korean restaurant or not. But I was surprised how delicious and authentic their Korean dishes were. They were all delicious and very tasty. We love everything on their menu. This is our go to Korean Restaurant. The ambience and staff were amazing and knowledgeable. We love this restaurant. We hope that they start serving Korean BBQ Galbi Beef on a bed of sizzling plate with onion like the famous BCD Korean Restaurant in Los Angeles. Yummy!

    I was caught off guard yesterday. We decided to go into Portland since we had guest in town…read more They're a big fan of KBBQ and so am I. We were really excited to try this spot out and chow down on a bunch of meat. We came in at 5pm and waited to be seated. The host said table for 4? I said yes. He said okay and was about to guide us but then I said oh and 2 babies. His reaction, ohhhh I don't we can accommodate your party here, sorry. I was caught off guard since I've never been to a restaurant that turned people away. I'm assuming kids/babies aren't welcomed here? There were plenty of large tables available in the front where the host stand was. I could count 4 tables on my way in, 1 or 2 of them larger tables. We were open to the grill tops or regular tables but he didn't ask us. I guess if you have kids, save the hassle and dine elsewhere. We ended up at Highrollers for the evening.

    Photos
    N To Tail - Inside area

    Inside area

    N To Tail - $11 dumps

    $11 dumps

    N To Tail - Entrées

    See all

    Entrées

    Evo - chickpea fries

    Evo

    4.5(463 reviews)
    47.4 miOld Port
    $$$

    Upscale dining with a genuinely reasonable price tag - especially when it comes to the Evo…read moreexperience/chef's tasting. Worth every penny, we left absolutely stuffed. The menu experience was smaller/limited options but offered "greatest hits" so that you didn't miss out on the overall experience. With seats right up at the counter and in perfect view of the kitchen, the team whipped out a coursed/well-timed menu. We enjoyed the chickpea fries, spread + breads, moroccan carrots, falafel, halloumi and to top it all off, the lamb ribs. It was so aggressive in the best way possible. The cocktail menu is fun, inventive and pairs well with most of the dishes. Their NA drinks were thankfully, not boring either. The only drawback for me here is the counter-top/high-top dining experience is the only available seating option unless you're participating in the upstairs private area. The restaurant is clearly very sleek and modern, but I felt like it took away from the experience of making this particularly special. Would recommend this restaurant for 2 people - hard to enjoy with a larger group!

    Fantastic restaurant. Service and food all excellent. We all really enjoyed our visit here. It is…read moretapas style. We ordered 12 dishes for a group of 5. Chickpea fries were the #1 highlight for everyone. I also really like the Halloumi and Moroccan carrots. Highly recommend. Gets busy, make a reservation. Food tips: Chickpea fries are a must Drink tips: Basil Martini

    Photos
    Evo
    Evo - Challah

    Challah

    Evo - Seared Halloumi

    See all

    Seared Halloumi

    The Franklin - seafood - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...