The Franklin Grill
32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, MI, 48025
The Franklin Grill Menu
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Address :
32760 Franklin Rd
Franklin, MI, 48025 - Phone (248) 865-6600
- Website https://www.thefranklingrill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Valet, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Mark H.
Great food, great atmosphere and great people. I'll be coming back agan.
(5)Michelle M.
Franklin Grill reminds me of home - the horse drawn carriages in the fall, the Cider Mill, and the inherent friendliness of metro Detroit. The staff is really friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Granted it doesn't get too inventive/crazy here, but that's not the point. Its a great neighborhood spot to hang out with family and friends and catch up. Anything you get will be good!
(4)Michael K.
Nice small bar and restaurant. It was about half full when we were there, and the sound level was okay, we could have a conversation without having to shout. The trout pate was really good, as was the meat loaf. My company who had the burgers liked them, and the Spaghetti Bolognaise was very rich and delicious. Service is friendly and quick, we didn't have to wait long for the food. The selection of vegetarian food wasn't that good - a risotto was all I could find. Not a bad place for a casual dinner with friends or family.
(4)Amanda A.
I like the space here, and I would suggest coming for drinks and maybe split a few apps on the patio. Also don't come here if you are in a hurry. I felt that our server would disappear for long periods of time. And it would take quite awhile to get drinks. Steven ordered the lamp chops rare, they brought it out and said they tried their best to cook it rare but that's as good as they could do. It was so off. The meat was really dry too. I ordered chicken carbonara and the chicken was nothing special and was really dry as well. Needless to say I wasn't interested in trying dessert. I gave it 2 stars for the ambience and the outdoor seating.
(2)Morris N.
The ambiance was nice. Decent selection of wine and beer. The service wasn't bad. On weekdays, the dinner rush seemed to be around 6:30-8. If you come during that time, there might be a wait. The dining room is not huge. They have a bar too with about 10 seats. I had the Asian shrimp entree which was ok. My fellow diners had the lamb chops and filet. Both said it was real good. Although I wasn't too impressed with my entree, I would dine here again and try something else. Expect to pay a 25-30 for entrees.
(3)Judy M.
Do not expect a good meal, or ambiance or good service. Thumbs down. Bad muzak, a TV in the dining room(What ??), a Matron D running around trying to do things, obviously the joint is run on a shoestring. Food mediocre. Drink OK. The place blows what can I say!
(1)doug r.
My new outdoor patio dining favorite. A wonderful brick patio w/tree canopy and obscured from the roads. Carol was our server. She was knowledgeable, prompt and attentive. The wine & margarita pours were generous and the drinks were very good. My filet was ~8 oz and cooked precisely as ordered; medium rare. My wife was very happy with her herb (half) chicken. Veggie sides were properly prepared. All food was served hot. Calamari appetizer was good. WiFi? Yes. But do not use it for anything requiring a login CCW friendly? Yes, if you are not drinking alcohol. Reservations; while not strictly required ... are essentially required. Otherwise, you're gonna have a lengthy wait. Price? Appetizer to share. Dinner for two. Two drinks for two. $110 before tip. Will we return? Yes.
(5)Andy P.
This place is not for me. It was obviously under-staffed when we went in for a quick dinner. There were several tables open...yet the hostess was running around like crazy. She kept telling us "just a second, just a second" After 10 minutes of waiting, we decided to walk out. The hostess got very upset...told us it would "just be a minute" . When I responded that i didn't want to wait anymore she yelled at me...told me how hard she was working and wagged her finger in my face and told me how rude and impatient i was. Excuse me for expecting to sit down at an open table...when the place was half full. We walked out...I for one won't be back.
(2)Noelle V.
This place is cozy inside. Great service and great food. My husband and I visited on labor day and they closed at 4pm. We came in at 3:30 and the hostess told us they were closing soon but we still could order. We ordered and enjoyed every bite. We had curry chicken salad. The staff didn't rush us at all to leave. We even had dessert (chocolate bread pudding) and coffee... Loved it. We're definitely going back.
(5)Richard R.
THE FRANKLIN GRILL. I had an opportunity to eat at this boutique restaurant this weekend. I live very near by and I was very surprised that even though I drive by it all the time I have never gone in. I did this weekend. I found the total experience very delightful. The restaurant is very soft inside. Very personal and a neighborhood restaurant. The staff was very update and cool. The bartender was exceptional and welcoming. He also knew his stuff. I ordered an excellent glass of red wine. I ordered dinner. The menu is very open to many choices. Meet fish pasta etc. Everything was excellent. I was very impressed overall with the restaurant. Very nice place to go have dinner. If you wish a personal quaint privately owned restaurant to go, this is the place. Franklin has a lot of character and this restaurant does also. Whether you are a foodie or on a date or both, very positive experience. Richard C. Rollins
(4)Cass Y.
I am reviewing based on my second visit to Franklin Grill. The first and second visits cannot be compared. Both were entirely different yet both were impressive. On my first visit, I was there for a private event on the 2nd floor. It was a buffet style setup with an assortment of items that are not typically found on the menu. If you're planning a private event at Franklin and aren't sold on the menu offerings be sure to ask for additional options and/or a special menu. On my second visit, I enjoyed dinner at the bar. I started with a few happy hour items as well as a local Michigan beer. I also had the calamari and chicken carbonara. I was blown away by everything that evening. There service was outstanding. I'll definitely continue to be a returning patron!
(4)Sarah H.
We went here for a work celebration and had a great time. The upstairs is charming but a little chilly in the winter. They have good specials and the soup and sandwich combinations are great. I had the black bean soup with veggie sandwich which was very good and one of my friends had the French onion and sweet potato fries. Friendly service, wasn't the fastest,but we had about eight or ten people.
(4)Mike B.
I went to the Franklin Grill this past Saturday at 7:30 Pm with my friend. Walked in and the resturant was half full of people and most of the tables were empty. We were told immediately and very rudely by the hostess that everyone of the tables has reservations. The resturant was literally half empty and she didn't offer us to wait or anything. She just then blankly staired at us then we left. We were treated awfully and rude and she didn't offer us to sit at the bar or anything...it was like she didn't want us in there. i believe she didn't like how my friend had a tank top on, but it wasn't a under shirt but a nicer shirt. Manager outside tried to give us a table out side but i reminded him that she told us they were full but he said they were not full. I've eaten here before but won't again after this terrible customer service.
(2)Doug j.
I just had a very comforting evening at the Franklin Grill. It could be one of the warmest restaurants I've been to in quite a while. I came at happy hour and had the Chicken Satay that was intensely flavorful with all the ingredients spot on. Patrick could not have been more helpful as I went for the Chicken Carbonara. This is a dish you must have as it reflects the warmth of the restaurant. A great eating experience not to be missed
(5)Alyson H.
Went here for a large work outing. Very pleased with the service, food, and atmosphere. The bartender is great too! Each of the attendees ate something different for dinner so we could all try each other's, and then split dessert. There's not one item anyone complained about.
(5)Joe B.
This place was really quaint...it reminded me of the Prancing Pony from the Hobbit, inside. LOL. Dimly lit and a rustic cabin type feel, sort of. Tables can be a little cramped but service was tip top! Let me say that again....service was legit and I felt taken care of here. I've had this place bookmarked for some time now and I was really excited to try it. We started with a small basket of rolls and butter. They were crispy and flaky and yum. Onto the calamari app with sweet peppers and onions and a creamy dipping sauce. The calamari was really tender which I appreciate but the fry on them was too light and they didn't brown at all making them overly oily and a little soggy. The dipping sauce was vibrant but a little too sour for my liking. We did eat the entire plate though and rest assured it was tasty but a few more peppers would've been nice. Next I tried the Tomato Basil soup. It was FANTASTIC! I highly recommend it. It was simple, creamy and had flecks of ground pepper and strings of fresh basil running throughout. I would eat this daily if I could. It was as good as my own. For my entrée I was torn between the Veggie Risotto, the filet and the lamb chops. I asked the server to surprise me and he brought the lamb. Three lollipop chops with the bones nicely frenched and cooked, perhaps a tad under the requested temp, but still perfection in flavor and execution. The cherry reduction was nice but didn't offer a lot of cherry flavor. I still mopped it up with the one remaining roll. My plate was spotless when it was removed, BTW. The mashed potatoes the chops sat on top of were really light and fluffy and they were delicious. The baby spinach was pretty standard but at least it wasn't overcooked. I also tried the perch special my friend ordered. It was a solid special and even though I'm not a fan of cooked fish I would've enjoyed it. My girl had the veggie risotto. Yikes!!! Gordon Ramsey would've had words! It was too al dente and it was not creamy or loose. The flavor was lax and that's being politely generous. It was served in an acorn squash which didn't really add to its allure. The chicken she had ordered to accompany the plate had a nice flavor and grill to the outside but it was really dry and thin. I have to admit that I ate quite a bit once she was done but it was a really bad rendition...sorry to be harsh but it was! Onto dessert. The three of us split the Crème Brulee and a slice of apple pie. The crème brulee was money. A perfect consistency and texture with the perfect amount of sweetness coupled with a great vanilla flavor and brulee presentation. The apple pie however, was a big disappointment for me. I should mention that they didn't skimp on the slice...it was gigantic! The topping was a little soggy but it was the best part of the pie with flavors of cinnamon and allspice and plenty of brown sugariness. The apple filling though, was starchy and had a savory flavor that I'm pretty sure was Rosemary. If you're going to tinker with apple pie you need to tell people before they order it. I didn't like it...and the apples themselves were way undercooked. The vanilla bean ice cream that accompanied was good though. Our tab was $175...subtract the cost of the wine at $34 and we're at around $140 for the meal. Sorry to say but it just wasn't worth the expense for a poorly attempted risotto, three small lamb chops and the perch. The best thing I had was the soup followed by the crème brullee, followed by the rolls. For all intents and purposes I wanted to love this place and it should've tee'd up just fine but it fell really short, the bill aside. That said, I would give them another shot because this place seems hit or miss but has a ton of promise as shown by the menu and staff.
(2)Erin M.
Not good! I came here for lunch and it was rough from the get-go. Our waitress was slow to come to the table and it took quite a while to get our drinks. The iced tea tasted bad, and the waitress mentioned they use well water for the beverages. We started with the artichoke hearts appetizer which was completely lacking in any flavor at all. They were soggy and not seasoned. There were only a few flakes of parmesan cheese on the plate and the "lemon aioli" just tasted like an unpalatable sour mayonnaise. As we were talking a waitress came and took the plate away without asking if we were even finished (there was still some left), which I found rather odd. The person I was dining with and I each got the chicken panini. It was lackluster at best; I could certainly make an equally good if not better panini at home. The sandwich came with chips, which I could have sworn were just ruffles potato chips that they re-fried. Some were burnt, others were soggy, all of them were bad. I thought that was the extent of the bad dining experience, but later on in the day both the person that I had lunch with and I got EXTREMELY sick. The only thing in common that we both ate was our lunch at The Franklin Grill and I'm pretty confident that's what it was. Between the terrible lunch and the food poisoning I will most definitely NOT be returning here!
(1)Corey B.
If you come for dinner and don't order the Pow Pow Shrimp appetizer, you're cheating yourself out of an incredible start to your meal.
(5)Adam B.
Another great meal with friends. The menu is great with amazing specials. The bartender makes everyone feel like they belong and is very friendly. The restaurant is small and can get crowded at high dining moments.
(4)Alex K.
Very nice atmosphere. Excellent deals on happy hour apps. Spicy Thai wings for 3 bucks! Good selection of local beers. Bar top seating is comfortable and open. Nice surrounding area, good for a short walk in downtown franklin after your meal. Pasta is all made from scratch! Definitely recommend!
(4)Susan V.
I recently moved back from California and my neighbor recommended this wonderful restaurant. The first time I came with a friend. Both of our lunches were delicious. We ordered the half sandwich and soup combo. Yummy! Fresh ingredients. Tasty soups, there is always a daily special soup. The sandwiches were the perfect size. The entire lunch was great! I returned this evening with my husband, "date night ". We both ordered filets- cooked to perfection. Every bite was better than the last- the meat melted in your mouth. Along with mashed potatoes and asparagus our meal was complete. The Franklin Grill has turned into one of my favorites.
(5)Derek D.
Great place and atmosphere for an outdoor summer sit. Fresh seafood keeps me coming back and I recommend you lean on bartender Patrick for wine suggestions. My favorite appetizer on the menu is the crab cakes. Those things really work. I ordered the seared salmon salad tonight and it's great. Get the dressing on the side, order some lemons and enjoy. Place is a low key gem in the low key "downtown" area of Franklin Village.
(4)Kirsten G.
I LOVE the Franklin Grill! And it doesn't hurt that it's steps away from my house :) The new outdoor patio makes it even better. I've dined here many times and have always left will a yummy full belly and happy with the outstanding service I receive. They also have a great happy hour (4-6 M-F) at the bar. Their bar is small, but you can call ahead and they'll save you a seat!
(5)Thea W.
Visit to the hometown & first time to Franklin Grill based on Yelp reviews. Plenty of parking and quaint, New England feel -- especially in the Fall. Hubby is from Texas and was first to say the temp of the filet was perfect. My lamb chops were also on temp, try the cherry sauce. Artichoke app was light yet tasty. Bread pudding, perfection. Most importantly, the staff was kind and accommodating. Tables were full so we sat at the bar to wait. We were so comfy that we stayed. The bartender Patrick was friendly and hardworking. Loved the bar selection, including the bottle of Walnut City from Willamette. Can I say more? It was a pleasant first impression for the area I grew up near but hadn't seen in 20 yrs. Two thumbs up.
(5)Randy G.
After driving past this place several times while going through the cute tiny downtown of Franklin, it was time to try it. They have have nice patio in the back to enjoy the afternoon or evening outside. I tried their Salmon Salad, since I was in the mood for a dish on the lighter side. It had fresh greens and surprised by the inclusion of asparagus. It gave it a nice touch in flavor and crunch. I usually order the dressing on the side, but neglected to ask. I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled to find they only placed a nice thin drizzle of dressing. The lettuce was not swimming in it. The dressing had a nice flavor and the salad also included roasted walnuts for that crunchy texture. The disappointing element was the fish-stick looking pieces of salmon. The way its cut, I would swear they were fish-sticks. Fine, as long as it taste better than my childhood fish-sticks. Well, if the salmon were seasoned, I would accept its poor looks. It just wasn't flavorful. It was bland fishy salmon flavor. Thank goodness for the tasty dressing to help the fish, it couldn't stand alone. The salmon would have received two stars independently, but the rest of the elements helped it barely reach three stars.
(3)Stuart T.
Have been there several times for lunch. The food and service are always good. Very nice place and atmosphere.
(4)Andrew H.
My parents had said they had a great experience here earlier, and so I decided to check it out. I left pretty underwhelmed and probably will not return or recommend it unless in some dire situation. The building is quite lovely and very fitting for Franklin, but I found it really sad that they have a couple giant flatscreen TVs playing the baseball game. It's just not the place for that. They had a nice wine and beer menu. I had the Franklin Salad (substituted blue for goat cheese) and it was great, but was disappointed with my salmon. Mashed sweet potatoes and asparagus were somewhat cold, as was the sauce they paired with it. For dessert I had a flourless chocolate cake that would have been great were it not served at an awkward room temperature. It was clearly reheated, but not enough. Serving hot or room temperature is more preferred.
(3)Rebecca B.
I agree with the others. It is strange. Everything seems like it would tee up - the menu looks good, the atmosphere is pleasant and the service... well alright that is hit or miss. But overall you arrive thinking YUM!!! and leave thinking ehhhh? There isn't anything in particular that I hated. The food was alright, but maybe overpriced. The service was pleasant, but not overly efficient. I guess what I am saying is every possible positive point is offset with a negative. I (like Richard) think you could find a better meal minutes away, and it is worth the drive to go elsewhere.
(2)Dawn H.
The Grill is an exceptional place for a great atmosphere and food. You will not be disappointed. Everything I have ordered has been "fine dining" quality and the staff treats you like family.
(5)C C.
Our group of around 20 people arrived for dinner and we were seated in the upper level. It is a very nice area and is away from the noisier main floor bar level. Group appetizers were ordered and were enjoyed along with drinks. The trout pate had just enough trout flavor and seasoning, however the calamari was found to be a bit salty for some. Our waiter was very professional and yet friendly and helpfull in explaining the menu choices. 5 stars to him! Considering the size of our group, the entrees arrived in a reasonable amount of time and were generally hot, or at least more than just warm. The overall opinions of the food were favorable. The 1/2 chicken dinners were moist with crispy skin, but even though the dark meat showed no signs of pink, it could have been cook a bit more for it was still clinging too much to the bone. The gravy showed signs of separation. The cooked veggies were very well prepared. Although not over the top in its preparation, the risotto with also good and having a blend of spinach was a nice touch. The rice has a good blend of seasoning, but the squash, although enjoyed, had an unusual slightly bitter aftertaste. The asparagus was over cooked. Other reviews commented on under cooked asparagus and I don't know what they were served, but it should bend just a bit and not fall completely limp, which makes it mushy with no texture. The salmon and walleye dishes were also liked, with just one person saying that the walleye was a bit dry. Also liked was the meat loaf dinner. The burger too, was tasteful and having fresh prepared fries is always a prefered touch, however the size of the cut potatoes would be better if it were thicker. The nearly shoestring cut does not allow for the fries to cook long enough to be crisp and yet not dry. Also, being so thin makes for a lot of surface area that absorbs far too much grease, and the fries were limp and greasy. In conclusion, the food was good but nothing was 5 star quality. With the price of an entree, plus that of a non-included side salad and/or soup, and a beverage, the price easily climbs to $30 and as high as $45 or more, per person. For that price range, the food does not measure up to what one is paying for. I would recommend giving it a try for having a nice, yet pricey meal.
(3)Clara H.
Went to the Franklin grill on a Saturday night. Sat outdoors and got bit by mosquitoes. Ordered calamari and crab cakes for apps. The calamari was ok but the crabs cakes were great! I ordered the salmon and it was delicious. It came with mashed sweet potatoes and a raspberry walnut sauce with 2 half way cooked asparagus. It's was great but I wish my asparagus was cooked more. My husband ordered the Crispy shrimp and that was ok. Over all we would definitely go there again to try the different things on the menu but would definitely sit indoors! Great wait staff and fast service :)
(4)Jarrod And Heather D.
Patrick the bartender is amazing!! Great atmosphere and people. A gem in the area. Thank you again Patrick for the hospitality!!!
(5)Kelly S.
My mom and I were out exploring new areas in our region when we stumbled upon Franklin Road. The end of the road leads to a Cider Mill which we would have loved to have visited but the lines to get in were too long. Just before the cider mill on Franklin Road (near 14 mile) there are some quaint shops. Mom and I worked up an appetite looking at all the gift and resale shops so we walked down Franklin Road to the Franklin Grill & Tavern. The atmosphere was clean, cozy and quaint. The servers were very kind, efficient and pleasant. The cooks really knew their stuff as our food was fresh, hot and delicious. Our salads were fresh, chilled and very good. It was so convenient to be able to eat in this cute little town. There were a number of small, quaint shops and various villiage necessities such as a P.O. and law offices but we didn't notice any other eateries so we appreciated the fact that we could shop and walk to this restaurant. I tried the Fried Asparagus, there was a light batter on fresh asparagus which is flash fried. No heavy coating or grease to endure. They were served piping hot with a spicy aioli dipping sauce. The dipping sauce was very tasty but I preferred dipping them in the creamy ranch dressing that they serve with the salads. For $6.00 we received a large 'pile' fried asparagus. Simply put, they were delicious!
(4)Nickie P.
We went there for Mother's Day brunch, and the food was disappointingly mediocre. I don't think brunch is their thing. My feelings on the service were mixed...it was so nice of them to accommodate our super large party, and to allow us to use the projector to show a movie. However, one of the waitresses we had was completely frazzled the entire time, and was a bit rude. I will admit though, we were a very large party and there were little kids running and screaming everywhere, so I'll chalk it up to that. Because of the presentation capability, I would recommend Franklin Grill for business luncheons, or other special occasions. However, if I ever make it back there I'm going to avoid brunch and try the burger instead!
(3)Richard F.
It is a shame that with so few (like maybe just this one) places to eat in Franklin that this place disapoints. When they first opened, it was better. But now the food is just so-so and the prices are high. The craziest thing is that the water, well water I would think, by the taste, is horrible. I'd say that Breakfast is the best meal to get here, but I can think of better places to go. Franklin Grill, please try harder.
(2)Pat M.
Still love the Franklin Grill. Yes this place is like Cheers - I say hello to Patrick the Bartender every time I walk in. The food is always great and is interesting. Not inexpensive but the food and ambiance is worth it for me.
(5)Melanie N.
First, let me say that the quaint little town of Franklin is a hidden gem. It's absolutely beautiful. The Franklin Grill is adorable from the outside. It has so much charm when you first pull up to it. Ample parking area in the back and a gorgeous outdoor patio along the side of the restaurant. That being said, the inside of the restaurant is divided into two sections and it's a bit cramped but what do you expect from a historical building? The reason I gave this only two stars is that the food and the drinks are both bland, boring, bleh. I had the french onion soup, the house salad, and the salmon with mashed sweet potatoes and fresh asparagus. Campbell's canned soup has more flavor...the house salad had so much wilted greenery in it I took about four bites and put my fork down. Yuck. The dressing was also really awful...it just tasted like something you'd pour straight from a bottle. This place claims to use fresh local ingredients and nothing about that salad seemed fresh to me. The salmon was ok - not seasoned at all but not dry. The mashed sweet potatoes were ok - again not seasoned at all and just "meh". The asparagus was very stringy and tough - almost raw but whatever...there were only two stalks on my plate anyhow. I ordered a gin and soda and received a gin and tonic...just a minor mistake...really not a big deal. They corrected it and my drink was so-so. How do you screw up a gin and soda? I'm just at a loss. I won't be making an effort to go there again. It's a shame...they could have something really special if some effort were put into the menu.
(2)Jen Z.
Good happy hour menu: $5 drinks, $3 apps. From the regular menu, the kitchen pulls its weight on the American items, but the ambiance and service don't match the price. After a trip to the cider mill, we checked out the menu online, and the salmon with cider sauce seemed like a perfect pairing with the day's activities. With plates at $17-32 we expected a polished restaurant. We headed over around 5:30pm to find only 4 customers, dingy decorations, jam-packed furniture, and way-underdressed clientelle. Perhaps the casual customers were just there for the cheap happy hour? The salmon was in fact delish, and my friend loved their vegetarian paella. The paella did have good flavor, but it was hard to wrap my head around such untraditional paella (vegetarian and prepared by-the-plate). TIP: Carry out, or just go for the happy hour menu.
(3)Kyle K.
Really cute place in the wonderful village of Franklin. This would be a wonderful neighborhood spot Would very much like to say that the food is great. However, can't say that. Had lunch there today. My wife had the tuna salad with fruit. I had cup of bean soup and chicken salad with fruit. The fruit was terrific. The soup, tuna salad, and chicken salad were bland and boring. We checked out the dinner menu in hopes that we might find something interesting but no such luck--just the usual stuff. Hope they continue to be in business while improving the fare. But there are at least a half dozen spots in the area with more imaginative and tasty options for us to enjoy
(2)Angie F.
Make sure you sit at the "BAR" if you want the happy hour prices! My friends and I decided to try the place out on our way to a concert because of the happy hour pricing. The tall hostess was very rude but our waiter was friendly. However, despite being very chatty the question of "is this your first time here" never came up and handed us the "menu". We proceeded to order 4-5 appetizers and several cocktails thinking they were all half off. Well of course when the bill arrived everything was full price. When we questioned the charges we were told "oh you have to sit at the bar for that" and "if you wanted that it's a "separate menu". Mind you this place is extremely small, no more than 15 tables and the bar was about 5 feet from where we were sitting (and empty when we arrived). We did ask to speak to the manager who was extremely harsh (no doubt has had this issue before) and mentioned the website does mention the bar and they go out of their way to make sure people know that (of we must just be really stupid). When I mentioned the fact I'm pretty sure it was obvious we were trying to take advantage of the happy hour pricing by only ordering appetizers, she fired back "well at this time of day that's what a lot of people do" and "it's a totally separate menu for happy hour anyway". I responded that funny how if it's true that they go out of their way to make sure patrons are aware of the policy of happy hour at the "bar only" and "it's a separate menu" why isn't the happy hour menu posted on their website with their other menus? She graciously offered to take a whole $1 off our drinks which too me was very insulting. I found this place charming and the food was good (however extremely over priced) but I will never return. There are way too many other cute places for them to pull the old "bait and switch". I'm confident this wasn't the first time the happy hour pricing was an issue and I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone!!!
(1)Brooke M.
I was here for lunch and loved the place. Such a cute, historic building. The food was delicious and the service right on point. I will definetly be back. Oh, and the cider mill right across the street is a huge plus.
(5)Heather L.
I love Franklin Grill as a meetup place for drinks and maybe apps with friends. Last night was the first time I actually planned to have a meal there and was really disappointed. Our server was very friendly and forthcoming with recommendations and upon her recommendation I ordered the Exotic mushroom & Halloumi Cheese salad. First off I am a lover of the shrooms but there were hardly any in the salad and the few that were in there were soggy and the halloumi was rubbery. The salad was mostly spring greans, which the menu description did not imply. When the waitress saw that I had only eaten a small portion of the salad she asked me if I wanted to box it and I told her no and that is was really disappointing. Her response was that "oh, most people really like it" and that was that....I will continue to go here for drinks but will not eat dinner here again.
(3)Judi D.
I recently dined here and had the Panzanella salad. I'd seen it on cooking shows and this was nothing like those recipes. It really should have been called spinach salad. There were some tomatoes and the goat cheese was a nice touch. However, it's supposed to be made with day old bread not croutons. The balsamic vinaigrette was forgettable.
(2)Andrew S.
We got hooked on this place when we attended a wine tasting from the Bordeaux region which included a 5-course authentically prepared French meal. Not only was the food unbelievable, but the intimate atmosphere added to the quality of the evening. We have since been back (mainly for dinner) many times over and have always been greeted with kindness, great service, surprisingly creative dishes and some good drinks as well. I travel quite a bit and am always looking for places on the road where I can sit at the bar and eat a quality dinner (I hate to sit at a dining table by myself!). The Franklin Grill is exactly the type of place that I look for when I travel: good food, a few TVs to watch the game while I eat, a very attentive and friendly bartender and other patrons who will gladly strike up a conversation with a solo diner. If you're out by yourself, or just out as a couple for a fun evening, I would recommend sitting at the bar for dinner and drinks. It is true, as one reviewer wrote about this place, that they treat many of the repeat customers like Norm from Cheers -- they now know what I like to drink and make it for me without even having to ask when I show up. But it only takes one visit before they know your name and are treating you like family. My recommendation is to give it a shot, make an attempt to chat up the staff, enjoy some food you normally wouldn't try and see how comfortable you feel. This place is meant to make you feel cozy and welcome -- it is not a chain restaurant. We have introduced many friends to this place now and they have quickly become members of the Franklin Grill family.
(5)Andrea D.
I had high hopes for this place. My first impression upon entering = so/so. We had the choice of lunch inside or al fresco. We chose the latter. We had to go through the kitchen and down the visually unappealing backsteps and across the driveway to get to the outdoor area, which basically boils down to some tables with umbrellas in a grassy area. The plants and flowers don't really qualify as a "garden". Not their fault, but the outdoor area had more bees than patrons. We ordered pretty simple - a chicken pita and sicily (veggie) sandwhich with sweet potato fries. The waiter got it wrong a couple of times and only really tried to turn up the attentiveness when it was getting close to tipping time. No longer curious, no need to revisit.
(2)Suzana Q.
I don't know why people are complaining about this place--I love the franklin grill! The salads are amazing. French onion soup is good. Bread is delish. Ingredients are super fresh, and menu items are creative. I'm not easy to please when it comes to salads because so many places cheap out on salads by using iceberg lettuce, run of the mill dressings and boring combinations of ingredients. Although I can't vouch for the rest of the menu items, which is why this review has 4 stars, I'm convinced that anyone who tries a salad here will be quite impressed.
(4)Barbara W.
The FG has redone their menu again and offer fabulous food combinations that make dining out way more exciting. We had the Exotic mushroom & Halloumi Cheese salad for a starter. It was wonderful with just the right touch of flavor from their dressing. For main courses we had salmon and ribs, both delicious. We'll keep going back!
(5)Jennifer R.
I just don't get this place. Living only three miles up Franklin Road from this restaurant, I really, really want to like it. My problem with this joint is not with the food, although it is just average at best. My problem is with the atmosphere. It is the kind of place that has a lot of in-town regulars that keep it afloat, but it fails to even remotely make anyone else (whose first name and favorite soup they don't immediately know upon entering) feel even a little bit welcome. My history with the Franklin Grill-- I came twice about a year ago and didn't love it. I felt the service was inattentive and the prices were high for what you get, but I had read that it was under new ownership (since late last year), so my family and I thought we would give it one last chance tonight. I can now officially say that I'M OVER THIS PLACE FOR GOOD! Here's a synopsis of our night tonight...we were the only table in the place (other than two men already eating) when we arrived. It started off well enough. While the server/host was not overly friendly, he got us our drinks and soups quickly enough and took our burger order. Then the other diners started pouring in--well-heeled, chatty folks in their golden years. Everyone seemed to know everyone else in the place and talked right over us to friends at different tables. Smiling servers greeted the regulars all around us as if it was a private party we had crashed. Diners actually were standing practically right on top of us to talk to their buddy that they spotted from across the place. We felt like we had entered an alternate universe right by our house! Then, we clearly heard a couple next to us (who had just come in) tell the server that they were in a hurry, and wouldn't you know it, their burgers came right out. Apparently we didn't know we needed to tell them to expedite our food, because we sat there for at least a half hour waiting for burgers...this other couple was totally finished by the time we were served. While the server did apologize for the wait when he brought the food, he never addressed us with an update in the half hour we waited there, although he walked past our empty table countless times. On top of that, we also were incorrectly charged $7.95 for an item we didn't order, and had to ask that that be fixed. When the manager came to ask how our meal was, I told her about the long wait and lack of attention and that it was unfortunate because we lived nearby and had come to see how it was doing with its new ownership. And do you know what she did to try and "make it right?" You guessed it...NOTHING! The food was fine, nothing remarkable and very blandly seasoned (burger, fries and chicken noodle soup, in particular). I guess they are aiming to please their older clientele with the lack of spices! See ya, Franklin Grill. You really don't need me, anyway!
(1)B R.
We sat upstairs, always a lesser choice. Our one waiter, Art, seemed stressed. He promptly told us he lost his glasses and he was counting the days until his Hawaiian vacation. Sadly he randomly forgot some of our dishes. The food was actually quite good =- next time we eat at the bar.
(3)Wendy B.
This great little neighborhood spot continues to improve. The current menu evokes memories of fall...the Cider Brined Salmon with butternut squash and braised red cabbage was SO delicious, the meat loaf is hearty Some of the sauces are a bit heavy but generally the food is terrific. Can't wait to see what the crew cooks up for spring!
(4)ted l.
had a nice dinner w/ friends on a sat. nite and it was packed! That said MAKE RESERVATIONS. My wife and i had the $12 burgers and they were juicy, tasty and came w/ chips...add 2.50 for a fry selection sweet or "russet". Burgers were not what was said to be 1/3-1/2 lb (can't remember)...I make 1/3 burgers at home so....friends had the scallops w/squash ravioli which was an ok sized portion and was good and flavorful but a few bucks high for the portion. They also had the meatloaf plate w/ mashed and brocc again two ok sized pieces of meatloaf, tasty but a bit $$...its meatloaf big stalk of brocc and 1/2cup of potato's. Drinks were good and strong but not overpowering. The highlight was the calamari app w/ lemon aoli perfectly cooked, good portion and awesome dipping sauce and the crab and clam chowder I could have eaten two bowls!! (don't bother with the cup size ...its just a tease). All in all expect a wait and tables packed too close as it probably only seats 50 including the 10-12 at the bar....might try it again...maybe during the week,though.
(3)