The Franklin Room

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

Went in on a Sunday for a solo date and enjoyed myself thoroughly The vibes inside were immaculate and I loved the decor - felt so Gatsby 1920s/ elevated speakeasy Couldn't decide on a drink and was feeling adventurous so gave free rein to the mixologist on the drink. Was rewarded with SUCH a delicious and unique cocktail - it was vodka based with raspberry purée, lemon infused olive oil(?), and bitters, perfectly balanced in terms of sweetness, strength, and was SO SMOOTH on the palette (presumably becuase of the olive oil?) The tortellini did not disappoint - pasta was a great texture and truffle / mushroom umami was front and center. Would have loved a bigger portion size though?? Get the strawberry lychee red wine gelato! So refreshing and great way to end the meal! I could taste all three flavors in the name and they melded so well together Service was attentive but not pushy - classy and professional

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, the Franklin Room, you fabulous little gem in the heart of Chicago! Where do I even begin with this place? It's become our go-to spot for drinks and appetizers, and let me tell you, it never disappoints.First off, let's talk about the menu. They take those classic flavors that we all know and love and give them a modern twist that will blow your mind. It's like stepping back in time to the turn-of-the-century, but with a cool girl vibe. The delectable American tavern fare they serve is just the beginning of the culinary adventure you're about to embark on.But let's not forget about the beverages, because they are a force to be reckoned with. The creative cocktails are like little works of art in a glass, and the meticulous selection of spirits, wine, and beer will have all you booze enthusiasts jumping for joy. They even have a strong focus on independent distillers and limited-edition rare releases. Talk about fancy!Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. We ordered the Spicy Bourbon Mussels, and let me tell you, they were out of this world. The miso, basil, fennel, cherry tomato, roasted garlic pureé, herbs oil, parmesan, micro cilantro, and toasted baguette all came together in a symphony of flavors that made my taste buds do a happy dance. And here's a little tip: ask for extra bread because the sauce these bad boys are cooked in is like liquid gold. I swear, I could eat it with a spoon (and they actually give you a soup spoon for a reason!).Now, let's talk about the service. Our server, Andrew, was an absolute delight. He made us feel like old friends, and his knowledge of the menu and recommendations were spot-on. Plus, those Old Fashioneds he whipped up were so good that we just couldn't stop ordering them. Andrew, if you're reading this, you are a true cocktail wizard.All in all, the Franklin Room is a uniquely Chicagoan experience that has been centuries in the making. The combination of incredible food, killer drinks, and top-notch service make this place a must-visit. So grab your friends, put on your coolest outfit, and head on over to the Franklin Room. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Cheers to you, Franklin Room, you rock my world!

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

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