The Franklin Room

The Franklin Room in River North is an absolute must-visit dining destination in Chicago — a perfect blend of elevated tavern fare, handcrafted cocktails, and truly exceptional service. From the very start, Michael made our reservation experience effortless and welcoming. He went above and beyond to accommodate our needs, ensuring everything was perfectly set for our evening — and that level of thoughtful care continued throughout the night. The food here is absolutely outstanding. We loved starting with dishes like the Spicy Bourbon Mussels, perfectly balanced with rich, savory depth, and the Truffled Ricotta Tortellini, which was luxuriously creamy with just the right touch of earthy truffle. For our entrées, the Miso Salmon was beautifully executed with delicate flavors, and the Chilean Seabass was melt-in-your-mouth — a true standout among seafood dishes. At the bar, Ugna and Jeanne are absolute standouts. They’re not only skilled and creative behind the bar, but also warm, engaging, and intuitive — the kind of bartenders who remember your preferences and elevate the entire evening with their professionalism and personality. And the food — outstanding. Chef Namo delivers consistently thoughtful, beautifully executed dishes that balance flavor, presentation, and creativity. Every plate feels intentional and memorable, making each visit feel special rather than routine. The Franklin Room isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience powered by an exceptional team. A place you return to not just for great food and drinks, but for how well you’re treated every single time. Highly recommend.

I’ve dined at The Franklin Room about 5 times now. The food is always fantastic and the presentation is out of this world! The staff is so professional, friendly and attentive. The cocktails can be a bit pricey but delicious and worth it in my opinion.

My boyfriend and I were celebrating our anniversary so we made a reservation on a Tuesday night and the atmosphere was cozy and lively. I wish I had taken more pictures! We enjoyed the food and drinks so much. My boyfriend ordered a couple different wines (one recommended by our server) and I got 2 cocktails— the one in the picture was my favorite (Healthy habit). I got the miso salmon and my boyfriend got the marinated butchers steak. We also got a side of crispy fingerling potatoes. Everything was so tasty! Anthony was our server and he’s honestly the reason why I’m even writing this review. His service is what made this dinner so special for us. Personally, I feel like the service can really elevate the experience one has at a restaurant. He’s very kind, respectful, attentive and gave us great recommendations. Our busser was very polite and attentive as well but we didn’t get his name.

Andrew and Jeanie were amazing, so welcoming and attentive! We’ve been here before for drinks (which are always incredible), but this was our first time trying the food, and it did not disappoint. Everything was so good that we ordered the same dishes twice. The steak was great, the potatoes were delicious, but the truffled ricotta tortellini completely stole the show—so rich and flavorful it practically melted in your mouth. Highly recommend this spot for both food and drinks. The vibe is elevated but comfortable, business casual attire fits perfectly. Can’t wait to come back!

The food is good in a dim, intimate atmosphere that is not too dark. My favorite fish we tried was actually the kale salad. Staff are super friendly. Great place especially if u like whiskey! If you order a whiskey, they'll leave the bottle for u to examine and then u know what others are drinking too which is cool. You can also pay to have a bottle on reserve here.

Wow, The Franklin Room was hands down the best meal of my Chicago trip! Seriously, it hit a flavor profile I've been searching for years. They do Western dishes with this incredible Asian twist that's just perfection. As a huge seafood fan, the Spicy Bourbon Mussels were my absolute favorite. The homemade spicy miso in that bourbon sauce just adds so much depth – seriously delicious. And the Chilean Sea Bass? One of the best I've ever had, cooked absolutely perfectly. Another major highlight was the oysters. The chef's Thai-style dipping sauce was a game-changer for me – honestly, the best way to eat oysters, in my opinion! And the yuzu mignonette added another fantastic layer of flavor. I legit wish I could buy those sauces and bring them back to NYC! Overall, every single dish was bursting with flavor. The vibe is super nice too, perfect for a night out with friends or a date. They've got a great cocktail menu as well – their espresso martini was spot on! Highly recommend everyone checks this place out!

The server was meek and hard to hear but the food and atmosphere were amazing!!! The branzino was the best I have ever had. It was cooked to perfection and seasoned with just the right balance. Not so much to overpower the taste of the fish, but enough to enhance it. The oysters were a fantastic start and I highly recommend the tartare.

We celebrated a birthday and anniversary at Franklin Room, and it was great! Our server was amazing, as was the food. I really liked that we could hear each other all evening as the music wasn’t crazily loud. We’ll come back.

Love love this place for food and drinks. Great vibe. It’s a busy place, needs reservations even at the bar as limited area. It’s a full bar, they have variety alcohol on shelf. Recommend to try.

The Franklin Room is a small, intimate space, but it has a lot of character. Despite the portions being on the smaller side, I still left feeling full and satisfied. The drinks were unbelievably amazing! I definitely recommend this spot to anyone looking to explore restaurants in Chicago.