Franklin Social Kitchen & Bar

Name: Franklin Social Kitchen & Bar
Address: 401 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 19106
Telephone: (215) 931-4260
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4

4.0

108 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Top Tags:

Franklin Social, at the Renaissance Hotel Philadelphia Downtown, serves up contemporary American dining in the heart of Philadelphia's Old City Historic District.
Gather with friends, family and colleagues, as Ben Franklin frequently did in his time – He was quite the entertainer didn’t you know and enjoy a meal showcasing an attitude that's all Philly. Join us for a craft beer from around the corner, or an award-winning wine from around the world.
Whether you're craving a quick bite or full meal, Franklin Social will bring you the best products and flavors from around the region to entice your taste buds. All of this Philly flair is brought to you by a friendly and engaging team that should make you feel right at home. Franklin Social allows you to take part in a piece of American history, while creating a piece of your own history all in a vibrant, welcoming environment.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 4, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 3 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(215) 931-4260

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Contemporary American, American
Hours of operation
Breakfast Daily 6:30 am–11:00 am Lunch Daily 11:00 am–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(215) 931-4260
Website
https://www.franklinsocialphilly.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
John A. Arney III
Catering
Host Your Private Event at Franklin Social! Ben Franklin used to hold Community dinners for Americans living in Paris back in the day. Franklin social offers private space, including a lobby level lounge area. We can accommodate 12-100 guests and have several menus to choose from and are happy to customize menus with optional wine pairing from our extensive wine list or reserve list. Seasonal Menu changes may occur, so our team will provide current menus at your request. For Private dining and event inquiries, please contact fill out the form below or call 215.931.4260
Private party facilities
Host Your Private Event at Franklin Social! Ben Franklin used to hold Community dinners for Americans living in Paris back in the day. Franklin social offers private space, including a lobby level lounge area. We can accommodate 12-100 guests and have several menus to choose from and are happy to customize menus with optional wine pairing from our extensive wine list or reserve list. Seasonal Menu changes may occur, so our team will provide current menus at your request. For Private dining and event inquiries, please contact fill out the form below or call 215.931.4260

Location
401 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Neighborhood
Old City
Cross street
4th and Chestnut
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Buffalo Wings$16.00
buffalo, thai chili, or bourbon bbq
Chicken Quesadilla*$16.00
pepper, corn, black bean, jack
Red Pepper Hummus*$12.00
cucumber, carrot, pita
Suit & Thai Shrimp$16.00
fried shrimp, thai chili, ginger slaw
Loaded Tots$12.00
cheese sauce, bacon, scallions
Whole Plate Pretzel$10.00
mustard, cheese sauce
Carnitas Tostadas$11.00
crispy tortilla, pork, chipotle aioli, pickle onion, lettuce, cotija

Soup & Salads

Add: Chicken | $7, Salmon | $13, Shrimp | $12, Steak | $18

Tomato Bisque$11.00
French Onion Soup*$13.00
Caesar*$15.00
romaine, shaved parmesan, crouton
Broad Street Beet$16.00
mixed greens, beet, goat cheese, walnut, lemon vinaigrette
Cobb$16.00
mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, onion, bleu, egg, choice dressing
Grid Iron$24.00
spinach, romaine, flat iron, tomato, bacon, o-straws, bleu cheese dressing

Handheld

Served with seasoned potato barrels

Philly Jawn*$18.00
shaved beef, sautéed onion, cheese sauce
Benjamin Burger*$17.00
american & cheddar, special sauce, LTOP
Franklin Fried Chicken*$17.00
tarragon aioli, pickle, iceberg
1984 Burger*$19.00
port wine cheese, pickled onion, bacon, pickle
Poor Richards Club*$16.00
turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo
Buffalo Bill Burger*$25.00
bison, smoked cheddar, bacon, bbq, pickle, o-straws

Fork & Knife

Blackened Salmon$29.00
veg, mashed sweet potato
Iron Chimichurri$23.00
6oz flat iron, potato barrels, veg
Lobster Ravioli$29.00
lobster sherry cream
Steak Frites$29.00
10oz ny strip, veg, waffle fry
Bourbon Barrel Ribs$25.00
baked beans, corn bread
Meatloaf$20.00
mashed potato, o-straws
Crispy Chicken Curry$32.00
half chicken, curry cream, coconut basmati
Four Cheese Tortelloni$17.00
sundried tomato and spinach sauce
Four Cheese Tortelloni*$16.00
cavatappi, cheese sauce, gruyere & mozz panko crust

Flatbreads

Margarita*$15.00
tomato, fresh mozzarella, pesto oil
Fun Guy*$16.00
truffle cream, crimini, shiitake, button, parmesan
Buffalo Chicken*$17.00
buffalo spread, cheddar jack, scallion

Dessert

Flourless Chocolate Cake$10.00
ganache
Cheesecake$10.00
raspberry sauce
Apple Pie$10.00
granola crumbs

The Breakfast

Served Daily 7am – 11am

Classics

Continental*$13.00
coffee and juice, seasonal berries, toast, bagel, or pastry
American*$20.00
coffee and juice, two eggs, bacon or sausage, potato barrels, toast

Breakfast with a Twist

Breakfast with a Twist*$19.00
poached egg, shaved beef, cheese sauce, potato barrels
Jersey Benedict*$19.00
poached egg, pork roll, hollandaise, potato barrels
Breakfast Sandwich*$16.00
your choice of protein and cheese, fried egg, potato barrels
Avocado Toast*$16.00
roma tomato, pickled onion
Brooklyn Bound*$17.00
bagel, cream cheese, lox, red onion, capers
Steak and Eggs$23.00
flat iron, two eggs, potato barrels, toast
Blueberry Pancakes$16.00
maple syrup, powdered sugar
Waffles$17.00
topped with strawberries, whipped cream

Omelet

Omelet*$19.00
Choice of one protein, one vegetable, and one cheese. Served with potato barrels and toast. Protein: shaved beef, pork roll, scrapple, sausage, bacon. Vegetable: peppers, onions, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms. Cheese: american, swiss, cheddar, goat, bleu. Make it a Burrito: no toast, scramble it up, stuff it in

Sides

Proteins$7.00
bacon, scrapple, sausage, or pork roll
Potato Barrels$6.00
Cereal$5.00
served with milk
Served with Milk$7.00
seasonal berries

The Barista

Starbucks Drip Coffee & Tazo Tea$4.00
Espresso$5.00
Latte$5.00
Americano$5.00
Cappuccino$5.00
Flat White$5.00
Ice Coffee$5.00
Frappuccino & Seasonal Latte$7.00

What 108 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.0

4 based on recent ratings

4Food
4Service
3.8Ambience
3.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Mother’s Day Brunch at the Franklin Social was amazing, the was food delicious and endless mimosas, sangria so yummy. I loved the atmosphere and decor. The staff was friendly with great customer service. I will definitely be back.
JB
JaclynB
Philadelphia
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food5service4ambience4
Once we were seated upstairs, everything was wonderful. The food was outstanding, as was the service by all of the staff in the ballroom where brunch took place. The "check in" station was extremely disorganized and understaffed - there also was no mention (to my knowledge) that we would need to pay prior to being seated. Also, the restrooms were all dirty and the toilets were clogged. And not for nothing, maybe it's time to retire the Will Smith photo in the bathroom.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience3
We celebrated Mother’s Day here. It was nice being that is was short notice for reservations for a party of 10 and it was a brunch buffet, I wasn’t disappointed. My family had a great time together staff was accommodating to our request and food was respectable. Bottomless mimosas was on point!
SC
SpaceCase
Philadelphia
7 reviews
vip
1.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall1food1service2ambience2
We went to Mother’s Day brunch buffet. It was awful, especially for the steep price tag. $75 pp (when including tax and automatic tip). The eggs were cold, slim offerings, and the omelet station had cheese, onions, and peppers. I think diced ham at the very least is standard. Really poor showing for the Renaissance hotel. 0/10 would highly NOT recommend.
MS
MaeganS
Washington DC
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Great drinks and tasty entrees- super quiet on a Monday so we ate at the bar
OT
OpenTable Diner
Pittsburgh
14 reviews
vip
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience3
It was a good place to catch up with a friend. Not much ambience and no view. Better lighting and open blinds would help a lot. Staff was great and food came quickly.
SG
SallieG
Atlantic City
36 reviews
vip
2.0
36 reviews
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall2food3service3ambience3
We were only offered the restaurant week menu, which was not expected since I had a choice during the reservation process to choose the regular menu. We had to be at the theatre at 8PM so we decided to stay. We informed the server that we only had an hour, but since he was the only server, our entrees took a long time. We never did get the dessert because we had to go. 15% was taken off the bill for the inconvenience. The food was ok, but not great. The salmon was dry and the meatloaf was strange. We were not at all happy and won't return.
MP
MichaelP
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 25, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great Drinks, food and service. Really nice time for date night
Franklin Social Kitchen & BarResponded on January 27, 2023Thank you so much for joining us
S
Sally
Philadelphia
125 reviews
vip
3.0
125 reviews
Dined on January 24, 2023
overall3food2service5ambience5
Was disappointed with the fried chicken sandwich on Rest. Week menu. Chicken practically inedible. Tough, chewy and appeared as it was under cooked or cooked hours before served. And Tatar tots?
MS
MoisesS
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We didnt have to wait long to be seated. Didn’t have to wait long to order and to receive our food. Portion were great. Wife and I enjoyed it
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 20, 2023
overall1food3service1ambience4
Disappointing service. There was only one person there taking orders and running the bar. He did a fantastic job. It’s disappointing the management left all this work for one person to handle.
L
Laroons
Philadelphia
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and delicious food!
Franklin Social Kitchen & BarResponded on January 21, 2023Thank you so much for joining us!
PB
PaulB
Philadelphia
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall1food1service3ambience3
Went to Franklin Social for Philly Restaurant Week. At 6PM, they were already out of two dishes on the menu. The appetizers were good, but the main course was terrible. Salmon was very overcooked, maybe microwaved. Vegetables were equally bad, and the mashed sweet potatoes cold. Presentation looked like a high school cafeteria lunch. There was only one waiter for the entire restaurant. He tried his best, but clearly needed help. This was my first visit to Franklin Social. There will not be a second.
W
Will
Philadelphia
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience3
We arrived at our scheduled time, had to wait to be seated, this took more time then it should have since the place was more than half empty. Once we finally got to our seats, 10+ minutes passed before we even had water or were addressed by our server. 45 minutes to get the appetizers. Now, if the place were busy, I can understand that much more easily, there were 5 total tables with people, so I can not for the life of me understand what took so long. Food was good, did not leave hungry, but overall, I can not recommend.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience2
In total, for lunch, we were there for an hour and half. It was awful. We waited 30 minutes before we even got our drinks. Never again
CO
CassidyO
New York Area
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall1food3service1ambience3
We waited an hour just for our appetizer which was just salads and wound up being there for a nearly 3 hr long lunch with how slow the service was.
D
Dana
Philadelphia
16 reviews
1.0
16 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall1food2service1ambience4
Service was awful. Food was cold when it finally arrived. Our burgers were over cooked. They were charred. We asked for medium. Took 2 1/2 hours to be served a three course prefix menu. Had to ask busboy for drinks. Our server was horrendous.
R
Rosh
Philadelphia
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience3
The service was horrible. The food was overpriced and not that good.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Thanksgiving was delicious!
AJ
AmandaJ
Philadelphia
2 reviews
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 24, 2022
overall1food1service3ambience1
Sadly we chose to celebrate Thanksgiving thinking there would be a festive time here. The ambiance was like any other night and the food was very disappointing. The service was attentive but the music they were playing and the subpar meal overshadowed it. I should have noticed other similar comments when booking this reservation.
N
Night
New England
24 reviews
vip
4.0
24 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
Breakfast meeting, typical cuisine and very on-trend decor …. Our reservation was at 7 am and the waiter did as good a job as someone can do as a single server for the entire restaurant
SA
SAUNDRAK
Philadelphia
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Lovely outdoor sidewalk dining. Food was good. No coffee served at lunchtime seemed a bit unusual. Overall, a nice lunch.
n
niknik519
Philadelphia
6 reviews
1.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
We had a hard time figuring out where it was. When we went in, it didnt seem like they were expecting customers, most of the sections were closed. They had a buffet on the bar and said that was the only option (I dont even know where we would have sat?) So we left and went somewhere else. We didnt realize it was a hotel bar/restaurant. The website totally threw us off.
PS
PaulusS
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
Only go here if you have no other choice. The wait staff was kind enough. But this restaurant is nothing more than an outdated hotel lobby with food on the bar. The cutlery and glasses was uniformly not cleaned well.
G
Guest
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on February 20, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
Understaffed. They did not honor our reservation made through open table and we had to go elsewhere. We waited and at one point the bartender told us sorry, no more tables. The restaurant was full of dirty tables and he didn’t seem to have any support in sight.
GW
GourmetWannabe
Philadelphia
15 reviews
vip
1.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2021
overall1food3service2ambience2
The bar was not stocked, no Prosecco or equivalent, poor wine choice. Soup was watered down, could have used some croutons. The turkey was supposedly pan seared but should have said pan reheated, white meat was very dry. No sparking water available. I should have read the reviews instead of trusting Open Table.
M
Molly
Philadelphia
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on September 20, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were one of the last customers of the evening and were treated as if we were the only ones 💫
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
12 reviews
3.0
12 reviews
Dined on August 31, 2021
overall3food2service3ambience5
Overpriced lean cuisine meal. Ordered cheesesteak eggs rolls for an appetizer and when bitten into, center was frozen. Main course arrived and looked like a premade meal from a frozen dinner box. Waiter was kind and inside the ambiance was swanky - overall great place to grab a quick drink but not so great for dining.
JA
JoeA
Philadelphia
27 reviews
vip
3.0
27 reviews
Dined on July 13, 2021
overall3food3service3ambience4
For starters, telling people they open at 7, and then telling everyone to come back at 7:30 is not a nice way to begin. Temp was colder than it needed to be, server was obviously doing more than she should have and wore it on her sleeve. Food included one slice of toast on the plate, which is never expected.
WW
WendyW
Minneapolis
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 10, 2021
overall3food3service2ambience4
We visited the restaurant at 7 pm on a Saturday night. We were stunned to see we were the only people in the whole restuarant for the first 10 minutes. The bartender almost seemed to be annoyed. Not a great experience.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
240 reviews
vip
3.0
240 reviews
Dined on July 5, 2021
overall3food3service5ambience4
It is a good hotel restaurant - the food was okay but not particularly well-prepared. The wait staff was great.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 20, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing experience and atmosphere
PS
PoppyS
New York Area
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 19, 2021
overall3food3service5ambience4
Food was average, service was great 😊
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 17, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great friendly service, interesting variety of menu items, food was delicious. Nice convenient location.
MW
MarianneW
Atlantic City
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2021
overall5food5service5ambience3
We were there in the beginning of May. It was empty in the restaurant. The food was good and the service was very good. We found the music they were playing to be a bit annoying. It’s pricey. But as long as I have good food and good service I don’t mind.
ED
EllenD
New York Area
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2021
overall5food4service5ambience5
Food was delicious and service was excellent. A hidden gem. Highly recommend!
MG
MargieG
Philadelphia
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience4
The service was outstanding and the food was delicious. A mist enjoyable late lunch on a Wednesday afternoon.
FT
Food4Thought
Philadelphia
46 reviews
vip
3.0
46 reviews
Dined on February 14, 2020
overall3food3service3ambience3
Braised ribs with barley risotto was yummy. Spicy shrimp was good not great. Brussel sprouts were over-cooked. Not sure what type of place this restaurant is really trying to be. Wait staff outfits didn't make sense in relation to the ambiance they seem to be going for. Hard to see past it being a hotel-restaurant. A bit pricey for what you get.
GB
GabrielleB
Philadelphia
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on February 7, 2020
overall5food5service5ambience5
This restaurant was amazing! It has ample comfortable seating options, great ambiance, and beautiful decor. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. The food was spot on! We enjoyed the Mac and cheese, deviled eggs, and two different types of salads. Planning to go back ASAP.
UW
UWreckMe
Charlotte
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 2, 2020
overall3food4service1ambience3
Nice place, with good food. Our waiter was very confrontational and not pleasant at all.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Franklin Social Kitchen & Bar offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (215) 931-4260.

Franklin Social Kitchen & Bar is rated 4 stars by 108 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 4, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 3 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(215) 931-4260

401 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
4th and Chestnut
Neighborhood
Old City
Hours of operation
Breakfast Daily 6:30 am–11:00 am Lunch Daily 11:00 am–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
Cuisines
Contemporary American, American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Valet
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
John A. Arney III
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.franklinsocialphilly.com/
Phone number
(215) 931-4260
Catering
Host Your Private Event at Franklin Social! Ben Franklin used to hold Community dinners for Americans living in Paris back in the day. Franklin social offers private space, including a lobby level lounge area. We can accommodate 12-100 guests and have several menus to choose from and are happy to customize menus with optional wine pairing from our extensive wine list or reserve list. Seasonal Menu changes may occur, so our team will provide current menus at your request. For Private dining and event inquiries, please contact fill out the form below or call 215.931.4260
Private party facilities
Host Your Private Event at Franklin Social! Ben Franklin used to hold Community dinners for Americans living in Paris back in the day. Franklin social offers private space, including a lobby level lounge area. We can accommodate 12-100 guests and have several menus to choose from and are happy to customize menus with optional wine pairing from our extensive wine list or reserve list. Seasonal Menu changes may occur, so our team will provide current menus at your request. For Private dining and event inquiries, please contact fill out the form below or call 215.931.4260

Franklin Social Kitchen & Bar

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

The Declaration

Small Plates

Buffalo Wings$16.00

Chicken Quesadilla*$16.00

Red Pepper Hummus*$12.00

Suit & Thai Shrimp$16.00

Loaded Tots$12.00

Whole Plate Pretzel$10.00

Carnitas Tostadas$11.00

Soup & Salads

Tomato Bisque$11.00

French Onion Soup*$13.00

Caesar*$15.00

Broad Street Beet$16.00

Cobb$16.00

Grid Iron$24.00

Handheld

Philly Jawn*$18.00

Benjamin Burger*$17.00

Franklin Fried Chicken*$17.00

1984 Burger*$19.00

Poor Richards Club*$16.00

Buffalo Bill Burger*$25.00

Fork & Knife

Blackened Salmon$29.00

Iron Chimichurri$23.00

Lobster Ravioli$29.00

Steak Frites$29.00

Bourbon Barrel Ribs$25.00

Meatloaf$20.00

Crispy Chicken Curry$32.00

Four Cheese Tortelloni$17.00

Four Cheese Tortelloni*$16.00

Flatbreads

Margarita*$15.00

Fun Guy*$16.00

Buffalo Chicken*$17.00

Dessert

Flourless Chocolate Cake$10.00

Cheesecake$10.00

Apple Pie$10.00

The Breakfast

Classics

Continental*$13.00

American*$20.00

Breakfast with a Twist

Breakfast with a Twist*$19.00

Jersey Benedict*$19.00

Breakfast Sandwich*$16.00

Avocado Toast*$16.00

Brooklyn Bound*$17.00

Steak and Eggs$23.00

Blueberry Pancakes$16.00

Waffles$17.00

Omelet

Omelet*$19.00

Sides

Proteins$7.00

Potato Barrels$6.00

Cereal$5.00

Served with Milk$7.00

The Barista

Starbucks Drip Coffee & Tazo Tea$4.00

Espresso$5.00

Latte$5.00

Americano$5.00

Cappuccino$5.00

Flat White$5.00

Ice Coffee$5.00

Frappuccino & Seasonal Latte$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Sort by

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing