The Second Glass

Once upon a time in the ‘90s, when the South End was the still the gayborhood with nary a stroller in sight, the Franklin Café opened its doors on Shawmut Ave. This restaurant industry-friendly hot spot has been Boston-famous ever since, known for its great bar scene, excellent food, and, of course, its 2 a.m. liquor license. The dining room is small, with just ten usually-full tables, but the menu packs big bang for your buck: each appetizer costs less than $10, each entrée less than $20, and cocktails max out at $8. And the wine? That’s the best part- not a single bottle on the list is marked up more than $15. In a city where the standard restaurant mark-up ranges from 200-300% (meaning the Bodegas Montecillo Gran Riserva you thought was a steal at Toro for $50 costs a mere $35 here) the Franklin’s unique price structure is a refreshing surprise.
Like the restaurant itself, the wine list is small yet sophisticated, and because of the minimal mark-up you can experiment with confidence, knowing that any bottle you try will be at least a good value. These great bottles are not to be missed, in part because you won’t be able to afford them anywhere else.

Don’t Miss:

Truchard “Carneros” Syrah $34
This elegantly structured 100% Syrah is smooth & sexy, with a slightly peppery finish.

Robert Foley Charbono $39
Never heard of this varietal? Neither had we. If you’re curious, this is the one to try.

Louis Roderer Cristal $199
If this is how you roll, the Franklin’s minimal mark-up is probably the last thing on your mind. Wanna-be ballers can head to the Franklin to see how the other half lives.

278 Shawmut Ave, South End, Boston | 617-350-0010 | www.franklincafe.com