Franko's Italian Steakhouse

The ambiance is nice and rustic albeit a bit loud. The service is excellent. The food was prepared to perfection. The Lobster spaghetti was superb as was the Linguini with clam sauce. We highly recommend making the trip to Franklinton. One word of caution, On the weekend it is tough to find parking and forget about handicap parking.

Had a very superb dinner. Beautiful atmosphere, delicious food (especially the pistachio cheesecake 🤤), friendly staff. Fast service. Highly recommend

A convenient gem for informal and informal ocassions!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Calamari, 50 Layer Lasagna & Caesar Salad, Ribeye Med Rare, Bruschetta

The food was very good. Everybody loved it.

Kid-friendliness: No kids menu, but our kids got the mac n cheese and loved it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: 50 Layer Lasagna & Caesar Salad

I had never been to Franco’s. But heard so many good things about it. I literally had one of the best meals of my life. Thank you Franco’s steak, & asparagus all cooked perfectly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fantastic food...from the foccacia bread with whipped ricotta appetizer to the Lobster spaghetti and 50 layer lasagna, it was all incredible. Don't miss the pistachio cheesecake! We will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ricotta Gnocchi, Pistachio Cheesecake Slice, Focaccia, 50 Layer Lasagna & Caesar Salad, Chocolate Cake

We tried the Bolognese pasta, chicken parm, and grilled salmon dishes. They were all very tasty and will be ordering from them again. Be prepared because the pricing is higher than say a local mom & pop Italian restaurant, but from what I've tried so far it's worth it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Parm

Make sure to make a reservation. We went on a whim. They will seat you and take care of you but the reserved guests definitely come first. Food was amazing. Wait was long but again, we had no reservation. Atmosphere far beyond expectations. Very fancy and extremely well done.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pistachio Cheesecake Slice

Listen, if you live anywhere north of Raleigh, you need to take a drive to Franklinton for a meal at Franko's. The indoor and outdoor seating and ambiance is so nice. Not too over done, but really nice. Just right to really relax and enjoy your company and your meal. The lasagna and the steak were prepared perfectly. Downtown Franklinton is really turning out to be a great spot.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: 50 Layer Lasagna & Caesar Salad

Experience was great from start to finish. We had a reservation for upstairs and were sat immediately. Everyone we encountered was friendly and helpful. I can’t remember our server’s name (bartender upstairs), but he was great and attentive. We had the sausage stuffed peppers and focaccia to start and let me tell you……..I could’ve eaten the peppers as my entree they were that good! The peppers are spicy so if you don’t like heat I wouldn’t suggest those. Husband let me try a few bites of his chopped Caesar and I was upset I didn’t order one for myself. Entrees were chicken parm and penne alla vodka w/ an added chicken cutlet. Both were delicious. Husband also ordered the cannolis to-go and I assume he liked them because they were devoured soon after we got home.

10/10 would recommend

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Hungarian Peppers Stuffed with Italian Sausage, Focaccia, Chicken Parmesan

Great atmosphere and the food was delicious!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmesan, Bruschetta

Our first visit to Franko's and it did not disappoint. We were walk-ins, I would suggest making a reservation which we will do next time. We enjoyed a drink at the bar downstairs while waiting for a table and the service and atmosphere was great. We ate upstairs at a high top with Steve as our waiter. As a side note we saw many people eating at both bars so I wouldn't say no to this as an option in a pinch. Steve's suggestions were amazing and as far as service I'd give him 10 stars. We had the calamari, it's different with a kick but delicious. My husband had the ribeye which was like butter and I had the spaghetti with lobster and the chunks of lobster were huge. We will most definitely be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My husband & I had dinner at Franko's last night with another couple & were completely blown away! We live in North Raleigh & had heard there was a new restaurant in Franklinton worth the drive so we decided to check it out. We didn't have a reservation, but arrived before 6 pm & were able to be seated on the patio which was lovely. (We were very appreciative they had some open tables for those without a reservation as many restaurants don't do that.)

Danielle was our server & she was wonderful! Very out going, warm, & attentive. When we go back, I hope to have her again.

Now on to the food....We started off with the focaccia bread with whipped ricotta which WAS INCREDIBLE. You've GOT to order the focaccia.....it's well worth the splurge. Each couple split a salad (the Caesar for our friends & the Bibb Wedge for my husband & me.) Both were excellent. Entrees included the Bolognese, Lobster Spaghetti, Penne a la Vodka & Ricotta Gnocchi. Everyone was beyond pleased with their meal. I'm the one who got the gnocchi & it was unlike any gnocchi dish I've ever had......I called it my little creamy pillows from heaven. Absolute DELISH. We didn't save room for dessert, but the 7 Layer Chocolate Mousse cake will be in my tummy next time.

Highly recommend Franko's Italian Steakhouse & I cannot wait to return!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ricotta Gnocchi, Focaccia

The Best Steak I have ever had!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pistachio Cheesecake Slice

Salty. From the calamari to the pasta to the twice fried chicken parm. If you like salt, this is your spot. We left with our hearts racing and ears ringing.

Strange thing you notice when eating salty food, you tend to drink more. Which is where the shot glass sized water glasses come in. Our poor server likely thought we walked straight out of the Mohavi desert based on how often she came back to fill our tiny water glasses. Hands down to our server, she was hustling to get that water to us, and we were grateful.

Then it dawned on us, they want us thirsty to sell more drinks in standard sized glasses.

The calamari, that might have 2 whole squid maybe, the remainder being bits of fried peppers. I've used more squid for bait. Great flavor and im happy they kept it 50% sea water for that extra salt kick.

From the 10 dollar 'sharing' fee to the salty food, the 2 squid apatizers with pepper chunk filler, tiny water glasses, this place is here for the cash! And good for them honestly it's tuff to turn a profit in restaurants these days.

To the management that I'm sure will respond to this, dont. Just do better.

I gave you 3 stars our of respect for your business and our server who was just doing her best. I wanted to make it lower because if you pried off a house shingle, salted it then threw it on spaghetti, it would have more tender than that poor chicken that died to be there. What did that chicken ever do to you?

Flavor disagreement asside. For gods sake please buy larger water glasses, that's just mean to your servers to make them run back and forth filling glasses of very thirsty patrons.

We won't be back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 5