I’ve been to the Franklin a few times for drinks and on each of those occasions I’ve had an enjoyable time. Located in a double storey heritage listed building, the decor is a blend of classic 50’s retro chique and recycled suburban hand me downs. The electrical wiring has been concealed in what appears to be plastic tubing and then cleverly incorporated as part of the decor. The use of milk crates as a light fitting in their lounge area is a bit of an acquired taste.

Seating is abundant with long bar tables in the main bar area, outdoor seating at the front of the building and in their spacious internal courtyard, and comfortable lounge chairs hidden behind the main bar. The meals offered here are a combination of Australian tapas (Pub Cha) and your traditional pub fare. With a hostel in the upper section of the building, you would presume the clientele would mainly be people in their early 20’s, but on each occasion I have been here, the crowd seem to be in their early 30’s.

Today, I decided to order the Steak Sandwich. The meal arrived 15 minutes after ordering and all meals arrived at the same time. The meals arrive on chopping boards, which appears to be a novel and stylish concept, but my dish itself was poorly put together. The filling from my sandwich seemed to be concentrated on one side. The steak was slightly warm and overcooked. While you could taste the smokiness in the meat, I couldn’t help feel the meat was precooked and then reheated. The bacon slices were thick, lean and crispy. The saltiness of the bacon really worked well with the steak.

The caramelised onion was well executed and provided in generous amounts. The beetroot relish was light and tangy in flavour, although the inclusion of raw Spanish onion ruined the harmony of the dish. If you took out the Spanish onion and cooked the meat properly, the steak sandwich would have been OK at best. The chips were appalling. They were nothing more than soggy bits of potato that were stuck together by god knows what. I even question the practicality of serving food on chopping boards. Eating off the board is actually quite difficult to do without making any sort of mess.

The venue itself is great. The atmosphere is relaxed, the staff are very friendly and the service is pretty good. My friend and I just weren’t impressed with our meals, particularly by the quality of our meals and their corresponding price points. Some other reviewers were raving about their food, but I just didn’t see it. Will think twice about eating here again.

WHERE: 92 Franklin St, Adelaide