| Address | 5121 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mon, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Tue-Thur, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri-Sat, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. |
| Phone | (301) 927-2740 |
| Website | http://www.franklinsbrewery.com |
Franklin's has a great atmosphere, and the general store is a must see. The menu offers a good mix of food. The pizzas are great, and vegetarian chili and vegetarian shepherds pie is excellent. The beer could be better for a brew pub, but they offer something for everyone. Considering the other choices in College Park, Franklin's is a star.
Franklin’s is a strange amalgamation of good and bad. The beer is fine, but not great (although their Firkin Friday is worth the trip out). The pizza is the best (I’ve had) in that area, including College Park, but that’s not saying much. The burgers are dry, but the pulled pork with the Carolina sauce is very good. The half chicken, fish and chips, and onion rings are better than average, but the last time we had fish and chips the fish was rubbery. Thankfully, they eighty-sixed the pasta choices, mostly. The spinach salad is fine, but the greek salad is garbage replete with feta that tastes like teva foot. The general store is the highlight, and sometimes the service can be a lowlight. One time they were out of their gorgonzola mashed potatoes, so I asked the server if they had any other starches and he said, “Huh, starches.” This is surely the consequence of drawing from the UMD talent pool, an affliction of most College Park eateries. That being said, the servers can be very nice and helpful. The décor is obnoxious, sit upstairs if you can. The last time I was there with my wife and 3-week-old daughter we wanted to wait in the “bar” for our table (there was no smoke), but Franklin, supposing that’s his name, said that they prefer to keep it “over 21” in the bar. This irked me. Everything about Franklin’s is about children. Bars aren’t surrounded by a sea of multi-colored tablecloths nor do they abut a toy store. If I wanted to take my child to a bar, I’d go to Town Hall, were I’m sure they wouldn’t complain, nor would they try to sell me a kiddie-cone or a squirt gun.
Franklin's is a fun place to go for a relatively inexpensive meal with a friendly atmosphere.
Their food ranges from things you might see on the menu of a fancier downtown restaurant, to things you might see on a diner menu. Overall, it tends to be more creative fare.
Known for its brewery, Franklin's has a great beer selection that will not disappoint you. Their burgers and massive salads are great, too, and sure to leave you satisfied by the end of your meal. The restaurant has a relaxed, cool atmosphere, complete with a bar and plenty of televisions to end the day watching a game.
Franklin's is a great neighborhood restaurant that is quickly accessible from those living in northeast DC near Catholic U to the Greenbelt area. Although we spent $65, this is much higher than normal since we decided to go "all-out" for New Years Eve. Entrees average around $10. The one "big" negative about Franklin's is their beer, which they brew. They brew several kinds (ranging from a light lager to a stout), but most of these I have ordered once and never again, and I don't consider myself to be all that picky regarding beer. However, they do have one ale (twisted turtle ale) that I think is pretty damn good, which makes up for the others being so bad.
Definitely recommend this place for those who live or near the area who feel that there are a lack of good restaurants nearby.
