The Franklin Restaurant by Alfredo Russo

Afternoon tea, Italian·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of The Franklin Restaurant by Alfredo Russo

Silver Award

Found inside the boutique hotel of the same name, The Franklin is an Italian fine-dining restaurant with Michelin-starred chef Alfredo Russo’s name above the door.

The entire hotel, including the restaurant, was designed by Anouska Hempel (who is responsible for the dramatic black and gold interiors at South Kensington’s Blake’s), who has applied an aesthetic of muted luxury. The dining room is a chic mix of plush grey velvet chairs, a monochrome colour palette and Venetian églomisé mirrors that add a real sense of grandeur and glamour.

During the day, The Franklin is flooded with natural light thanks to large windows that overlook the hotel’s gardens, while come evening, soft lighting makes it a romantic spot, though be warned that this is not the place to dine if you are looking to discuss confidential matters – there are just 30 covers in the restaurant and you’re very much privy to other diners’ conversations.

The menu is a sophisticated mix of mostly Italian-inspired dishes and employs luxury ingredients with purpose, rather than having them on the plate just for show. Witness the four cheese potato gnocchi, which blends toma, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano and Taleggio to create perhaps the most creamy and utterly indulgent dumplings we’ve ever tasted. The kitchen’s flair is evident once again with an impeccably cooked veal dish which comes in a charcoaled crumb coating that adds a layer of smokiness.  

Occasionally, the kitchen is guilty of shrouding quality ingredients with too many elements, such as the poached black cod which is lost in the medley of tomatoes, olives and capers that accompany it. For the most part, though, The Franklin really gets upmarket modern dining right.

After desserts (baked cannoli, an all-Italian cheeseboard) we’d recommend a visit to The Franklin’s seductive bar, while if you prefer socialising earlier in the day, the restaurant is open from breakfast.  

Good to know

Spend SquareMeal Smart Vouchers
Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Afternoon tea, Italian
Ambience
Fine dining, Glamorous, Luxury, Quiet conversation, Romantic
Food Occasions
Breakfast, Dinner
Special Features
Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Dates, Romantic
Food Hygiene Rating

About

The Franklin Restaurant is the fine dining experience found on the ground floor of the boutique Knightsbridge hotel with the same name. Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Alfredo Russo, its menu pays homage to his Italian heritage, serving up modern Piedmont cuisine. 

The menu is split into traditional Italian-style courses starting with salads, soups and antipasti. Some examples to whet your appetite include crispy octupus with borlotti beans and Parma ham, burnt leek with honey and mustard dressing, walnut and Gorgonzola icecream, and pea soup with pea shoots and seasoned ricotta.

The primi selection is carefully curated so as not to overwhelm the diner while ensuring there is something for everyone. The homemade ricotta gnocchi with saffron sauce and gold leaf, for example, makes for a beautiful vegetarian option, while the homemade oxtail tortelli with parmesan fondue sounds like a decadent treat. If there's still room for secondi, choose from (again) an equal spread of options for meat-eaters, pescatarians and vegetarians alike, but we like the sound of the Piedmontese fassona beef fillet with truffle mashed potatos and a topping of fresh truffle, too. 

Onto desserts and the selection is both impressively creative and indulgent with cioccolato e menta, a mint puff pastry with Valrhona chocolate ganache and ice cream, as well as mascarpone mousse served with cafe mocha. The wine list is also select, picking out bottles mostly from Italy and a few from France, to complement the menu. 

Interior wise, this restaurant is certainly somewhere that would suit an important occassion with sumptuous seating, stand-out lighting and a glamorous colour palette of rich, charcoal greys accented with metallic and mirrored accessories, inspired in part by Venetian style. Thanks to its capacity of only 30 diners, it has an intimate atmosphere which makes spending the evening here even more special.

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FAQs

What kind of food does it serve?

The food is modern Italian fine dining.

Helpful? 0

This venue also offers

Location

24 Egerton Gardens, Knightsbridge, London, SW3 2DB

020 7584 5533 020 7584 5533

Website

Opening Times

Breakfast
Mon 07:00-10:00
Tue 07:00-10:00
Wed 07:00-10:00
Thu 07:00-10:00
Fri 07:00-10:00
Sat 07:00-10:00
Sun 07:00-10:00
Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue 12:00-14:00
Wed 12:00-14:00
Thu 12:00-14:00
Fri 12:00-14:00
Sat 12:00-14:00
Sun Closed
Dinner
Mon 18:30-21:00
Tue 18:30-21:00
Wed 18:30-21:00
Thu 18:30-21:00
Fri 18:30-21:00
Sat 18:30-21:00
Sun Closed

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