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Franciska, Portland, ME

Franciska

4.9 (20)
$31 to $50
Argentinean
111 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101-4104

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2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 7 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Great for fine wines
  • Good for special occasions
Franciska is a wine bar dedicated to Argentine Bodegón cuisine, a culinary tradition deeply rooted in Spanish and Italian influences brought by immigrants to Buenos Aires at the turn of the century. In our intimate 20-seat space in Portland’s Old Port, we bring people together over thoughtfully crafted dishes made with New England-sourced ingredients and house-made specialties. Our mission is to create a warm, welcoming space where good food, good wine, and good company come together.

Additional information

What 20 people are saying

Franciska reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 5.0Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Maine

    Best Overall

  • Maine

    Best Service

  • Maine

    Great for fine wines

  • Greater Portland

    Best Overall

  • Greater Portland

    Best Food

  • Greater Portland

    Best Service

  • Greater Portland

    Best Ambiance

  • Greater Portland

    Healthy

  • Greater Portland

    Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Franciska offers a cozy, intimate dining experience with a standout wine selection, described as "incredible wines by the glass." The menu features delicious small plates with an Argentinian touch, praised for their "homemade food" and "great service." The venue's chic ambiance and "friendly, knowledgeable" staff provide a welcoming atmosphere.
20 Reviews
  1. Karen VIP

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time at this lovely little restaurant. Beautiful decor, excellent service, delicious food, great wine list. We'll be back!

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  2. Craig

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was awesome. Great portions at good price and the food was really good. We are foodies. Good job. Will be back.

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  3. Scott

    Maine1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic wine selection and dinner was excellent!

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  4. Maria

    Greater Boston11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed the home made food and the familiar atmosphere. It is a small menu in line with an Argentinian home vibe. Price was also fair. Would go back

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  5. Kristin VIP

    Minneapolis9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A cozy and chic spot- everything was perfect. The service, the wine, the food and the ambience. We especially loved the incredible wines by the glass- so many tempting options! We sampled small plates for our dinner, and each carefully prepared dish was delicious and somehow better than the next. We will be back soon to try the rest!

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  6. Beverly

    Greater Boston22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely new local. Trout delicious. Looking forward to next visit.

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  7. Steve VIP

    Greater Boston68 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is great new place, the staff are very welcoming and the service was great! They have a large selection of wines to choose from and all of the food we sampled from the menu was delicious. We will definitely be going back.

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  8. boris golosarsky

    Greater Boston5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service , great cocktail , wine list amazing

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  9. Jon

    Greater Boston10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Restaurant is small and intimate. Service was fantastic. Owner is quite knowledgeable about wines and Argentinian wines specifically. Food was really good, although the pricing structure is a little odd. We got a trout filet (local trout) with grilled Fennel for $19 (which was excellent), but the ribeye, which was listed under large plates, was the same "small plate" portion as the trout, yet cost $34, which seemed a bit much given how much you got. It was also very tasty, although a bit gristly.
    FranciskaResponded on April 21, 2025
    Jon, Thank you for the kind words — and you’re absolutely right about the steak. We used to serve a 16-ounce ribeye at a higher price point, but found that many guests couldn’t finish it. In an effort to reduce waste, we downsized the portion and kept it under “Big Plates,” not fully considering how that might be received. We’re only in our third week of service, and feedback like yours helps us improve. We truly appreciate your sincere review and hope to welcome you back soon. Alex Marchesini Fostering unity through thoughtful hospitality Franciska Wine Bar

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  10. Ellen

    Greater Boston7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a lovey little new spot. Wasn't sure what kind of food options we would have and was happy to be able to have a whole (light) dinner of shared plates along with the fun wine selection. Will definitely be back - it's an ideal spot to just get a quick taste/glass/bottle at the standing bar inside or out but love that the snacks can be combined for a meal. Staff was super nice and ambiance was just right.

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FAQs

Franciska is rated 4.9 stars by 20 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Maine
  4. Greater Portland
  5. Portland

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Booked 7 times today
Google Map for Franciska

111 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101-4104

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Portland
  • Hours of operation
    Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Argentinean, Wine Bar, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
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