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Franciska, Portland, ME

Franciska

4.8
4.8
13 Reviews
$31 to $50
Argentinean
111 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101-4104

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.

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

Experiences

  • Tasting Argentina and Beyond at Franciska

    Multiple dates available
    Tasting Argentina and Beyond at Franciska We’re thrilled to welcome you to our table. Join us for a guided tasting of eight exceptional wines, highlighting rare and small-production bottlings from Argentina, alongside a rotating selection of inspiring wines from around the world. This curated flight spans indigenous varieties and experimental winemakers pushing the boundaries of flavor. You'll explore hidden gems from our cellar—rarities are often featured—and each tasting is paired with seasonal snacks, artisanal cheeses, and housemade sweets, turning this into a compelling and relaxed lunch experience. $75 per person, excluding tax and service. Available for groups of up to eight guests. For larger parties, please reserve up to two hours to enjoy the full experience.
    Tasting Argentina and Beyond at Franciska Photo

What 13 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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

13 Reviews
  1. boris golosarsky

    Greater Boston5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

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

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  2. Jon

    Greater Boston10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    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 5 days ago
    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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  3. Ellen

    Greater Boston7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    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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  4. vicky

    New York City51 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Skip the empanadas and the beets. The rib eye and green salad were very good. As yet, there’s no dessert, or coffee. The rib eye is served with just the slightest hint of chimichurri sauce and no sides.
    FranciskaResponded 5 days ago
    Vicky, Thank you for taking the time to review us. While we appreciate all feedback, we respectfully disagree with your suggestion to skip two of our highest-selling items. both of which receive daily praise from our guests. Palates differ, and that’s part of what makes dining so personal and diverse. That said, communication is key. Had we known you weren’t enjoying your beets or empanadas, we would’ve happily replaced them with something more to your liking — and of course, we’d have brought out extra chimichurri right away. Hospitality is truly at the heart of what we do, and the last thing I ever want is for a guest to leave feeling unsatisfied. We hope to have the chance to welcome you back and offer a better experience with coffee and dessert :-) Alex Marchesini

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  5. Xavier

    Greater Boston32 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We live close by so we've been walking past it as they've been preparing for the opening and were anxious to try it. We were willing to give some slack since it's brand new and would likely have growing pains. That turned out to be unnecessary. The restaurant looks great. We'd been to both of the location's previous iterations and this is the best yet. Of course, it's small, but that added to the feeling of intimacy and connection. We had conversations with close-by guests at two tables. The noise level was slightly higher than I like it, but we could still easily hear each other across the table. The food was great. We had the very well dressed greens, the bread, a fluke crudo special and empanadas. That was enough to feed two of us. The empanadas were the best I've had in a while. The casing was flaky and crisp and the meat inside was amazing: tender and savory. The pico-like sauce on the side added flavor and was enough for both of us. The fluke was simply prepared with lemon and olive oil. It was so fresh that it needed nothing else. Service was great. Very down to earth, helpful and clearly well versed in the offerings (they had run out of trout, but offered to prepare a similar preparation using the fluke). We shared a bottle of Argentine Malbec that was great, especially with the bread and empanadas. Overall, a great addition to the Middle Street scene. I hope they are successful. We will certainly try to do our part by frequenting them.
    FranciskaResponded on April 14, 2025
    Hi Xavier, Thank you so much for this thoughtful and generous review—it truly means a lot to us. It's wonderful to know that the space felt warm and intimate to you and that you had a good. We love being part of this neighborhood with so much good food and hospitality around us. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back soon—your presence helps make this place what it is. Warmly, Alex Marchesini Franciska Wine Bar

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  6. Beverly

    Greater Boston21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Not your usual meat-heavy Argentinian restaurant. Varied and delicious menu. Trout excellent.

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  7. Jessica VIP

    Baltimore1 review

    4.0

    Dined on April 10, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Interesting wine list, delicious food and a great vibe in a small wine bar. We’ll definitely come back!

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  8. Paul VIP

    New York City5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This newly opened restaurant is a wonderful addition to the Portland, Maine dining scene. We had a lovely evening at this small, intimate restaurant.

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  9. Jackie

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went on their second day open and had a great time. The staff couldn’t be kinder! Food was amazing as well. Happy they are in Portland.

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  10. Daniel

    Montreal3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    For it being only the second night open, we were surprised at how polished and seamless the service and food were. The wine menu is immediately the best in town.

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FAQs

Franciska is rated 4.8 stars by 13 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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.
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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