I’ve been hearing about the Franklinville Inn for a couple of decades, but have never had occasion to go. My parents went years ago and seemed unimpressed, so I wasn’t in much of a hurry It is locally famous for being hard to get into, although I was able to get us a rez for an admittedly early-bird seating in under 24 hours on OpenTable for last night.

The Inn reminds me a bit of the late Busch’s down in Sea Isle; it’s dark, outdated, but comfy. The crabcakes are as good as everyone says they are. Our martinis were both delicious and gigantic (Tanqueray, up, olives). Rhonda’s ribeye was better than my NY Strip, but both were good; hers had a nice, salty crust I found lacking in the strip.

We split the creme brulee and it was excellent, although you can tell they pluck a ramekin out of the walk-in and dump some booze on top and light it on fire tableside. Theatrics aside, it was still a bit boozy (and I’m not teetotaler), but otherwise delicious. I just don’t like this final step.

Definitely a good spot and I’m looking forward to going back.