Vescio's Franklin Hotel

301 South James Street, Rome, NY - (315) 336-9974

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Posted By Bill Homan on September 19, 2008 4:56 PM

If you like red sauce Italian food, then Rome, NY is the city for you. There are lots of places to get some fine pasta, meats, and homemade red sauce. I'm not sure how long the Franklin has been around, but I don't remember a time when it wasn't there. I've always enjoyed a really good meal there.

I noticed the table next to us digging into a pair of strip steaks, so naturally I had to have my own. I ordered it medium and it came out perfectly with just enough pink, and was incredibly juicy and tender with a nice crust. It came with roasted potatoes which were at once crispy and soft, a perfect match. It also came with roasted butter-and-sugar-glazed carrots that had me ogling my fellow diners' table. When the waitress brought my dinner out, she told me they were out of the carrots (my favorite vegetable), so they gave me stewed zucchini with tomatoes. OK, but not my fave (and a little watery to be honest). They could have used more flavor (salt, stewed in a stock perhaps). My beef minestrone soup was spicy and full of vegetables and bits of beef. A nice start to stimulate my appetite.

I didn't sample my sister's chicken parmesan; maybe on the next trip. It looked and smelled great with planty of sauce and cheese on top. My girlfriend's veal with peppers and mushrooms was tasty. Sauteed veal with sweet sausage and green peppers over penne with red sauce would be a "must order" for me next time. Another one of my fellow companions had the veal marsala, but I don't think he was crazy about the picture taking, so I passed on asking him for a taste. The stuffed rigate was similar to a ravioli and came with red sauce and a link of sausage.

I'd definitely go back. The restaurant doesn't have much of an ambience; their focus is on the food, and the staff have always been really nice to us. They have a counter in the front of the restaurant with very good, rich pastries; they did a great job with the cake for my sister's wedding.

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