Bagel Empire
589 Route 303, Blauvelt, NY, 10913
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Address :
589 Route 303
Blauvelt, NY, 10913 - Phone (845) 398-0638
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Zaneta O.
Any pizza place that overlaps their pepperoni and serves both Moretti and Peroni is okay in my book! We came in late night after a movie down the block for a slice and quick drink. The service was fast and friendly. The pizza was tasty. Lot's of pepperoni on my slices. We had 2 pepperoni slices and a plain and one Peroni. Total came up to $16. The crust is extra crisp and you get that nice crunch when biting into it. The sauce was a little on the sweet side but the saltiness of the cheese balanced it out. Not a bad slice if you are in this neighborhood. The place isn't much to look at, nothing fancy but there's plenty of seating. There's four seater tables and a lot of two seaters for the lunch crowd. You won't have a hard time getting situated here with your slices. There are also tons of condiments already at most of the tables so you won't have to keep getting up to find them. If I am in the area I'd likely return. Plus side is they are open late too! Next time I will try the rice ball and may be a dessert.
(4)Kaori Y.
I don't know why but I really really liked their slice of pizza!!! Perfect crust, perfect topping. During my trip in NY, I had a slice of pizza from different places, this one. I liked most:) I gave 5 stars cause I can't stop thinking about this pizza!
(5)John T.
Good prices and excellent food. Service is great as well. I had the shrimp parm hero which was tasty and filling. My son had the rice ball which is hit or miss at a lot of places, but was pretty good here. The have a huge assortment of specialty pizzas and we tried the white slice and the lasagna pizza, both were great. Would definitely come back.
(4)Erika S.
Specials tonight were out of this world. Every week there is are new specials on table and you will be pleasantly surprised and on the dishes they serve. True 5* to me . Beats any italian food on the upper west side.
(5)Matt T.
Very good Pizza. There are lots of Pizza places to choose from in NYC but for take out, this one's pretty good. Don't expect NYC style pizza in it's traditional form because it's not so don't compare. I can see why locals (I used to be) would have issues as the crust is on the soft side and the cheese is thicker than most however, it's not expensive, service for take out is fast, and the location is easy to get to on the west side.
(4)Mark B.
The food is okay, but its non-pizza prices are outrageous. $22 for veal parmigiana and spaghetti? $16 for spaghetti and meatballs? This is a pizza place, not a fine dining restaurant that could justify these prices.
(3)Daniel P.
5 stars for pickup or delivery. The entrees and appetizers are great and are huge portions. Our family favorites are the Chicken Al Andrea and the Grilled Calamari appetizer. These 2 items easily feed 3 people. The entrees are often better (and much larger) than you would get from a much fancier restaurant. Always add about 15 minutes to however long Seamless says pickup/delivery will take. I've found them to be a consistent 45 minutes, which is good considering the quality. I do not like their pizza. I do not like eating in their restaurant. Service is very slow for anything except pizza slices - expect to wait 10 minutes for waitress to take your order and then another 30 minutes for entrees to arrive. The seats are fairly tight and very casual, typical for a pizza joint.
(5)Michael T.
Decent pizza!
(3)Claudio P.
I'm sorry but my first experience wasn't good at all. It's pricey and it took 1 hr to deliver although in the same zip. Pizza was totally fluffy because of long time in the box. Not eatable. Sorry
(2)Andres R.
First time here, had a salad and two slices of the Palermo pizza. The food was good and the prices are decent for the Westside. Staff are friendly and helpful, everyone seemed to help everyone out. Lots of celebs have visited, and I would totally go back!
(4)Chelle T.
I had high hopes for getting a delicious piping hot slice. Left very disappointed. I didn't care for the crust (tough) or the sauce (bland). I'm also not a fan of the canned mushrooms on pizza - I know it's a preference thing. My dinner companion said the sausage sandwich was "just ok." It was nothing he'd return for. Service was meh too: not rude but not all that friendly either.
(2)Tiny G.
Thank goodness this place is in my neighborhood!!!! It's a pizza place, but if you look past the pizza, the salads and entrees are delicious. I love it for delivery or a late night slice.
(5)Justina N.
BEST EGGPLANT PARM I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME! Forget about going to Parm restaurant up the street, that location is over priced and overrated. Francesco's eggplant parm is so good! Thinly sliced eggplant with a tangy tomato sauce and the portion is huge. Thank you be serving the best eggplant parm I've had in the city!!
(5)Shannon S.
Solid pizza on upper west side. I did like the cheese slice we ordered and FH's sausage was pretty good too. Great people watching from front tables and there's a unisex bathroom (which needs more cleaning) that seems accessible to anyone who walks in. Unfortunately, I don't see a way for them to keep the flies away from the pizza that is cooked and ready for reheating. Oh well, I am young and healthy and probably won't die from anything Mr. Fly leaves behind. Tables should be cleaned more often too, especially those by the front. They do enforce a $10 minimum credit card charge, which is allowed by law.
(3)Alex G.
Very good trattoria fare in an otherwise stuffy neighborhood. Great for a solo meal with a book. Quite possibly the worst fries I've ever had, though.
(3)A L.
This is definitely not cheap pizza. I suspect the prices are slightly raised because of its location in Lincoln Center. Regardless, the portions are generous and the gooey cheesiness hits the spot. It's even better if you add vegetable toppings to your meal. It's not my first choice for pizza, but I will occasionally go because it's located so close to my work.
(2)Michael S.
One star is not for the food. its for delivery service. I can't comment on the food, -- it hasn't arrived yet. We ordered over an hour ago. Calls to the restaurant were met with indifference. likewise calls to delivery.com
(1)Nicolas M.
Been here a few times over the past several years and today I had a plate of spaghetti. Was tasty. I remember not being absolutely crazy about their pizza, but it was still okay.
(4)Lena S.
My go-to place for pizza on the UWS. The pizza is very good, a lot of cheese and good tasting sauce. I would prefer a bit more sauce though. Convenient location with plenty of seating.
(4)Christian C.
Oh yeah. A buddy and I took a food journey through NYC the other day and ended at Francesco's. They opened a sister location right by my house, but I wanted to try the original. The slices were awesome. I'm a plain slice kind of guy and these were spot on. A slice that stayed stiff when lifted off the plate opposed to flopping everywhere and becoming a soupy mess on my plate. After dabbling with a couple of slices we split the Spaghetti Bolognese... Amazing. The pasta was cooked perfect. Although cooking pasta sounds like a simple task it amazes me how often I get pasta that's either mush or I get told "It's supposed to be that hard...Al Dente" I know what Al Dente is and I wouldn't complain about pasta if it was just Al Dente. Francesco's hit it right on the spot. The sauce itself was very good. Plenty of sauce for every fork full with copious amounts of meat. I think it's important to mention that this was no plate of noodles with sauce thrown on top. They applied proper technique and allowed the pasta to finish in the sauce so the little bit of starch water grabs a hold of that oh so beautiful sauce and really binds the noodles and sauce into a harmonious plate of pasta. Although Francesco's has more of a pizzeria type feel/look do not be afraid to try the dinner options.
(5)Jonathan S.
Very disappointing experience last night -- bringing back memories of a similar experience a year ago. Next time I'll remember before I sit down... My daughter and I came into the city for a leisurely visit and stroll from the train station up to and into Central Park, and west where we met my brother. We walked some more and looked for a place to stop for a quick dinner before heading back to the train. Francesco's was crowded as usual, but we were told it would only be a 5 minute wait. 15 minutes later we were seated. As always, the pizza, salad and calzone selection behind the counter looked great. It took a while, but eventually "Genta" came over to take our order. Between us, we ordered: 2 salads (caesar and greek), a bowl of soup, a slice, and broiled mushrooms, along with 3 drinks. Drinks came out quickly. Then it was another 20 minutes with NOTHING. Finally, of all things, my slice was served -- warm -- not hot; flavor was good, but luke warm after a 20 minute wait was disappointing. I asked about the other food - at least the salads - and was told they'd be right now. It was another 20 minutes before that happened. My salad came out, along with the bowl of soup for my daughter and the mushrooms. 40+ minutes for a simplest of orders -- I was aware of this, because we had to catch a train after dinner and were watching the clock. I noted this to Genta -- and she shook her head sternly, telling me that I was wrong -- "it wasn't 40 minutes!" she insisted dismissively, and walked away. I then noticed that my daughter still didn't have her salad -- I had to call after Genta to get her to return and I asked about it -- she looked perplexed and checked our bill -- and noted that it had never been ordered -- then she asked if we still wanted it...(guess what my answer was!). I paid the bill and we left. With so much time lost, I had to flag a taxi so we could make our train - with evening traffic (and the driver not realizing that dropping us off on 9th avenue would have been fine rather than cutting over to 7th through typical Saturday night traffic), that added another $15 to the night and we barely made the train. Very frustrating experience overall. In general, the food is good and the portions generous. I know the costs are higher in NYC than NJ -- but in this kind of experience, I'm reminded that items as simple as a pizza or sub (hoagie) or salad all cost a few dollars more than they do around Princeton, Woodbridge or Cherry Hill -- and an experience like this tends to rub in the irritation that goes with this recognition. I may go back to Francesco's at some point -- the food is good, and the location is convenient - but ONLY if I'm not in a rush, and ONLY if they're not crowded. Otherwise, I'll keep on walking and looking for an alternative.
(2)Amber M.
Carbonara? More like Carbon-nah! This is absolutely the worst excuse for a pasta dish I have ever had. Charged $18.00 for spaghetti with some fried bacon, a bodega egg, and some Kraft parmesan... $18!!! I LOVE carbonara, and was so looking forward to this. Also, it took over an hour to deliver...
(1)Evan G.
Average pizza good for an average lunch. Salads are pretty good. Can't say I've tried the rest of the menu. Seating is a little tight at lunch.
(3)Richard R.
I have never written a review of a restaurant before. I have never had a problem after living for nearly thirty years on the upper west side. Its amazing how things can change in a flash. Customer beware: I ordered from Francesco's by phone at lunchtime. I have ordered takeout at least 30 times in each of the past four years. I received the order and was surprised to see higher prices than i expected. i was expecting the lunch 'special menu' because that was the latest menu i had and i have ordered from it before. Its about a ten dolar difference but as usual it comes to more in human relations. i called and the manager.He was curiously not 'customer friendly'. kind of shocking. He said i had to have asked on the phone for the 'lunch special'. Actually I did...more out of just gazing at menu while ordering. He refused adjust his position. He said there are two menus to to order from. at lunch and indicated that apparently the portion size is different. at no time did the manager who took the order even say 'which menu do you want?" why should he? why remind customers there is a special. I said i did order the special..he claimed i didnt. i said while a tape doesnt exist..look at the last time i ordered and you will see the special,. I dont recall the size being different. as his delivery man waited at the door..i said you are willing to risk my 600 dollars at least in orders each year?. He was and couldnt care less, No. statement like okay..throw in a few dollars and we will revisit the issue... or even an apology. when the manager challenges what you said on the phone, how can you give them a large amount of money each year i told him it sounded like he is running a bait and switch menu for phone operations. So beware if you are ordering by phone at lunchtime and maybe even in person.
(1)Anonymous U.
Great pizza, great variety of foods and beverages (all delicious, especially their cannoli.) Never very crowded, but extremely small. Great employees and fast preparation of food. Overall one of my favorite pizzerias.
(5)Miran C.
Great place to grab a slice. It's a convenient place to eat a quick meal before a performance at Lincoln Center or shopping in the area. I find the celebrity wall fascinating. The pizza itself is pretty average. However, it's far better than anything you can find in the SF Bay Area. This means nothing to New Yorkers, I bet.
(3)Allison C.
Decent little find on the UWS, indeed! Coerced (but not my much) to go here with a co-worker after work while on my way to do a bit of Christmas shopping in the neighborhood, I had imagined a place more like Patsy's on the UWS: dark, warm, and rich wood all around. I arrived in a florescent-lit cafeteria-feeling eating area. Still, the long line of pizzas stretching across the long display case whet my appetite. The menu had me gasp a bit: what high prices for such a basic-seeming restaurant! An eggplant parm hero with fries for $10.50? Pastas dishes ranging from $11 - $20? I know I live in NYC, but prices like that from a seemingly-no frills establishment as this did take me aback a tad. Still, I went for the aforementioned eggplant parm hero and fries. The fries were oh-so-good! They seemed freshly cut and fried perfectly, still dripping with hot grease and salt. The hero was large; I enjoy ones large enough to provide me with lunch for the next day. It was tasty, yet I would have liked a bit more mozzarella on it. My co-worker's linguine with meatballs was...well, linguine with meatballs. I snagged a few bites to quell my pasta craving and was happy enough. Seemed like a lot of locals in here: charming elderly couples sharing a bowl of spaghetti and young mothers joined with other young mothers and their multiple sons, slinging back slices of pepperoni pizza like it's their job. The service was friendly and relatively quick; props to the one waitress there. You earned your tip. Cute, local place, indeed. That's all she wrote.
(3)Steve L.
Saying that I would prefer Domino's would be an insult to Domino's. Though this did have crust, sauce and meat, the prerequisites for pizza, this was far from anything I would call 'za. Maybe I would call it "UWS wounder bread cheese surprise." I add surprise, because you would be surprised as to how bad it really is. The crust was bland and chewy (not in a good way). The cheese was cheap, the sauce was from a can, and I will never be ordering from here again. On a positive note, delivery was right on time.
(2)Kurt I.
So you're in NYC, you expect good pizza right? Keep moving if so. The crust tasted prepackaged, the sauce was a bit sweet, and really nothing stood out. Between four hungry people, we didn't finish one pie. I've ready that this is the best pizza on the upper west side... if this is true then it's time to go downtown.
(2)Michele P.
Incredible selection of pizza (and what we had was all very good) - and lots of other menu items we were glad to see, since not all in our group wanted pizza. Super extra plus that there's a good deal of comfortable casual seating (esp for NYC), and decent price. Very fresh. Huge & awesome House Salad! My daughter loved the meatball hero. Only deduction from 5 stars is we had to wait a good bit (and ask about) our non- pizza order items, and no refills on soda (I get it, but it'd be nice to offer). I will say they were very nice about it, though.
(4)Gail J.
I can't say much about what others say because I've had a slice only at lunch time at it's freshest. And I find the sauce to be really sweet and good. I'm a fan considering it's a shitty foodie neighborhood so you're not gonna find much else unless you plan to pay 100+ for your meal.
(4)Jaime M.
This is in our neighborhood. We eat their pizza or 1 or 2 of their pastas on occasion. Tonight I was lazy and wanted pasta. We decided to try something new. Nothing exotic. Carbonara. Carbonara if you call a lump of spaghetti, oil, bacon, and scrambled eggs carbonara. My husband called and the manager was unapologetic. He even defended it and said it was a "Dry" carbonara. He's not kidding. Listen, I'm not the greatest cook. I've screwed up a cream sauce on many occassions. This was a screwed up cream sauce. That's how you end up with scrambled eggs.I attached a pic for reference... I'm giving 1 star for their pizza and 1 for their canoli, and a promise to never return. I can make spaghetti with oil and bacon myself. Minus the eggs. Oh! And a side of meatballS is served as a side of meatball. Cut in half. I'm over this place. Next time I'll order from Patsy's or City Pie and Leave this to the weekday work crowd who just want a slice.
(2)Anna L.
probably best slice on the UWS. I also agree with the get slices not the whole pie tip. Margarita is awesome. It's quick and satisfies my pizza craving during the weekday! :)
(4)Bill C.
Great selection. Pizza is really tasty too. Not too crowded on a Saturday afternoon.
(5)DM D.
My favorite pizza place! The white pizza is off the chain. It's pretty fast and fresh and the slices are big. I don't really know the prices because my roommate always pays. I love this place....too much, for my waistline.
(5)G M.
Had slices of the "white" pizza and sausage pizza with a glass of Merlot and it was excellent! Delicious yeasty crust. All piping hot and the service was excellent. Saw some of the pasta dishes and calamari brought to nearby tables and they looked yummy....visually at least. If we weren't charged $1 for a packet of ranch dressing, they would have gotten 5 full stars. Regardless, would go back!
(4)Edwardo W.
Easily the best pizza slice in town. Owners are amazing and the food is perfect during the day or late night. Definitely stand by their food and looking forward to trying the other items on the menu. The slices would be good enough to go back but owners and staff also super friendly and make the trip worth it to Francesco's!
(5)Eva A.
The best Italian food in NYC, they have a variety of pizzas by slice, excellent pasta dishes, great portions, and very reasonable prices. I have been coming here for a long time and I can't compare with any other place around. Great food, friendly service.
(5)R S.
I went to Francesco Friday and was very impressed. I went to get a slice, but decided to sit with my friend and get a regular meal. The mussels were fresh and delicious and the sauce was out of this world. I had the stuffed shells and my friend had the bolognese. Both dishes were delicious and the portions were large. The service was a little slow because was very busy, but was well worth the wait! I can't wait to go again and try something else. Pizza looks yummy too. Cindy G.
(4)Elizabeth L.
I do not understand why this place is so popular with my colleagues, especially when a WAY better pizzeria is just down the street (Rigoletto's). Francesco's pizza slices are greasy and floppy. I was intrigued by the ziti pizza as a doe-eyed new UWSer, but it was carb overload. From me, that's saying A LOT. The slices are large, but never taste fresh to me, despite their being reheated in the oven. Tastes microwaved. I'd rather have Costco pizza.
(2)Florinda P.
Stopped here for breakfast. Had the Florentine wrap and home fries. Both were really good. The food arrived to the table at a too-hot-to-eat temperature but once it cooled off you could taste the fresh, well cooked ingredients. The jalapeños in the home fries was a nice surprise. The coffee is so-so. The wait staff was not very friendly but they were efficient. I will definitely go back to eat at Francesco's.
(4)Steve M.
The owner's a pretty bad businessman AND they follow unsanitary practices here. After having moved my car for street cleaning, I stopped by this place to get a late night snack of a rice ball and a slice. The employee cut up my rice ball, put cheese on it, shoved it in the oven and after another ten minutes or so, put the slice in. I went to pay and handed him my card. He said sorry, $10 minimum on card. I told him I had no cash and didn't have my bank card for the ATM. He said his boss told him no CC charges under $10, no exceptions. So I asked, "You mean the $7 worth of food you just cooked is going to get thrown out over a $3 discrepancy then? That doesn't make much sense." He shrugged. Except the food he cooked for me DIDN'T get thrown out! He put both the heated up slice back in the original display pan and the already cooked rice ball back on the counter to be served to someone else rather than in the trash. Three lessons on eating here: 1) If you want pizzeria food that isn't second hand, you may want to either go to Traviata around the corner or up to Big Nick's on 71st. 2) This place will sell you someone else's reheated food rather than bend a rule over three stinkin' bucks. 3) Avoid this place for the above stated reasons.
(1)Peter H.
Not closed on Sunday. Got broccoli sausage pasta and a sausage hero. Both were excellent. Both overloaded with delicious sausage. Decently priced (hero $11). You're not going to find anything cheaper in the upper west side area. Everybody inside was friendly and attentive. Would absolutely make this a regular stop if I didn't live 1000 miles away!
(4)Tracey M.
Amazingly good food and good value. Huge portions so don't over-do it. The salads are really terrific and you'll feel like you've eaten at an Italian restaurant, not a pizza joint.
(4)Taryn C.
My fave for delivery. They sell by slice on delivery which is a huge plus. My husband is not a pizza dude. I know, he was sent down by aliens. Anyway, he orders the pasta (your choice - penne, rigatoni, linguine, etc) with garlic and olive oil. Wow. That stuff is the business. I eat that on race nights or before long runs. Just your run of the mill serviceable Italian joint. Their pizza...I've had better.
(3)jeff f.
My go to place for chicken parm I get the chicken parm platter with a salad It's a bit pricy but its a massive portion Salad is a winner....good enough to get me to resist The fries which I have previously noted are my favorite in The city Ask them to bring out the salad first or they tend to bring it all at the same time
(4)Rick B.
Ordered delivery. Extremely average pizza. Took me back to memories of high school cafeteria pizza.
(2)Brooke C.
exactly what you expect from your neighborhood pizza joint. satisfying pizza, beer and soda. open late with lots of options. the guys are nice, will recognize you after a few visits and they're pretty quick. lots of pictures of famous people bc its right by abc's studios, but i've never seen one there. i have seen barbara walters walking around though. she's a walking condensed version of the last 50 years of history. pretty interesting. no surprises, no frippery, just satisfying ny style pizza.
(3)JB R.
Francesco's is by far the best pizza on the Upper West Side.
(4)Nathan L.
I know my NY pizza, and for the standard NY fold-and-eat slice, this place is the best in New York. I repeat, the BEST in New York. One tip, though.... if you order a whole pie for delivery or pickup, it is not near as good. It's the weirdest thing and it took me several tries to figure this out. I guess the second cooking (when they warm up the slices) is really essential to make the crust crispy and everything comes together. So if you are wanting a whole pie, don't order it that way - just get the slices that you want.
(5)Jay S.
I completely agree with Diana - this place is not nearly as bad as everyone's made it out to be. Or maybe it got better... Wish I could give it 3.5 stars Very unpretentious surroundings, and we were served immediately on the first warm night in the city where every other restaurant had a 1-2 hour wait. The wait staff is friendly and there seem to be quite a few locals who frequent the place. I've never tried anything but the Cheese Pizza, but have been satisfied every time. The crust is really light and airy, and has a hint of olive oil. Might be a tad too sweet. They don't overdo it on the sauce or cheese either, so it is a very solid slice in an area that can sometimes have very bad pizza. Will definitely be back.
(4)Diana T.
I was surprised to come here and realize that it was not as bad as the reviewers made it out to be! My bf came in late night for some pizza since it was about 4 blocks down from our hotel at around 3 in the morning. The guys there were definitely friendly and very welcoming and quite lively for 3 in the morning, despite us being the only customers at the time. The pizza was ranked my third favorite of all the places we tried so overall I felt it was good. The crust was a little bland but the cheese was just right for me, which is always the important part! If we're back in the neighborhood next time I'll come back maybe once or twice.
(4)Justin Y.
Francesco's a bit different from other pizza joints, both in a good and bad way. Pros: The crust is made differently, I believe its similar to the bagel crust? Generally good service, delivery-wise, never had any bad experiences... Cons: The cheese is of poor quality, and thus the pizza isn't as good as it could be. The pizza's more oily than most other places. Verdict: I would rather try other pizza places.
(3)LG S.
Living on the UWS, we know finding a good NY slice can seem impossible. And yet, this is one place that won't disappoint. If you understand ingredients, you'll appreciate FRANCESCO. The crust is memorable. Very flavorful to the last bite. Soft without being pasty. Tastes even better the next day when you warm it up in the toaster oven. Doesn't turn into cardboard when it gets cold. Unlike your USUAL floppy or overly oily ones. The sauce is sweet. Fresh-tasting. Didn't feel like mass-produced bucket sauce. And the cheese is just enough. Overall it is a bit on the SWEET side but it is fresh and good. Service is prompt both in-person and for delivery. If you order thru their website, the pie will arrive in about 30-45min. Plus at the price of $18 for an 18" extra large pie, it's a great pie. We usually tip $4 or $5 -- so for less than $25, you're all-set. We haven't tried their other foods but have heard great things. PATSY's is our favorite for thin crust. In the area for a NYC good, fresh, affordable slice, try FRANCESCO's. And tell us what YOU think. Other options we like are MARIELLA'S, LA TRAVIATA and RIGOLETTO. Stick with FRANCESCO's and enjoy. Cheers.
(5)Jami C.
Terrible, absolutely terrible. I went back twice just in case the first time was an off night. Pizza is not very tasty and their baked ziti... well the dish that took 20 minutes to make was a tin filled with pasta covered in melted mozzarella cheese. There are so many other great places for pizza in the hood, don't waste your money here.
(1)Daniel C.
This is my go to place when I'm on the UWS or anywhere withim a cab ride. i got to talking with the owner one time I was there and hes a real nice guy. He also happens to be from the same part of Sicily my father was born so all the recipes are authentic and remind me very much of eating at home or at my relatives house when I'm overseas. Most of the time though, I am just in the mood for pizza which at Francescco's is second to none. Good crust, nice fresh sauce thats not to overly seasoned, and always a good variety if you want to stray from some of the more traditional varieties. The pasta though is where they really shine. I cant remember ever having a dish of pasta there that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The last one I had was the Pappardele with fresh plum tomatoes, fresh basil, and in house made fresh mozzarella. It was awesome and I can't wait to find a reason to go back into the city and stop there even if its just for a plain slice. I also suggest trying any one of the entrees or specials. I remember enjoying a huge dish of Chicken Marsala and the pasta Bolognese is off the charts. One reviewer said that theres no liquor but they do serve a couple of different beers and if I'm not mistaken you can bring your own wine. I am not a wine drinker so I never paid attention. All that being said, you will not be disappointed. Solid performance! Keep up the good work.
(5)M R.
Good food, but don't bother going if you don't have cash. They won't take credit cards for anything under $10. I do my best to support local businesses, but this is 2013, and not taking credit cards is bad move. There are dozens of other places in the neighborhood that are happy to get my business.
(1)Rachel R.
If you like this pizza, then you have a retarted palette. I've eaten here 3 times. 1st because i live in the neighborhood and was tasting EVERY pizza joint in it. I didn't like it. 2nd time was because I was running errands and very hungry and in the mood for a quick pizza. I like cheese and had it prior and thought adding pepperoni and asking for a side of tomatoe sauce to add to my pizza would add some flavor as there isn't any pizza sauce on it (little to none) and it didn't do anything. 3rd was now. It doesn't even seem cooked after asking them to put it in the oven TWICE. The pepperoni looked fresh sliced without that nice crusty glow to it and the peppers were hard still. YUCK! There isn't even any sauce on it and the sauce that I requested was BLAND! My little bro is visiting and wanted to make a late night pizza run. NEW PIZZA TOWN on broadway and 77th(ish) was closed which is MY FAVORITE PIZZA PLACE. I had no choice. I told him I'd take him to all the pizza joints as he enjoys pizza just as much as I do. He also ate NEW PIZZA TOWN earlier and said it didn't even compare. I offered for him to finish my bland tasting pizza and he declined. DECLINED MY PIZZA?!?! @ NEW PIZZA TOWN he bought 3 slices and asked if he could finish my crust!!!!!!! That should tell you something people! WARNING this joint is hazardous to your soul
(1)Nathalia P.
Been coming to the place my whole life. Consistantly good slices, unpretentious, and overall great. In 20 years, Francescos has remained a solid staple of the nieghborhood. If it wasnt good, it wouldnt stay in business-after all, this is the upper west side.
(5)Mark H.
Remember Ellio's frozen pizza that you would make at home as a kid? Well the pizza here, especially the crust, is a dead ringer for it. Avoid if you can. And you can, because Rigoletto's is better. (And bigger now, too!)
(2)Wendy L.
Had pasta from Francesco's at Winter's Eve (outside festival in Lincoln Center), it was yum-yum delicious! As a result, decided to try it further and order in pizza. Went with a basic large, cheese pizza, and I was not disappointed. The crust is chewy and soft, and there was a great ratio of cheese to sauce. This is A-OK, I would absolutely order again.
(3)M. C. M.
Did not want to get take out from here...but so glad we did. While we were waiting, my husband tried a plain slice and their garlic knots (5 for $1.50 - so cheap). He said they were "fine" - not great, not bad. We got 2 subs take - 1 grilled chicken and 1 meatball. Their rolls are so of the best we've had, so that was a big hit. They give you fresh potato wedges too. Satisfying and reasonably priced (subs w/ fries - $9.50). Service was friendly. There were several family tables eating enormous portions of pasta platters, and they all looked happy.
(3)Nelson X.
Not my choice for a neighborhood slice but they do have seating. It's hard to come here when Rigoletto's is so close by. Cheers! N.
(2)christy p.
Love this place! The staff is very attentive, friendly and when you go back they remember you! The owner, VINO, is very friendly and he does his best to keep this place w/ good food. Not to mention their late hours...... Can't complain about anything here!!
(5)Layla C.
Eggplant pizza was fantastic. However, it's usually a zoo of feisty, obnoxious children since it is bigger than the rest of the nearby neighborhood pizza places. So maybe I'd stick with delivery if I were you. And by that I mean if you are me and like to enjoy your meals without small children slamming into the back of your chair, screaming for the sake of screaming and singing nursery rhymes. Nooooo thanks. I prefer Rigoletto. Found everything other than the eggplant pizza to be pretty bland and unexciting. Less interesting and creative options also. Not bad in a pinch. Delivery is almost too quick.
(3)Jenn E.
I always forget about this plae but recently got pizza delivered and man, that crust is tasty! It's almost sweet in a weird way but the texture is perfect and it's very delicious! I really wanted a damn rice ball but they were out and gave me a potato ball instead which was bland, and not very good at all.
(3)Rick L.
My favorite pizza on the UWS and my wife swears by the eggplant parm. Make sure to try the Margherita pizza, the fresh mozz is unreal!
(4)Casie G.
Horrible! The pizza is so gross! mine was wet !? Ordered mushroom and had no sauce! Never again....do yourself a favor and walk one block up there is a muchhh better pizza spot.
(1)Joey L.
Can't believe these reviews...I have only ordered in and tried the pasta bolognese and veal parm. They don't skimp on their portions they are huge and fresh. The veal was really delicious. I will try their pizza soon and update.
(4)Abraham L.
Solid neighborhood pizza joint on the upper west side. I've been a fan of Frencesco since the late 1990's, when I went there daily for the after-school slice special. All these years later, they continue to produce good neighborhood-style slices and decent garlic knots. They're not completely consistent (expect the occasional charred slice), but they've got a good enough record to recommend them as a local oasis for simple, delicious, and affordable grub.
(4)Kyle L.
Pretty good pies. Better than rigoletto imo.
(4)Scott R.
Neighborhood UWS by-the-slice pizzeria that also has a full Italian menu. More seating than La Traviata and Cafe Rigoletto which seems to endear them more to parents w/ young kids. Also open later than the other nearby pizza places to woo in the adults sans progeny, w/ babysitter or w/ questionable child-rearing skills. I've tried the standard cheese slices on two occasions and it's doubtful there will be a third. The crisp, thick crust and sweet sauce were fine - but the cheese. If its flavor was any more neutral, I'd swear it was Swiss. Haven't tried the other options but, if I find myself there again, I'll try one of those before eating another cheese slice....
(3)Kelly T.
Subpar pizza. Cramped environment. Would echo Elizabeth L.'s statement. Rigoletto's down the street is equally priced and much, much better (fresher ingredients, better cooking, and cleaner environment). We won't be coming back.
(2)o o.
Yummy slices. Order a slice or a pie. Many different options for toppings that are fresh. The salad was surprisingly good, in fact, gourmet with nice ingredients and large slices of cheese. Someone in my party took a risk and got the seafood soup which payed off. Not the best slices in NYC but a good place to grab a slice and salad.
(4)Louie R.
I had a slice at this place and I thought it was pretty good so a few days later I made the mistake of ordering a pie delivered. AWFUL!! Nothing like the slice I had in the store. Mostly crust and hardly any cheese!!! A pizza with very little cheese???!!! I will never order from them again.
(1)Laurence K.
Best pizza between 60th and 70th; try their chicken and eggplant parm.
(5)Jeff M.
The pizza was really good. The crust had a crunchy crispiness that is so good. I preferred the thin crust, but the Sicilian was also very good. Fresh toppings. Some of the best pizza we had during the week of vacation.
(4)Jim S.
Got order wrong. Limp pizza.
(2)Roger K.
It says right on the box, "Olive Oil Crust"... The problem with the pizza is the crust. It's not crispy. At all. It's sweet with a very strange texture which I find very unappealing. The entire slice has a taste which totally misses the cheese-tomato-grease-yeast ideal of a slice. I don't get it.
(2)Gabrielle B.
They have baked ziti PIzza!!!!!
(4)Alex S.
Love this place- fast delivery (on a Saturday night!) always hot, good crust- what more can you ask for?
(5)David W.
I'm my opinion Francesco's has the best slices on the UWS, but then again I am from Chicago and prefer my slices cut into squares. I do however respect New York style pizza and have housed my fair share of NY pies. Hopefully, you won't disregard my review. The selection is large and ranges from your standard cheese slice to a baked ziti slice to the unbelievable chicken and broccoli slice. On my last few visits they were out of my chicken and broccoli slice, which really through me for a loop and left me with no other choice than to go behind chicken and broccolis back and order a slice of pepperoni. Pepperoni....mmmmmm.... She's not bad either. The tables of course are adorned with the usual suspects sitting and waiting for you to turn them upside down and shake them around. When in Rome, shake some garlic powder on that slice. 1 Chicken and Broccoli Slice 1 Ginger Ale ------------------------------------------- $5.00
(4)Mary Ann M.
We went to Francesco's yesterday after being in the audience of the abc show "The Chew". The place was packed when we walked in, not a seat to be had. We didn't have to wait long for a seat. My husband had a slice of white pizza with sausage and a slice of the broccoli/artichoke pizza. The pizza was excellent, crust was very good the sauce tasty and seasoned well. The ingredients are all fresh, even the artichoke was fresh artichoke, not canned. I had cannelini bean, pasta, sausage and broccoli rabe soup topped with a fresh spring of parsley. The soup was served with bread. The soup was delicious, again all fresh ingredients and freshly made. The italian bread was amazing. First of all it was warm. It was light on the inside and the crust was so crisp, really delicious. The people working in the restaurant were all very friendly. I don't know why the reviews for this place aren't better but I would highly recommend going. We will definitely go back when we're in the area.
(5)Kris L.
My friend and I walked in to grab a slice for a quick lunch. My first NY-style pizza in New York, and it was good. I was mildly impressed they had a cheese-less pie out for my vegan friend, but while they took her order right away, the guy behind the counter ignored me until after the next set of customers came in. I got a basic slice - cheese. It was tasty, with a moderately crispy crust, and a good flavor. While I enjoyed it, I don't think it's something that I'll specifically seek out; it wasn't really much better than the NY-style pizza I can get in MI.
(3)Danny P.
Can be hit or miss, but definitely worth a shot. Usually good fresh slices. Sausage slices are really good and a thinner crust but very good Sicilian slice if you like that kind of thing.
(3)Angie S.
Cheesy pizza with a nice crust. Service was typical of a pedestrian pizza joint.
(3)Karol S.
Totally decent delivery pasta. I like their baked ziti and eggplant rollantini. I'm from Brooklyn, and now live in Manhattan, so I am forever searching for a pizza place to deliver the red sauce standards. For now, that place is Francesco as I have found no better.
(3)Robert D.
Francesco's had a very delicious pizza for me to eat all to myself, but I felt a little unwelcome as a sit down diner and the service was not the best (but not unfriendly). As a takeout joint, this place is fantastic and I would give it higher. As a sit down restaurant which was my experience, I was a little let down.
(3)Pree R.
Ordered in after reading the reviews here. Pleasantly suprised -- I used to walk by Francesco on my way to the gym (former apt) and always thought this place looked like a total dive. In fact, walked in once and decided against eating here. But the personal pizza and canolli were actually quite good. A bit too cheesy on the pizza for my taste (I prefer a higher sauce to cheese ration) but a very interesting, sweet crust. If you like cheesy pizza, give Francesco a shot. And the canolli - very, very good!
(3)Letty N.
My favorite local UWS pizza. The hours are great, they consistently have white pizza my favorite. The people there are nice, efficient... a bit pricey for pizza but it is the UWS. the decor is crap but that's not what you go for ;-) I prefer them to Rigolletto's. they also have a full menu of italian dishes for in or out, never tried but smells good. Free delivery in the neighborhood but I always walk over even if it to bring it home!
(5)G L.
Excellent white pizza. Seating available but not the best service.
(3)Linda W.
Ordered delivery, service was fast. I was really hungry, so any pizza would have been delicious. I will need to review again after I go to the restaurant.
(3)Theresa O.
If you're looking for good delivery for baked ziti, penne a la vodka, chicken parmesan, I'd recommend this place. I've never been inside the actual restaurant, but delivery is fairly quick and the food is flavorful and comes in large portions.
(4)Anna L.
My fave neighborhood pizza place... actually has the best pasta on the UWS as well. Okay, so perhaps it's not as good as La Vela or Pomodoro but it's pretty close and quite a surprise to find good pasta at what appears to be a pizzeria. The eggplant slices here are awesome. The rigatoni margherita pasta dish is a fave. I go here once a week for take out on the way home from the gym (yes, the pizza negates the workout). A must try!
(5)Callie R.
Francesco's is an all time favorite place of mine! I love the pizza and the staff is always friendly! I love to go here for eggplant parm, the bolognese is fab. and the salads with grilled chicken are awesome too! I don't know why there are so many Rigoletto fans on Francesco's page but clearly there is something very wrong about you if you are bad mouthing this restaurant on this page. I would eat Francesco's over any pizzeria in New York! Love you guys!
(5)John Z.
This place has some of the worst slices I have ever tasted. I couldn't have told them apart from frozen pizza.....yuck. I don't know about their pasta, but don't get their slices.
(1)Risa P.
DO NOT GET DELIVERY IF YOU ARE ON A SCHEDULE! I CANNOT adequately express my unhappiness with Francesco's service. Please note that I give 1 star because of service, as the food was quite good but NOT worth the hassle. Here is my experience. I share it so you don't have to go through the same thing: 9:45am: I call francesco's and tell them I need an order delivered at 11:45. The man tells me to call back at 10:30 and hangs up. This makes me nervous. I am making the order for a big, important meeting, and if things don't go right, it's my ass on the line. 10:15 am: I call back to place my order because I'm getting nervous. The man who answers the phone cannot speak english. I actually pride myself at understanding a bevvy of thick accents, but this man's english is SO bad that the conversation takes 3 times as long as normal. What I get out of it is that he has taken my order, it will be delivered at 11:45 that he understands that I mentioned yelp so I will get a 15% discount and a lady will call me at 10:40 to take my credit card information. Weird but fine. 10:45am: Lady has not called to take my credit card order. Am getting more nervous. I call Francesco's and the non english speaker answers the phone and again through a lot of repitition I come to understand that the woman was supposed to come in 20 min ago but hasn't shown up yet. I am assured that my order will be in my hands at 11:45am. 11:15am: Lady has still not called. I have to run to duane reade and pick up drinks and cookies for the meeting so I cannot just sit at my desk and wait. I call Francesco's and tell the guy to take down my credit card number cause I can't wait. He does and AGAIN promises me both the 15% discount and that the pizza will arrive by 11:45am. 11:45am: no pizza. I call and she said she just sent the delivery guy out. We are 3 blocks away from the pizzeria. 11:55am: no pizza 12:00pm: no pizza and the meeting has started!!! hungry executives! Oh no! 12:05pm: 20 min after it was supposed to be here the pizza arrives. The bill I get doesn't reflect the discount but I figure they gave it to me anyways. After the meeting I call to make sure. They tell me that I don't get the discount because I'm not a first time customer. That's news to me because i've sure as heck never ordered from there before. I'm using my boss' card, but I'm sure she's never ordered from there before either because she said she had never heard of the place. Additionally, no where on yelp does it say you have to be a first time customer.I get a little peeved at this point and I tell the woman that the pizza was 20 min late which the woman actively denied. Finally she said rudely that it wouldn't happen again. She's right that it won't happen again because I will never order from them again. Neither should you if you care what time you eat!
(1)Amol G.
Their pizza almost tastes like Ellio's meaning the crust is bland and the sauce is bland. The crust is too thin also so the pizza ends up being sloppy and watery. Got my usual mushroom and pepperoni and was very disappointed.
(2)Olivia B.
This is a great pizzeria, my friends and I always like to go to this place whenever we feel like eating some pizza.
(3)Christopher C.
Whenever I trek up to the park I love to stop by Francesco's. There are plenty of good slices throughout the city, but none of them compare to the quality of pizza I get here. The taste and texture are exactly what I'm looking for in a slice. The pizza is crispy but not burnt. The amount of sauce and cheese is perfect, and I love how they put a layer of olive oil on the crust. I would say it meets the criteria for the perfect slice. Criteria include texture, crust, cheese, and mouth feel. Another favorite of mine is pasta with bolognese, and at Francesco's they do it right. They cook the pasta to a great texture and the bolognese is meatier than an asteroid field. Get it!? Ha, but honestly I love that sauce. It tastes fresh and vibrant with a great tomato and beef flavor. The peas in the sauce also give it a nice texture. I can't wait to have it again. Until next time.
(5)