Francesca’s
1145 Church St, Northbrook, IL, 60062
Francesca’s Menu
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Appetizer
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Insalate
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Pizze
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Secondi
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Pasta
Healthy Meal suggestions for Francesca’s
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Appetizer
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Insalate
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Pizze
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Secondi
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Pasta
Visit below restaurant in Northbrook for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Northbrook for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1145 Church St
Northbrook, IL, 60062 - Phone (847) 559-0260
- Website https://miafrancesca.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Brandon B.
I used to be a huge fan of Francesca's. I came in town from LA and purposely made a reservation. Unfortunately I was unaware of their expansion that totally destroyed their quality and service. Tonight was a total flop. They are significantly understaffed leading to long waits for service and screwed up orders. I will certainly never be back. I would hope that this is not a reflection of the entire family of restaurants but honestly I don't plan on finding out.
(2)Alan R.
I am not huge on going out for Italian generally. I have a hard time paying $10-20 for pasta. I love Francesca's though. The pasta is very fresh, it seems as if they make their own pasta. They totally make you feel at home with a very attentive staff. The servers, host(ess) and bus boys do everything to take care of you. We went for my wife's birthday and they gave us a profiterole (like an eclair with chocolate and custard) for free. I have been to the Arlington Heights location many times and they also have great salads, appetizers and deserts. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Elly O.
My family has been going to Francesca's my whole life and we have celebrated mile stones here. Each time we go share so many family memories here so it always feels like home. The food hands down is the best Italian in all of the North Shore and love how the classics always remain on the menu but rest will rotate from season to season. Although management and staff and changed over the years great service is always provided :) keep up the amazing work!
(5)Niki S.
Addicted to this place. The best chicken romano ever. Everything from the bread to their changing menu is always amazing. I could eat here 7 days a week.
(5)Chris J.
YUM!!! best italian food ever. hands down. fresh herbs..load of real parm reggiano cheese... quality food. SO good
(5)Rebecca H.
Francesca's in Northbrook was a favorite dining room for a "nice" night out with the kiddos. We went there a lot over the past few years and enjoyed it immensely. It was one of those places where we even got to know the service staff a bit and that made the place even more likeable. I should have known this would be a disaster when we were seated in the second room in the corner and only one other table was being used (of about 20). The main dining room was busy but not every table was in use. So exiled in an air conditioned Siberia we began the worst dinner we have ever had at Francesca's. Everything went wrong. It took over an hour to receive our food and only after I went up to the kitchen and asked the manager why the delay was so huge. Even then the food was not arriving quickly so my husband went to the manager and asked to close the bill - we had received one appetizer and 4, yes 4 loaves of bread for just a few people at the table. She insisted we stay. We all wanted to leave. The waiter apologized profusely, the manager comped us our meals and we ate and left. The food was way oversalty, the kids meal, supposed to come with a drink and dessert offered neither and the calamari fritti was frtti beyond recognition. It's sad to see a decent place go into the dumps. I doubt we will return there anytime soon. Francesca's can do way better than they did with us this week.
(1)Donovan G.
Was seated by the bathroom and when it was time to order server would gonto other tables before ours. Then when ordering utensils was not available to eat with. I can say portion size for the food was good along with the salads. Was not happy with service or have to be waited on for to get service in a timely manner.
(3)Rion R.
Authentic Italian at a fair price. They didn't have any tap beers but plenty of wine to choose from. Small intimate space and we had a seat near the kitchen. Had the spaghetti and a another non meat dish and the costs was abut $45 with tip. Reasonably prices and I could tell the noodles were hand made and fresh. They had unlimited bread, olive oil and motz cheese on the table as well. I liked this location and would certainly go back. Only dinged one star because of the speed of the meal coming out and waitress could have been more attentive.
(4)Mylene E.
We made reservations and we were seated 20 minutes late. By the time we sat down, I ordered calamari and a Caesar salad because I was starving. Glad I did because we waited 40 minutes for our main dish to arrive. My husband orders the seafood with linguini and I ordered the risotto with shrimp. My husband didn't like his due to being too bland. He felt as if the sauce came out of a can. My risotto was good but was a little too al dente for me. Our time there from start to finish was 2 hours with no dessert. I felt like they were stressed due to the volume of people they had. They were behind and the food was average.
(2)Haley K.
A group of us went for dinner on a Saturday night. We ordered calamari for appetizers and also some risotto which were fantastic. I ordered the seafood pasta and it was a bit bland, almost bare noodles. There was really no tomato sauce and was a bit watery. Other than that, the service was great, prompt and professional.
(3)Khan K.
Went there with my office colleagues for a dinner, and I must say it was a nice choice. They had a nice variety of food and daily specials, and the food tasted really nice too, not over the top great, but pretty nice, tasted quite authentic too for an Italian place. I ordered lobster ravioli, and it was not only tasty but certainly a good amount too, enough that I couldn't finish the whole thing. I would definitely recommend this place for a nice office dinner, not for a casual friends hang out though. The only thing that put me off was their shrimp and calamari appetizer. It tasted well, but while they claimed it was for 10 people, it was barely eni uh gh for 5, that's what brought it down to 4 stars for me.
(4)Lance L.
2 stars is a stretch... Simply mediocre food with no love. Their red sauce is just an open can of tomatoes, with a couple of pieces of basil thrown in. Their meatballs smelled like cat food. Pollo al Limone was as if they boiled it in concentrated lemon juice out of the green bottle and was somehow dry. My guess is the chef has taken a great deal of time off, and the cooks are simply getting the food out. Also, the clientele is afraid of flavor and prone to be demanding. Good luck to the place - it's cute in there. I think they have lost their identity and sort of given up... If you want to pay full price for little flavor, this is the place for you... They service is great, everyone is friendly, it's just sad that the back of the house has evidently, simply phoned it in...
(2)Asdf A.
Pro Decent pasta Good portion Con Pricey Tried Linguine with shrimp and shitake mushroom Got shrimp linguine which turned out pretty good. $20 for the past but portion was large enough to make up for the price. Service was good.
(3)Peter K.
Went to this restaurant especially for a gluten free pizza which is listed on their menu. After ordering it, I was told that the restaurant did not have it. Second time this happen. Waitress said I could order fish, which I did, but she did not tell me that the fish was " market price" . Fish was so-so, and when I received the bill it was $27. After complaining, the manager reduced the price and she did not charge me for the glass of red wine that I ordered because I was having a gluten free pizza. Nevertheless, I am not going to eat there again.
(1)Kathleen C.
While I typically really enjoy Francesca's many incarnations, I wasn't overly impressed with the Northbrook location. First of all, decor-wise, it's nothing special and doesn't feel as cozy as some of their other locations. The service was friendly enough, but though we were in a private party room, I didn't feel like they were overly friendly and rushed us a bit on our drink orders (and also didn't explain what we had ordered or not, so there was a bunch of confusion related to ordering). The food itself was ok, but nothing special to me (and I love some of their spots in the city, so this was disappointing). I found it regular Italian food in a location I wouldn't travel very far for. It was ok for a work dinner, but not something I'd do for a special occasion or normal dinner spot. Food - 3 Atmosphere - 3 Service - 3 Bathrooms - 3 Value - 4
(3)Valerie W.
My bf and I had an impromptu date night at Francesca's a few weeks back. We both had a taste for Italian, and wanted to get away from our "usual" haunts. Enter: Francesca's. I've been to the Francesca's in Arlington Heights before, so I was expecting the same type of ambiance and service. Let's be frank. This Francesca's used to be a Deli. It still pretty much looks like a Deli, with a fresh coat of paint and some faux Italian stuff on the walls. I was a little disappointed by that, as the other location I've been to has a much more warm and intimate feel. Service was pretty decent... as their menu changes daily based on availability of ingredients, it doesn't make much sense for me to dive too far into what we ate, but we did have one pasta dish, one fish, two appetizers, a salad to share, and a dessert. Pretty much everything was tasty - nothing I'm RUNNING back for for the price we paid. I like that their menu changes based on ingredients and what's fresh, but I think there are still places out there that do a better job. When I do go back to a Francesca's, it will certainly be one of the more intimate locations and not this one, I just didn't care for the feel of it.
(3)Kenneth P.
Very average cuisine and fairly limited menu. Ambiance was cold as the restaurant is huge compared to Lake Forest. Food has been better in previous visits. Not in a rush to return.
(3)Matt B.
Restaurants are limited in Northbrook but Francesca's North makes a trip to visit mom worth it. I love their bruschetta with it's perfect combination of EVOO, spices and tomatoes. Their rotating menu always offers fun fish options that have never steered me wrong. And we do carry out more often than we should. My mom's favorite on the carry out menu is the Pasta con Asparagi which I always have to indulge in. The thick cream sauce is delicious but I'm sure high in calories so I won't let myself eat a who order. For a lighter pasta choice I typically go with the al Pomodoro. And we both always select rigatoni as our noodle because they are the best!
(4)Chris M.
I had a great date night with the Mrs. here last night. The place was packed, and for good reason. The pasta dishes here are amazing!!!! I had the Shrimp Diavola b/c I love the extra kick in my sauce with the red pepper flakes. My wife's dish off the weekly special though was what BLEW OUR MINDS!!! I don't remember the exact name but it was gnochi like pasta with Shitaki mushrooms, artichokes, and a tomato sauce topped with fresh goat cheese, YUM!!! PLEASE make this a permanent fixture on the menu!!!
(4)Lisa M.
Always great daily specials on the menu with fresh ingredients. The menu is always changing, which makes it exciting to try new things. The pasta dishes are very reasonalby priced and are always delicious. As in most Italian restaurants...the servings are huge!
(4)Dave V.
Yum! This place has some really great foods and some fair prices. There are many things on their menu that are a bit expensive an i wouldn't say anything is cheap but it all, for the most part, is reasonable. I got a delicious linguine al faggottaro and i must say the portion was very generous and i was very pleased as was everyone at the table with their meals. I would definitely suggest this place to people to make their own opinion but i would call this a cheaper nice place to visit. The only negative things i had to say was that i thought it was odd that they packed people in closer rather than utilizing the second half of the facility. I came to the conclusion that if they were going to fill one half of the room first they should fill the back half so that people aren't trying to squeeze through the tables, which are a little close for larger parties, to get to the second half. plus you are bumping into chairs or standing next to people that are trying to eat so it can seem a bit awkward. It also seemed like they were trying to skip refilling my water glass even though it seemed that they were looking at the table and even refilled on of the other guests glasses. Everything considered, i enjoyed my overall experience, especially since it wasn't coming out of my pocket :) and i will definitely be back again.
(4)Lisa K.
Amazing service at the bar..Tim was great..and Shiri the manager made sure our meal was perfect and experience was pleasant!! Cant wait to go back!
(4)Betty C.
We've been coming here regularly since they first opened almost 15 years ago. Am afraid that their new corporate structure is changing things for the worse. I'm in the food business and have read about the corporate changes taking place with this used to be local chain. This week we went for lunch. The place was 1/10th full so it was quiet. The service was good but it was clear new corporate "standards" have started to take their toll on what used to be a 4.5 star place. The had some silly marketing pieces on the tables with trivia about tomatoes and prize giveaways - something you'd expect at a big chain but feels really out of place here at a white tablecloth "neighborhood" spot. For starters the calamari are no longer the small tender rings and tentacles from the past. Although still fairly tender the new calamari are thicker and quite a bit tougher than they were for years. Nowhere near as good - a real shame because they alone were a reason to go there. Also the marinara dipping sauce tasted fishy - quite strange since it is only supposed to be a spicy marinara- of course it had no spiciness whatsoever. We thoroughly enjoyed the Francesca's burger with crispy mozzarella, bacon jam, garlic aioli and arugula on brioche - see picture of the menu description. The fries were quite skimpy though. The new pizza dough however was a real disappointment. The former pizza dough was thin and crisp almost cracker-like at the edges. The new dough looks and tastes pre-made, almost a perfect circle and it was chewy and dense also a bit oily and had a weird orange hue to it. We did order the chocolate banana bread pudding for dessert and although the portion was smaller than before the same delicious flavors were still there. The manager was very interested in our feedback and comped the calamari and pizza above - a gesture to keep us happy and willing to return. We'll probably give them one more try before we give up on them. Darn shame.
(3)Matt R.
So I've eaten here twice. Neither time by choice, but my family is and has always been a fan of Italian food. They like about as much variety in their food as a slug enjoys salt. Needless to say, we end up eating at Italian places a good 75% of the time. The first time I came here, I came on lunch. I was a little taken aback by how brief the menu is. I suppose it's not a bad thing - the general concept of "let's not have too many things on the menu". Meanwhile, the choices are not very varied either. It's basically, salad, 1 of 2 types of pasta, and pizza - with a majority of options involving meat such as pancetta. I do recognize that pancetta is traditionally good quality and of homage to true Italian cuisine, but I don't always look for meat when I go out. I guess this only separates the "would I come here again?" The food was pretty decently seasoned, and the portions are fairly generous for the entrees. I would say one thing that makes me happy here is knowing that you also get a generous amount of very fresh Parmigiano Reggiano. I've seen some restaurants ration the stuff, here you get the true Italian experience. So those are the plusses: the food, at least to me. The service is fine too, I can't say that I've had anything wrong with the service *staff*. I wish I could say the same for the cooking staff. We'll get to that. So let's turn this around to tonight. Mothers Day. In absence of all logic, my family thought it would be a good idea to try to eat at a restaurant on a Hallmark holiday. Really, who couldn't see this coming? So let's see what happened: We arrived at around 530 PM, went in to the restaurant about 6. We left the restaurant around 830. Somewhere in there is almost an hour and a half of waiting for food to be served. People complained about the quality when we finally got it - but quality seemed okay to me (maybe could have had a little more sauce for the wife but my dish was fine). Others reported the food being inconsistent in terms of temperature too. The poor waiter looked like he was going to die dealing with this matter. At the heart of the issue is very specific: Whether the chefs have good talent, or bad talent is not even a question to me. However, the inability to handle the Mother's Day experience of having a fully booked restaurant full of people? That really ruined the evening for the other people that went with me. To me? Franchesco's is still okay, I'll probably go back some day. Maybe not high priority but you know, I understand the issue. What happened: I saw server after server, waiter after waiter, sitting and waiting at the counter for the chefs to give them the food which they were anxiously waiting to be able to bring back to the tables. Probably an average of 6 waiters simply waiting on the chefs. So whose fault is this? The chefs to come up with a system that can handle large crowds. Who took the fall tonight? The apologetic waiter, the manager who got royally chewed out by my family for the excessive wait, etc. To them *I* apologize for the treatment they received. But whose fault is this truly? Whoever manages the kitchen is the one whose due to look at this and fix this, because everyone else suffers. Also, verizon users - this entire plaza seems to be basically a dead zone for reception - you probably won't be able to check in here.
(2)Jay K.
I can't believe I haven't written about this place yet. I been here many times and I really like it here. They have a new menu every day. Nice atmosphere. Great food, great drinks, great service. It does get very crowded but sometimes you can snag a table at the bar. I actually think the service is better at in the bar area. The spicy mussels appetizer is fantastic. Sometimes I get two orders for myself. The sauce is fabulous. Just give me a loaf of their great bread and a spoon and look out! My wife loves the lentil, goat cheese and spinach appetizer. It's not always on the menu but it should be. Good pizza and salads not great. Great everything else, pasta, chicken, fish all really good!
(4)Richard S.
Service is okay. Loud acoustics. Overpriced for what it is; marginal Italian food. First and last visit.
(2)Elaine M.
I had never been to Francesca's North prior to this weekend but had certainly seen it advertised everywhere. Went to a bridal shower there. They have a nice room to serve groups. To begin we had pizzas with arugula passed as the appetizer. These where outstanding and the best part of the meal. Makes me want to return to try other pizza offerings. Once we sat down we where served family style which is nice but there was so much food I hate to think about the amount of waste there was. First course was lentils with goat cheese and a tossed salad. Both were tasty. For the main course, there was a dish of grilled chicken and green beans as well as a dish of pasta and vegetables. The chicken was nicely cooked and moist and the pasta was fine. Dessert was coffee and profiteroles. I think the profiteroles were a disappointment. The puffs were chewy and something off tasting with the chocolate sauce. The star of the meal was really the pizza! The staff was very friendly and accommodating. We had a diner at our table that required a gluten free meal and they happily made a special lentil dish and a special pasta dish for her. If I need a place for a small group party I would certainly consider having the party here.
(4)Scott M.
Large portions. The pastas are just OK. The daily specials are usually better quality.
(4)Martin J.
Food was delicious! Drink service wads little slow. And I asked for Parmesan twice and it never came. Been to the Clark location many times, this one a step down from that. Still, real good food and I will be going back.
(3)James L.
Went to a 1 year old bday there for a friends' son. They did it right! Had the party in the backroom and we ate all the pasta and pizza we could handle. The best was the Farfalle alla Paesana, a Bow tie pasta with Italian sausage, mushroom and peas in a tomato cream sauce. Then they came out with Profiteroles, pastry balls filled with icecream... Excellent. I'd go back to try more from the menu if i'm ever in that area.
(4)Marissa D.
I've been going to Francesca's for over fifteen years now and I love that the restaurant has maintained its great service and delicious food. We went this past weekend to celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary and they were amazing as usual. With our party of ten adults plus two small children, things could get a little hairy, but the staff there was very accommodating and so helpful when my daughter stuffed herself so full of their yummy food that she threw up everywhere. I was really craving the veal with polenta, but since I'm trying to do a low carb diet, I went with the ribeye served on a bed a sauteed spinach. Needless to say I practically licked my plate clean. The one thing that did frustrate me was that I had asked to have two highchairs at the table for my kids when I made the reservation online. They called me to confirm the reservation and I reminded them about the highchairs, knowing how hectic it can be for my husband and me with a 9 month old and a 19 month old and needing to get them in the chairs right away. When we arrived, the chairs weren't there and we had to wait with two wriggly kids in our arms until they brought them over. It wasn't the end of the world, but in my opinion an inconvenience when our bill ended up being over $400.
(4)Maria S.
I wish Atlanta had a Francesca's. I could eat their arugula salad on a regular basis. Offered as the night's salad special, it was best thing I ate all night. Simple, yet delicious. The bruschetta our group ordered for the table was fresh and tasty, but I found the calamari to be just okay. Since the portions are large, I opted for an appetizer serving of the mussels. They were tender and juicy, and the smoked marinara sauce was a nice complement to the briny shellfish. Service was very attentive and accommodating. I look forward to trying one of the pasta dishes should I have the chance to visit again.
(4)Matthew K.
Went here on a date recently. For some reason i couldn't find the place for fhe life of me, even with my GPS, but they can't be faulted for that! Anyway, I really fancied the calamari. My date had a spicy dish that i tasted. Can't remember the name of it though. The staff was very attentive. Overall a good experience. I hope I get the chance to come back soon (if i can find it again).
(4)Ramon O.
Been here twice with my fiance and we've enjoyed our visit both times. The food has been great both times and the service has been top notch. They have a solid wine collection as well. Cannot wait to go back again!
(5)Tiffany L.
Having raved about my seafood linguine at Francesca's Forno in Wicker Park, my family visited this one in the burbs for a lunch. Unfortunately, the menu is different. Same bread, and herby olive oil (mmm I love that OO) -- but to my disappointment, none of that delicious herby butter we had at the other Francesca's. Our appetizers were delicious, much better than our entrees, I think. We had the calamari, and the bruschetta. The calamari was lightly fried and the squid fresh, one of my fave calamaris I've had. The bruschetta was very simple with olive oil, tomato and mozzerella, but enjoyable. As for entrees, the linguine with asparagus, shrimp, and shitake mushrooms (I think in a creamy tomato sauce) was a letdown -- very bland. Date's linguine with sausage was much more flavorful and I'd order that again. Their menu changes often though, since most of it was handwritten, so perhaps I'll be back to try some other entrees, and at least have some calamari again.
(3)Diana M.
Came here for dinner with my husband and another couple. The restaurant is cozy but I did not enjoy the food at all. I had the scallops and shrimp in mushroom sauce. I ate it because I was hungry but it was ridiculously over salted. My husband had the NY strip and said that was salty as well. The drinks were nothing special either. Overall nothing special about this restaurant. There are too many good Italian places in the Chicago area to go here twice.
(2)Kathleen P.
I have been a fan of Francesca's for years. I have been to several of the various locations and have never been disappointed. However, I think they may be 'slipping'. At a recent luncheon there were a few things that illustrated a change in quality. 1.The fried calamari was not the same. The tender, golden flaky crust that I had come to love...gone. Replaced by a breading that was reminiscent of a fast food onion ring. 2. The chicken had such a strange texture, I thought that it was fish! 3. The pasta dish with meat- while flavorful- contained a protein that tasted like fish. This is constructive criticism- in the hopes they will address the issues. I am giving the fourth star for the incredible service. The staff and management were incredibly attentive and professional.
(4)Christine K.
Held a party there for my son. I have to say, Shiri and the rest of the waitstaff knew what to do and were so accommodating. Our room was full capacity, with a whole bunch of kids. The waitstaff took it all in stride, always polite, helping to set up, helping to clean up. All in all, a great experience. The food itself was good. We had bruschetta, pizza and caesar salad for appetizer. Two types of pasta for entree and profiteroles for dessert. Everything came out as promised. We ended up with 8 cartons of food which we ate for the next few meals. Definitely a thumbs up for Francesca's North - both for the waitstaff and the food. We tried the mussels appetizers on a different visit and those were amazing too.
(4)E S.
Had the margherita pizza - delicious, but too bread, loved the bruschetta - so fresh and tasty!!! The chicken penne pasta was ok, reminded me of the rigatoni d from maggiano's.
(3)Michelle P.
I've been coming here since this location opened, over 15 years ago. Francesca's is a traditional upscale casual Italian place, with consistent food. The restaurant is always crowded on weekend nights and inside feels like someplace that's more like someplace in the city than being way out in the suburbs (even with the older suburban crowd). The food - some menu items rotate, but their "house specials" have a permanent place on the menu. The house salad "Insalata Franscesca" is amazing (and huge - you can easily share it, and they're happy to serve it divided onto two plates). Green beans and blue cheese added to what would be a typical greens/tomato/cucumber salad gives it a real kick. I always get that salad so I don't usually get around to trying the many appetizers and other salads on the menu, but there's a lot of variety, one day I have to try something new. As for entrees... even as the menu changes, the core composition is the same - around 6 or so pasta dishes, where 2 or 3 are usually vegetarian, a couple of chicken, a few different fish or seafood, and some other kind of meat (like pork or veal). The preparation and which vegetables, sauces accompany changes regularly, but the menu keeps the same structure, which is good if you like traditional food, and don't want to be surprised by "trendy" ingredients you've never heard of. There's a nice selection of wines, including quite a few by the glass. And then there's dessert... creme brulee, chocolate lava cake, apple crostada, profiteroles all are usually on the menu (or most of them are). Definitely a restaurant to keep coming back to.
(4)Rob W.
Stopped at this restaurant the evening before Thanksgiving for the first time in several years. Always liked the food there in the past, but with the plethora of Italian restaurants around Chicago, it isn't one that often comes to mind. The place was quite busy, so I sat at the bar where there were only three other customers. Decided to try a risotto with green bean appetizer and for dinner, whitefish in a marsala-like sauce, with sauteed vegetables. The risotto was OK - nothing distinctive though. The whitefish and the vegetables that accompanied it were excellent however. Wonderful flavor and cooked perfectly, firm texture. Maybe a little pricey for what I had, but overall a good dish. I also enjoyed some burnt caramel gelati for dessert - a nice finish to a decent meal. The bartender serving me did a good job, though the entree did seem to be a little slow coming out of the kitchen though. I'll be back sooner this time. This is another time when I wish this was a 10 star system - really a 3.5 here - I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt.
(4)lisa a.
Some of the worst food I have had in the area. I have given it three separate attempts and they failed each time. The first time I sent an email to the manager explaining how bad the previous evening went. He assured me that I would receive a gift card. never heard another word from him.
(1)Adrienne A.
LOVE..THIS..PLACE! I have never seen such friendly staff! I went here with a friend a couple months ago and ordered an appetizer and entree (which were superb). Since we didn't see anything completely unique about the desserts being offered we opted to get the check. Instead of the check, we get a complimentary dessert from the chef himself! How sweet! I have been a frequent customer ever since. Its evident that the staff want to be there and enjoy what they do. Highly recommend for any occasion.
(5)Northshore F.
I love the changing variety of items on their menu. One of my favorites was the spinach ravioli's. Food is always excellent. Service is great. Can get crowded, so best to make reservations. Can highly recommend this place.
(5)Melanie V.
Oh, those holiday department lunches. What a tradition. Luckily, ours was scheduled for Francesca's North. I was excited as I've never been to any of these restaurants before! I love that the menus are handwritten and that they change every day. I think it adds to the warm and fuzzy atmosphere. Our server was so cute and he made recommendations of all of his favorites! After much debate, I decided on the rigatoni which came with a ton of veggies. DELICIOUS. I usually can't finish an entire bowl of pasta, but I was apparently starving because I had none left over! It was that good. My friend ordered the argula topped pizza, but wasn't really a fan of it. However, mostly all of us ordered the tomato bisque and it was very, very tasty. Great for a cold winter morning. The desserts looked very inviting, especially the gelato and the apple tart. But, since none of our higher ups were ordering any, my friend and I felt semi-embarassed to want to order any....Next time!
(3)Dominick M.
Eh. Solid italian food, but extremely limited menu (I guess that is because it is a rotating menu--not my thing). I ordered the spaghetti and had to ask for them to add chicken. When i got my meal i took three bites and all the chicken was gone. Should of just ordered the spaghetti, not much of a difference and not worth the price.
(3)Rachel S.
The food is DELICIOUS!!!!! It is definitely also a little overpriced for what it is...and the restaurant is NOISY! Don't go if you want to carry a conversation. :D Service is decent and the food is good....maybe next time I'll try it during a non-peak time?
(4)Elyse C.
Ate at the bar with my mom last night, nice buzz for a rainy Monday night in the restaurant. Bartender was nice, gin and tonics were strong. We split the salad, which had really fresh, crispy, and delicious green beans, my favorite! I also had a bowl of the red pepper soup, it had good flavor but it wasn't hot enough, in terms of temperature. Good soup should be hot and steamy...not a few notches above warm. Finally, we split the rosemary lemon chicken dish, the sauce + fingerling potatoes + the chicken was soooo good and flavorful. I also appreciated that they split the plates for us. As a waitress, I always have the kitchen split dishes when couples say they are splitting it--a nice, easy touch that makes eating less messy and more enjoyable.
(4)Meagan F.
Francesca, you let me down, here! Don't get me wrong, it's an okay neighborhood place, with pretty good (um, slightly overpriced) food, and crappy service. Let's break it down: It was a Thursday night in Northbrook- not a whole lot going on. I made a 7:30 reso through Opentable, and was seated promptly even though we were a little early. Like I said, not too much going on in NB. Our server rushed over to see if we wanted a drink immediately after we sat down. Obviously we weren't ready. Then she was hardly to be seen again! Really, there weren't that many tables...I don't know what she was up to. So, when she was seen again, we ordered everything at once (just in case she decided to go into hiding again). She was very kind, just not attentive. I expect more, I guess. The menu is limited and changes constantly. I like that. As far as the decor goes, the ceiling is interesting, and adds a really warm feel to the place. White linen tablecloth and napkins. Very nice. My husband and I started with the asparagus app- 4 spears of asparagus with shaved parm, prosciutto, and REAL (thank you!) balsamic. Eh. I would order something else. My husband had their take on frutti de mare made with cherry tomatoes (very sweet sauce), and I had the grouper with capers and a white wine and garlic sauce. It was all pretty average. The pasta dishes are certainly larger than the entrees, FYI. For dessert., we had the coconut cake on special. It was obviously one of those "purchase frozen then thaw" kind of deals, but it was pretty good. Again, not great. Like another Yelper said, I would go again if someone else asked me, but my husband and I won't be back on our own accord. It's average, and the service needs work.
(2)Mary H.
Always good
(4)Kasey R.
My family works together nearby. We often go out to eat on Thursday nights and Francesca's is our "go to". Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. We have our favorite waitresses and the Maitre'D is always friendly. He'll bring around limoncello at the end of the night if you're lucky. I was really surprised to see some of the negative reviews on here. We love this place! We usually share meals and the staff is very accommodating - splitting dishes, or bringing extra plates without us having to ask. Recommendations: Have you ever had Carpaccio? They have a different kind on their menu every night. Delicious! Great for sharing. Their soups are incredible! The best I've ever had! Even if the soup of the day sounds odd - like Cream of Red Pepper - try it anyway, they're always fantastic.
(5)Mary D.
We have been dining at this restaurant ever since it opened and have been loyal customers over the years. It has always had consistently great food, service and atmosphere until the past year and a half. We have seen the general manager change twice and each time the overall dining experience has deteriorated. Last evening we had reservations and they could not promise that our table would be ready in the room we requested and on time because there were two other large groups there. I wasn't happy because we didn't get seated anywhere near where we requested. We also had to look for our waitress to place our orders and the menu selections were lackluster (probably because of the large groups). The entrees we selected lacked flavor not to mention interesting ingredients and selections. I wouldn't have drawn these conclusions but I had recently been to a few of their other restaurants in the chain and they were by far much better. I know Francescas North can do much better. Overall, I was very disappointed and embarrassed because we invited guests to join us for the evening.
(2)Tracey M.
There were eight of us. We appreciated their flexibility to accommodate the addition two just hours before we were going to arrive. The interior of this restaurant is very nice and gives a nice upscale feel to the place. We split the Cumber and Tomato salad. Tasty if I do say so myself. Our main entrees started arriving at the table a few at a time. Plates were being set in front of everyone at the table . . . but me. Then a plate arrived for me. It had the wrong entree on it. Apparently my order got mixed up. Up to this point they had five stars. That's when things went downhill. I told the rest of my party to start eating and that I would catch up. Eventually my entree arrived - Chicken Parmigiana. Tasty and I liked that the breading was light. Not heavy like other places. As a "I'm sorry" for the mix-up they gave us free desserts. Though I'll never turn down dessert it still wasn't forgotten. I know mix ups happen, but after it happening I can't seem to give a four star rating. Maybe I need to go back another time so I can replace this experience . . . In the end all this will not stop me from going back to Francesca's. Hopefully my next experience there will be much better.
(3)Missy K.
I made a reservation at Francesca's because my 93 year old aunt from out of town was visiting and wanted some "chicago italian food". What a mistake. Our server was inattentive, rude and snooty- dropped menus on our table and forgot about our table for 10 minutes, took our drink order, was gone for another 15 minutes, dinner, another half hour, do I need to go on. I was embarrased that I had made the reservation here and even thought of getting up and leaving at one point. This was on a Sunday night at 6:30. Needless to say, my aunt was not impressed with my choice. The restaurant was loud, bright and not conversation friendly. As a consolation for our poor service we were offered a desert which is probably a regular offering. The food was fair but was soured by our unfortunate experience.
(1)Diana P.
We have been going here for years now and LOVE IT. Great food, amazing staff and wonderful atmosphere. Both our bridal and baby showers were held here and they do great parties at this location. A few months ago, they opened up a huge banquet-type space for throwing even larger parties. The veggie pasta is a MUST. If you're looking for good quality Italian food at a reasonable price, this is the place to go. We've gone to more expensive Italian places in the city and they don't even compare. One neg, is that their pizza is not "Italian Style" pizza. What I mean by that is there is too much cheese on top but it's not really cooked into the crust. I would pass on this as an appetizer and try something else instead.
(5)Shaun S.
My girlfriend and I went to Francesca's last night to celebrate a big milestone for us. It's one of her favorite local establishments. She always orders the same thing where I change things up. It was our second time there together. We had a nice giftcard from a friend so we spent a bit more than usual. The salad and main courses were great. It was when we splurged for dessert and got the flourless chocolate lava cake and the banana bread chocolate chip bread pudding, both with gelato that put the night over the top. We had very nice service and really enjoyed our time. **** Note to Parents: Please keep your kids at home after 7:30pm, they're just going to cry! Careful, I might hand you my bill and ask you to pay it! :)
(5)erica s.
After trying to find a place to get decent Italian food in the area, I found Francesca's North, which I've already been to more than once. The first couple times I went there, it was for lunch. The food was city quality in the suburbs (which is something I'm looking for!), and the waiter was attentive-ish. My mom ordered the tilapia, which she said tasted "fishy", but everything else was good. She complained to the manager and the issue was resolved quickly, by giving us a free dessert. The apple crisp thing (it wasn't called that), was one of the best apple crisps I've ever had! Completely, totally delicious, as was the sausage prosciutto pasta, which I savored the flavor of. The place was dead, though, and I was really wondering why it was, because everything (but the fish) was SO good. Then I figured out why, I went there on a saturday night and was smashed up against other people. The food and the service were still good (but they didn't have the sausage prosciutto thing on the dinner menu) but it was crazy packed... I'll definitely go there again, but I'll be sure to get takeout (which they have) for dinner on a saturday night if I'm craving it...
(4)Simone G.
I have been eating at this place for awhile and I am always satisfied with my experience. There pasta is always amazing. There Calamari is also super good really with good marinara sauce.
(5)Sam C.
I really like Francesca's North, but on Valentine's Day 2011, they did a so-so job with the crowd, stretching the restaurant beyond capacity. For my 7:15 reservation, they sat me about 8 after assuring me at 7:15 that I'd only have to wait 15 minutes. Why did this happen? Because they added extra tables for the night that surpassed the kitchen's ability to cook. This also explains why my appetizer I ordered immediately upon seating took 20 minutes or so to arrive. They comped the appetizer without me even asking, which was nice. And my server was attentive and did a good job. But restaurant management didn't, taking more reservations than the restaurant could handle, which was not nice to do to their (now slightly less) loyal customers.
(3)Sam A.
Right when we got there for dinner, the host took us to a table that I thought was mean't for 6. We were a party of 8. When we sat down, the water came fast, but once we ordered the drinks, they didn't come for another 11 minutes (only a lemonade, 2 cokes, and a pepsi). Once the waiter took our order, the salads came in 6 minutes, although one of the ceasers were missing. Once the salads were done, the food came 24 minutes later. The food was excellent and I could not wait to move onto the dessert course. The chocolate lava cake was excellent along with the gelato that came with it.
(4)Sika G.
Great food! Good wine. Fast service. Overall a very satisfying Italian meal. Tip: DEFINITELY leave room for the tiramisu.
(4)Daniel G.
The food was mediocre and overpriced, and the service was decent. Three of the five of us were unsatisfied. The person that suggested Francesca's North was with us and she had no comment. My grandma was the fifth in our party, and she never complains. For better service, food, prices, and soup or salad included with your entree, I recommend Ristorante Abruzzo in Deerfield (the next town over). Abruzzo is in a strip mall, so it isn't exactly fancy, but the food is delicious. Francesca's has a nice interior (the strip mall they're located in is upscale as far as strip malls go), and their bread was good, but those are the only positives I can think of. Our group decided there was no good reason to go back.
(2)Candace M.
I had the pleasure of visiting Chicago yesterday for a business meeting. The company I met with took me to Francesca's North for lunch. SO FREAKING GOOD!!!! I had the salmon ... and I've been craving it since I left. I want another piece. Desperately. And I want everything else on the menu too.
(5)Gigi F.
Menu seemed limited. Service was average. The bread was so good, but it took a while to get it. My salad was great too. If someone asked me to go,I would, but I wouldn't suggest it.
(3)Stacy F.
Hosted an employee appreciation lunch at Francesca's North and it was a great decision! The service was friendly and the food was delicious! I personally had the fried calamari appetizer and whitefish special with leeks and mushrooms. Outstanding! Our company is looking forward to many more dining experiences at this restaurant.
(5)a h.
Francesca's has redeemed itself for me! My first experience there really was BAD, but that goes to show you how a waiter can make or break your experience. Because of its proximity to my home, we have now become semi-regulars here and I have to say.....I crave it and love it. The food is consistently great and the wine selection if always interesting and changing. I have had a varied degree of service levels while here. My last server was a younger "kid" (early 20's) who seemed a bit frazzled and hurried (but this place IS always packed, so who wouldn't be a bit frazzled, I guess.....). My husband and I were here a couple months ago and we had an awesome service experience here. I'd just say : TRY IT! I would probably give it my vote for one of the best in the North Shore.
(4)Dawn L.
Probably my favorite italian in the area. Great rotating menu. My husband and I like to get a pizza and a pasta and split it. Service has always been good and the staff is friendly. The room is nice. Far less crowded than Hole in the Wall.
(4)Kyle A.
Probably my favorite dinner spot in Northbrook. The pasta dishes are delicious, and there's always enough left over for lunch the next day, which is a plus in my book. The bread is of high quality, and I love the garlic and herb infused olive oil they put out. I came here once just for dessert, and I had to stop myself from eating some, just the smell made me crave it. The dessert is also great, I love the chocolate lava cake.
(5)Jay S.
Dinner on 11/21/09 What a disappointment after a fantastic dining just a month ago. The place was packed and the staff had trouble keeping up with the crowd. When we went there a month ago, it was on a Wednesday so the place wasn't as crowded and the food/service was hot and excellent. This time, all the dishes were lukewarm, soggy and it was obvious that they were hurried. Kids' pasta had barely any sauce on them. Never again will I return here on a weekend but save it for a weeknight.
(1)Patricia K.
Excellent dining experience. My only complaints would be the legibility of the menu and the limited selection. While I understand the general design concept, it was hard to scan through and read descriptions on some of the items. As for the menu, it seemed that each meat selection only had one preparation option. My dinner compainion also had a hard time figuring out the salad selections. My entree was satisfying and the dessert was delicious. Everything, for the most part, was perfectly prepared and served by a friendly, attentive waitress.
(4)Kristen W.
Sweetly-styled Italian restaurant located in a strip mall in Northbrook. A nice strip mall, nontheless, but a strip mall. Busy joint at lunch during the week, and LOUD. Cute menu on what looks like a hand-written sheet of paper (actually just a photocopied computer-generated cursive script) Your basic Italian favorites menu, nothing too fancy and most seems to be served family-style. No complaints here, though I can't say I was utterly thrilled. One thing to note, it's not so much a romantic spot- more like a busy- business lunch spot. I had hoped for some secluded banquettes/ booths. Oh well. Update: have been trying to book a company party here for weeks and have gotten no response from the manager. What the ?
(2)Victoria h.
My husband first experienced Francesca's restaurant in Lake Forest. We loved it so much, we decided to go to Francesca's North because it's a bit closer to us. It was a bit of a mistake. The food was good, but not nearly as good as Francesca's Intimo in Lake Forest. The atmosphere wasn't quiet and it was bright in there and loud. I don't know whether we didn't like the food because it was something we haven't had and just didn't like it or because our expectations were so high, that we just were bound for disappointment. Our server took a very long time to bring our drinks, food, and then check. The people seemed to dress more casual at Francesca's North and the service was also more casual. I gave this one 3 stars because the food was still good. The atmosphere is great for friends and family, not romance though. If you're ever at any of the Francesca's restaurants and they have spinach ravioli - I highly recommend you get it. It was melt-in-your-mouth good!
(3)Colin D.
I'll start with the bad - this place gets ridiculously crowded at night and I have found the service to be generally slow and inattentive. The food here is so good, though, that it doesn't even matter. Huge portions, so you usually have some for lunch the next day. The bruschetta is delicious, as are some of the risottos. I have never been disappointed by a main course, but now I usually order the Pollo alla Salvia, which is chicken wrapped in prosciutto and mozarella and covered with a tomato sauce. Absolutely fantastic. I am usually too full to order dessert, but I would recommend taking some of your meal home and getting one. The cake with fresh berries is good as are the bread puddings. Great place.
(4)J.R. W.
Great food. Would be 5 stars if they could take care of the sound. So loud when full that you literally have to yell to be heard. Bring someone you don't particularly like and you won't have to worry about conversation.
(4)Pat P.
Ate their on a recent Fri night, often not a good time to judge a busy restaurant. But our service was fabulous (kept my ice tea filled), and most important, the food was beyond great. We all got different kinds of fish...cooked perfectly, wonderful flavorings. Salads, appetizers, desserts, all just outstanding. This place has moved to one of my top destinations when I want great food, reasonably priced (not cheap), and friendly staff.
(5)Ryan N.
Francesca's North has one of my favorite dishes. I can't remember the exact name but it is something like Chicken al Roma it has a great sauce and is their best dish by far. I also really like the bruschetta it tastes very fresh and it has a good balance of flavors. The only downside is they can have a limited menu but they do change the menu frequently and the chicken dish is always on it.
(5)Rae S.
What a fun restaurant... We had our wedding rehearsal dinner there for a party of 30. The place was packed but we still had plenty of room for our large group and it still felt private. The staff was friendly and efficient, I don't think my glass of wine ever had a chance to ever be empty throughout the night. The food was tasty and filling and the kids all had fun drawing on the paper table cloths with crayons as well, so all in all it was a win win!!
(5)Anna R.
My boyfriend and I tried to order take out on Valentine's Day from Ron of Japan in Northbrook, but unfortunately they were too busy and said since it was V-Day, they wouldn't be able to help us. So we decided to get take out Francesca's. They took our order and said it would be ready in 45 minutes. When we arrived, the restaurant was packed and there were plenty of customers both waiting for their take out as well as to be seated. Many of them were unhappy because the wait was too long and we ended up waiting another 30 minutes for our food. (at least Ron of Japan was honest when they said there were too busy) Sadly, the food was also as bad as the service and was incredibly bland. I wrote to the manager about the service as well as the food and he emailed me back a generic apology in a word document (it was attached in the email). My boyfriend then wrote him and the manager asked for his mailing address to send a gift certificate and of course it never came! There's no point in trying this restaurant again to waste our money on mediocre food and service.
(1)ida s.
I have been to most of the locations, and what can I say Penne Arrabiata with fresh mozzarella is my favorite. I have tried many of their specials and everything has been tasty and I have always enjoyed there service. My mouth is watering just writing this review...
(5)sandeep p.
Good food, well priced. great desserts !!
(4)Jessica S.
I went here for dinner last minute because we were in the general vicinity. I have been to Mia Francesca's in the city and I have to say I did not enjoy this as much as I enjoyed the restaurant downtown. The food was good, but the ambiance is no where near as much fun as the one downtown. I split a pizza and the sea scallops. The sea scallops were cooked well but the pizza was a disappointment.
(3)Lucas M.
I feel bad giving 2 stars, but it's just not worth more. Went here last night and the service was good. Not great, but good. I found the menu limited. I'm tough on Italian food, so bear that in mind. The calamari was sub-par. Breading was light which is good, but the meat itself seemed very tough and chewy and small. Compared to better calamari at Carmine's or even Rosebud, this doesn't come close. The mussels were okay. I just might not like their sauce here, but way too many onions and dare I say too much garlic not any other flavor or spice at all when it is described as a spicy flavorful sauce. My pork tenderloin dish was smothered in potatoes and mushrooms and polenta and had hardly any meat. I was looking for a beef dish and one was not on the menu. I'll chalk this up to Monday night dining woes. In my experience Monday has a Sunday hangover and you get the "bottom of the barrel." Our waitress was polite and nice. Wearing a t-shirt though..... Offered no recommendations on the menu. Now other people in the group loved it, but methinks Chef-boy-ar-dee is good to them too.
(2)kb j.
This is one of our favorite area restaurants. The quality and value is consistently good. Highlights include warm, crusty Italian bread, Chicken Romano (a Vesuvio-like preparation), the warm lentil appetizer with goat cheese and just about any of the pasta dishes. If it's available, the mixed green salad with blue cheese, walnuts and strawberries with a raspberry-accented dressing is recommended.
(4)