A suburban gem! My first night back in town with my immediate fam, my mother informs me there are $5 ravioli selections as well as other reduced menu and wine items tonight at Francesca's, sounds good! We made a reservation for 4 at 5:30 and though about 10 minutes late we were still seated as there were not that many people there. Although at about 6:30 when we left there were many people waiting to be seated, so be careful if you want to just walk in. It was a Friday during lent so that means no meat for us Catholics, which usually results in boring, bland dinners but this experience was very far from that. We started splitting 2 Francesca salads as well as an order of crab cakes. The salad was tasty, well dressed, and had a lot of fresh veggies. The crab cakes were unusually appetizing and would really give some of the downtown steakhouse crab cakes a run for their money! What really made them special was the use of a (very light) lemon caper sauce with some greens on top and perfectly executed crispy outside. ORDER THESE. We did order some wine by the glass, and I opted for a cheaper Tuscan sangiovese, which I have to say I initially liked, but by the time it settled a bit it became just meh. I don't remember what my parents got, perhaps a malbec, but they thought theirs were decent. For our main course, we almost all opted for the $5 ravioli choices, except my brother who got the rolli Francesca. We each got a different ravioli and my mom's was actually tortellini. After trying them all, I thought the mushroom tortellini took first place, the spinach ravioli second place, and the asparagus ravioli last place. They were all good but the texture and sauce with the mushroom was just spot on. It's strange though because I'm usually not one for mushrooms or asparagus, but I'd definitely order the mushroom tortellini again. My brother's rolli reminded me of a lasagna and I particularly liked the sauce that it came with. I love dining out with my family because I got to try almost everything on the table and therefore can write a more descriptive review. The service was also spot-on! I don't remember our server's name but she was very kind, knowledgeable of the menu, and accommodating to my often demanding family. We did have one minor issue trying to order another $5 ravioli to-go, which she thought was only limited to dine-in only, but after she talked to the manager she apologized and made everything right in a non-awkward and pleasant way. This type of situation is what defines a great server. I was pleasantly surprised with our dinner at Francesca's. All aspects of the meal were above average. Oh, and I don't think it's possible to beat quality $5 ravioli. 5/5, I'd say so.
(5)
Rey R.
One of my favorite Entrèe is the Pollo Arrosto alla Romana. The Veal is also good. Good Selection of Wine.
(5)
E J H.
Where's the hot water to wash my hands? After shaking hands or using the restroom facilities I'd like to wash my hands with hot water. Thus water was cold enough to drink. How expensive can it be to give customers peace of mind? How do the employees wash their hands? Someone is calling the board of health. Guess who?
(4)
Ed M.
Dinner for 5 at about 8:00pm on a Wednesday. The place seemed pretty full and busy, but no wait and we were seated right away. Entire staff was very friendly and attentive, especially waitress Michelle. They're great with kids too. Food came hot and quick. Food very tasty, very fresh and delicious. Excellent experience. Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes high quality food and service.
(5)
Michelle H.
My husband and I dined her on Valentine's Day. It was mobbed, but we had a reservation. :snort: We arrived at 7:40 for our 7:45 reservation. We were stuck in the doorway for quite some time. We checked with the hostess a few times, who kept changing her story about how many were ahead of us. Two seats opened at the bar, so we took a seat. The Lemon Drop Martini is the best I've had. My husband had a Manhattan and enjoyed it as well. I watched a couple that stood next to us in the hallway who had an 8pm reservation get seated, and I was just about to suggest we leave, when we were told our table was ready. It was 8:40. I can give them a little slack, since it's Valentine's Day. Then, they seated us at the absolute worst place in the restaurant. The long bench on one side, with several small tables. We wished the couples on both sides of us a Happy Valentine's Day, since it felt like we were dining with them. This seating is the WORST idea of any restaurant. I asked my husband if we should just give up at this point, and get some Tony's Beef and head home. He suggested we forge on. The Cesar Salad was good. We split that. Our pasta dishes were good, but not great. The table was too small for our dishes, so it was a balancing act, for sure. Thursday night is $5 martini night, which is the only reason we may return and give it another shot.
(2)
betsy h.
Made a reservation for 4 for 7:30 on a Tuesday, at the last minute. Friends got there before us, but they were immediately seated and were given their drinks. When my husband and I arrived our server was prompt and ready to go. Drinks and appetizers were ordered. There was a little confusion with our server, he mixied up our plates, forgot to refill drinks once or twice. But in his defense, it was very busy. A family party/dinner was behind us and he was in charge of that table too. All in all, the meal was wonderful. My husband and I frequent Francesca's on 95th, but will be making the trek out here more often. wonderful time with friends, we took our time and didn't feel like we were being rushed out the door.
Sure has changed since we were here last. Almost felt like we should hurry, eat and get out. Our server lost our $50 gift cards (we had two) and gave us change by giving us $10 gift cards that you could only use one at a time per visit. Went back and talked to the manager about it. she gave us a note to be able to use them at the same time. What??? Will not be going back to this location! Going to try Bollingbrook.
(1)
Xaxa H.
As always, great service, good drinks, as for the the food, well....eh. Inconsistent, at best. WHY can't this location get the pasta right?? There are few foods that are difficult to completely f- up, but an Italian place better be spot on with the pasta! Last night I had a pasta dish and the noodles were still several minutes away from being al dente. This isn't the first time I've had pasta here served WAY before its time. I know they're busy, but jeezus, someone taste-test the pasta before serving it. The Bolingbrook, Forest Park and Naperville locations are always spot on...Palos is hit or miss.
(3)
Gerald M.
Went there for a birthday celebration last Tuesday, party of 6. Waitress was gracious enough, but the service went downhill thereafter. The bus boys (all mature men) came out juggling 3 hot plates and barking "Who's the rigatoni? Who's the chicken?" and so on. This was repeated at dessert: "Who's the ice cream? Who's the cake?" It was almost like we were on candid camera! Never had that experience before. As to the food, we had a mixed review: two said good, one very good, three said fair. And it was not cheap. There was one unanimous vote: never go back!!
Well, the food was very good. The service was sketchy and they really need more waiting room. I may or may not be back.
(3)
Steven M.
I have to say that the food has gotten back to what made this place so special. But the service was atrocious! It was suppose to be my birthday dinner with friends. I am not counting this as anything but a waste of everyone's time. For a Tuesday night it was empty. We were seated in the room to the right as we had 6 people. We ordered a bottle of wine and it came out pretty quick. That is the last time that I use that work in this review. They have a prefix menu and most decided to go with that. So when our server came to take our order we were ready to go. But as soon as I opened my mouth, she turned and walked away? After 15 minutes the ladies started to lose their patience. So I got up and asked where are server was? She showed up after a couple of minutes with a bit of an attitude and took our order. By this time the bottle of wine and my friends soda were as dry as her hair. It took another 25 minutes for our appetizers to come out. And one person at the table had ordered off the menu so he had to watch us eat until we all got our salads. That happened 20 minutes after they collected our plates. Really! It took more that an hour and we were just leaving the gate. (I'll say this all at once and then continue with my bitching! The risotto, chopped salad, veal filled pasta and cheesecake were great. The chicken breast was over cooked with ricotta and sauce on top) Our third dish came shortly after and I knew this wasn't the end and I should have asked for the check. The dessert came 25 minutes after we were finished eating and it took one of us to again get up and find our server. I did get a candle, but by that time it should have burned the building down. Yes, it took exactly 17 minutes to get the check. It took just over two hours to eat our prefix and run for the hills. We asked our server what was the hold up and she said, Was there a problem, as the restaurant was almost empty? *%$#@#* and the horse you rode in on. She then said, Oh you mean the dessert, and promptly blaimed the kitchen. No sister. I mean the whole frickin dinner. If there was a hold up, she should have told us when it was happening and apologized. But you cannot blame the cook for your inefficiency. Ordering the food, the wine, making us come and find you serveral times and you not checking on your table. Honey don't quit your day job!
(1)
Robin Hood I.
We went here Saturday for a private party and I have never been to a better Italian restaurant, top to bottom, in my life. And I've been to many Italian restaurants including ones in "Little Italy" on Taylor street. It's almost surreal that this place is in a strip mall. The bread for starters was awesome (I'm going to be using this word a lot in this review so get used to it). Coupled with the oil and Parmesan blend, well, as the Italians say, forget about it. I ate almost two mini-loaves by myself. The first appetizer was brought out which was a mini thin crust pizza with a dab of goat cheese and some bruschetta. Both were awesome. Next was the salad. Salad is salad. Pretty good non-the-less. Then the Caprese salad. Great. Then they brought out a special "kids meal" for the kids and we tried some of our son's which was a perfectly cooked, moist, lightly breaded chicken breast. Damn. If this is a "kids meal", send me back in time. Then the first of 3 main courses arrived. First was Pesce ai Funghi. Awesome Delicious. Then a similar dish but with chicken (not on the Event menu---they must've made it special for our party). It was probably the Chicken Marsala like another reviewer said they had, but I didn't see it on their online menu. Regardless, Double Delicious. Then the last which was the Rigatoni del Pastore. Fantastic. As if we needed another delicious dish put in front of us after all this, they brought out a cheesecake dessert with fresh strawberries, a light strawberry drizzle sauce and cream. Mmm Mmm Mmmm. Then there's the staff. They were the icing on the cake. There were 3 of them for our party of around 35 and it seemed like there were 10 of them. Constantly coming over, asking us if we needed anything, always made sure our waters were filled, etc. and as friendly as can be. I have never experienced a more delicious meal, a more pleasant dining experience in my life. I am a true consumer, not a "plant" who works here.
(5)
Vita S.
Always great food, the BEST drinks and service is outstanding! Very friendly staff! Neighborhood gem!
(5)
Joanna K.
It was a Wednesday evening and I had a taste for some delicious Italian food and I must say that I am disappointed that I have never been to Francesca's despite living in the area for 15 years! It was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend and I shared the calamari appetizer which was wonderful. My server suggested I have the lobster ravioli and it was incredible! They were stuffed with a good amount of lobster and the sauce was perfect. Since it was Wednesday (or at least I think it was Wednesday), bottles of wino were half price. I wish I remembered our server's name, she was bubbly and so much fun made sure our dining experience was memorable. They have many different "sister" locations throughout the Chicagoland area which I hear are all as great as this Palos location. I'll be back Francesca's, you can count on that....
(5)
J H.
Went for Mother's Day...Enjoyed the food. Very good service, and easy to get reservations for 8. Ordered calamari appetizers- the grilled and the breaded. Both were delicious. I had the salmon with spinach in a spicy cherry tomato sauce...excellent! Daughter (teen) had the chicken limone which she loved. We did a dessert tray- so everyone could taste a few different items. The chocolate lava cake was a wonderful treat! Would definitely go back.
(4)
Don M.
As I was getting ready to go out for a great Wine/Dinner. I applied my yelp stick lip-balm to be certain my lips were ready for the flavors that will be passing through. Let me tell you this night was fantastic. This Francesca's is the best. We arrived and were greeted right away and handed a glass of champagne. As we wandered about talking the glass seemed to keep refilling itself. This is good. We see an open table and were seated with 2 other couples and proceeded to have a great time. With each meal we were served a different wine to try and taste. The white wines were ok. I like reds and so did most of the table. Once they served us the Red wine our inner Otis came out and no longer did they offer a glass they put a couple of bottles at the table. Starter. Crostini Misto: tri-colored roasted peppers-prosciutto, portobello and artichokes served with a glass of white wine. #2 Gamberi Repieni: Jumbo stuffed shrimp with crab meat wrapped with prosciutto, frieze and radicchio salad with yes more another type of white wine. #3 Linguine Nere Al Granchio: black linguine pasta with crab meat , garlic, olive oil, chilies flakes and fresh tomatoes. #4 Costolette Di Manzo Brasatto: brasised short ribs with creamy herb polenta, grilled asparagus, roasted carrots. Red wine. #5 Torre D Ciocolato Con Noci: chocolate mousse cake, pecans and caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream. The food was delicious and the service was tops They offer the Wine Dinners fairly often. And yes all this for $55 per person. This location has never let us down. Food, Service and Good times. If your in the area this is a must stop. Note to self watch out for the endless champagne and wine. Next day was tough.
(5)
kamila O.
The food and drinks were all amazing. I definitely feel in lovvvee with the creme brulee it was delicious. That atmosphere is very cozy. I will definitely be back there again :-)
(5)
Corin C.
I can always depend on Francesca's for giving us a place that reminds us of a great downtown restaurant with fantastic Italian cuisine! It is always consistent and the service is friendly and attentive. It's as authentic one gets and if you're looking for an Olive Garden, this is not your place. Thank you for being better than the rest Francesca's and at a great price point!
(5)
Donna F.
Have been coming here for many years and sometimes they are on a good streak and other times things seem to be downhill. Don't know if it's management or cooks changing that is the reason for the inconsistency. We go there for a while and it's good ,so we go back a few more times and all of a sudden things just aren't the same. Mussels were sent back as they weren't very good. Francesca salad which I love and order it every time had lettuce that had seen better days. Even the bread was of a lower quality. I must say the ravioli entree was very good. Chicken was just okay. They seem to have raised the bar prices so when I add up how much I spent in the place and how satisfied I felt when I left, it didn't balance out and make me want to go back. I'll stay away for a while and won't recommend it any more and hope they get their act together again, because when they're good I really enjoy being there. Been noticing new employees every time also, not a good sign.
(1)
Krystyna B.
The food was fresh, flavorful and fantastic, as well as very reasonably priced. For an appetizer, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts with non-alcoholic beneverages, we payed just under $110. We had the carpaccio appetizer garnished with shaved parmesan cheese, tangy capers, fresh wild mushrooms, transparent slivers of Spanish onion and diced heirloom tomato. Delicious and large enough for a party of 4 to split along with some fresh, warm from the oven, crusty bread. For our entrees, we ordered the lightly smoked and then braised pork chops in a vegetable sauce, the salmon with sauteed spinach and cherry tomatoes with the added kick of pepper flakes; a mushroom, zuchinni and escarole risotto, as well as a veggie pasta dish. The portions were plentiful (large enough that 3 out of the 4 of us took home enough leftovers to have lunch the next day). We closed the evening out with 2 desserts: creme brulee and profiteroles. The warm creme brulee was presented with berries and a crisp sugar layer dusted with powdered sugar. The profiteroles (3 pastries large enough to provide 3 people with a small dessert) were presented with a warm fudge topping to complement the pistachio gelato center. All of the staff here is knowledgeable, unpretentious, and welcoming. Plus, I was recovering from a stomach upset when we ate here and when I ordered off-menu, the kitchen accommodated all of my requests. Even though this is part of a chain (~10 restaurants in and around Chicago), customers get authentic Italian food with attentive and knowledgeable staff who remember repeat customers despite the restaurant's brisk business. The ambiance is warm and relaxed, but quite loud. This is not the place to come when you are planning on an intimate dinner a la deux. Some might dispute this, but given the crowd that is always present at the restaurant and the proximity of the tables, conversations tend to be conducted at a yell.
(4)
Gina W.
Was here for a baby shower and for my father-in-laws birthday and the food was AMAZING. I have eaten alot of Italian and this is right up there with the best. At the shower there were HUGE ice cream stuffed cream puffs for dessert (not sure if they are on the regular menu) that were out of this world.
(5)
Joe D.
This place has really good food. The reason I gave it three stars is because of the seating. If you like close personal seating where the table next to you is basically at your table, go for it. I usually go the the Francesca's in Oak Lawn. The food is as good and it has elbow room.
(3)
Jerry W.
There's just one word to describe my review of Francesca's Vicinato, EXCELLENT! Nothing else needs to be said.
(5)
Janene M.
I came here for a company sponsored dinner. We had salad, pasta and lemon chicken, with coffee and tiramisu. It was delicious. I've had better tasting tiramisu but I enjoyed the meal.
(4)
Kathy S.
My husband and I eat here regularly and we have always enjoyed the food and the service. However we recently had an experience that left a bad taste pardon the pun. We were not happy with our meal but the waitress had not come around to see how things were like they always do. It was too late by then. When we complained she came back with an offer of a free desert from the manager. She acted so mad that we complained, she left the desert package on table and said nothing. The usual friendly goodbye from the staff was noticeably absent also. My husband contacted manager shortly after this as it was bothering us. We were not looking for a free meal or anything; just wanted them to know how we felt. We were told that if said manager was there that night we would have not been allowed to pay. Conversation ended with we should come in and say hello. I doubt that we will be back anytime soon even though we live in the area. It's a shame that one bad experience can turn you away from a place that you have enjoyed in the past. I just did'nt think that things were handled well even after they were told that we were locals and regulars.
(1)
Allison F.
This is one of my favorite places in the Chicago Burbs! I have eaten at Francesca's many, many times and I make it a point to go there each time I am back in Chi-town! It is also a great venue for a private party and the service is always fantastic. I have had many items on the menu (I used to go about once a week and we had a private party there), but lately I have been ordering the same thing. I start with the Insalada alla Francesca as my primi. The ingredients are so fresh and I love the fresh pea pods they include. Then for my secondi, I ALWAYS order the Pollo Arrosto alla Romano It's a half chicken that is roasted and served in the most wonderful sauce with rosemary, shallots, garlic, lemon and olive oil and instead of the roasted potatoes on the side, I always substitute fresh spinach (gotta keep things carb friendly!). Delicioso!
(5)
Larry P.
Not quite the same since Alan left for the Bolingbrook restaurant. Scott H. the owner has grown from the first restaurant on Clark to a virtual dynasty of Italian fare across the Chicago area. One very important thing is consistency....you can COUNT ON IT. Scott knows how to build a restaurant and he knows how to select and train people to pass on the ambiance of the place. His head chef really has his act together and it doesn't matter which of the Francesca's you walk into, you can count on really tasty fare - prepared in the same manner from location to location, all reasonably priced. Try any one of them in the Metro area and you will not go wrong!
(5)
Mike C.
Great food. I've been here several times and it's consistently good and presented with great service. A few visits ago, the waitress asked me if I wanted to have a summer party in her basement. It was a little strange, but turned out to be fun.
(5)
Rachael K.
I keep starting my Chicago reviews with, God, I miss this place! But I really, I do miss Francesca's. I've never had a bad meal there, and we used to eat there all the time. Every out of town guest that I've ever taken has always really enjoyed it too - and for me that's usually the true test of a restaurant. Whenever I'm back in town I always make it a point to stop in for dinner.
(5)
sarah l.
Have been coming here for years, we live about 4 minutes away. This is our "Grandma has the kids for a couple hours, go to place for a nice, good meal." We have never been disappointed, always a good meal. I always seem to order the ceasar salad ~ love the roasted peppers, minus the anchovys, and the risotto of the day appetizer. It's enough to fill me up. Good wine list too. My husband always seems to try the different raviolis, which are usually pretty good. We've had the salmon here, also very tasty. Overall, nice, cozy atmosphere, dim lighting and good service. We also had both of our son's Christening lunches here,and they do a great job. My son's Montessori school also had a function here a couple months ago for the familes to come for dinner and they donate 10% to the school. Tons of familes showed up w/ small children and had a really nice time. So, my pick for one of the nicer places to go in this area...I really haven't found anything I truly enjoy in Orland...sorry!
(4)
Andrea N.
This happens to be my go-to place for special occasions Food: The food is fresh. The menu changes usually about monthly. The food is not just red sauce italian, it's flavors are unique and always good. You can try something different every time and always be pleased. I have settled on my favorites though, insalata alla Francesca has all my favorite vegtables in it with a balsamic vinarette, pollo alla limone comes with fresh spinach in a delicatable bttery lemon sauce, and all the desserts are worth trying. And they welcome you to make a change if you don't like something, as long as it is doable. I wanted the pasta primivera with slightly different vegtables and they happily accepted my request. Drinks: They have a good selection of wine. But I always like their martini's. They have a variety to choose from, each just as tanatlizing as the other. Atmosphere: The atmosphere is close, personal, a little bit loud, but very Italian cafe like. I recomment a reservation on the weekends or at prime dinner times. I wish the music wasn't so 90's lite, I would appreciate some Frank Sinatra or atypical romantic italian music. Service: I think the service is attentive, helpful in choices, and fast. Price: It's slightly more than your generic italian places like Oliver Garden and Buca di Beppo, but the food is double the flavor and freshness.
(5)
Manda V.
Fabulous high seats in bar area; super slammed Saturday nights awesome frenchescas fresca, hand written menus because they change so often! Highly recommended for dates so romantic, friendly staff
So disappointing. We have been going to Francesca's for years. We just had the worst meal I have ever had from any restaurant. My husbands fish was spoiled. My scallops were rubbery and poorly prepared. The calamari was undercooked and oily. This will be our last visit to the Francesca's in Palos.
(1)
Bella C.
Gone here for years....love the Tuesday $25 special...we have celebrated bdays and always walked away happy....Last Tuesday was different. Not the usual full restaurant, a unhappy waitress, didn't have what we ordered and in no hurry to go back. What happened? We loved the atmosphere before...did it change owners? Food was just ok.....not walk away I wanting more. Hostess used to give us limoncello for bday....a drink if it was a long wait. Waitress told us when we asked why they didn't have the pie or fish we ordered....that's not her area she takes the orders and serves the food. No one asked if we wanted coffee. Hope it was just bad nite.
Thank you so much! Lauren, our planner, and Francesca's couldn't have made our rainy wedding day any happier. The restaurant decor, our waitress, the food, and service were all amazing. Thank you for being so accommodating and helpful. Hope to dine again there soon!
(5)
Becky J.
This is the best Francesca's in the Chicago suburbs in my opinion. Every time we go here the food is great & consistent. I also like the professionalism of most of the severs here. Great modern Italian food at reasonable prices. Recommend.
(4)
Nicole J.
This is always my go-to place! The staff is friendly! the smells are wow! and the food, ohhh it takes me back to Italy! Francescas Vicinato is my favorite place, its a tad bit out of my ways - because I live in Westmont, but it is def. worth the trip. My favorite dish is Chicken Picatta - its just made so perfectly with capers and butter. The taste isn't intense at all... it just agrees with my senses! YOU MUST TRY THEIR FRESH PIZZAS. Not only are they amazing, but very inexpensive. My kids love it! Usually kids do preference fancy italian, but its always "Mom, can we get pizza from Francescas" - and we are usually out the door before i mumblle yes! The creme brulee is a tad lemony, but hey, it happens. The pistacio ice cream and chocolate puffs is heaven. The tiramisu... they make it best!!! its great with a latte or espressso! Their coffee is really flavorful too - better than starbucks!
(5)
Ryan D.
I love this place. Been to several locations and this and Frankfort are the best! Nikki behind the bar rocks and the service is awesome. Good wine list. But most of all, the guests are just real neighborhood peeps for the most part. Our favorite dish is the pasta with mushrooms, peas, in a light tomato cream sauce. Definitely worth the visit!
(5)
Toni F.
We have been going to a number of different Francesca locations for more than a decade and this one was always one of our favorites. It is still good and compared to the Promenade location (which is the one we usually visit now), has a bustling city-like vibe and is usually very busy. We visited on 1/2 price wine night and splurged on a great bottle of wine, a salad and two pasta entrees. Our server was super friendly and the support staff is always on alert to fill water glasses, clear plates and tend to any other needs. I think the service is one of the bright spots at all the Francesca's in my opinion. The Francesca's salad has to be one of the best I've ever had anywhere - loaded with fresh veggies like carrots and green beans, endive, radicchio and blue cheese with a wonderful oil and vinegar dressing - if you split one serving it's more than enough for two. Our pastas were tasty - I ordered the gnocchi with fresh ricotta and spinach from the special menu - it was spicy hot (unexpected) and the spinach was sparse so I wouldn't order it again. My husband's pasta was a linguini with seafood in a spicy sauce (not much heat in this dish). I love that you can go to just about any Francesca's location (and there are many in the Chicago area) and get a consistent experience and a great meal - in a city known for great Italian restaurants, that is no easy task.
(3)
Tina N.
We have dined here many times & have never once been disappointed. The food is always delicious and the service excellent. Our most recent visit was with a group of 10. One of our friends had won a gift certificate for 10 people. One would assume it would be a basic salad, entree dessert meal because it was a gift certificate. . . never assume LOL We started with Bruschette alla Romana ( photo ) & Carpaccio con Aspargi. Both very tasty. The Carpaccio is a thinly sliced meat which is served raw. It was delectable! Don't let the raw part scare you. Live a little and you will not be disappointed. We were then served an asparagus and blue cheese salad followed by a Gnocchi & Tilapia dish. I was looking back at the menu & for the life of me cannot remember the names of them. A dessert tray followed. Amazing! Needless to say, none of us walked away hungry. Top notch restaurant, top notch service & top notch food. Love it!
(5)
Paul K.
Always has a fresh menu of new specials and must tries. The fresh bread is a great appetizer that comes free. Great selection of wines with great servers and atmosphere. Francesca's is a great spot for birthdays/anniversaries/ and other special occasions. And for all you dessert lovers, there is a "sloppy Sunday" that is simply amazing that you won't see on the menu ;)
(4)
Michael S.
Gf bought way too many Groupons and while it does hurt the reduction in the waistline, I do get to write more reviews... Came here on a Monday night and was surprised to see it pretty busy for a Monday. It actually looks really nice inside. Not sure if all the Francesca's looks like this, but it was nice. Service was kind of bad at first then got much better. The server kind of slammed my drink on the table and just walked passed. She just wasn't very friendly at first. Not sure if this was the groupon effect. It did get better though and I tipped nicely so she would know she did a good job at the end. Food itself was good. Nothing spectacular, but nothing bad... It's better than okay. Calamari was a winner in my book, but needed the red sauce as a crutch to be good. I'm more of a fan of being able to it calamari without a sauce. Pasta sauce was fresh and pasta was perfectly cooked. Our chicken dish which was served with panchetta on top and over a bed of sauteed spinach was very good as well. Just wish the chicken breasts were a little bigger for the price. Overall this place is close to a 4 as we will be back, but just the initial service being a bit off. For the price, this place was pretty decent.
(3)
Brian B.
We need more places like this out south! The food is fresh and never disappoints. The staff is very attentive and professional. Muy Muy Bien!!!
(5)
Jim M.
Went here on Valentines Day, and the place was packed. I've eaten here in the past and always loved this restaurant. This time however, I would have to say "meh!". Service was good and the food was pretty good. Just not spectacular. The seating arrangement was a little cramped. Was seated at one one of those 2 seat tables against the wall. The table was so small that we had to double stack plates to make room for the entree. Overall - the experience was okay. I would recommend the Chicken Milanese, which is an off menu item that the kitchen can prepare.
(3)
Michelle B.
If you want great service and the best Martini's EVER, visit Francesca's in Palos Park!! The bartenders there - NICOLETTA AND SANTIAGO seriously make the absolutely best Martini on the face of the planet!! They are both on top of things and I have never had to wait any length of time for service. Nicoletta is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and takes the time to get to know her customers. I always get top notch service and would highly recommend Francesca's. Thursday nights are half off Martini's and it is seriously the best deal in town considering that the Martinis are the absolute best hands down!! TIP YOUR BARTENDERS GENEROUSLY- they work hard and are experts in making you the ultimate Martini !! :-)
(5)
Victor N.
My wife and I have been coming here for years, ever since I saw it on "Check Please!". Every meal we've eaten has been top rate. The carapacio is the most tasty appetizer we've ever had. Almost every visit, we've eaten it. The gluten free pastas are done well, the staff is always accommodating, the service is crisp;wait staff offer good suggestions. Their signature salmon dinner (when avocados are in season) is supreme, an automatic order for both of us, and I am not usually a fish eater! Can't say enough good things about this place. We go early on Saturday evenings, with reservations, always seated right away and when we leave, it is packed with folks waiting to get to the hostess.
(5)
Laura B.
We recently had my daughter's bridal shower at Francesca's. The atmosphere was great! The food was great! The staff was great! Everyone had a great time. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Tammy M.
Great meal and excellent service. Our waiter Juan was outstanding. Took my parents here for a birthday dinner and they were impressed. Friendly and personal service, well paced and conversational. The lobster pasta was very good as was the wine selection. I like that the Mia Francesca chain is always consistently good and has creative specials. Will be back when we come to the burbs.
(5)
NO C.
Went to Francesca's for V.day . The food was a-ok. Our server was great and went way out of his way to make sure we were well taken care of. Like the warmth of the space.
(3)
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Address :12952 S La Grange Rd
Palos Park, IL, 60464
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Alex C.
A suburban gem! My first night back in town with my immediate fam, my mother informs me there are $5 ravioli selections as well as other reduced menu and wine items tonight at Francesca's, sounds good! We made a reservation for 4 at 5:30 and though about 10 minutes late we were still seated as there were not that many people there. Although at about 6:30 when we left there were many people waiting to be seated, so be careful if you want to just walk in. It was a Friday during lent so that means no meat for us Catholics, which usually results in boring, bland dinners but this experience was very far from that. We started splitting 2 Francesca salads as well as an order of crab cakes. The salad was tasty, well dressed, and had a lot of fresh veggies. The crab cakes were unusually appetizing and would really give some of the downtown steakhouse crab cakes a run for their money! What really made them special was the use of a (very light) lemon caper sauce with some greens on top and perfectly executed crispy outside. ORDER THESE. We did order some wine by the glass, and I opted for a cheaper Tuscan sangiovese, which I have to say I initially liked, but by the time it settled a bit it became just meh. I don't remember what my parents got, perhaps a malbec, but they thought theirs were decent. For our main course, we almost all opted for the $5 ravioli choices, except my brother who got the rolli Francesca. We each got a different ravioli and my mom's was actually tortellini. After trying them all, I thought the mushroom tortellini took first place, the spinach ravioli second place, and the asparagus ravioli last place. They were all good but the texture and sauce with the mushroom was just spot on. It's strange though because I'm usually not one for mushrooms or asparagus, but I'd definitely order the mushroom tortellini again. My brother's rolli reminded me of a lasagna and I particularly liked the sauce that it came with. I love dining out with my family because I got to try almost everything on the table and therefore can write a more descriptive review. The service was also spot-on! I don't remember our server's name but she was very kind, knowledgeable of the menu, and accommodating to my often demanding family. We did have one minor issue trying to order another $5 ravioli to-go, which she thought was only limited to dine-in only, but after she talked to the manager she apologized and made everything right in a non-awkward and pleasant way. This type of situation is what defines a great server. I was pleasantly surprised with our dinner at Francesca's. All aspects of the meal were above average. Oh, and I don't think it's possible to beat quality $5 ravioli. 5/5, I'd say so.
(5)Rey R.
One of my favorite Entrèe is the Pollo Arrosto alla Romana. The Veal is also good. Good Selection of Wine.
(5)E J H.
Where's the hot water to wash my hands? After shaking hands or using the restroom facilities I'd like to wash my hands with hot water. Thus water was cold enough to drink. How expensive can it be to give customers peace of mind? How do the employees wash their hands? Someone is calling the board of health. Guess who?
(4)Ed M.
Dinner for 5 at about 8:00pm on a Wednesday. The place seemed pretty full and busy, but no wait and we were seated right away. Entire staff was very friendly and attentive, especially waitress Michelle. They're great with kids too. Food came hot and quick. Food very tasty, very fresh and delicious. Excellent experience. Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes high quality food and service.
(5)Michelle H.
My husband and I dined her on Valentine's Day. It was mobbed, but we had a reservation. :snort: We arrived at 7:40 for our 7:45 reservation. We were stuck in the doorway for quite some time. We checked with the hostess a few times, who kept changing her story about how many were ahead of us. Two seats opened at the bar, so we took a seat. The Lemon Drop Martini is the best I've had. My husband had a Manhattan and enjoyed it as well. I watched a couple that stood next to us in the hallway who had an 8pm reservation get seated, and I was just about to suggest we leave, when we were told our table was ready. It was 8:40. I can give them a little slack, since it's Valentine's Day. Then, they seated us at the absolute worst place in the restaurant. The long bench on one side, with several small tables. We wished the couples on both sides of us a Happy Valentine's Day, since it felt like we were dining with them. This seating is the WORST idea of any restaurant. I asked my husband if we should just give up at this point, and get some Tony's Beef and head home. He suggested we forge on. The Cesar Salad was good. We split that. Our pasta dishes were good, but not great. The table was too small for our dishes, so it was a balancing act, for sure. Thursday night is $5 martini night, which is the only reason we may return and give it another shot.
(2)betsy h.
Made a reservation for 4 for 7:30 on a Tuesday, at the last minute. Friends got there before us, but they were immediately seated and were given their drinks. When my husband and I arrived our server was prompt and ready to go. Drinks and appetizers were ordered. There was a little confusion with our server, he mixied up our plates, forgot to refill drinks once or twice. But in his defense, it was very busy. A family party/dinner was behind us and he was in charge of that table too. All in all, the meal was wonderful. My husband and I frequent Francesca's on 95th, but will be making the trek out here more often. wonderful time with friends, we took our time and didn't feel like we were being rushed out the door.
(4)Amerphil M.
Valentine's Dinner for me and my gal at Francesca's was FANTASTIC! I'd been to several of the Francesca's restaurants and this is one of my faves. Surprise to me, my girlfriend had reservations on a busy special occasion night and were seated immediately by our hostess. Already a good feeling! We also brought our favorite Coopers Hawk Pino Grigio, although the cork fee I thought was high at $20 it was worth it. The dinner menu is limited to only several pastas, meat, chicken and fish entrees. We opted for the Gluten Free version menu. We ordered the roasted Tilapia al Fornio with a bed of veggies. As always we split the entrée. It was plated nicely, and the food was hot and delicious. The white wine sauce was just enough flavor to compliment the fish. I would recommend this dish. As for dessert we ordered the gluten free Chocolate Lava cake topped with vanilla ice-cream and my girlfriend thought it was a brownie instead of cake. We were expecting a warm cake and gooey chocolate lava center, instead it was a cold hard brown breading. We called our waiter over, he agreed it wasn't right and brought us another immediately. Ahhhh, the lava cake was delicious---warm exterior with the chocolate interior. Soooo gooood!!! We left content and satisfied. If it weren't for the high cork fee, I would have given it another half star. Also is it too much to ask, if gluten free bread could be available! However, I would still recommend this place if you have a hankering for Italian! Solid 4 stars! E & A
(4)Doreen L.
Sure has changed since we were here last. Almost felt like we should hurry, eat and get out. Our server lost our $50 gift cards (we had two) and gave us change by giving us $10 gift cards that you could only use one at a time per visit. Went back and talked to the manager about it. she gave us a note to be able to use them at the same time. What??? Will not be going back to this location! Going to try Bollingbrook.
(1)Xaxa H.
As always, great service, good drinks, as for the the food, well....eh. Inconsistent, at best. WHY can't this location get the pasta right?? There are few foods that are difficult to completely f- up, but an Italian place better be spot on with the pasta! Last night I had a pasta dish and the noodles were still several minutes away from being al dente. This isn't the first time I've had pasta here served WAY before its time. I know they're busy, but jeezus, someone taste-test the pasta before serving it. The Bolingbrook, Forest Park and Naperville locations are always spot on...Palos is hit or miss.
(3)Gerald M.
Went there for a birthday celebration last Tuesday, party of 6. Waitress was gracious enough, but the service went downhill thereafter. The bus boys (all mature men) came out juggling 3 hot plates and barking "Who's the rigatoni? Who's the chicken?" and so on. This was repeated at dessert: "Who's the ice cream? Who's the cake?" It was almost like we were on candid camera! Never had that experience before. As to the food, we had a mixed review: two said good, one very good, three said fair. And it was not cheap. There was one unanimous vote: never go back!!
(1)JoAnna M.
my Sister-in-Law made a reservation more than a week in advance for our family to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary. We waited over 40 minutes to be seated. The teenagers were getting antsy and the adults were really hungry, too. We were told we'd have a private seating area, but they sat our party of 11 in the middle of an already crowded dining room. The Sisters-in-Law chose this place because of the gluten-free pastas, and they were fine, but I wasn't impressed by the food. It was "fine", but I wasn't thrilled. For me, the evening was soured because they made us wait SO LONG - especially both 70-yr old guests of honor - without even a cursory apology. This is not somewhere I'd choose for a celebration. ...And if the owners of this place ever read this review: If you can't accommodate a large party, DON'T ACCEPT THE RESERVATION. It's not like we showed up and begged to be seated, we called well in advance and we were all there on time. P. S. it's a personal pet peeve when the expeditors auction-off the entrées as they're delivered.
(2)Julie O.
Well, the food was very good. The service was sketchy and they really need more waiting room. I may or may not be back.
(3)Steven M.
I have to say that the food has gotten back to what made this place so special. But the service was atrocious! It was suppose to be my birthday dinner with friends. I am not counting this as anything but a waste of everyone's time. For a Tuesday night it was empty. We were seated in the room to the right as we had 6 people. We ordered a bottle of wine and it came out pretty quick. That is the last time that I use that work in this review. They have a prefix menu and most decided to go with that. So when our server came to take our order we were ready to go. But as soon as I opened my mouth, she turned and walked away? After 15 minutes the ladies started to lose their patience. So I got up and asked where are server was? She showed up after a couple of minutes with a bit of an attitude and took our order. By this time the bottle of wine and my friends soda were as dry as her hair. It took another 25 minutes for our appetizers to come out. And one person at the table had ordered off the menu so he had to watch us eat until we all got our salads. That happened 20 minutes after they collected our plates. Really! It took more that an hour and we were just leaving the gate. (I'll say this all at once and then continue with my bitching! The risotto, chopped salad, veal filled pasta and cheesecake were great. The chicken breast was over cooked with ricotta and sauce on top) Our third dish came shortly after and I knew this wasn't the end and I should have asked for the check. The dessert came 25 minutes after we were finished eating and it took one of us to again get up and find our server. I did get a candle, but by that time it should have burned the building down. Yes, it took exactly 17 minutes to get the check. It took just over two hours to eat our prefix and run for the hills. We asked our server what was the hold up and she said, Was there a problem, as the restaurant was almost empty? *%$#@#* and the horse you rode in on. She then said, Oh you mean the dessert, and promptly blaimed the kitchen. No sister. I mean the whole frickin dinner. If there was a hold up, she should have told us when it was happening and apologized. But you cannot blame the cook for your inefficiency. Ordering the food, the wine, making us come and find you serveral times and you not checking on your table. Honey don't quit your day job!
(1)Robin Hood I.
We went here Saturday for a private party and I have never been to a better Italian restaurant, top to bottom, in my life. And I've been to many Italian restaurants including ones in "Little Italy" on Taylor street. It's almost surreal that this place is in a strip mall. The bread for starters was awesome (I'm going to be using this word a lot in this review so get used to it). Coupled with the oil and Parmesan blend, well, as the Italians say, forget about it. I ate almost two mini-loaves by myself. The first appetizer was brought out which was a mini thin crust pizza with a dab of goat cheese and some bruschetta. Both were awesome. Next was the salad. Salad is salad. Pretty good non-the-less. Then the Caprese salad. Great. Then they brought out a special "kids meal" for the kids and we tried some of our son's which was a perfectly cooked, moist, lightly breaded chicken breast. Damn. If this is a "kids meal", send me back in time. Then the first of 3 main courses arrived. First was Pesce ai Funghi. Awesome Delicious. Then a similar dish but with chicken (not on the Event menu---they must've made it special for our party). It was probably the Chicken Marsala like another reviewer said they had, but I didn't see it on their online menu. Regardless, Double Delicious. Then the last which was the Rigatoni del Pastore. Fantastic. As if we needed another delicious dish put in front of us after all this, they brought out a cheesecake dessert with fresh strawberries, a light strawberry drizzle sauce and cream. Mmm Mmm Mmmm. Then there's the staff. They were the icing on the cake. There were 3 of them for our party of around 35 and it seemed like there were 10 of them. Constantly coming over, asking us if we needed anything, always made sure our waters were filled, etc. and as friendly as can be. I have never experienced a more delicious meal, a more pleasant dining experience in my life. I am a true consumer, not a "plant" who works here.
(5)Vita S.
Always great food, the BEST drinks and service is outstanding! Very friendly staff! Neighborhood gem!
(5)Joanna K.
It was a Wednesday evening and I had a taste for some delicious Italian food and I must say that I am disappointed that I have never been to Francesca's despite living in the area for 15 years! It was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend and I shared the calamari appetizer which was wonderful. My server suggested I have the lobster ravioli and it was incredible! They were stuffed with a good amount of lobster and the sauce was perfect. Since it was Wednesday (or at least I think it was Wednesday), bottles of wino were half price. I wish I remembered our server's name, she was bubbly and so much fun made sure our dining experience was memorable. They have many different "sister" locations throughout the Chicagoland area which I hear are all as great as this Palos location. I'll be back Francesca's, you can count on that....
(5)J H.
Went for Mother's Day...Enjoyed the food. Very good service, and easy to get reservations for 8. Ordered calamari appetizers- the grilled and the breaded. Both were delicious. I had the salmon with spinach in a spicy cherry tomato sauce...excellent! Daughter (teen) had the chicken limone which she loved. We did a dessert tray- so everyone could taste a few different items. The chocolate lava cake was a wonderful treat! Would definitely go back.
(4)Don M.
As I was getting ready to go out for a great Wine/Dinner. I applied my yelp stick lip-balm to be certain my lips were ready for the flavors that will be passing through. Let me tell you this night was fantastic. This Francesca's is the best. We arrived and were greeted right away and handed a glass of champagne. As we wandered about talking the glass seemed to keep refilling itself. This is good. We see an open table and were seated with 2 other couples and proceeded to have a great time. With each meal we were served a different wine to try and taste. The white wines were ok. I like reds and so did most of the table. Once they served us the Red wine our inner Otis came out and no longer did they offer a glass they put a couple of bottles at the table. Starter. Crostini Misto: tri-colored roasted peppers-prosciutto, portobello and artichokes served with a glass of white wine. #2 Gamberi Repieni: Jumbo stuffed shrimp with crab meat wrapped with prosciutto, frieze and radicchio salad with yes more another type of white wine. #3 Linguine Nere Al Granchio: black linguine pasta with crab meat , garlic, olive oil, chilies flakes and fresh tomatoes. #4 Costolette Di Manzo Brasatto: brasised short ribs with creamy herb polenta, grilled asparagus, roasted carrots. Red wine. #5 Torre D Ciocolato Con Noci: chocolate mousse cake, pecans and caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream. The food was delicious and the service was tops They offer the Wine Dinners fairly often. And yes all this for $55 per person. This location has never let us down. Food, Service and Good times. If your in the area this is a must stop. Note to self watch out for the endless champagne and wine. Next day was tough.
(5)kamila O.
The food and drinks were all amazing. I definitely feel in lovvvee with the creme brulee it was delicious. That atmosphere is very cozy. I will definitely be back there again :-)
(5)Corin C.
I can always depend on Francesca's for giving us a place that reminds us of a great downtown restaurant with fantastic Italian cuisine! It is always consistent and the service is friendly and attentive. It's as authentic one gets and if you're looking for an Olive Garden, this is not your place. Thank you for being better than the rest Francesca's and at a great price point!
(5)Donna F.
Have been coming here for many years and sometimes they are on a good streak and other times things seem to be downhill. Don't know if it's management or cooks changing that is the reason for the inconsistency. We go there for a while and it's good ,so we go back a few more times and all of a sudden things just aren't the same. Mussels were sent back as they weren't very good. Francesca salad which I love and order it every time had lettuce that had seen better days. Even the bread was of a lower quality. I must say the ravioli entree was very good. Chicken was just okay. They seem to have raised the bar prices so when I add up how much I spent in the place and how satisfied I felt when I left, it didn't balance out and make me want to go back. I'll stay away for a while and won't recommend it any more and hope they get their act together again, because when they're good I really enjoy being there. Been noticing new employees every time also, not a good sign.
(1)Krystyna B.
The food was fresh, flavorful and fantastic, as well as very reasonably priced. For an appetizer, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts with non-alcoholic beneverages, we payed just under $110. We had the carpaccio appetizer garnished with shaved parmesan cheese, tangy capers, fresh wild mushrooms, transparent slivers of Spanish onion and diced heirloom tomato. Delicious and large enough for a party of 4 to split along with some fresh, warm from the oven, crusty bread. For our entrees, we ordered the lightly smoked and then braised pork chops in a vegetable sauce, the salmon with sauteed spinach and cherry tomatoes with the added kick of pepper flakes; a mushroom, zuchinni and escarole risotto, as well as a veggie pasta dish. The portions were plentiful (large enough that 3 out of the 4 of us took home enough leftovers to have lunch the next day). We closed the evening out with 2 desserts: creme brulee and profiteroles. The warm creme brulee was presented with berries and a crisp sugar layer dusted with powdered sugar. The profiteroles (3 pastries large enough to provide 3 people with a small dessert) were presented with a warm fudge topping to complement the pistachio gelato center. All of the staff here is knowledgeable, unpretentious, and welcoming. Plus, I was recovering from a stomach upset when we ate here and when I ordered off-menu, the kitchen accommodated all of my requests. Even though this is part of a chain (~10 restaurants in and around Chicago), customers get authentic Italian food with attentive and knowledgeable staff who remember repeat customers despite the restaurant's brisk business. The ambiance is warm and relaxed, but quite loud. This is not the place to come when you are planning on an intimate dinner a la deux. Some might dispute this, but given the crowd that is always present at the restaurant and the proximity of the tables, conversations tend to be conducted at a yell.
(4)Gina W.
Was here for a baby shower and for my father-in-laws birthday and the food was AMAZING. I have eaten alot of Italian and this is right up there with the best. At the shower there were HUGE ice cream stuffed cream puffs for dessert (not sure if they are on the regular menu) that were out of this world.
(5)Joe D.
This place has really good food. The reason I gave it three stars is because of the seating. If you like close personal seating where the table next to you is basically at your table, go for it. I usually go the the Francesca's in Oak Lawn. The food is as good and it has elbow room.
(3)Jerry W.
There's just one word to describe my review of Francesca's Vicinato, EXCELLENT! Nothing else needs to be said.
(5)Janene M.
I came here for a company sponsored dinner. We had salad, pasta and lemon chicken, with coffee and tiramisu. It was delicious. I've had better tasting tiramisu but I enjoyed the meal.
(4)Kathy S.
My husband and I eat here regularly and we have always enjoyed the food and the service. However we recently had an experience that left a bad taste pardon the pun. We were not happy with our meal but the waitress had not come around to see how things were like they always do. It was too late by then. When we complained she came back with an offer of a free desert from the manager. She acted so mad that we complained, she left the desert package on table and said nothing. The usual friendly goodbye from the staff was noticeably absent also. My husband contacted manager shortly after this as it was bothering us. We were not looking for a free meal or anything; just wanted them to know how we felt. We were told that if said manager was there that night we would have not been allowed to pay. Conversation ended with we should come in and say hello. I doubt that we will be back anytime soon even though we live in the area. It's a shame that one bad experience can turn you away from a place that you have enjoyed in the past. I just did'nt think that things were handled well even after they were told that we were locals and regulars.
(1)Allison F.
This is one of my favorite places in the Chicago Burbs! I have eaten at Francesca's many, many times and I make it a point to go there each time I am back in Chi-town! It is also a great venue for a private party and the service is always fantastic. I have had many items on the menu (I used to go about once a week and we had a private party there), but lately I have been ordering the same thing. I start with the Insalada alla Francesca as my primi. The ingredients are so fresh and I love the fresh pea pods they include. Then for my secondi, I ALWAYS order the Pollo Arrosto alla Romano It's a half chicken that is roasted and served in the most wonderful sauce with rosemary, shallots, garlic, lemon and olive oil and instead of the roasted potatoes on the side, I always substitute fresh spinach (gotta keep things carb friendly!). Delicioso!
(5)Larry P.
Not quite the same since Alan left for the Bolingbrook restaurant. Scott H. the owner has grown from the first restaurant on Clark to a virtual dynasty of Italian fare across the Chicago area. One very important thing is consistency....you can COUNT ON IT. Scott knows how to build a restaurant and he knows how to select and train people to pass on the ambiance of the place. His head chef really has his act together and it doesn't matter which of the Francesca's you walk into, you can count on really tasty fare - prepared in the same manner from location to location, all reasonably priced. Try any one of them in the Metro area and you will not go wrong!
(5)Mike C.
Great food. I've been here several times and it's consistently good and presented with great service. A few visits ago, the waitress asked me if I wanted to have a summer party in her basement. It was a little strange, but turned out to be fun.
(5)Rachael K.
I keep starting my Chicago reviews with, God, I miss this place! But I really, I do miss Francesca's. I've never had a bad meal there, and we used to eat there all the time. Every out of town guest that I've ever taken has always really enjoyed it too - and for me that's usually the true test of a restaurant. Whenever I'm back in town I always make it a point to stop in for dinner.
(5)sarah l.
Have been coming here for years, we live about 4 minutes away. This is our "Grandma has the kids for a couple hours, go to place for a nice, good meal." We have never been disappointed, always a good meal. I always seem to order the ceasar salad ~ love the roasted peppers, minus the anchovys, and the risotto of the day appetizer. It's enough to fill me up. Good wine list too. My husband always seems to try the different raviolis, which are usually pretty good. We've had the salmon here, also very tasty. Overall, nice, cozy atmosphere, dim lighting and good service. We also had both of our son's Christening lunches here,and they do a great job. My son's Montessori school also had a function here a couple months ago for the familes to come for dinner and they donate 10% to the school. Tons of familes showed up w/ small children and had a really nice time. So, my pick for one of the nicer places to go in this area...I really haven't found anything I truly enjoy in Orland...sorry!
(4)Andrea N.
This happens to be my go-to place for special occasions Food: The food is fresh. The menu changes usually about monthly. The food is not just red sauce italian, it's flavors are unique and always good. You can try something different every time and always be pleased. I have settled on my favorites though, insalata alla Francesca has all my favorite vegtables in it with a balsamic vinarette, pollo alla limone comes with fresh spinach in a delicatable bttery lemon sauce, and all the desserts are worth trying. And they welcome you to make a change if you don't like something, as long as it is doable. I wanted the pasta primivera with slightly different vegtables and they happily accepted my request. Drinks: They have a good selection of wine. But I always like their martini's. They have a variety to choose from, each just as tanatlizing as the other. Atmosphere: The atmosphere is close, personal, a little bit loud, but very Italian cafe like. I recomment a reservation on the weekends or at prime dinner times. I wish the music wasn't so 90's lite, I would appreciate some Frank Sinatra or atypical romantic italian music. Service: I think the service is attentive, helpful in choices, and fast. Price: It's slightly more than your generic italian places like Oliver Garden and Buca di Beppo, but the food is double the flavor and freshness.
(5)Manda V.
Fabulous high seats in bar area; super slammed Saturday nights awesome frenchescas fresca, hand written menus because they change so often! Highly recommended for dates so romantic, friendly staff
(5)Nicki K.
I cannot express how WONDERFUL this restaurant is. Every time I've been here the service not only exceeds my expectations, but the food is always amazing. I highly recommend the Napoletana pizza, dogajolo wine and creme brûlée. We will DEFINITELY continue to make this a date spot
(5)Gina R.
So disappointing. We have been going to Francesca's for years. We just had the worst meal I have ever had from any restaurant. My husbands fish was spoiled. My scallops were rubbery and poorly prepared. The calamari was undercooked and oily. This will be our last visit to the Francesca's in Palos.
(1)Bella C.
Gone here for years....love the Tuesday $25 special...we have celebrated bdays and always walked away happy....Last Tuesday was different. Not the usual full restaurant, a unhappy waitress, didn't have what we ordered and in no hurry to go back. What happened? We loved the atmosphere before...did it change owners? Food was just ok.....not walk away I wanting more. Hostess used to give us limoncello for bday....a drink if it was a long wait. Waitress told us when we asked why they didn't have the pie or fish we ordered....that's not her area she takes the orders and serves the food. No one asked if we wanted coffee. Hope it was just bad nite.
(2)Deepti S.
I enjoy the location as well as the ambience. Food here for vegetarians is a hit or miss. Depending on your servers level of fatigue food is either superb or OK. But today I had nothing to order on the menu so the server recommended pasta Verde. We ordered the dish. Honestly it was just ok, not something great for a date night. At 8:30 on a Saturday it was fairly empty. It is not the fault of the server or the cook, but management. In a suburb such as LaGrange ine expects little more fir Vegetarians. Hope to come back soon for tempting entrée.
(3)Kasia D.
Thank you so much! Lauren, our planner, and Francesca's couldn't have made our rainy wedding day any happier. The restaurant decor, our waitress, the food, and service were all amazing. Thank you for being so accommodating and helpful. Hope to dine again there soon!
(5)Becky J.
This is the best Francesca's in the Chicago suburbs in my opinion. Every time we go here the food is great & consistent. I also like the professionalism of most of the severs here. Great modern Italian food at reasonable prices. Recommend.
(4)Nicole J.
This is always my go-to place! The staff is friendly! the smells are wow! and the food, ohhh it takes me back to Italy! Francescas Vicinato is my favorite place, its a tad bit out of my ways - because I live in Westmont, but it is def. worth the trip. My favorite dish is Chicken Picatta - its just made so perfectly with capers and butter. The taste isn't intense at all... it just agrees with my senses! YOU MUST TRY THEIR FRESH PIZZAS. Not only are they amazing, but very inexpensive. My kids love it! Usually kids do preference fancy italian, but its always "Mom, can we get pizza from Francescas" - and we are usually out the door before i mumblle yes! The creme brulee is a tad lemony, but hey, it happens. The pistacio ice cream and chocolate puffs is heaven. The tiramisu... they make it best!!! its great with a latte or espressso! Their coffee is really flavorful too - better than starbucks!
(5)Ryan D.
I love this place. Been to several locations and this and Frankfort are the best! Nikki behind the bar rocks and the service is awesome. Good wine list. But most of all, the guests are just real neighborhood peeps for the most part. Our favorite dish is the pasta with mushrooms, peas, in a light tomato cream sauce. Definitely worth the visit!
(5)Toni F.
We have been going to a number of different Francesca locations for more than a decade and this one was always one of our favorites. It is still good and compared to the Promenade location (which is the one we usually visit now), has a bustling city-like vibe and is usually very busy. We visited on 1/2 price wine night and splurged on a great bottle of wine, a salad and two pasta entrees. Our server was super friendly and the support staff is always on alert to fill water glasses, clear plates and tend to any other needs. I think the service is one of the bright spots at all the Francesca's in my opinion. The Francesca's salad has to be one of the best I've ever had anywhere - loaded with fresh veggies like carrots and green beans, endive, radicchio and blue cheese with a wonderful oil and vinegar dressing - if you split one serving it's more than enough for two. Our pastas were tasty - I ordered the gnocchi with fresh ricotta and spinach from the special menu - it was spicy hot (unexpected) and the spinach was sparse so I wouldn't order it again. My husband's pasta was a linguini with seafood in a spicy sauce (not much heat in this dish). I love that you can go to just about any Francesca's location (and there are many in the Chicago area) and get a consistent experience and a great meal - in a city known for great Italian restaurants, that is no easy task.
(3)Tina N.
We have dined here many times & have never once been disappointed. The food is always delicious and the service excellent. Our most recent visit was with a group of 10. One of our friends had won a gift certificate for 10 people. One would assume it would be a basic salad, entree dessert meal because it was a gift certificate. . . never assume LOL We started with Bruschette alla Romana ( photo ) & Carpaccio con Aspargi. Both very tasty. The Carpaccio is a thinly sliced meat which is served raw. It was delectable! Don't let the raw part scare you. Live a little and you will not be disappointed. We were then served an asparagus and blue cheese salad followed by a Gnocchi & Tilapia dish. I was looking back at the menu & for the life of me cannot remember the names of them. A dessert tray followed. Amazing! Needless to say, none of us walked away hungry. Top notch restaurant, top notch service & top notch food. Love it!
(5)Paul K.
Always has a fresh menu of new specials and must tries. The fresh bread is a great appetizer that comes free. Great selection of wines with great servers and atmosphere. Francesca's is a great spot for birthdays/anniversaries/ and other special occasions. And for all you dessert lovers, there is a "sloppy Sunday" that is simply amazing that you won't see on the menu ;)
(4)Michael S.
Gf bought way too many Groupons and while it does hurt the reduction in the waistline, I do get to write more reviews... Came here on a Monday night and was surprised to see it pretty busy for a Monday. It actually looks really nice inside. Not sure if all the Francesca's looks like this, but it was nice. Service was kind of bad at first then got much better. The server kind of slammed my drink on the table and just walked passed. She just wasn't very friendly at first. Not sure if this was the groupon effect. It did get better though and I tipped nicely so she would know she did a good job at the end. Food itself was good. Nothing spectacular, but nothing bad... It's better than okay. Calamari was a winner in my book, but needed the red sauce as a crutch to be good. I'm more of a fan of being able to it calamari without a sauce. Pasta sauce was fresh and pasta was perfectly cooked. Our chicken dish which was served with panchetta on top and over a bed of sauteed spinach was very good as well. Just wish the chicken breasts were a little bigger for the price. Overall this place is close to a 4 as we will be back, but just the initial service being a bit off. For the price, this place was pretty decent.
(3)Brian B.
We need more places like this out south! The food is fresh and never disappoints. The staff is very attentive and professional. Muy Muy Bien!!!
(5)Jim M.
Went here on Valentines Day, and the place was packed. I've eaten here in the past and always loved this restaurant. This time however, I would have to say "meh!". Service was good and the food was pretty good. Just not spectacular. The seating arrangement was a little cramped. Was seated at one one of those 2 seat tables against the wall. The table was so small that we had to double stack plates to make room for the entree. Overall - the experience was okay. I would recommend the Chicken Milanese, which is an off menu item that the kitchen can prepare.
(3)Michelle B.
If you want great service and the best Martini's EVER, visit Francesca's in Palos Park!! The bartenders there - NICOLETTA AND SANTIAGO seriously make the absolutely best Martini on the face of the planet!! They are both on top of things and I have never had to wait any length of time for service. Nicoletta is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and takes the time to get to know her customers. I always get top notch service and would highly recommend Francesca's. Thursday nights are half off Martini's and it is seriously the best deal in town considering that the Martinis are the absolute best hands down!! TIP YOUR BARTENDERS GENEROUSLY- they work hard and are experts in making you the ultimate Martini !! :-)
(5)Victor N.
My wife and I have been coming here for years, ever since I saw it on "Check Please!". Every meal we've eaten has been top rate. The carapacio is the most tasty appetizer we've ever had. Almost every visit, we've eaten it. The gluten free pastas are done well, the staff is always accommodating, the service is crisp;wait staff offer good suggestions. Their signature salmon dinner (when avocados are in season) is supreme, an automatic order for both of us, and I am not usually a fish eater! Can't say enough good things about this place. We go early on Saturday evenings, with reservations, always seated right away and when we leave, it is packed with folks waiting to get to the hostess.
(5)Laura B.
We recently had my daughter's bridal shower at Francesca's. The atmosphere was great! The food was great! The staff was great! Everyone had a great time. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Tammy M.
Great meal and excellent service. Our waiter Juan was outstanding. Took my parents here for a birthday dinner and they were impressed. Friendly and personal service, well paced and conversational. The lobster pasta was very good as was the wine selection. I like that the Mia Francesca chain is always consistently good and has creative specials. Will be back when we come to the burbs.
(5)NO C.
Went to Francesca's for V.day . The food was a-ok. Our server was great and went way out of his way to make sure we were well taken care of. Like the warmth of the space.
(3)