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Francesca's Forno
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1576 N Milwaukee Ave(between Damen Ave & North Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622
Neighbourhood: Wicker Park
(773) 770-0184
- Nearest Transit:
-
Damen-o'hare (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 11 pm
Thu-Fri 11 am - 1 am
Sat 10 am - 1 am
Sun 10 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
387 reviews for Francesca's Forno
Review Highlights
-
"I had one of the best brunch meals ever." In 94 reviews -
"The Spaghetti al Funghetto, dish was great." In 8 reviews -
"The Caprese Salad was amazing." In 16 reviews
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387 reviews in English
-
Review from Jane E.
Boston, MA
5/19/2012
Great location with good food. The staff is fun to talk to and they always help you find what's happening in the area.
It's a good place that is a bit more low-key to start a fun night in town. :) -
Review from Kevin A.
5/14/2012
CAN WE HAVE FORNO 1.0 BACK?
I've been going to Forno for years. It's always been a great go-to when I can't decide where else to go. The location is perfect for meeting friends, the food is reliably good, the price is right, and it's easy to get a reservation.
That said, I'm not in love with their renovation. I know people in the Midwest are obsessed with dirt in their food, I mean al fresco dining, and the open windows seem like a great idea, but...let's be honest folks.
Six corners is full of wackos on the street. From scraggly blonde dread-locked ragamuffins playing guitars with mangy dogs in tow to peg-legged hobos panhandling for their next fix, these aren't the people I want to have my back to in an open window as I sit down for a nice meal.
Case in point: On a recent visit it was incredibly distracting to look up from my pasta to see a train wreck of a woman pacing back and forth mere feet from us with her slick, greasy unwashed dirty blond hair wearing a sports bra and exposing her giant gut that sagged a good 2-3 inches below her waistband as she smoked her off-brand cigarettes. Not exactly appetizing.
Plus with all the street crime in the area, how easy would it be for someone outside to reach in, snatch a purse from someone with their back to the street, and take off?
I'll go back to Forno, but I think next time I'll make sure I get a seat far, far, far from the windows. -
Review from Adam K.
Line at big star was an hour, with a hungry child in tow not wanting to sit outside or wait a long time, I was attracted to the large open window and awesome view of the 6 corners.
Flamboyant, faux hawk wearing host sat us right at the window facing damen which was great. I saw 5 different shades of hair while we waited. & about 6 different chicks I wanted to wifey.
Crowd was a mix of wanna be euro trash, waspy north shore suburban & well to do elderly people.
Took a waiter 15 minutes to come to our table. Then he was very ineffectual, stating nothin about th specials, I ordered one anyway, the risotto.
It took about 20 minutes for the hummous to come out. Cmon, man . But then I saw the bread was toasted, OK. Pass on that one.
Absolutely NOTHING on the menu that would please a child's palate. Not saying you have to have a kiddy menu, but at least some mozzarella sticks? When I asked for yellow mustard, it was like I was asking if he is going to vote for Mitt Romney.
Strawberry margarita is awesome. Tangy and not too sweet. They should keep it on the menu year round.
The waiter made sure to talk to the cute dark skinned girls at another table for a while however.
Food came out ten mins after apps, weird. Give me a moment man!
Risotto - good not great. Creamy as hell. At least you get a lot of food for $13. But then like 1 hour later it was sitting in my stomach like a rock.
Burger - not good meat quality. I asked for it medium its for sure well done. Not a huge deal. But for an $11 burger, I want some quality meat.
Tried to charge me 21 for the risotto, fuckers. I caught that shit. WTF tho? Theres only 1 fuckin risotto on the menu & u try to hit.me for $21? Fuck you.
My baby ate like 1/3 of the $11 hamburger & she scarfs down $3.99/ lb steak on the regs, so the meat quality must be poor.
Not impressed by this place, not my scene / crowd. The view is excellent however, great for people watching. I am concerned this hood is going to start attracting people who frequent this place, lots of money with no taste. -
Review from Kellye W.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2012
How is it that in two separate visits they managed to mess up salad a total of FIVE times!!??
I popped in for what I assumed would be a quick lunch on a warm Monday afternoon. I ordered their Garbage salad and asked what veggies where on the salad, onions weren't mentioned so I ordered the salad. When it arrived ONIONS all over the salad!! I told the waitress she never mentioned onions, so please remake without onions. No problem. The new salad comes and it doesn't have onions but it also doesn't have hearts of palm either!! The menu clearly stated that HOP will be in the salad. So I send it back again. FINALLY, it comes out the way it should. The manager was very nice and comped the salad. Thank you. Yesterday I went with my cousin (I would've stayed away) and we decided to share the Chopped salad, no onions but guess what? There were onions on the salad!! Really? Really? We send our salads back. They come out again and they STILL have onions in them, so we order the Garbage salad. At this point I'm not sure what's going on here. I've never sent so much food back in my life!! The Garbage salad arrived and it's drowned in dressing. Come on now!! The lettuce is literally soaked in dressing, I can't even taste the veggies!! My cousin who is "very saucy" doesn't mind and eats hers, as you can guess I sent mine back. Never again will I order salad from this place. -
Review from Tita P.
4/28/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
2 1/2 stars!
I have walked by this place several times and thought it would be great place to dine with friends from out of town. Well, we made a reservation and it still took a while to be seated. The food that we ordered was not really that great and two entrees had to be returned because one was cold and the other was incorrect.
The only highlight and reason why this place is getting a half star is the hostess/manager. I did not catch her name but she was great. She provided us complimentary appetizers because we had to wait and she realized our order was incorrect before our server did.
This may have been an "off" night and based on the service of the hostess/manager I would not be against returning at least for a few cocktails. -
Review from Vanessa R.
Chicago, IL
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend and I went to Francesca's for brunch on a Sunday afternoon and it was an amazing experience. I had the Breakfast Monte Cristo. It was delicious! The hash browns are like no other, crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Top them off with the spicy tomato jam and your mouth will water for more. The English muffin was the perfect amount of sweet and salty. My boyfriend had the Fritatta Saltimboca, it was also cooked to perfection. If you are a fan of prosciutto and pancetta this dish will satisfy your taste buds.
Also, the "Fresh Start" cocktail will definitely wake you, it's LOADED with bourbon :-)
Francesca, we will be back! -
Review from Kimberly M.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great little restaurant in Wicker Park! I love the bar area where the windows are open to the street on a nice day!
Had dinner here St. Patrick's Day weekend! It was fabulous (along with the weather) so sitting at a table in the bar area overlooking the street was fabulous!
Food is great and service is great! -
Review from S. M.
Naperville, IL
4/15/2012
Part of the Formidable local Francesca's family, this was in a nice location near the Six Corners of North, Milwaukee and Damen.
I was so-so about the place. Why?
Pros:
- as stated, convenient location in Wicker Park. And on a day with lovely weather, the huge windows were open, allowing a nice air flow and good people-watching.
- Brunch runs late on a Saturday (til 3!)
- The food. Friend ordered bourbon-soaked French toast; I got the savory pancakes made of polenta with pancetta mixed into the batter and bits of maple butter. We ate like it was going to be taken away from us.
Cons:
- Our waiter seemed to be off in his own world. Big-time flake, and didn't seem to have the "timing" down that's necessary for a server, though the place was not crowded (i.e., wasn't like he was juggling 20 tables or anything.) Example:
Busboy seated us, asked about drinks. Friend ordered iced tea, which hadn't come by the time waiter did.
Waiter: "Do you want drinks?"
Friend: " I ordered with the busboy but it hasn't come yet."
Waiter: "Oh I'll see about that." (wanders off; eventually returns) "Anything else?"
Me: "Well, I'd like to get some lemon for my water, but also..."
Him: "Oh, okay." (wanders off again)
Me (to his back): "...we're ready to order now..."
etc.
- you get a carafe of water at the table, but it was room temperature and smelled, uh, funky. Couldn't get the waiter's attention to ask for ice, finally stopped trying.
- Speaking of funky smells, the ladies' room had that smell that says "we have old weird plumbing but we don't really care"
- also, my pancakes came with a small cup of maple syrup with a jaunty strand of someone's hair poking out (not mine, and not the curly-haired busser). Eeek. I called attention to that IMMEDIATELY.
There are a couple of Francesca's locations out in Naperville, where I live, and I've been to one some time ago and never felt the need to go back. The food at this location bumped up my opinion but the service kept it hovering where it was. Hope the kitchen gets hairnets. -
Review from Sarah M.
3/24/2012
Good place for a snack, but not necessarily a meal.
Pricing is a tad on the high side and the television was blaring with some kind of sports event being shown... Both contribute to my initial opinion and my overall rating.
The brunch may improve my rating if I ever go back - there were some delicious sounding items, I will concede!
The staff were pleasant, though pushy at times. The atmosphere was confusing - mainly because of the loud television volume at the bar...and that this otherwise semi-cosy setting even had a television.
My tomato and parmesan soup was rich and creamy and my friend and I split the bruschetta. I'd recommend both.
Not a fan of the Francesca's chain overall though, just for disclosure. -
Review from Art C.
Glen Ellyn, IL
4/3/2012
We stopped by late Sunday afternoon for a coffee and small bite. We were seated quickly. Our server acted like he'd rather be somewhere else than work, he forgot to bring a tea bag with my tea, my partner's coffee was cold, when she asked for some hot coffee, he returned with another cold cuppa joe.
The light food we had (a Monte Cristo) took about 20 minutes to make its way to us, it was nice and hot, and tasty.
Overall I wouldn't waste my time with a repeat visit, they were way too casual in their service. -
Review from Terri V.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2012
Well, a was attempting to "revise" a review that was favorable, not that this is unfavorable, just adjusting. I can not find it anywhere...too bad. The only 2 things keeping me from a 5star is I miss the Francesca's Salad. I would go every week at least if it was still there. I mean it is a signature salad! I was told that this location is considered the "black sheep", so they are a bit different. I agree, they have always been different, but don't toss this signature dish away. Seriously, bad move. The food is otherwise still great! So great, I thought, I am going to grab a gift certificate for a friend. I am sure they could use it wherever, but they like this Bucktown neighborhood. Well, no gift certificates to be found. Odd...
The reason I am giving 4 stars and not 3 is that I am hoping things will improve, and I was a big fan before. Hey maybe they had a huge rush on gift card sales over the weekend...(back up plan?) -
Review from sarah b.
Chicago, IL
3/2/2012
My boyfriend and I came in for our first visit together around 9:30 tonight with the hopes of filling our stomachs with delicious pizza - but after being seated with about 10 minutes of waiting with NO service (aside from the bus boy bringing us water and bread) we were ready to leave, never to return. Then in comes Shannon (manager of the evening) to save us from being unhappy customers and writing a potential 1 star review.
As we got up to leave, she caught us with "The bill is on me". This is never an offer you can refuse. So we stayed and enjoyed our complimentary pizza, side, and appetizer. If it weren't Shannon, I would never know the texture of razor clams (slightly chewy like octopus, and so delicious), that their pizza is probably better with vegetables (though their crust is on point) and that coming back to try some of their pasta dishes is a must. Just be wary of the flaky service, sans Shannon. :) -
Review from Leslie G.
1/16/2012
I came here several times before they changed the menu and the layout and thought it was a pretty solid Italian restaurant. However, when I returned for the first time since the changes, my opinion became a bit more negative.
For starters, the layout is very awkward now. The bar area used to be sort of off to the side and now it's in the main dining area. Since this is where people wait for tables to become available, it feels extremely cramped around that area. In addition, there are small tables where people stand and wait that are farther out from the bar basically in the dining area. One of these tables was right behind us and it felt very claustrophobic while we were eating to have people basically hovering over us.
This restaurant also gets extremely loud as it fills up. It's one thing to have noise from people talking, but to have blaring music on top of that just seems unnecessary.
As for the food, I seem to recall that before the makeover, the menu was much more extensive, but maybe I'm imagining that. We started off with the bruschetta, which was amazing--probably the best part of the meal. For my main course, I had the monkfish with linguine. The fish itself was fine, but I wasn't a huge fan of the pasta--something about the sauce didn't really complement the fish all that well.
I will probably come back here at some point, but I will try to come at an off time to avoid a crowd.Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Mariella C.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2012
This place is very loud, like Iberico loud, except the food isn't worthwhile. Frankly, they have toooo many people working there for such a small place. Last time I was there the set up was focused on a more restaurant atmosphere/layout. The tables were out by the windows, and the bar was near the entrances. They now have this gigantic bar that takes up half the space reserved for tables, so as we sat down to eat, we were right next to extremely loud trying to hard girls drinking. It wasn't exactly a pleasing experience. And like I said, too many people are working there. Someone brought us drinks, then we had our waiter, then we had the busboy, then we had the assistant to busboy, and they the host, all walking back and forth in the aisles that can't fit more than one person at a time.
The food is meh. I had clams and whole wheat pasta. They seemed to have forgotten to add anything else, it was simply that. Not even salt. It was the blandest italian I've ever had. We had a sausage appetizer, and that was pretty good, but nothing I couldn't have gotten anywhere else. And as the bus boy pulled away the plate as soon as were done, the liquid from it spilled onto my jacket, and he didn't even notice. But then again he was working with like a foot of space at the time.
I will never return here, not because its a horrible place, but with the loudness, the drunkness and the blandness, there really is no feasible reason to return. -
Review from Sarah S.
Chicago, IL
2/24/2012
5.0
Francesca's is my all time favorite brunch place to go. I often try to get to popular brunches nearby (eg Bongo Room) but there's always a tremendous wait. This place never has a wait, but is much better than many of the nearby places.
Their brunch has a definite Italian flare to it, and it is a shorter menu, so if you're taking picky kids, this might not be your place. On the plus side, For those of us nursing a hangover on Sunday morning, there are no small children screaming!
The ambiance is warm, comfortable and never overcrowded (although I can't see how there isn't a line out the door everyday). It is also cheaper than many of the local spots.
My favorite is the Arancini Benedict (crispy risotto, prosciutto, poached egg, hollandaise, house papas). But other must tries include:
*Breakfast Monte Cristo (english muffin, fontina, crispy pancetta, fried egg with spicy tomato jam & hash browns)
*Baked Uovo Florentina (coddled yolk, fontina cheese, creamed spinach, ciabatta toast, white truffle oil)
I have also been here for dinner. Their cocktails are not my favorite, but they have an extensive wine list. -
Review from Dona K.
Chicago, IL
2/11/2012
This place was so disappointing. We went for dinner and I could not believe how poorly prepared the food was. Appetizer: Mussles. Too salty, but edible. Entrees: Monkfish & Grouper. The monkfish was so over cooked it had dried out and resembled shoe leather. And the Grouper was SO SALTY that we couldn't even eat it. The crispy potatoes that accompanied the grouper were good but they occupied the whole plate and there were entirely too many of them. Plus since they are deep fried and greasy it made the whole plate look rather unappetizing. The waiter was nice but a bit of an airhead. For dessert we shared the Crostata di Mele which is supposed to be an apple tart but it was more of a very doughy apple pie. For a place like this I expect them to know the difference between a properly done tart and a goopy apple pie.
Perhaps this place is popular because the name Francesca's is known (for whatever reason) and Forno is in a prime location. And a lot of people must be acclimated to eating overpriced, terrible food. -
Review from Arielle M.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2011
Olive Garden + Sports Bar = sad former regulars
I hate to say it, but I had a terrible experience in the renovated restaurant. I was hoping it was a one time thing, but I've asked around, and I guess it's not. The new version has a tiny menu, disjointed layout, and strange vibe. It's like they tried to turn their restaurant into Olive Garden. Don't fix something that wasn't broken. Giving a second star for the herb butter alone.
And please don't play the Best of the BeeGees at full volume at 5pm. -
Review from Edward C.
Chicago, IL
4/5/2012
Recent brunch attempt. Terrible; waiter AWOL and served finally three other tables who arrived after us. Had to ask hostess for service. Then order arrived wrong and had to send back.
One more try for dinner. Awful food. Never again. -
Review from Ajanta C.
Chicago, IL
3/26/2012
Went here for Sunday late brunch.. food was delicious!! We tried the french toast and the pork hash and we wiped off every last bit off the plate! The portion size of the french toast was a little small but the pork hash is humongous so it balanced out.. definitely going back again!
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Review from Jill K.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2012
Dear Francesca's Forno:
I BEG of you....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring back the Ignudi dinner entree and Uovo Diavolo brunch entree!! I will still give you 4 stars, because you have a great atmosphere and the rest of your food is still great. But unfortunately, I can no longer call you my "go-to" Italian place, because you got rid of two of the most delicious things I have ever tasted!
Please, help a girl out and bring them back!! -
Review from Andre H.
West Lawn, Chicago, IL
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was my first time going to Francesca's Forno. Me and two friends were looking for a place neither of us have been before so we decided to give this one a shot after finding out one of the other places that we wanted to go to was no longer in business. First impression was nice. I liked the atmosphere and the waitress was very nice. The menu seemed kind of limited in my opinion but they had an extensive wine list (slightly expensive). I ordered Monkfish Puttanesca (Grilled monkfish, octopus, capers, black olives,anchovies, onions, tomatoes).It was decent, nothing to write or call home about for the price. It wasn't bad ..... it just wasn't great. That was only one dish and I do plan to go back to try a couple other things but I'm not as motivated to make that happen anytime soon except for brunch....maybe.
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Review from Jen G.
12/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I was really excited to check this place out after their remodel and menu revision. The first time we went, we had a very mediocre brunch that didn't make us want to return. At that point, I definitely would have given 2 stars. Unfortunately, all the work they did only makes me want to add one more star to that.
The decor is nice. Kind of American-Italian night-clubby dinner spot. The music was loud and distracting, and inappropriate for the setting. I found it weird to listen to rap music while slurping my pasta in what I think is supposed to be a somewhat rustic Italian space.
The service was good, but not super. We had a party of 4, and our dishes didn't come out together. With each course, one person waited while the other three stared at their food. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure my entree got screwed up in the kitchen and they had to re-fire it. I guess I'm glad they noticed before they brought it out, but they had already delivered everyone else's plates.
The food is also good, but not spectacular. Both the kid and I had the beet salad to start, and we agreed that it tasted great when we first started eating, but the more we ate, the less we liked it. I did like my pasta, though. I got the Mushroom & Mascarpone, which is made with spaghetti. I asked them to make it with a plain red sauce instead of the brandy-veal sauce listed on the menu, which is what I am sure necessitated the re-fire. I will admit that it was actually very delicious, and I took home what I didn't eat for my lunch the next day. We didn't even look at the dessert menu.
So I guess I'd be willing to give it one more shot. Maybe next time they'll wow us. Who knows. -
Review from Michelle C.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/14/2011
Great atmosphere for a night out with your significant other or a rendezvous with your friends.
Food is okay- moderately priced between $12-$20ish for entrees. You pay more for the location and the ambiance than for the food or the service.
Bruschette was delicious. The bread was on a thick slice of bread- warm diced tomatoes, a wedge of fresh mozarella and fresh basil on each slice. For entrees, we ordered chicken saltimboca. It was very much like a chicken parmesan with linguine- two breaded chicken breasts with linguine on the side. The marinara sauce was what made the dish. Cavatelli Forno wasn't as good as the saltimboca. I never thought it would be possible, but this dish had too much cheese melted on top. It was a bland pasta-and-red-sauce dish... I wish I had gotten linguine vongole.
Dessert- get the hazelnut gelato!
The service was a bit on the slow side. It took about 10 minutes for the server to gree us on a Sunday night. The entree orders weren't taken until we were finished with the appetizer. -
Review from Jessica C.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2011
definitely not my cup of (senna) tea.
On two separate occasions, I've come here and left with a horrible taste in my mouth. And not from the food, because I've never even had the food. Let me explain:
I've come here twice in the 2 o'clock hour for lunch. In those two times, I've been informed that their pretentious, 5-item brunch menu is in effect until 3. If you're looking for something other than uptight frittatas and pancakes ala snob, look elsewhere.
You know what a real italian cafe/restaurant owner would do? Ask us what we wanted, what we were looking for and then make do. Who serves brunch until 3? That isn't a breakfast place anyways? Francesca's, you need to reevaluate everything you're doing.
On both occasions, my party and I have opted to get up and leave. Their response? "Ok, have a nice day!" which leads me to believe they could care less about my patronage. Nice one, team!
If you're looking for good food of the Italian persuasion, go down Damen to Cafe De Luca or over to Division to Via Carducci. This place needs to get shut down. That prime real estate should really belong to a winner. -
Review from Rahshonda K.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2011
I really have been wanting to try them for a while now and finally had the chance. One star gone only because the valet was horrible. One person to do valet on a Friday night....huh!!!!????!!! I digress!
The atmosphere, music, and service was GREAT!!!! We had a reservation only had to wait about ten mins before our table was ready which was no biggie it gave us a chance to order some great drinks and appetizers. Everyone enjoyed their meals the clam and pasta was Awesome! However the trout had to go back for another fish dish but overall the Food was great! For dessert we ordered the baked pumpkin cobbler with vanilla gelato and it was OMFG Awesome!!!!!! I loved the coziness of this place and I really will definitely visit again!!!!! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2011
So, we had been to Francesca's before the remodel a few times. We always loved the food, but it was sooooo noisy and the chairs kinda sucked. I really like the new layout and decor of the place. I think they did a really nice job!
The food we had was really amazing and the wine list is very reasonably priced! I don't think there is a bottle over $60? We had 2 of the specials, a procuitto app and a pasta entree as well as the lamb meatballs. Yum all around. Our table was slightly uneven and the wine bottle kept sliding towards me, but hey I can't complain about that, haha. Anyway, we would definitely be back! Since we live so close probably during the week when it is a little less crowded, but worth the wait! It is still a lively atmosphere but not quite as loud as it was prerenovation. -
Review from hannah k.
9/16/2011
Realistically, I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.
Granted I had not been here before the renovation, but I'm not sure what everybody is so pissed off about. The food was interesting, fresh and delicious. The atmosphere is a little uncharacteristic of the neighborhood, but let's be honest -- with a Lululemon, a hoard of expensive baby joggers and skyrocketing real estate prices, local hipsters are going to have to either learn to play nicely with others or join their kinfolk in the great pilgrimage west.
As for food stuffs, don't miss:
daily mercato - celery, fennel, radishes, bacon, apple-cider vinaigrette
truffled corn - further proof that everything should be lightly truffled
pork belly and clam pizza - better than it sounds, I promise
Skip:
baked hen egg with pomodoro sauce - it's a hot mess
Service-wise, our waiter was dopey, slow and completely uneducated about the menu. We ordered a lot of food, sat at an empty table for 25 minutes, and then everything came out together. Not awesome. The hostess (who managed to not even look mortified when my 70 year old dad flirted with her) and manager were lovely though, and clearly aware of his ineptitude, so I'm going to let it slide. But that guy seriously sucked. -
Review from Cheryl B.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
Oh Francesca's. WHY did you have to change your amazing menu to something mediocre?
The old, pre-renovation Francescas - FIVE stars. Seriously. LOVED going here and was so addicted to their Caprese Salad (simple yet delicious, and could never replicate the same goodness at home or elsewhere) that we used to stop by and order takeout at least once a week. Old Francesca's was a neighborhood staple with decent portions, wonderful food, and reasonable prices.
Called to order take-out after they reopened. Of course, none of my old favorites were on the new menu. Menu is not posted online anywhere. So, no take out order from us.
Fast forward to last Friday when we decided to dine there with friends. Was quoted 30-45 minute wait which ended up being slightly over an hour. They encouraged us to order drinks/food at one of the floating bar tables near the bar while we waited. Bar service was pretty awful, the server was obviously busy and had too many tables. 4 of us ordered some drinks and 2 small appetizers. $70 later and we were off to our table.
**A note on the tables - with the renovation they have expanded the bar area and limited the entire back area to 6 person high tops. They seat multiple parties at these tables and it just feels awkward. I'm all about community/sharing tables at other restaurants around town, but those tables are generally bigger (8, 10, 20, etc). Not 6 tops. The 4 of us were seated with another couple. It was pretty cramped. Not a fan. **
After waiting nearly an hour and ordering a bottle of wine, the server informed us they were too busy to prepare any of the pasta or meat dishes, so they were only serving appetizers, salads, and pizzas. Um, ok. That would have been nice to know before we waited an hour! On a side note you think they could have brought us a round of drinks or discounted our bill for this, but no. The chef did send over a small appetizer of veal meatballs...
We ordered a huge cheese platter and we received 4 pieces of bread/toast for 4 people. Seemed pretty skimpy. They also used to serve delicious breads, butter, olive oil and that's gone. No more yummy bread.
The 4 of us ordered 3 more pizzas and another bottle of wine (racking up quite a bill). Pizzas arrived and they were pretty good, not sure they were worth the price or waiting so long for though.
If you are looking for the delicious food of an old neighborhood favorite, think again. All of the food was good but I felt some of it was a bit overpriced and did not compare to the old menu. Overall, a disappointment.
I will miss the Caprese Salad forever! -
Review from Christopher E.
Chicago, IL
8/3/2011
Definitely a step down from before the renovation. I'll give it another try or two, I'm sure, since I'm in the neighborhood. But what was once my go-to when I had a hankering for Italian has become much less cozy and endearing.
I found the introduction from the table busser a bit jarring. The wait staff should introduce themselves, but too much interaction with the busser, and the service hierarchy becomes a bit grey.
Also, and I apologize if I'm hing up on this, but no bread basket. No bread, no olive oil. No salt, pepper, oil, cheese... nothing on the table to dress my meal with. It didn't need it, so I didn't need to ask, but still.
The atmosphere has taken a step towards Olive Garden, with the new faux-cellar brick work. I nearly expected the Chianti my wife and I ordered to arrive at the table in a fiasco.
Total meh. -
Review from Christine K.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2011
The husband and I came here a few days ago after the recent renovation. They changed the main dining area to include a bar with spaces for patrons to stand. I guess they are trying to add the non-dining-after-work-happy-hour crowd, which I like b/c I find the atmosphere to be more lively.
The husband, baby, and I sat in the main dining area, which had ample room for our stroller. Our server (can't remember her name!) was extremely nice and prompt.
We ordered the grilled sweet corn appetizer with truffle oil. That was gone in about 3 seconds. If you like the taste of white truffle oil, you will LOVE this! The husband got a corkscrew/marinara pasta dish while I got the spaghetti with mushrooms and truffle oil (again-I love truffle oil and can't get enough). My pasta dish was amazing...the husband licked my plate clean. For dessert, we had the apple tart. Very good as well. The manager came around to ask how everything was which was a nice touch to know that someone was making sure patrons were happy.
Everything - from the new decor to our server to, of course, the food, was great! I will be back. The only reason I deducted a star was b/c of portion size. The pasta dishes were noticeably smaller than before - I wish there was more of everything!! Still loved it though. -
Review from Arch R.
New York, NY
11/1/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Been there twice...it's in a great location, right on the six corners of Wicker Park..my old hood in Chicago.
The first time I went there was for dinner and I remember being quite pleased with the food. The only drawback was being placed on a table in a very congested part of the restaurant so I felt like people were always trying to navigate around our table and that got to be annoying.
The second time was for brunch; they have quite an innovative brunch menu rather than the standard omelettes. I got the bluberry and ricotta pancakes which were fluffy and melted in my mouth. My friend got the bourbon flavored french toast which was unbelievable as well.
The ambiance of the place is great and it's great for the summer because it has large french windows which open out into the street. I also love that the last time I was there, there was a tiny little dog under the table next to us; if this place is dog-friendly, it gets a star just for that! -
Review from James W.
Chicago, IL
10/31/2011
MY wife and I dined at the bar on Saturday. We had a great time watching the street scene on the Milwaukee/Damen/North Avenues intersection. It was free entertainment because of all the halloween parties going on in the City.
I really like this place because the service was friendly and good, food was really tasty and, I thought is was a good bargin. We ordered three items, 4 drinks and, one desert. We were satisfied with the portions. I will go back again. -
Review from Matt W.
Western Springs, IL
2/16/2012
I have been here several times in the last few months after hearing about this place. First off, the atmosphere is always great here. It's not the biggest and busiest restaurant around but that's one of the things I like about it. Another thing I like about it obviously is the food. You can't go wrong with any of the appetizers, I have had a chance to taste them all and loved each and every one of them. I have gotten pasta every time but I think I am going to get either chicken or halibut next time. Thanks for the great dining experience all around.
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Review from Edzellou A.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2011
We had brunch here few a few weeks back: overall not bad, but not excellent either. My husband's bacon & eggs meal was pretty good, with a generous portion size; however my sweet pancakes were a bit dry and fluffy, and while the espresso was OK, the milk was scalded.
The service was nice and friendly, though, without being overattentive, which was great for a long, lazy Sunday brunch. We would likely go back again at some point but will probably check out some other places nearby first! -
Review from Anna V.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2012 Seated via OpenTable
The food and atmosphere are both great but I wanted to share how amazing the service is. My plate took maybe 5 minutes longer to come out than everyone else at the table and even though none of us were complaining (or even really noticed) they apologized several times and then brought us a free bottle of the same kind of wine we were drinking just for the wait!
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Review from becky m.
Chicago, IL
8/26/2011
A few years back, before the renovations, the hubs and I came here for dinner. We really enjoyed it and had a great evening.
Flash forward. We decided to come back, forgetting the whole renovation thing and not realizing they changed the entire menu. Big bummer -- I was so looking forward to the lasagna.
Now the joint is just another cookie-cutter Scott Harris venture, exactly like DiSotto and Davanti. Really, just rename the place, because that's what it is. The formula doesn't work for me; I'm not into snobby Italian food, but that's just me. Being a picky eater, I struggled to find something on the menu and settled on the grilled chicken. Overcooked and had no flavor.
At the top, the appetizer and salad (Caesar, and was actually the best part of the meal) flew out of the kitchen far too fast. We felt like all they wanted to do was flip the table as fast as possible.
Our server was pleasant, the manager coming by twice to see how everything was was annoying.
The whole thing was disappointing and a repetitive formula. Give it up Scott -- it's boring and really not all that good. You've forgotten what the people want. -
Review from Luna H.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011
I've been here once with my boyfriend and we both really liked it!
It was kind of improvised, we just wanted a nice place to have wine and cheese more than a proper diner and we ended up here just by chance.
As I said, we didn't want a proper dinner so we didn't ask for a table (we went to the bar instead). I think it was a good decision because the tables seemed small and too close to each other, nothing really intimate or nice. The food, however, was delicious! We had a bottle of Albarino wine, delicious spanish white wine, and an offer of 3 appetizers for $17, which we thought was a good deal.
However, I have to admit that it was really noisy and the music was horrible. MTV hits is not what I expect in a nice italian restaurant! They loose a star just because of this. -
Review from Dan H.
Chicago, IL
10/28/2011
Like many of the other reviewers, I came here forgetting about the renovation and menu changes. I love the Francesca's chains but wasn't impressed with Forno's new menu or ambiance of the restaurant.
Not only did we have to wait for 30 minutes for our reservation, but they tried to sit us at a table with other people. They claimed that these were community tables. I could understand sitting with others if I was with a friend but I was on a date and I wasn't feeling that. Unfortunately after we declined to sit there we waited another 30 minutes without any communication from the hostess. They did try to make up for the lack of communication with a tasty appetizer, but it sort of ruined the night.
Overall the feel of the restaurant was very different, and I have agree that the high oval tables were people stand are awkward. The menu was very limited and not what I was expecting.
Service was good, portions were small. Probably wont go back. -
Review from Denise R.
Chicago, IL
8/16/2011
I came here with a friend on a Friday night. I think the openness of the restaurant and the smell of the food attracted us. There was a small wait but we were sat shortly after hitting the bar for some bevs.
I guess because of the aroma that brought me into the restaurant, I expected the food to have flavor but all of our dishes completely lacked flavor. My salad was okay. They basically throw a piece of a head of lettuce on a place with some dressing.
I ordered the chicken dish and my friend ordered the spinach dumplings and the portions were tiny! My chicken was supposed to come with potatoes and there were probably like 3 tiny pieces of potato on my place. Unfortunately, those were the most tasty things on my plate. The chicken was bland and was covered in a ridiculous amount of arugula.
The dumplings were pretty tasteless too, however the texture was good. And it was served in a decent sized bowl that was less than half full.
Service was decent. The server didn't seem very confident in any of the dishes when I asked her what she recommended. However, everyone was friendly.
Another thing that slightly annoyed me was how they added those standing tables right next to the dining tables. We basically had a guy's butt over our table the entire time as he felt the need the bend over and lean onto his standing table the whole time. We did get some great pics out of it =) -
Review from Law S.
Chicago, IL
9/13/2011
Have been to this location probably seriously about 50+ times and have always loved it. Went over the weekend for the first time post-renovation and was pretty disappointed.
The overall ambiance of the interior design is not as cozy as it used to be. We waited a substantial amount of time after our reservation to be seated (about 45 min after said time), but we were catching up with friends at the bar, so it was not a big deal. Also, they did send some appetizers over as an apology, which was nice.
Cons:
Menu change, no rigatoni, NO CALAMARI! Among other things, it seems like odd things were omitted from the new menu with questionable substitutions.
Standing elliptical tables in the bar area are weird. You feel like you are towering over the tables behind them and there is not adequate clearance for standing room plus traffic flow in the bar, when full.
Used to be our staple for quick, good Italian and a great place for a sure-fire last minute for out-of-town guests. I fear this is no longer true, not sure when I'll be back when there are superior options. :(
