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St Francis Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
111 E Camelback RdPhoenix, AZ 85012
(602) 200-8111
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 10 am - 11 pm
Sun 9 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
393 reviews for St Francis Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"For an appetizer we split the baked goat cheese." In 40 reviews -
"other honorable mentions: pot roast and stew." In 38 reviews -
"Saving the best for last, the sticky toffee pudding." In 18 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
393 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel R.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/14/2012
Dim lighting. Fleet Foxes. Hipsters. Band of Horses. Benches that are less cushy than you anticipate them to be. The Shins. Black board specials, just because they look cool. Beirut. $13 vegetable dishes.
Intimidated yet? Fight through the angst. Once you take your first bite of food, all the hullabaloo will be well worth it.
Order the forbidden rice bowl. Tell them to make it vegan (the vegetables are usually cooked in a bit of butter)... after all, you're a pseudo-hipster for the evening, and it's fantastic. If you're depressed by the idea of black rice as your main carbohydrate, the flat breads are worthy of a taste-gasm. That crust... I'd do unscrupulous things for unlimited amounts of that flat bread crust.
But on to the main event... the chocolate stout cake + spiced ice cream + espresso ganache was the best chocolate cake I've ever had. It was just so damn... moist. There, I said it. Moist. Moist. Moist. Ew. But really, yum. If caffeine, chocolate and alcohol don't suit your fancy (wimp), the cheesecake in a jar was equally delightful. Cookie crust + strawberry compote + cream + cheesecake. Layered. In a jar. Who thought of that? Someone with adorable thoughts, that's who.
And let's be honest, you've earned dessert. I mean... you ordered a healthy, vegan entree over the french onion cheeseburger, right? Right. Of course you did.Listed in: Vegans. Winning., Dessert in the Desert.
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Review from Pepper T.
Phoenix, AZ
Updated - 5/21/2012
This place IS really GREAT except for one thing that some people like. THE NOISE! We almost left, it was so noisy we couldn't have a conversation and neither of us could hear the drink special from our waitress. The noise level did get better towards the middle of our stay I guess if you are there during the happy hour you might hit them when they are busy and noisy.
However
The food was good, I started with a little romaine salad it was only $3. it was good except for the apple slices that tasted like onions (that might mean something wasn't cleaned). My roasted salmon was delicious and came over a cold quinoa salad. I was surprised to find out they use high quality Scottish Salmon that only better restaurants use.
My companion had the cheese flat bread and the Pork Chile Verde and was pleased.
We spent much less here on dinner than we would have spent at many other places having a similar meal.
I do plan to return but will wait for a patio seat where dining is much more pleasant.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2011
Let me start out by saying you will not be as picky as me and would add another star maybe?
I really… Read more »
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Review from Bobby W.
Phoenix, AZ
4/30/2012
Like others have stated, simplicity is the focus of the menu at St Francis. And the execution of the dishes is excellent.
We put our names on the waiting list and were told the wait would be approximately 30-45 minutes. We sat down researching wines on our phones for a good 15 minutes or so before we were called to our table. Sweet!
We got the meatballs (with the hen egg on top of course) and seafood cioppino. While drinking our wine, we decided it would be wise to order some bread. I wish I could get my crusts as crusty as their crusts (yes, I did just use 'crust' three times).
The spices in the meatballs made the dish for me. The dish is simple, but packs a very powerful punch of flavor. Perfect for dipping our wonderfully crusted sourdough baguette into (when we didn't dip it into our olive oil and balsamic sauce - ask for balsamic on the side). The cioppino was good as well - a nice mixture of clams, mussels, scallops and shrimp, and a sauce also worthy of sopping up with bread. We also saw a server bringing out a fanastic-looking burger, which we ended up commenting on with the table next to us. We'll come back for you next time, little guy.
For dessert, we ended up getting the cheesecake in a jar. It had a nice tanginess to it, but a little less whipped cream on top would have been great. And more crust. In any case, we didn't end up finishing it because we were full before we even ordered the cheesecake. But we just had to see what a cheesecake in a jar was like.
Sweet spot for a nice evening out. Be ready to spend a little. -
Review from Heather P.
Glendale, AZ
5/25/2012
I absolutely love this joint. The food is out of this world fresh and delish! Seasonal veggies. Mmmmm goat cheese crustini is soooooooo good. Excellent service. A favorite for sure.
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Review from Jeanine J.
Phoenix, AZ
5/21/2012
Hipster joint, for sure. But you can't beat the cool half-indoors/half-outdoors bar area. And the pork chile verde will bring me back soon! It is a little noisy if you're trying to have real conversations over dinner. But it's definitely worth it, considering the food & drink selection is tough to match! Love this place ... my mouth is watering while I reminisce about the pork chile verde. MMMMMMMM!
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Review from Allison G.
Phoenix, AZ
5/22/2012
We visited on a Saturday night for drinks and dessert. Ended up getting a bottle of wine and sitting on the front patio. They had some movie projected on to the wall next to us which was pretty cool. Ambience was fantastic. Lots of nice folks sitting around and striking up convos. However, the highlight of my night was the dessert. We shared this little piece of heaven...a toffee pudding thing with gelato. I was pretty much the girl licking the bowl in the corner! Ok...maybe not that extreme but I wanted to. It was one of the best desserts I've had. Can't wait to go back and try their other course offerings.
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Review from Diego S.
Scottsdale, AZ
Updated - 4/11/2012
Do you like crusty french bread? Hard crusty shell on the outside with soft, moist chewy crumb on the inside?
Whenever my wife makes soup, she asks me to bring home a loaf of crusty french bread. This is where I go to get it.
Don't get me wrong, all their food is delicious, especially the veggie lasagna, and some kind of melted goat cheese in spaghetti sauce appy, but I don't have time for that...not tonight. My orders were very specific....a loaf of crusty french bread.
When you arrive, there'll be a couple dozen loaves of bread for sale in the front area, across from the hostess station. Grab a loaf, take it home and when you walk through the door, hold it up to your crotch and pretend its your junk.
A hybrid, somewhere between a baguette and a traditional french loaf, you'll look like Ron Jeremy with this thing.
Go ahead.
Wave it around. Maybe even do 'the helicopter' with it, signaling your after-dinner intentions transcending any level of naughty she's even vaguely familiar with.
Then prepare to eat your soup by yourself after getting a lecture on holding up any and every phallic shaped object to your crotch, as if it was some gigantic dong.
Keep on dreaming, my friend.
The world needs dreamers like you.
Note to St. Francis management
Your bread is remarkable, and that little quinoa salad.. tabouli, whatever, is scrumptious. Nice job!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/1/2011
I had lunch here today and quickly became of fan of this eatery.
Service was quick and friendly and… Read more »
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Review from Andy A.
Phoenix, AZ
4/25/2012 Seated via OpenTable 8 Check-ins Here
If you have yet to be to St. Francis Restaurant I'm pretty sure you don't know what life could be like!
This is THE perfect place - perfect place for what you ask?
How about for a birthday or some sort of celebration seated in the nook surrounded by floor to ceiling windows on three sides.
Or a romantic date night to impress your studly or lady friend.
Or a sophisticated spots to take potential clients.
Or a relaxing environment to grab a glass of wine or a few cocktails.
Or even the perfect place to ride your beach cruiser to on a Sunday morning and enjoy a delicious brunch.
Yes this place is the perfect place for all of the above, pretty amazing right?
Now let me tell you why.
The space:
I feel like there are many urban type restaurants here in central Phoenix, but this restaurant is one of a few (if any others) that is built in the original old structure. There's a beautiful built in nook that can seat larger parties. Small intimate tables to encourage conversation. Exposed beams of the 2nd level of the restaurant. It's truly a restaurant that creates an open environment by opening a large garage door over the bar to serve the patrons outside and large glass doors that open to the patio with a beautiful wood burning fireplace.
The food:
I have yet to have something I didn't love. The menu itself isn't huge but for some reason it's still so difficult to pick just one thing. For dinner you can't go wrong with their french union burger, flat breads, or pork chop. But if you want the best thing on the menu go for the hanger steak. It is one of the best steaks I have ever had in my entire life! If you happen to stop by on a weekend for brunch you need to try either the most amazing pancake you will ever put in your mouth or the salmon eggs benedict. Now I was a little skeptical of the salmon eggs benedict at first because regular eggs benedict is not only my favorite breakfast meal - it's my favorite food ever. But for the same price as the regular I thought I'd give it a try and I was not disappointed at all!
The service:
Overall I have had Fantastic service at St. Francis. The wait staff is usually friendly and interactive. There was one time we had a server who seemed to be overwhelmed and we felt forgotten about, but that was only one time :)
Tips:
If you're going for brunch try to make a reservation! It can get pretty packed. One time I was told an hour and a half wait (but it was really only about 25 minutes luckily...).
If you need a cocktail they have a lemonade that's delicious and dangerous!
Be careful - you'll fall in love with this place. -
Review from adam g.
Phoenix, AZ
5/14/2012
Wow, we have been here a few other times, but only for dinners and we decided to have our mother's day brunch here. The food was phenomenal, the services were awesome and the prices were more than reasonable. The entire staff was extremely friendly to our son and we would classify it as children friendly. Everything we order tasted great, the ingredients were very fresh, the portion sizes were perfect and we walked away very impressed. I've always been enamored with the design of the building as they've done a great job then add on a killer brunch.... we will be back often!
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Review from krystle s.
Culver City, CA
4/3/2012
I love this place! Nothing we had was bad!
I took my boyfriend for his birthday in October. We sat at the bar because the restaurant was full on a Monday night!
The beer selection was nice (needs more IPA) we shared a chorizo flatbread and the French onion burger both were to die for!
I cannot wait to go back when I am in town a definite return date place! -
Review from Aaron B.
Phoenix, AZ
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Let me say this up front, my wife used to work @ St. Francis so we are fortunate to know the servers and staff, this always makes for a friendly environment. I have never had any item that I did not enjoy, in fact I have a new appreciation for fresh ingredients after having the pleasure of dining here.
Chef Aaron can be compared to Picasso with a brush, or even Stephen King with a pen, except he perfects his ideas with kitchen utensils putting his work on plates. Alex, Korbi and David serve great drinks. Kayla and Dylan have both served us and are always attentive to their tables.
Brunch is excellent, I would recommend the Egg Sandwich or Eggs Benedict, and you can't go wrong with any of the baked goods. Happy hour is fantastic, very good deals. For lunch I would recommend the French Onion Burger, always cooked to what you order and one of the tastiest burgers I have had in the Valley. The menu is seasonal so don't be afraid to try something new. During your wait enjoy the building, the lines are amazing, and there is a mural from local artist Dose on the second floor.
Thank you St. Francis. -
Review from carol P.
Phoenix, AZ
4/9/2012
I have been to St Francis several times and really love it but I had one dish that simply blew me away. The forbidden rice bowl-wow-flavors just explode in your mouth.
I had chicken added for protein-the dish came to the table so fresh-with perfectly cooked veggies in season, the rice was beyond tasty and the shredded chicken the perfect compliment. The real star is the sauce-delicate,aromatic, light.
I ate most of it for lunch then took home the leftover and and had a light dinner.
I never eat the same thing twice in a day but this is the type f dish I could eat weekly.
Thinking about going back soon... -
Review from Chris C.
Louisville, KY
4/5/2012
Food was great. Had the goat cheese app, pork chop entree, and some dessert. The wine the server recommended pairing with the pork chop worked wonderfully. Very reasonably priced.
The only issue I have with this place is the hostess. She might have been new, and if that was the case - then it's OK. However, she was pretty absent minded and in general - underqualified to be a hostess (wow I cannot believe I just wrote that). Whenever I am in Phoenix again, I will make sure to come back. Cool place. -
Review from Robert B.
Scottsdale, AZ
4/29/2012
Peggy and I ate here for the first time last night, and it was excellent. Meschelle was our guide through the experience and kept me in ice tea which rates an "excellent" in my book anytime because of the attitude and attention that constant top-offs require. The baked goat cheese was superb, My pork chop over a smooth silk-like puree of celery and potato was luscious, and Peggy's carrot soup and chicken salad sandwich was exceptional. The atmosphere is urban comfy and the whole feel of the place is very welcoming. This is a must go to and we will return! Dr. B
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Review from Beth A.
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been stalking St. Francis for months.
Let me explain, I drive by every day on the way home from work, and I can't help taking my eyes off the road to check out this ultra-cool restaurant. I began harassing Sean M. to accompany me to taste the menu so that I could stop creeping and start enjoying the food. My persistence paid off, as it usually does, and we made St. Francis our top choice for Sunday brunch this weekend.
The wait was a little long but the day was beautiful and I wasn't raging around like a hungry monster so I didn't mind. We were seated after about 30 minutes, but you can make reservations to avoid waiting if you prefer.
We started brunch by splitting a cinnamon roll. It was moist and covered in caramel sauce which was a nice touch to the iced variety that I am used to. It was huge and only cost $5.00. Totally worth it.
Up next was the salmon eggs benedict. This is one of the best versions of this dish I have ever had. The flavors just work. The english muffin is sourdough with some kind of garlic-y spread underneath salmon, perfectly poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. Amazing!
We did not sample the drink menu on this trip. I am of the opinion mimosas and bloody mary's should be between $3-$5 on Sundays (it is the day of rest, after all), so I couldn't do the $9 that the menu was asking for.
Overall, a wonderful experience! I can't wait to check out the menu for my other favorite meal, happy hour! -
Review from Kavita B.
Chandler, AZ
5/6/2012
I love this place! Have taken friends here for brunch for the past several months and every single time, my friends have loved it. This is a perfect BRUNCH spot!
I usually get the omelet or the scrambled egg dish and both come with crusty french bread that is just dee-lish. The meals are plentiful, delicately balanced in flavors and just simply yummy. Iced coffee is always strong and the mimosa's sing beautifully on a saturday morning!
The ambience is quite lovely in this restaurant. Mixture of brick walls with modern undertones. The restaurant is bright and airy and has a beautiful outside eating area as well.
My only complaint is the service. It never is fast enough, although everybody is always very friendly. I have learned to ask for the check when I get our meal to ensure that we are not left with empty plates for too long. I wish they would beef up their service (although yesterday's brunch was a slight bit better in speed).
All in all, I highly recommend St Francis as a brunching spot! Enjoy!
ps - they take reservations - highly recommended. -
Review from Elina R.
Irvine, CA
5/12/2012
We were looking for something new and different in Phoenix. We decided to let Yelp help us and we stumbled upon St Francis. We read the reviews and decided to give it a try. WOW!!! The reviews did not do it justice! The service was outstanding, the food was one of the best we had in a long time. The chicken with garlic sauce was beyond anything we ever tried. The BEST!!! Highly recommend... Try something new!
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Review from John G.
Updated - 3/30/2012
Thats right, I'm dropping a star. Why you ask. Oh let me see
- I was in a week ago and the service was really not up to the par. Maybe your staff changed, maybe it was a saturday and you were busy, maybe everyone was having a bad day. But the level of service dropped. That is not quiet acceptable.
- The food was less than excellent. Again, maybe I held you to a higher standard, maybe its my fault, it normally is in my house ... It might have been the seasonal menu change, it might have been the service that set the tone for the rest of the day.
All things said and done, I know this place can be great and I will be back to hopefully give it back the star I docked and then some.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/15/2009
So we were driving by and pulled in to grab a drink and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The… Read more »
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Review from Robert M.
2/29/2012
I've been for brunch and I've been for lunch but never for dinner until this past weekend and I'm giving high ratings for consistency and continuous good times. The cinnamon roll is to live for! Share it with a friend or be like me and eat the entire thing yourself- sugar belly! The cocktails are great too, the bloody mary is savory and comes with all kinds of goodies - can be too spicy for me sometimes but I just pop an antacid and all is good.
Dinner this past weekend was just as great. We were a large party but Francis was a saint and our table was ready on time without any delays. Our server was also timely and most accommodating by not batting an eye at our request for separate checks. He made it seem like a fairly easy process even after we decided to play musical chairs, which would have burned my biscuits if I was in his shoes, for him, not a problem whatsoever.
I decided on the meatball dish and man were those balls meaty and the Moroccan spiced sauce was delicious. The dish comes with three hefty balls, saucy sauce, pearl pasta and I added the hen egg because it was an option at no cost. I want to try the pork chop next. A friend suggested I do so.
Every element about this place is great, the architecture, interior decor (rustically romantic), lighting, valet service and patio. All the elements that imo make for a great dinning experience. -
Review from Andrew K.
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is another Phoenix restaurant with great ambiance and decor.
I was able to arrive before the rest of my party and had a couple drinks from the outdoor bar. The dirty martinis here are delicious! I also had a couple flatbreads (cheese & chorizo) which were both around $10. They both were very tasty and filling.
For dinner I split the forbidden rice bowl (I added chicken) and the seafood cioppino ($25). I was surprised how much I liked the rice bowl, I am not exactly sure what type of rice they used, but it was on the sweet side in a good way. Other people at my table had the hanger steak , salmon and the french onion burger, but were not that impressed with it.
I would suggest giving this restaurant a try, I'm glad I did. -
Review from Christine O.
Phoenix, AZ
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think St. Francis is great - if you don't pay full price. I've probably been 6-8 times now - once for brunch and the rest of the times at night - and I simply haven't left with as positive of a feeling if I've not been at HH or not ordered one of the more affordable entrees.
For example, I once went for a friend's birthday dinner and got a fish entree in the $30 range. While it was good, I simply couldn't stomach paying $70 for an appetizer, entree and two drinks. And that was just for me. By the time my husband was factored in, we had spent the kind of money we'd spend for a five-star meal at a nice steakhouse.
Same goes for brunch. While I can excuse paying $10-$13 for an entree if bloodys and mimosas are under $6, I can't if I have to pay $8-$9 just to whet my whistle. That said, I would probably pay $8 or $9 just for that delicious, succulent cinnamon roll. MMM - calories be damned.
Anyway, my friend recently introduced me to HH at St. Francis, where you can get their delicious cocktails (the Black Daisy is a tequila lover's dream) for $5 and food items for as low as $4. The Forbidden Rice Bowl (one of my typical choices to save money after that initial fish entree experience) is only $8 and is both exotic and filling.
There are many who rave about St. Francis and clearly, I like it enough to keep going back, but I just like to pay a little less for it. More money to spend at the tons of other great restaurants nearby! -
Review from John S.
San Diego, CA
3/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Not a bad place....that doesn't sound like a great start but give me a minute. The place has a good location but too similar to a strip mall front and parking is a pain in the butt. The walk up bar is the coolest part of the place and the happy hour isn't a bad bet at all but since the drinks were made from someone with Stevie Wonder's eyesight. The vodka gimlet was pretty bad, I mean it tasted like straight lime juice. Wouldn't sell someone on this place if there was a better alternative but if you got absolutely nothing else to do.....give it a try. I would say that the crowd here is in the upper 30's to 50's age demographic.
I did find that the bathrooms were unique and were given more attention to detail than the menu. -
Review from Stacey F.
Phoenix, AZ
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were first ones here for lunch...and kids eat free so I figured why not . I ordered forbidden rice w chicken...it arrrives raw! I had to search for a server and she removed the chicken from my plate...again we wait...and wait...it never came before my meal was finished. Ha to find another server to ask tjey cxl chicken at this point and just bring bill. They tried to ofer it to go! No thanks...wanted it as part of meal...we will not be back.
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Review from Becky M.
Updated - 3/16/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I have really tried to love St. Francis, but the restaurant just isn't working for me. I've been back a few times, and I have the same mediocre experience each time. Nothing is ever BAD; it's just average.
The food is the one redeeming quality of St. Francis, because for the most part, everything is really good. I say this based on my friends' opinions because I'm never completely satisfied with what I order. The most recent time that I went to St. Francis, I had the french onion burger, and it was lacking a defining flavor. Something sharp to offset everything else. It was, dare I say it . . . plain. Broadly speaking, the bread is good, the seasonal soup is good, the flatbreads are also (you guessed it) good. I just haven't been given a blown-away food experience.
I get a little agitated with the seating. I know that St. Francis takes reservations, but it is upsetting when, as a walk-in, you wait for 30+ minutes while many empty tables go unseated during that time. Not just one or two; we're talking five, six, even eight empty tables at one point. I haven't been a hostess for a long time, so I hate mentioning it because I probably wouldn't understand the workings of seating arrangements at a fine dining restaurant, but it's one of the things that always happens when I go to St. Francis. My friends and I wait while many tables remain empty.
I know that I am outside of the statistical norm with my rating, but I can't bring myself to give any additional stars. And to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm willing to spend any more money to try to give St. Francis the opportunity to earn any additional credit.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/17/2011
It kinda breaks my heart to give a 3-star rating to what should have been a 5-star experience.
Ever… Read more »
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Review from Phillip L.
Panorama City, CA
3/26/2012
This place was great.
I went on a sunday for brunch. I thought it was going to be small judging from the outside but it turned out to have a surprisingly big. Really good atmosphere especially upstairs. They had piano music playing and I actually wasn't sure if someone was playing live. I don't think there was.
Food was delicious. I got the biscuits with gravy. Potatoes were definitely unique and great. Drinks were also very refreshing. Will be back many times in the future -
Review from Bryan B.
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Saturday brunch on the patio! St. Francis has been on the to do list since moving back to AZ. I knew that I'd be impressed after reading that Chef Aaron Chamberlain came from La Grande Orange Hospitality.
We enjoyed a nice variety to keep everyone happy from a Turkey Scramble, Eggs Benedict, Fried Egg Sandwich, to a Traditional Breakfast with bacon.
To top it all off were their house cocktails. The Cucumber Cooler and freshly muddled blackberries made the Black Daisy the group favorites.
Enjoy the cozy architecture inside. The cable lighting make you want to zip line straight to the bar! -
Review from Meghan M.
Kalamazoo, MI
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
All I can say is the horrible service overrode everything that could possibly have been good about the food. The ambience of this establishment was very cool and hip and had an abundance of open air seating which was most welcome coming into phoenix from Michigan winter that same day. However, our server was not good at all! We waited for waters for over 10 mins. and when I needed a refill, because that was all I was drinking, forget about it. I had to flag another server down while I could see my waitress rolling silverware. We were eating with another couple and she never asked if we wanted the bill split either which I thought was unacceptable.
Ok...for the food. I had the pork chili verde which was very flavorful and the cornbread that came with it, I wished I had more of it. My husband had the kale and Brussel sprouts and kale salad which he thought was very good but the meatballs were just that, nothing special. Even with the hen egg. The other couple we were with had been here several times and obviously have had much different experiences than we had because I don't think I would go back unless it was for a cocktail because they had a pretty good looking list and the bar area had tables and space to mingle. -
Review from Rianne D.
2/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Baby Sis: We're going to St. Francis.
Me: It's Friday night. Church?
Baby Sis: No (stupid, implied). St. Francis Restaurant.
Me: Oooh! Okay!
Since the little sister is paying for dinner, I'm not complaining. =)
It was closer to 8pm by the time we made out to St. Francis. My sister called ahead for reservations. Despite there being no line out front, it was pretty packed.
The ambiance is intimate, a great place for a first date. But, I'd suggest sitting away from the entrance, as it could get potentially cold and the tables closest to the door just felt awkward.
For a starter, we got the fingerling potatoes. I'd order those again. Main meal for me was the roasted chicken. For the sister, the pot roast. Both were great choices. As for dessert? Cheesecake in the jar! Delish!
I even bought a loaf of bread to take home. They have excellent bread! Crusty outside and a moist, chewy inside. This carb lover was a happy girl!
As far as first impressions go, St. Francis did great. Looking forward to the next time I'm in Phoenix, to try more items on the menu. -
Review from Carrie W.
Phoenix, AZ
1/29/2012
I don't often review places on Yelp because of the time commitment and because usually I am just looking for a good bite to eat. This time, though I feel I should if not to balance the ridiculous number of 4 and 5 stars bouncing around for this place.
The food was decent, and the atmosphere OK but seriously, how can this place cost as much as it does ($60+ for two people eating light)?? And how are people fawning all over it? I don't like to complain about a good meal, and indeed this meal was good but I can't seem to justify the cost as compared to most any other place I have tried in Phoenix that would be considered in St. Francis' class.
I ordered a Hearts of Romaine Salad and a bowl of cauliflower soup. I shared a plate of the baked goat cheese with my guest. Not one of these dishes would have tasted much different had I made them myself from ingredients at the Public Market. Indeed, I have had cauliflower soup at the market that tasted just as good for a fraction of the price.
The service was good, I will say, and for that I would offer a higher rating. But the general ambiance of pretension was more than I could justify, again for a meal I feel like I have had 100 times before.
In the end I guess I would say if they would knock about $10 off of each plate, and cut some of the pretentious attitude, I would probably be offering a much better review.
I am not planning a return anytime soon. -
Review from Alissa G.
Phoenix, AZ
4/2/2012
While this place has a great ambiance and I love the patio, there's nothing more annoying than a restaurant that serves a plate of food that doesn't come close to satisfying a normal person's appetite and it's a high price. I realize most Americans eat too much and we shouldn't always have leftovers... but I have a family full of petite women and we were all starving after we ate our entire plates. I don't like going somewhere that has expensive dishes and then being coerced into ordering an appetizer and dessert just so I can leave feeling satisfied. Bulk it up a bit, St Francis.
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Review from Kendra S.
2/6/2012 1 photo
I love this place! I've been here twice for lunch and once for dinner and have yet to be disappointed.
The last time I went here, I got the fried egg sandwich for lunch - it was very good. A bit messy though - I had to eat it with a fork and knife. The fries are great too. I've also had the flatbread before, which I enjoyed. And I ordered the salmon when I was here for dinner which was quite good.
It's the perfect place for lunching on the patio with a glass of wine. I haven't tried their brunch yet, but I hear it's amazing. Hopefully I'll be back soon for that. -
Review from Renee S.
Phoenix, AZ
4/8/2012
Great atmosphere and location. We started with the baked goat cheese, topped with pine nuts and with a little sauce (marinara? crushed tomatoes?) on the bottom, served w/Crostini-very delicious! I ordered the meatballs, which tasted very ketchup-y, but with the unusual spices, it definitely grew on me. It could have been spicier, though, and maybe served without the sauce altogether (preferable), or just not as much. My friend ordered the pork chop, which was perfect--juicy, great size--and definitely what I will order next visit. I heard brunch there is fantastic and based on this meal/experience, cannot wait to visit again. Knowing that kids 10 and under eat free is another plus, and the noise level was loud enough that a 4 year old should fit in well.
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Review from C N.
San Diego, CA
2/10/2012 1 photo
This place is great for Happy Hour. Not sure I'd want to pay non-HH prices.
Free wi-fi, indoor and outdoor seating at the bars, cool design with private room upstairs that looks like a fun group setting.
The veggie bowl on HH is fantastic for $7.
Great HH drink specials - $5 Moscow Mules, and other specialty cocktails.
Excellent service. -
Review from Monique P.
Phoenix, AZ
1/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Love! Love! Love! This place! My boyfriend and I go here very often! It's again a great first date and for many dates to come!
I'm gonna keep this short:
For drinks get a Melboc or Cucumber Cooler
For breakfast get the baked eggs or eggs Benedict
Lunch/dinner the salmon,meatballs or chicken
It's great! Have fun! -
Review from Jayson K.
Tempe, AZ
2/7/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This has been my best eggs Benedict experience in Phoenix. After having a 20 minute conversation with my brother about how badly people destroy hollandaise sauce, Surprise surprise! Their sauce was the perfect consistency. Eggs were cooked perfectly. Presentation with the fingerling potatoes was beautiful.
This is as good as it gets. -
Review from Ed P.
Phoenix, AZ
4/27/2012
A friend recommended St Francis and I'm glad we listened. What a great place. Our server Amanda K. was so helpful, personable and knowledgeable I asked her how long she'd been working there expecting to hear a lengthy number. I was shocked to find out 3 weeks! This gal knew the menu and just what to recommend. Within moments she had us hooked on trying more courses than we normally eat. She was marvelous and made the evening just a little more fun. The food was outstanding. Taste, presentation and selection were unbelievable. Lack of parking was the only down side. This will be a place we frequent.
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Review from Evan B.
12/27/2011
St fancis? Who or what are you? A date place? No too noisy. A gastronomy wonder, no they don't serve beer in a can. So what is it?
I had a full meal here and I cannot fully place a title. It was noisy, a bit pricy (who charges $2 for bread and olive oil) and not the most filling.
We stated with the kale and Brussels sprout salad. While it did have plenty of kale the Brussels sprouts were just shavings, it had a healthy dose of a balsamic base dressing contrary to the menu. $10
We also had the aforementioned $2 bread with olive oil, the menu calls it a baguette but it was sour dough.
For the mains I had the Salmon super food. Pan seared salmon over a quinoa salad with some edamae in it. The Salmon was nothing special and the quinoa was good. $22 We also had the Forbidden Rice bowl, The rice was mostly sweet and not spicy the veggies were nicely roasted but nothing too special. $13
Overal a fun diversion but I am not in a rush to go back. -
Review from Eric R.
1/1/2012
I'm torn between three stars and four stars for St. Francis, but I'm giving four stars for the coolness factor. This was a service station that's been converted to a cool eatery with an AWESOME patio and an indoor/outdoor bar, which I LOVE. I like sitting in the upstairs dinning area because it's a little more quiet. It reminds me of one of my favorite restaurants in Paris.
My favorite dish is the Prime Hanger Steak but the food is where I waiver on giving four stars. Presentation seems to supersede preparation so that your meals looks better than it actually tastes. That is not too say that the food here is bad because fresh quality ingredients are used and there are some very creative entrees on the menu so the food is far from bad.
I guess I just feel that compared to what's been done to create an awesome atmosphere for dining and drinking, the taste of the food falls a little short. I also don't feel that I get the most value for my money. The cocktails are great here but the drinks as well as the food are a bit on the pricey side. This is Phoenix after all, not Manhattan.
Still a good place to go though-if nothing else, bring a date here for a few cocktails on the patio because it will impress.Listed in: Scenester Short List
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Review from jon s.
Phoenix, AZ
Updated - 1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Just had another Sunday breakfast. Now have live music....fantastic!
Had the awesome cinnamon roll again (split between 3-4 people!) and one of the egg omelets. Super yummy and great coffee of course.
Thanks,
jon1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/29/2010
Had a lovely Sunday breakfast here. Delicious over easy eggs and potatoes. Wife had a supreme… Read more »
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Review from Ed B.
Phoenix, AZ
4/1/2012
Just had sunday brunch here for the first time. Awesome. Wood-oven baked eggs over braised beef...fantastico.
