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    Francesca's Cucina

    3.7 (529 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Francesca's Cucina Takeout or Delivery

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    FRANCESCA'S CUCINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Francesca's Cucina

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    Barada
    Morgan M.

    I will start this as I always do by saying I do not give out five stars unless I am really blown away. I love this place. Food is always good. Service is excellent and the outdoor seating area is amazing. This is one of my favorite places to eat in Syracuse. The only problem I have is the parking. I highly recommend the arancini balls and the Utica greens for appetizers. The pasta I tried this time just needed a little salt but otherwise the dish was excellent. If the weather is nice sitting outdoors is awesome. It doesn't fell at all like you are in downtown Syracuse. The price is a little high but totally worth it with the food being so good and the helpings you get. I don't usually get dessert but the cheesecake looked so good I had to try it and I wasn't disappointed at all. I was overly full afterwards but totally worth it. I highly recommend you give this place a try

    Cheesy mozzarella
    Ruriko S.

    We came to Francesca's Cucina on Monday night after graduation weekend and had such a great experience. We had reservations for 6:30 PM and were seated immediately upon arrival. A little advice, try to make reservations before 7 PM because the restaurant gets very crowded later in the evening. The complimentary focaccia bread was absolutely delicious : soft, fresh, and full of flavor. We shared the mozzarella triangles as an appetizer, which were excellent. For my entrée, I ordered the pecan-crusted salmon salad and it was amazing. My lady bug had the ravioli, and so did snore bug , both really enjoyed it. Our waiter was outstanding: bubbly, attentive, and made the whole dinner even more enjoyable. The ambiance was vibrant and lively, perfect for celebrating after graduation weekend. Another plus is that the restaurant offers complimentary parking with several parking lots available nearby. Overall, we had a wonderful dining experience and would definitely come back!

    Shrimp scampi with cavatelli.
    Joyce P.

    Always the best atmosphere. So meet on the patio is the best. Fun bar if you want to stay there. Wait staff exceptional and consistent.

    Carrie L.

    We were celebrating my daughters Birthday and she chose Francesca's patio for the second year consecutively. Arrived at 630 for reservation, about a twenty minute wait time. That gave us time to order cocktails at the bar, we loved the Raspberry Limoncello Spritzers. Light, refreshing, and summery! We sat by the fire pit and sipped on our cocktails soaking in the Al Fresco dining experience. Once seated not far from the fire pit, bread with olive oil sauce for dipping and waters were delivered. We ordered Arancini for appetizer, everything thus far hot, fresh, and delish! My daughter ordered the Filet medium rare that looked more on the rare side but she did not mind. I ordered Lobster Carbonara that was presented from a jar. Interesting concept. Unfortunately it was a very thick, chewy, bland pasta. It needed more seasoning peppercorn, pepper flakes, grated cheese or cheeses might have helped the hopeless blandness of this dish. The lobster in the dish was sweet and succulent. The egg based sauce lacked the seasoning. Service was pleasant and steady throughout our meal. I opted for the Velvet Martini as my second coctail. Fresh , Citrus taste. We preferred the Spritzers. The waitress did offer to switch out my meal but there was no need for that. I gave the carbonara a whirl and it is just not to my liking. Fabulous desserts the Reece's Peanut butter tarte cake was to die for and mint cannoli. They comped my cannoli in Lieu of the carbonara. Plenty of leftovers to go. Another fabulous evening on the patio that gives the vibe of being anywhere but on the North Side of Syracuse! Transports you to mini paradise for a couple of hours!

    Cyndi H.

    On a Monday evening we were able to park in the side lot and were seated right away at a quiet table by the window in the northern room. On to the ambiance it is warmly lit and welcoming. We had the warm fresh focaccia bread and sauce which comes to whet the appetite and it is a fluffy saucy teaser of what is to come. We had salad We both had the chicken parm which is nothing like any chicken parm we have had before. I chose the version with the pesto drizzle relishing the flavor combo and al dente homemade rigatoni. Service was attentive without being annoying very friendly and helpful. Desserts looked good but we were already taking half of our food home. Next time!

    Cheese Ravioli Pink Vodka with meatballs
    Alexis M.

    Francesca's Cucina never disappoints! We have some staples we love from there and new specials! The service is always friendly and efficient. The bread is impeccable and we love to see the rotating dessert options! Not pictured is chocolate mousse cake and a brownie batter cannoli. My only complaint is the tight spacing in the restaurant especially if you're sat in the middle it gets a bit claustrophobic

    Calamari
    Saret B.

    My friends picked this for our girls night dinner. My first time here but I've had their food through catering at my old job before. I wouldn't rush back any time soon, I know I know. The inside was a bit cramped and the dining room we sat at was cramped and loud(due to the amount of people in there lol). The highlights were the cocktails, fried goat cheese fritter, side salad and my friend got the chocolate mousse cake that was good. The service was good. The calamari was rubbery and I didn't care for that(I had calamari a week prior at different restaurant it was delicious). My entree was the lobster ravioli, it was ok nothing special. I wouldn't order it again though. Maybe I'll give it another shot but not anytime soon, unless it was planned for a group outing.

    Shrimp riggies with loooots of onions
    Erin o.

    I hate to write this review but we had our first disappointing meal at Francesca's. We normally go in the summer and sit outside but it is February so we sat inside. It took like 20 minutes after our reservation to be seated. We were seated in the back room by the bathrooms and it was sooooo loud. You could barely hear each other or the waitress. We had specifically chosen Francesca's for their advertised scallop and lobster pasta special. It was both my husband and my bday weekend and we were both planning on getting it. The waitress came to get our drink order and said they were out of it. I was so disappointed but not much we could do. I ordered the seafood riggies instead and I understand it has onions but this was an excessive amount of onions. Like an entire onion for one pasta dish. More onion than pasta. I ate some of it but my husband finished it. Then when she brought the check it had $5 next to both our Caesar salads. When I questioned it she said there is an up charge for Caesar. I said it says comes with soup or salad and when we said Caesar who never said there was an up charge. She apologized and took one of them off which is weird as seems like they should have both come off as she never mentioned an up charge. So all in all $160 for two dinners one desert to go and two drinks each. Unfortunately in the future will only go in the summer and really wished we picked somewhere else for our bdays.

    Butter cake for the birthday girl
    Tracy F.

    Had an amazing birthday dinner at Francesca's! We started with the goat cheese fritters, with crostini and spicy marinara, my favorite in cny. We also tried stuffed hot cherry peppers which had plenty of kick. For dinner, the lobster pasta special with asparagus, lemon, tarragon sauce and plenty of lobster was amazing. The roasted halibut with truffle orzo and broccoli rabe was also fantastic and so flavorful. The chicken Riggies and Wagyu beef ravioli are always excellent choices for homemade pasta. For dessert we shared butter cakes with strawberry sauce and homemade ice cream--crispy edges and tender, buttery inside. So delicious! Our server, Jessica, was attentive and knowledgeable. We have never had a bad experience at Francesca's!

    Cavatelli
    Patti F.

    We went here while visiting family in Syracuse. It's very expensive and mediocre at best. Most of the food we had didn't have a lot of flavor or seasoning and the cavatelli was in a beef broth, not a tomato base broth. Just not overly impressed for the price.

    Filet Mignon with garlic butter, asparagus, scallops, and garlic mashed potatoes
    Quinn T.

    I always have a great time going to Francesca's Cucina. Decided to get an early dinner with a 5:15 reservation in the dining area. My table was ready as soon as I arrived. I do recommend going to an earlier dinner there, as it gets very busy after 6:30. The service was lovely, very timely and I never felt rushed. Our server was very informative about the menu and answered every question I had. After ordering drinks our server let us place our appetizer order and informed us that after we were done with the app, they would start dinner for us. We got the bang bang calamari as an appetizer. Cooked beautifully. The calamari was not rubbery and the breading was crispy. Well seasoned and not overly spicy. Soups and salads were brought promptly after the appetizer. We never had a crowded table, very lovely service. I got the side Cesar salad and my partner got the Italian wedding soup. The salad wasn't a plain Cesar salad, it came with red peppers and olives. The soup was hot and tasted lovely. We used the bread that came with a tomato sauce in the soup as well, good combo. For dinner I enjoyed a filet mignon topped with garlic butter, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus, and added 3 scallops. The filet was cooked perfectly! Very tender and melted in my mouth. Scallops were cooked beautifully as well. Everything was seasoned to perfection. For dessert we enjoyed the chocolate lava cake topped with a raspberry ice cream and chocolate drizzle. The chocolate lava cake wasn't very lava-y however, that didn't ruin my experience. I was weary of the raspberry ice cream, as I usually don't get a fruity ice cream. But it was very pleasant, the raspberry wasn't overwhelming and complemented the chocolate cake. Highly recommend Francesca's always! And I'm excited for the summer when they open outdoor dining again. All in all, I enjoyed my time. But I must add this restaurant is priceyyy. But hey, you get what you pay for.

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    Had another incredible meal at Francesca's! Door was amazing and the outdoor patio is gorgeous!

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    Francesca's Cucina Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Francesca's Cucina

    Walk ins or reservations only?

    Both. When i went I walked in, but I recommend you make a reservation.

    Gluten free options?

    There is a lot on the menu so I am sure there would be gluten free items

    Any steps to get in meaning is it fully wheelchair accessible?

    nope

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    Apizza Regionale

    Apizza Regionale

    4.6
    (463 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    Apizza Regionale was our girls night choice for our get together. My friends have never been, it's…read morebeen forever since I had their food (I've done takeout only). When we got there and added our name to the list, we didn't have to wait long to be seated. It was quite cozy inside and they have an outdoor patio as well. My friends ordered a drink they saw their Instagram which was the Cucumber Watermelon Sangria. They both loved it, I opted for water since I drank a bit this weekend already lol. We ordered appetizers and individual pizzas. I'm a sucker for a brussels sprouts appetizer and had to try theirs. This will be a repeat order, all the flavors balance each other so well(sweet, salty, and that mustard glaze yum). My friends enjoyed this as well. My friend's ordered the zucchini fritte and they enjoyed that. I ordered my favorite, tried and true The Calabrian (I love hot honey on anything lol). My friends ordered the Garlic & Broccolini (which would be my second choice). They both enjoyed their pizzas, my friend and I shared a sliced with each other. I like the garlic and broccolini as well, I enjoy a white sauce based pizza at times(I love broccoli on pizza, huge garlic person lol). They ordered dessert and coffee, and they both loved the pistachio crème brûlée. Overall it was a great evening with friends, delicious food and atmosphere. The service was friendly from when we arrived to the end. I'll add it to my date night list for my husband and I.

    Apizza Regionale exceeded my expectations! My husband and I wanted a night cap after eating at…read moreDinosaur BBQ. Apizza was about to close, but they accommodated us. This is a vibey NY style pizza & Italian restaurant. We met the lovely Ciara behind the bar, and she made a Velvet Daydream. The presentation, the ingredients, the Chamberyzette, OH MY! Jacob was the DJ of the night, and we chatted about contemporary funk. We had a few plans for the weekend, but decided to run it back on Sunday for dinner. I had the Sunspell which was lemon, basil, passionfruit, and vodka. It was bomb! We enjoyed the antipasta bowl, but the STAR OF THE SHOW was that delicious chicken parmigiana. The chicken was crispy, flavorful, AMAZING. The sauce was rich and robust. I loved everything about Apizza Regionale, and can't wait to visit again when we are in Syracuse!

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    Brussel sprouts
    Brussel sprouts
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    Abbiocco by a mano

    Abbiocco by a mano

    4.2
    (127 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Amazing experience here! The Italian food was top notch…read more Service was incredible, Food came out quick and fresh Everything we ordered was great, c Ambiance was nice, classy, If you're in the area and want a nice Italian dinner, check this place out .

    While staying in Downtown Syracuse I looked for some good Italian in the area and this place came…read moreup with excellent reviews. I checked OpenTable for 6:30PM on a Wednesday night and it said there was nothing within 3-1/2 hours. I found this very odd and since I was on my own, I ventured on down anyway to see if I could score a spot at the bar, which I easily did because they were only 1/4 full and the bar only had 3 other people at it when I arrived. I believe the bartender's name was Justin and he was great... very friendly and helpful, as well as engaging. He constantly checked on me and discussed the menu and restaurant, as well as their offerings. I chose their All 'Amatriciana with their slightly breaded chicken breast on top. The chicken was so very good! The All 'Amatriciana itself was so bland. I was disappointed in how bland it was. There was no spice at all to it, so I asked for their crushed red pepper and ended up putting several spoonfuls on it - turns out their crushed red peppers are either old or stale, but they're definitely bland and useless, as they didn't add any spike to the flavor of this dish and if the chef used these to season this dish while making it, that would explain some of what it was so bland. I will say that their table bread was outstanding! It came with their whipped butter, seasoned with honey and parmesan and that combo was so good! Too bad I didn't order something else, like pizza, as this is what I initially saw in reviews that looked amazing. I'm sure they normally are great here, I just came on an off night.

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    Entrance
    Entrance
    Zozzona I enjoyed the sausage  Would definitely order again
    Zozzona I enjoyed the sausage Would definitely order again
    Abbiocco by a mano

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    Strada Mia

    Strada Mia

    3.4
    (154 reviews)
    1.0 mi
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    We visited Strada Mia for a special New Year's Eve dinner, and we had an outstanding experience…read more They had delightful seasonal cocktails - we tried the spiked hot chocolate and the Christmas Margarita. The food was delicious, and so much to choose from! We had the Arancini balls to start, and they were delicious. We both tried the soups, and I adored the micro grilled cheese that topped the tomato bisque - SUCH a cute garnish! We recommend you get your steak "Jimmy style" because WOW, there is soooo much flavor! The shrimp scampi was also excellent. The large portions gave us some good leftovers. We had to finish with cannolis to-go, and we were so happy we did. Our server was very attentive, even as the place was filling up on a holiday evening! We can't wait to go back and try more of their menu.

    When we left, we said, "That was weird."…read more We booked a reservation for a graduation dinner where we were sat upstairs alone for a while. At the beginning, service was prompt. Our apps of meatballs and calamari were good but when we got our red wine, it was freezing. Then we were waiting for at least a half an hour for our food. My sister was starting to worry about getting to her graduation despite us booking 2 hours ahead of her ceremony. When we received our food, all meals came except mine which was about 10 mins after everyone else. The best meals were the Chicken Riggies & Chicken Milanese. The Chicken Piccata was very heavy of Dijon and the Chicken Marsala tasted like Chicken Teriyaki; needless to say, neither dish tasted like its traditional description. Lastly, the Clam Provencal was void of flavor. Half of our party left as soon as I got my food and we paid the check so we weren't late to the ceremony, but then the rest of our party was asked to leave for another group. Sadly, it was different than what we were hoping for.

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    Christmas Margarita
    Christmas Margarita
    Seasonal cocktail menu
    Seasonal cocktail menu
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    Menu

    Francesca's Cucina - italian - Updated August 2026

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