Horrible service on a week day lunch, the restaurant was less then half filled. It took forever to bring water, like longer then usual. Then we had to ask for bread, twice. And for the Parmesan, twice, and it felt like we were demanding too. It took forever to finally get asked for our order. Our water glass was dirty and we felt forgotten. However, the meal was delicious!! So yummy, the chopped salad and bread was made to perfection. Just very disappointed in the service & experience. read more

BEST MEAL EVER!!!! You must ask for Lyndsey when you come. Fantastic service and unbelievable food. Will be back many many times

I don't normally leave reviews, but had to for the service alone! We were there for my birthday and it was so great to be out in a restaurant after this crazy year. My 3 yr old was having a meltdown, spilled his drink all over the table. Our server, Farrah, saw the embarrassment on my face and came to the rescue. Even made him laugh and made my birthday dinner a great one! I had the gnocchi alla mantovana. So good! My husband had the frutti di mare acqua pazza and said it was the perfect amount of spicy. We'll definitely go back when we're in the area. read more

Amazing service, amazing people, amazing food. The front door staff was welcoming with a warm smile and had my table already ready for me. Highly recommend the vodka pasta it's once again amazing! read more

We went to Francesca's Intimo for lunch on Sunday, it wasn't busy at all. Staff are incredibly attentive and work fast. We had a lunch prix fixe menu-you get a cup of soup, bruschetta, entree and dessert git $16, a great deal in my opinion. Minestrone and cream of mushroom soups were delicious, bruschetta a bit under salted. Pasta was hearty and well seasoned, chicken was great too but probably needed some kind of a side. Desserts were amazing, profiterole filled with gelato and rich tiramisu. Wonderful experience, awesome staff. read more

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A go-to dinner spot for my friends and family. Extremely accommodating service with wonderful food. Ask for Erick! He's attentive and funny. 10/10 recommend. read more

Had a reservation for 7:45PM on Saturday night. We arrived about 7:40PM. Were told 2 tables were in front of us and it would not be long. After an hour we still had not been seated and opted to leave. The other table of 4 with a 7:45PM reservation sat only 5m before we opted to go to MLG down the block. Host did the best he could - gave us a comp drink from the bar...but after this experience we are not coming back. Plenty of local Italian option. Don't need to do that again. read more

Enjoyed their food a lot! Especially for the prices. I don't like salmon, but my friend ordered it, I tasted it & loved it! If we get to go back, I'd actually order the salmon. They serve hot bread with butter that's not rock hard! Nice wine selection too. Service was ok, not amazing. We'd go back for sure. read more

We had a reservation for a birthday dinner at 7:45. We arrived at 7:30. At 8:38, we were still not seated. Why would you even bother taking a reservation if you were not going to honor it? Two of the people in our party were walking with canes. One had just had serious surgery. One is almost 90 years old. Despite this obvious fact, we were left standing the entire time. We would not know about the food, as we were never seated or served. We would not know about the service, as we were never seated or served. We were told, as others were seated around us, that they were doing the best that they could. If that is their best, we will never know about their food or their service. read more

Once again the food was amazing! Pizza and the Roasted chicken. This place has such strong flavor! read more

Francesca's Intimo - Well it's safe to say the food was incredible!! We had the Ravioli Con Funghi and the Pizza Schiacchiata Alla Toscana. Unbelievable. - Italian Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

So a solid business model. Simple Italian style food served in ample portions. Nothing fancy, fast prep. read more

Great food - would definitely recommend anything with the vodka sauce! Erick super attentive - ask for him! Will definitely be coming back for a date night soon. read more

Late in getting this review out but had my celebratory birthday lunch here with my Mom. This restaurant group never disappoints. Solid Italian dishes that are so good. We shared fried calamari with fresh lemon wedges sprinkled with fresh parsley. As an Italian, always a good way to kick off lunch. For my main entree I had a rigatoni with Italian sausage in a vodka sauce. This dish was well worth blowing my Whole 30 diet. Perfect pasta done al dents with great Italian sausage thanks to one of my favorite and key ingredients fennel! Thankfully I was able to be strong enough to pass on there crusty bread. But got weak in the knees over their chocolate sundae that my mother and I split for dessert. Place is on the smaller side, clean, but service was great. Friendly waitstaff as well. read more

A great member of the consistently good Francesca's group. The pizza are a great value for the money and the rest of the menu, daily specials, and wine list never disappoints. Excellent service. read more

Francesca's never disappoints! Lovely setting on the patio!

4.5 stars! I love this place and always suggest it for dinner when I'm home. The reason I rounded down to 4 stars is two reasons. One the play is packed, like uncomfortable seating packed. For a nice sit down restaurant, I really don't want to be on top of my neighbors. And if you're seated by the door you're on top of the people waiting. The other strike is for the super long wait for entrees. Last time we went we waited over an hour between our salad and our entrees. Now that the bad is out of the way, on to the good. Omg the food! Whether you opt for their amazing pastas, a fun special, or any of their other options you will not be disappointed. The pasta is decadent, everything is always cooked to perfection. And the wait staff and busboys are very attentive! Overall a fantastic place. Splurge on the pasta. It's worth all the calories! read more

Over the past 10 years we have probably been here four times a year. I can tell you honestly it is not often restaurant raises their game like they have, from four stars to five stars, but I have to tell you that the manager Stosh really has that restaurant turning out fantastic food with a great staff and great attitude. And that's indoor. We expect that next summer the outdoor vibe and their great food is going to make for a wonderful evening. I had the cioppino which was a great surprise. Great seafood, not too spicy and a touch of saffron. I saw a wheel of cheese go by and mentioned it to my wife. She thought no that can't be a wheel of cheese. Sure enough they are serving pasta and prosciutto out of a wheel of what appears to be Parmesan. It is a very cool tableside display, I will definitely get it next time. read more

I have ordered takeout from Francesca's several times and it is usually.... or used to be... great. They have made a recent change to their pizza dough and it's obvious it's generic premade circles. It tastes like cardboard. PLEASE bring back your old handmade dough!!! read more

The Rigatoni and Chicken Limone are very good! I can't wait to try out other entrees on the menu

Very underwhelming, would not recommend. The portions were small and I've had frozen that tasted better; the pasta did not taste fresh and the sauces were flavorless - so at their prices ($25+ per plate of pasta), it's very far from a good experience. For what it's worth the service was quick. read more

Food was dry, portions were small, staff was unattending. For the price I was highly disappointed in the quality of both, the food and service. I would not recommend this place for Italian food. read more

This is our favorite Italian restaurant by a long shot. We are lucky enough to live in the same town. Food and service are tremendous!

This is my absolute favorite Italian restaurant in the area BY FAR! Love the staff - they're like a family. You can tell people enjoy their work there and the food is incredible!! You really can't go wrong with anything you get there, but I love the bruschette alla Romana, fried calamari, and any of their pasta or chicken dishes! Ask for the lentils -- not on the menu but they still make them and are amazing! Great atmosphere whether you're inside or our on the patio. A fabulous experience all around. read more

One of the best restaurants in the area. Been fabulous for the last 25 years!!!! Fresh and delicious - you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

This used to be a great Italian place for a business lunch. Menus pared down, and it's louder than ever at lunch.

The food is outrageous and Lyndsey is fantastic. The Alaskan Halibut, the pizza verde, the burrata... ridiculous. I'm so full and I'm upset because I can't eat more of this incredible food. Lyndsey took such good care of us. We requested her this time. She puts the cherry on top of a perfect dinner experience. read more

Excellent Italian restaurant. Almost everything on the menu is amazing. Best deal is to go with the $80 family take out meal. You get salad, antipasti, 2 entree and dessert. Plenty of bread and oil and cheese provided. They have the best seasoning in their olive oil of all the Italian chains I visited. The salmon was good but the chicken piccata was prepared perfectly and balanced well with the capers. Tiramisu is excellent. Can't wait to try more items on their menu. read more

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Had lunch there today. Food was very good, sangria was yummy, impressive service. Really enjoyed the calamari. The desserts sounded amazing but was too full to try. Definitely next time. read more

I'm pretty picky with Italian food and this place is honestly the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to. Thanks for getting me prepped for the Chicago marathon! read more

This establishment is part of a chain, with Francescas spread throughout the Chicagoland/suburban area. Apparently a deliberately well kept secret for regular local patrons, we'd not been to Francesca's Intimo though we had patronised its Northbrook locale. Our original plan was to order take out after retrieving an out-of-town visitor. Alas, the tantalising aroma upon entering caused us to change course and dine in this intimate restaurant. Warm and relaxing whilst maintaining a smart urban look via clean lines, wood, and black and white artwork, the environment is one of elegance and comfort. Still, I would have preferred if our booth had walls or partitions for a bit more privacy or barrier as it is small. The service was quite attentive and prompt, with a variety of dishes we shared. The risotto with porcini was properly prepared and not starchy. Spinach with garlic was delicious if not somewhat overpowering, and the rigatoni with asparagus, pine nuts, and a light cream (which didn't overplay other ingredients). Wines were reasonably priced and included a list less typical given its inclusion of many Italian options. We skipped dessert. All in all, a pleasant dining experience, but not something I'd characterise as life-changing. Nonetheless, I can see why it has a loyal following. read more

Perfect experience as always. Service is consistent and precise. The newer hostess Angelea greeted us with a smile and was very friendly and sweet. Food was exceptional and ambiance is always nice.They make you feel like your sitting down for a Sunday dinner. Love read more

We love this place and have been regulars for years!!! Consistent delicious, well priced, great portions of yummy Italian food right in my neighborhood! And their servers and staff are super nice! What's not to love about this place? Also very family friendly and you will find parents/grandparents with kids on any given day! We always order the lentils and spinach with goats cheese as an appetizer and its one of the best kept secrets since its not on the menu! But they always can whip it up :) We love the calamari, all the pasta dishes and the seafood. They also have fantastic deserts! You just can't go wrong with this wonderful gem in Lake Forest :) read more

Had dinner at Francesca's Intimo in Lake Forest it is a nice looking place the quality of the food and service was great but portions very small Had two appetizers which we shared among the 3 of us which was very small portions the thinly sliced sirloin was so thin there was not much there and 4 pieces of bruschette and we each got an entree for dinner the cheese ravioli only 4 small pieces - I got the special was pasta with lobster and it was also small portion probably only a few ounces of meat and about a cup of pasta for $28 Tasted good but just not enough - the meal was $140 for 2 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 glasses of wine and this was before the tip so only giving 3 stars since we were not full when we left wayyyy overpriced read more

I seriously thought about calling the fire marshal: this place is WAY too small and they've got WAY too many tables shoved in there. First, we could barely get in the door because of the folks standing at the very teeny tiny bar. Then, we were seated at the very first table, right after the bar - just in front of the server/hostess station. So, throughout dinner, our table was surrounded by people, people, and more people. In fact, at times, it felt like folks were hovering over our table, just waiting for us to get up and leave so they could sit down. Aside from the tiny space, and overflowing people, the service was pretty good. My water glass was continually refilled, the dishes arrived in the proper order and the server remembered who ordered which dish. He even split up our salad onto separate plates for us when we indicated that we were going to share. The food was just okay, though. I had the seafood linguine in a "spicy tomato" sauce, I didn't taste any spice at all. The seafood was well cooked, and the bowl of pasta was freaking huge. Others had the gnocchi which was moist and tasted pretty good. The best part was by far the dessert: tiramisu was great, the gelato came as two heaping scoops, and the cappuccino was well-made. Over all, I'm not sure that I'll go back. It would have been a much more pleasant experience had we not been stuffed in like sardines and then had to fight our way upstream to get out the door at the end of the night. Clearly this place is doing well and should consider expanding or relocating to a larger space. read more

Although I am from Minneapolis, I would definitely return to this restaurant. I consider it one of my favorite Italian dining experiences in the country. The food is well-prepared and presented, but the best aspect of this restaurant is it's ambiance and location. Located in Lake Forest, it is a great get-away from the urban bustle of nearby Chicago. The interior creates a fantastic mood for a date night. I once took my girlfriend here for an evening out and we were not disappointed. I had seen on OpenTable that it was rated highly for it's romantic atmosphere, and I think that assessment was right on the money. I had a fish entree and my girlfriend had pasta. Both were prepared well and the portion sizes were larger than average. Combining great food with an even better atmosphere make Francesca's one of my favorite spots when Im in the Chicago area. Overall, highly recommended. Pros: Excellent food, location outside the city, romantic atmosphere, small/intimate dining space. Cons: Location (might be out of the way for some people), small dining space may require reservation or planning for larger groups read more

I think this is probably the only restaurant open until late up in Lake Forest, or at least it seems that way by the sheer number of locals that are often found dining in this establishment. I have been to this location multiple times, mainly for sponsored events, and still am quite surprised to find that catering to a large number of people did not equate to a decline in quality of food, as I have experienced in other establishments. Things to note: - The food is good, though the only thing that comes to mind right now is the herbed olive oil for dipping bread. - The service is good as well (unless you count that one time one of the busboys got yelled at for forgetting to replace my utensils after I was done with one of the courses - yikes!). - Their wine selection is "okay". - Their desserts.... well, I've only experienced their tiramisu and I wasn't impressed. - In case you are claustrophobic, the place is VERY small, and you really get to know your neighbours. - Finally, though I have no negative remarks about this place, there's nothing about it that makes me want to get up and run down the street screaming out of the top of my lungs: "I LOVE FRANCESCA'S INTIMOOOOOOOOO". But I guess that's something you just have to judge for yourself. I would rather give the place 3.5 stars overall since it just doesn't blow me away, but it has treated me well, so 4 stars it is. read more

I have been to several of the Francesca's restaurants, and have found each of them to be very impressive. The consistent quality of the food, staff, and environment is what will keep me coming back to Francesca's regularly. As others have said, it does have a tendency to be very crowded, but I have never been disappointed when a reservation had been placed in advance. The food is quite good. If you order pasta, be sure to get something from their homemade category. I'm not convinced that all their pasta is fresh, but everything I've had there is still quite good. Their bruschetta is great, they have a rather extensive wine list, and the desserts are worth saving some room for. read more

Nice Italian. Good food, nice atmosphere. Maybe a bit noisy. Always busy, a good sign.

I have loved Mia Francesca's restaurants since the beginning on Clark St. Today, Intimo was not very good. The sauces on the pasta tasted off. I had a take out order and the food was not packaged well and one pasta and its sauce spilled all over the rest of the containers. The size of the pastas varied greatly. One, linguini with mushrooms, ham and peas, completely filled the container. The linguini with red sauce was like a kids portion. The cheese stuffed pasta with vodka sauce was just not good at all. This has happened before at this location. I can only hope things improve. Sad, I picked this food up for a Valentine's dinner and it was disappointing. Where are those signature sauces? Hmmm. read more

Very, very good. Came here for a feast with my younger sister and her family over X-Mas vacation. I had not been here since high school (Riggeleto's in the mid-90's) and am glad I came back. I had a seafood linguine and the kids shared calamari as an appetizer; everyone had some pasta dish that they enjoyed. I would have liked to see a few more options, but they actually had a good sized menu given the quality of the food. They did not have valet on this visit and we parked easily in the bank's garage parking lot immediately across the street. read more