I'm the Dutchess here and I haven't written a review yet? Impossible! I don't even bother "checking in" anymore I've been coming here for so long.... Okay. Looked at my reviews and it's possible. Probably because Francesca's is such a restaurant staple for us that it never dawned on me. And so, I profusely apologize Mia Francesca Intimo. You have treated me so well over the years and I have taken you for granted. Forgive me. Okay. Enough drama! When we first moved here, people kept asking us, have you been to Francesca's yet? It was like a never ending echo. Francesca's Francesca's Francesca's. (Marsha Marsha Marsha!!!) Well, we finally went and about hit ourselves over the head that we hadn't gotten there before. Think of Francesca's as a good friend. It's the place that the neighborhood goes to for warm atmosphere, lively conversation, comforting food that fills your tummy and soul. They consistently serve delicious food. I think over the past years they've maybe served one dish to me that was just too salty. And that's it! I've eaten almost everything they offer on the menu. The linguini mare remains my all-time favorite pasta dish -- slightly zesty tomato basil sauce, hearty linguini noodles, huge shrimp. Depending on the menu for the evening they may throw in asparagus or spinach. The pasta portions are ridiculously huge. Like crazy huge. Always have leftovers to take home. The fish dishes I return to the most are the ones with tilapia -- usually with spinach. (yep. I like my vegetables and spinach rocks the top of the list.) The appetizers are straight forward. We often skip them to leave room for dessert. (Have I mentioned the huge pasta portions -- it's hard to do pasta and an app and dessert. A lady has to choose!) We about die over the coconut cake. If you like coconut, get it! And if you don't see it on the specials menu or dessert menu, just ask. You never know! We even get take-out from this place if we're stuck home without a sitter. Lots of families here with junior high and high schoolers earlier in the evening. Not exactly the place for preschoolers -- pasta thrown on top of the woman seated next to us, red wine splashed on the older gentleman trying to have a lovely dinner with his wife, bread pieces chucked across the room at texting teenagers. It's too much to bare just thinking about it!!! But I digress. The decor is welcoming and inviting. Dark woods, a flowing wave-like ceiling gives a sense of calmness and movement all at the same time. Tight seating that seems to fit the place and doesn't make one feel scrunched in. Exceptionally friendly waiters. Picked up take-out this weekend and one of them saw me and said hello. Asked when I was going to get said phantom sitter so I could come in for a proper date night again. The bar area is pathetic, that I will say. A five seater at best right by the door. But most people don't just walk-in so it's not really meant to be a true bar. You can walk-in for lunch but dinner generally needs a reservation so be sure to call beforehand to see if they can squeeze you in. You may just see me there! read more

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Delicious, simply delicious food. My friend and I decided to try this place so I made a reservation thru Open Table. That was a good call and I highly suggest to make reservations whether online or call them. The place was packed for the Friday dinner crowd plus, it is a fairly small restaurant. It was busy and it smelled good in the whole place. We were seated as soon as we got there and our server approached us immediately to take our drink orders. Water glasses filled- check, warm and soft bread with butter served-check. Now here is a breakdown of the dishes we've tried: Spaghetti al Funghetto- delicious meat broth flavor with wild mushrooms, oregano, and cheese. Pollo alla Diavola- Chicken cooked in meat sauce with capers, black olives and chillies. It was super good that I wanted to lick my plate after I ate everything on it:) Side of Meatballs- perfect! 3 good sized meatballs swimming in a creamy and delicious sauce. Overall, it was a great dining experience for us. We loved the selections on the menu because they're not ordinary Italian dishes. So if you're expecting mac and cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna or fettucini alfredo dishes, you won't find those at Francesca's. Their dishes are more unique and very well executed. Definitely a must try restaurant and I cannot wait to go back and try their other special dishes. read more

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Such a special place to dine. The setting is intimate, the food is so fresh, and I know I will get excellent service each time.

Great food, great people , great service !!! I came to Great Lakes for my wife's Navy Boot Camp Graduation ceremony and we had dinner in here. From beginning to end everything was amazing. Food was really delicious, we were amazed by how delicious was our food. Our server were so friendly and attentive to our requests. And it is very close like 10 min away to the Naval Base. Definitely go and try their food. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I will definitely visit again when I get a chance. read more

Great Italian food and ambiance Al fresco dining Excellent service and wine list! We love their food!! read more

Very nice patio, accommodating staff, food was very good; chicken a bit dry. Would definitely recommend.

Will never be back... HORRIBLE service and the food was mediocre. We went and they closed a hour early.. so we went back the next day because I was so excited to go and boy I should have just stayed home... the food on yelp was not all the same on the menu. The one star is for the water people they were nice but we also had to poor our own water at times because the waitress was nowhere to be seen. I completely understand if the waitress was over worked and if there was limited staff BUT communication would be nice. I don't think the waitress was overworked or anything I think she just judged a couple in their 20s coming to dinner and didn't want to give us the service we deserve... will never be back read more

A nice intimate Italian restaurant. They have a good selection of pasta and other various specials to choose from! Staff was very friendly and helpful with our selections. They actually mistakenly brought us an entree we didn't order and allowed us to keep it when they corrected their error. We didn't even have to notify them of the mistake, which seems to imply that they are normally well organized! We also ordered some wonderful coconut cake dessert, a sweet way to finish off our meal. I know that there are a few other chains with similar names, and from this experience, it's easy to why they are successful! read more

What a cute little Italian spot. Our server, Peggy, was wonderful. Food was delicious. I suggest the gnocchi - pillowy and flavorful. Only reason I am marking it as 4 stars is because I do the prices are a bit high and it should be listed as $$$. read more

Food, service & ambiance was great along with the prices. We were visiting Great Lakes for my son's graduation from Naval Boot Camp. We wanted something nice & intimate for lunch after his ceremony. This place was perfect & not to far from the base. Only complaint would be parking especially if you are not familiar with the area. If we are ever back in town we will definitely go back. We were so in the moment that we forgot to take any pics. read more

My boyfriend recommended this Francesca's as he's enjoyed their dishes in the past. Our food was good; I just had an issue with how long it took the restaurant to give us our food curbside and when we called the first time, the gentleman hung up on us; that already turned us off. When we finally got home to eat our dishes, my dish was good, but could've used more flavor as side from them being lukewarm from waiting. Not to mention the salad portions could be bigger for the price. I had the Linguine Alla Genovese and my boyfriend had the spaghetti and meatballs with the wild mushroom salad. Still, delicious options and I'm willing to give them another try. read more

Francesca's Intimo - 2 pasta dishes, salad, and bread with parm and evoo: Insalata Di Funghi, Linguine All ' Abruzzese - Italian Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

Always pleasant. Great staff. Food always dependable!! Indoors and outdoors are always enjoyable.

Walked in tonight and asked if I could sit at the bar and have dinner, Hostess said sure. So I sat down and the hostess gave me a menu. The bartender who was 5 feet from me didn't ask if wanted something to drink for like 5 minutes. So I'm looking at the menu close to 10 minutes or so. Finally she asked me if I wanted to order something and if it was to go. I said I wanted to eat at the bar like asked when I came in. So finally my order was taken. On the upside the food was very good. Then the bartender puts the check in front of me doesn't ask if I want desert or coffee afterwards . I'm not sure I will ever go there again as I said dinner was good service was terrible. I would rate the food as very good but the service dragged down my rating read more

The ambiance was excellent. Great outdoor setting. Could not say the same for the food. The pasta sauce looked and tasted like Ketchup and water. The chicken was dry with no flavor. One of the dinners went back because it tasted like leftovers. Ate here five years ago and the food was excellent. Not tonight. What a shame. This morning Danny from Francesca's Regional called me to express his concerns about my dinner last evening. He was quite gracious in listening to my concerns and made me feel comfortable in returning to the restaurant for a another visit. Kudos to their excellent ambiance and wait staff. I am confident that my next meal will be as great as I remember from years ago. read more

During the pandemic I find myself needing fewer excuses to order Carry-out from our favorite restaurants. National Meatball Day? That's probably a thing. Seems like a good reason to order from Francesca's. My spaghetti and meatballs (preceded by a crisp and tasty Caesar salad) was very good. A nice sized portion of pasta and three nice sized meatballs (think two meals). The meatballs were tender and flavorful--not too dense. Francesca's includes some of its crunchy bread with parm and olive oil on the side. My wife had a nice chicken dish (cooked perfectly she said) and our daughter had the meatball appetizer with a salad as her dinner. Nice contactless curbside delivery. I wonder when National Fried Calamari Day is coming? read more

Definitely sit outside if you can here! The service was great and the pasta was delicious, in line with Italian restaurant pricing. Good for a weekend dinner out or special occasion! read more

Francesca's Intimo - Italian Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

This is definitely not a place I would recommend. The house was very disrespectful and did not allow me to sit at a place that was more comfortable for me and basically when I expressed to him that I was uncomfortable with the table he gave me he just said nothing and walked away. Not Sure what that was all about but speaking as a person of color I was a bit suspicious. Therefore I ended up just unfortunately leaving. The one of the most uncomfortable experiences I've ever had at a so-called high-end Italian restaurant. Therefore I am going to suggest that perhaps if you are looking for an experience that values your time and money and is not controlling as to how your dining experience should be that I do not recommend Francesca's Italian. Even if we weren't in a pandemic, where establishments should be happy to even have our business, I would still consider the service I received as unacceptable. read more

What a wonderful gem Francesca's turned out to be. We were searching for some authentic Italian and you delivered. We came for pasta but completely forgot to order it with all the delicious item offerings. We had the sea bass and lamb shank (both side-by-side at the bottom of the menu). We completely forgot to take pictures until after we half devoured everything. Presentation was lovely though so I didn't think it justified to snap a shot of our half mutilated plates. Their creme brûlée was perfect. It would have been nice if the torched sugar was still warm but none the less, perfect. Our server and service was good. We were sat in the corner booth next to the bar. He wasn't as attentive as he could have been with our drinks though. We were only having sprite and club soda so no need to wait for mixology to happen and at one point, the bus person asked us if we needed refills. Our glasses were not being filled completely and he missed several opportunities to refill us. I was thirsty so my husband shared two of his drinks with me. Partly on me for drinking so quickly but with me putting the glasses at the edge of the table, there should have been no need to wait 10 minutes in between each of the several refills. That being said, our server was none the less wonderful and we would happily sit with him again tomorrow. The food was delicious and the setting relatively quiet and intimate. We finished driving away by saying to each other we look forward to coming back. A winner in my book. read more

After being a regular customer since founding we have to say quality of food has deteriorated to the point of in eatable. Picked up a chicken dish and salad, chicken was described with Italian flair and unrecognizable ingredients but dish was just junk chicken parts with a few tomatoes, olives, and mediocre sauce. Even house salad was just a pile of lettuce with a couple of carrot and cucumber slices. read more

Came in for a casual lunch and chose this place based on the location. The spinach salad with calamari caught my eye and I had a question about the spicy dressing. Our waiter Peter described it and then actually brought me a sample of it. Nice touch. Everything was tasty and the atmosphere was comfortable. The one unique feature of this restaurant was the super artsy ceiling. It swoops in and out in big waves, creating a neat effect. The one reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that even though everything was good, there are just so many other and better restaurants in the area. I actually liked Francesca's North a bit better. read more

We always have a really lovely meal when we go to Francesca's. Good food, good drinks, and great service. Sit with Farrah when you go; she always takes good care of us. read more

Today we had a chance to revisits the restaurant again late in the afternoon. The service was outstanding as usual and our dinners this time were superior. We will be back. Thanks read more

Michael is the best. No he's a great bartender, but he has an easy personal engagement with his customers, many of whom he knows well. Actually we return to Francescas more frequently because of him, and ask to be seated at his table virtually every time we walked in the door. read more

Our meal was delicious and Lindsey was a great server, very personable and always available. Unfortunately our experience was poor because of the manager. I went into the restaurant to inquire about why our seating was taking so long and without apology he was rude and abrupt. He then shortly came out and reprimanded us, saying that if we wouldnt have come in, he would have been out sooner to seat us on the patio. It kind of put a damper on the evening. read more

A very nice eatery, tucked away from downtown Lake Forest, but close enough for a comfortable walk to the downtown area. Upon arriving, we were seated at a booth, where the table was covered with a fresh white table cloth. Our server was prompt and polite. Their menu was varied and skewed more toward chicken, seafood, and pasta. I liked the plate of warm fresh bread and olive oil dip brought promptly to our table. The only reason for four stars is that our food order took a bit longer than expected. The reason for this delay was probably because of the large party across the restaurant being served first, Once our food arrived, I was not disappointed. My pollo chicken panini was fresh and tasty. My seasoned French fries were hot, crisp, and flavorful. This is one place that I would make a repeat visit. read more

Francesca's Intimo - Pollo Panini on tomato focaccia bread, with seasoned fries. - Italian Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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

I thought I'd write a quick review given the spectacular evening I had with my partner and son the other night. The food is always so fresh, flavorful, and has plenty of leftovers the following day. Too bad I never get a chance to eat the leftovers as my son will take them down later that evening or have them for breakfast the next day. He says their pasta is delicious even when cold. The staff at this location is always so friendly. I've gone to this location a handful of times, but I sat in Farah's section the last two times, and each time we have a few laughs after I repeatedly call her Sara. Now it's just a joke between me and this server which is funny. Anyway, no matter how busy the restaurant is, she will take the time to explain what is in each dish, given I have food allergies. And she takes the time to explain how items are prepared- super helpful. Additionally, on our way out, my son left behind his sweater and backpack. When we realized we left it at the restaurant, we quickly drove back to grab it. My son promptly ran into the restaurant where Farah had placed the items with the hostess. When he got back to the car, he said the hostess informed him that our server wrapped up our dessert that we were going back and forth on taking it home or not. Let's just say we were happy she had packed it away for us. She wrote on the container- this is too good to leave behind. Enjoy! Great customer service, atmosphere, and food. Thank you! read more

It's been a while since I last posted. We found Francesca's on a whim. In a town full of amazing Italian, this is a North Shore gem. Drinks (Old Fashioned via Koval) was quite good; a nice surprise. Burrata was an early season favorite. The yellow garden beets and arugula was fresh and has a perfect bitter bite. Main courses were large and satisfying. Pasta Amatrociana is shareable and perfectly balanced with meat and delicate tomato sauce. The Cappellacci Carciofi is also shareable. I did not. Artichoke and fontina was a perfect pair. (O ly complaint and thus the 3 versus 4 stars) was the overly acadic tomato basil sauce. The coconut cake was light and perfect after a heavy meal. Summary... yes, co tinues to be a North Shore gem, service a bit slow and unstructured. read more

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For the quality and service we received, service and mediocre food was not a good experience. Service was very slow and I had to ask for things (like water) multiple times. Parking was a pain to find and the wait for the food was excruciatingly long. Food: 1. Ravioli with vegetables consist of 4 filled pasta with a cheese sauce, pink from a touch of tomato sauce and parmigiano. It was alright but not the best combination of flavors because the vegetables in the ravioli had a funny taste. 2. Pollo Arosto Alla Romano: consists of roasted half chicken with garlic, shallots, rosemary lemon, and olive oil served with roasted potatoes. The chicken pieces were quite dry, but decently flavored. the cream sauce was well seasoned but the chicken breast meat was just a bit dry. Francesca's did not suit my tastes but maybe it will for others. They were nice enough to accommodate our large group so I would give 2.5 stars if possible. read more

Francesca's Intimo - Chicken - Italian Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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Just good Italian. Just really good Italian. Red sauce and what appears to be home made pasta. Great service while ordering during covid. Only request is have a little more white sauce and white cream sauce dishes. Dynamite keep it up guys! read more

This was a nice spot for a meal. Don't expect spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna! Went for a romantic date and the gaggle of teen girl servers huddled around the bar made it hard to talk but service was good and good as well read more

We did a to go order during Covid. Would love to come back and enjoy the atmosphere. We had the Salmon con Cavotetti, caesar, and tiramisu. All delicious . The staff was very nice and helpful. read more

We've dined here several times but tonight's dinner was the worst ever. The place was busy so it seems the kitchen was a bit overwhelmed but that shouldn't be an excuse. Started with fried calamari which was delicious and the bruschetta Romana-- also delicious, and a round of French Martinis which were mixed perfectly! No the downside: 2 of us had the special lobster fettuccine and it was just a flavorless dish with lobster which was a flavorless rubbery mess! The bolognese also was NOT good. The pasta tasted like it was warmed over and with sauce that was reminiscent of my childhood when my non-Italian mom cracked open a bottle of Ragu and poured it over some cheap Prince spaghetti noodles--and that was way better than this expensive mess. The worst part of this dining experience was the fact that although we were the last people to dine, the staff was bustling around us cleaning and mopping floors. There was even a table with workers and one person (seemed like the manager) actually counting out tips and separating the money to give to the staff. OK we get the hint: GET OUT VALUABLE GUESTS! We will definitely take your hint and DNR this place for sure! read more

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The Francesca group of restaurants has always been a good experience. Several years ago, we had a large family meal at the Clark Street (I think) location in the city. A very fond memory. These restaurants seem to catch the spirit of a high energy merry dining room that many restaurants don't. As the the name Intimo implies, it's cozy. My dining companion the night we went was my daughter with the very refined palate (we spoiled her into being a wonderful friend and knowledgeable foodie). We stayed with the night's specials, splitting our dishes. Each step of the way received an enthusiastic nod of approval (appetizer, entree, dessert, coffee and drinks). The pizza quatro stagioni (prosciutto and egg--(fantastico!) and linguine all Arlecchino (seafood pasta--fantastico!). That fantastico thing is my effort to sound Italian-ish and say it was great! 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

It has been raining this evening, so I was in the mood for a little pasta comfort food. Found this place on Yelp. Menu looked good. It was pouring down rain, I was lucky enough to find a parking spot right in front. When I stepped inside, it was a warm and welcoming place! It smelled wonderful and the light sounds of conversation wafted through the air. I sat and ordered the Caesar salad and the Pasta Carusa- linguine with shrimp in a tomato and pesto sauce. Both were sublime! Possibly one of the best pasta dishes ever! Service was impeccable! Worth the visit! I will be back! read more

Francesca's Intimo - Italian Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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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

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

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