I want to give a huge shout out to your manager Danny Legatos I went to your restaurant on Friday at 4 PM to have a drink with a friend of mine I am highly allergic to capsaicin. I have been to Francesca's many many times and I am well aware that you put chili flakes in your table olive oil. I live in the Gold Coast and at the downtown Chestnut location all the time and your staff there is extremely accommodating to my allergies. I completely forgot and took a taste of it MY FAULT completely. I had a severe allergic reaction and my throat closed I could not breath I could not even speak my friend started freaking out she was trying to help me she thought I might be choking which I was not and was trying to give me the Heimlich. Your manager Danny was so fast he pushed my friend out-of-the-way because she was doing it wrong and he gave me first aid immediately he tried the Heimlich and he knew exactly what to do first he thought I was choking but when he realized I wasn't choking but having an anaphylactic reaction he put his fist in my sternum and he pressed so hard he put air back into my lungs what he did was a able to open my throat up. I was immediately better I think I was just in shock I stayed and had a drink I didn't really eat because I was still not feeling so great but your manager kept checking in on me and we left so that I could get Epinephrine and Benadryl. I am so grateful he was there I really I don't know what I would've done honestly I might have died in there I really hope he gets recognized for this thank you so much for helping me I was terrified but because of what he did I was able to go back home to my baby. Danny is a HERO. read more

Francesca's North - Italian Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

We regularly sit at the bar with Pablo for cocktails and dinner. We went most recently for my daughters birthday and my son got sick while we there. The staff was wonderful and cleaned everything up, and was so nice about it. We felt awful. I'd highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for good service and delicious Italian food! read more

Great Dinner! Amazing Quality, Food & Wine. Linda the Bartender/Server- Excellent! Staying at Renaissance Hotel, 6 minutes Away, Easy an Enjoyable read more

NOT good. Pasta with eggplant was cold and bland. Veal was overcooked. Won't be back.

We were at Francesca's with a party of six on a very busy Christmas eve--not necessarily the optimal setting for a restaurant to showcase its best efforts. But everything we experienced-- from the warm and friendly greeting to our party when we arrived to the scrumptious desserts--made our visit a memorable one. The food was outstanding--I had the fish of the day--and beautifully presented, the service was prompt and attentive, and the décor festive but not over the top. Can't say enough about the staff, especially "Jon," who went above and beyond to make a nice family outing an exceptional one. Will L read more

While my salmon was delicious, my husband's seafood pasta was tasteless. But the worst thing was we were packed like sardines in the main dining room. Literally, a man at the next table had to get up for me to get around their table. I could turn my head and whisper in the women's ear behind me. Apparently, no one has told management there is a little something called COVID-19 still going around. There are so many restaurants respecting the health of their customers and staff(!) by still spacing tables out and limiting reservations, while losing money by doing it. Those restaurants get our business. Francesca's will never get our business again. read more

I was there for a work christmas lunch. The menu was decided on beforehand and served family style. Everything was really good We started out with bread with oil and parmesan cheese for the table. The bread was fresh from the oven, still nice and warm and delicious. Then it it was followed by a salad and bruschetta. The Main entrees were chicken with mozzarella and prosciutto along with spinach ravioli in a vodka sauce. We absolutely loved the ravioli. I was bummed out that someone else got to those left overs before me! The chicken was delicious as well. Dessert was ice cream filled profiteroles. Anything ice cream is always good in my book. The meal was great and the service was great even though they were jam packed. read more

We celebrated New Year's Eve 2018 at a neighborhood restaurant, Francesca's North, since hubby didn't want to drive far in possible inclement weather. It was a nice surprise for us! The restaurant was filled and some tables were very crammed, but our table was comfortable even though it was in the middle of the restaurant. Food and service was good, and the pace was normal. The owner was friendly and went to our table to chat a little bit. He made it fun and came out as "Elvis" toward the end of the dinner. Before we left the restaurant, he gave us and other customers party favors. It was fun! read more

Consistently good food, but...For years they didn't raise menu prices, which made it an easy go-to for families, but times have changed and the value isn't what it use to be. read more

If you've never had actual Italian food then maybe this place is alright. It's An American interpretation of Italian food and if you want anything close to ethnic Italian try someplace else. But the staff is great. read more

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My fourth Francesa's I have visited. Solid addition to the collection. More spacious than the Clark street (my personal favorite) by a long shot. Food is solid Italian fare. Server (Ivan) as a bit odd. Felt a need to tell us he was "working a double" that day, having waited tables somewhere else for breakfast. May have explained his inattentiveness, who knows. read more

Went there with a large group the other night and I thought the food was excellent. I'm gluten free and love that they have a lot of gluten free options. I had the grilled calamari, mussels and salad to start. Then for my main course I had the salmon which was delicious. Literally everyone else at the table got some sort of pasta. Service was great and had no complaints. Would go back again read more

Great service from Roman last night for our high-maintanance party of 10! THANK YOU!!!!

The food wasn't awful, but it tasted like store bought linguine and sauce. The best thing was the free bread and parmesan, but it was still pretty standard fare. The server only took our order and gave us the check and was curt and unfriendly both times. He depended on the table runners to do everything, and they still didn't get us the chili flakes we asked for nor refill our water. It's not worth the price, not coming back. If you're looking for fresh and tasty Italian food at reasonable prices, I highly recommend Saranello's. read more

Not the restaurant that it used to be. In fact, it seems they do not care for more business since they now keep their doors locked until 5 p.m., their new (much later) opening time. My wife and I, who have been loyal and frequent customers since they opened in 1995, showed up at at 4:55 p.m. recently and found the doors locked. Staff were there and saw us, but no admission. Then they let in an arriving employee, but not their waiting customers. This has never happened as far as we know. Yes, I felt hurt and insulted. This was not the FN that opened in 1995. Lately, temporary child managers have been filling in for the normal ones. They don't know the clientele and, from what we have seen, they don't know much about the restaurant operations. We are done with Francesca's North. We will miss the great staff but not the food, which has been on a downhill slide for years, ever since Scott decided to Corporatize all Francesca food operations and menu decisions. More on the food in another review. I suspect that many regular customers share similar thoughts. Maybe not! Either way, I hope they share their thoughts on Yelp. read more

This place really needs an update and some more ambiance. I get that it's in a strip mall and is in the burbs but I don't want to feel like that when I go here...capece? Anyways the food is decent, service is kind and timely but it just feels kind of dumpy and we want more when it's Italian food. read more

Excellent food, excellent service (James & Greg)!! Love this place!! A must "go to" for a great meal, wonderful ambiance, and attentive servers!! read more

I know I will always get a good meal here and great customer service. I dropped a star due to the price. For two entrees, 1 drink and 1 appetizer it cost us $92 plus 20% tip. In the past I've never paid that much so I'm assuming the prices have gone up. Because of that we unfortunately can't afford to go here unless it's a special occasion. read more

Five stars for service!! Ran a bridal shower at Francesca North a few days ago and had a wonderful experience. Myron, who covered our party, was amazing. He was always there and covered all our requests. It was done in an immediate fashion with a smile on his face. The food was good!! If at any time I should plan an event, I would definitely consider Francesca North and request Myron to cover my event. Additionally, Shiri , who is the event coordinator, was so nice. She responded to any questions I had quickly !! It was really so much appreciated!! LG . read more

Pro-tip: stick with the pastas or the non-salad , baked chicken as the limited lunch menu speaks volumes. Decided to eat a little healthier as I've been eating out way too much: like every day for the past 1.5 weeks. Hey, but I'm home, so free meals for me, right? Ordering the salad --Caesar salad -- was somewhat of the mistake. Advertised as pollo style chicken, but the chicken was semi fried in a pan and overcooked with oil. That is not pollo style at all! The chicken was too greased up and just oily. Lacked any sort of pepper or seasoning. Also, who served roasted red peppers in a chicken Caesar salad? The lettuce was okay. And of course the complimentary bread is always good here but they apparently don't carry Parmesan anymore?? Or you have to request it? I'm giving this three stars since maybe they had an off day because Francesca's North usually is a solid place to eat! read more

Francesca's North - Chicken Caesar salad. Skip it. Get pasta instead! - Italian Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

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Had a wonderful dining experience, probably the best we ever had at a Francesca's franchise. Thank you one and all for such a wonderful dining experience. Our server, Margo, was very attentive, her recommendations and knowledge of the entrees were spot on and she was just a delight. The Manager Andrew stopped by periodically and made sure we were enjoying our experience, and all was well and were very grateful for his concern. The calamari we ordered was fresh and delicious, highly recommend. Our dinners were one of the best we've had. A very big heartfelt thank you to Danny Legato for the opportunity and recommendation to dine at this great establishment, it was well worth the hour drive and we will definitely be back. Thank you to Danny, Andrew, Margo and to all the staff at Francesca's North for making our dining experience such a wonderful one, the food was absolutely delicious, and our overall experience was wonderful. Adina Skwarski Orland Park Il read more

High quality traditional Italian fare. Service was very good, which is no small feat these days. Nice atmosphere, nice management, a good time overall! read more

Have loved this restaurant for years, but recent experiences have shown bad gaps in service. The most recent was a 50% of our order missing when we got home with the food. There's no easy recovery from that other than to return to the restaurant, which is not close by. read more

We ate lunch outside on a sunny, hot weekday. The service was courteous and anticipated our needs. When the waiter heard us discussing how we were going to share some dishes, he divided them for us and served them appropriately. He kept our drinks full and cold on this very hot day. The food was fresh tasting. Its quality matched the excellence of the service. Also, the prices are very reasonable considering how enjoyable the entire experience was. Thank you Francesca's!!! read more

I really love Francesca's. Maybe it's the traditional dining room with room for 200, wooden floors and higher ceilings. Perhaps it's because I can always find several healthy fresh fish options prepared with large chunks of fresh veggies, topped with a sauce that's not overpowering. Real fish, the kind that swim, not bottom feeders that are covered in shells. Or maybe it's emotional: I've been celebrating at one Francesca's or another since my early 20's (that's a long time ago for those who are counting). Whatever the reason, this is one of our three standby restaurants, a place we can count on for great service, a good wine selection and a satisfying meal (I love their lemon snap pea salad; when no one's looking I lick the plate). However, the place is not what it used to be. Prices have gone up far faster than inflation while portion sizes seem to have gone down. I wouldn't say they are expensive compared to similar restaurants, but not the value they once were. The only other complaint is the asparagus. I don't mind spending five bucks for a side of asparagus, but I do expect more than four emaciated pieces. A dollar twenty five per piece? I can get a pound for that price. Still, few restaurants leave me with as good a feeling when I leave. It's an excellent choice for celebrating life's milestones with family and friends. read more

Francesca's North - Sea bass - Italian Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

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It was for lunch and was greatly anticipating the food. Well, the service was poor and the food was worse. The only good thing we had was the bread. We had a party of 5 and all of us were very disappointed and we all agreed that not one of us would be back. read more

Francesca's North is a favorite go to for hosting showers. Today was probably My 8th shower at the venue and they never disappoint. The room is beautiful and is such a perfect setting. Jimmy the manager and Nico were so attentive and constantly making sure everything was perfect. Our servers were just wonderful and it is not easy to please a room full of women but they went above and beyond our expectations. The menu selection and the meal was delicious. The bride was so happy and the guests also. Thank you again for a fantastic event! read more

We are local 20+ year Northbrook residents and this restaurant has been a staple for us ever since moving to the town. The food at Francesca's is always fantastic, the menu often changes giving diners a wide variety, the atmosphere is great and bartender Pablo is fantastic. Pablo always has a welcoming smile and makes the absolute best drinks. His homemade Lemoncello is not to be missed! The wait staff and hosts are always helpful, friendly and do their best to accommodate any requests, whether you are dining in or carrying out. Highly recommend this hidden gem in the heart of downtown Northbrook! read more

Delicious and wonderful wait staff. Went for my niece's birthday celebration. They did not disappoint!

We have eaten at Francesca's North many times and have always had great meals. We had a particularly lovely experience this evening. My husband and I were there with our daughter (she 6), and our waiter made it a memorable time. Greg was very interactive, kind, brought her a special dessert! He was also attentive to mom and dad! The food, as always, was very good and accommodating for allegories. Great time! read more

LINDA was fantastic! Amazing service and very helpful. We really enjoyed talking to her. we will for sure be back and we will recommend to family and friends. read more

first time dining at this restaurant on Monday, March 20th for dinner with a friend, I was beyond disappointed in food, service, and lack of customer service!! ordeEd calamari for an appetizer, totally tasteless and greasy. order lamp shank osanboca with polenta and navy beans. it arrived not even room temperature. couldn't locate our waiter so I asked the bus boy. (KEEP in mind we were the only 2 customer when we arrived and the only customer still when we were leaving), he had it reheated and this time he handed me the herb sauce that was suppose to go with it, it too was absolutely tasteless my friend ordered a pasta dish that wasn't heated enough either but he did not send it back. the wait staff was too busy to be bothered with us because they were socializing amongst themselves! for a meal that was nearly $90 without tip I will never return. I live in the city of Chicago all my life and used to frequent Francesca's on Taylor Street NEVER had a bad meal or cocktail!!! By the way we did tell the host when we were leaving, not really interested either!! read more

Restaurant was extremely packed for covid times but food and service was excellent. Our waitress, Margo was also excellent. She was attentive, nice, and super patient. read more

We have loved Francesca's for many years and tonight was no exception. Margo, our server was wonderful! She got our appetizer order in right away, then came to get our drink order. everything was delicious and served in a timely fashion. We will be back. read more

Great food and service. Our waiter, Pablo, was so helpful and fun, we would return just to see him!

What a wonderful experience we had at lunch today! Nice, warm welcoming atmosphere from the minute you walk in the door as you are greeted by the host and the on to delicious, fresh, Italian dishes (gnocchi as well as lemon chicken & fresh spinach), bruschetta with whipped ricotta, lentil soup.... we could not be more pleased. To top that off our server, Margo (without a T), was absolutely fabulous. She was knowledgeable, friendly and had great recommendations. We had a lovely time and we will definitely be back again & we hope to have Margo as our server again. We highly recommend Francesca's North! read more

We had a great dinner here, as always. We've been coming for 5 years. Kids loved the spaghetti with marinara sauce. We tried all menu items and they're all great. Carlos and Greg are the best! We'll be back next week! read more

The atmosphere of the diner is good. The menu is limited in the number of items. The names and descriptions of the items is ridiculous an over priced. The service was great. The food was served look warm. Some of the pieces were just cold. read more

End of an era. My wife and I have been going to Francesca's restaurant for over 20 years. Came here for our anniversary and was totally disappointed. I know that the food cost have gone up, but when you get 3 tiny pieces of pork tenderloin and some sauce ( $28 ) or 6 pieces of asparagus in a salad( $14 ) way over priced. I didn't know that we would be starving after spending $165 without drinks. We have to keep ordering side dishes to get full. I guess the old school style Italian restaurant is dead. Also the taste of the food was not the same like we remember it to be, dishes were too salty or flavorless. However, the service from our waiter was pretty good. Overall there many more places to try and we won't be back, now I can see why many other people gave this place a lower rating. read more

I wish Atlanta had a Francesca's. I could eat their arugula salad on a regular basis. Offered as the night's salad special, it was best thing I ate all night. Simple, yet delicious. The bruschetta our group ordered for the table was fresh and tasty, but I found the calamari to be just okay. Since the portions are large, I opted for an appetizer serving of the mussels. They were tender and juicy, and the smoked marinara sauce was a nice complement to the briny shellfish. Service was very attentive and accommodating. I look forward to trying one of the pasta dishes should I have the chance to visit again. read more