INCREDIBLE food! Wow! Met up with my friend for happy hour at the bar and we both were pleasantly surprised by all the food! We ordered the white pizza, arranchi, meatball sliders and goat cheese platter on the HH menu. I had wine and my friend had a French martini and a lemon martini. Both were amazing! Our bartender, Sergio was hands down one of the BEST bartenders I've had in YEARS! So personal and attentive! Great conversation! It's old school Italian, low lights, white linens and a great vibe! Definitely worth a visit! read more

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My colleagues from Los Angeles chose this place for us to have dinner on the first night of our conference. They were there well ahead of me, but when I arrived, I stood in the front waiting for someone to come and get me. I was never greeted or even acknowledged as I stood there. After I walked over to the table, I noticed they had already had drinks and an appetizers, so I quickly ordered bruschetta, which came with spinach atop. I must say it was excellent and liked it much better with the spinach. Later on, they ordered entrees, which mine was supposed to be penne with vodka sauce. However, I got rigatoni. The servers didn't even know which items belong to which person. I found this tremendously unorganized. Despite the service that needed improvement, the food was great. The pasta could have been cooked a little more but I did enjoy both of my items. My colleagues enjoys their food, especially one of the dessert. read more

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My friends and I came in for a girls' lunch, and we had such a great experience! The food was absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere was perfect for catching up and enjoying a relaxing afternoon together. A special shoutout to our server, Sergio, who made our visit even better. He was attentive, friendly, and gave us excellent recommendations that we all loved. His knowledge of the menu and great service really stood out. From the food to the service, everything was wonderful. We'll definitely be back for another girls' lunch soon! read more

The hospitality really stood out--Big Mike, Jan and our server Hillary were incredibly welcoming and made sure everything was running smoothly, which always makes a difference. We were seated on the lower floor, and honestly, that area was a whole vibe. The ambiance felt cozy yet lively, perfect for a date night or group dinner. The fresh bread that came out to start was warm and delicious. You know it's always a great sign when the bread hits right. The pasta dishes were excellent, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful. The sauce tied everything together beautifully, rich without being too heavy. Service throughout the night was attentive and friendly without feeling rushed. And I have to mention the carrot cake dessert which was absolutely fire. A perfect sweet finish to an already great meal. Overall, great food, great service, and a great atmosphere. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm craving solid Italian in the area. read more

Francesca's On Chestnut - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A bit tucked away and inside an older residential building but definitely has the old school vibe. I came for a private event so I cannot speak to how the menu looked or price point but the food was served "family style" and quite flavorful. Staff was polite but lacking a bit, they had to be waived down for water refills, salt/pepper, napkins, or anything else we needed and when we ran out of the raviolis (the most enjoyed dish served) they were not able to bring any more to our table. Otherwise I'd say the lower level event space is lovely, intimate and unique. I'd consider going back to see what the normal dining experience is like. read more

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Tried their Hugo Spritz for $10 at Happy Hour and it was mighty tasty! The location is downtown on Chestnut of course - close to Lake Shore Drive. Recommend spothero as they have a $10 garage across the street in case you have no luck with street parking. It's a very classy establishment. I docked a star because I got charged more (assuming someone wrote in more tip) than what I signed for. I didn't try any food but I did hear that the calamari lacked seasoning unfortunately. read more

The food was phenomenal! Very flavorful, and service was fast. It has a great ambience. Very classy and would consider the downstairs wine cellar for an intimate wedding dinner or rehearsal dinner. We will be back! read more

Busy restaurant and you can tell it's a neighborhood favorite. Staff was great and very helpful- make reservations if you can. We had the Carbonara and Spinach Ravioli and house bread and it was delicious! Cute restaurant and cozy. read more

The good is the service the food is mediocre at best however the Caesar salad with white anchovies was very good. Our server was attentive but the restaurant is noisy and even when not crowded. Had the Chicken Milanese which was large and prepared with a salad on top and a pasta dish under the chicken. (That was a first for Me to have the pasta under a chicken Milanese - a bit strange). The. A supplemental charge on the bill??? read more

We had such an amazing experience! Visiting from California, we were craving some classic Italian food and Francesca's did not disappoint. The whole menu looked so good that it was hard to decide, but thankfully our server Mark N gave us excellent recommendations for appetizers, wine, and entrees and everything he suggested was delicious. He also provided really wonderful, attentive service. It was a busy Friday night, so I was really glad we had made a reservation through OpenTable. From the food to the service, everything was spot on. I just wish we lived closer so we could come back more often! read more

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Celebrated my 65th birthday at Francesca's on Chestnut--and wow, what a night. I was lucky enough to utilize their wine room to host 40 guests, which made the whole evening feel intimate, warm, and a little extra special (exactly what you hope for on a milestone birthday). The atmosphere struck the perfect balance between cozy and elegant--like you're tucked away in your own little celebration bubble. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel genuinely welcomed and taken care of. Attentive and thoughtful--just really gracious service all around. And the food? Absolutely delicious. Every dish felt fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. I was bombarded the next day with questions on how to get more of the coconut cake and cookies. And the chocolate fountain? A work of art! It's not always easy to make a birthday feel truly memorable--but Francesca's nailed it. If you're looking for a place to celebrate something special (or honestly, just want a fantastic dinner), I can't recommend this spot enough. Thank you Francesca's for making my birthday perfect in every way it read more

My friend and I went here for Christmas Eve dinner. We had booked a reservation a week earlier and were lucky to get a table. The place has a very cozy, old-school Christmas vibe with lots of warm, wooden décor. Our server was super nice and helpful. She recommended a Vermentino white wine, and it paired perfectly with my pasta. For antipasti, we ordered the roasted beets and the pizza Napoletana. My friend especially loved the beets -- the walnut butter gave them an amazing flavor. For pasta, we tried the Rigatoni alla Vodka, Ravioli ai Spinaci, and a customized Alfredo-style pasta for my friend. They were able to make the white sauce just the way we wanted. The rigatoni was a bit salty, and the Alfredo pasta was too salty for our taste. But what I really appreciated was how quickly our server took care of it. she replaced the dish right away with another pasta that tasted great. It showed they truly care about customer service. For dessert, we had the brioche bun with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the tiramisu. Both were delicious. Overall, the whole meal paired with the wine made it a wonderful Christmas Eve experience. read more

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This is what I love about the Chicago dining scene, true neighborhood gems are everywhere, you just have to make the effort to find them! Francesca's on Chestnut is just such a gem! It sits in the sunset shadow of the magnificent John Hancock Tower and occupies the southwest corner of the block, tucked into it's neighborhood and known only to those who frequent Francesca's in Chicago, those who live and work around it, and those who make the effort to find it. We were staying a block away at the Hilton Suites Magnificent Mile. Francesca's is unpretentious, yet classy. It fits the architecture of the space. It's quiet, comfy, and you get the feel, true or not, that those dining around you are the locals that frequent this space. That's comforting to me. Locals know where to eat! We really enjoyed our server, Dillon. His recommendations were spot on! We started with a unique salad, the Asparagus salad with tomatoes, blue cheese, lemon, and extra virgin olive oil. Very fresh and tender asparagus with a really fresh and authentic Italian presentation. For entrees we went with two excellent choices! The Linquine Agli Scampi and the Rigatoni Alla Vodka (see photos for more ingredient descriptions). Both were outstanding Italian dishes with marvelous flavor profiles and beautiful presentation. Francesca's on Chestnut is a gem. Don't miss it! read more

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I was here for a group dinner in their basement party room. Appetizers of meatballs in tomato sauce and bruschetta were available during the open bar. Dinner began with two pastas, a very nice ravioli and a more standard cannelloni. The salmon with steamed spinach was excellent, and I wa OK with the chicken filet. dessert was a verynice tiramisu read more

I went on a weekday night for there happy house specials, my glass of wine was $8, the pizza was $10 and the tiramisu was normal priced at $12. Overall, it wasn't bad. The pizza was underwhelming in my opinion. The wine was average. The tiramisu was very good, tasted like hazelnut, but did lack espresso. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. The inside of the restaurant was very cute. We sat at a high top near the window. Small table, you can fit 2 people comfortably, three if you squeeze. There is Street parking and next door is a hotel that has valet. read more

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Had a reservation for 5pm on a Sunday and got a table right away. Service was fast and friendly, the food was delicious. We were very happy with the visit. The vibes were good, some people were dressed up and some people wearing street clothes. We preferred this to be a fancier dinner, but were satisfied overall. Would go again! read more

Francesca's On Chestnut - Calamari Fritti - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's okay. Sometimes the food is average and sometimes the service isn't. But it's just pasta. I go there when I don't want to walk far.

this was a great place for me to enjoy a celebratory post-race chicago marathon meal with my family! my cousin made a reservation for (5) @ 14.00 on a sunday afternoon, perfect timing since i crossed the finish line around noon and had to hobble from grant park to the restaurant...we ended up taking a pedicab to my cousin's car, and drove the rest of the way...cuz 26.2 miles was enough "movement" for me for a day! upon arrival we saw many other chicago marathon finishers, all wearing their hard earned medals, tshirts, jackets and enjoying a well deserved celebratory meal! i had a few snacks post-race, knowing that i wouldn't be able to get any real food for a while and quite frankly, didn't have much of an appetite, as usual for me, post-marathon. but seeing and smelling the delicious italian cuisine definitely whet my appetite.... mom and i ordered several apps and entrees to share: +bruschette: sliced italian bread topped with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella cheese, sauteed spinach and a drizzle of olive oil +lenticchie e spinaci: braised lentils mixed with spinach, diced carrots, topped with goat cheese +rigatoni alla vodka: we ordered this vegetarian, so no sausage, just the vodka sauce, topped with mozzarella sprinkled with parmigiano. their house italian bread was also very delicious and i enjoyed dipped it in olive oil mixed with some crushed black pepper. for dessert, since it was also my cousin's birthday, we ordered the tiramisu (it was a tough choice given how many delicious looking desserts were on the menu!) 1 dessert, 5 forks! this was honestly the best italian food i'd had in a while and i was quite pleased with everything that went into my stomach. i loved how each dish had its own unique flavour. we honestly ordered so much i had enough leftovers for dinner...err midnight snack since we didn't finish lunch til around 1700! the service was impeccable, very attentive staff, despite a pretty busy afternoon, and were so kind to us the entire 3 hrs we were there! i can't recall the last time i sat for a 3 hr lunch, but we really took our time enjoying the food and especially the company since i'd not seen my cousin and his fam in a few years. i really appreciated that they did not rush us, despite the growing number of customers, and let us sit and relax as long as we wanted...as they say in italian "famiglia" we definitely felt like we were treated like family here. i highly recommend dining here if you have a special occasion and want to have some delicious italian fare! read more

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Very good. We went on a Thursday afternoon for a lunch/early dinner. Service was excellent. Their bread is always good. The chopped salad was delicious. Husband and I were sharing and he hates blue cheese and I love it. No problem, They gladly put it on the side for me. We shared a spaghetti bolognese. The past a was cooked perfectly. While we both thought the sauce was good, it was a bit too salty. Francesca's remains a solid choice for Itian in the neighborhood. read more

We've eaten at several Francesca's locations but this was our first at the Chestnut location. The restaurant is large and has a nice layout. The restaurant wasn't busy and we were seated right away. From the time we sat down till the time we left we felt rushed. Drinks, bread, and apps all coming at the same time. Staff picking up plates or attempting to before we had to tell them we weren't done yet. Not the kind of service we expected for the amount of money we dropped at this place. This will definitely be a one and done dinner at this location. There are so many great Italian restaurants in this area. It's a shame that this one fell short. read more

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Perfect homey but still upscale Italian restaurant right in the city. The staff were very knowledgeable about the wine menu (it's like 100 pages, awesome). Been here a few times now and the service/large portions do not disappoint. Highly reco for date night or for an intimate dinner with friends/family visiting read more

Francesca's On Chestnut - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got shrimp scampi and it was amazing and flavorful. Bread came out hot with high quality olive oil. Service was amazing. Overall reserving vibe was great. read more

Will def come back! Pollo Arrosto alla Romana (5/5): This is roasted half chicken. So juicy and tender. The lemon makes it bright, but it was still savory and umami. The sauce was almost like a soup with how you could eat it alone--didn't seem like a marinade. I appreciate how the rosemary and lemon didn't overpower. The potatoes were also perfect, not salty not soggy. I also like how it's skinless, it's really a French fry. This dish is hearty and reminds me of a Thanksgiving plate. Very crave worthy, would get again. Linguine agli Scampi (5/5): Mom loved this--cleaned her plate. The scallop was a bit fishy for me, but the seasoning is on point. Almost every seafood pasta dish is bland or salty, but they nailed the seasoning ratio here. Amore Primaverile Spritz (4/5): The spritz adds a nice soda kick to the passionfruit-orangey cocktail. Not crave worthy, I would rather try a different drink next time. Interior and ambience is just what you see in a Christmas movie! So cozy and moody, but also lively with the amount of people inside. NY Christmas personified in a restaurant. Staff is also top notch and super attentive. No surprise this restaurant has been open for 35 plus years. read more

Francesca's On Chestnut - Pollo Arrosto alla Romana - Roasted Half Chicken - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I can't believe that I haven't reviewed Francesca's on Chestnut! Perhaps I was waiting for the experience to fully sink in, seeing as how I attended a friend's milestone (80th) birthday party here. Of course, I peeped the website before coming here, and found out that Francesca's offers a happy hour at the bar. I decided to arrive a bit early and start the celebration with a glass of Prosecco as I waited for some of the others to filter in. Feeling festive, I made my way down the steps to the event space. I was impressed with the grotto-like feel and enjoyed looking at the wine bottles lining the walls. Although our group did not have the space entirely to ourselves, the spacing of the other (smaller) tables and the attentive service made for a convivial experience. We each ordered our entrees in advance, with the antipasti and dessert courses being served family style. In fact, there were more than enough desserts for guests to pack up and take some home with them, which made for a sweet ending to this memorable evening. I felt that the food was of excellent quality and the portions generous --in fact, I probably could have filled up on apps and desserts alone :). All of the servers I encountered displayed high levels of courtesy, professionalism, and efficiency --not easy with eight of us at the table. Thank you to Francesca's for helping to craft such a memorable evening. read more

Arrived in Chicago hangry and landed here. GREAT, cozy spot. Servers are friendly and attentive. Know their menu and willing to help out some hungry folks. We walked in at a quiet time (4ish?) and watched as the restaurant filled up. They start you off with bread and parmesan. The parmesan is fresh and pungent. The olive oil on the table is delicious and rich - dive in! Add a Chianti and you're speaking my language. I ordered the Chop salad, which had generous helpings of Cavelstrano olives, peppers, cheese et al. I'm not really a sausage+peppers kind of gal - but we ordered as an appetizer and WOW! Flavors are on point. Also ordered the Burrata as an appetizer. Served with pine nuts, neon-green tasty olive oil and ripe, roasted tomatoes still on the vine. Absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the Francesca pasta, which was delicious but unexpected presentation. This particular pasta dish is made fresh. Tastes almost like a large egg noodle, wrapped with spinach and cheese and a delicious sauce into spirals. Very good. We finished with a lemon olive oil cake with fruit. A dense, baked cake bread with light sauce and berries. I loved the feel of this restaurant. Very cozy and warm on a cold day. Reminded me of Italy. My only reco would be less pop music, more Sinatra. But that's the old lady in me talking. read more

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What an absolute delight. This is my second visit and it was every bit as wonderful as I remembered. The meatballs are perfectly seasoned, moist and creamy, and the asparagus salad is fresh and delicious. Service is friendly and attentive! Highly recommended this cozy spot! read more

Francesca's On Chestnut - Nonna's Meatballs and insalata Asparagi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here before a show on a Sat night and sat at the bar. Service was attentive. I started with the fried calamari which was ok. Sauce slightly spicy which was nice. This is a dish for two. Would be nice if there was a smaller portion as the price was equivalent to an entree and too much for one. My entree was the rigatoni alla vodka. Came with sausage which was a nice touch. The sauce was so good. It also came with basil which I do not feel it needed as there was already a lot of flavor. Pasta was cooked perfectly. I paired it all with a pinot noir. The place is not that big so recommend reservations. read more

Francesca's On Chestnut - Rigatoni Alla vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came back after a year from missing Chicago and it's still great! Meatball appetizer is my favorite! I'm not sure what they put in there but it's so juicy and tender and flavorful. I love to eat it with the bread! I also got the bolognese pasta. 10/10. The drinks were great! The vibes were elegant. The service was great. They were fast. Exactly how I like it. read more

I went here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon - it was nice we didn't have to wait for a table even though we didn't have a reservation. I got the vegetable panini off the lunch menu - Panino con Vegetali Grigliata - so so delicious. I'm a meat eater but was craving tons of veggies and it didn't disappoint. Love the creaminess that the goat cheese added in the sandwich, and the baguette it came on was so good. I did not realize it came with fries (I didn't see that notated on the menu) and would have probably rather substituted for a side salad (I looked at the online menu after and that is an option instead of fries) The fries were okay but the sandwich was the main part that made it worth it. My boyfriend got the Rigatoni Pomodoro and he loved it. My mom got the Italian chopped salad and my dad got the Caprese sandwich (Panino alla Caprese); they both really enjoyed their meals as well. We were pretty immersed in conversation the entire time so it was nice the waiter wasn't constantly asking us how we were doing, but there was enough staff around if we did need something. Waters were kept refilled. Given the ambience (waiter service, quiet/classy vibe) and quality of food, I thought the prices on the lunch menu were reasonable. Would definitely come back again when I visit! read more

Francesca's On Chestnut - Panino con Vegetali Grigliata - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and quick service! The pasta was delicious and the prices were very affordable given the portion sizes! The ambiance here is beautiful - definitely would come back and host an event here! read more

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Magical experience floating in the food at Francesca's on Chestnut. Starting the night off strong with their complimentary bread, olive oil, basil, Parmesan cheese combo. Followed by the Focaccia appetizer that made me see stars with its flavors. I wasn't prepared for the bomb dropped on our table with the three entrees of pasta. Prepare your pallet for a divine dining experience, enhanced by wine, great conversation, and outstanding service. I'd go here with my mom and great aunt. A first date. A friend. A business partner, or a solo night out on the town. You'll definitely catch me at Francesca's again! read more

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We came here for dinner. Our waiter (Marcus) was phenomenal and made some great recommendations. The food was SO good!!! We got the caprese, Bucatini (though I switched vodka sauce for the pomodoro), Pollo Sassi, basil-rhubarb cheesecake, and chocolate torte. The Bucatini had the perfect amount of heat. The cheesecake was a creative and delish approach to cheesecake. The place was packed when we got there at 5:00 so I highly recommend reservations. Tables are kind of close together, but you don't feel like you are sitting in your neighbors lap. Because of that, it did get quite loud. If you are looking for amazing food with great service- this is the place! read more

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Dinner was delicious, loved the seafood linguine, it was very lemony. It took a while for a waiter to come take care of us but the service beyond that was great. We finished the meal with a cappuccino. Loved the ambiance, very close, dimly lit and intimate. Will be back ! read more

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Very nice atmosphere, fabulous service and wonderful food. My wife and I shared Tomato, Onion and Blue Cheese appetizer which was fantastic, I had a Chicago style chicken dish which was enjoyable, my wife had a pasta and sausage dish that was great. We finished with a Nutella and gluten free chocolate cake that was a perfect finish to our dining experience. Price was very reasonable too. Thank you! read more

I ordered on uber eats, food came really quickly, restaurant prepped the food well, it was hot when I got my food. The paccheri alla vodka e salsiccia is divine. I liked everything I ordered. Would definitely try again. read more

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The food here was decent, definitely not bad, but also nothing that sets it apart from other Italian restaurants. Out of all the dishes that I tried, my favorite was the ravioli. The ravioli was balanced the best and didn't feel overwhelming in any particular way. With the other dishes I often felt like it was either too sweet, or too heavy. The service was great though, very pleasant and eager to help. read more

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What a fantastic team @ Francesca's ....thoroughly impressed! Katherine helped with planning my teen daughter's bday and was meticulously in following up with me regarding the menu and arrangements. John was extremely patient in serving 18 noisy teen girls in the 3 hours spent. Lisa greeted me warmly and let me camp by the bar till the party ended . Everyone enjoyed the food and service. I shall certainly not hesitate to host another party!! read more

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Food was very good but the pace of service was a bit slow. Friendly, just slow. Hostess was kind enough to take our family picture read more

I want to start with our server, Marcus. He was awesome. He answered questions we had made recommendations when we asked --all of which turned out to be great choices. He was attentive despite being busy. Honestly, I can't praise him enough. One of the best servers I've ever had. The space itself--very nice with a cozy feel. However, there was a large party sitting near us that made conversation a bit challenging. Even without that, I can't praise see where it could be a noisy place as the seating design is pretty closely packed. The food? Like Marcus, it was very good. We started with burrata that came with tomatoes roasted on the vine. For the main we had bucatini with pancetta and chicken with artichokes and mushrooms. We finished with the chocolate cake and the special of the day--basil cheesecake with a rhubarb compote. read more

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Emi is the best, coming here again just to come visit her. Best place ever. Food was great, but ask for Emi when you come here and you won't be disappointed. read more