While running some errands in the Claremore area, we decided to stop in at Francesco's, mainly because I'd had them in my sights for some time, and I needed a new Yelp! review.
We arrived around 11:45 am, just ahead of a normal lunchtime, and were the only people in the place.
The seating area is rather small and intimate, dictated pretty much by the building itself, what has seen numerous businesses come and go over the years. Decor was fairly rustic trattoria style, with some whimsical yet totally appropriate Italian music in the background. I commented to The Wife that I kept expecting Don Corleone to walk in the door.
Service was spot on through the entire meal. Not sure if that's because of the low customer count, but towards the end, the place did start filling up a bit, and I never noticed a drop in our server's attention, so I'm staying with a two thumbs up on service.
The Kid opted for the de rigeur Spaghetti and Marinara sauce... she's as constant as the northern star in that regard. The Wife went with the Chicken Parm, and I, being constant as well, chose the Clams and Linguine, white sauce if you please. We also ordered calamari for an app, based on some of the reviews I'd read.
A basket of really nice and perfectly done rolls led the way, and they were very good. Hot, fresh and flavorful, all that was missing was maybe some olive oil and herbs for a little dipping.
The side salads arrived in short order, with the ladies having ranch dressing, and I choosing the house dressing, which turned out to an absolutely phenomenal tomato vinaigrette. I'm not a huge tomato fan, but I was totally blown away by this dressing. It was stellar.
Shortly after the salads, our app arrived. This proved to be the single letdown of the entire visit. While visually appealing, the calamari was tough and overcooked. Instead of a crispy coating over succulent tender calamari, we got crunchy nuggets of tough squid. Flavor-wise, it wasn't bad, but overall, just overcooked and not all that appetizing.
In due course, the entrees arrived. Francesco's marinara is more of a creamy marinara than the norm, so the flavor seems a bit more subtle and less acidic/sharp than the normal marinara. That said, it was a nice departure and made for a really nice sauce on both The Kid's spaghetti and The Wife's Parm. All the pastas were cooked perfectly. The Wife's Parm was tender, juicy with a really flavorful breading that stood out perfectly against the more subtle marinara. Covered in just the right amount of cheese, it was easily one of the better Chicken Parms I've had in the Tulsa area.
My clams were also spot on. The sauce was the perfect consistency, and the clams were cooked perfectly. After the calamari, I was afraid the clams might be overdone, but they were the ideal buttery soft texture and very flavorful.
Overall, I was impressed with the meal and the service, and we will not hesitate at all to make the schlep from Owasso to Claremore to eat at Francesco's. read more