I would give an infinite amount of stars if I could. The restaurant has a beautiful, upscale ambience, and the food is absolutely delicious. I have done there many times never to be disappointed. My most recent dining experience was hosting a business dinner party which I wanted to make sure it was professional and elegant. Kelly, the event coordinator was so helpful from start to finish and handled everything to put me at ease. The servers specifically Freddy and Jesus were very attentive to the table and all my guests. Mo was also extraordinary making sure my guests were comfortable and have everything they needed. And you can tell the restaurant takes pride and making sure their guests are accommodated because even the restaurant owner Franco himself was extremely helpful accommodating, and truly made sure that my guests and I had the best experience at his restaurant up until the moment we left. I highly recommend Fresco Da Franco I look forward to many more future dining experiences there. read more

Food: Went on Mothers Day and the Menu was super limited. Ordered the Egg Quiche and it was very dry. Ordered the Wild Mushroom Ravioli and while it was great in taste the portion size was so small maybe 5 small raviolis. The dish was wild expensive than the wild mushroom used for the portion given. Service: Service was good in that once we told the manager how we felt about the quiche, it was removed from the bill. However, we requested some modifications due to dietary restrictions and it was denied. read more

Fresco da Franco - Quiche - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Came here for a dinner with friends on a Saturday night. The place was packed - but the service and food absolute delivered. Food: We had calamari, a cesar salad, and tomato/burrata for appetizers. I cannot say enough good things about the calamari - arguably the best I've ever had. They had a beautifully seasoned, thick breading on them with virtually no chew at all. Wow I could just have eaten that all night. The main entrée was the Cacio e pepe gnocchi which was also so good! Little potato clouds in your mouth that explode with flavor. I loved the food here. One of my friends got the short rib and that also looked heavenly - I kind of wish I ordered that. Next time. Service: We were seated right away at our reservation time and although the place was crowded, the service did not suffer. I felt like our food and drinks came out quickly and our waitress was quick and very professional and checked on us often. Absolute no issues here at all. Atmosphere: Place was crowded but has a nice cozy upscale atmosphere. There is a bar attached which was cool - a nice spot to hangout if you're waiting for a table or just a place to come another night. The bathrooms were clean although they are just single person bathrooms which definitely causes a line to form sometimes. Overall, this place was awesome and the food was fantastic. Prices are a little high but it is upscale and in a nice area. I would recommend it and certainly come back again. read more

Our waiter was MIA. Food was on par with value, although my ravioli funghi had been sitting awhile and was just barely warm. Our friends brought us there because they had a good experience on a Thursday evening. We were a party of six on a Saturday. If someone is celebrating a birthday they play some obscure Italian song ear splitting loud. Fortunately we finished eating before 9:30 when they bring in a DJ who plays music even louder. They have valet service ($15) which is good because parking is tough. They tack on gratuity automatically for 6 people - not a fan. Great place for a party, not for conversation or service. read more

LOVE THIS RESTAURANT. Second time visiting and the food was just as good as the first time visiting. Ambiance is great for a date night or dinner with friends. They have a nice bar area. Staff is always friendly. On our second visit we met Peter the GM and he is simply fabulous! I want him to sit and have dinner with me haha. Great service, food is 5 stars and ambiance matches the great vibe. Do yourself a favor and make your reservation. You will not be disappointed! read more

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We celebrated my birthday at Fresco da Franco, and once again, it was perfect! I had the gnocchi, which was rich and comforting, while my girlfriend enjoyed her favorite--the red snapper--which she raves about every time. The atmosphere was warm, the service was top-notch, and it made for a truly special evening. We're never disappointed at Fresco da Franco! read more

Fresco da Franco - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

The food and drinks were excellent here; it's rare that a pizza legitimately reminds me of my gastro adventures from studying abroad in Florence. If the service had risen to the occasion, this would have been close a five-star experience. It's a little disappointing that it didn't meet the mark, but it got close enough where the regrets were minimal if not non-existent. My top-tier chum and I came here around 12:30ish yesterday at the beginning of Montclair's inaugural Porchfest (which is NOT something I'd recommend at this juncture - very poorly organized and the website information wasn't completely accurate), in need of a refreshing cocktail and overall sustenance. As Montclair experts know, liquor licenses are not an automatic around these parts so options were limited but we secured some sunny outdoor seating easily and were ready to rock. We both played it relatively safe and each ordered the Reginella pie, which I can't recommend more. It's legitimately one of the best pizzas I've had in the area, an authentic Neapolitan pie where they drop the buffalo mozzy on it literally seconds before taking out of the oven. Just delicious. Both of us finished our pies minus a bite or two, which is more notable on my chum's end than mine - I'm an animal and finish most meals. I'm not actually seeing the cocktail I ordered on the online menu; it was the first item listed, started with a "P" and was tequila based with a lot of fruit-forward action. Very well done/mixed with excellent flavors. The only downside is that it's $20, which even by Montclair standards is pretty egregious. If this were $15 or $16, I probably don't hesitate to get a second one, but the cocktails shouldn't cost more than the entrees - a bridge too far for me. Still. A refreshing nip on a pleasant May afternoon. The service was very mediocre, which is unfortunate. My chum thought this might have been a weird homage almost to European culture, but since we WEREN'T actually at a street cafe in Naples, I don't know that that's remotely necessary, assuming that was the issue. We weren't on a schedule but it took about 20 minutes to get our cocktails and hailing down the waitress for anything was a process. It wasn't particularly busy while we were there so it wasn't clear why there were any noticeable delays, but any thoughts of ordering anything beyond our initial items was put to the side pretty quickly since it would have added probably half an hour to our stay. Disappointing and an unforced error in my view. I'd absolutely come back, but only with a full wallet and some time on my hands. read more

Fresco da Franco - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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The service was great! Not too slow and not too fast with the arrival of drinks, apps, dinner and dessert. The inside is romantic but can be noisy depending on the day and time you dine. Dim lighting with dark decor, romantic lighting. Food was not a five but very good. The focaccia bread basket is not good- they can easily improve that. The olive oil was tasteless. Meatball app was served with two; soft but a little garlicky. Served with a side of ricotta. Dinner - we had the gnocchi bolognese on the special menu and the brazino. Dessert- la bamba. Unique dessert with A little flame show. This was a round chocolate layer "bomb" cake. read more

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I had the best experience with the staff. We had a reservation for a celebration of our 91 year birthday girl. Unfortunately we had an unexpected situation and missed the reservation. They were so nice. We didn't make it to the restaurant but if it is as nice as their staff, it is not to be missed read more

I must say, we decided to go back to Fresco da Franco for our anniversary and we were blown away by not only the impeccable service (especially from Junior), but the food was incredible! From our perfectly curated drinks to our delightful appetizer (the zucchini blossoms are a must) to our dishes...we had to get dessert! The home made chocolate mousse was exactly what we needed! Just when we thought we were done giving this lovely date night spot a glowing review, they surprised us with a written thank you note & gave us both a complimentary drink on the house for our anniversary! If you want to have an intimate date night out with zero complaints-- you just have to visit Fresco da Franco! read more

Fresco da Franco - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

We were looking for a place to have a lite bite and drinks. This was the perfect spot. It wasn't that packed for a Friday night. The appetizers were good. The drinks were even better. After 10:30 pm the back turns into a lounge on Fridays and Saturdays. The back is also linked to Bar Franco. They play music for all generations. I will be back to enjoy more of the Socialista Lounge. read more

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Everytime I come here I'm never disappointed. They have really authentically tasting Italian food at a decent priced and always tastes fresh. The cocktail lounge vibe at bar Franco adds the perfect touch for a casual night out or date night. read more

Very delicious, food is amazing, service is amazing the cocktails are even better. The vibe here is amazing this is a must in Montclair!!! read more

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Alfredo and Laura are fantastic Don't miss this Italian bar vibe and these guys' expertise in drinks and food . read more

Phenomenal service and attentiveness during my dinner with my Wife. The general manager on-site made sure that our dining experience was exceptional and enjoyable. Great ambiance and decor as well. Definitely worth the visit! read more

Fresco da Franco made my 21st birthday unforgettable. The staff went above and beyond, even reserving a table for my cake and playing a birthday song to celebrate. The food was just as amazing--the lumache was rich and full of flavor, the burrata was creamy and fresh, and the meatballs were absolutely delicious. Their cocktails were also fantastic and really elevated the night. I couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate--Fresco da Franco truly made it special. read more

Fresco da Franco - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

REPLY TO OWNER'S RESPONSE: You seem to have your Black people confused, Franco. Check the dates. What cowboy hats and concert are you even talking about? And what group? My mother and I came for BRUNCH at Fresco da Franco NOT Bar Franco. We've been dining there for years, attended your car shows and even met your brother. Again, wrong Blacks. LOL. Thank you for proving my point. ORIGINAL REVIEW: I used to come to this place all the time when they had all the old wait staff and it was always great. My recent visit to this restaurant was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had--poor food quality, filthy bathroom, and shockingly disrespectful service. Let's start with the tuna tartare, which tasted like it came straight out of a can. There was no freshness, no brightness--just a sad, fishy mush that made me question how long it had been sitting there. If a restaurant can't even get raw fish right, what can they do well? Then there was the women's bathroom--an absolute nightmare. The stench was so overpowering I had to hold my breath just to use it without gagging. How does a place serving (supposedly) high-end food neglect basic hygiene? But the worst part was the service, which felt outright discriminatory. The waiter informed us--and only us--that we had to order everything at once due to "company policy." Funny how other tables (all fairer-skinned, by the way) were allowed to order at their leisure, with servers checking on them repeatedly. When we tried to flag down our waiter to ask about dessert (hoping to salvage the meal), he looked at us, raised a single dismissive finger, and then walked over to another table--who hadn't even called him--to ask how their food was. The message was clear: we weren't a priority. The blatant difference in treatment was impossible to ignore. Maybe if we looked like the other patrons, we would've been treated with basic courtesy. As it stands, I wouldn't return even if they paid me. If you're darker than a paper bag, save your money--and your dignity--and dine elsewhere. read more

So I'm going to preface this with We Did Not Have a Reservation. My boyfriend wanted to go to their freestyle brunch, I was told it was a private party & there were no more tables WHILE someone was literally sitting my boyfriend (next to the bathroom & kitchen) the menu was lackluster & had one brunch item. 3 options to choose from. The chicken parm was ok but the sauce was missing something. Highlight was the tiramisu we brought home. I can't remember our servers name, he did as best he could. Place was decently decorated from little I could see. Gonna say I probably won't go back. Also missed the part that gratuity was included & gave our server an extra $30. read more

I had my mom's memorial/celebration of life brunch here recently and everything was wonderful. Kelly Guarente, the event coordinator, was lovely -- responsive, kind, and easy to work with. The number on my party changed at the last minute and she quickly adapted to update the seating arrangement. I also appreciated her attention to detail; she decorated the back space beautifully with photos of my mom and red roses. Kelly is the main reason I went with this restaurant for my mom's memorial. I had never been there before and was considering other restaurants in the area, but none were as responsive and kind as Kelly. And the food was amazing! We ordered the chicken parm, flounder, cesear salad, lumache, and tiramisu. My grandmother is 100% Italian, an amazing cook, and a tough critic and she loved the food. Everyone in my party raved about it, actually. I'm surprised this place doesn't have higher ratings. Will def come back. read more

Fresco Da Franco is one of the handful of restaurants with a comfortable outdoor dining area. Based on that and it being a gorgeous day, we selected FDF as our lunch stop. Our waiter was friendly enough, he noticed right away that our table was uneven and right away got a wedge to fix it, that earns him a lot of points. Other than that he was attentive enough but also seemed a bit busy (and he probably was). The other staff was very attentive with clearing our plates and making sure we had water refills. At one point I think the owner or manager on duty came out and offered me a refill- that always goes a long way in my book, when a manager is on the ground helping the flow of everything. We ordered the Ricotta Tartufo to start with. Unfortunately for me, I did not read the description carefully enough and didn't realize it has truffle in the ricotta. I am NOT a fan of truffle and when it first came out I was not excited when I smelled the distinct truffle smell. That being said, our waiter mixed it at the table and the smell dissipated a bit, the ricotta was actually very good with just a hint of truffle. So if you love truffles you may be disappointed but I was very happy! The bread was nice and toasty. For my meal I ordered the chicken and waffles. I wasn't super impressed. The waffle didn't have the crisp on the outside fluffy on the inside texture I expect and prefer. The chicken was nicely breaded and tasted great. I was most excited about the "maple jus" and "chili butter" but the maple jus didn't seem much different from regular maple syrup and the chili butter was much more like chili oil and was lacking in flavor and unpleasant going down If you don't mix with the maple. Based on this alone, I would have given a 3 star, however I tried my friend's burger which was very tasty and her fries were perfectly crisp on the outside and potato-y on the inside. So I just think the Chicken and Waffles isn't their best dish. All in all it was a pleasant lunch. Montclair has so many delicious options (and there is so little time to try them all), I also have some favorites that I like to revisit, but I didn't like this one quite as much as those, so I'm not sure I will be back soon, but I would likely go again! read more

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I had the Cacio I Pepe Gnocchi. The portion was pretty small, but it was really good. The espresso creme brûlée dessert was my favorite.

Had tickets for the Wellmont and my wife made reservations. None of us eaten there for years since pre-COVID. It seems that they had reinvented themselves as an upscale restaurant. Boy was it, and only in the finest sense. I was a little disappointed because I had looked at the website and seen the most beautiful picture of linguini with white clam sauce. I was disappointed when it was not on the menu. Franco came out of the kitchen and passed by our table. When I explained my disappointment, he said he would make whatever I wanted. I will admit it was the BEST linguini with white clam sauce I had ever eaten. Home made black linguini (all pastas are freshly made) with an abundance of sweet clams and a sauce that was not dripping oil. The meal had a lemony taste. Franco came out and asked how I liked it. Told him it was the best I ever had and loved the lemon. He explained no lemon juice, only the zest. Okay that was my main course. Our server, Beshoy was a pleasure. He put up with my good natured teasing and brought out eggplant caponata on bread. Like bruschetta, but the eggplant was a taste of heaven. Our calamari was lightly fried with banana peppers. Also very good. One of our friends ordered the meatballs. It was Franco's mother's recipe. I asked him if his mother was a good cook. She was. All of our meals were delicious. One friend was disappointed at the size of his short rib entree, but all of the meals were exquisite. I enjoyed my flan immensely and tasted my wife's homemade pistachio gelato. A truly elegant dining experience. Highly recommended. read more

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Revisited this place for lunch on 12/23. The food is very good, but the service was absolutely terrible. No one to check on our empty wine glasses, had to flag down a bus person to get a waiter to take our order. No time for dessert and coffee, because it took over 90 minutes to receive our entrees. There just seems to be no manager here or person who cares about bringing warmth to the dining room. No apology or acknowledgement of the disaster level of service we got. read more

Amazing experience! The staff were very helpful and friendly shoutout to the jalapeño cocktail. read more

Fresco da Franco - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Just had the pleasure of dining at Bar Franc. An Italian spot in Montclair, and I'm already planning my next visit. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff made us feel right at home. A special shoutout to Peter, the general manager--he was absolutely fantastic. Attentive without being overbearing, genuinely friendly, and made sure every detail of our experience was perfect. It's clear he cares deeply about the guest experience and the quality of the restaurant. The food? Incredible. Every dish was bursting with flavor, beautifully plated, and served hot and fresh. You can really taste the passion behind the kitchen. We can't wait to return!! Alex and Taryn read more

First time n will def go back! Food was beyond outstanding ! I give it a 100 percent in good n service! Peter very accommodating as was his staff! Again I was thoroughly impressed with menu from Appetizers to dinner n desserts! U must go! read more

We went to Freco da Feanco on Christmas Day for dinner. We had the burratta and whipped ricotta for appetizers. Snapper Livornese, Gnocchi Cacio e Pepe, and Shortribs for our entrées and affogotto and gelato for dessert. It was all delicious. The only notes I have are they did not give enough crostini with the whipped ricotta, and they poured the espresso over the gelato before it arrived at the table. But both so minor and did not really affect our meal or experience. It was a beautiful place with excellent service and very good food. read more

All things considered and growing up in the restaurant business, it was evident the place was having a difficult night. We went for a dinner with friends to celebrate my wife's birthday. When we arrived for our 7:30 reservation we were seated promptly and the place had only a few tables seated. Within 20 minutes the place was slammed. Our server was extremely attentive and hustling considering she had two stations since someone called out. We grabbed a bottle of Pinot Noir, which was reasonably priced and tasty. For apps, the stuffed mushrooms were very good. Also, the Church Street Salad was very tasty. Loved the dressing. We were not fans of the meatballs tho. For entrees, my wife was extremely dissatisfied with the Lasagna. I ordered the Gnocchi and thought they were okay. She liked them so we swapped. One of our guests ordered the Fettuccine Cartoccio, which they didn't put any shrimp in the dish. Additionally, two of our entrees came to the table and than we waited about 5 minutes before the other two. The deserts, I must say no complaints. Although, I opted for the Baileys and Espresso, tasted the Tiramisu and was pleasantly pleased. Overall, I wasn't disappointed in the experience and some of the dishes were extremely flavorful. The bigger issues came from the kitchen, which turned our dinner into an incomplete pass! read more

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It was such a wonderful experience on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I met up 7 other women for an afternoon of fun and reserved this spot after enjoying making some candles and scented goodies. We were quickly seated and provided menus. Everyone ordered something different to drink. Me and two other ladies had the 2 hour unlimited mimosas for $20 each person. I ordered the chicken and waffle as the steak and eggs were blanked off the menu. It was a thigh and large leg. The thigh was over-breaded, and the leg was very large, but the waffle was really good, as was the hot honey sauce that came with it. Service was good. Our mimosas were a tad slow at first, but they really made it up at the end. It was busy with a bridal shower, belly dancer happening in the midst of service, so it was understood. Overall, it was a great experience. I'll definitely be back read more

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Food - got tuna tartar to start! Was delicious but a little on the salty side for our party's taste. We got to pasta dishes for an entree which were well portioned and delicious! Food came out pretty quickly. Cocktail was really, really good! Very pricey ($20), but the taste made up for it. Service - great server who was attentive and kind. Glasses always full. Ambiance - We had an early reservation (5:30) and it was very quiet and empty. But by 6 it started to pack up. Nice and clean. Pretty upscale feeling. No ball caps allowed. I would feel under dressed in jeans. (Waiters wearing white coats and bow ties) read more

Fresco da Franco - Spritz Cocktail - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Went to celebrate a friend's birthday and started out fine by being greeted by the hostess who turned out to be our server. I asked if I can have sparkling and I asked what table mates wanted sparkling. when she brought it, she poured everyone else's but mine. I asked her if she can pour mine. It was across the table. She made no eye contact with me during the evening. When it was time for dessert, she gave everyone a dessert and put the dessert menu between my table mates and I and gave the other two ladies in front of me their own menu. I had to ask for my own menu. It was a very quiet evening for a Wednesday night so it's no excuse for this. She had a phony interaction when I did get her attention for something. Not sure what the chef was cooking in the kitchen but it was quite smoky in there where it was burning the eyes of a couple of the women and the only rectification was to open the door with 29° weather. It made the place quite cold and of course I'm thinking I would be comfortable with a sleeveless top which ended up being cold quite often. The best part was the gnocchi vacío y Peppe. I won't be returning. read more

The 2 times that we went were holidays. The food was great. The 1st time it was a little tight. Easter was not too crowded, or maybe we missed the rush. The service and staff are wonderful, friendly, attentive. read more

Top tier Pulpo (Charred Octopus)! Seriously spectacular! The dirty martini is delicious! Lovely ambience. Excellent service! 5 Stars! Update: We came back for brunch and the Calamari is sooo good, the Fried Yard Bird was a treat and the Fettuccine Cartuccia is EVERYTHING! read more

Fresco da Franco - Pulpo - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Well decorated, excellent service, a large variety of wines and tasteful food. A place yuo need to go.

All the dishes we ordered tasted great, quantity was pretty decent Cocktails were good but not that strong. Overall, our group had a good dining experience. The day we visited their AC was not working so it was too hot for us to actually enjoy the meal. While most of the Staff seemed to be pleasant, we felt like the person who waited on us was kept ignoring us except for when he came to get our orders. I would have given 3 Stars if not for the quality of the Food, and the rest of the Staff's attitude. read more

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Walked by and browsed the menu near the tables outside. The hostess was warm and friendly. She shared that the bartenders were from Italy and that sold me right there. I was on my way to another restaurant and decided to dine here. I was seated outside by choice. There was a violist playing music outside. I dined solo. I enjoyed the lychee martini and the Zuppa Di Pesce. The sauce was amazing in addition to the seafood. There was pasta at the bottom. It wasn't too heavy of a dish yet filling. I was too full for desert. I'll be back again. read more

Fresco da Franco - Lychee Martini - Italian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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my friends and I went to Bar Franco, and we will definitely be back. The drinks are great and it was such a cute spot to escape the heat. I recommend it to anyone in the area. read more

I was here a few times before and had poor service, but figured that restaurants have their off nights so I cut them some slack. However - tonight's service sealed the deal that this is a consistent issue. First of all, we were a party of 5, and as we got to the table they took away too many place settings and left us with 4 place settings and 4 chairs. When I said something, the hostess continued to tell me she knew the reservation was for 5 people. Once we all got seated, it took a long while for our server to come over, and then once we placed drink orders the wine came quickly but 20 minutes passed before a cosmo was finally brought over (in the world's tiniest glass). Finally, we ordered the flourless chocolate cake for dessert but were brought the affogato, which we didn't even bother sending back/mentioning because of the lack of attention our table received. Overall, a disappointing realization that this restaurant likely will be crossed off our list. read more

Fresco da Franco has the perfect mix of Italia comfort and chic ambience... it is our forever go to in Montclair!! The addition of the new general manager Peter, elevated the restaurant further! Love this spot! Drink the Bar Franco Spritz, it will change ur life read more

The best food and service ever. Laura was fantastic. The food was amazing. The staff is awesome.