Francesca’s at The Promenade
641 E Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook, IL, 60440
Francesca’s at The Promenade Menu
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Antipasti
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Insalate
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Pizze
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Paste
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Secondi
Healthy Meal suggestions for Francesca’s at The Promenade
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Antipasti
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Insalate
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Pizze
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Paste
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Secondi
Visit below restaurant in Bolingbrook for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bolingbrook for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
641 E Boughton Rd
Bolingbrook, IL, 60440 - Phone (630) 739-6300
- Website https://miafrancesca.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Maryanne R.
The food and service were excellent and they had an extensive GF menu which was certainly appreciated. The gluten-free pizza and pasta were some of the best I've ever had and I have been GF for over 10 years! We had my parents with us and they are real Italians and are so very picky about eating out for Italian food, it HAS to be good. We had a party of 9 and we all loved our drinks and food. It certainly beats going to any of the chain restaurants if you're in the Romeoville/Bolingbrook area.
(5)Justine K.
The food was good, not great. The menu is hard to focus on and to read for that matter. They don't have all of the menu items on their menu either. I found that bizarre. Over all, not worth the money.
(2)Bryan B.
There's nothing wrong w/ Francesca's. The place looks good, the wait staff is adequate, the menu is okay and the food is about a 5 on a 10 scale. If you have to go, it's not going to kill you, but there is nothing memorable going on here. Ho hum.
(2)Jie S.
For the dinning experience, I still loved this place. Dishes are great and services were decent. However, I was a bit unhappy that we didn't get to stay in the party room which I didn't really understand the reason. I made a reservation for the party room for 10 of us a week ago. A lady took my reservation and happily told me I was all set and there is no minimal expense required. 4 hours before my reservation time, I got a call from the restaurant and asked me to call back to confirm my reservation which I did right away. I called back and was told Party room is not available and we are moved to a separate area which I thought it is a separate room. I told him we have 10 ladies who could be very loud when we are excited to see each other. He said no worries. A couple of my girlfriends got there before me. We were moved to a big table next to a few small tables. After we sat down, they told me they heard from the host that we were booted from the party room because we didn't pay the minimal deposit for the party room. I would be happy to pay the fee if there was someone told me when I called. I felt like someone lied to me. It is OK to ask us to move to a table if there is someone really needed the party room. I'd understand. But if you told me there is NO minimum expense needed when I make the reservation, you'd better to stick to your word. Not give the party room out to someone who made the reservation after me. This is not right. I didn't want to ruin the night for the girls who have not seen each other for a few months. We still chatted and enjoyed dinner. Both Tilapia and Halibut fish were delicious. Pastas were a little bit off. Our server was awesome. For desert, we tried Tiramisu, Creme Brulee, German Chocolate cake for dessert. Tiramisu was right on the spot. Other two are just OK. I'm not sure if I will come back here. Decided to write to the restaurant to see how they respond.
(3)Jennifer P.
Second time dining at Promenade. Not impressed at all. The calamari tasted like it had been cooked, left sitting out and set under a heat lamp. My pasta dish was beyond al dente and the sausage tasted pre-cooked, kind of dried out. My husbands grouper was decent, but nothing to rave about. The bus boys were lapping the table and kept grabbing stuff off the table that was bring used or eaten. Who takes your knife off the table mid-way through the meal? And what's the deal with being asked if you want your food boxed while you're eating it!! People are out to a nice dinner to relax--and enjoy their meal, stop rushing your patrons. Underwhelmed and won't be dining here again. Doesn't compare at all to Capri in DG.
(2)Hera J.
I been here a few times and never had a problem. But Today... I came here with my bf and my friends and had the WORST service ever. The waiter we had was rude. The food was not that great and my bf's dish was messed up and was sent back to be done again. The bus boy was trying to rush us out while we are still eating and wouldn't refill our water for 30mins. I will never come back to this location ever again. Service tells a lot about a place.....not a good look.
(1)Rich P.
Awesome food! The best of all the Francesca restaurants imo. Love the Gnocchi...and everything btw. The manager, Chris, is great. I called to ask for a special dinner for my son's 16th birthday. He made the evening special and I couldn't have been happier.
(5)Monica G.
My 3 girlfriends and I had dinner at Francescas last night and we all couldn't have been more unimpressed and won't be returning. Truly none of us were satisfied with our meals. I can't remember exactly the names of the meals we ordered, but all arrived within four minutes of ordering! The complaints were not near enough seafood toppings on her mixed seafood pasta, spinach was supposed to be in another pasta dish but used something else , rendering it very bitter! My friend and I ordered the shrimp pasta etc. Which was absolutely as bland and dry as can be, had only 4 medium shrimp and the pasta was much more, "el dente" than it should have been. None of us took our leftovers home as it wasn't worth the calories to eat something so mediocre. It was half price martini night, but when the bill arrived the martinis were billed as full price. Talked to the manager and truly hated complaining about everything, but he was very gracious and kept on saying the chef had to know to get better. He gave each of us a free entree on our next visit, though none of us has any interest in returning. Just a little angry having spent so much money for such lousy food, though the company was great as always.
(1)Rosanna G.
I really wanted to like this restaurant because of it's location and the fact that it is just beautiful inside. I thought the food was average, if not a little bit overcooked. The portions were very small and the prices were very large. The waiter kept getting everything wrong because he was in such a hurry. Hovered like an aircraft. I really enjoy a nice dinner out but like to be full when I leave. There are so many other choices out there for a fabulous Italian meal.
(3)David R.
It is difficult to review a restaurant based only on one dining experience. So, take this review with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, here it is. The restaurant gets big bonus stars for having a very large and nicely presented gluten-free menu. And they had that holy grail of items: the gluten-free pizza! BUT... I ordered one with sausage, artichoke, eggplant, and black olives. As shown in the pictures below, upon arrival there was very little in the way of sausage toppings. As a matter of fact, there were only seven pieces of sausage for the eight slices of pizza! One slice would have to be naked. Also, it really wasn't very warm. I described it as the temperature of a cracker that had sat in a beam of sunshine. However, as any good user of yelp knows, let the restaurant try to fix any problems! In this instance, the waitress gladly retrieved the pizza to warm it up. And she had the kitchen put a substantial quantity of sausage on the pizza. Please refer to the before and after pictures with this review. The before picture is the way this restaurant served the pizza, which is with very little topping. And the after picture is in my view the correct way the pizza should've been served from the start-- with lots of topping. so, while your mileage may vary, my experience was the originally served version of the pizza was laughably free of the toppings, but the corrected version was, well, corrected in terms of sausage. The temperature at the pizza was better, but still far from steaming. I might give it a second chance, and try something else off their gluten-free menu, and while I'm there see if other pizzas look topped.
(3)Matt B.
The girlfriend and I decided to go for Italian last night (Sunday Night) and we have heard very good reviews about here. But as this is the first time going here, the issues we ran into may have been a one time thing. I most likely will give it one more shot in the future. First off, the restaurant is extremely clean and well maintained. Staff was extremely friendly. However, our waiter did forget about our appetizer (the Bruschetta con Prosciutto, which was ok. Big pieces of bread with a few tomatoes and a small piece of prosciutto). And they ended up bringing it out with our dinner, which was a tad odd, but they did take it off the bill so I can't complain too much there. And I ordered the $24 (forgot the name) jumbo shrimp with spicy tomato sauce (not spicy) on linguini. It also had black olives and capers (a few to many in my opinion but it did add a nice flavor). It was an alright meal. I wasn't impressed with it and won't order it again for $24. Maybe for 18-20 dollars I would. The only other thing that was a little odd was that 90s Rock was playing on the radio. I would think something a tad more Italian themed would be better. But it was an average restaurant. Very clean, well maintained, very nice staff, food was ok but a very good drink selection! I will try it again at some point in the future hopefully with better results!
(3)Mark C.
Being a fan of most of the other Francesca restaurants, this one was the worst by far. We had a party of 10 And no one left happy with either the service or food. The servers were clueless as to who ordered what ... Everyone had to study their dish to make sure it was the right one. I had the seafood pasta and it was OK except for the shrimp had a fishy taste. The other person who had the same dish said theirs was not spicy. The chicken dish promised pine nuts but none could be found .. The bus boy was clumsy and unapologetic as he dropped his knife on the lap of one of the diners. The room we were in was by the windows and cold ...just plain bad ... None of us will be returning.
(1)Jon P.
I have eaten at nearly every Francesca's and they are truly one of the most consistently great restaurants around. This location at Bolingbrook promenade is very nice indeed. This Store is large and modern and many people shop in the afternoon then settle down for a great Italian meal here. Service is alway a excellent. Menu changes daily but they stay with what they do best. Appetizers to pizzas , salads to pastas I've yet to have a truly bad experience at any of their locations. The attention to detail shows in every aspect of the experience. What we ate: Sautéed calamari - A Cheese filled tortellini in a vodka cream sauce - A. (Simple but well executed) Scallop and roasted artichoke heart - A- Cooked perfectly but the combo wasn't perfect together. You cannot go wrong with a Francesca's!
(5)Dietrich S.
The attentiveness of the staff and the quality of the food were exceptional. We reserved a spot by the fireplace on a chilly day and the kids were so happy. Also, we were really hungry so the complimentary fresh bread, olive oil, and parmesan cheese held us off until the meal arrived. I tasted all 6 of our meals and the quality was outstanding. I would equate it with something like Claras in Woodridge or Maggianos. Definitely a cut above Olive Garden. I thought an upscale place like this would have small portions, but they were a full adult meal.
(5)Jennifer H.
My husband and I celebrated our anniversary dinner here. The food was good, the service was OK. Our waitress had a large party and spent a lot of her time socializing with an older couple. She checked on us twice, when she brought us our drinks and when we got the check. All and all, we got a reservation quickly from Open Table, was seated quickly, the location of the table wasn't so appealing and the glare from the sunset was blinding but we made the best of it. The food was pretty good and was served quickly. My husband and I enjoyed our cocktails and our main entree was OK--although I don't remember what I got, which isn't necessarily a good sign.
(3)Dawn L.
Begging for service. What does it take to get good service here. Two out of three times were really bad..Came in there to have lunch at three pm. We are regulars here and this will be the last time. Place was practically empty and all of the staff were to busy setting up for a big party than servicing their customers. The bartender was ignoring us and never asked if we wanted anything to eat. He was to preoccupied. WHAT IS UP? We went to Mago's ands enjoyed our lunch and had great service.
(1)Liz L.
Yum...is all I have to say. This is the 2nd time I've been to this location generally I go after work-after meetings with my customer. The waiter which was the same man that we had last time was so super nice! He is very friendly and makes sure to check on us enough without being to overbearing. The food is always was fresh and looks as good as it tastes...I had spaghetti with cold sauce (the sauce was supposed to be cold)... It was delicious so much I wanted to lick my plate. Everyone's food at the table looked so good and they were willing to accommodate the needs and tastes at our table of four... Another wonderful experience and I will be back... Take a friend and check out this wonderful little place!
(5)Law Man L.
The food was still very good, as I have come to expect from all of Francesca's incarnations, but the service was disappointing. It was pretty quiet the night after Valentines Day, but they were understaffed. (Maybe they had everybody work Vday and gave them all the next day off... but we rarely saw our waitress, and then she forgot things she said she was bringing.)
(2)John E.
Well we loved it. For the most part. Right off the bat I noticed it was perfectly lit for a romantic dinner. Food was wonderful--we split the Pollo Arrosto alla Romano after starting out with the calamari fritti. Calamari sauce was unique--had a sweetness to it that really brought out the flavor nicely, balanced well with fresh squeezed lemon and a few dashes of salt. Very nice. The chicken was fabulous--garlic, shallots, rosemary, lemon and olive oil served with roasted potatoes--chicken was moist and tender and the sauce was so good I was tempted to lick the plate clean. I'm seriously serious. Our only gripe was that our waiter disappeared for about 15 minutes at one point--right when we could have used refills and our check. Otherwise we had a great dinner--we'll be back.
(4)Kat D.
Nope--not a fan! Atmosphere was nice but did not make up for the lacking food experience. I prefer Olive Garden, a chain restaurant, over this place
(1)Brandi A.
Food was great! The service was okay. :/ we asked for lemons for our water 5 times before we got it ad it took like 15 minutes before we can actually order our food. Over all I'll give it a 3/5 stars
(3)Loca C.
Twice in the past few months the cooks & quality I have received has been unforgiving, and careless. Both were take out instances where I'm paying $ 15 with on a dish. Once I came home to find they had completely omitted any sauce on my Butera Rigatoni dish. Second time this past weekend, the same pasta dish might as well been served without sauce since it was so dry it was hard to eat. Unbelievable a place charging these kind of prices with a hard burned roll thinks they're getting any more chances from me.
(1)Julia J.
Wow. The service at this restaurant was quite possibly the worst service I have ever received, and that's saying something. Our waitress would take one person's drink order and leave- getting the drinks one-by-one instead of taking everyone's order at once. Food came out at different times- delivered by food runners who basically threw the food in front of people even if it wasn't what they ordered Half the table got their desserts at one point and the other half sat there staring at everyone's melted gelato as if the gelato had already been sitting under hot lamps in the kitchen for a good 10 minutes. Not appetizing. Maybe I would have been a little more forgiving if I hadn't spotted the waitress sitting in the party room (there's glass walls to the room and you have to walk by it to get to the bathrooms) playing on her phone while our table sat serviceless. Maybe I would have been a little more forgiving if the food was better, but I had better pesto the night before from a pre-made mix from Marianos. Oh, and my linguine that the menu boasted was sauteed with shrimp and scallops? Yeah, there were three shrimp and three scallops. The rest of the dish consisted of bland pesto and potatoes, which were way too heavy and should have been left out of a summer pasta dish. Just saying. I've had decent experiences at other Francesca's around the area, but no, I won't be returning to Francesca's at The Promenade. Next!
(1)Alison V.
This place continues to impress me. Last Friday, I really had a taste for gnocchi. But it wasn't on the menu that day. Somehow they were able to make it for me anyway. And I was able to pick any preparation (any of the sauces) on the current menu. So I had my gnocchi alla Siciliana (with spicy tomato sauce, garlic, roasted eggplant) and it was absolutely phenomenal. For dessert, I tried the profiteroles with pistachio gelato and chocolate sauce. They were good, but not mind-blowing like the lemon cheesecake or the carrot cake. I am going to stick with the cakes from now on. 5 Stars all around for the place: SERVICE, FOOD and DECOR are all exceptional.
(5)Robert G.
Good Food but would like to see some of the normal Italian fare. I enjoyed what i had and certainly would like to try a few others but, some picky eaters might have trouble finding what they like. Service was exceptional.
(4)Evan K.
Been to four of the Francesca's restaurants, all have been excellent from food to service. Never had an issue and have always left satisfied.
(5)Clayton H.
The food was pretty good but the service did not match. The server forgot parts of the order, took far too long to return between visits, and was a little court. I can't see this being a place worth returning knowing the options in walking distance.
(3)Vivian Y.
Portions are huge. Had some really good food! Service was a bit slow which is a bit annoying considering it was lunch hour on a Monday. I thought the calamari salad was really gut wrenchingly awesome and NOT low fat but whatever, "I'll diet tomorrow". It's a great portion to share between two or even three people. I also shared the seafood pasta which they were kind enough to split for us and it was still HUGE. So, share, share away at the portions here.
(4)Bob K.
Chicago take on Italian style pizza. I'd recommend just sticking to Chicago pizza, or Italian pizza. I ordered the quattro staggione... the crust was thick and doughy, laden laden with cheeze, no formaggio to be found. prosciutto quality was not so ah great... gristle stuck in teeth not big on my list of prosciutto hallmarks. kalamata olives? opah? the artichoke pieces were fine. the egg on top was a nice touch but not enough to save this heavy leviathan. I purposely made a mistake ordering caprese salad (early March in Chicago) yet they did a good job with what's available. Moretti beer, plus 0.2. not enough to make the experience a 3. One trip = troppo. I think they probably know their base clientele, and probably take pretty good care of them. But If you are not among them, you may wish to mangiare elsewhere.
(2)Ricky R.
Have you ever been to a Francesca's Restaurant? Yeah so have I. I guess it's ok if you like tee shirt wearing wait staff and bus boys who speak Spanish to you. What can I say, food is good and casual but not anything special at all. A little over priced and the specialty drink menu is silly. $9 to $12 for over sugary, under alcoholic cocktails. Do yourself a favor and skip them. If you happen to be shopping at the Promenade and want a casual, efficient lunch go ahead. but if you are looking for a special night out at an Italian restaurant, go elsewhere.
(2)Sue M.
Decided to give the Francesca restaurant group another try after being disappointed by the food and atmosphere at the Oak Lawn location. The Bolingbrook location is comfortable, with stone walls and a waterfall in the entry. The server (5 stars) was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about the mixed drinks, brands of alcohol and the dinner menu. He provided us w/ multiple drink and food suggestions. Tried the quarto stagione pizze which sounds like a mixed up mess, but is an absolutely delicious Italian style pizza (not Chicago style) The presentation of the pizza was artful, w/egg a coddled in the center adding an extra layer of flavor. The drinks were well mixed w/ generous pour. The only negative was that they do not stock Stolichnaya Vodka. Settled for Chopin, also upon speaking w/our server he provided a tasting of Tito's Nice touch: )
(4)Diane H.
Service gets one star. My cousin and I stopped in for lunch yesterday and waited five minutes to be seated because no one was at the hostess station. That sort of set the tone for crappy, slow service which is unacceptable in a nearly empty restaurant. The menu is very confusing with both handwritten items with descriptions and printed items without. I had a question about an item that had no description and the waiter acted like he had no idea what I was talking about.... The bread with EVOO and parm is really tasty. We also had bruschetta which was good and a chopped salad that supposedly had artichokes in it but I only saw one leaf. The salad was okay but nothing to rave about. I would consider going back for dinner and trying something more substantial but probably not going back for lunch.
(3)Diaz M.
For Starters: I had a Coconut Rum w/ Pineapple Juice garnished with a Lime...TOPS! I ordered 2 of them. I had the Fruti di mari diabola. Translation: Fruit of the sea, spicy. Everything tasted fresh, right down to the mussels, shrimp, calamari, scallops and garlic. The marinara sauce had perfect flavor, fresh basil, garlic, and oregano with white wine. The pasta was perfectly cooked the way I like it, AL-DENTE!. I give it a 4 of 5. And I do recommend coming to this place, the service was amazing, just aske for michelle the waitress! Peace and Buon Appetito!
(4)Jade P.
I usually go to the one in Naperville and La Grange, which are always AMAZING, but I came here for lunch and just did not get what I was expecting. First, our waiter barely spoke English. Because of this our order was messed up and she didn't understand when we asked allergy questions. Second, the food was not that great. I always get the same thing at Francesca's when they have it, a seafood linguine. Its meant to be spicy and, obviously, made with linguine. Instead I got angel hair pasta with a very bland flavor. I told our waitress but she didn't understand. I asked for the manager and she said okay but no one ever came back. Third, we asked for separate checks and our waitress didn't understand so she spoke to a bus boy in her native tongue and he told us that they can not do that because the system doesn't allow them to. A brand new system in this day of age doesn't allow you to separate checks? So again I asked if I could speak to a manager and the bus boy told me the manager was out. Needless to say the meal was very disappointing and I won't be coming back to this Francesca's. I gave it 2 stars because my experiences at the other ones have been MUCH better. Better to go to Mago or Ted's right next to it.
(2)Kim B.
You can never go wrong with Italian Food. Waiter was excellent, very attentive. When my husband drink glass was empty, he was at the table before he could put the glass down to see if he wanted another (I'm the designated driver in this union) Food was good. You must stop here after shopping or the movies or just because it's Date Night!
(5)Chris B.
Excellent lunch menu. Pot roast sandwich and caprese sandwich (about $10 each) are awesome. Sandwiches come with salad or fries. Pizza was great. Check the specials on the web site, they are different for each location. This location had $5 pizza specials for lunch on Saturday. The pizzas are big enough for two. The lunch menu runs all the way until 4pm. Lava cake was delicious. The service was excellent. I will definitely go back to try some of the different menu items.
(4)C T.
Francesca's has been one of my favorite Italian restaurants. I think that the one in Naperville is better in food, especially pizzas. This one in Bolingbrook is nicer in room spacing. It has more space between tables and it also has fireplace, which I love. Pastas are very good. I like their tiramisu, too.
(4)Lindsay M.
I'm not a huge Italian fan.. I know, I know.. it's insane. However, I had a race to carb load for and went to Francesca's and sat on the patio. The patio was snug and had a screaming baby on it.. but once the family left it was pretty relaxing and enjoyable. From the start, I was really disappointed with the menu and the selection. It was super duper tiny and nothing seemed appealing. However, I ended up finding a salad and pasta dish that would do the job. The salad was really good.. and the past was just ok. There was barely any meat in it and was just kinda blah. I felt a little perturbed on this place because the setting is so fancy but the actually product and service was just A-OK. I don't think I would go back.
(3)Sandi P.
Meh, I've had better Italian food elsewhere, especially for these prices. Went for a business dinner so wasn't picking up the tab but still....quality definitely didn't meet price. Lobster bisque is pretty decent, although it could have been served hotter (a pet peeve of mine). I ordered pasta with spicy marinara with roasted eggplant. They definitely left out the spice, it was very bland. No hint of either spice or herbsneigh colleagues pasta with cream sauce, ham and peas was pretty bland also. service was pretty slow I thought, but we were a group of 10. Desserts seem to be a strong point here. I had a hard time deciding but went with the apple tart with a delicious cinnamon gelato. The creme brûlée and the cheesecake loked equally appetizing. If you find yourself at the Promenade I would recommend some other dining spot such as Gordon Biersch for the price.
(3)Mike G.
The menu was very limited. I wanted manicotti so I went to an italian restaurant and the waitress didn't know what manicotti was.?.?.?. Food was brought out while we still had our salads. The salad had way to much vinegar and oil. My dinner had a fancy name but basically was the same thing I make at home, nothing special to it considering I paid $19. And on a side note the menu was hand written. Wife tells me that's the trendy thing but I couldn't read the chicken scratch that was used
(1)Steven M.
This is my fav Francesca's. We were seated in the last booth in the front, so we could look out the window. Now the only problem with this is the last booth doesn't have a partition on one side of it. So when the servers gathered to yak about how terrible their jobs were. I would hear everything as they were right behind me. Another awkward thing was when they served me or filled my water glass, it was from behind my head? Not to be rude, but WTH! The capriccio was a delight. I love that raw sirloin! Again with the bread. I think I went thru a loaf and a half with the olive oil, grated cheese and pepper. I also ordered the broiled chops plopped on top of a bed of garlic mashed. They were as big as the plate and just as tasty. Yes, I was doing the happy dance in my seat. I cleaned my plate and that of everyone around me. That's what you get when your first toy is a garbage disposal!
(4)Magda M.
Tried to give them a chance more than once- never works for me. Same as Francesca's on 95th- food ok, staff either ok or plainly horrible.
(2)Alexa B.
This was my first dining experience at Francesca's. Several of my associates suggested it so we went there for lunch for my birthday celebration. The bread was great, our waiter was extremely courteous and I don't even think I was able to drink my whole glass of tea before he was there to refill it. They brought a little birthday surprise which we all enjoyed. I would highly recommend and will most certainly be returning.
(4)Chris L.
Just like all the other Francesca's restaurants, this one delivers the goods. The menu changes frequently and there is always something for everyone. There is even a stuffed pork dish that they will make that is not on the menu. Anyway, like the other locations, the service is good and consistent, which mirrors the food quality. Can't find anything to complain about here.
(4)Sade C.
Had lunch at Francesca's last month with a few friends. It was rainy & blah outside, so I ordered hot chocolate. It was tasty & our server refilled my mug at no extra charge. For my meal, I ordered the special - for about $15 I got soup & bruschetta, tilapia w/shrimp & spinach as my entrée, & dessert (choice of tiramisu or a profiterole). My fish could've used more salt, but overall I had a nice lunch & refuge from the rain at Francesca's. I'd return.
(3)Lisa G.
After many recommendations for the entire Francesca's franchise, we went there for a girl's night. The overall experience was nice. I loved the atmosphere, warm and cozy by the fire. Our waitress was very patient with us, as my friends and I chit chatted before ordering. The wine recommendation was great. The food was good, but it didn't have the home made feel. While it's not my favorite Italian restaurant, I would go back.
(3)Diane C.
This is one of my favorite places. I've been here over a dozen times and have always been satisfied. The food choices change, and as a vegetarian, formerly a vegan, I've always been able to find something to suit my needs. The food is fresh, different, and well priced. Service is excellent, and drinks are fantastic.
(4)Gigi G.
I don't know bout these other people, rating this restaurant less than 5 stars???? Are you freakin kidding me? Nope, I didn't get paid to give them 5 stars... But this restaurant rocks... Two or three years ago... This place used to be called Woodlands... We know the chef, sous chef and the chef's wife... So, we were there often... Then, they closed... And re-opened a year after, I think... As Francesca's... Me and my bf were sad that woodlands closed... So, we didn't bother with the " New place" But God is good... new years eve... Our prior plan didn't go thru... So, we had to have a last minute... Where to go for dinner, before going to a friends party kinda thing..... Went to francesca's because our friend lives in bollingbrook..... OmG...we were totally blown away... First off, we didn't have reservation... And this place was B-U-S-Y..... However... The very nice staff, found a corner table upstairs were the bar was... Yes.... Yes.. Yes.... We were greeted by this sincere cheerful waitress, her name is Olivia.... She was taking her time, explaining their menu, drinks, knowing its our first time... Cool thing about this restaurant is they change their menu every 2 weeks.. I definitely dig that... For appetizer...we got their mussels... Let me tell u... It's to die for.... The sauce was just soooo refreshing, sweet and spicy at the same time.... Yummy... We know the mussel is fresh coz it so soft and juicy... My bf ordered a fish dish (29.99)... Which was really flavorful and melt in your mouth kinda dish... I ordered half a seafood pasta dish... And when they brought it out... I was like... God damn... That's half?????? It's humongous...... Really good pasta, with huge shrimps and scallops... As I was eating... I was updating my facebook.... Checked in at Francesca's in bollingbrook.... And francesca's was giving away desserts for cutomers checked in.... I was like... Heck yeah, thats what I'm talking about.... So I ordered this chocolate dessert... Sorry, I didn't get the name... But it was truly delectable..... Price was definitely reasonable for a nice sit down restaurant..... Now mind u, my bf is half Italian and half African American... Yes... He is gorgeous and hott, ANYWAYS, aside from being italian... He went to cooking school.... So he is a good cook.... Yes, he has it all... My point is, he enjoyed the food and ambiance at Francesca's as well... We will definitely check out their next menu in a week or so....
(5)Ken S.
Good service We went for a late lunch early dinner on a Sunday (3pm) Still had lunch menu, but the portions are great. We beat the crowd for sure. Salmon was cooked just right, 2 in our group had chicken parm...it was tender with great flavor.
(4)Joseph D.
Great Italian food, personal service, and the menu is updated daily. Three out of four in my party chose very custom menu orders, and we asked for them simply to create a dish (from a previous menu) using scallops and vegetables. The waiter had no problem with our "picky" choices, and the custom scallops dinner was excellent. Highly recommended.
(4)LOIS B.
Soooooooooo, abundanza, this place is NOT. The menu is EXTREMELY limited with not a meatball or piece of sausage in sight. The sauce left a funny taste in my mouth. I was shocked to see some of the sister restaurants because they are more Italian than this place. The carry out menu is much more extensive and Italian. I did not check the catering menu, but I will not be dining IN again.
(1)Tom H.
My wife and I came here for Valentine's Day. I made reservations weeks ahead of time, so we were seated promptly (good things I did, too, because there was a line out the door!). My only gripe is that we were seated near the doors. Normally not a terrible thing, but for some reason everyone who was waiting for a table found it necessary to not only form a single-file line, but hold all of the doors open in doing so--straight outside! Needless to say...it was chilly! The service was terrific. I'm sure they were in a rush to turn tables as quickly as possible, but we didn't feel rushed (very important difference to note). We received our food promptly. As a Valentine's Day special, they had heart-shaped ravioli. All in all, can't complain really. The food was delicious, the service was quick, the atmosphere was relaxing, the decor was tasteful, and the wait staff was attentive. I don't know why people complain about a "limited" menu. I thought the menu was prefect. I don't like to be overwhelmed with choices. This isn't a short-order diner, after all! We will come back, I'm sure...but next time, we'll request a table further inside the restaurant, maybe on a warmer day!
(4)J T.
Went to Francesca's at the Promenade with my friend and was disappointed. First let say that the service was great. The atmosphere was nice. I have been to other Francesca's so I was sort of familiar. My friend and I shared plates. We had a tomato, goat cheese, balsamic appetizer which was great. Then we had a salad of some sort which was fine. Last we shared a 25 dollar fish dish that had very little flavor. We were quite surprised. We both added salt and pepper. The server asked us how it was and we told her honestly. She offered to give us another dish but we had eaten so much we felt bad and told her it was fine. When we got the bill she took it off without us asking which was really nice of her. I feel like for the prices that they charge the food should be really great. Due to the great service and their effort to try to make it right I will go back.
(2)Bobby F.
Went back a little more than a year later. Great service, but I got food poisoning from something I ate and spent the whole night in the bathroom and half of the next day. Never again.
(2)Rich R.
Italian-American food is kind of like American-Chinese food: it's hard to screw it up. It takes a lot of work to either make it excellent or bad, and 'good' is the standard. I would rate this place as 'good+'. The location and ambiance are great. The entry is upscale. The t- shirted waitstaff and flimsy menu is not. There is a warm fire in the center of the room making for a cozy winter experience. The menu has a limited number of entrees, but all are more interesting than plain lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs. The food is always with large portions and pleasing presentation. Good value for an average $15 entree. House wines are decent. The service is quick and friendly, although they seem to forget you when the meal is over and you'd like a second cup of coffee. All things considered it's a B to B+ experience. There is certainly better Italian food in the region but it works as a good meet up spot or date spot.
(3)Don B.
Small menu, but the food was good. Good service, there was a 30 minute wait on a Saturday night but we found a nice table at the bar and sat right away. All in all, I'd go again but not my first choice in the area.
(3)Erin L.
Other reviewers have said that they miss meatballs and red sauce but the food here is traditional food from Northern Italy, not Southern Italy. I had the veal polenta dish and it was amazing. $29 was a bit steep but veal is expensive and it was soooo good! My mom had the white fish with capers, shrimp, spinach....delish ($21)! We shared cinnamon gelato for dessert ($5.50) - it was more like ice cream instead of gelato but it was creamy and rich and went right to my thighs! Great service and a cozy atmosphere with a fireplace and exposed bricks! Minus a star for vacuuming while we were eating. I mean, come on!
(4)bert s.
We had a large party. Service was prompt, and very attentive. Food was fantastic. Highly recommed the pase blanco paesano. The pork chop dish looked great, but enormous. Hey, it's Italiano... bring an appetite.
(4)Meg S.
Went here for my mom's bday this past year. She wanted to go somewhere we'd never been and had heard of this place from friends. I think it was a nice looking place but the food was mediocre. Also, we were seated by the bathroom area and it smelled like sewage or gas.... Not very appetizing. We are the types of people that don't complain but we skipped out on dessert just to get out of there. Probably won't ever go back since I wasn't that impressed.
(2)Patty S.
I've been to the Francesca's in Forest Park and LaGrange and this one didn't seem to live up to their sister establishments. I went here for dinner and was surprised with the temperature of my meal. I ordered the special salad to start with (this was actually delicious and made perfectly). I've had their Ravioli (at their other locations) and it is always fantastic! Unfortunately, this ravioli was not as good as I hoped. For starters, the menu stated that it would come with Mozzarella cheese, instead it was served with chunks of ricotta cheese "dumped" on top of the ravioli. I scraped it all off. Secondly, it was luke-warm. How long was it sitting there before it was served? The house red tasted like it was sitting for 3days behind the bar. I've always enjoyed Francesca's gelato, so I ordered the Apple Crisp with Cinnamon geltao. The gelato was fantastic! The apple crisp, however, was not even warm in the slightest degree. It was tough to cut and the apples were hard. I felt like they ran over to Mejier across the street and bought a dessert out of the frozen section, defrosted it and plopped some gelato on it.
(2)Michelle L.
Delicious! I came here when visiting my boyfriend's family and was pleasantly surprised by how authentic it was! They had a huge menu with so many great pasta and seafood and meat option! They also have a special menu that rotates throughout the year and has amazing options!
(5)JD M.
I took a client here today, and I really liked it. The prices were reasonable, and the service was fast. Everything came immediately and was fantastic. I highly recommend this. Bolingbrook is sort of a wasteland of fast food garbage, this place stands out. Our food was very good, the coffee was good, liked it all. Fireplace, water features, nice floor.
(4)Michelle I.
After returning back here last night I can say it was much, much better! All the bus boys constantly walking around our table did make me nervous! It was a nice touch that they'd wipe down your table from the crumbs and such but please leave us alone!! I think they came by for a complete wipe down 3-4 times? My Mom had a little pizza which was good except the goat cheese was too strong on there, leave that off and it'll be fab! And my Rigatoni was great! Very yummy! We split a dessert of profiteroles and pistachio ice cream which was to die for! Our server was great and very sweet! The decor is very lovely and relaxing. I would recommend!!
(4)Manda A.
They have really good roasted chicken. Avoid the pizza with the egg on top -- I ordered it unknowingly and was greeted with a raw egg on top, it made the whole thing slimy and nearly inedible. The chocolate martini here is outrageously good. Raw egg pizza not withstanding, this restaurant is pretty decent. You will spend, but I think it's worth it.
(3)Scott N.
I've eaten here before and have enjoyed there food so it pains me to write this review. We stopped by there for lunch today and I really had a appetite for a mushroom risotto. Although we were going during the normal slower time for lunch, we found the restaurant crowded due to the x-mas shopping at the Promenade. I had reservations but we decided to get seated qucikly in the bar area where the high-back seats were excellent. We were quickly served bread and butter which I found about average for an Italian restaurant, nothing to write home about. We both ordered clam chowder soup which was also OK. The problem came when I deviated from the menu and asked the waiter if I could have a wild mushroom risotto. The risotto was well under- cooked and although the risotto had some cut-up mushrooms in it, there was little mushroom taste to it. I should not have probably deviated from the menu since the on-duty chef was unprepared to make this dish. I've eaten a few times at the Francesca's on 59 in Naperville and have always been impressed so this was a disappointment. I'll probably go back again to make sure it wasn't just a bad day for the chef.
(2)Mokena R.
Never had a bad meal here. Menu always changes with new and exciting dishes. Even if you don't like the ingredients in the dish, Francesca's makes you fall in love with them.
(5)Tim K.
The latest edition, I believe, in the Mia Francesca chain is Francesca's at The Promenade in Bolingbrook. The interior is light and pleasant with light stone and mahogany furniture. The menu is the same as other Francesca's. We ordered the Pollo Romana and a meatball sandwich. The chicken dish was very good. It was like it used to be at the other two Francesca's in the area. Portion size was good. The sauce was not watery and the potatoes tasted fresh. This is the dish we use to compare different stores in this chain. The meatball sandwich was fair. Our server never asked if everything was OK after the food was served. Dirty plates sat on our table until the end of the meal. The only thing we saw the busser do was to bring bread and water to tables. He walked by our table several times and just looked at the empty plates.
(3)Amanda W.
Went on a Tuesday night with family. Barely greeted. Waiter did not seem to know the menu, which was jumbled and limited. Waiter got the appetizer wrong - and then we had to flag him down to get the correct one. Food was not great- salad was swimming in dressing to the point that I gave up trying to eat it. Waiter brought a 2nd beer without being asked for one. It was questioned and he walked away. Bill came and was left waiting to be picked up for about 20 minutes. The bus boy was the most helpful person of the night.
(1)William K.
Francesca's in Bolingbrook... it's like Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett, but there it is. It's really Francesca's there... and it's 5-star food and service. I went on a Tuesday to celebrate the 39th of an extremely attractive young lady (thank you very much). Hey, you only get to celebrate your 39th once (wink), so it was a special occasion. Francesca's did her part with Tuesday being 1/2 off bottle of wine night. YOW! I'm not going into appetizer/dinner detail... it's Francesca's, pretty much just like in Chicago or Naperville or whatever. It's AMAZING! C'mon. The Bolingbrook location has a very nice decor (what restaurant used to be here, I can't even remember), and I'd say it's a little more relaxed than Naperville (surprise). Go Tuesday, and say "Hey" if you see me. If 1/2 off a bottle of wine is a great deal, then 1/2 off 2 bottles is like twice as good. glug glug... yow, bill
(5)Ben M.
Great staff and food .the best lemon chicken I have ever had .love this place.the guy with the glasses on an fancy watch is so helpfully and kind
(5)Holly K.
As a busy mom, I'm a huge fan of 'family friendly' restaurants that are serving good, healthy food to kids. Most restaurants think chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers and mac 'n cheese is good 'quality' kid food...it's not. I cannot speak highly enough about Francesca's and here's why: After yet another night of little sleep we ventured out for dinner. We ended up at Francesca's on accident. We arrived, didn't have to wait and the hostess was smart enough to put us near the kitchen...where it's moderately noisy and away from all the 'romantic couples'. Our service was prompt and accurate. I've never had my son's dinner arrive before he was bored with the crayons...and it did here. Grilled chicken breast and steamed (not overcooked) broccoli. Fantastic. Our adult entrees came out not long after. Fresh, hot and exactly what we ordered. (I ordered off the menu, which they were more than willing to accommodate.) Overall, this place is wonderful. We've been back several times now. They offer some great specials too: Monday's kids eat free. Friday appetizers are half price from 3-6 p.m., if you're out shopping. Sunday A HUGE bowl of spaghetti and meatballs for $10. (I'm sure there is more specials too.) This place is definitely worth checking out.
(5)Joe L.
Delicious. Been here before, but always amazing. I had the spaghetti alla assunta, basically spaghetti with a tomato cream sauce, spinach, and scallops. The scallops were done just right, and the sauce topped it off. We had some kind of an apple Carmel tart for dessert which was good, and a traditional cannoli with ricotta, pistachios and drizzled with chocolate. The cannoli was amazing. Our server, Melanie, was outstanding. Very attentive, easy to talk to, and fast. I was impressed. Overall, a great dinner experience.
(5)Charles J.
My wife who had a particular palate and is part Italian says this is the best Italian meal she's ever had. And I checked in on Facebook and got a free dessert. This is LEGIT Italian food, the bread the menu that changes every two weeks. A great deal for the $$$$ and get the lemonade it's great too.
(5)Rob C.
I have to admit bias here, I am a longtime fan of the Francesca's chain. That said, this site is interesting in that the decor is a little different - more modern ... and generic - than the other sites. Don't get me wrong, its not unpleasant. The main room is broken up into different sections by a raised bar area that sits in the middle. As far as the food goes, the pasta dish I had was reliably good. Our calamari appetizer was not great, but I think that was an abberation. Overall I would come back, and its nice to have another option out here in the suburban wastelands.
(4)Michelle L.
Finally, a fabulous restaurant in the SW suburbs! The Francesca chain has always been one of my favorites - from Mia Francesca's in Lakeview to La Sorella Di Francesa's in Naperville, I have never been disappointed in the food or ambience. This new Francesca's meets all of my expectations - great food, great location, great service, and all of the delicious menu choices that change daily. I am SO happy to have Francesca's at the Promenade, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys great Italian food and lots of creative, delicious menu choices... Plus, they have drink specials on certain week nights, and their prices are reasonable given the large portions and variety of dishes. This place is definitely worth an evening out, even in the current economy. HIGHLY recommended!
(5)Brendan J.
I've been to Francesca's twice in the last month. The food is very good, but it is very standard for an Italian restaurant. Both times I visited I made reservations ahead of time and was seated right away, which is always a plus. Both times, however, I felt VERY rushed to get out of there. When I go out to eat, I like to take my time, have cocktails, talk a lot, and enjoy what is happening at my table and around me. I felt like I was not able to do this at Francesca's. The check was dropped, card swiped, and picked up, before I was even a quarter of the way threw the glass of wine I was drinking. I feel like they just wanted to get us out of there so that they could get the next table. I probably will be back for a quick dinner because the food was good, but if I am looking to spend a good amount of money on drinks and food, there are much better places that will not rush you out the door.
(3)Robyn W.
We walked in with a party of 8 at 5p on a Saturday without a reservation. They were VERY accommodating. Fabulous service, food and prices! Loved the Neopalotani (sp?) pizza. Friends said the gnocchi was awesome. All the desserts rocked. The prosciutto appetizer was a big hit too. Cannot remember what else was served in our group, but everyone loved it!
(5)Les K.
Maybe the worst chain restaurant in my opinion is TGI Friday's. It's loud, obnoxious and has shitty food. This visit was TGI Fridays with great food. Walking in the lobby I was at first impressed with the decor. Seemed warm and inviting. Walking out into the restaurant however it became immediately clear I wasn't going to like this. It was LOUD. Not just a little loud either... it sounded like a grade school cafeteria. It wasn't helped by the tiled floors which seemed to catch the sound and echo it all over the vast room. (And OH GOD, it has a sports bar!) We sat down and suddenly a swarm of men descended on us, tossing menus in front of us, filling our glasses so fast that only most of the water landed in the glass. The menu was hand-written on one sheet, hard to read and made harder to read since the bus boy poured water all over mine and didn't get me another. Had to wait for my wife to finish with hers. I ordered, from the incredibly limited menu, a Caesar salad and the scallops. She ordered the rolled stuffed pork, daughter ordered Pasta Florentine. DId I mention this place was loud? I did, but I cannot emphasis this enough. I could not hear my wife across the table, and any conversation we DID have was constantly interrupted by the buzzing around of the wait staff, filling water, bread, etc. The actually RAN around in some cases. It was MANIC and very off putting. My dinner was superb. Rich but not too rich. The pork was amazingly good what little I had when my wife shared. The salad was wilted a bit... close to sending back. Flavor was fine as how can one screw up a Caesar salad? (See my review from Pheasant Run OMG) Had a glass of Martini Cabernet. Nine bucks is a fair price, but not for the paltry amount they give you. Bet it was 3-4 ounces. Waitress was nice but what did she do? Could hardly get to our table because of the buzzing. Gave menu, took order, asked how everything was, gave check. Meh. Bottom line: So okay, really good food at average prices (20 buck entres) in a place that's uncomfortable to eat. I need a little more intimacy at those prices. Not much more mind you, I just don't like paying 100 bucks to eat in an airline engine test facility that's filled with gnats, then being given the impression they want your table for the next group. Would I go back? Not to this one.
(3)Dennis B.
Food was good. Brought my entree while I was still eating my salad. Not a class move especially since the place was not that crowded. A bit pricy for what you get. There is better food at better prices out there.
(2)Elton R.
Our group of 9 stopped in for lunch on a Thursday. Very nice decor and the hostess was very friendly. We were sat promptly and the server was great. My 2 star rating is for the food quality. I had a chicken dish that was presented well, the sauce was very good but the chicken was way overlooked and very tough with little flavor. Chicken should not be that difficult for a restaurant of this level. Doubt I would try again.
(2)Sharla B.
My husband and I went last night... we were scouting for a place to host my sister's graduation party. The food was OK, the service was less than great. The service was sloooow - we sat for 10-15 minutes before our server even came with menus, and about that long with empty drinks during the course of the meal. At the end of the meal our food was wrapped and was literally tossed on our tables as the server walked passed our table. Mine landed on it's side and sauce oozed out into the bag. The bread, once we got it, was very good! Our meal, was a little blah - really nothing special. DH commented that his roasted chicken tasted very cafeteria-style. Bummer. I had the linguine with scallops - it was OK. The scallops were cooked very well.
(2)Wendy F.
We tried this place out last week. It's close to home for us and we have been to other Francesca's (mainly the Little Italy location) before. The atmosphere is great and spacious. I don't like restaurants that crowd tables into small spaces. The service was terrific - extremely attentive. We had the Insalata Caprese as an appetizer and had the special Lentil and Sausage soup, which was excellent. For our entrees, I had a wonderful pumpkin-stuffed ravioli dish. I can't recall what my husband had - but he really liked his, too. We happened to be there on a Tuesday, so it was 1/2 price bottles of wine. That was a nice plus! The food was great - but the highlight was definitely the attentive and friendly staff!
(5)Tee S.
I went to Francesca's for lunch today with 8 other people to celebrate the birthday of a friend. I'd never been to a Francesca's before. This is a great place for those long, extended celebration lunches. Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. Francesca's has very large, not-quite-floor-to-ceiling windows, and since it was a sunny day the place was bright and we were able to read the menu fine, but I can see how this would change when it gets dark out. We ordered a variety of appetizers, salads and entrees, and everything was quite good. The lobster bisque was the 2nd best I've had in the Chicagoland area (1st place goes to Nick's Fishmarket). The flavor of the broth was great but the lobster pieces were really, really tiny. I'm not asking for golf ball size lobster hunks here; I'd just like something I could chew once or twice before swallowing it. My Chicken Caesar salad was good, but the dressing was a bit understated and could have used a more flavor. There were generous shavings of Parm. cheese, and lots of well-seasoned chicken that helped offset the dressing. I'm not normally a fan of freshly-ground pepper on my salads, but it helped this time. I had a very generous serving of raspberry sorbetto for dessert - it's a two-scooper with bits of real raspberries in it and quite tastey, so be sure to save room. Bottom line: great homemade taste that's reasonably priced. They allow you to dine in true Italian fashion - you're not rushed out the door the minute your last bite hits your mouth. Go with an open mind that your favorite Italian dish may not be on the menu and you should be fine.
(4)Janice T.
I went to Francesca's for lunch with a friend. We made reservations but it wasn't too crowded at 11:45 a.m. I've been to the Francesca's restaurant in Naperville, so I knew the food would be good. I like the atmosphere in Bolingbrook because you have a lot of space so you're not listening to your neighbor's conversation. We both had the prix fixe lunch for $15 and it was amazing. We started off with minestrone soup and bruschetta. They also gave us warm bread with parmesan cheese and olive oil for dipping. We got to choose our entree (anything on the menu). I had the salmon with mushrooms -- delicious. For dessert, I had the tiramisu and my friend had the cream puff with pistachio ice cream. I thought I didn't have room for dessert, but somehow I finished my plate. We will definitely be returning. The service was wonderful -- refilling our water glasses and checking how everything is. The prix fixe menu is definitely the way to go and enjoy a wonderful lunch.
(5)Joanne S.
i have to disagree with the last reviewer. This probably is one of the better Francesca locations. If it was meatballs or sausage she was looking for, menus are clearly listed outside as with most Italian restaurants. Sunday's have a spaghetti and meatballs dinner special. I found the food especially pleasing. There was an exceptional appetizer with lentil, spinach and warmed goat cheese that melted in my mouth and wanting more. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I've been here three times already and also to note they are very kid friendly.
(3)Patricia B.
We had lunch recently at Francesca. Our server came promptly - it was not very crowded - and the bus boys were efficient and attentive - the server, however, had long lapses between coming back to our table and that was a definite lapse. As a longtime fan of the original Mia Francesca on Clark Street, sad to say this experience did not measure up in terms of service or quality. The soups were good but not hot when served. The place was not at all crowded on this Sunday afternoon so that was surprising. The pizza we shared was also good - and not served warm. How hard can that be?? Anyway, I'm sticking to Clark Street.
(2)Mary Ann S.
My husband and I went here on a Friday around 5:00 p.m. We were immediately seated. Nice crusty bread brought to our table along with a plate of Parmesan. Poured the olive oil over the cheese and I was in heaven. Ordered the risotto appetizer (1/2 price appetizers on Fridays from 3 pm to 6 pm). This risotto was amazing. I highly recommend it.. I had the Insalata alla Francesca as my main dish and I though it was very good for a salad. My husband had one of the Rigatoni dishes. Huge portion and also excellent (he let me taste it!) I would have loved to try their desserts, but I had no room. We had a great waitress, too. Excellent service! Can't wait to go back!
(5)JoAnne P.
I have been to Francesca's Fortunato in the past. I realize the menu always changes, not sure if it is daily or weekly. I was at the Bolingbrook location Thursday, May 20th. Looking over the menu, having a taste for pasta, it seemed as if all the dishes were the same. Everything was with only a red sauce. Light tomato sauce, tomato basil sauce, etc. The only difference was the pasta shape and the vegetables varied. It pretty much all tasted the same, having tasted my sisters and my own. I was looking more for a white cream sauce base. The portions were not much for the price compared to other Italian restaurants. I also had the cesar salad which was topped with slices of roasted red peppers, served in this large square plate which the salad looked totally lost on. It seems as if the portions vary from location, even the preporation of certain dishes. The service was OK, but the server failed to ask if we needed refills with our drinks.
(2)