I've been coming here on Monday or Tuesdays almost every week for several months and I can't believe I've forgotten to write a review for this place. 1/2 price bottle of wines on Mondays, 1/2 price glasses of wine on Tuesday are definitely the draw but its the food and the service that brings me back. Cozy atmosphere, delicious wood burned pizza in several varieties or make your own. Polenta fries with garlic aioli are a staple for anyone's diet. I prefer to sit at the bar as the bartenders are a bit more attentive then the regular wait staff at the tables.
(4)
Leilo P.
I walked into Frasca expecting something completely different. I searched for "pasta" in the area and it brought up Frasca... to my sadness there was no pasta, there was however the best Bloody Mary I've had in a long time! This place was busy with brunch-goers and families. It's not a huge place so we waited 30 minutes even though there were empty tables. I suggest that they have a conference with the host and hostesses because they all looked lost and overwhelmed with the waiting crowd. The bartender was very nice even though there was a large crowd! The bloody mary is spicy and comes with a small coors light for $8, I think that's a great deal! I only needed two to call it a morning. I had their Farmer's Table which included options of bruschetta, cheeses, and meets. I went with the brie and apple bruschetta, sheep's milk cheese and two types of salami. I sat back and enjoyed my Sunday morning like I was on a vacation. I also had the doughnuts which are huge and could feed 4 happily! The service was impeccable and it was fairly priced - four drinks, a Farmer's Table, and doughnuts came out to $60. I will definitely be going back for the pizza with a group, but hopefully I won't have to unnecessarily wait for a table!
(3)
Mandi G.
I've been to Frasca countless times for a few glasses of wine and a pizza. However, I just recently tried their brunch and I am kicking myself for not trying that sooner. The food is so good. My name is Mandi and I am a hash brown junkie. Dare I say, these hash browns are perfection. Italian seasoned with a touch of parmesan, they are OUTFUCKINGSTANDING. Speaking of the f-word...it's slightly annoying to be around so many kids when you are trying to get crunk on your mimosas. But that is to be expected with the neighborhood. Lots and LOTS of yuppie families. So, it was packed, loud and service was a little slow. It's hard to blame a place for being too popular, but just keep those things in mind. Go for the mimosas, stay for the hashbrowns. (That is literally what I did, as I had to order a second side of them to share with my brunch dates)
(4)
Emily H.
Bottomless mimosas. Got your attention, did I? Get on board the Sunday Brunch train at Frasca! Aside from the ping-pong-tiddly-yong of bottomless mimosas, they have succulent and savory omelets, gourmet pizzas, bloody brilliant Bloody Marys, and $3 draft beers in case you need a hair of the dog that bit you. Also, the very next day (Monday) you can continue the party with half off bottles of wine! Try that alluringly expensive riesling, it's ok, it's half off! The only drawbacks are the often-shouting Roscoe Villagers and their equally shouty children.
(4)
Ashley C.
This place is awesome for both brunch & dinner, has great customer service, and are super dog friendly. For brunch I'd recommend their breakfast pizza or benedict which is always changes. Dinner definitely do the bruschetta or cheeses as a starter. I've had both their pizzas and salmon which is both great. Plus they have wine flights which is awesome.
(5)
Amanda C.
I've been listening to a friend rave about this place literally for YEARS- finally went and now I see why! Frasca is a great place to go with a group of girls or on a date (pretty much the only two types of people I saw in the place). It does get loud but that adds to the lively atmosphere. It's cute and contemporary, and has a manageable menu that's not too big. Mondays are 1/2 price bottles of wine- major plus for a girl's night. We started with bruschetta- I loved that this was made on bread and not toast that is hard and detracts from the flavor of the toppings. They have several unique varieties and we tried 3- the roasted red pepper and goat cheese was my favorite. Some of us split salads (they have the Wrightwood salad here that I love from Dunlay's- must be the same owners?) which they were very accomodating in doing, and pizzas. All of the pizzas looked amazing and are the thin authentic Italian kind. They also have a large bar area if you're just stopping in for drinks. Would love to come back.
(4)
Heidi S.
This place is quickly becoming our neighborhood favorite. Nice wine list, good pizza, and really nice, fresh, al dente pastas. At Christmas time, the place had a nice festive decoration, and the brickwork and ceilings give it a really great cozy atmosphere, especially in winter! A few weeks ago, the risotto of the day was asparagus and goat cheese, which was really fantastic. This is the type of place where you keep coming back and have a hard time trying something new because whatever you had last time was just so delicious.
(4)
Emily Z.
Gorgeous modern restaurant, good service, awesome patio, steps from the train and AMAZING pizza !! Went with two lovely ladies on wednesday - buy one get one free night! We split the Margherita and Roasted Potato Pizza and an Infamous Wrightwood Salad, and all were amazing! We left full and each had two peices for lunch the next day, and at $10 each I was still able to contribute to my 'Chicago Winters are long and I'll need a vacation' fund. I also went for brunch recently and was not as impressed as I was with their pizzas. We had the breakfast pizza topped with cheese, sausage and three over easy eggs and the dongoughts; both were okay but neither will have me running back. The sandwiches that were running past us looked great though !
(5)
Molly R.
Great food, great wine! 1/2 off wine on Tuesdays :) We tried a few different things and all were good. I recommend the Brussel Sprout n Cauliflower salad (my fave), the Wrightwood salad, and the pizza.
(5)
Steven M.
Fresh, fresh, fresh! I was walking by and I had a good feeling about this place. We sat outside and were approched immediately. I got an iced tea and the capone pizza. Mozzarella, sausage with fennel seeds and mots on top. All baked in a natural wood pizza oven. It was delicious. I have to laugh because I can't wait to go back and I was just there. I want to bring all my friends to this little jem. The service was exceptional for being seated outside. Love it.
(5)
Monica W.
People who know me, know that I am a creature of a habit. I will find something I like and return again and again. Frasca is solid all around. It is delicious, reliable, and always filled with a good crowd. The pictures on their website do not represent the space well. Expect to be pleasantly surprised. I get the rigatoni with fennel sausage, spring peas, and tomato cream sauce every time. Next time I should really try the shrimp linguine because it looks so good. I am giving it 4 stars because the bread they use to make their bruschetta falls short. They need to remedy this ASAP. My favorite combinations include the spring pea, balsamic reduction, and reggiano, and hand dipped ricotta, honey, and pistachio (my favorite). **Frasca is better enjoyed in the Summer.
(4)
Cassy M.
Not good for families with young children. Although we were hopeful because this restaurant was recommended as kid friendly and kids eat free until 6pm. We were disappointed by the food and service. My husband ordered the chicken partly because it was described as crispy...it was a sad looking piece of meat with no flavor. They brought the kids meals out first so by the time we got our food, they were done. We ordered some meatballs for them. After waiting quite a while for those I asked the server about them. She brought them out. Same thing with the kids ice cream which was a little melted by the time I asked her where it was. Also the music was so loud. I admit it is more stressful having kids out to eat and I noticed many of the tables without kids seemed happy... but we won't be going back with our kids.
(1)
Liz K.
I'll be honest: if my dinner had proceeded from start to finish as it did the first 5 minutes of our visit, I would be giving them a 2 star rating. But the food was nothing short of the best Italian food I've had in the 18 months I've lived here, so that in and of itself was the redeeming factor. I chose Frasca based off of the excellent reviews on Yelp and the positive word of mouth I've heard as well. They also have great specials Monday - Wednesday for both wine and pizza. I took my parents, who prefer restaurants on the quieter side with an interesting but not "out there" menu and great wine. I wouldn't say Frasca was exactly quiet, but we've been in louder places, and it definitely delivered on the other two elements. In any case, back to the first 5 minutes. We found it easily and there was no wait at 8 on a Thursday. With that said, the hostess seemed to be thinking, "Really? Another table I have to seat?" Which was not the welcome I had anticipated. We got to our table, but couldn't sit down until the busser was done awkwardly reaching in front of us to put the water on the table. Not sure why that couldn't have waited. And then it was about 10 minutes before we were approached by a waitress for our drink order. Luckily, the food and wine was so wonderful that it made me forget about that first part. I was wishing that my parents had been more hungry, because I really wanted to try the polenta fries and wrapped dates. I decided on the papperedelle bolongnese with some sort of Italian sausage; mom got the caprese salad; dad got the Tuscan sausage soup (special) and a Caesar salad. All excellent choices. I would highly recommend the Tuscan soup and the pasta dish; they were both full of flavor and something a little different than I see at most Italian restaurants. If you're not a garlic lover, beware of the papperedelle. It wasn't overwhelming until I took it out of the fridge the next day and that was the only thing I could smell. Along with dinner, we also had a really nice Pinot Noir - nice enough that my parents, who are not Pinot fans, enjoyed it as well. Unfortunately I can't remember the name. It started with an A and I think it was in bin 63. All in all, I definitely see myself coming back here, most likely for the wine deals on Monday and Tuesday, and to order some of its famous pizza as well.
(4)
Jaime M.
I'm sad to have to update this review. Frasca has always been great but not so much this last time we came. While the bruschettas and pizza were not awesome as they usually are they were still good. Yet, the disappointing part was when a woman (not our server) showed up at our table and said: "we're about to switch to our dinner service, so can you hand me the creamer?" While pointing to a container on the far end of the table which we had to stop our conversation and reach for and pass it to her. After that she went "I also need the sugar", which we reached for and handed her and then she requested something else. This was at 2:40 pm on a Sunday. Really? She couldn't wait? We were about to pay and leave and the place was semi- empty (no one was waiting to eat dinner at our table as soon as we stood up before 3;00 pm), come on, I'm still stunned. My parents were visiting from out of town and were confuse by this and by how abruptly our conversation was interrupted by this "urgent" and bizarre request. Sigh
(2)
Audre L.
Came here for a ladies brunch. The Bloody Marys are rockin. Food was very good as well. The pacing of the food was a little slow - we ordered the doughnuts as starters, but they came out with our entrees. The waiter was nice but this was one minor flaw. for the On a nice day, their open windows are fab for the inside diners!
(4)
Jeff W.
Met up with a few friends at Frasca and was pleasantly surprised. Parking was easy, meter but only up til 6pm on Sundays. Great specials for this place... Sundays are $3 drafts and they have a small but impressive draft list. Dangerous for Sundays. Food was pretty sizable and delicious on top. Free warm bread with EVOO was a good start, especially while nursing a hangover. We ordered the panko crusted calamari as an app. Pretty good, decent flavor, but nothing memorable. The table next to us got a butchers platter from their farmers menu which is definitely the way to go. You can order a la carte or get a butchers platter of 4 or 8 things off their list of bruschetta, cheese, and cured meats. It looked damn good, I think they saw me eyeing it. The ladies were raving about their 'Infamous Wrightwood Salad' and described it as the 'best salad they'd ever eaten.' I am a straight dude, so did not get a salad. However, it was a pretty massive portion with shredded chicken, tomatoes, craisins, avocado, corn, goat cheese, fresh croutons. I would imagine if I were to ever order a salad (which I would never), then it would have to look like this (with maybe a steak on top). I got the Capone Pizza. Large pizza that could easily be shared, but I ate it alone like a fat ass. Plus I was hungover. Big chunks of fennel sausage was a good touch, as was the roasted onions. I would say not worth the $12, but the portion alone made up for the cost and I'd probably rather eat this than a Dominoe's pizza. This will definitely be my new spot in the West Lakeview/Roscoe Village area. Definitely gonna come back for their Wednesday buy one get one free pizza special. Tip: skip the dessert and walk down to Scooter's Frozen Custard. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
David R.
Let's keep this short and sweet. Atmosphere: LOUD LOUD LOUD, on a crowded Saturday night. I liked the modern-rustic aesthetic, but the tables are very close together and the ambient noise cannot be blamed on the sound system, which was kept at a minimal level. By the way, the music (when you can hear it) is good stuff: I heard The Shins, The Raconteurs, and several other great songs. Service: Very good, especially from our server Amy, who was warm and friendly and never let my diet soda glass reach empty. Menu: Many, many options, to the point that I had a difficult time making up my mind even though I wasn't remotely hungry. Pizzas, pastas, appetizers, a whole separate cured meats/bruschetta card... Caprese salad: Top-notch. Even a mediocre caprese is still delicious but Frasca puts together a very nice plate indeed. The tomatoes are oven-dried, which adds something intangibly tasty. Calamari: Substandard. Too breadingy, too greasy, and far too bland. The accompanying tomato sauce has a slight kick and was the only thing that allowed me to eat about 60% of the serving. If I leave calamari uneaten, you should know that it must have been worthless. The calamari and noise were unfortunate, but I liked the place and would gladly return. My ladyfriend devoured most of her pizza, so it must be good!
(4)
Anthony P.
We had a very pleasant meal here. Came in ahead of the dinner rush on a Thursday and were seated right away. Very pleasant server. I thoroughly enjoyed my gnocchi. The sangria did not disappoint, either. I would love to return and try the pizza sometime.
(4)
Alex O.
I finally got to dine at Frasca after an aborted first attempt. A few weeks prior we skipped out on eating here because an uncontrolled shrieking child could be heard throughout the dining room. It was so bad you could hear it a block away as we walked to the competition. On Monday, we gave them a second chance and I wish I just kept walking. The atmosphere in here is rather loud, music is blaring and the noise from your neighbors (elbow length away) is deafening. Also, as part of the dining experience, since they have open air seating, is flies. I understand you have to contend with the elements when you dine al fresco; but when I eat in the actual dining room, I shouldn't be constantly swatting away flies. We sat for about 10 minutes before someone took our drink order. When the waiter did come, because it was so loud (keep in mind we weren't in the middle of an event - this was a normal Monday) we had to repeat ourselves 3x. Drinks were never promptly refilled and we were left with empty glasses throughout the whole meal. This wouldn't be so bad, except the food here is extremely salty. I had a pizza and it was unevenly cooked, one side was soggy, the other was blackened crisp. This wouldn't be an issue as normally you'd tell the waiter and they'd fix it, except our waiter never checked in to see how the food was. So I was stuck with an overpriced, poorly cooked $15+ personal pizza. It took over 15 minutes to finally get a bill, at which point I just had my card waiting because I wanted to be done! I wouldn't classify Frasca as "budget dining", so I have come to expect a higher level of service, food quality and atmosphere that one can get from their competition. Next time you are in the area, just keep walking, I wish I did.
(1)
Emily N.
My experience here went from zero to shitty on all accounts. Went here early on a Friday evening to grab a bite with the bestie. When we got there, it was relatively empty. Of the tables that were there, most were the young family, huge stroller set that comprises most of Lakeview. By the time we left, the place was packed and outside of us, there was ONE other table in the whole place that didn't have kids with them. Hell, I watched two toddlers sit at the bar. Blah. The food started off well. We got the polenta fries and they were awesome. The salad that came out next was fine. Nothing memorable. The pizza is where the meal went south. We ordered the potato pizza and when we got it (45 mins later), it was just barely cooked. It's too bad, too. It would've been great if the crust wasn't so soggy. Finally, the service. Our server was very pleasant and efficient for most of the meal. That is, until we brought up the pizza. She was completely dismissive of our complaint and by the time we finished talking - she had become down right curt. There is absolutely no way I will ever go here again. You couldn't even drag me here kicking and screaming - even though that's what half of the patrons here are doing while they color their kids menu.
(2)
S C.
I debated with myself on whether to give this restaurant 4 or 5 stars. I finally gave it five, because the real litmus test is, "Would I return?" Yes, I would. This is a cute place with nice ambiance. We only had pizza and salad when we were there, but both were admirable. The Infamous Wrightwood salad is fantastic. We shared it...I could have eaten far more as it was so tasty. We happened to be there on a Monday, which was half priced wine bottles. That was welcome! All of the pizzas we had were wonderful...the crust is tender and not too salty...which makes the toppings shine. This is a solid spot worth visiting.
(5)
Cassidy S.
Tonight I enjoyed a birthday's eve celebration with my family at Fresca. We were one of the first people in the restaurant, a beautifully-designed corner spot with wooden tables and crafty uplighting. Our server was friendly, young and helpful. The wine is half-off on Mondays, so my mother and I split a bottle of red. It was delicious - smoky, medium-bodied, and so affordable! Since the menu was incredibly enticing, we opted to order three different entrees and split them all. Between the filet medallions, Caponata pizza, and Pappardelle pasta, I couldn't pick a favorite. The medallions were too rare for me, but the sauce and potato gnocchi were flawless. The grilled vegetables on the caponata pizza were perfectly done. The pasta had just a touch of goat cheese on the top... what a nice garnish. We ordered the Nutella pie for dessert, which had a nice flavor but an unexpected texture - less creamy and more grainy. Overall, a nice place. Really enjoyed the ambience, besides the smoke that filtered in from the outdoor patio. I won't make another reservation there soon, but I wouldn't mind checking out the watermelon carpaccio....
(4)
M T.
Frasca is an all time favorite! This restaurant is a stand out! Wonderful food, great wine rotating list and fantastic service! I have been going for years and they consistently deliver. They are on the moderate side price-wise and worth it. Favorites include the bacon wrapped dates, any of the pizzas, Wrightwood Salad, and Lincoln Avenue Omelette are stellar in my opinion. Thank you Frasca!
(4)
Amanda S.
First off...the staff is absolutely amazing! Shannon, Whitney, Will, Jeff, Eric, Bethany, EVERYONE! So nice, so accomadating, always welcoming, educated on the wine selection, all around awesome! Fasca has pretty much before my husband Billy and I's living room after work. The new food menu is A+! There is nothing on the menu that I don't like. Great vibes, def. a must go to!!
(5)
Lori L.
Add another restaurant to the list of Sunday Funday drinking = a.k.a bottomless mimosa brunch. Sure, Frasca's version is pricier than others I've been to ($14 vs $10) but it is well worth the extra four dollars. Our server let us linger even though we finished our meals. I ordered their French toast which consisted of a cinnamon baguette in an orange liqueur sauce. It had the right amount of sweetness and the serving size was very generous; four big slices to be exact. I had plenty leftover to take home. It came with a side of fruit or potatoes, all for a measly eight dollars. The ambiance is boisterous and a bit loud, but it wasn't an annoyance. Overall, 30 dollars got me nice and buzzed and a good meal with leftovers.
(4)
Julia W.
Love this place. Excellent neighborhood bar, and one of my favorite places to go for a salad or pizza. LOVE the Wrightwood salad, and the bartenders make excellent lemon drop martinis! Great atmosphere, and great people. Definitely recommend this to anyone/everyone!
(5)
Randall G.
We met friends for dinner here (we came from downtown, they came from Evanston) on a weeknight. The food and service were great, loved the casual elegance. It felt special and fun but not stuffy.
(4)
Anna V.
I usually avoid places famous for their brunch specials because I typically don't like brunch. It's too early. I also hate eggs. I do like pizza. Frasca is a solid neighborhood pizza place up the street from my apartment, where I always drive past but had never eaten at. The crust is that thin, chewy, airy, bubbled-up sort you have to fold, straight from their pizza oven. It doesn't exist on the menu, but sauceless, fresh mozzarella, dressed arugula, olive oil, black pepper, and oven-dried tomato is one really effing nice pizza. They make a few with prosciutto that are interesting. My friend appeared very obsessed with her Wrightwood salad. I want to try bruschetta. The service and interior (prepare for stampedes if you sit in the front area on 2-for-1 wednesdays) here is a little weird, but that's okay. Wine was good-ish. That said, everything about Frascsa will be much better on the outdoor patio, where I remember dodging my car around swarms of people last year as they spilled into the intersection.
brunch: Paulina's omelet is the best I've had. they have bomb ass potatoes and the nutella french toast was the perfect closer. the bloodies are delicious too. not too pricey and great location!
(5)
Barb M.
While we've enjoyed this place on late weekend nights, don't go at 6 on a weekday if you don't have at least 3 screaming kids with you. The hostess sat 3 screamers (not crying, just happy to sit and scream) next to us. Honestly despite comments to waitres and looks toward parents, it ruined my dinner. I like kids. Think they are cute but screamers? Don't go. They should seat all the screamers and potential screamers on one side and couples without kids on the other!!
(1)
Emily S.
I'm not really sure how my husband and I have lived in the neighborhood for almost 8 years and never been here before last Friday, but whatever. This is a cool little spot with excellent pizzas. We shared the sausage and onion with roasted red peppers, which was delicious. For a starter, we shared a fennel and orange salad that was woefully underseasoned. Decent wine list and service. Skip the salads and go for the pizza!
(4)
Christina F.
Went here for drinks with a friend one late afternoon. I can't comment on the food but the drink I had. I think it was the Bellinitini or something like that. I liked it, it was an interesting combination of bubbly with peach and was a great summer drink. What I didn't like was the price, I remember thinking "$9 for this tiny thing?" Would I come back? Maybe if I was in the area but I'd try their pizza and have my wine after dinner at my place with a bottle a la Trader Joes or something.
(3)
Mandy P.
Wow! I really, really like Frasca! It's very similar to my beloved Sono Wood Fired on Clybourn. My dinner experience: On Tuesday they had half-priced glasses of wine, which was very much appreciated by this girl. My friends and I split 3 bruschettas (we wanted all of them), and a cheese (we wanted all of them), and a pizza (the theme continues; we wanted all). One thing I wasn't so keen on here is that there is some sort of dressing on the arugula on the Prosciutto pizza; I prefer mine plain. The last thing that I find absolutely inexcusable is that I was so full from eating every morsel in front of me that I didn't have any room for the skillet cookie that we could smell baking in the oven. I plan on speaking to management about that... My brunch experience: Frasca blesses weekenders with bottomless mimosas for $14. To help balance the increased calcium intake, the Breakfast pizza is what I would recommend from the brunch menu. Prosciutto, hollandaise, fried egg, and chorizo on my pizza? And I can eat it in the morning/mid-day? Holla. The donuts were also delicious and airy. $7 gets you 9 sugary treats, perfect for sharing...or not. My only recommendation is to make a reservation unless you don't mind sitting at the bar. The patio is also dog friendly if you're lucky enough to come here on a nice day with your dog!
(5)
Emily M.
I hate writing this. However, our experience was really lack luster. We went on a Monday, and maybe that was the problem. I had a craving for Italian food and I thought this would do the trick. The pasta and meatballs were very bland and our server was nice but did not care about our table. I definitely think he was spread too thin. This place has a lot of potential, and from these reviews I really expected to enjoy myself. I would give it another shot if a friend invited me, otherwise I will look elsewhere for my next old world craving.
(3)
Kerry S.
Food here is always amazing. Salads and pizzas have been our favorites in the past, but you NEED to try a mix of bruschetta, meats and cheeses off the menu. Only reason they don't get a full 5-star review is because a few times the service has been poor. Overall the staff is nice, maybe we caught a few people on an 'off' day?
(4)
Susan F.
Frasca has really great daily deals. Come on a Wednesday and get 2 pizzas for the price of one! Holy moly, now that's what I call deal. They also have $5 wines on Thursdays. Their pizza is excellent, especially the meatza and the pizza with goat cheese I believe. They are really large, too, never a bad thing. You will definitely have leftovers. They do not carry a pizza with shrimp on it any more, as I've been told. There are also cheese and bread plates that are reasonable. Those would be great for a big group of people. They have a pretty nice outdoor space and inside is pretty large as well. Beware that is it right by the brown line if you sit outside.
(4)
Katy O.
I would give Frasca 5 stars for the pizzas and the great, inexpensive wine choices. The decor is cozy and they also have a nice outdoor patio. I took off a star for the time I visited with a friend who was 8 months pregnant. Her doctor had told her that it is okay, in the 3rd trimester, to have a glass of wine on occasion. She was in town visiting and we wanted to celebrate and she hadn't had a glass of wine in, oh, 8 months. We ordered a bottle of something sparkling and asked for 3 glasses. The waiter was very uncomfortable and did not want to give my pregnant friend a glass. We eventually spoke to another waitress (or the manager), who was a woman, who apologized for the waiter's reluctance and gave us the glass. At this point, however, my friend felt like she was being judged and was sort of pissed off. I know that not everyone agrees about the glass of wine in the 3rd trimester situation, but it is not up to waitstaff to decide if a pregnant lady can have a glass of wine. The next star I took off is for brunch. They actually have a nice brunch selection here, and I do love the Wrightwood salad, but the atmosphere is not great for people without kids. Roscoe Village is a family neighborhood and Frasca is, astutely, very kid friendly, I get it. Were all of the kids poorly behaved or untended by their parents? No. Were there enough unruly children and oblivious parents to make it annoying? Yes. I like kids, I just prefer to eat my meals without them running around my table and grabbing at my purse and silverware. This is not Frasca's fault at all, in fact if you have kids it is good to know this is a family friendly place, it's just not for me, not during brunch. This is a nice neighborhood spot for a casual dinner and/or a reasonably priced glass (or bottle) of wine.
(3)
Laura C.
Buy one get one free Wednesdays makes Frasca a bargain night for authentic Italian pizzas. The Prosciutto was presented beautifully with sweetly dressed arugula; although, I wanted more mozzarella. With the addition of parm and crushed red peppers, it was a good pie. The Soprano was a spicy blend of capicola, sausage, pepperoni, and sopressata - basically a fancy version of Pizza Hut's Meat Lover's, but a hundred times better. With the red peppers and fresh basil, the flavor combination was well balanced and something I would definitely order again. Our server was friendly and the pizzas came out relatively quick. One thing that bothered me was the noise level. It was pretty difficult to have a conversation with the buzz in the room, even though we were sitting in the corner. Also, the tables are pretty close, so having a server's butt a few inches from my plate kind of threw me off. Plus - parking meters around here end at 6PM, which is perfect timing for dinner.
(4)
Kit G.
Last minute birthday dinner for 10? No problem. Frasca was the perfect choice. I love the atmosphere. It is so warm and cozy - it reminded me of my time in Florence. We started with a selection of cheeses for the table. They were all excellent. We obviously needed some wine to go with our cheese. Lucky for us, Tuesday is 1/2 price glass of wine night! Everyone was happy with their meals. I had the classic spaghetti and it was very well done. It was huge - which meant I got to eat it for lunch again the next day. We finished with a couple desserts for the table. The Nutella Pie is a stand out. Just order it. Trust me. I will certainly be returning to Frasca. The service was great, even though we were a larger group. Food came quickly, and the orders were accurate. Definitely a good place to bring a group!
(4)
Kevin L.
Perfect example of a place that successfully caters to a different clientele (singles, couples, families, old, young, etc.) successfully, by coming through with an enjoyable experience for one and all. This place is just loud enough so you don't have to hear the crying baby on the other side of the establishment, and has just the right amount of intimate spaces for couples on their first or 1,000th date. Pluses for the small, carefully selected beer options with a slightly larger wine list and standard liquor selection; Italian style presentation complete with fresh baked bread and infused olive oil; a small but interesting number of appetizers (Fondue with fontina and reggiano with apples, toasted bread and sopressata? Yes please); and a varied list of entrees to appeal to every discerning taste. On the latest visit, the Rustica pizza was the selection, with tasty dried prosciutto, oven dried tomatoes, basil pesto and smoked provolone. Excellent. Service was impeccable and the bartenders were just the right amount of friendly. One negative that I can see popping up on occasion - the entryway can get a bit crowded if a group is waiting for a table and the spacing between the tables on one side of the place is very tight. One other qualm- as soon as we stepped inside and before we could say anything, we were greeted by the hostess telling us "hey guys, the wait is currently 15-20 minutes for a table." Well hello there, nice to see you too. The comment was a bit of a head scratcher as the meal progressed and the place didn't fill up to more than half capacity, with open tables (especially for small groups of 4 or less) open all over the restaurant/bar area. While the brunch menu looked a bit uninspired, I'm looking forward to coming back and checking out the 2 for 1 Wednesday night pizza special.
(4)
Katrina R.
This is a pizza place. Not an italian place. A pizza place. If you gave up pizza for lent, that's just too bad; Jesus will be dissappointed. This place is a very cool joint right off the Paulina Brown Line stop. It's easy to find and the wait is always shorter than they tell you it will be. We were seated promptly both times we came in here but I should warn you-- this place will be stuffed with children. The service is good and we had the same waitress both times we came. While the Martinis are alright, the real standout is the drink called Easy Hummin' or something like that. It's to die for. I'm going to come back for this drink ALONE. Rhubarb bitters and cucumber something. Does it matter what's in it?! It's amaze-tastic. Order it. Order it now. The pizza is good. The first time we went, we got the pizza Rustica. It was a little spicy but the pancetta was great and the mozzarella was perfectly cooked. The second time we went we ordered the pizza with the artichokes. That was definitely the better choice. It was delicious and reheated well when we killed off the leftovers. I'll say it: the pizza is solid but the overwhelming kiddie ambiance really killed it for me. What made this place worthwhile was those drinks. Those drinks! Ahhh, I salivate just thinking of them... Oh, final note: the bruschetta-- if you are on the fence, order it. Definitely a standout and there are many many options. My favorite was the classic bruschetta and the honey pistachio ricotta bruschetta but the boyfriend liked the mushroom truffle bruschetta. Whatever. The point is, order it. It is worth the cash. Final thing: ORDER THAT HUMMIN DRINK.
(4)
Blair R.
I like Frasca, It's the kind of place where everything is good enough that I'd return if I lived in the area, but nothing was good enough to make me take the trek up north to come again. I stopped in on a Friday night with a group of 5 and I do admit, I was a bit boring this night. I stuck with the Infamous Wrightwood Salad. I actually really enjoyed it and it was much better than the salad I had tried on my visit to Dunlay's. It had ample amount of goat cheese, yummy nuts, roasted red peppers, avocado, and etc that made it pretty delish. My friends tried out a few other salads for apps and the pizza for their dinner. The pizza looked good and I liked all the different variety of flavors Frasca offers. Our service for the night was a bit off and overall I felt very neglected by our waitress. While the waitress was super friendly and very energetic, she failed to keep up with us. The appetizers took quite a while to come and the entrees came out twenty seconds after the appetizers. Literally, I think my friend had two pieces of calamari by the time his pizza arrived. While we were waiting for the apps we saw her chatting away with other patrons...so I am guessing she was too wrapped up to notice that the apps were ready. When we finished our meal she took forever to come back and bring us the bill. She didn't know that we were on the edge of our seats waiting to get us some gelato from a place down the street and so this made us quite antsy. Unfortunately, her smile and chipper attitude didn't make up for the fact that she pretty much forgot about us. However, don't let this one not so great waitress stop you. If you are around the area and find yourself craving thin crust pizza, stop on in to this cute little corner restaurant.
(3)
Karen G.
Meh! I'd come on the buy one get one pizza night. I've been here several times and have never been too excited about anything I've ordered. I do walk my dogs by the place a lot and they love stopping by for treats and water- I guess they have that going for them.
(2)
Jason D.
Outstanding. Some of the best pizza I've ever had. Wonderful service. Excellent for brunch with kids.
(5)
Jessica E.
I returned to Frasca on a Friday evening this summer for a casual dinner with my husband, but we could barely even understand each other over the HUNDREDS OF SCREAMING CHILDREN IN THE RESTAURANT. OK, so maybe there weren't hundreds of children, but there were definitely more than 10. It's just that the acoustics in the restaurant made it sound like each child was given a personal microphone along with crayons and booster seat. The high wood ceilings are easy on the eyes, but hell on the ears. I have no problem with parents who want to enjoy a night out with their kids, and I will concede that we were dining in the pre-bedtime hours. But I will heretofore avoid Frasca for all future dining experiences - at least until I have my own little bundle of noise to add to the cacophony.
(1)
Pamela P.
The pizzas are quite good. The brunch is filling and with the bottomless mimosas, everything tastes better! The waitstaff has always been courteous and knowledgeable. The only drawback is that there's often a long wait, especially on the two for one pizza night!
(4)
Colleen C.
Truthfully my Frasca experience didn't start out so hot. A friend of mine arrived at 6pm, and were unsure if a third friend was going to meet us. The host looked around and said "your entire party isn't here?" with an exasperated look on his face. I spanned the room and it was about 1/3 full...and just said, "hmmm, I don't see the issue." He finally sat us, but it set a somewhat bad tone for the evening. I mean, c'mon. It's not quite dinner rush and you don't have a wait, chill out. The rest of the meal was lovely. I really enjoyed the ambience. Our server was very good, friendly, informative. We split the fondue, which was a bit odd as it did not have a flame. It's hard to consume a bowl of melted cheese fast enough so that it does not acquire a skin. Cheese skin is sort of gross, in my opinion. For $9 gimme some flame. I had the caesar salad with chicken and it was delicious. We split the carrot cake tiramasu, and I just didn't "get it." It was so rich and the cream used was globby and thick. It was odd, I wouldn't recommend that. Plus, it was supposed to come with espresso, and it did not. Overall I think the menu a bit pricey for a place that calls itself a "pizzeria." The ambience is nice, the service was adequate after we shook the nervous host, and the food was a bit better than average. I'd eat here again, but won't be rushing back...
(3)
Rosie S.
Yes, this is a 4 Star place! Where do I start? Of course, with the bottomless mimosas!!! $14 and they don't cut you off...simply amazing!!!! And they were delicious. We went for brunch on a Sunday at 1 pm. They place was packed, but we were seated promptly without too much of a wait. (Just a warning, it's a kid friendly place...so if kids annoy you, then you may want to find another place.) The waitress greeted us right away and was super friendly. We ordered our Mimosas right away and they arrived within minutes. Just pure heaven!!! After the 3rd refill, we told her to just keep them coming and she didn't need to ask if we wanted another. Yeah, we may like the booze a little too much, but it's all in good Sunday Funday times! The mimosas kept coming, which probably helped the fact that the food took awhile to come, which we did not notice. Until our waitress brought it to our attention. They ran out of turkey, so the chef left to go to the store to buy some more. We were shocked that (1) the Chef left to go buy it himself (2) they didn't ask us to change our order (which was nice) and (3) that we didn't notice the wait at all (which I know it's the mimosa's fault). As an apology, the gave us free hot cinnamon donuts at the end of meal. On to the food, I didn't try anyone else's food because mine was just too delicious to waste my tastebuds on, but everyone said they loved their meal. I ordered the Paulina St. Omelet...loved it! But the real star of the meal, the potatoes!!!! Yes, I know I said the potatoes. They were unbelievable, that I am still craving them days later. I was the only person who ordered them and everyone else at the table was jealous...being a nice person that I am, I did share. The potatoes should be a regular on their menu and served in the evening as well. I did asked how they were cooked...the potatoes are shredded they add cream, two types of cheese, and seasoning...but they are not the cheesy type of hashbrowns you are used too...I didn't even realize that they had that much cheese in them. If you go to brunch, you MUST order these. As promised, we did have the cinnamon donuts...they were hot and gooey and just divine!!! A must have as well This place is totally worth visiting for brunch!!
(5)
Phil W.
Crust is excellent. Good sangria. Great cheese and meat plates. Need to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
Will G.
Favorite neighborhood pizza place. 2 or 3 vegetarian pizzas on the menu, usually and a handful of vegetarian entree options. They also have a pretty good beer selection that changes throughout the year. Recommended if you are in the area. Try the pizzas, build your own with Arugula, you'll be glad you did.
(4)
India K.
Farmhouse Salad is THE BEST dinner salad I've had in months. Absolutely delicious! The bread brought to the table tasted like someone had just pulled it from a bread machine- DELICIOUS. Risotto fritters were pretty good but I was so satisfied with the bread that I could have easily done without it. Salad was good but didn't LOVE. Red wine flight was mediocre. Next time I'll go with just a glass of wine. TERRIFIC SERVICE
(4)
Priscila D.
Very tastey, fresh thin crust pizza. Friendly service. Good prices. Buy one pizza get one free. If your not in the mood for a loud and busy indoor environment, there is nice, quiet seating outside. Dog friendly. Kid friendly. Returning to try the bottomless mimosa's
(4)
Mark T.
Great food. Had to take two stars off for the poor service. Had brunch al fresco, and the place was not too terribly busy for a Sunday. I knew that the restaurant was well known for their brick oven pizzas, but decided to order the Turkey Panini. Standardwise, whenever I order any type of panini at restaurants, they usually get compared to the awesome ones that were made at this cool little bistro that I went to in San Francisco a few years back. I must say that Frasca's panini is the first one that I could finally say that it was better than that bistros'. The waitress did warn us ahead of time that the kitchen was running a little behind. I guess "a little behind" meant "you have to wait 40 minutes for your food". Really? I'm an optimist....maybe I caught them on a bad day. I'm willing to come back to try their pizzas.
(2)
Kevin C.
In on Sunday with kids. (eat free 4-6) so that's a draw. Tried to sit us next to open door in front (but it was cold) so I asked for a different seat. I was then sent back to sit next to/in the waiters area by the kitchen (i think as a penalty)...but I didn't bite. I sat myself down at a better table. I always wonder if hostess think - "would I want to sit where I'm sitting these people?" - unlikely. Food is always pretty decent, and it's kid friendly.
(3)
Sofia D.
This place is flippin' beautiful! I came here for some after-dinner drinks and it was one of my best experiences at a Chicago eatery. I love dining al fresco but also enjoy the privacy of a booth. This place was the best of both worlds. We were seated in a cozy booth right by the huge windows that open up to the sidewalk. The tables are on a little higher level than the outside seating which is great because we were able to avoid turning slightly towards the window and meeting the awkward glances of the outdoor patrons. Anyway, we hung out here for an hour or two and the fresh breeze and laid-back atmosphere made it a fantastic Sunday afternoon for the both of us.
(4)
Peggy T.
Went here on Sunday morning with a group of 6 people for Brunch. Per my receipt, our server's name was "Christopher." Let me start by saying, I wait tables on the side so I try to be fairly understanding of occasional poor service. BUT THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY AWFUL! I'd like to think this was Christopher's first day on the job, but I doubt it was. Many of us orders Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's and watched them sit at the bar for 10-15 minutes before they were brought to our table, sometimes by the bartender herself. It took him 25 minutes to come back to our table to take our orders, mind you, this place was not packed, at all. Instead he was walking around aimlessly with a coffee pot in his hand and started restocking glasses at the bar. When the food finally came, 1/2 the tables orders were wrong. Most of us ordered the Egg sandwiches w special requests like no tomato, cheese, etc, and every single one was wrong. The last person got their corrected dish after everyone was almost done eating. Took forever to get our bills as well. Luckily for him, he had added gratuity because we were a large group. SERVICE WAS AWFUL and no manager ever visited our table to check in on us, even though the food runner (manager?) was aware of the mistakes. Luckily for Frasca, their food is good. Definitely a disappointment, especially since our entire party couldn't wait to get out of the restaurant. A "quick" brunch turned into a long, painful, morning.
(2)
Carly S.
Amazing FRESH and delicious food. Friendly, hip staff. Great drink and food specials. Beautiful patio area. Gorgeous interior. *Attend the pizza making class! The owner runs it and it's spectacular!* My favorite place in the city - for dinner or brunch! Never had a bad experience, ALWAYS leave satisfied...and craving it for dinner the next day as well! Can't say enough great things about Frasca!
(5)
Ashley U.
Went here for a quick dinner one night. Food was pretty good and staff was friendly, although she could have bough us some more bread (I was starving!!)! Have to check out there BOGO Pizza Wednesdays. Nice vibe and always very crowded, which to me is a good sign!
(4)
Ryan A.
As a customer who frequents here at least once a week for dine-in and carryout I was really dumbfounded by the service I received this weekend. My party and I were told the wait would be 30 minutes so we left and came back in 20. We then proceeded to wait another HOUR AND A HALF! We attempted to get drinks at the bar and waited about 15 minutes each time for the bartender Audra. I have never experienced such a cold person in the service industry in quite some time. Just thought management should know she brought my usual 4 star experience down to a 1 even with the 2 hour wait.
(1)
John G.
Loved everything about this place! It had been a toss-up between here & another place a couple doors down. Fortunately, the first place we stopped couldn't be bothered to even greet us, much less seat us. So, Frasca's it was. It was great from the friendly hostess who seated immediately, to the fantastic waitress (who knew her beers & recommended appropriately), to the food, to the service. Everything was great, especially the chorizo-stuffed/bacon-wrapped dates!!!! I could eat those as a meal. The only reason I didn't give Frasca's a 5-star was because of the noise factor - but that's just bad acoustics, methinks ... Bottom line: If you're debating on where to go to dinner, do yourself a favor and give Frasca's a try. You won't be sorry! :)
(4)
John Z.
My wife and I love the pizza and fresh salads. Food is excellent and the service has always been great for us. We typically go on Sun for $3 drafts or Wed: buy 1, get 1 pizzas. I would have given them one more star, but I think they are a little pricey... -but like I said, they do have decent specials to compensate.
(3)
Therese G.
Still love Frasca - and five years and two kids later, especially love that kids eat free from 4-6, every night. Food and service, still great.
(4)
Kara O.
Love the atmosphere here - also their creative bruschetta menu is delicious.
(4)
Katherine R.
NIce make your own gourmet pizza place with nice prices and wines. The pizza is oven cooked and the specials are really crafty and fun as you can select your own toppings on a check list and pizzas. Its really fun and just a simple place for a few friends to go after work for a quick meal. I order the feta, gargonzola, or prozzuto. Friendly and cute place on the corner near Brown line stop Paulina.
(5)
Natalia K.
Great local place for a good wine and some good pizza, especially when it's 2 for 1 pizza on Wednesdays or half-price wine on Tuesdays. Their pizza is baked in a fire brick oven and comes out just like the ones I loved having in Italy although they can be on the salty side. My personal favorite is the four-cheese. I just love having ricotta on pizza. I also like their bruschetta menu where you can choose from a variety of bruschettas for a low price- the apple and brie is always one of my picks. They claim their "donuts" are the restaurant specialty when it comes to dessert. Try something else. I tried them once and could only muster up enough interest to eat two. The waiter noticed this, however, and was kind enough to take it off the bill. Kudos for that.
(4)
Casey Z.
What a great place! Great for a girls night out, date night, or a casual get together. Their food is consistently good and fresh. Great wine list. You will not regret coming to Frasca!
(4)
Cristine K.
I've only been here for brunch and its fantastic. The doughnut app is a must have!
(3)
Vanessa P.
I have been here a couple of times now and it's turning into one of my go-to spots when I cannot make up my mind to go anywhere else. I have had a few of the appetizers and a few of the pizzas. My favorite pizza from here is the Caponata. I love goat cheese and artichokes and combined with the other veggies makes for a great pizza. Service has always been spot on and they always have good weekly specials to make you want to come in for more.
(4)
Beth G.
Warm and inviting atmosphere. Pizzas are gourmet and delicious, if a little overpriced. Good specials during the week include half-priced bottles on Monday and buy one get one pizzas on Wednesday. For one couple, going for dinner, I would recommend splitting a salad and a pizza. Not a great place to watch a game, as the TVs are limited.
(4)
Jennifer B.
Oooh....lunch here on Saturday was tops.... I'm a sucker for wood-burning pizzas. What is it about pizzas that are rather dry and dusty and don't have alot of cheese on them that is so damn appealing? Here at Frasca you can pick from about 10 different pizzas, or you can make your own. These pizzas are rather large so you could definitely split one with a salad or pasta. We also ordered the quatro (that's four in Italian! haha) cheese ravioli, and yum yum yum...I could taste all four cheeses. Wait who am I kidding I couldn't taste anything other than the ricotta cheese but the ravioli was amazing in the cream sauce.....such a great winter pasta. I like the vibe in Frasca. They really encourage you to sit, relax, and take your time. Most of the tables there on Saturday afternoon were there around 2 hours. Just relaxing and enjoying wonderful Italian. I would recommend Frasca because the service was great, the food was solid, and the location is unbeatable!
(4)
Meredith S.
I love ovens that blow fire to cook your pizza. I had no idea this was the case when I signed up for a pizza making class. The 2 glasses of wine that are included was the deciding factor. Plus you get to almost literally make your own 'za. Now the pizza instructor was the manager, who my friend was calling Ashton all night. I think his real name is Jason. He was very thorough in his pizza teaching class, albeit it was in the restaurant and he had to talk over the crowd. He went over the dough making process, which included a cup of beer. I like beer. We were even given little balls of dough to play with like we were in kindergarten art class. I said balls. Giggle. After the class was finished, they brought out a plate with a bigger ball of dough and pizza toppings. We made our own creations and even though they said they have a system of getting you back your 'za, they don't. None of us had the 'za that we made...nor could we tell (choices were only pepperoni and margherita). So if you are a germaphobe, get the pepperoni. At least you can make a letter out of the pepperonis. We were given the recipe for the pizza dough, but my beef was that we don't have wood burning ovens at home, so it will never taste the same. Oh and they had Oberon. On Tap. I like that too. I believe they do this either once or twice a month. It's $25 per person. This would be a good date night thing to do if you're looking for something different.
(4)
Mike S.
Frasca is a pretty solid place to bring a date, or if out with friends for a classier evening. The pizza is pretty good, but not great. The atmosphere is great with low ceilings and alcoves for dinner parties keeps the noise down, while also having lots of natural light from the street, giving it an open-air feel in the summer. I personally found it to be a little expensive for my tastes, but all-in-all it's a solid place.
(3)
Sarah V.
best. bloody. marys. ever... delicious bloody mix, cute little olive-meat-lime toothpick topper, and a teeny adorable miller high life sidecar. YUM. been here to eat a few times over the past couple of years too and have never been disappointed. i've had a couple pizzas and a couple of the brunchie breakfast dishes. everything has always been delish and service always friendly. the ambiance is delightful, too. i work at a nearby lakeview restaurant that is constantly teeming with stroller and screeching toddlers - this place has a much better balance of family-friendly without feeling like you're at Chuck E. Cheese's.
(4)
Marissa J.
So far we've only been here for brunch, but between the yummy food and the bottomless mimosas, we were happy. Excellent service as well. I can't wait to go back for the pizza and one of the weeknight specials.
(4)
Anna J.
I recently tried this place. A good friend of mine (who also loves food) had raved about their pizza's so I had high expectations. I also love pizza so I can be picky. This place didn't dissapoint me one bit. I got the four cheese pizza....so good. The crust is super thin and they use great ingredients. We also decided on the antipasto sampler. It was a good pick. It is a little pricey for the sampler but you get to pick whatever you want. They also have a huge wine list and the night we were there it was 5 dollar martini's. It looks like they have specials different days of the week. The people next to us we eating pasta and that also looked awesome. I will be coming back for sure.
(4)
Emily C.
We had a great Friday evening here. We sat at the bar as we were most interested in the wine menu over actually having dinner. The wine list is deep and extensive. My friend is really knowledgeable about wines as was our fantastic bar tender. He gave us samples of wines until we settled on the red wine flight. There were two different flights to choose from and each flight had three different wines which was a decent sized glass. After finishing a flight and glass of wine, we decided it was wise to have something to eat. We started with items from the Farmer's Table where you can select a variety of items. The cheese platter was where we started which also came with bread and fruit. The bruschetta was amazing which was unique in variety and flavor. Fort dinner, the tilapia was great. Seasoned nicely with assorted spices with arugula, tomato, and roasted artichokes on the side. Service and ambiance were wonderful as was the wine and food. So much that we closed the place down which was good as we were nicely full and slightly tipsy. Will certainly be back.
(4)
Gary R.
I do enjoy Fracsa. (Yes, I call it Fracsa, ok?) They provide delicious pizzastuffs and other Italian foods at a reasonable price. I recently dined there with a woman and small child (each related to me in some capacity). Yes, children are in there at earlier hours and there is a chance you'll have a crayon lobbed at your beer and/or groin. If you can get past this without resorting to physical violence, god bless you. I had a tasty pizza with red peppers and some kind of fancy peperoni. It was some made up word like "Capicola" or something. I generally enjoy their pizza. They are better than Pizza Hut, but they also are lacking any reference to any kind of hut on their premises. I may have given this place 5 stars had it not been for the small ash ball that I ate inside of my ceasar salad. Yes, I mistook a ball of ash for a crouton. I know this is a hallmark of a moron, but I did that. I had to go to the bathroom and wash out my mouth, which had a ashy, grainy taste. Ash in the mouth is not an easy thing to clean out either. I assume either the staff hated me, or something went haywire with the brick oven that they use for the Pizza. So to summarize- good pizza, good drinks, good salads if you like them topped with dressing, croutons, carrots, tomatoes and ashes.
(4)
Elaine C.
Dear frasca, I'm a little angry at you. You may have delicious bruschetta and pizzas, but what the hell is up with your $13 all-you-can-drink orange juice? Can a girl get a little Champagne before she goes into a sugar coma? Dang. I had 3 or 4 "mimosas" without even catching a buzz, asked for a stronger one and it came out exactly the same. Totally lame, frasca. Totally lame.
(3)
Inna B.
Delicious meats/cheeses, pizza, cocktails. Note: This place is a great family friendly option for those who live in the area. If you don't have tots in tow, I would suggest waiting til later to eat your dinner here to avoid the stroller traffic jam by the front door & the juvenile company.
(4)
Jo W.
Last night was the perfect summer evening - you know the kind: the heat cooled off, there's a light breeze. Perfect weather to enjoy a drink on the patio, perhaps a bite to eat. When the hostess seated me, I spied food on the other tables and it looked and smelled AMAZING. When Paige W. joined me a few minutes later, our stomachs were demanding food. We both ordered some prosecco to get things started, and then we both ordered pizzas. Not sure what she had, but I stayed simple - pepperoni. While we waited, our server brought some bread out and it was very chewy and delicious. Mmmm.... before I had time to enjoy more than a couple bites, our pizzas were already done. The pizza is divine. You could tell it had been made in one of those wood fired ovens, and though I just ordered pepperoni it still had a nice heat to it that made me suck down the rest of my prosecco in a flash. Nice chewy cheese, the sauce had actual tomatoes in it. Ah, it was perfection! It was so good I was all, "ok, I need to stop eating now" but I couldn't because it was soooo good. Paige was enjoying her meat fest, and she said the pizza rivaled Spacca Napoli. I would tend to agree with her. Finally, Paige and I waved the white flags. Then she said, "I could go for some ice cream." So we ordered up the cookie sundae - a warm, half baked gooey chocolate chip cookie served in an iron skillet with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream topped with caramel sauce. It's ok, you can go ahead and drool now. That cookie was amazing. We ate the whole thing, and I have no shame. Overall, an excellent meal. The food is YUMMY, prices on the food are right (wine list prices are a little up there), and the service was great. The patio is perfect, and I think I just found one of my new favorite places to eat.
(4)
Ryan F.
The food is wonderful, the service....not so much. My friend and I went here last night and our waitress was the most unenthusiastic person I have ever met. We ordered wine and two pizzas to share. She rarely came around to check on us and when she did, she was so boring, zero personality and when I asked which pizza she recommended, she just read off the menu in order. Original!
(3)
Nicolas H.
Not bad, but not great. The wine selection is decent and the menu is pretty good as well. We had the fondue which was served with sliced green apples and more than enough bread. Also had the doughnuts which were served with honey and were pretty great (and extremely hot). While the music is really good, the seats are a little too close together so its kinda hard to have a conversation. The abundance of little kids I guess is to be expected for the area, but definitely something you want to think about if you plan on having a quiet dinner out (as it will be far from quiet)...
(3)
Mihir P.
I came here for a date. Only for drinks though. But when I walked in, it smelled delicious. It's a pizzeria by the way. I met up with my date and looked at the beer and wine list - they have a very good selection of both. I had a Trumer Pils drafts. A very well balanced light beer. THe bartender was very nice and professionalI forget if they have a full bar but I'll be back for the pizza someday.
(4)
Lea L.
Well I cannot rate the food as we never got seated at Frasca. I had an 8:30pm reservation for 10 people to celebrate my birthday on Saturday night. I was called in the afternoon reconfirming my reservation which is funny to do when you actually can't honor a reservation when the party arrives. My party arrived at 8:20ish to check in and was told by the host that they were waiting for 3 tables to get up so we may have to wait till 8:40. Ok well with no space in the bar area, we waiting outside. 8:40 came and went and we are still on the street. After multiple inquiries by my party to the host or other employees working the host station, we kept getting told, oh none of the tables have gotten up yet but they have closed there bill. It should be soon.. ok, so what was the point of making a reservation when we can't actually get a table?! Its now after 9pm, we are hungry and still no table. Now we request to talk to the manager who comes forward only to tell us the same thing. We are waiting for a few tables to get up as they have closed out the bill but still haven't moved. So we inquiry- Can't you ask one of the tables to move to the bar area if they have closed out there bill as you have a reservation waiting to be seated? Um sorry no we can't tell someone to leave. We aren't asking them to leave, we just want the table we reserved. And if they closed there tab, why do you want a now non paying customer to be occupying your table? Again hearing I apologize but they should leave soon...Um ok we have now been hearing that for almost 45 mins so thanks but no thanks. Because we were now all starving and pissed off -My party decided to leave since everyone we had the pleasure to deal with last night seemed to have no customer service skills nor understanding of what having a reservation means. Which makes it hard to want to spend any money at an establishment like this, no matter what the food tastes like. I don't think I will ever be back, and will make sure to not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Alicia S.
Wednesday's are my Frasca night. Why? BOGO pizza!! We love coming here for 2 for 1 pizza's and the skillet cookie. Yum. Try the traditional marg pizza or anything that is totally off the wall...never a bad choice. The Capone (their meat lovers)....delightful! Never have had a bad experience here with big or small groups; and I love the little curved corner booth in the back, great for conversations with friends!
(4)
a e.
This is my favorite restaurant in my neighborhood. I really like to get a make your own pizza, with goat cheese and garlic. Mouth watering. The roasted chicken with asparagus and potatoes is delicious too. The asparagus is always cooked to perfection (I'm picky about my asparagus), and the chicken is always tender. One evening, I ordered the Limenchello Martini, and my life was changed. The first one tasted like a green Skittle. I ordered another one. That one tasted like a red Skittle. Their staff is great- they are full of excellent suggestions, knowledgeable about the menu and the specials, and are attentive. The hostesses sometimes come off as snobby. My only complaint is that the place can be a bit loud when they are busy. But whatever. I always leave in a dreamy food coma...
(5)
Jen B.
Love the atmosphere and food at Frasca. It's a really cozy place to enjoy delicious pizza and the company of good friends or family. My only complaint is on the pricing of the wine -- I wish they had a few lower price options available. Will be returning very soon!
(4)
Jessica B.
My platonic manfriend and I went here on a Tuesday night and had a really great meal. First, I love a wood burning oven. I mean, the flavors on the food and the smell that comes out of there is like heaven. Anything is better in a wood burning oven, no joke. Tuesday night's is half price wine night and well, I love wine. The wine list was pretty impressive too and I had a lovely Sauv blanc from a Napa winery because I was missing my trip. It was really refreshing and the list was impressive enough that I could barely narrow down what I wanted to drink. But let's move on to food. It's awesome. For an appetizer, we got the Chorizo bacon wrapped dates and they were really, really good. It came in a red sauce that had a little kick and really made them taste better. But all the appetizers looked good too, including the bruschetta, which i've heard good things about. Next time! For the main meal, we split a pizza and he graciously let me pick, so I went for the prosciutto with arugula and provolone. It was....amazing. It was perfectly cooked w/the crust not too crispy or burned and the prosciutto adding the perfect amount of flavor. I had to control myself from eating my entire half. I would absolutely recommend this place and go back. Service was good and food, as you can tell, was awesome. Can't wait to try more things on the menu.
(4)
Erini S.
I work down the street at the toy store, and so we get Frasca's pizza a lot. Possibly the BEST non-deep dish pizza I've had in a long time. It's just perfect. We've had a couple different varieties and I can't pick a favorite. I've had writing classes every Wednesday night lately, but am looking forward to taking advantage of their buy one get one free deal! ugh. now I'm craving it. Frasca, I'm addicted to your pizza. It's THAT good.
(5)
Rebecca T.
I thought this place was nice... the wine was good, and the service was prompt and friendly. The only reason I didn't give 4 stars, was because our pasta was somewhat bland - I had the penna alll norma, and my friend had the rigatoni with fennel sausage. Both needed salt, big time. The appetizer we ordered, a mix of bruschetta, meats, and cheese was tasty and the presentation was beautiful. And, we sat outside, which always adds to the event. All in all a great experience... the pasta just needs salt.
(3)
Timothy W.
The four of us came here on Monday night, 1/2 price bottles but all of us were not in the mood for drinking. I really like this restaurant, the decor is nice, I'm a fan of the exposed brick walls and theres a brick pizza oven in plain sight. I ordered a Create Your Own pizza with goat cheese and fennel sausage, I enjoyed it. I normally don't get thin crust pizza anywhere, but this is how they serve it and I had no complaints. My girlfriend orderd a seafood linguini dish and she was happy with it as well. Although we didn't take advantage this time, I'd definitely reccommend to anyone looking for decent Italian food to check this place out on a Monday night and go for 1/2 price bottles.
(3)
Mandy K.
Frasca is my go-to local restaurant. The ambiance, service, and food are always outstanding. This is a rare restaurant where I'm happy to be seated anywhere. The room is open and inviting around a central bar, and the long walls of windows in front offer great people-watching every time the brown line rumbles by. Someone has also paid thoughtful mind to the music. With selections from the likes of My Morning Jacket, the Strokes, and Radiohead, the musical backdrop is always modern and fun without being distracting or overly hip. From the farmer's table, the brie + apples bruschetta and the mushroom + goat cheese + truffle oil bruschetta are delicious. For apps, the calamari is a crowd-pleaser, and I enjoy the crispy, mild mushroom fritters. You can't go wrong with any of the pizzas, but the prosciutto pizza seems to be a universal favorite and my default order is the caponata. The pastas and entrees change seasonally to incorporate fresh ingredients, but the main components of the dishes stay the same -- this keeps the menu both fresh and familiar. Brunch is also excellent. Their rich style of side potatoes is creamy and crispy at the same time. Their weeknight deals are deals indeed and the neighborhood really comes out to take advantage of them: half off bottles of wine, buy one get one pizzas. If going on a weeknight, I suggest checking what the day's deal is and making a reservation -- it gets packed! The only thing I can complain about is wanting more. The atmosphere reminds me very much of wine bars in New York that stay busy late into the night. After the earlybird crowds of families and the regular-hours dining crowds start to abate, I would love to see Frasca fill with a later-night crowd of wine drinkers so that I could stay there all night. If located in a more central and bustling neighborhood, I could see this happening easily. But instead, I'm just left wishing that other high quality establishments would set up shop in the available spaces on Frasca's same intersection, turning Roscoe/Lincoln/Paulina into a hopping nightspot where I can sip wine and forget that I'm not in Greenwich Village.
(5)
Paige K.
i have been here twice now. the first time i went i had french toast with bacon and the potatoes which were piping hot and delicious! the french toast is really good and the bacon was crispy and yummy. we had bottomless mimosas and i was disappointed there was more oj than champagne. today when i went alone i sat outside this time and my potatoes were cold. even after the second time the jerk waiter marc brought them. he didn't tell me about the specials and was not very nice. definitely disappointed but it was still pretty good. the screaming baby behind me didn't help.
(3)
John M.
No matter what your expectations, this place will deliver. I live a block away, and this is a great little spot in the neighborhood. Wood-burning ovens that make the crispy thin crust pizza of your dreams with real ingredients. They have great specials Tues-Thurs i.e., martini specials, pizza specials, and the apps and salads are high quality as well. The service is attentive and not pushy, and the bar is set up nicely with stone tile and marble. All in all, a good experiece in regards to product, price and service. You will not regret going to Frasca.
(4)
Kristin H.
This is my favorite go-to restaurant in Chicago. Great food, wine, ambiance..and the skillet cookie is to die for!
(5)
Desiree K.
Now, its official name is Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar, and I'm just like, hand me the pizza slicer already so I can cut myself a break. Pizza demands beer like Kim Jong-Il needs nuclear bombs, so having a cellar of stellar wines on the drinks list is like Condee Rice snooping into unknown DMZs. But enough of American politics -- after all, I am from Singapore and my specialty is food. So Caroline and I ordered Lagunitas, a microbrew from Petaluma, California, which was very tasty indeed on that summer evening, and scoured the menu -- it was, perchance, two-for-one pizza day. Governor Rod Blagojevich should come here to learn a thing or two about budgeting. As Stellas, Amstel Lights and Blue Moons began to appear on the table, we settled on a flight of appetisers that took off with a trio of bruschettas, cheeses with fig jam and slices of various Italian meats. Nothing fried, but this was a bubbly, Euro-crust kinda of pizza place, so we had to fancy it up a little. They were delectable enough finger foods, and we were hungry enough to forget to take pictures. Five small plates for $15.00, reasonable. Nobody wanted to share calamari with me. For pie, I decided to honour my adopted hometown with the Capone; wood roasted onions, fennel sausage and fresh mozzarella on tomato sauce. It was tasty, but nothing special nor memorable. I had all kinds of clever captions lined up in case it was delicious, like -- "Murder Incorporated" or "State trooper can look (but he better not touch)" or "Local hero," but the best I can do is, "The cops busted Madame Capone for telling fortunes better than they'd be." Unlike our first two excursions, there was no theme to Pizzapalooza III. Crust was organic, Pizza Rustica was Venetian, Frasca is... bastard European bubbly crust? I do enjoy pizzas with cyst-like textures, but overall, I felt my 'za was average in taste, albeit a satisfying filler after a romp in the lake. If Spacca Napoli is "Born to Run," then Frasca in my mind is "Tunnel of Love." It should be really glad that it didn't end up in "Lucky Town," but that could be because it had a brilliant disguise. Yes, everyone in Chicago loves thin crust with fresh ingredients these days, but no, let's not keep opening more just for the sake of it. Let's continue to wait 45 minutes for a table at Spacca, bless its 3,000-ton brick oven imported from Naples. Dessert, however, was a different spin on a brand new record. I thought we had the best dessert of the tour thus far at Frasca, and I was pleased that the group was willing to place the burden of ordering in my hands. So I selected the carrot cake tiramisu (interesting... glad we tried, wouldn't order again), chocolate banana nut cake with chocolate gelato (now we're talking... I would learn Italian just to coo chocolate banana nut cake with chocolate gelato in its native language) and marscapone cheesecake with a chocolate crust and raspberry sauce (si si). For the six of us, we spent approximately $150.00 (plus one take-home pizza for Jim MacGregor). My verdict: 4 slices of yuppie 'zas (out of 8) -- one slice for dessert alone.
(2)
Amy S.
I really like this place. I like the atmosphere, the pizzas are great, the appetizers are great, the wine list is great and the specials are great. What more can I say about it? I am actually going on Monday, so I will update with more specific recommendations on food.
(4)
Kristin C.
Maybe the wine tasted THAT much better last Monday night because Lee C. and I came here to celebrate my new J-O-B, but I LOVED Frasca. A hot spot on the KC radar for sometime, I was nervous and excited to try this place. Would it disappoint me as much as Spacca Napoli? Would it become a new fave? Only a true visit would tell. . . Mondays usually stink but THIS particular Monday meant a new job for me which equaled a new reason to celebrate / blow off normal things. Funny enough, Monday is the day-o-half-priced-wine at Frasca. Sold! Lee and I ordered a bottle and some a la carte bruschetta. Both were top notch. Now for the pizza. . .fantastic! The crust was the right combo of chewy-crispy and the toppings were great. Naturally, I loved the plain old roni and cheese but adventurous Lee ordered a pie with pesto, prosciutto, and veggies. The prosciutto here is worth noting because they cook it in the form of mini prosciutto balls. This method makes the salty meat THAT much more tasty. For dessert we went with carrot cake tiramisu. I love carrot cake in any and all forms. As for the service - our waitress was a little cold at first but she got better after our initial drink order (didn't we all). The one complaint was the spacey hostess who may actually have a legitimate stick up her bum. I won't let her ruin my rave review but hopefully she had said stick removed. Sticks aside, Frasca one me over so check it out!
(5)
Emily S.
We've been about 10 or so times since it's right on the corner. It's a good, reliable place to go. Usually they can seat you pretty quickly (we go around 7:30). The food has always been good and the service is great. There aren't a ton of food options on the menu, but they've got a great wine menu and there is enough variety to keep us coming back. I've always liked the specials (don't be afraid to order them). The best thing on the menu is the pizza (Wed is buy one get one free). Definitely go for the real Italian version with an egg on top -- that was my favorite thing on the menu so far. They also do wine tastings and classes on a pretty regular basis, but we've not been to those. This is owned by the same folks as own Dunley's on Clark and Dunley's on the Square and DOC Wine Bar.
(4)
Joe T.
BOGO Pizza Wednesdays! I've lived half a block from Frasca for a couple years now and only recently paid a visit. The pizza was pretty good and the outdoor patio was nice and relaxing. The service wasn't great. Our waitron looked young and didn't really seem to know what she was doing. I guess the seasoned veteran waitrons aren't interested in working on BOGO Pizza Night. Maybe it has something to do with Chicagoans' take on tipping on specials? yelp.com/topic/chicago-t…
(3)
Allison B.
I really like their pizza. I think I've tried almost every kind they make, and they've all been delicious. Yes, there are a few places with better thin-crust pizza in the city, but Frasca's is definitely solid and stands out. However, my favorite thing about Frasca is the 'farmer's table menu' with the bruschettas. Oh my goodness, the bruschetta with the ricotta, honey, & pistachios is soooooo good. It's almost like a dessert. Great weeknight specials... especially the 2 pizzas for the price of 1 night, which I believe is Wednesday.
(4)
joel b.
They make their own cheese! Halfway through my meal I tested the server and asked which farm the mozzarella came from, "we make it here just about every day". Wholly cow! Actually, they get the curds from a Wisconsin farm and finish the cheese in their own kitchen. This was some of the best mozzarella I've had this side of Italy; beyond buttery soft, rich, ripe and creamy. Not bad was the pizza (thin crust, with a bit of olive oil), and the heirloom tomato salad. They make homemade jam - fig and apricot - and bread. Oh, the pizza... The one I had came with prosciutto and it was topped with a small green salad right on top. First I thought this was a KPC trick, but it was delicious. Table service was solid, knowledgeable and friendly waitress, clean bathroom, nicely appointed interior, cool pictures, good looking bar, and did I mention that they make their own cheese??? This place got me rather intrigued so I studied the menu some more. In addition to pizza, they offer tasting plates of different brucetta's, meats, and cheeses. Reasonably priced too.
(4)
Emily R.
FRASCA SUCKS! They focus too much on the decor and ambience and completely ignore the food. Been here twice. The first time, I wasn't wowed. The second time probably was my last. Here's why; 1. I was served an awful, tangy dirty martini which I dared not consume and ordered a mediocre glass of wine (the only Pinot Grigio on the list and it was bland). 2. The bread they served us was stale. Stale. Stale. Stale. 3. The waitress brought out our entree's when we still had appetizers and stated that the kitchen was closing so she had to bring them out. This was the biggest offense because she apologized and explained why she was bringing them out which means that she KNEW she shouldn't be! I don't give a damn if the kitchen is closing. If they couldn't accommodate me they shouldn't have sat me. 4. The premature entree's weren't even good. I had a sad excuse for risotto that wasn't even made with Risotto rice AND was undercooked. Risotto is supposed to be like a creamy porridge. The dish I had was closer to a saucy rice pilaf; the shame. Maybe if they had let us finish our appetizers first, they would have had time to cook the food properly. 6. Gnocchi wasn't homemade. 7. Meatballs were cold in the middle. 8. TV mindlessly playing sitcom reruns behind the bar and sapping the energy out of the room. 9. A few minutes after serving the bad food, the waitress came by and asked how everything was. I replied with a deadpan voice, "Ok. Just ok." Her response; "Awesome!"
(1)
Kristi R.
This restaurant is right down the street from where I live, and after about 6 months, I finally decided it was time to give it a try. I was hungry, and another night of boring old cook your own food just didnt seem appealing. So I grabbed my roommate and headed over. To begin with what I liked about it, the ambiance was very relaxing, and nice. The service was great, and I really liked our waitress even if she messed up our check and over charge us. She immediately fixed it and was very apologetic. But I have to say, for the price, the food was not that stellar. I paid $16 for a dish that boasted basil and oregano. Yum. But alas, the basil and oregano was dry, and not the fresh stuff that I had in mind. So that was a definite turn off for me. I could have made the exact same thing at home, although it wouldnt be AS flavorful. Anyway, point is, go here for the ambiance and the service, but try to order something that doesnt come with dried herbs for $16.
(3)
Stephanie K.
**100th Review** Frasca's seems like the perfect place to nosh on a warm summer night - with open windows, chilled wine and light fare. I just wanted to sit there all night - and I almost did. Three hours flew by! After my friend Antoinette raved about this place and their weekday specials, we had to check it out. We dined on a Wednesday - which is Buy One, Get One pizzas!! - and ordered two pizzas, the bruschetta appetizer, and a couple glasses of wine. As a self-proclaimed bruschetta freak, the Pick Three appetizer was music to my ears. We chose the Smoked Salmon & Capers, the Ricotta, Pistachio & Honey, and the Roasted Mushroom & Goat Cheese bruschettas. Listen up, friends, I could've sat there all night long munching on these delectable snacks. They're *that* good. As for the pies, I tried the Prosciutto Pizza which featured the namesake, olive oil, fresh mozzarella and arugula. YUM. Antoinette had the Caponata Pizza with tomato sauce, eggplant, goat cheese, roasted peppers, shrooms & olives. Although I didn't sample her pizza, neither of us left with a doggy bag, and that's usually evidence of a tasty meal. Weekday Specials: Monday - 1/2 price glasses of wine Tuesday - 1/2 price bottles of wine Wednesday - BOGO pizzas Thursdays - $5 Stoli (?) cocktails
(5)
Emily B.
I went here on a Tuesday night. The special deal was half off glasses of wine. I went with my boyfriend and another friend. The waitress did a nice job of not rushing us, she let us order a few dishes and then wait to order the pizza later. We ordered a meat, cheese, and two brushettas. The apple and brie was great! Then we order the pizza with dried tomatoes and panacatta! There was no wait and the wine was a great deal! There was music in the background but it was not so loud you could not hear the people you were sitting next to. The only thing that was upsetting was that I had a coupon I could use for the food but it was not good with a special so I ended up not using it.
(4)
Julie H.
Frasca: it's a lot like Quartino, but without all the bachelorette parties. And that's why its my new favorite restaurant. Love the menu: great salads and pizzas that are perfect for sharing. Plus you can build your own platter of bruschettas and/or cheeses. Lots of wine to choose from, too! And our waitress was great; she even chimed on our conversation about Spencer from The Hills. I mean, he's the biggest douchebag and everyone knows it - even the waitress at Frasca! If only someone could clue in Heidi...
(5)
Sarah L.
I used to get off at the Paulina L stop (before it closed) on my way to the gym. I have been meaning to try this place out and I finally did. It was pretty decent. The wine was divine and the pizza was OK. My man wasn't fond of his pizza so that's why I'm giving it 3 stars. I thought my pie was pretty good. They have great decor and it's nice and cozy. Their huge wrap around bar is amazing!
(3)
Nicholas W.
All good but the wine and flat bread is what we go for. Half off bottles on Monday and Half off glasses on Tuesday.
(4)
Gfiddy F.
Fun, exciting, great cocktails, excellent also when its warm season.
(5)
Jacqueline F.
I had been meaning to try this place for quite some time, so given the build up, I was still pleased with my dining experience. I'd say Frasca is slightly overpriced... River North prices up in the Lakeview area. However, the wine list more than makes up for that! I had one of the cheapest glasses of wine ($8/glass) on the menu and was incredibly pleased. I am an Italian red lover though, so I cannot speak for the whites they have! As far as food goes, they have a pretty unique menu compared to most places in the area. We had a roasted artichoke appetizer, which I loved so much I tried to emulate the recipe the next day.... Absolutely fabulous! Then we split a decent pizza with interesting toppings (the Caponata pizza). The service wasn't stellar either. It could have been that we were sitting outside, but it took several minutes to be greeted and then to give our order. I probably would have been more disappointed with the service if I was in a rush, but I had good company and a gorgeous Chicago night to enjoy! Overall, I'd say Frasca is worth a shot, especially if you live in the area!
(4)
lauren w.
Love this place. They have pretty decent pizzas and great wines. The real reason i love it is because they have great week day specials and they are super close to my house. Also, this is the best place to go if your having a bad day because they have an amazing cookie skillet desert. This thing tastes like heaven in your mouth. It is a huge cookie in a cast iron skillet that has crispy edges and a gooey inside topped with vanilla ice cream. Yum, i think i might just go there tonight, its buy one pizza, get one free!
(4)
Josh G.
I went back to Frasca to try the pizza. We each ordered a different pizza and shared and my 5-star opinion holds true. LOVED the pizza. That is all.
(5)
Chayla B.
I want to try this place again, hopefully give it a better review. It has potential, I believe. It was super packed. Super packed. It was also a Thursday night. Not unusual to be busy on a Thursday, so there isn't really an excuse for everything that went wrong. I sat at the bar and waited for my friend. Was greeted and handed a menu, but when my friend showed up 10 minutes later, the bartender still hadn't taken my order. When we finally did order, we had to wait 10 more minutes for our drinks. And 10 more minutes for the round of waters we ordered with the wine. The bartender was crazy busy but still... not my problem. Our server was good. You could tell she was slammed as well, but she did a good job of keeping us informed. And by informed, I mean she let me know a few minutes after I ordered that they had ran out of that particular pizza. I thought it was strange, which ingredients did they run out of? But no problem, I just ordered a different but similar pizza. A moment later she came back, looking embarrassed. Seems the restaurant was out of pizzas all together. All pizzas. A pizza/wine bar was out of pizza. It doesn't make any sense. She was very gracious, very sweet about the whole thing. We couldn't decide then what we wanted, we were both starving, hungry for pizza. The pasta options only seemed to have cream sauces. We settled on pasta, but asked for olive oil sauce or wine sauce, basically anything besides cream sauce. When our dishes arrived, they pretty much were pasta and olive oil. Not great. The salad we split as an appetizer was excellent. But the meh pasta, running out of pizza, lacking service (at the bar, at least), sort of ruined my first experience at Frasca. I do want to go back and try it again. But with a friend, not for a date or if I have guests in town. Too unpredictable.
(2)
Seth U.
I tell you what, I really like Frasca. It's billed as a Pizzeria + Wine Bar but it's really just a pseudo-italian restaurant that happens to have pizza and wine on the menu (you're kidding me?). The food is really decent and they try pretty hard to make the dining experience unique. They have this small paper checklist and pencil that sits at the table so you can mark off the appetizers, cheeses, and bruscetta you want and just hand it to your waiter/waitress. Not the most unique idea in the world but I give them points for thinking outside of the box. Plus, they have about six different types of bruscetta and they're all worth a try, so check away! I recently moved out of Roscoe Village (Frasca's hood) and one of the things I miss most is Wednesday's 2-for1 pizza special. My favorite think on the menu is probably the Shrimp and Panchetta pizza, a savory, peppery treat... and 2-for-1 is hard to beat. The atmosphere at Frasca is fairly realxed, though it can get a bit hectic in primetime on the weekends. They have outdoor seating when the weather permits and all the booths along the north wall have huge open windows that really bring the outside in. The kitchen is open, it's centerpiece being a large woodburning oven that fills the air with amazing aromas... rosemary comes to mind. The waitstaff are generally friendly and knowledgable and are always quick to recommend a nice wine pairing. They kind of fade into the backgroud, which, I think is a good thing. It's always hard to move to a new neighborhood and leave the places you have come to love the most behind. It's too bad I don't live a block away from Frasca anymore, but it'll definitely be fun to go back to the old hood and reminisce with a pie or two.
(4)
Chris W.
Great place to grab some cheese, wine, and delicious pizza. I like to come here for a week day drink. You should definitely try their cheese board. They have great options and you can choose what is on it individually so you don't have to worry about avoiding that one cheese that you hate. The by the glass wine selection is great, which is always a nice thing to find in Chicago. Also, I can't speak for most else on the menu except the pizza. The prosciutto is my personal favorite but I have tried bites of my co-diners and have never tasted anything I didn't like. Only complaint is there are sometimes some young kids here since it is closer to a family oriented neighborhood so I have once or twice had some loud company in the next booth over, but hey, I can't blame Frasca for that.
(4)
Gerard B.
Not a bad place by any means. Good looking pizza's and whatnot. The only thing I found weird was that the pasta on the menu is not what they bring you. I ordered fusilli, and received rotini. I wonder if they figure no one would know the difference?
(3)
L J.
Been here three times. Its nice, but not great. The decor is fantastic: Corner lot with huge windows and a large bar that wraps around the whole room. Their appetizers are really yummy, and the best items on their menu. Warm olives and non-fried calamari are delicious. I have to give it 3 starts because a restaurant should have awesome entrees and they do not. My husband liked his pork dish, but the pasta I've had was watery and bland. The pizzas are just OK. Frasca is fine as one stop of many, but as a final destination it is lacking.
(3)
Megan K.
Last weekend a friend pointed out Frasca's gloriously classy hot-fonted neon sign, and after checking out their menu I knew I'd have to stop in soon. I managed to put the task off 'til Tuesday, when we were pleased to discover that they have 1/2 price wine glasses. I briefly thought the thick rough wood tables were hokey and northwoodsy set against sleekly curved dark wood canopies, until we were seated against a wall covered in subtle tree-printed wallpaper, and I became slightly amused at the theme. We sat at a two top against a wall-length booth, rather close to our neighbors, which would probably be more comfortable on a busier night when the place is buzzing with more ambient noise. Presented with a checklist for cheese and bruschetta, we opted for the latter, and were tickled by our selection - ricotta and pineapple, salmon and capers, wild mushrooms and goat cheese. Here it's served on thick slices of un-toasted bread, which I thought was odd but less messy! Pizza is enough for one person with a decent appetite - while it's about the size of the stuff we used to get in Rome, their crust is more of a pillowy flatbread than a thin crust. Great combinations of Italian meats and cheeses and vegetables. We devoured shrimp and Italian bacon, and a Caponata (eggplant, goat cheese, veggies).
(4)
Kat S.
Came here on a Thursday for $6 Stoli martinis... what a deal! Our service wasn't the best, we got the impression that our server was assigned our table and didn't want to take it, or something.... we definitely didn't feel very welcome. However, that was a very minor part of the night, as the food was delicious (the potato pizza is wonderful - try it) and not too expensive. This is a great place for a date night or just to relax with friends.
(4)
Gabrielle B.
I reserved a table for my friend and boyfriend for 7:30pm on a Friday night and was excited to go back after a great experience a few years ago. I arrived right on time and we were told we were next up for a table (the common line as I was also a hostess). My ravenous guests and I waited for over 25 minutes for a table and the hostess told us it was ready and then we couldn't find her. We decided to sit at a nearby open table (which we assumed was ours) and no one brought us menus. Finally someone remembered us and brought brunch menus. It took anotehr 10 minutes to flag someone down to get the proper menu. I ordered the beet salad and potted salmon. The salmon was too salty and the beet salad had very thinly sliced beets so I felt like I was basically just eating arugula. I love the atmosphere but it was loud and even the server was not very friendly. I was embarrased since I suggested the place and my guests were not impressed. Sad but I will not be returning.
(2)
Mike B.
I really enjoy this place...it's great to just hang out after work, have a couple-twelve glasses of wine with the wife-meister, and enjoy a heapin' helping of their friendly staff, and tasty menu. I enjoy the bricked chicken, with white beans...really excellent. A little salty at times, but if you get it, just be sure to save some bread to soak up the broth that the beans are cooked in. The wine flights are nice, and really resonably priced / poured. So, when you go, just make sure you've got NOTHING planned the rest of the night, or for that matter, the next morning.
(5)
Erin T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! I seriously go here 2-3 times a month. Part of that is due to the fact that I live a block away, but it's also due to the excellent food, wine and beer. The atmosphere is very warm and cozy in the winter and light and airy in the summer, especially outside! One negative I will say is that it is incredibly loud at times. It is definitely not a quiet, intimate place. The food is probably my favorite part. If I want hearty and warm, I go with the rigatoni. It comes with sausage & peas in a tomato cream sauce. It is so delicious! My husband and I both crave it. If I am being good and healthy, I get the Wrightwood salad. It is SO delicious and filling for a salad, chicken, avocado, craisins, almonds, goat cheese. It is amazing. Their wine list is really great and affordable. They always have great local beers on tap. The service is pretty efficient and friendly.
(5)
Heather M.
My dad and I stopped into Frasca on a whim, and ended up really enjoying it. I really liked the unique decor, it helped set an ambient atmosphere, if that makes sense! The food was good, and my dad and I enjoyed the wine flights we sampled. It was nice being able to spend a night out with my dad, and it was definitely convenient with him able to catch the brown line back home and me able to walk back to my apartment. I'd definitely go back...but hopefully this time on a date!
(4)
Ryan F.
Been here a couple times and it's very good. My favorite pizza is the shrimp and bacon. They put put whole shrimp on top! Genius! The place is quiet and charming. The staff has always been gracious, too. Try the different types of Bruschetta. And the wine, ohhh the wine. Pizza and a few glasses of Reisling...Sigh. The daily specials are great too.
(5)
Erin C.
The first time I came here, I really wasn't that impressed. Since Frasca is in my neighborhood, it seems like I get invited to come here a lot, so i've given it a few more chances. Maybe it's the quality of the company that i come here with that has warmed my middling feelings, or maybe the food is really better. Whichever, I seem to think about Frasca with nothing but warm fuzzies these days. I really like the shrimp and italian bacon pizza. The sopressata (spicy pepperoni/sausage type thing) is delicious as well. I really enjoy the half-priced wine on mondays (i think), and on wednesdays, it's buy one get one free pizza. The casual neighborhood feel of this place is very nice, and the waitstaff has always been excellent. It almost seems like people enjoy working there!
(4)
Katie E.
I have been past this place a dozen or so times and decided on it when I was craving some outdoor dining. I was surprised and delighted with their very vegetarian friendly menu. The bruschetta was incredible and the pizza was unique and delicious. They have a great wine selection and fantastic beer on tap. The atmosphere was warm and the staff was very I cannot believe that I have lived in this neighborhood for 2 years and this was my first time here. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Bella V.
I tried this place out a few days ago, and really enjoyed it. Here are a few things that I think you should know about it: It's very close to the Paulina brown line stop, and street parking is very convenient. They have an extensive wine menu, and I heard through the grapevine that they might be doing wine tasting events in the near future. The atmosphere is so-so. It's a small place, and I feel that they do the best they can with it. The bar is in the center of the space, and really the focal point, which gives it a cool feel. The service is fantastic, and smiles are given easily. As for food, I had the calamari, which I found to be breaded in something that didn't agree with my tastes. I didn't even eat it, actually, and I was surprised that the bus boy didn't say anything to our waitress about a full serving of food going into the garbage. My friend had the tomato basil soup, which she said was terrific, and another friend had gnocchi which was soooo good although the sauce was just a tad on the rich side. I do also want to mention that there are a ton of families here with their children. Not sure if it's just the neighborhood or what, but they need a parking lot just for the strollers in and out of this place! All in all, I really like this place, and I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Jacob D.
I went there because I bought a coupon from Living Social. I was totally amazed at the ambiance, it was so cozy and the view had small-town effect, totally relaxing with the pizza oven fire on. The pizza was the best I have tasted from N-S-E-W of my travels. Perfect flavor and taste. It tantalized my tongue. The soup also was out of this world, it was some mixture of vegetables blended. The asparagus was also done to perfection. The waitress was very pleasant. I wanted to go back the next day to have more pizza!
(5)
Quantas G.
I'm a big fan of the butcher's block dish. Me and my friend devoured the 'block' full of various cheeses, sliced meats, fruit, and bread. A couple of beers finished off this meal well. The rest of the menu looked pretty good too but I thoroughly enjoyed the service, ambiance, and the butcher's block. Highly recommend this dish.
(4)
Lover Of Food And Culture Z.
I love this place! They have make your own pizza and it's great! I had a spinach and Arugula salad and it was fantastic! They have a great wine list too. I'd def go here again!
(5)
Mabrie B.
Frasca is a little gem in Roscoe Village! The first thing you'll notice is the back wall (way to go Frasca's designer)! The wall curves into the ceiling and is wall papered with a delightful woodsy feel that the tables flow with perfectly!! I highly recommend the market plate....you get to select 10 things off this sheet that include creative versions of bruschetta, a clever selection of cheese and a lovely spread of Italian meats. I'd also add the oil flight just for fun! Frasca's you are too good to us and we love you for it!
(4)
Courtney B.
Like many others I see here, I too live in the hood and have been saying, "I need to check that place out!" but just never have. Until now. I was meeting a gal pal for brunch Sunday at Wishbone but it was packed and there was a wait. So we wandered down the street & stumbled upon Frasca. The brunch menu outside looked great so we decided to check it out. The space is really cute! Very cozy and warm. There were a few other small groups of brunchers but we got seated right away, no wait. It was not crowded, not loud, it was just right for the two of us, catching up and enjoying a great meal together. I got a "bottomless mimosa" for $10 which I think was worth it. I did get a funny look from our waitress by about the 7th refill followed by, "Did you want ANOTHER one?" Umm, yes. That's what bottomless means, right? Is there a limit?? I guess I should have asked for the bottomless mimosa, hold the judgement. Anyway. We got this amazing fondue app which came with small toasted croutons, apples and a sopresetta or salami to dip into this ooey-gooey garlicy cheese dip. My fave! Then we split the fried egg sandwich, which was basically a BLT with egg on rye. It was huge and I was happy to only have to tackle the half. Everything on the meny looked tempting and I have heard of their great wine specials. I am so happy to have discovered this place! What a fantastic neighborhood spot. Loved it.
(5)
Dawn S.
I have loved everything I have ever ordered from here with the exception of the cinnamon donuts for dessert (dry and kind of flavorless). The Soprano pizza, and the arugula and spinach salad, and fondue are all wonderful and are some of my favorites. I really want to find out what is in their dressing...it's quite addictive and great to dip your pizza crusts in. Speaking of pizza crusts...quite possibly one of the best thin crackery crusts in Chicago. We have only had one instance of mediocre service...but thankfully I don't think that server works there anymore. The regular waitstaff are always ridiculously nice, cheerful and helpful. I would eat at Frasca once a week if I could afford it!
(4)
K P.
You just can't beat the value of $5 glass of wine on Monday's and Tuesday. I had the Fusilli last night and it was as yummy as the menu description. The waitstaff from the hostess to the bartender to the waitress were friendly and accomodating. I will definitely be going back.
(4)
A C.
Being that I live literally around the corner from Frasca on Henderson and that I L.O.V.E. pizza, you would think that this place would be heaven for me. I so wish it was. Plain, plain, plain. And I'm a traditional girl, but still, the food is plain. The bread and olive oil is phenomenal. The bruschetta sampler (I'm not actually sure that they have this anymore) is really yummy, I'd recommend trying the brie and apple one. But the pizza and pasta? Plain jane. All of the specialty pies are lacking originality and flavor. The only way I found to make a memorable pizza was to pick my own ingredients (and pay up the yazoo for it!) from their ingredient list -- they actually have some great topping choices if you look hard enough. The crust I found dry and bland. This is a restaurant in an area of Chicago with lots of babies per square foot. There are ALWAYS children here, and in the summer DOGS on their nice patio, slobbering and sweating and ruining my night. I recommend this place for wine and bread (only on wine special days and outside, when no one's misbehaved dog is under my table begging me for scraps).
(3)
Kerry D.
The pizza is really good. It's one of those random things I find myself craving. It's very thin, fresh toppings, you can eat it all w/o sharing or taking it home. The wine specials are great, but it's pretty expensive to drink there if it's not one of the 'deal' nights. The espresso martini was so good! The Caesar salad has anchovies in it---my friends were pissed that you can't order one w/o, just be warned if you don't love them! I haven't tried the farmers table thing, but I've heard that the bruschetta is great. Beware of all the Cubs evening parking too, it's all around there! UPDATE: Had to remove a star b/c the last 5 or 6 times have been pretty mediocre. It's still good, just not as amazing as it once was---our server told us that there were a lot of changes taking place- hopefully they get back to where they were! Update 2: Took off another star...This was a weekly stop for me, but I've given it my last shot. I'm very bummed, this place used to be so freaking good- now it's not. Boo hoo, really:( Update 3: July 2008 I'm glad I'm a pushover...my friend begged me to go back w/her (she hearts the fondue) so I did...much better. Going back more frequently and recommend again.
(3)
Anpan W.
Might be good if you live in the neighborhood. Do not make it a destination. The food is underwhelming. The apps, hyped by my friend, were not good. Our server was not attentive.
(2)
Stacy C.
So yummy, so fun, so cheap! I came here with the family I nanny for post trick-or-treating. The kids (two and four years old) were hungry and hopped up on sugar, and us grown ups were looking for some wine to warm up from the chilly October night. Everyone was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the pizza was, and it didn't hurt that it was Two-For-One Wednesday! The interior design was warm and appealing yet upscale and unconventional. The wallpaper was a forest of beech trees, and the centerpiece was a curved bar that mirrored the curved stone oven. The pizza was absolutely delicious, and though I'm not a pizza person normally, the next day I was begging my boyfriend to come to Frasca so that I could try some different ones. We had the prosciutto arugla and another one that was topped with artichokes and mushrooms. The two pizzas fed all five of us, and even with a decent bottle of wine the check was under $50.
(5)
Katie O.
Who doesn't like a good half price bottle of wine every now and then? Perhaps a buy-one-get-one free pizza is more your style? Either way, you'll find great deals and interesting pizza toppings! And let me tell you, brunch at Frasca is done very well. I had a mouth watering BLT with a side of breakfast potatoes and a Bloody Mary...oooh! Of course there is a certain Bloody Mary from a certain diner that holds a special place in my heart, but Frasca's Bloody Mary is a good close-to-home option, and is served with a lil beer chaser. Side note: The birch tree wallpaper from Cole & Son lines the walls inside the restaurant...it is my absolute fav!
(4)
Gina B.
LOVE this place! The pepperoni pizza is a-mazing! 1/2 price wine on mondays! Great ambiance. No reservations. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Allison S.
I would have given this restaurant 5 stars had it not been for the AWFUL hostess (and server, come to think of it) the night we ate there. We had dinner there on July 4th 2010, and as I understand that no one *likes* to work on holidays, we sat close to the hostess desk and was witness to constant snotty looks and responses to the majority of people who walked in the door. It became so obvious because we were also subject to her poor attitude and snappy responses. Our server even walked away before I could get in that I wanted to order a salad along with our pizza. Ugh - so frustrating. HOWEVER - all this being said, the food is fantastic. Really. The rustica and margherita pizzas are perfection, and the bruschetta choices are delightful.
(4)
Tina B.
Great casual place in the neighborhood (Roscoe Village/Lakeview border). The outdoor seating is great for people watching....especially since it's right by the Paulina stop. The inside is very cozy and warm. It's a good spot to meet up with friends and relax with some wine and tasty appetizers. The staff is always really friendly and prompt. We've never had a bad meal there. It always seems to hit the spot. ~~Addition~~ Monday's is half-priced bottles. AND, you can take your bottle home if you don't finish it....which is a good thing if you just want to start the night w/a glass and move on as you please : )
(4)
Becky S.
Another 3.5er. Cute place, a good amount of outdoor seating. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. All of the food we had was good my only issue is that the menu is limited to about 3 sections. They have a large number of pizzas, a few salads, and pasta dishes. That's about it. Although the farmer's plate appetizer was good. They give you a list of bruschetta, meat, or cheese options and you can pick 4 for $15. We had 2 pieces of cheese and 2 bruschettas. I loved the pistachio, honey and ricotta? can't recall, but it was awesome! My salad was large and pretty tasty. I will definitely be back for their Thursday martini special and pasta. I just wish they had more options.
(3)
Eric C.
My girlfriend and I live in Roscoe Village, and we have tried most of the restaurants close to home. We took a long walk with the dog a couple of weeks ago and passed by Frasca. We had been wanting to try it out and finally on Valentine's Day I made a reservation and we gave it a shot. We had a great experience. We started with three different types of bruschetta from there a la carte appetizer list. I would have to say that it was probably the best bruschetta either of us had ever tasted. We also tried the cheese fondue, which came with pieces of fresh bread and sliced apples and prosciutto. It was amazing! And the apples were so delicious and fresh. For our meals, I had the Pork Tenderloin with marsala sauce and mushrooms over gorgonzola whipped potatoes. The blend of flavors was fantastic and it was cooked to perfection. My girlfriend tried the gnocchi and liked it but I think when we go back she will try the Mahi Mahi dish. Overall it was a great experience, although the tables were a little close together, it definitely seemed like they were trying to fit as many couples in as possible. That being said, we still can't wait to go back!
(5)
Ellie B.
My friend and I went here for brunch over the weekend, and I'm not certain I loved it, though I definitely liked it well enough. We started off with a delicious bruschetta appetizer. There were several options, so narrowing it down to just three was a challenge. The smoked salmon and capers bruschetta was delicious! We split the shrimp pizza and I have to say the only disappointment was how super salty the pizza was. That's actually the reason this place loses stars! Great service though.
(4)
Jim S.
I went here for lunch on a Saturday. Great selection of pizzas--something for everyone, I'd imagine. I had a chicken and pesto pizza, which was a little light on the pesto, and slightly cheesier than i had imagined, but tasty nonetheless. The pizzas are more New York style than anything I've had in Chicago thus far. I didn't try the appetizers but they had a nice selection of olive-type dishes and bruschetta. The waitress was friendly and the service was fast. Also, this restaurant is very spacious and may have the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen in a big city. I think it's a tad pricey for lunch, but the portions are big so you can have leftovers for dinner.
(4)
liz s.
This places is nice looking, well spaced tables and outstanding pizzas. (We loved the sausage and mushroom and the soprassata) The kids menu is great, reasonably priced, and well rounded with healthy choices. Our waitress was awful (it wasn't busy, they have plenty of staff - she just didn't care), but the food and wine were good enough that I didn't care
(4)
Adam B.
During the week, Frasca gets 4-4.5 stars...the Wrightwood Salad is awesome! The pizza and pasta stands out as well. However, last Saturday, the food came out at random times, all 3 of us getting items 10 minutes apart. That didn't matter so much but the pizza was cold and soggy and the rest of the food wasn't as good as it usually is during the week. I think they do an outstanding job, but maybe can't handle the big crowds as much. I'll be back during the week!
(3)
Janis W.
Good food. Nice decor. I will come back to try their brunch and also half price wine night.
(4)
Christiana S.
I checked this place out a couple of weeks after it first opened. I thought it was okay. I did enjoy the white wine flight I had.... the selections were all good (and generous!) and went well with the antipasti I ordered. While the waitress didn't seem SUPER knowledgeable, she was definitely interested in what I thought and obviously wanted to make the best suggestions she could. She gets an 'A' for effort. For dinner I had the Capone, which is a pizza with fennel sausage, onion and tomato sauce. Eh. I could take it or leave it, really.... not the best, not the worst. Our server recommended the cinammon donuts for dessert, but I just decided to have a glass of prosecco. Yum. This place was pretty loud when we arrived, to the point where conversation was difficult. (Luckily it emptied out a little while we eating since we got there kind of late.) Also, I didn't care for how close the tables are to each other.... it doesn't really allow for a lot of privacy if you're on a date. The crowd's your average Roscoe Village/Lakeview sort. There seemed to be lots of groups of women here, so if you're a single guy, this might be a good bet. I'm sure I'll be back eventually.
(3)
Val G.
Went to this place a while ago and it was really good. The service was friendly and the food was yum. We had a pizza and made our own which was really tasty and then our entree's were good as well. The booth's are comfy and I saw a couple of big groups, great location and look forward to going again soon!
(4)
Ben B.
Well, I went there for the first time this past weekend. The service was great. The food left something to be desired. I got the Rustica pizza and my girlfriend got a pasta dish. They seem like they are trying to put fancy ingredients in their food with no thought as to whether they go well together in the same dish. My pizza had sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto, and prosciutto. They obviously don't know how to cook prosciutto because it was overcooked and incredibly salty. The pizza would have been great without it though. Also, we got the donuts for dessert. They didn't resemble anything close to a donut. The sugar/cinnamon mix on them was good and the honey dipping sauce was great, but the fried balls of dough were over-cooked and tough. The Butcher Block for an appetizer was great and I did like how you can make your own combo. The wines-by-the-glass list was good as well Quick tip- We went on a Friday night around 6:30 or so. There were tons of kids there, but they we finishing up. If you don't like screaming kids, get there around 7:30 or later. They had cleared out by then. Overall, I may go back, but later in the evening and I'll have to try something different.
(3)
Mary S.
On the night when it was a million degrees below zero, some friends and I ventured to Frasca because it was closest to home. When we arrived, it was busy but not packed. We could still hear each other talk. Then they turned on some awful Musak that drowned out any hope of hearing my dining partners. Pretty shitty. It's a restaurant, not a club. We ordered the Farmer's Platter. The blue cheese and fig jam? were great. I had the pork tenderloin for my main dish. I was really looking forward to it - until my dish came to the table. :( It was three small chunks of pork that were tough and nearly flavorless. The mashed potatoes underneath the pork pieces were fine, but overall, the dish was completely disappointing. It was almost twenty dollars for about $1 worth of food and pork that I wouldn't feed my dog. I won't go back.
(2)
J H.
I went here on a Sunday night for some pasta and wine expecting decent prices for decent food. I got neither. For what they charge, I expected better than a shallow dish of egg noodles (clearly out of a bag) and a few pieces of chicken. When we were nearly finished with our entrees, the server dropped the check without asking if we needed anything else. We did. This might be a decent place for some wine or beer with pizza, but don't expect too much else.
(2)
Jasmine J.
I've been to Frasca several times over the last year and can't find a thing wrong with it. It's good food for a reasonable price in a nice setting served by pleasant people. That's just about as good as it gets. They also have great weekday specials (half off wine, bogo pizza) and bottomless mimosas at brunch. What else is there to say?
(5)
Angie T.
oh brick oven pizza -- you hold a special place in my heart. we can dress you up in whatever goodness and you never let us down. and thankfully, frasca makes that all possible. -- step 1 - go with a friend (or a few) step 2 - look very seriously at their wine list - its a good one. we tend to lean towards the reds. we're tried lots of bottles and never have had a bad one. or maybe i like to drink? wev. point - get wine. its a wine bar. step 3 - start with a flight of their bruschetta. they always have a special, but the ricotta and honey is a MUST. just yum. step 4 - next try one of their salads. the caprese, wild arugula or the farmers market are all a good choice. step 5 - share a pizza (or a few). they are definitely too big to eat by yourself...well maybe...but all super tasty. depends on my mood - but i love the prosciutto and the margherita. however, often times i opt for the build your own option and add: red peppers, goat cheese, roasted mushrooms and fennel sausage. that baby never disappoints! step 6: - order more wine :) -- bonus: they have a pretty delicious brunch on the weekends with $10 endless mimosas. ummmmm okay.
(4)
Vivek A.
This place is amazing! Great specials every weekday and amazing different types of bruschetta. My personal favorite is the mushroom and goat cheese with a dash of truffle oil! Intense goodness. They also have a gnocchi of the day which is mouth watering.
(4)
jordan h.
Frasca is a new restaurant in East Roscoe Village. The space is FANtastic - but the food is so-so. Lots of outdoor sidewalk space, and the inside has a vibrant, lively feel, with large windows all around. The staff is very friendly, but the night I went they had just reassigned table numbers so they sent us our main course three times! In addition to wine flights, they have an interesting olive oil flight, which I've never seen before. They also have many different types of bruschetta, which they allow you to mix-and-match in one appetizer (most delicious part of the meal). However, the pizza wasn't the greatest, nor were the Roman-style crepes. The pizza was soggy on the bottom, so although the flavors were nice, the bad crust ruined the whole dish.
(2)
Kelley F.
I am simply in love with this place! On wednesday they have buy one get one pizza and it is so tasty!
(4)
heather d.
i love this place. i live down the block and it is the perfect neighborhood casual dining spot. I am so happy they are doing well, but it is always packed now which can be annoying at times. we usually get the 3 bruschettas, a pizza and salad and of course lots of wine. it's inexpensive and it's good (which is why it's always packed!)
(4)
Jane J.
I came here with my boyfriend awhile ago, but I remember the pizza was delicious, and not too pricey. They played the Beach Boys on the sound system, and our waiter was quick, knowledgeable about what was and wasn't vegetarian (for my boyfriend), and so nice and calm, even though it was kind of crowded. A+
(5)
Gretchen P.
Really love this place. Nice cozy neighborhood atmosphere. Their Bruschetta menu is great, I don't know if it's available all the time, if it's not it should be because it's great. Also, save room for dessert because the cast iron chocolate chip cookie with ice cream is fabulous.
(4)
Laura P.
We dined at Frasca on a Friday evening with a group of thirteen people and it could not have gone better. I was anxious about the potential for poor service with such a large group. We had a reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival despite that half our party was still stuck in traffic. Our server, Audra, was incredible. She was patient with the people of our group who arrived late and gracious when one more guest showed up that was beyond the number we expected. All of the main meals came out at the same time, piping hot and fresh. Audra allowed us to wine, dine and celebrate with ease. I cannot say it enough: the service was exceptional. The wine selection was great, our table ordered several bottles of different varieties. The meat and cheese choices were divine and worked well with a large group for an appetizer. The food was very good; most people ordered pizza and were very happy with it. As an East Coast pizza snob who is also Italian, I give it 4 out of 5 stars. The ambiance was wonderful, busy but not overly loud or crowded. It was very romantic, even for such a large group. We had a fabulous time, it was a great birthday dinner for my husband, and I highly recommend it. We look forward to going back soon!
(5)
Maureen G.
Had Saturday brunch here and ordered this bottomless mimosas with our food, very tasty and a good bargain! I had the homemade granola with yogurt and thought it was very good. We tried the donuts and they were tasty, but very dense and I have to say, they resembled fried pizza dough in texture, slightly more glutinous and not a cake-like crumb that some donuts have. The hash brown potatoes were creamy, not your typical crunchy style, but they were good. The service was very friendly and they were kind enough to offer mimosa refills even after we paid the tab. Would recommend this place for a good lunch or breakfast.
(4)
Renee B.
I usually love mid-priced Italian places, but I wasn't impressed with Frasca. I think the portions are a bit small, and as another reviewer said, food came out sporadically to everyone in the group. Nothing like a couple awkward "should we eat yet?" moments. Also, the crust was burnt even for Neopolitan style on the pizza, and I expected better from a restaurant that boasts it's pizza as a headliner.
(2)
Teenie F.
I love this place, it's my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. I've never had a bad meal here. I love the bruschettas, their "farmer's table" and the salad dressings and the pizzas. I even brought my mother here and she loved it - and she's a tough nut to crack. Every time I leave I can't wait to get back.
(5)
Aleks W.
My husband and I had quite possibly the worst service experience ever here (possibly rivaled by an ill-conceived night at Red Lobster where we had a waiter who spoke below a whisper.) Anyway, we went in at a random time -- sort of between lunch and dinner-- and there was one other couple and a woman at the bar. We were waited on by what I believe was the bartender and she only came to our table two times -- to take our order and to drop off the check. Meanwhile, two other waiters prepared for the evening service while gossiping and completely ignoring us. The pizzas we had (quatro formaggi and one with shrimp and prosciutto) were tasty but seriously not worth the hour of completely ineffectual, unfriendly service. It's a great space, in a great location -- shame we'll probably never go back.
(2)
Kylie C.
Frasca is my favorite north side restaurant. This is a sister restaurant to Dunlay's on Clark, but with a warmer atmosphere and a better menu. Great wood-fired pizzas, pasta and make-your-own cheese plates. Don't forget to try the Infamous Wrightwood salad, yum! I also love the mushroom risotto frittters and the rigatoni. Wednesdays nights are a great deal with BOGO pizzas and weekend bunch is one of the best in the city.
(5)
Rachelle B.
I walked past Frasca 2x/day on the way to the El for a year and a half and finally tried it out last night. I had a flight of white Italian wines, the mushroom/truffle oil bruchetta, the ricotta/honey bruchetta, the insalata frasca and a side of the potatoes with parmesan and truffle oil. I guess I was on a truffle oil kick, but it's not often you get to have it and it's not totally overpriced. I thought the meal was good. I would love to come back with friends and just drink wine and eat bruchetta and meats and cheeses. I also want to come back in the summer when they have outside seating.
(4)
Sunny R.
I am so thankful for this neighborhood gem. The servers are friendly, the ambiance is homey and fun, and the wine is terrific. What keeps me coming back is the consistently delicious food. My favorite dishes are the pan-roasted tilapia and the sausage penne, but everything I have tried has been very good!
(5)
Allie S.
Went here on a Friday night with my husband and my middle-aged parents. We made reservations for 7pm, but we definitely didn't need them. The place didn't start getting busy until around 9pm. They had a good wine list and some great cocktails. The best part about the place was the bruschetta -- delicious! Our waitress was friendly and helpful (even though she did drop my dad's credit card on the floor somewhere sending him into a brief state of panic...) I had the pesto linguine which was pretty good but maybe not spectacular. But I loved the mood of the place and the people there which always end up being more important than the food (for me!!) I would recommend this place. It's pretty casual-classy.
(4)
Zach T.
I liked frasca a lot. It was a recommendation from my friend Heather by way of Tom S. We went with yelpers recommendations and had the bruschetta flight. Despite the truffle oil giving me burning rubber burps (as it always does) it was great. We also had teh Arugula proscuitto salad. That was dynamite, and a 4 cheese pizza that was good, but could have honestly used a little more flavor; especially where the gobs of ricotta were. We went in a Tuesday night. The special was half-price glasses of wine. Wednesday is bogo on pizzas. The atmosphere is fantastic. Just fantastic. A true interior vision is achieved. The service was not bad, but was indeed as others have noted here, less attentive than I like it.
(4)
Kymberly S.
I went here in summer, sat outside, got drunk on champange and had a great time. The calamari was delicious for an appetizer. For dinner I order one of their pizzas which I was delightfully surprised by. It was delicious. I cant wait to come back here and try some more of their entrees.
(4)
Alex D.
I have to agree with Sarah S. Went here on Sunday for a quick dinner with the wife. Service was severely lacking. Long wait to place order, etc. The food however, is great. Nice warm bread with olive oil that had little torn pieces of Basil in it. An Italian "fondue" of melted cheeses that came with toasted bread, soprasetta and apple slices for dipping was good. I had a shrimp and bacon pizza for $13. It was a big pizza with lots of shrimp and a great crust. The wife had a linguine with shrimp dish that she loved because they took the tails off of the critters. Decent specials. Buy 1, get 1 pizzas on Wednesdays, and $3 draft pints including Hoegaarden and Guinness on Sundays. Not sure if they are having staff issues, but once they get that figured out, they'll get 4 stars from me for sure.
(3)
Tiger L.
yay! frasca is one of my favorite restaurants in chicago!! i love it. the farmers platter where you get to pick different bruscettas, cheese, meats, etc is fab. the waitstaff are all really friendly. the pizza reminded me of the pizza in roma. ooo and the bottomless mimosa brunch is great. once i had a date here and even when we got really drunk and had a gay makeout sesh in the booth the servers were still all super nice. : )
(5)
Matthew P.
I have lived about 2 blocks from Frasca for about a year now and have been there several times. The pizza is pretty good (thin crust). Their wine selection is limited but reasonably priced. I think the best items on their menu is the brushetta and their pasta dishes. They have great weekday specials that change often. I would recommend this place if you are in the mood for some casual Italian food.
(4)
Amanda A.
I have had such good experiences here. The wine is good, the atmosphere is good and the pizza is good. I love the bruschetta options and the cheese flight. Really, I haven't gone wrong whenever I've been here. Always on a Monday though. You can never go wrong with half-price bottles of wine (half-price glasses on Tuesdays).
(5)
Tim V.
I'm embarrassed to admit how much we eat here. It's just that the food is very good, it's super kid-friendly, not too expensive, and in our neighborhood. Is it the best food in the city...it's at least in the top 10% at this price point and generally super solid. The soppresatta pizza is really nice, and so is the fontina wrapped in prosciutto. Make sure you also check out the "farmers table" menu. It's fun. The asparagus dish with parm and an egg on top is great. The poundcake for dessert is excellent too.
(5)
Melissa F.
Love Frasca. It is reasonable, close, and overall good atmosphere. They have a fabulous Bruschetta menu. I highly recommend the pistachio and feta cheese & the brie and apples. On my last visit our waitress was very helpful and knowledgeable about the food/wine menu. They also have any amazing cookie skillet!!
(5)
erin k.
every time i go to frasca i end up gorging myself on the bruschetta platter and walking home carrying a pizza. i can't seem to stop myself from diving headfirst into the ricotta, pistachio, and honey bruschetta, the apple and brie bruschetta, and the mushroom bruschetta with goat cheese and truffle oil. its this dairy-laden trio that has kept me thus far from the cheese board...and actually eating my dinner. it's best to visit on a weeknight if at all possible to avoid the crowds and get in on the drink specials.
(4)
Jodi R.
Very disappointed the first time I tried Frasca and even more so the 2nd & final time. Pizzas were far from memorable. When dining the 2nd time with friends who had a toddler, her food didn't come out until ours did. When I told our server that what I ordered , crepes, weren't as described on the menu, she gave me an argument. They were canollis. Even though this place is walking distance, I chose to walk on by.
(1)
Alexis S.
I really enjoyed having dinner there last night. We arrived around 6pm on a Wednesday night and we were the third group inside. There was plenty of seating and the decor/atmosphere was very relaxing. Our server had wild hair and was very friendly and helpful. We ordered the mixed appetizer which was a mix and match deal. We tried the brushetta with mozzarella/sun-dried tomatoes, cheese/nuts/honey and the truffle mushroom one (MMMMMM). Also on the plate was a meat (?) and brie cheese. Really good, with a smaller size portion. Then we split a sausage/onion pizza. The pizza, I thought, was mediocre and very thin crust. We also tried the carrot tiramisu, which was excellent because it was not too sweet and had a coffee flavor to it. Overall, we really enjoyed it.
(4)
Jaclyn C.
Okay, not only did they add new pizza's to the menu but they finally posted their brunch menu online. The potato and bacon pizza is so good, I think it is the best one on the menu. I had brunch a few weeks ago for the first time there and I have been back three times. Everything is good from the breakfast pizza to the omelets to the lunch fare on the menu. And do yourself a favor and pass on the fruit and get the potatoes. There isn't a description on the menu but I'll do the honors...it is shredded potato au-gratin baked and served to you in a perfect cut out square. Cheesy goodness and such a change from the regular side potatoes everyone serves. Definitely better in my books that Bakin and Eggs. Oh, and their Bloody Mary's are tasty too. I have to go back for the $15 bottomless mimosas and see if it is worth the deal. Also, the best thing is that you can sit on the sidewalk patio and there never has been a wait when I've gone or passed by there.
(4)
Ann G.
Came here for lunch on a Sunday and really enjoyed my meal. Had the breakfast pizza and definitely walked away full! I will be back here at night to enjoy the atmosphere and drink selection!
(4)
Meredith H.
the boyfriend and i have been here numerous times and have had good experiences each time. we usually start with the fondue, which we both love. bread cubes, granny smith apple sliced super thin, and sopressata are a great mix of flavors and textures for the melted cheese. delightful. if it's bogo pizzas, we do that and usually get the capone and carponata. if it's 1/2 price wine, we usually order pastas - chicken pesto penne for me and something involving seafood or snausage for him. we've always had great service there and good wine suggestions. very accommodating servers. in fact, the last time we were there i got a MONSTER nose bleed and had to frantically run for the bathroom. our server noticed this, went and talked to bf, and had our check to him stat so i could run out of there with a whole box of kleenex shoved up my nose ASAP! great food, great wine, great ambiance. also just down the street from waterhouse - usually our next stop after dinner at frasca.
(4)
David H.
Frasca is delicious. I loved the pizza and we tried several different selections. The salad was incredible also. The noise can be a little loud but I still loved the place. Our service was great and they make a good cocktail.
(5)
Art K.
We dined here on a Friday night. We've been here about 5 times in the past year, and each time we get 5 star service and 5 star fresh italian food. We always get the chef's platter appetizers, which is a you pick 4 or 8 selections of cheese, meat, and bruchetta. The plum jam that accompanies the pecorino cheese w/truffles is amazing - so is the cheese! We often get a gourmet brick oven pizza, and add something "extra" such as fresh shrimp. The martinis are great too, try the italian cosmo for a real treat - we've actually started making that one at home. Oh, and the red wine flight is a real treat as well. This place does fresh/contemporary italian right!
(5)
Anne M.
I give it a four. It is NICE and casual, no pretense. Friendly staff and patrons...lively. A little noisy, but the service is quite good and the pizza is better than Spacca Napoli (NY-style, strictly my opinion). We had the warm olives appie (great), pepperoni pizza and a surprising carrot cake tiramisu that actually worked! Not too sweet, but kinda heavenly. Really like this place. Upon second visit; the calamari appie (not breaded) was pretty awesome.
(4)
G G.
Solid neighborhood choice and worth traveling depending on where you live. Great specials. Farmers table choices outstanding. Well priced innovative wine list.
(4)
K M.
Really a 3.5 - I was here for a little girls night out dinner and found it to be a pretty pleasant place for that sort of night. We started off with a nice note- while our table was going to be a wait despite our reservation, they were throwing in a free cheese fondue appetizer to compensate for the delay. Pretty cool in my opinion. I started off with a martini which didn't exactly get the job done- tasty, but it could have used a bit more alcohol! After a martini, a wine flight, and another martini, I was not even buzzed- which may either mean the martinis are just generally weak, or I have developed some serious alcoholism. One of my friends and I split a pizza- I wasn't sure what would be enough to order. This was just slightly not enough to fill us up- thankfully we both had salads (ok I had caprese, that counts as salad right?!?). The pizzas seemed to be in the $9-13 range, and are pretty light so a person with a decent appetite might just barely be a little too stuffed with a whole pizza. Hopefully that explanation makes some sense! The crust was pretty good, not too crunchy (I dislike crispy pizza so I definitely notice this stuff) but not soggy, kind of light really. Our other friend's penne was smaller than I had thought it would be for the price too (entrees start around $12 I think, with pricier items like steak being closer to $20) The drinks were very tasty though, particularly the sparkling wine flight- there was a sparkling red in there which was amazing! The atmosphere is also very cute- but there were families with young kids which cuts either way I guess. Otherwise just groups of happy looking people- very inviting and warm feeling to the decor (even if physically you might be a little chilly by the windows!) Not something I would go out of my way for (I'm lazy like that), but when looking to meet up with friends further north I would be happy to come back here, so anyone in the neighborhood really should check it out
(3)
Adam T.
Frasca was decent--the crust was chewy with just a hint of crisp, and the tons of basil and juicy tomatoes were nice complements on my pizza marguerita. I thought about giving it 3 stars, but I ordered dessert--warm chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato (amazing!)--and I enjoyed the atmosphere of eating outside, so it gets bumped up to 4. but I'd have to say that the pizza at Spacca Napoli is better, so no perfect score here.
(4)
Robyn M.
Good Pizza, fair entrees and I didn't like the chopped salad. I LOVE a good chopped salad and this one had too much dresssing and wasn't really chopeed that much. They should have just called it a salad.
(3)
Steve C.
Went here for breakfast and loved it. Shared the breakfast pizza which was good and the fresh fruit pancakes which were really good. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Franny S.
I really love Frasca. The food is delish, especially the interesting varities of bruschetta...I seriously dream about the ricotta, pistachio and honey version. It's a great neighborhood place to meet friends, or for a date if you just want to have a glass of wine and some appetizers or pizza.
(5)
Andy G.
I give the service a 2 and the food a 4. Frasca was a selection from a couple we know, who had been wanting to go for quite some time. The four of us arrived at 8 p.m. for our 8 p.m. reservation and were made to wait for approximately 25 minutes for our table. Not off to a great start, and the inside is crowded, so there wasn't anywhere to stand (outside wasn't an option due to rain.) When we were seated, we weren't offered any explanations or apologies for the wait, and had a waitress that was much more interested in the table that was seated next to us (and after us.) After asking for water three times, three glasses (out of four) finally showed up. We ordered a salad and an appetizer to share, with the salad being forgotten until our entrees arrived (45 minutes later) and no refills on drinks without approaching the bar on our own. The pizzas, when they did arrive, reminded us of Italy - with thin crusts and fresh toppings...almost making it worth the wait. I would definitely go back for the pizzas - but next time get it to go and skip the poor, frustrating service.
(3)
Matt N.
This is an exceptional place that feels like it belongs in the neighborhood. Great place to hang out at the bar for a bottle of wine (they have flights too) after work (not after working late though, the bar can get full), and the prosciutto pizza is a must have! The soft music (can turn annoyingly 70's at times), lighting, connection to the streetscape, and attentive bartenders make this is great find! Only down to 4-star because of the pricing.
(4)
Sam J.
Frasca is good but not great. It's not too pricey and the wine selection is moderately good. I'll come back, but it's neither on a special occasion or often.
(3)
aileen b.
I really enjoy Frasca. I have now been a couple of times since I live in the hood and both times the food has been outstanding. The pizza with prosciutto is my personal favorite. You can also order non-traditional bruschetta combinations to split. I think this is a great place for a date or to go with a couple of friends and just split a few items from the menu.
(4)
Alanna O.
I wanted to wait to write a review for this place until after I had been there more than once as the first time I was not that impressed. I went there on a Wednesday for the first time and scored on a good special! Buy 1 Pizza, get one free!! You can't beat that!! They were slammed, we we managed to grab a seat at the bar. It took over 25 minutes to even get the bartender to acknowledge the fact that we were there, so that annoyed me right off the bat. When we FINALLY got served, our table was ready (after about 35 mins), but then we couldn't get the bartenders attention again to pay the bill. So we just told the hostess to either transfer it over to our server, or to bring us the bill at our table. No biggie. They were very accommodating on that one. I got the Caprese salad and my friend got some fresh greens salad....I loved hers...and hated mine. I didn't read the description very closely and it's oven dried tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes and I wasn't really expecting that. So, for me, that wasn't very tasty. We got 2 pizzas and they were both OK.....but we got the last 2 pizzas that night!!!! They actually ran out of Za! How can that be for a pizza place???? The one thing I will say is that the Prosciutto was hard on one of our Pizza's but otherwise it was good. Service was VERY slow too.....VERY slow. I know that they were busy, but that just means that ppl. need to work together more efficiently and maybe the manager should be helping out as well. I decided to give this place another shot and I know that it has potential and it was probably an off night for them. That happens in this industry!! Anyway, I went back last night on a Wednesday again for the Pizza special. This experience was soooooo much better!! They were not as busy, which was nice and the Pizza's were outstanding this time around:) I just ate the leftovers for lunch!! Service was still slow.....but I had the same waitress the same time so maybe it's just her;( Not sure. I will be back again and hopefully I will not have the same server!!! UPDATE(12.10.08): We just had our company X-mas party here(30 ppl)....and WOW!! Everything was awesome!! Our server was great (don't remember her name-very pretty brunette) and the food was outstanding!! Good work!!
(5)
Carrie C.
I work kind of goofy hours and find myself trying to find a decent dinner a little later that is good but not to pricey and has decent wine and is easy to hit by public transportation and I can sit and eat alone at the bar without being treated like a am a loser sitting and eating alone at the bar. Frasca meets all of my needs. The wine lists is Italian and interesting and inexpensive. I heart that they have 3 sparkling wines by the glass. The food is delicious. Love the pizzas. If eating by yourself you will have leftovers for lunch the next day. Bonus. Salads are always fresh and tastey. Love the Tuscan white beans. Had a nice small fillet there too. Plus the patio is pleasant during warm weather despite being on a three way intersection. The staff is helpful and in general really sweet.
(4)
Susan J.
Their arugula pizza is THEE best in the city...and they allow dogs on the patio...and have great specials during the week which keeps me coming back!
(5)
Luther Z.
On the day we went, the service was great and the pizza was enjoyable - but the olive oil flight is an excuse to make you pay for what is complimentary at almost all restaurants. After we left, I realized that we had been suckered into paying $5 for a small loaf of warmed bread and three tiny dishes of different olive oils.
(4)
Meghan S.
Flights of bruschetta-does it get any better than that? You can chose from all different types of bruschetta and go between different wines as you make your way through the flights. The pizza is amazing-thin Italian style. I believe they have the same owners as Pizza D.O.C.-another amazing restaurant. The outdoor area is cute and fun in the summer, although right next to the EL so it is a bit loud. The inside is super cozy and rustic-like. That was a cheesy description-sorry. Since it is so close to the Paulina Brown Line stop you should stop by on your way home from work.
(5)
deb s.
Love. love the pizza & the 1/2 price bottles of wine on Mondays. Good service too.. I had a dinner party here for my last birthday and it was fantastic!
(5)
Esme W.
Love it! Love the pizza, love the bread, love the service, love Katie our cute bartender, LOVE the decor and love that I can walk home after too much delicious wine!
(5)
Megan C.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Frasca and their delicious pizzas. I have the luxury of living pretty much directly across the street from there so my roommates and I try to go on Wednesday's for buy-one-get-one free pizza and it is never a let down! I think we've pretty much gone down the line of all of the pizzas but I'd say our favorites are the coponada, primavera, and the classic margarita (absolutely delicious!). They also have an awesome assortment of bruchetta which are all very unique yet tasty. Their brunch is amazing as well; the chicken pesto panini and the omlettes never disappoint! Although I give this place 5 stars for their food and overall great service, I would not recommend ever getting the bottomless mimosas. We paid $15 dollars for them and it took forever to get them refilled. I'd say we only ended up getting 2 or 3 per person in the course of a 2 hour brunch which is not worth the money considering they are mixed with $4 Andre's champagne!
(5)
Michelle D.
We went to Frasca last nigth for dinner. It was too cold to eat outside, but I love the fact that they are a winebar that has outdoor seating! We started with bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates that were covered in red pepper sauce. These were great! Lots of different flavors all at once that really blended together well. I recommend. Then we had the Capone pizza which was awesome. They also had tons of wines to choose from. I would probably have given Frasca 4 stars based on everything up until dessert. The waitress recommended these cinnamon and honey doughnuts. They were AWFUL. I think they were supposed to come with gelato and we did not get that. Basically we got a bowl full of hard fried dough that was pretty tasteless served with a small ramekin of honey. It was one of the worst desserts I have ever had. I was very disappointed. Also, strangely, the waitress never came back to see if we were enjoying it so I never got to ask about the missing gelato. I left disappointed, but feel better remembering how yummy the pizza and dates were :-)
(3)
Jessica M.
Good food, nice atmosphere, OK service. On a few occasions the service has been adequate, but one day a friend and I waited at our table over 20 minutes after being seated and a waiter never came.
(3)
M S.
This is a great place for a date or quiet conversation in a dimly lit restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised to see a $5 per glass wine special on Tuesday night and loved their white wine selection. The cheese plate was amazing, and the service was prompt and friendly. I couldn't believe they let us stay way longer than we should have after eating, and I'm grateful for that. Unfortunately the pork tenderloin entree was a little dry, but I'm not going to crack on it too much. Go here for the wine and appetizers if you're looking to enjoy excellent ambience without breaking the bank. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Brandon H.
This is a brand new spot in Roscoe Village that hasn't even been open a month yet. Just to clarify, this is not a regular pizzeria, they serve a few different types of pizza for a more eclectic taste than say Domino's. That being said, the pizzas themselves are very good, I had the 4 cheese pizza with the fennel sausage and I also tried the sopressata which was excellent. We had the olive oil flight with bread for an appetizer and that was very good as well. I highly recommend the Italian wine flight, but they also serve beer and mixed drinks which are not on the menu, just ask for them. The service was a bit slow and the decor wasn't much but with the place being as new as it is they have the time to work all of that out.
(4)
Joanna B.
We went to Frasca last night as I live down the block and have been curious what the new place was like. Although they have lots of outdoor seating, there was a wait when we were there so we sat at a table inside. There is lots of seating inside as well. We had the calamari appetizer which was a little on the spicy side but good. Five of us ordered 5 different pizzas and we all enjoyed what we ordered. The pizzas are big enough for a man but a little too big for a lighter eating woman. We did order a couple beers which weren't on the menu as this is a wine place. The waiter offered to bring us bread which was good. I would probably go back if I was in the mood for wood burning oven pizza.
(4)
Courtney B.
The food was great. My only complaint is the liquor and beer selection. They have limited beer and a limited bar. They have a great brucetta appetizer variation which was nice to try different flavors without ordering multiple things. Good addition to the neighborhood, a nicer restaurant in a bar-dominant neighborhood.
(4)
Andrea J.
This is by far one of the greatest things that's happen to us in a long time :) Very good kid friendly restaurant. The food is consistently delicious. The service is incredible. The management staff is attentive and routinely checking in on guest to ensure that they're enjoying their meal and experience. If you live in the Lakeview area and you have kids, you're doing yourself a great disservice if you've not stopped into Frasca! The Brussel Sprouts and Cauliflower salad is my fave!
(5)
Ashley B.
So, my husband and I took our friends, who were visiting from out of town, to Frasca last Saturday night. Compared to previous visits to the restaurant, I was highly disappointed. We made a reservations, but when the hostess wanted to put us at the high-top right near the front door, I asked for a different table. She told me it would be 5-10 minutes for a booth, and I said that was fine. 25 minutes later, we finally got a booth. The service was slow, if at all existent. The waitress took our drink and appetizer order at a decent time, but took a while to come back for the entree order. My husband ran out of coke right away and waited for the waitress for a while. but then finally just went to the bar on his own to get a refill. When entrees came, we were all shocked at the lack of ravioli in my $15 ravioli entree. I think it had 8 pieces of the pasta. And the waitress never came back to check on us, nor did she even deliver the food. And one of the entrees was late getting to the table. We left a bad tip, that my husband still feels bad about, so I don't think we'll ever be going back. Wish is too bad, because I still think the bruschetta is wonderful.
(2)
Little T.
My friends and I wanted to try a new place and it was our turn to go to Lakeview. So, Wednesday we go...and it's 2 for 1 pizzas! What a treat. The pizzas were incredible - everything tasted very fresh and there was plenty of cheese. The artichoke fritters were delicious (I'm always game for a fritter), and the choose your own meat and cheese platter was amazing. Our server was very friendly, and we couldn't have gotten our food any faster...but they weren't trying to rush us out of there - very laid-back... I can't wait to go back to this place. So many selections, fast and friendly service and a nice outdoor area.
(5)
Alexandra B.
It was just ok. I'd probably go back for appetizers/brushetta, that menu looked really good. We just had pizza and it was no different than frozen Trader Joe's brand, but three times the price. I'm really picky about my pizza and I didn't think it was really worth the price and I've definitely had better. Had the key lime cocktail, that was really good. The service was really fast. Our pizza came out just a few minutes after our waitress put the order in. We went Friday right before 7pm and it was not busy at all, I was expecting to wait for a table. There were also a couple of families, so I guess it's a good place to bring kids.
(3)
Clayton J.
I went here on a cold Sunday night in November and found Frasca to be very fulfilling. I had a chicken dish that was very delicious, but at the same time, was lacking in quantity. It wasn't that big of a deal though, I just like to eat a lot of chicken. It had a football game on the T.V. so I knew it was the right place to be. I would suggest taking a date here, as mine really enjoyed it. Frasca is definitely a solid 4 star restaurant because it is a nice mix of quality food, comforting environment, and decently priced food. It's also very close to my apartment, which means I can walk here. Well done
(4)
Philip N.
I discovered Frasca by accident a few months ago. I'm so glad that I discovered it. After my very disappointing pizza experience at Spacca Napoli, I'm happy to say that Frasca has an awesome selection of hand crafted Neapolitan style pizzas; you can even design your own. Our first time experience was on a Wed and we were even more thrilled to discover that it was a two for one pizza special day. The menu was so interesting, we over ordered. Loved the grilled artichoke appetizer with hot pepper flakes. It was so good, we ordered a second round. Then came our pasta course which pushed us over the full edge but it was so good. We've actually made this a regular dining spot at least twice a month. The daily specials mentioned in other reviews are really something. They have a great wine list too. This place is so much more than a pizzeria and so worth trying. Overall the service is good and friendly. The staff seems to have a good wine knowledge and can lead you through their rather extensive wine list. Impressive for a neighborhood spot.
(5)
Duyen D.
The food here is decent but the patio makes it a nice place to dine on a warm summer night. We have had the calamari (not good), pizza (pretty good), and chicken pasta (ok). If it was not for the patio, I would not go to this place as the food is just so-so. I would just stick to the pizza esp. on Wed when it's buy one get one free!
(3)
P N.
I decided to take a friend here for dinner and drinks after Volo was closed due to a private event. I was very pleased. We made a reservation for 7:30pm on a Saturday and when we got there there was no wait. My friend and I decided to order the wine filghts, she got the Reds and I ordered the Sparking Wine. They came with three different types of wines and a description of each one. And they weren't small glasses either! We ordered both the wild arugula and fresh spinach salad and the proscuitto pizza to share. We told them we would be splitting it and they brought out the salad already split onto two plates. It was nice. The food was really yummy and I give extra points to the waiter for putting up with my playful/sarcastic attitude. I was trying to throw him for a few loops but he kept up quite well. Overall I was very happy with the food and service. Will definitely come back, even if it's not during the week when they have great specials. The iron skillet cookie was a little too rich for my taste but it was still good. Between two wine filghts, a salad, pizza and dessert the bill came to $67 w/o tip.
(4)
Julie R.
Pizzas are good but the desserts are even better. Love that they have a wine flight and you can try several different wines with your meal. Great ambiance and they are very 'kid' friendly and dog friendly outside.
(5)
Jared S.
I was looking forward to trying Dunlay's new restaurant and thought this pizza and wine bar was pretty good. It's thin crust pizza so don't expect the chicago style pizza, but i enjoyed it. The wine was very reasonably priced.
(3)
Larry D.
Excellent! Simply excellently delivered through and through. My wife and I were hungry and as usual, didn't know where we would ultimately end up. Driving down Lincoln avenue, my wife says very nonchalantly, as we pass by, Frasca. I pull over and Yelp it. Almost 5 stars and a few(okay more than a few) reviews and we decide to give it a go. Since the Air & Water show was going on, it was very quiet and low key. Despite the humidity and heat today, we opted for the streetside outdoor seating. After a refreshing sip of moscato for the wife and the"scurry" on tap for myself, it was just a great Sunday afternoon to order up some food. In particular, we had ordered the campari tomato watermelon salad and the prosciutto pizza to share. The salad arrived first. It was a summer delight. The fresh mozzarella on top combined with the crispness of the watermelon cubes,tomato wedges, mixed greens and garnish of red onion hit all of my taste buds. The pizza came out shortly and it was hot. First thing I noticed was the mound of arugula on top of the prosciutto. I grabbed a slice and topped it off with more arugula. The saltiness of the prosciutto combined with the arugula on the light thin crust and cheese. This was absolute perfection! Needless to say, between the six slices there was nothing left after a matter of minutes. Update 1: ordered the spinaci pizza on Monday. It was delectably delicious with the carmelized onions, bacon and cheese. Update 2: it's Friday (of the same week) and we ordered to go the buccatini with a side of beef meatballs and the potato bacon pizza. The pasta was al dents in the light tomato sauce. It was such a delicious comfort food with the lightly seasoned beef meatballs! The pizza was light and doughy with just enough bacon and potatoes to complement the pizza. We can't say that we have a favorite pizza yet. They have all surpassed our expectations.
(5)
Melissa N.
Great little Italian place right off the Paulina Brown Line stop. Frasca has a cute outdoor patio and a comfortable interior: nothing too fancy, just a warm and inviting atmosphere. The wine list is extensive, and the pizzas are fantastic: I've tried the pepperoni and the margherita, and want to try the soprano next. This place also has great deals: on Mondays, bottles of wine are half off. On Tuesdays, glasses of wine are half off. And on Wednesdays, pizzas are half off. Those are all great deals, especially because pricing is really good to begin with. My friends and I split two pizzas and had, ahem, 12 glasses of wine between us the other night, and the total bill was just over $100, including gratuity. My only gripe with this place is the service, which is rather inattentive, especially when it gets busy. But I do highly recommend this place!
(4)
Marisol A.
The watermelon salad was amazing! The server recommended ordering it with some burrata, and it was perfect! I will be dreaming of this salad! Highly recommended! They also have a really nice outdoor seating area!
(5)
Garrett C.
Event: Friday night dinner with the kids. Food: New Bacon and Potato pizza. Pizza rocked. Manager Tony saw our 2 babies were beginning to fuss from across the room and booked over. Tony got our food to us quick and we were able to eat and get going in under 20 minutes. Thank u! Great Place and Great Management. Plus Daisy Cutter on tap. BAM! Garrett
(5)
Chelsea P.
Recently having moved to Roscoe Village, I was really excited for my fiance and I to try out new places to eat around the area. My advice: there are a lot of restaurants near Frasca where you'll get better food for a better price and BETTER SERVICE. We walked in (2 hours before closing, with 1/3 of the tables full, mind you) and stood at the front door for 10 minutes. The host was M.I.A. The first person to notice us in front of the host stand was a waitress who was sectioned outside. If she hadn't acknowledged us, who knows how long we'd have kept waiting. All of a sudden the host shows up! Miraculous! She asks us where we'd like to sit and gives us literally the WORST table in the restaurant. It's a little table located right next to the host stand. I literally felt like I had to lean forward every time a waitress came to ring up her tables, with the other side of the table literally stuffed in a corner. Not to mention, when you're seated right next to the register, you get to hear all of the staff's complaints about their customers and their bickering :):):) I'm sitting here wondering, there are SO many other tables that aren't located in this tiny cramped up spot and you give us this one? Fast forward to 15 minutes after we sit down. The bus boy brings us water. Fast forward to 10 more minutes. There's a gathering of 5 waitresses by the host stand and no one has asked us for our drink orders yet. They scatter, and one sweet blonde girl stops and asks us "has anyone helped you yet?" We asked if she'd be helping us and she says she doesn't know who our waitress is. Cool, great, awesome. She takes our orders and we wait for another 10 minutes for 2 glasses of wine. The food came out right after, which was nice. FINALLY our actual waitress stops by the table and asks us how the food/drinks are. I'm not entirely sure why we tipped the girl who ignored us for 45 minutes, or why we tipped her when she literally did nothing but ask us twice how the food was, but whatever. Essentially, the service sucks. We paid $16 for a tiny portion of 4 cheese ravioli. At least my fiance's pizza was okay. It's overpriced Italian food that you can really find anywhere. Not a terrible wine selection, but that was about the only positive thing about the experience. If you want to wait around for almost an hour in a restaurant that's not even busy, be my guest. Otherwise, go a little bit farther north on Lincoln and hit up Big Bricks Pizza.
(2)
Karen C.
I think I've figured out the secret to Frasca: Go in the summer, sit outside & get BOGO pizzas on Wednesdays. Why? If you are sitting outside, it's quieter (no screaming kiddos... or if there are any, the sound dissipates much better because you are outside!); it's lovely to be outdoors; it's a bargain. I've always liked Frasca, but I admit that I do not come here as often as I would if the dining room wasn't so freaking loud. Sitting outside is the bees knees.
(4)
Kendrick W.
Delicious. That's really all there is to say. I stopped by on a whim one day because they had a nice outdoor seating area and have been back several times. I had the soprano pizza. It's not on the menu so you'll have to ask for it, but think meat lover's pizza with supremely high quality meats and a little spice. Amazing. Their salads are also pretty great. They also do a pretty solid brunch. The eggs florentine is great, as is the fried egg sandwich. Definitely a great spot on a beautiful day and surprisingly not too hectic.
(4)
Magen R.
Had a great night at Frasca a couple months back. This place is a perfect neighborhood spot to grab a drink and appetizers or to have a date night. The ambiance is casual while being intimate and I immediately felt at home upon being seat. It's also worth noting that they have a gorgeous sidewalk eating area if you're around on a nice night. For my meal I opted to go with the Roasted Brussels Sprouts + Cauliflower salad while my boyfriend went with the Rustica Pizza. The salad was one of the best I've had in ages, the vegetables were perfectly roasted to just the right level of crispiness and the flavor combination of capers, parmesan, and lemon were a perfect complement. I literally could not get enough of this salad and probably should've shared more than I did... I also couldn't help by try a couple pieces of the Rustica he ordered. Just like the salad the pizza hit the spot. At Frasca they cook their pizza in a wood fired oven and it really makes the difference. I loved the Rustica and by the end of our meal there was nary a slice to be found...
(4)
Romana Y.
Food was mediocre; setup was fun. I won't return for the food, but the atmosphere is nice. Bread and oils: 2.5 (not great bread and subpar oil) Meatballs with marinara: 2.5 Cured duck: 3 Bruschetta: Roasted peppers: 4 Eggplant: 3 Avocado and cherry tomatoes: 2.5
(3)
Jared B.
The food here is pretty good, if a little pricey for what you get. I've enjoyed the brick oven chicken. Unfortunately, if you order takeout, they WILL screw up your order eventually. I just had my order given away to someone else for the second time after fewer than 8 orders ever. While they were very apologetic, I order an hour before pickup because I don't have time to sit around waiting for them to cook my meal. Moral of the story: Don't do takeout here
(1)
Tracy Y.
I've been to Frasca several times. I seem to only go on Wednesday nights for their buy one get one free pizzas. They have a nice wine list. The sangria is jus alright. On my most recent visit, we tried the special risotto that had asparagus, prosciutto and a fried egg. It was a nice starter plate. For pizza, we ordered a rustica and a soprano. Both were quite good. The soprano had a bit of a kick to it. While it isn't the best pizza I've ever had, I love the buy one get one special and love the neighborhoody feel to this restaurant. They get quite busy and service gets a tad slow, but we weren't in any hurry so it wasn't a big deal.
(4)
KB C.
Excellent, excellent, excellent... It was so hot and humid both inside and out- it really didn't matter where you sat as the windows were open- which was cool as winter is coming... So we sat our butts inside, started with a nice cold bottle of Sauv Blanc and moved to a table and ordered his/her pizza- damn. Having lived in NYC for the last 4yrs, this pizza is excellent. Thin, chewy yet crispy crust with whatever ingredients you want=nirvana. Great night tonight- many thanks to the staff!
(5)
Lucas H.
Excellent pizzas and great service. Also they are dog friendly out in the patio. The bread before the meal was warm and soft. The oil at the table is really well prepared with spices. The pizzas are buy one get one on Wednesday so def a good day to try it. Highly recommended
(5)
Jack B.
My girlfriend and I went there for brunch and sat on the patio with our dog. The brunch was great and we had a good time. We switched tables bc we felt our dog was in the way, it took some time for that switch to get to our server. Onto our most recent trip. We were both extremely tired and we didn't want to cook so we went to the bar for a pizza and wine. The food was great, pizza was on point, great flavor, and the calamari was good too. The bar staff and servers were often very busy running around tending to some other customers needs, however, if you sit at a bar, and order 6-7 glasses of wine, at $15 per glass, and you need to track down the 3-5 people standing directly in front of you to tell them you have no more wine left, I found this beyond annoying. The bar staff was friendly, but completely inattentive to the people they were serving. I have never sat at a bar anywhere in my life, and had to flag down a refill like I did here. My mother showed up from the suburbs as a surprise and while the restaurant was busy, we needed another chair, so I asked the bartender if there was another one. I had to go through the entire restaurant to the other side, to obtain a bar stool from another couples table. I am sorry, but for a meal that cost me $170 for two pizzas and 6 glasses of wine, the bartenders or servers could have done this task. I am not at work, they are. When the food came out, we only had 2 table sets and my mother was left eating off of the pizza plate with no napkin. If you are looking for good food with a great atmosphere for enjoying a date or night out with your significant other, go here. But the service doesn't live up to the looks (or cost) of this place.
(3)
Jacqueline B.
Pizza and pasta and wine, oh my! Everything on this menu is delectable. I'm talkin' top notch. Brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks - Frasca is a Lakeview hot spot. It truly caters to everyone in the neighborhood. Families love it for the kid's menu and the fact that the little ones eat free from 5-7 pm during the week. Young adults love it because it great for a date night and a fun spot to grab dinner or brunch with friends. Casually classy and laid back, this lovely wine bar is a win win. Everything I've eaten here is just fabulous! Some of my dinner favorites are the rigatoni, prosciutto pizza, any of the bruschetta's, the farmer's table menu, and my absolute fave - the Wrightwood salad. De-lish. Brunch is amaze-balls too. You absolutely have to get the donuts to start! My go-to is either the breakfast pizza or breakfast sandwich - both equally as good in my book. Then of course there's their bloody mare's which is the perfect way to get your Sunday started on the right foot. They use Smoke Daddy's bloody Mary mix which they also have available to purchase by the bottle for $5. The prosecco they use in their mimosas are spot on. I highly suggest enjoying their outdoor patio space on a beautiful day - it's awesome! Pro tips: Bring your dog to the door and they'll be greeted with a drink! Your pup is always welcome to enjoy the patio. Tuesday is half off bottles of wine and Thursdays is half off glasses. Wednesday they have BOGO pizza
(5)
Karolina T.
I love places like this. Warm and cozy interior with good food and large wine selection. We came here twice, on a Wednesday for their 2 for 1 pizza. They use quality ingredients so we will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. This place is sophisticated and classy, and they also have an intriguing brunch menu. Another thing they offer occasionally is pizza making classes. Definitely want to check it out.
(4)
Brittany A.
I have to disclose that I treated this place more as a wine bar, rather than to dine at so maybe the food is 5 stars, but I didn't get that far....this time. Don't worry Frasca, Ill be back. I went here on Sunday night. The place is cute. It was pretty slow, but all of the staff seemed to be in a cheerful mood. We started on the patio, but had to be moved inside once it looked like rain (per our request.) They were happy to do so. The patio is inviting, the windows were open and the flowers are always a nice touch. The wine flights aren't buildable, they are selected by Frasca. This turned me off a bit, however I was pleased that their selection was suitable for my pallet. Long story short, its a cute spot. The food smelled wonderful. The wine was good. The service was attentive and friendly. If you are close by and haven't tried this spot...go.
(4)
Ivanna S.
I came here because it is super dog friendly. They even gave my dog a treat! So that was nice. The outside space is rather small, so I wouldn't come with a large dog though, cause it will be in the middle of the little hall! . So we had the Brussels spout pizza and the 4 cheese ravioli. The pizza was rather cold! So that was a shame! And the ravioli were not a big deal. I give 3 stars because the place is nice and the service is great. The tiramisu is not bad either but lacking a lot of coffee flavour. Oh and please don't ask for the oven roasted artichokes... $12 went lost there.
(3)
Rebecca L.
Just moving to the neighborhood and wanted to try something in the area. The food was great (definitely try the Rustic pizza!), wine was tasty, ambiance was fun and casual. Service was super fast and every staff person I interacted with (shoutout to our server, Felix!) was kind, engaged, and just overall lovely. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Michael V.
Went to Frasca with two friends on a Friday night around 8 pm. There was a 45 min wait for a table, which I think in part was due to the rain outside. Frasca has a huge outdoor patio which is really nice when the weather cooperates. It was totally worth waiting for a table inside though! The decor and setup is really nice inside, perfect for anything from a romantic date to a girls night out or a big family dinner. Service was very friendly and prompt. I started with their homemade Sangria which was really good! They also start you off with bread and olive oil which I always appreciate. I ordered the Soprano pizza, which had several kinds of meat. Something on it really gave it a strong kick, which I loved! There's nothing like a big spicy meaty pizza. (There's plenty of vegetarian pizza options, don't you worry!) The pizza is more Neapolitan style than anything else. Food all around was outstanding! We ended our meal with the skillet cookie, because have you ever had a bad skillet cookie?? It was super soft and delicious. Two big thumbs up for Frasca! I will definitely be back again, probably to try their weekend brunch!
(5)
Erin R.
I went to Frasca for the first time last night. It's a cute little spot in a cute little area. Wait time on a Friday night at 7 was only about 20 minutes! You have to get the bruschetta sampler to start! I also had a glass of sangria which was delicious. We also had the potato and bacon pizza-VERY good! We topped off the meal with the skillet cookie. The only reason Frasca doesn't get 5 stars from me is the service. Our server (who I won't name) was WAY less than attentive. We were done with our appetizers before she ever came to take our entree order. My roommate couldn't even get a refill on her drink until we were almost done with the meal. We were also never offered bread! Such a tragedy. I did notice that our server was helping out behind the bar but it looked as though we were her only table in the dining room so the slow service was a bit confusing. We had to flag someone else down for our check and then she never came over to say thanks or have a good night. Overall we loved the place! We'd love to come back on a not so rainy night and try the patio. Just a fluke waitress.
(4)
Jamel J.
First off, no I do not work at Frasca so if you see my family and I there 2-3 times through out the week just know we are simply customers. Secondly, I'm fairly new to the area, less than three years, and this place is absolutely outstanding. I want to believe I am a simple person to please. Cut up some lettuce and give me a form of animal that's not moving and I'm good. However, the food is excellent and the service is even better. If you have the time for superb service and delicious meals then look no further. Definitely one of Chicago's hidden gems. Hopefully no longer.
(5)
Jackie C.
YUM. Fab location and great food. The corn app is a MUST. Best thing I had in Chicago all weekend. The bruschetta is very unique (beet/strawberry and the peach/mint) def recommend it. The 8 finger rag was had (Delish) another recommendation- the rainbow trout & any pizza !!
(5)
Jenna K.
Wrightwood Salad. Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower. Margherita Pizza. You're welcome. Oh! Super kid friendly too!
(5)
Audrey L.
My first experience here was not as I expected; customer service was superb, however there were a few issues with our food. My chicken tasted similar to a lean cuisine frozen meal. My friend ordered steak, which was brought to her cooked in a way that she did not request. There was a certain seasoning on her broccoli which tasted very similar to marijuana. Although I'm sure this was not the case, the taste was most likely herbs we are not familiar with, it was rather off putting. I hope to come back and try other items on the menu....im sure the experience will be different.
(3)
Gordon B.
Went here on a Sunday night for dinner since the weather was awesome and they have outdoor seating. They have a great selection of bruschetta which a friend said I needed to try. It was a good call. They come in an order of 3 and they're pretty big, probably 4 bites each. My favorite was the melon, ricotta, and prosciutto. I'll definitely be back to see what else this menu has to offer and probably get some more bruschetta.
(4)
Andrea H.
Last night I went with friends and ordered the Italian Chopped Salad. It was 9.50, which I thought was steep for what would be considered a side salad at many restaurants (think Olive Garden!) But when it came out it was actually ALOT more substantial than I expected and the combos of the prosciutto, grapes, olives, peppercini, and tomatoes were really amazing. I was going to get a pizza as well, but ended up sharing my friends instead (sausage) which was really tasty. Sausage was super spicy and not heavy on the grease, which was a nice surprise. The service at the bar was spotty - we kind of had to fight to get the waitress's attention. They made up for it later when my friend decided she would try to send back a spinach pizza she had mildly destroyed. I was like, no way, you are not going to try to send that back! The waitress thought the same thing and gave her a huge "WTF" look when she explained she was planning on just eating the toppings and because they were stuck to the cheese that really was not working for her. She claims to be gluten free thus could not eat the crust. The waitress snatched the pizza away and left saying fine thereby agreeing to give her the other pizza she wanted instead for free. She then went over to her manager and spent a good five minutes (no doubt) explaining that my friend wanted to send the pizza back after eating half the toppings, while they both stared daggers back at my friend. I was mortified. I could not believe they did not just flat out refuse to sub out her pizza for another. But they brought back the other (aforementioned sausage) pizza she ordered about ten minutes later. I felt like apologizing when we left but did not. I guess this is my de facto apology on her behalf. Or something like that... Anyway! I have been here many times in the past and always enjoy the neighborhood bar atmosphere, and overall laid back vibe. They have a good wine and cocktail list as well. I will return sans finicky friend.
(4)
Bob H.
My son and his girlfriend are regulars who chose Frasca to celebrate my wife's birthday! We called in a reservation and our table was ready at the appointed time. We chose four pizzas on a two for one Wednesday night special. We shared slices from all pizzas and declared them all GOOD! Server was attentive and the price was right. My wife thought the choice was excellent!
(5)
Abraxas T.
We just ate the chicken meatballs and three cheese ravioli. It was amazing. The Malbec was tasty and the service was excellent. Usually this place is filled with mommies and daddies and kiddies, but after 7:30 it turns into a grownup place to go. Clean, good service, and tasty food.
(5)
Jamie B.
I just noticed I've never written a review for this place! How did that happen?! Great food, service, and ambiance. Packed house on Friday nights so plan on a wait. The wrightwood salad is so yummy! We had the polenta fries and calamari to start and the polenta fries rock! Pizzas are delicious and not all greasy, very nice! We had a super time on our recent visit and will for sure be back more often!
(5)
Mallory S.
The pizza had no cheese whatsoever... See the picture I posted. If I order pizza that says it has mozzarella on I'm assuming it's more than 1 shred. Not to mention no one else's pizza was like that !! The Capone was a tad salty. Service was very good. Prices are very fair. Increase the cheese factor and I'll be back!
(3)
Erik P.
Frasca is the type of neighborhood gem if you're in the mood for artisan style pizza. I've been here a few times and pretty much everything I've ordered is good. The pizza are just the right size for a single serving or maybe for two if neither of you is particularly hungry. They have a full bar and a nice atmosphere. They also do a Saturday/Sunday brunch special. As an added benefit Frasca is located a very short distance from the Paulina Brown Line stop. If you want to have a few drink and a tasty pizza come here and let the CTA provide the ride. The pizzas are in the lower teens regarding price. So a dinner for two won't break the bank. Street parking on the side streets is a breeze. So if you're in the neighborhood give it a try.
(4)
Adrienne T.
Let's preface this review by saying that soup is important to me. Very important. I make it weekly. AFter five years of making soup (the homemade kind), you can tell if a soup is homemade or not. I'm always weary to order soup at restaurants because they end up being something that was canned and reheated. Has that ever happened to you? Anayway... On the first ridiculously cold day of the year my friend and I decided to pop into this Pizzeria for a drink and soup. Honestly, we weren't expecting much. Mostly because from experience, places that cater to a specific food, like wood-fired pizza, sometimes over look the other menu items. However, that was not the case for FRASCA. We ordered their ROASTED VEGETABLE and WHITE BEAN SOUP to start. WOW. I mean, WOW. Best soup ever. My nana used to make a soup like this. It hit home. I mean, it was amazing. I actually thought to buy some extra to take home and freeze it for another day, that's how amazing it was. Their pizza was lovely. Not the best pizza in the whole world, but very good. I enjoyed the crispy but soft in the middle crust. The ingredients that topped the pizza were fresh. Also, they have buy one, get one free pizza on Wednesdays. You can't beat that. I've had their salads a few times, always fresh and flavorful. You definitely won't see any cheap, iceberg lettuce crap popping up on their salad menu. Overall, I'm so happy to have a pizzeria specializing in homemade Italian fare. Love you and your soup.
(4)
Kobi K.
We found this place by chance and have been back to Frasca on special family occasions. We order the pizza, the roasted brussell sprouts, and olives. There is something wonderful, relaxing and refreshing about eating here, reinforced by the great staff, and the neighborhood folks who bring their families to Frasca to eat. My family really loves this place.
(4)
Richard R.
Let me begin by saying that, hands down, Frasca serves the best brick-oven pizzas in Chicago. I highly recommend the Spinaci and Rustica but you can't go wrong with any of the others (including the always fresh and light Margherita!). The salads are always tasty (and quite large, it must be said) and their selection of quality wines is impressive. I'm also a big fan of the rigatoni when in the mood for pasta. Once finished with your meal you'll be planning your return visit. Frasca's staff is always friendly and even when the restaurant is busy they are attentive and quick to make sure all is well. The ambiance is ideal for a date but also for a night out with family or friends. Frasca is five stars all the way!
(5)
Kathryn F.
I am very torn if I should give this place 3 or 4 stars -Great neighborhood spot, cute interior, and a nice patio in the summer months -pizzas are good (although one time they messed mine up and I had to send it back, and then they brought me out a replacement that was completely burnt! Must have been and off night though because it's been great every other time. -a little overpriced -I did NOT like their brunch. I have been there twice with my boyfriend and neither of us enjoyed our meals either time. He had the hash the second time and it was all carrots and celery! Barely any meat or potatoes. I ordered the fruit cup as my side and it was all melon and honeydew... The meal was all "filler" foods! -good bloody Mary's I would recommend this place for dinner, but there are so many better brunch places in the area.
(3)
Marjorie F.
Beautiful summer night Dog-friendly outdoor seating Half-priced wine by the glass (Tuesdays) Delicious pizza What more can I ask for??? My neighbor and I came here with our pups. We arrived around 5:15pm in anticipation of a crowd. We were seated right away and greeted by our server almost as soon as we sat down. Not only did she ask for our drink order (hello, half-priced glass of wine!), but she asked if we wanted water for the dogs. Gee, thanks! Keeping it light, we each ordered a pizza. I had the prosciutto which was perfect - not too much cheese, a decent helping of meat on each slice, topped with a little olive oil and arugula. My friend had the pepperoni which I also sampled. Yum! The sauce is on the sweet side, just enough on the pizza. If you want to dine al fresca during the last warm nights before the chill of Fall sets in, I recommend Frasca. Just get here early, because it is really busy by 6:30pm!
(4)
Josh C.
Not a huge deep dish fan so I'm always on the look out for good Neapolitan-style or similar simple/dressed down pizza. I might not have look much farther than Frasca. The prosciutto pie was amazing. Good beer and wine list. Did not have any but did see people with some good looking cocktails too. Not sure what nights they do it but I was there on a Monday and they had half-priced bottles of wine. Nothing like getting a great malbac for 21 instead of the menu listed 42! Will be back again for sure.
(5)
Jaime E.
I'm torn on Frasca. They have a great location, a nice selection of beers on tap but they're overpriced compared to other Italian restaurants in the area. It's always crowded but they have friendly service if you're willing to wait. Frasca is usually overrunning with kids but they have good weeknight specials on pizza and wine. There's a nice patio seating option when the weather permits. I like them but might chose another place if I want slightly better Italian food without the crowd for less money.
(3)
Cheryl B.
We love this place for brunch. It's one of our go-to spots. Dinner is also great. The only reason I'm only giving it 4 stars is because a) there is one waitress who works there who is awful. We have had her several times, every time, awful. Now if we get her we move to the bar. and b) the acoustics in the restaurant are weird. Today the music was WAY too loud where we were sitting (it was 10:00am, we just wanted to talk and could barely here each other. Yes I'm old). Other times we have sat on the south side of the room and the curved ceiling lets you hear conversations on the other side of the room. Or if there is a baby crying, like today, we heard it loud and clear and it seemed amplified. and c) Years ago they gave you a small draft beer with the Bloody Mary's. Than they switched to the mini Miller high life bottles. YUCK. I never drink mine. I would much rather have the small mini draft. I've left comments on comment cards and emailed them to let them know, but oh well I think the mini drafts were better. The Bloody Mary's are very good though. All of this aside, we still come back time and time again. Their pizzas are amazing. The breakfast pizza with hollandaise sauce is out of this world. Very easy for two to share. Wood fired pizza crust loaded with cheese, bacon, sausage, sunny side up egg, than topped with prosciutto and hollandaise - YUM~!! The rosemary breakfast potatoes are like a yummy creamy casserole, awesome. If you go with the group, start with the fresh doughnuts. They are awesome! For dinner you can't go wrong with any pizza. They have a great selection of meats, cheeses, and bruschetta. And last but not least the Wrightwood Salad is legendary and will suit anyone's tastes! We need to head up there more for dinner when they have half off bottles of wine or buy one pizza get one free :)
(4)
Kolin B.
Amazing bloody Marys! Great food ! great service! Highly Recommended!!! Had the fried egg sandwich , big sandwich, relaxing atmosphere
(5)
Mike M.
Love this place for early dinner with kids in tow! Can't go wrong with the brick oven pizza and or Farmer's Salad. The kids loved the pizza making class/demonstration too if you can catch one.
(4)
Adam Z.
I feel bad for places like this. The food is so good here, and it's so busy, so not everything is going to be perfect. In fact, a lot of things didn't go well at all for our table of 7. But Dan, the manager, went above and beyond to make it right. There are a lot of critics out there, myself included, but when it comes down to it, all I have to say is, put yourself back there and pump out 200 orders of donuts and see how many come out perfect. I wish I lived closer so I could back more often. The breakfast pizza is great and everything else I didn't have looked really good.
(5)
Rachel V.
"I can't believe I just ate all that pizza." I went here for brunch on a chilly winter Sunday and let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed my hot breakfast pizza. First, it's huge. Second, the pizza dough is perfectly doughy in the middle of the pizza. Third, I'm pretty sure Frasca has managed to combine two of my favorite things - eggs and pizza - into one glorious meal. Just delicious, and I'm certain I won't ever even think about ordering a breakfast pizza anywhere else after eating Frasca's; I don't think anything will compare!
(5)
Kori E.
What a great spot! We joined some friends of ours and their baby, great spot for kids too FYI, last Friday night and we all had a great time! The interior is so warm and cozy, and the food was great! we started off with the bruschetta, and all were great! I typically never order pasta, but saw the seafood pasta and couldn't resist! The pasta was cooked well and the seafood was great, the only thing I picked around was the salami. I don't think the dish necessarily needed that. My boyfriend had the rags pasta with lamb ragu and that was really good, too! I will definitely be returning as I was obsessed with the ambiance as well as the food! Awesome wine selection as well! Great spot off the paulina brown line!
(4)
ML M.
Frasca...hhhmmm? What happened to our favorite neighborhood spot? It use to be the neighborhood "Cheers"....where everyone knew your name. Now I don't think they even care. Food is still really good. And wine list decent. Ambiance including outdoor area is comfy. Dog friendly. But the newbie staff...unorganized, unprofessional, unfriendly...and perhaps uncaring. Frasca...you use to be everything a neighborhood spot could ask for...hope you get your mojo back.
(3)
Jerry F.
Incredibly good. Butchers plate is a must. Caesar salad is very good. Skip the calamari.
(4)
Larry S.
Eat your brussels sprouts! These words have never been so appealing as they are at Frasca. One of their appetizers is mixed brussels sprouts and cauliflower. The dish is roasted with bacon and parmesan. What a suprising delight at this friendly, informal restaurant in Roscoe Village. I dined here last week with 6 others. Other than the veggies, we tried calamari, pizza, Rigatoni Gigante, pasta rags (lamb ragu), 8 finger cavatelli, and mushroom ravioli. The calamari was the lone miss, all of the other dishes were prepared perfectly, with the pasta served al dente. The pizza is baked in their brick oven, and the result is a thin, crisp crust. Pizza Hut fans should stay away! The ambience is comfortable, and as loud as should be expected at an informal restaurant (yes, loud). Service was perfect, and if this makes or breaks a meal then at Frasca it is a plus. I prefer restaurants with shorter, well executed menus and that make you feel like everyone working there truly enjoys the place. Frasca fits the bill, and I would return for a pasta or pizza night!
My favorite place to stop and get a quick and light bite. Casual setting appropriate for any week night or weekend. Bar is very inviting, you can sit and eat at the bar as well. Calamari here is really good. I love their pizzas as well. Had the risotto in the past that is very good as well. love there BOGO Pizza weekday special.
(5)
Christine H.
Loved this place! Ate here on a Friday night around 830 and it was packed. Got a table after about a 30 minute wait. Started with polenta fries and calamari, both excellent! Polenta fries were very creamy. For our meals we shared a couple of pizzas. The first one we got was the pizza Francese. It was outstanding and I loved how all the flavors came together. The other one we tried out was a special, which had Creme fraiche, potato, Rosemary and bacon. It was delicious! I have gotten pizzas with potato on top before and the potatoes have been too large making it more difficult to enjoy, these were perfect. all in all, this was an outstanding restaurant and will definitely try and go back if I am in the area
(5)
Leah C.
where has my frasca gone?... and why haven't i reviewed this place 'til now? i can't count how many times i've been to frasca - before marriage, with husband, with kid, without kid, with girlfriends, with family, big groups, small groups...i'm always there! it's that kind of versatile "go to" place and i'm disappointed that now that i've finally decided to review it, i don't have a stellar review. why do i feel that ever since her brother crosby's opened up, this place has gone down hill? the service is very spotty now. one of my last visits, our entrees came before our appetizer and our server was nowhere to be found. when it was closing time, she reappeared and gave us the look of death to wrap it up (even though there were 5 other tables finishing up). i know this is petty but i've boycotted all other wine ever since they stopped pouring meiomi by the glass. now their food has become extremely inconsistent. i get the wrightwood salad 99% of the time and the last few times, it's been a bowl of overdressed costco greens with some burnt, buttery croutons. we took advantage of the free kids meal the other day for the first time and we know now why we usually pass it up. the cheese pizza was all crust... hopefully one day i'll be able to sing the praises of frasca again.
(3)
Ann Marie B.
I have been to Fasca for Bruch and dinner. Brunch was great, we got to sit outside and there was a great amount of outdoor tables. The mimosas and bloodys are great! The food was also amazing. For dinner the indoor atmosphere is very quaint and warm/cozy. It is just a kind of place you want to go to for really tasty pizza and wine and to chat with good friends or a date. The service is really great here, I have always had a good experience with friendly servers. Definitely one of my fav spots in Roscoe Village.
(4)
Adam W.
Came through Frasca later on a Sunday night and was impressed - we were a bit rushed on time, but the waiter was very helpful with selections and politely reminded us that the kitchen would be closing in about 30 minutes (not being sarcastic here, he was legitimately kind and wanted to make sure we got what we wanted and had a pleasant experience)... Anyway, ended up with the Soprano & Spinaci and both were very good - I haven't come across a lot of pizza places that offer napoletano style, so this was a nice change of pace... Looks like there are quite a few different specials on through the week, so I'll probably come back at some point. The setup and decor is nice - very cool that they open the windows when the weather is cooperating!
(4)
Katherine G.
Frasca is hands down my favorite brunch spot or even week-night dinner spot when I need somewhere delicious and reliable! We hit up their restaurant for brunch more than I should admit to, and have begun to enjoy their pizzas in evenings as well thanks to such incredible week-night specials (BOGO pizza, 1/2 priced wine... amaze!). It's a staple in the Roscoe Village area, there's never TOO long of a wait, the pizzas are fantastic, as is the rest of the very seasonal menu.. Can never go wrong with a bloody there either. PS they love my dog, so I love them even more for that!
(5)
Annie B.
Frasca is definitely one of those decide-five-minutes-before-we-leave-where-we're-Âgoing-to-eat sort of restaurants. Food is always good/decent but it's hard to mess up calamari, salads, pasta, and pizza (although I definitely have gone to a few places in Chicago who have figured out how to do that so I take that back). I like the atmosphere (typically lots of children but I usually come here for a late dinner & it's not like Lakeview has the most unruly kids in the world anyways). Service is fine, prices are fine, location is great.. Sitting outside in the summer is nice. Their brussel sprout salad is pretty legit so pretend like it's healthy and get that.
(3)
Luisana R.
Came here to meet friends for dinner and had an awesome experience. Everything we ordered was delicious. We started out by ordering several of the bruschetta. We tried the mushroom, beet/strawberry, pear/prosciutto, Apple/Brie, and pistachio/honey. Each one was absolutely delicious. I can't pick a favorite and I'm convincing myself I have to go back as soon as possible and try them all again so that I can decide. I shared the Brussel sprout pizza with my friend. We asked them to add bacon to it, best decision ever. The pizza was so yummy! Our other friend ordered the risotto which I didn't try because it had goat cheese which I am not a fan of. He said it was a good effort but didn't blow him away (to be fair he has spent time in Italy and conceded that it's hard for risotto to impress him since then). I had the build your own wine flight (their Thursday drink special) and it was the perfect compliment to my meal. Since everything else was good we decided to give dessert a try. I'm so glad we did! The tiramisu was divine and the gelato/sorbet combo was also very good and a huge portion. I will definitely be back soon to enjoy more delicious bruschetta and pizza.
(5)
Deanna S.
There are very few places that I can go for a kid-friendly spot after work/school with the kids, an evening out with the girls where a good wine-menu is a must. a weekend spot for a tasty brunch AND a place with a great outdoor seating area. Frasca has it all! Come before 6pm and your kids eat free and have a great kid-friendly menu without a bunch of fried foods. The kids menu has buttered noodles, grilled cheese, pizza, PB&J, etc. Again, if you come before 6pm, be prepared for romper room. If you don't want to hear a bunch of kids, come at 6:30 or 7pm when the kids are headed out. Win/win. I've tried just about every pasta dish and most pizzas. I've not been disappointed. I love that they have specials on certain nights for 1/2 price bottles of wine or buy 1 get 1 free pizzas. Check out the website before you come in! Last thing...you can't come here without trying the iron cookie skillet. Oh My Gawd...
(5)
Josh M.
One of the best bloody Mary's in the city and a great brunch. Good for crowds and good for kids. You won't go hungry on the breakfast sandwich either.
(5)
Betsy H.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday, our second time dining here (first time was for dinner). Both times we were impressed with the quality of the food, the service, and the overall atmosphere. The food has unique twists to contemporary Italian and American dishes, and is delicious. Highly recommend - and bonus, in nice weather they have really nice ample outdoor seating!
(5)
Matthew S.
There's a reason this place is always crowded-- it is a consistently great experience. Friendly (downright bubbly at times), efficient service, delicious food (order the Rigatoni or the Margherita pizza), good wine selection and lovely atmosphere (weather permitting their outdoor space is very social and fun). Since we moved into Roscoe Village, this has become our go to place.
(5)
shivi d.
Hit or miss food. Their brunch seems to be better than other meals. Super kid friendly.
(3)
Stephanie S.
Frasca is consistently churning out tasty pizzas and sangria. Also, they have the famous Wrightwood salad, which I LOVE. They run some pretty great daily specials - Wednesday is a favorite as it's BOGO pizza.
(4)
Saba A.
Reviewing for a Sunday brunch spot: My sister-in-law made reservations for 4 on Sunday morning for 2 p.m. and we got it! I do recommend making reservations- this space is cozy, very well kept, and busy! It was very inviting as soon as I came and with the friendly service, made me feel right at home instantly. They are known for their pizza, and bloody mary's, but they should also be known for their panini's! I had the pesto chicken with the market salad, fair price of 9 dollars, but the salad was nothing special. Too salty. My husband and my brother in law ordered two eggs any style, with turkey, and it was a thick slice of turkey, and not so good. The eggs were nothing too special either. My sister-in-law got the omelette, and that was a better choice! We began with the doughnuts, and those were worth the sharing, especially with coffee. The service was great, but just a little slower. They have a coal oven for the pizzas and I guess they make everything fresh. If you are in the neighborhood, it's a great stop. It's great for groups in the fact that the brown line Paulina is less than a block down and convenient for people to meet at.
(4)
Sandra May L.
Perfect place to take a date, they have a special for everyday. I went on a Wednesday so it was buy one get one free pizza! It was the best, their pizzas are delicious as well! It goes great with wine and they also have a wide selection of wine and other drinks
(5)
Samantha Q.
My favorite wine & pizza place.
(5)
Roberta P.
Definitely a new go to spot! Loved the bruschetta and the sangria was fantastic! Beware Friday night is kids eat free so tons of kids but don't bother anymore :) awesome for outdoor seating quick and friendly service! Noticed they have great specials everyday which we will definitely come back for. Wish the bruschetta came on bread slightly warmer but regardless awesome unique bruschetta choices we loved! Also bread and seasoned olive oil come when you sit down was a treat :)
(4)
Brittany V.
Came here the other night for a quick impromptu date night with my man. Walked in and was seated promptly. Our server came quickly to go over drink specials and we ordered the 1/2 price wine by the glass. We then decided on a trio of bruschetta and 2 pizzas. The bruschetta was devine. The tomato mozzarella is a classic and the ricotta with honey was a sweet bite, however the real standout was the roasted beet bruschetta. Paired with fresh strawberries, ricotta and balsamic it was the clear winner. After appetizers things started to go downhill. The food coming out of the kitchen was taking quite a bit of time. Normally I am lenient but seeing as we were one of 5-6 tables in the restaurant it was frustrating. Then we proceed to watch our pizzas sit in the window for almost 10 min. Multiple servers and bus boys walked past them and didn't deliver. I was just about to get up and get the pizzas myself when our server saw them and brought them to us. The pizzas were ok. Very doughy for a supposed wood fired pizza. The special Brussel sprout pizza of the night was unfortunately pretty bland and the margarita pizza was tasty but nothing to write home about. We were hoping to indulge in the skillet cookie we noticed on the menu earlier, but thoughts of long wait times deterred us from making the plunge. I would definitely go back here for the killer bruschetta and maybe to try something on the menu other then pizza.
(3)
Sarah C.
I'm all about it. I've never had a potato pizza but I'm so glad I tried theirs. The margarita is really solid. What was really great was that they had wine recommendations to go with just about anything. I love the look of this place. I would go on a date here but I'd also take my girls here for a fun night out. It's a dimly lit, funky architecture, and groovy waiters. I will very happily come back.
(4)
Sarah N.
We went to Frasca for breakfast on Sunday morning. We were seated right away. Server pleasant. Nice atmosphere, bright, open windows. Music on the loud side. Kids ordered cheese pizza. It was mostly crust, bubble like crust with edges on the burned side. Kids did not want at first until I cut off all the crust which left 40% of pizza. My food was good. On the disappointing side, once food was served, we were abandoned. I was flagging down anyone for help . The kids did not get fruit with meals, even though server stated they would. I would not return with kids.
(2)
Elizabeth S.
We went there for a Bachelorette party and there was plenty of seating and the ambiance was a very homey Italian feel. I had the Pizza Margherita and it was delicious! Enough to split. We also had the appetizer which was a flight of different bruschettas and it was perfect to share. Considering we had plenty of alcohol and each had our own entree, I was VERY impressed that the pre-tip bill was under $30! The only minor dings I have were that my one friend asked for extra garlic and I had to run down our waitress because she didn't give me a glass of water while I was in the bathroom and she served everyone else. We had an early reservation (5:30) and there were a lot of young families, which is understandable. So, feel free to bring your kids if you've got them! If it's a date night I would say definitely go later at night. Extra bonus: it's about a cartwheel's length away from the brown line so if you're like me and tend to hate straying too far from your neighborhood don't fear!
(4)
Meredith B.
Now I see what all the fuss was about! I've lived near Frasca for a few years but never stopped in. My first time was, admittedly, after one too many after-work glasses of wine. Silly to have and then go to a wine bar and not order wine, but that is how I roll (or, stumble). I sat at the bar with friends - the place was pretty crowded on a Thursday night, and had a very comfortable but energetic atmosphere. Lights are dim, wine is flowing - fantastic place to linger over a glass and have a plate of pasta, which I did! Well no, technically I had gnocchi. Hand-rolled sweet potato gnocchi with pancetta, apple, pearl onions, brussels sprouts, and sage. Um, yes please. It was warm and comforting, and a wonderful fall entree. The apples added a very pleasant fruty taste, the pancetta a bit smoky, and the gnocchi were pillowy. I'm sure it's even better sober! I would go back and order with confidence, because clearly somebody has some skill in the kitchen.
(4)
J G.
Frasca is 100% our go-to neighborhood place. The food is always reliably yummy, the ambiance is warm, friendly, & bustling, and the service is always friendly & efficient. Plus, they are super dog-friendly and in the summer we can go sit outside on the patio with our pooch. Even if we just walk by with the dog, they'll always come out with a treat and fuss over the dog a bit. My favorite is the margerita pizza, and my husband's a fan of the Soprano. For brunch, the breakfast pizza is so decadent but so delicious. They also have solid pastas and other entrees. Perfect spot for when you feel like going out but don't want to spent a ton of money or wait around for a table. Love Frasca!
(4)
Lysette H.
Really liked the food, including pasta w/meatballs, calamari and especially dessert...tiramisu! The casual ambiance was perfect for Monday night dinner, however, I do wish a nice cappuccino was available to top the meal. I plan to explore their selections of pizza next!
(3)
Rachel M.
Frasca is one of my new favorite places in the city. Our server, Matthew, was phenomenal. Very friendly and helpful, and he made great recommendations for both wine and food. We ordered four of the bruschetta options as our appetizer, all or which were delicious. We loved our entrees as well- the potato gnocchi was the unanimous favorite. We finished with the skillet cookie, which was also delicious. The wine list was great, and the create your own wine flight was perfect for our group. There was a wide variety of options, and we really enjoyed the prosecco and roses. I will continue to go back. The restaurant is adorable, and the windows let in a great breeze. I don't have a single bad thing to say about the restaurant.
(5)
Karla B.
Wednesdays are buy-one, get-one for their pizzas. Great deal for really good pizzas. However, we were there last Wednesday and the brushetta stole the show! Your server will give you a smaller menu called "farmers table" in which to order brushetta. (I specify that because we almost didn't notice it). Our table ordered a combo platter of brushetta to share: mushroom/truffle oil, melon/proscuitto, brie/apples, and white bean/olives. The mushroom and truffle oil brushetta was to die for. Seriously it was everyone at the tables favorite of the night. The mushrooms were perfectly roasted, placed on top of pecorino which offered the right amount of buttery and salty flavors, with just a couple drops of truffle oil. The bread was appropriately crusty but not overly dry. For us, the melon/proscuitto was a miss. It didn't offer enough of the sweet and salty balance in which it was striving for. The melon just over took the proscuitto and ricotta.
(4)
Nathan F.
I come here for brunch every couple of weeks and am always happy with the food. The donuts are incredible and the menu has a good variety to choose from. The one area that could use some work is the service. I have been left waiting for a while before a server comes to greet us on multiple occasions and have ended up asking if we even have a server a couple of times. It isn't ever enough to prevent me from going back, but it can be a little annoying.
(3)
Ryan C.
A great place if you are looking for a casual, date night spot in the north Lakeview area. I've had a few of their appetizers and salads and all have been impressive. Obviously they are known for their pizza and wine and I've never been disappointed in the ~5 times I've been there.
(5)
Dee B.
Make your own pizza is the best!!! I highly recommend truffle oil, smoked peppers and goat cheese:) It was delicious on my pizza. I also love the weekly specials; especially half priced wine night!
(5)
Valerie J.
Still in love with Frasca! We went for brunch - the prosecco is of course awesome. My fiance loves the bloody mary that comes w/a bacon and is a meal in itself! My friend Leigh had the chicken pesto panini which was super amazing. They just do food right here!! My fiance and I got our standard over-kill pizza w/tons of toppings and loved it! I am merely updating to recommend the panini if you are not in a pizza mood :) And the bloody mary if you are feeling manly ;D
(4)
T V.
Stopped in on weds for bogo pizza. Enjoyed the margarita pizza and pepperoni pizza (but it was a bit spicy). Sangria was average - not very sweet. But the rest of their wine menu is great. We've done brunch as well, but I prefer the dinner menu. Get there early, as it fills up with local families so there may be a wait for a table, unless you can grab a spot at the bar.
(3)
Dean W.
Good place for families. The thin crust pizza rates highly with other places in the city and their big booths/open floor plan lends well to bringing kids along. Have always had good experiences with the service.
(5)
krysti s.
I've been to Frasca many times and always enjoy it! I went in a couple weeks ago with my sister and had a great night! We came in at 8:30 on a Friday night, with no reservation. We found a spot at the bar... but there were no bar stools there. However, the bartender was kind enough to find us bar stools to sit there. We were off to a good start.... We ordered a cheese board (always a must!) and decided to try a bruschetta with strawberries and beets. It was Fantastic. I also had the best white bean soup I've ever had that night. Well done, Frasca! We'll be back. A+
(5)
Michelle S.
Frasca has the food and service consistency I always look for in a great restaurant. The food is amazing and the chef caters to each individual guest. The fried egg sandwich is amazing and their meat and cheese selections is fantastic. I love coming here for brunch!
(5)
Kyle D.
Wasn't disappointed with Frasca. After the unfortunately long wait (place was packed) my party was treated quickly and politely. The salads looked amazing but it was all about the pizzas for me. They have so many fresh and unique combos, and they are all thin crust which could be a welcome change from the ever-present Chicago deep dish. Our pizzas were all amazing and there is plenty of alcohol options too. This is more of an intimate restaurant but you definitely get what you pay for. They also have patio seating which was perfect for the dog in our party. Well worth the wait! UPGRADED: 5 stars. This has become my go-to local thin crust pizza. It's the perfect date restaurant and the pizzas are fantastic. The service is always great and I haven't been disappointed yet. Cheers! Atmosphere: 9.5/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9.5/10
(5)
John K.
Not sure what to expect but was surprised. Decent food, nice selection and not oversized portions. Drawback .... It's a bar and a noisy one at that. Got the feeling it was for those folks in transition from their twenties to thirties and now they have a child with them. Kind of surprised about a wait list to get a table but settled in at the bar and found pleasant and accommodating bartenders so we stayed there. Risotto always a test for me at any restaurant was done well. Calamari was good with a little spice. My companion's pasta dish was a conglomerate of things in it that I felt didn't work but wasn't that bad either. Desert was a hot cookie dish that was too soft. Mixed drinks were good. Would I go back? Yes. If I would, pizzas looked very good and would try them next. Would I break both legs trying to do so, probably not.
(3)
Rhonda G.
I've been here about 5 or 6 times and it is very reliable for brunch. I had also been a fan of the bottomless mimosas. Fast forward to this most recent time, sadly the mimosas are no longer bottomless because apparently they got better champagne? I don't believe that but that was the given reason...ah well so be it. New per drink price is only $5. I think Pizza and wine and brunch food is what they do best. Once you start straying off into salads and sandwiches you might be a bit let down, I was. The chicken used in the infamous Wrightwood salad appeared to be torn of pieces of deli meat and not what I expected. Maybe they ran out of the good stuff. Why the 4 stars? Well I like the place, the staff is friendly, I've never really had to wait and a visit doesn't break the bank.
(4)
DJ F.
Great atmosphere later in the evening when all the screaming kids go home. (If there are 20 strollers parked out front, do yourself a favor and walk away...) Great wine specials on Tue and Wed nights. Love their pizzas. The Spinach is awesome, and definitely try the Roasted Potato pizza if you're up for something different. Great flavors and be sure to spring the extra $1 for the egg! We usually belly-up to the bar: the bartenders rock and staff always seems nice and knowledgeable. Great outdoor seating area in the summer. If we ever see summer again! My only real complaint - PLEASE bring back the Spinach & Arugula salad! Servers have said they get complaints all the time about this being taken off the menu. I know they have to hear it from me when I come in! Lots of unhappy people when that disappeared.....
(3)
Frances A.
Brunch is so hard - I love it, but so often I find that I could easily have made w/e I was ordering at my house. So i really pride a restaurant when they can do something slightly different. The Italian Farmhouse Breakfast was that. It sorta looked like a tomato sauce soup. With yummy prosciutto-esque stuff over it. It was interesting, yummy. But simple in taste. By the way it looked, I was hoping for something a little more fiery. Different. But the potatoes I think were the best. There's a spiciness. Oh, and the bread. Right out of the oven. Enjoyed.
(3)
G A.
One of my favorite casual neighborhood joints,I go back at least 2-3 times a month. Good pizzas and pastas,good wine selection and great specials that they run during the week like two for one pizza on Wednesdays and half off bottles of wine on Monday.Bruschetta used to be amazing and one of my absolute favorites but unfortunately they switched to the different bread which brought the quality way down. Cheese and cured meat plates are still great,I would also recommend Risotto,Soprano pizza and Fried egg sandwich that they have for brunch.Not the destination for your first date,the place is pretty loud.
(4)
Mike Z.
One of our favorite places to go for pizza/wine/beer in the city. Reasonable prices and Wednesday's are BOGO pizzas.
(4)
Zach F.
Pretty good spot. Came here and enjoyed a half price glass of wine, their rigattoni, and tiramisu at the bar. Great atmosphere. Casual and friendly, with the bar right in the middle of the room. Service was friendly and prompt, even at the bar. The bread was great. Riggatoni was pretty good, and the tiramisu was great, but a very large portion. Plan to share it. They have amazing daily specials (1/2 price bottled wine, 1/2 price WBTG, etc.) depending on the day of the week. Will definitelybe back.
(4)
Kristin L.
One of my favorite places in the city. From the wine to the pizza to the cheese.... its all perfect! FIrst of all they run great specials during the week! Half price bottles of wine, half of glasses, BOGO pizza... just amazing. The wine is some of the best, in my opinion. I am a huge fan of Turley Vinyards, and they ACTUALLY carry several of their bottles. It's the best Zin I've ever had. The food is spectacular! Every time I go I order the must-haves, burrata olive tapenade, large butchers plate and the margherita pizza. All of them to-die-for. Most recently I enjoyed the roasted potato and carmelized onion pizza, also fabulous. They always have a great selection of cheeses and meats. All I gotta say is the place speaks for itself.... try it immediately.
(5)
Meagan H.
Such a cozy little place! It's got great decor and the staff has a humble attitude. The appetizers were amazing (Try the bacon wrapped dates)! The pizza was a perfect size for 2 and tasted great. Not too much sauce, cheese. But just the perfect amount. Not too filling. You won't walk out of there with a food coma like most pizza places create. They have a wonderful wine selection too (which is necessary). A great date place! I will definitely be going back!
(5)
Ashley B.
Great food, great wine and a nice ambiance. I'm so happy this place is in our neighborhood! We've been countless times for dinner (never disappointed!) and for brunch (the eggs Benedict is the way to go along with the egg sammy). It's fun to go for pizza as well (buy 1 get 1 free on Wednesday!). My husband and I have gone there for date night and with family and friends. Always good service.
(4)
Mary M.
Great food, great wine, and amazing service every time. What's not to love about this place?! The way it's decorated is also very cute. I love getting the wine flight if i don't want to stick with the same glass of wine.
(5)
Megan K.
I flippin love this place. I have since it opened. It's a quaint little place but still has plenty of room inside and on the sidewalk. It's just clean and modernly rustic, which makes no sense but you get it. The food is consistently good. I'm partial to the pizzas. The bruchetta is also excellent. The ricotta, pistaccio, and honey is my FAVORITE. SO good. The sides are also just great. Tasty and well done. They have a great wine list and the servers know their stuff. Sometimes they have really fantastic specials on wine. The servers are always friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. They have a pretty great little brunch too!
(5)
Tony T.
Our friends John and Athena introduced Frasca to us. Pizza, pasta and wine yum yum! The pizza actually takes me back to Italy. Brunch or dinner, overall it's an awesome place.
(5)
Matt G.
I'd give it a 4 for food and 2 for service. Sunday Brunch.... Pulled Pork Benedict with hash brown potatoes. Not a morsel left on the plate. Not a one. I thought the pork was well done, with a decent amount of spice, but not too much. Potatoes were pure bliss and cheesy and creamy. It was, however, impossible to run down the server to order, to get coffee warm up or to make sure that my 3 yr old son got his pizza while the rest of us got our food.
(3)
Kathleen C.
I've now been to Frasca a few times now and have had nothing but delicious food and a great time. I especially like the daily specials during the week which are great deals! I've been seated in the bar as well as the restaurant area and no matter where you sit, it's a lively restaurant with really friendly staff. What I don't enjoy is that the food comes out fast, but what I do enjoy is that they definitely don't rush you - and it's nice to sit and relax there. I've tried almost every pizza, and all have been delicious. I will say that the proscuitto pizza has come out a few different ways (last time with LOTS of proscuitto in sort of a bit lump on top)...so, fresh ingredients and flavorful, sometimes a bit inconsistent in presentation. The cheeses are wonderful and it's fun to play around with ordering them (and the meats as well)...since they're all great, go ahead and mix and match! Value is definitely there - during the weekend as well as the 'deal days' with (example) buy one pizza get one pizza one day of the week! You can't go wrong. $5 wine night - perfect! The bathrooms could occasionally use a bit updating...and considering there are only 2 for a bustling restaurant. Value - 5 Service - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Food - 4 Bathrooms - 3
(4)
Jennifer G.
The food is excellent. Wow. I had the brick chicken yesterday for the first time and it was EPIC. I wish I knew how to do that to chicken. Epic! The service is also consistently fantastic. And I'll never get sick of the Wrightwood Salad! The only problem here is that many patrons bring ill-behaved children. It's a bummer, but not the fault of the restaurant.
(5)
Erica L.
I always pass this place heading home from the Paulina stop and wanted to give it a try. Hubby and I went for a Friday night dinner date a few weeks ago. The place was crowded and we had to wait a few minutes for a table. First off, it is really dark in there! Maybe I'm getting old, but we had to bust out our phones to use the flashlight app to read the menu! Yes there is a candle on every table, but it was still really dark. We ordered the Capone pizza and a selection of cured meats and cheeses. The meats and cheeses arrived first, and were accompanied by some bread, crackers, and dried fruit. The pizza had a nice thin and crispy crust and not too much sauce, which was perfect. The sausage was delicious! The server was friendly, gave us adequate time to review the menu, and checked on us intermittently throughout the meal. I'd go back just for the pizza alone - equipped with my phone flashlight!
(3)
Gwen D.
Brunch review only. Frasca's breakfast pizza makes the perfect start to the weekend. Sausage, bacon and over-easy eggs with rich, runny yolks on a perfect thin crust, set over the top with sliced prosciutto and a drizzle of hollandaise. A little pricey with a bottomless cup of coffee, but since I get two {um, not-so-healthy} meals out of it, I can deal. I wouldn't travel out of my way to brunch here--I'm sure other neighborhood spots have stellar signature dishes, as well--but as long as I live in the area, I'll be back.
(4)
Jessica N.
I knew I was going to be a fan when I saw the relationship with Dunlay's on Clark. Same amazing egg sandwich! Salad was also awesome. Would come back to try the pizzas as well. Bloody Mary lived up to Dunlay's as well. LOVE the high life chaser :) Service was a little slow, though....but I'll be back!
(4)
Lauren F.
Great food! My fiancee and I were impressed when we stopped into Frasca for the first time on Valentine's Day. We stopped in around 6pm without a reservation and were able to be seated right away. There was a little wait when we were leaving but it looked like there were only a few couples. Plus, they have a bar where you can park yourself and enjoy a glass of wine while you wait! They are very kid-friendly here so if you're looking for a quiet, romatic dinner this might not be the best place, at least when we stopped in. We started with a couple special wine flights that they featured for Valentine's Day-I tried the Rose flight and my fiancee had the Classy Reds (or something along those lines). All the wines we tried were great. Their appetizers and Farmers Table offerings sounded so good that we decided to forgo entrees and just share a few things-we ordered the Italian Sushi that was on special-tuna and vegetables wrapped in rice that was wrapped in prosciutto with a horseradish sauce underneath...this was soooooo good! The horseradish took the place of the wasabi and it was perfect-also a very large portion. From the Farmers Table menu we ordered 3 types of Bruschetta-mozzerella/basil/tomato, mushroom/goat cheese/truffle oil, and goat cheese/roasted pepper. These were all awesome! The bread was warm and crunchy and the topping were all fresh and super tasty. We also got the Hot Coppa Salami-little kick of heat, very good. To finish off our meal we ordered the Nutella Pie. This slice is huge, definitely recommend sharing. The nutella filling was fluffy and rich and the crust was really good-not too sweet, a little crumbly-just how I like it! We really enjoyed Frasca and will definitely be adding it to our list of neighborhood favs! Half-priced glasses of wine on Tuesdays!
(4)
Lia V.
Mmmmmmmmm Frasca. This place has the best weeknight deals. Apparently kids always eat free so there are a ton of families there all the time. There's a bottomless mimosa thing going on on the weekends. Buy one get one pizza night. Check out their website for the deal of the day. Fantastic location near shopping and right off the Paulina brown line. A little quieter of an area... would be nice to get away from the noise near Wrigley. Solid food. Decent price. Clean. Nice ambiance. Great sidewalk patio too. Kill time grabbing a drink at the wrap around bar or have a nice sit down dinner with friends.
(4)
Courtney B.
Our Chicago friends took us here and it was a happening neighborhood spot with a mix of people + kid friendly. The service was pretty good and so was the food. We started off with a trio of bruschetta. My husband and I are still debating whether the apple & Brie or peppers & goat cheese was better. We shared a beet salad that was good since the beets were the star, but it had a weird aioli dressing. I had a margarita pizza, which was the best I've had in both of my trips to Chicago. It was thin crust, but not the super crunchy burned type. The only reason I did a 4 versus a 5 is because their Moscow mule was just all wrong. They should change the name or take it off the menu.
(4)
Kate C.
Great for Brunch and Dinner! Good Italian restaurant for wheat/gluten allergies. Staff was very helpful and they offer gluten free pasta.
(4)
Genise L.
Delicious food and nice outdoor seating! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Leslie B.
Frasca with a girlfriend on a Friday night = great way to start the weekend. Met Maggie H. at Frasca for an early dinner on Friday and had a looovely time! Convinced that wine would only make me sleepy (I'm getting old.), I opted for the Sam Adams Oktoberfest ($5). The interior of Frasca is warm and comfortable, it was crowded around 7:30 on a Friday night, but not packed. We started with the bruschetta option where you can choose three varieties. We went with the classic tomato/mozzarella, roasted red pepper/goat cheese, and brie/apple. All were so delicious! It came with two large pieces per type which worked out perfectly. We also split the Soprano pizza which we both really enjoyed. Topped with hot capicola, sausage, pepperoni, and peppers, this was spicy and flavorful. We only had a couple things, but were very full! Frasca is a great, reasonably priced place to grab a bite and some drinks with friends.
(4)
Wayne H.
Buy 1 get 1 free pizza night on Wednesdays! That's right. This place serves Italian style wood burning pizzas and they are excellent. My favorite is the "Rustica". It consists of dried prosciutto; oven dried tomatoes, basil pesto, and smoked provolone. Delicious! I also enjoy their salads and the chorizo stuffed dates appetizer. Frasca also offers a great selection of wines for decent prices. Speaking of wine, Mondays they have 1/2 off bottles. I have also tried their breakfasts, which are pretty good too. When it's nice out make sure to grab some outside seating because this area is great for it.
(4)
Christy L.
I've been going to Frasca for the past four years and think that it's starting to be past its prime. Or we were just there on an off night. In the past, I've been a big fan of the Bruschetta from the Farmer's Table menu. I still think the toppings are delicious, but the bread was not toasted enough and was cut too thick and "bready." The Bruschetta was 80% bread and 20% toppings. Our pizza crust was also undercooked, and the Proscuitto toppings were not as complimentary of each other as in the past. It tasted like there was Italian dressing on the Arugula. I prefer a simple olive oil dressing with seasoning; Italian dressing was a bit over-powering. They were out of one of the ingredients for the cocktail recommended by the waitress. How does a pseudo-Italian place run out of Limoncello? I appreciated that we were able to get seated immediately at 8pm on a Saturday night without a restaurant. The restaurant was busy but there were a couple of tables available.
(3)
Kimberly K.
This is my second visit to Frasca. I was not blown away the first time and this time I went with a group of 6 for a birthday dinner. The food was fine, nothing to write home about. My group shared the calamari, polenta fries, ceasar salad, and some pizzas. On food alone, I probably would have gone with 3 stars, but the service was awful. Our server was cold and inattentive. She rarely stopped by for water refills, didn't ask how we were doing, didn't even try to sell us dessert or coffee (which we wanted). We saw plenty of other employees smiling, so maybe we just got a dud. I probably wouldn't go back based on this experience alone.
(2)
Jen D.
Oh Frasca - you have become one of my favorite brunch spots!! My most recent visit... first in a long time. Actually wondering why the hell I don't come here more often. You can take a group of 9 adults and 2 gremlins (babies) - we can be loud, yet it's unnoticeable (and let it be said - the gremlins in our group were angels and nowhere near as noisy as some of the other gremlins in the joint). You serve bottomless mimosas with the swiftness and stealth of a ninja. I'm not sure I ever actually saw one being placed in front of me, they just kept reappearing. Maybe there was a trap door in the table that just popped them up in front of me? Before I had 1/3 left, a new one was poised and ready to go. You have excellent bloody mary's and good vodka with which to make them. You make the most amazing fried egg sandwich ever... fried egg. Awesome bacon. Cheddar. Great bread. Need I say more? Your hashbrowns are like potatoes sent from heaven. Creamy and delicious. I'd describe them as the beautiful love child born from shredded hashbrowns and au gratin potatoes. Your sweet dishes are amazing too. We ordered the nutella stuffed french toast to share. Forking fantastic. Everyone else enjoyed their food, too many dishes to list (omelets, etc). Plus the service was great. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Elizabeth F.
Love! I could sit there all night with a great bottle of wine and snacking from all of their amazing dishes. I especially love when they open the windows during nice weather, can't wait for spring! I love that this is a kid friendly place, but on date nights, I get a little overwhelmed depending on the night. You should definitely try the chorizo stuffed dates and caponata pizza. Honestly, I've never had one thing I did not like from there.
(4)
Rachael F.
We got the grande farmer's table, which lets you choose from a list of bruschetta, cheeses, and meats. It also comes with some fresh bread, grapes, nuts, chutney (forgot the fruit), and flatbread. We selected the following: - roasted pepper + goat cheese bruschetta - brie + apples, EVOO, cracked pepper bruschetta - mushroom, goat cheese + truffle oil bruschetta (my favorite) - Zanetti Grassi Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P. - Mona Lisa Gouda - Emilio Mauri Telaggio D.O.P. - Salametto - Applewood smoked duck breast It was excellent! They also have a pretty good wine selection. We were visiting a friend in the area, and this was right by our metro stop on the way to her house. When we told her where we stopped for (a very late) dinner, she was so happy we went there because it is one of her favorite places.
(4)
Carolyn L.
I've been here twice for brunch and it's become one of my fave places in the neighborhood to go. Roscoe Village definitely has a lot of good breakfast spots. I've had the pleasure of trying out the red velvet pancakes at Frasca along with a bloody mary with beer back and it was one of my fave brunch combos ever. Even compensated for an awkward date I was on :) This morning, I ventured over for an early 10AM new year's day brunch and I have to say that their breakfast hash browns are incredible. Not sure if they use cream of mushroom or what, but those things are addictive! I almost ate every bite off of my friend's plate. Can't wait to go back and try something else! Maybe it will be eggs benedict next time?
(4)
Heather C.
Went here for breakfast on a Sunday around 10:30 - 11:00 am and the place wasn't very busy at all (Frasca opens at 10 am for breakfast on the weekends). Since it was a nice day, people were sitting outside. My party and I chose inside to avoid the wind. I was seated immediately despite my two friends not being present which was nice because I wanted a Bloody Mary. My server was super nice and allowed me to take my time with ordering especially since my friends took 40 minutes . . . So first, I ordered the Bloody Mary with cucumber vodka, no meat and cheese. That was a tasty beverage! It was also served with a 7 oz Miller High Life - too cute! After my friends arrived we ordered food. Sadly there are no vegan options for traditional breakfast items but Frasca does offer some lunch options like pizzas, salads, sides, a few main dishes. I decided on the Campari and Watermelon salad. I was not disappointed! So many tomatoes and cubes of watermelon with fresh basil, arugula, olive oil and fresh lime! Yum! I also ordered a side of potatoes but I think they were made with butter . . . They still tasted good! I'm hoping they were made with olive oil ;-) My friends ordered pancakes with bacon and they really enjoyed their food. Like I've said before, Frasca is a very family-friendly joint so regardless of time of day or day of week, you will see lots of children! That Sunday wasn't too bad though :-)
(4)
Laura S.
Frasca is as good as it gets! They have the best flat bread pizzas in Chicago! My sister and I love to go there on Wednesdays for their buy one get one free flat bread specials. After you order your meal, they have fresh bread with dipping oil which is fantastic! The service is always great and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend Frasca to anyone interested in a great wine bar and pizzeria in the Roscoe Village area.
(5)
Louise M.
I am writing this review for their new brunch menu we just enjoyed last Sunday. I was craving a hearty brunch after a night out and this was just the ticket. Atmosphere was great too, love that you can sit inside by the big open windows as if you were outside, but without the heat. Now to the food....we ordered the breakfast pizza and the baguette french toast. The pizza was Neapolitan style with maple breakfast sausage and 3 sunny-side up eggs- it was awesome! You could easily split this with 2 or even 3 people. Very tasty. The french toast had great flavor and had some sort of honey butter to spread on it. Only thing, it was a little on the soggy side but I'm taking this as a fluke thing. It was yummy enough to look past. The potatoes that come on the side were the real stand out. They were absolutely amazing! They were hash browns cooked in a creamy gravy-like sauce. We couldn't stop eating them. All in all, very pleasant experience. I will absolutely keep Frasca on my list of favorite brunch spots in the city!
(4)
Jack P.
My friend Doug and I checked out this place recently, and found it to be a very positive experience, on the basis of the food, ambience, and service. I ordered a market salad which was absolutely delicious, with thin julienne style strips of apple and cheese. In fact, the entire salad was this julienne style, similar to a Vietnamese or Thai presentation. It was great tongue shui-a good way to deliver the various flavors without overwhelming the palate. Doug ordered a crusted Mahi which was crispy on the outside, deliciously moist and sweet on the inside, and it sat in a most compatible butter-based sauce. I ordered the Capone pizza, and that was just OK. I would definitely go back and try another variety though. We imbibed with some Proseca bubbly, which was very reasonable, but we both felt the next day as if we had drunk way too much, which we didn't. Make mental note about that. I liked the menu a lot, because the choices were varied yet limited. The real surprise and treat was the superb service and outgoing, friendly staff. Even the manager (owner?) came by to check on us and see if we liked our meals. The room is a warm and inviting one, and I look forward to going there on a chilly winter night, (not that I'm pushing for the advent of winter. I just need to put it on my "cozy, warm" list.) This one is a real keeper. I hope it sticks around.
(4)
Babs H.
Heck yes 1/2 price martinis! The staff is friendly and knowledgable - especially Carrie. As far as food goes, do the appetizer list thing - you won't be disappointed. You can choose 5 or so different types of meats, cheeses, and bruschetta. Delizioso!
(4)
nancy b.
i want to like this place. great location, nice space and good outdoor patio and good service. it is a good spot for drinks / light apps, especially in the summer, but as far as a seated dinner, there are many other places i would choose to go to instead. (it also probably doesn't help that the last time i was there i was serenaded to Mexican Cousin by a guy i was on third date who didn't "care if people were looking". oy.) both times the food was very salty. salt is good to bring out flavors, not as a flavor itself. my casanova-date's rigatoni was better, but still not out of this world. overall, i think it's good for drinks but would ultimately choose elsewhere for food.
(2)
Modibo S.
We went to Frasca just for a drink before heading up the street to Terragusto for dinner - my wife wanted a kir royale. The place was absolutely packed, but there were a few seats at the bar. The interior reminded me strangely of an underground beer cellar / bar in Prague I was once in. Obviously this is the place to go with a group - not for an intimate dinner. There seemed to be a lot of merriment. The bartender got to us immediately with a menu, and came back promptly to take our order - I can't complain about that. My wife's kir royale came immediately, and the barkeep poured the Italian white flight as soon as he had gathered up the bottles he needed. One thing that made an impression on me was that when one of my glasses came up just barely short, he went and opened a new bottle and topped me up. Frankly I wouldn't have noticed... but then again I'm sure he was going to pour more of that wine, so it's not like it was just for my benefit. But he wasn't taking shortcuts. The food looked great but I can only comment on the wine. My wife was a little disappointed with her kir royale - a little too much Chambord for her taste. The white flight was nice, and an interesting mix. There was a fragrant, fruity Friulano, a dry Pinot Bianco, and a very interesting Soave that they described as fruity and "creamy." What struck me was the full creaminess and slight sweetness, combined with the tree fruit flavors - it tasted not unlike a good dry Belgian ale, maybe a golden ale (they're fruity and not too hoppy). I would go back here for pizza, but it's a long way away.
(4)
Mia P.
My parents picked this place, so they made reservations for 8 and my boyfriend and I met them there. Even though the reservations were made, we still had to wait in the front area for about 20 minutes [it was cold out]. They were not very accommodating to us, the staff pretty much just stared at us like we were inconveniencing them. Aside from the poor hosting and the ultra dimness, the food was great. My parents loved their take on calamari and my boyfriend really enjoyed their bruschetta. All in all, I don't think I'd go back unless it was somebody else's suggestion.
(3)
Kelly C.
I seriously loved my experience at Frasca. I take the brown line all the time and look out my window to see Frasca. I've never heard any of my friends talk about this place so I wasn't even sure what kinda of food it was. My husband and I went there last weekend and it was really great. The atmosphere is relaxing and chill but nice enough to go on a date. I loved everything we ordered and I already know what I would get if I go again. We tried the bruschetta (you choose 3 kinds from a list of about 6 or 7) we had Goat Cheese/Red Pepper, Ricotta Cheese, Pistachios, Honey and Brie with Apples. They were all excellent and the bruschetta bread was perfect. Honestly, the perfect bread! For dinner I had the Wrightwood Salad and loved it. My husband had a Chicken Entree with Fingerling Potatoes and Asparagus. I can't wait to go back and try their Cheese to start and Pasta or Pizza for my entree. I also had the white wine flight which was really good. I loved all 3 wines. They were really decent sized pours and only $14.00. I really liked it and I was surprised at how laid back it was. You should go and check it out for a nice, relaxing night with friends or for a date.
(4)
Cynthia G.
I recently had a free night with my fiance so we decided on going somewhere we hadn't been yet. We decided on Frasca bc it looked like a cool place to go and we both like wine, as it's a wine bar. Our first impressions were great. There was outdoor seating and the decor was done very well. With a centrally located bar and mood lighting throughout it certainly had a intimate date like feel about it, however the food, service and prices left more to be desired. When we first got there it wasn't crowded. There were several tables left open and we were seated right away. We ordered a couple of martini's as their Thursday night special was $6 Stoli martini's. As I would have liked some wine the cheapest glass they had was $8 so martini's it was. Not that I'm complaining but hey we "save" were we can. Ha. After perusing the menu we decided upon the calamari for an appetizer. For entrees, I got the handmade gnocchi's in a red sauce and my fiance got the pork marsala. After ordering, the bread came out and it was 3 pieces of french bread, rather small as I'm used to being overwhelmed by bread at restaurants but no worries bc we had the calamari coming. When the calamari came out it looked delicious and it was except for the ketchup like cocktail sauce. At this point we had already gotten our drinks and apparently the bartendar doesn't 't like to rinse out the shaker bc my dirty martini tasted like chocolate...yum and had chunks of ice in it. Throughout the meal we had two different waitresses. After my fiance finished his first Martini, he ordered another one but never received it. Mind you it was a Thursday night and neither the bar nor the restaurant was crowded. Our original waitress was seen busing tables and what seemed to be waitressing the patio as well. Maybe they cut staff as times are tough but service was mediocre at best. The food came out shortly after we finished the app and it looked great however the portion size, for the money, of the gnocchi was tiny. We did notice that everything seemed to be very "over-herbed" and definitely tasted that way. The gnocchi's and the pork marsala were both good but neither were worth the $15 and $18 we paid for them. Both could have been $4-$5 less. Once we asked for the check we canceled the last drink order, since we never got it anyway. The waitress(es) both realized we weren't that happy and did give us a gift certificate for our next visit. Frasca touts itself as a pizza and wine bar so maybe we should have just stuck with that. Seeing as we now have a gift certificate maybe we'll return for another shot. Again, we loved the atmosphere but we thought the food and drinks were overpriced and the service was meh.
(2)
michael p.
I was only going to give Frasca four stars because it was overrun with children. But as I see on the web-site, children eat free every day 4:30-6pm. We arrived at 6 so the throngs of children were finishing up dinner and it was quite loud. I can't really knock a place for being family(kid)-friendly. It went down to a normal buzz of a busy restaurant after 6:30. There was a pizza making class going on and it looked like a lot of fun, something I will definitely try in the future (held every 3rd Thursday of the month). We had the filet medallions and they were perfect. The pizza was excellent too so I will be torn as what to order next time. Great food, and wine selection with friendly staff, I don't know what more one could expect.
(5)
Dennis L.
I visited Frasca for brunch with some friends. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and menu looked delicious. I chose to go with the special of the day: Eggs Benedict Pizza. The pizza consisted of 3 eggs over easy, cheese, prosciutto, and a some hollandaise. It was a great breakfast pizza and certainly hit the spot. Our server was very friendly and never let me see the bottom of my glass. Overall, a wonderful experience.
(4)
Clone Pilot R.
This restaurant/bar has all the qualities one looks for in a top restaurant...stellar food and interesting menu. What sets it apart from the masses of mediocre restaurants in the Chicago area is the attention to detail and fantastic service. If there is even the slightest thing amiss the staff promptly pounce all over it to make it right, without even being asked. Very old-school customer service and a good reason to frequent this lovely restaurant on a regular basis.
(5)
Scott N.
I'm sorry, but an Italian restaurant that doesn't make its pasta fresh can't get more than 3 stars. That said, it was tasty. Service was good. Outdoor seating a huge plus. A-OK
(3)
Natasha C.
Seems like this would be a great date spot. We order 2 pizzas and I had a sangria. The Sangria was EXCELLENT. I've had one too many waters down "grias" in my day and this one was RIGHT! Thank you Frasca. The husband and I sat down immediately and went right to work on scouring the menu. We decided on two pizzas but we were tempted by the whitefish special. We have promised ourselves to come back for that one. I really like the ambiance here. Dim lights, warm candlelights. Seems like a place I'd want to come on a snowy Chicago evening. We sat close to the oven but we weren't hot at all. Server was great and not a helicopter server. We liked him very much. I wish I could eat more but I just couldn't get that last slice in my tummy. Thanks heavens for carry out boxes. We shall return.
(5)
Laura C.
I was new to the area, and excited to see something outside of my Damen/Division/Milwaukee world. I met my best friend for dinner, and we decided to get the sparkling wine flight-- 3 glasses for $14. Now, I have had a few flights in my day, and I was disappointed that our server did not explain them to us, or suggest an order to drink them. Wildfire does a nice job with that! The 3 offerings tasted somewhat similar to me, and it was too bad that there were no sweeter options in the three. On to the food.. we went on Wednesday, which we found out was buy one pizza, get one free night. Yes! We decided on the margherita and the pepperoni. I really enjoyed the margherita... the crust was a bit salty which I liked, and there was a lot of fresh basil on top. Excellent! The pepperoni pizza was too spicy for me. There was some interesting Italian word in the description of the pepperoni pizza that we asked about... it meant spicy pepperoni, and they weren't kidding! I might go back again for Wed. pizza night.
(3)
KM Y.
Frasca never gets old. The pizzas are always reliably good. There's always a good deal to be had (1/2 off bottles of wine; buy one, get one pizzas) and I like the atmosphere. The only "meh" thing I've ever tasted is the calamari. Not exceptional, but not horrible. Living near Frasca helps. I am not sure how often I would trek across town for it, but it's a great neighborhood spot for dine in or carry out.
(4)
Nick M.
I know I use the adjective fantastic a lot but this place really is a fantastic modern pizzeria!! What is it about a Calamari, Salad, Pizza combo that hits the spot every time?! Throw in friendly staff, a killer jukebox, and stiff drinks and you'll have the perfect evening! You feel it (I don't know what IT is but it's true) right when you walk in the door, Frasca's warm contemporary Italian design just sets the mood. I don't know about you but dark wood and leather gets me going, then with the lights dimmed, friendly faces, and Italian cuisine filling the air... oooohh yeaaaah. Also, it helps to that the the pizza rocked. The Calamari however, needs some work. But round it out with a nice wine list (hence being a wine bar), a patio, weekly deals to save money, and near the Brown el line. What reason do you have not to go?! This place works if you need a nice date spot or just for a few friends to hang out.
(4)
Nichole F.
Frasca was great! We started off with the donuts which were the perfect appetizer and so yummy! I was boring with my order and got two eggs over easy, sausage, toast and hash browns. As boring as that is, it was very good. Everyone I was with ordered a pizza and they all looked good too. Next time I will have to try one. We split a skillet cookie - YUM! The prices were decent. They had a $14 bottomless mimosa special for brunch. I loved the decor in the restaurant. The only thing I didn't like was their one person bathrooms. Every time I had to go, I had to wait.
(4)
Anna P.
Great ambiance. Best gnocchi in Chicago. Pizzas are good too. Great wine & beer selection. My favorite Italian restaurant in town!
(5)
Al D.
Forget the pizza, screw the wine. Just go to create your own antipasto platter. You'll see a custom-order list for "appetizers" (but it's actually authentic antipasto components) on your table, and you can choose between order four or eight combinations. Not to sound like a snob...but I'm a 1st gen Italian-American, lived in Italy, and was just there last month. Frasca's got the real stuff - not garbage like at some pizza-pasta joint. Salami with fennel - and I'd have to sneak this in my luggage returning from my family's town. Lupini beans, bruschetta with cheese and fruit and honey. Impeccable. The pizzas and dinners also look fantastic - frutti di mare (Italian seafood delicacies) with seasonal fagioli ( beans), wood-fired pizzas. The only thing that prevents me from giving Frasca five stars is that if you are sitting in the bench area along the wall, you'll be very, very close to the tables on either side of you. Try to score a regular table instead. Also, prices aren't budget friendly. I'm coming here again.
(4)
Chris H.
We have been here a couple of times since we moved to this area last summer. I was enticed to go back after the hostesses kept coming out to offer my thirsty German Shepherd some water and a treat each time that we passed by running down Paulina. Thanks ladies, Preston appreciates your generosity. We went last night and started with the Risotto fritters and the Veal Marinara Meatballs. Both were prepared almost perfectly and showcased the balance between the savory sage and the tomato-y tang of the sauce. My wife ordered the Chicken Saltimboca and I ordered the Filet Medallions with the Potato Gnocchi and Mushrooms. A good call all around, although I liked the Chicken better than the Filet. The two things that I didn't love: they assess a $20 corkage fee, which is a bit steep, even by Napa standards. In addition, for reasons that escape facile explanation, they saw fit to blast Top-40 music over the noise of the crowded establishment, which made conversation a challenge, as I was seated directly underneath a speaker, which hung over my head like the proverbial Sword of Damocles. We're excited to try their pizza special on Wed. night. I would say that this is a step down from Francesca's but it offers good value and good service. We'll be back before too long.
(4)
R B.
Frasca! Say it aint so!!!!! Rumor has it that you've been taken over by new management that is CORPORATE with background from The Cheesecake Factory! (Noooooooooooo!) Unfortunately it's already showing. I have been a huge fan of Frasca for the last year or so. I've had brunch, lunch and dinner there and have enjoyed everything. I've brought a lot of friends there and spread the word. The service has always been stellar, the food fresh, UNIQUE and delicious. One of my favorites has been the "Infamous Wrightwood Salad". I loved it's pulled chicken, generous portions of avocado that you could see, sweet craisens, crispy toasted almonds and more. Yesterday I ordered it and was bamboozled, perplexed, and taken aback! Gone were the luscious slices of avocado (apparently it's still in there - but hard to find), absent were the craisens and almonds, and the juicy chunks of chicken replaced by sliced chicken that tasted like deli meat. Bleck. PLEASE don't fall subject to the corporate cookie cutter menu and mentality. It's possible to have more than one restaurant and maintain their unique qualities. Stay true to your integrity and high quality. If I want Cheesecake Factory, Chili's, Outback, Red Lobster, etc. I'll go to the suburbs. Don't ruin a good thing.
(1)
Tricia S.
Excellent service and I LOVED the bruschetta! $8 for 3 of any kind. YUMMY!
(5)
Carri C.
I have been here several times and have always had positive experiences. The pizza, bruschetta, and cheese selections are nice choices. I have not had good luck with the cocktails and they are too expensive for what you get. Beer prices are too high as well-$6.50 for a Daisy Cutter?-should be no more than $5.50. The number of children in this place is unreal. To me, the decor and food do not reflect this is a "family friendly" restaurant, but it has turned into that scene. For me, this is a negative, but so far it has not ruined my experience. If you own a stroller, roll on in.....
(4)
Adam S.
Went on a Saturday night so there was quite a wait. Clientele seemed to be all neighborhood types and it was pretty noisy to be sure. Atmosphere is nice though, candles on the tables and lights dim with good wood trim to give the place a comfortable vibe. Now on to the food: Starter bread was a nice warm half crusty loaf served with olive oil and freshly grated romano. We ordered a beet salad and the caesers to start. Both were sizable and tasty. While the caesers dressing was homemade, it missed the anchovy flavor a classic caeser dressing has, but it was good and creamy and fattening nonetheless. Then we both decided on ordering pizza. I got the capone which was sausage and roasted onions with a marinara sauce. The ingredients were fresh and plentiful. The crust was good, but I would say a level below some of the other wood fired ovens in the area like Spaconapoli. That said, it did hold up to all the ingredients and had a nice char on the edges so complements to the kitchen for not under baking. Service was attentive and friendly even though they were clearly quite busy. We sat at the bar when we checked in with the hostess who told us our wait time had doubled from her original estimate. All in all a really nice upscale pizza evening out.
(4)
Sara S.
Awesome place to grab drinks and dinner with friends or to on a date. The patio is fairly small, but right on lincoln and good for people watching. Inside is romantic, cozy and a big bar in the middle to grab drinks. I love wine, but not a snob/like yellowtail as much as more pricey wines- at any rate, the wine I've had there has always been good. The pizza is great and if you go on wed for buy one get one free it's a deal you can't pass up. We got the capatona with is all veggies. Great with huge chunks of artichokes & mushrooms but also thought it was a bit watery bc of all the veggies. We also got the margarita pizza and added mushrooms- that was our favorite. Big, fresh slices of basil on it. Delicious! The most recent visit I didn't get brushetta but got it before and remember loving it. Try it out!!
(4)
Phil C.
Unfortunately I had a bad experience the last visit to Frasca. Went with a group of 4 and we all ordered drinks and entrees. Unfortunately my entree didn't come out at the same time as everyone else's. Once it did come out, it was a completely different plate. We were outside and the staff and waitress was nowhere to be found. Finally I flagged down a bus boy who helped me. The waitress finally came out saying they had given my plate to another table and were getting another plate ready. Things happen, right? Well, I waited.....and waited. Then the manager came out to apologize. He was a younger guy, but at this point everyone in my party was almost done and now waiting for my plate so they could finish. He started to ask "can I get you......." Followed by "more water". I'm not looking for a free-bee, but a drink on the house seemed like a reasonable apology. The waitress came back out, no offer. My food was rushed and not the normal quality. Got the check, no discount, no sorry, nothing. Unprofessional in my book.
(2)
Katie F.
The butcher block appetizer is awesome--you can pick and choose whatever you want. Frasca's pizza is great. Their skillet cookie is the best around!
(4)
Katherine M.
LOVE this place. interior is so beautiful, homey, and cozey. service is excellent and friendly. everything i've ordered here has been very good, esp. the wrightwood salad, the rigatoni, brushetta, and filet. the cookie skillet is delicious. great wine by the glass selection. yummy bloody marys. yummy margaritas too.
(5)
joe t.
I don't know what's going on this week. But me having multiple 5 star joints is unheard of. First off service fast, friendly, and knowledgable. 2nd bottomless mimosas. Need I say more. I had the grilled chicken panini. Fantastic. The wife had Paulina Street omelet. Fabulous! And our son had scrambled eggs with sausage. And I have to say its the best sausage I've had in this country by far. Our server Jeff was right on the money!! Highly recommend this place to everyone.
(5)
Jacques M.
I use the Paulina el stop everyday on my way to work and have been eying this place for months. However, every time I walked by, the outdoor patio was littered with strollers. I may be in the minority (in the Roscoe Village area) but nice restaurants with Italian food, wine, and tons of babies...don't mix. However, curiosity finally got the best of me and we decided to give it a try. The dishes were excellent (we both ordered pasta dishes) and we got a great wine flight, with 3 full glasses for around $13 (pretty decent wine). I've since been back for brunch and was fairly impressed considering it's a Pizzeria/Italian restaurant. There omelets are a great option and there is enough seating that you shouldn't have to wait long (if at all for brunch) Overall, its a good option for established couples who just want so good food and wine. Keep in mind it can get a little loud and there are usually children running around, so it may not be an ideal romantic date spot (or ideal if your looking for peace & quiet). Conversely, if your parents looking to get a decent glass of wine, in a moderately upscale place were it's socially acceptable to bring small children this is a great option.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
So painfully average. The only semi-decent restaurant in the entire west lakeview area, of course it's crowded when they have so much stroller parking available! I've drunkenly made pasta better than this. They have a decent wine selection, average beer selection and waaaaay too many kids. Fine if you need a quick sit down bite to eat but don't expect anything stunning.
(2)
Kristy B.
Chorizo stuffed bacon wrapped dates = looooooove Never had a bad meal here. Think I've tried all the pizzas and have enjoyed them all. Impressive wine selection. Fantastic house sangria as well. Beautiful space. Great date spot I'd say.
(4)
Brian S.
As many of the other reviews have mentioned, Frasca is kid-friendly, which works great for us because...wait for it, here it comes...we have a kid. Frasca is always consistent, and this past Friday night was no exception. Yes, at 6 on a Friday, they're going to be busy, and yes there will be lots of kids. Probably not the best time and pace for an intimate date. However, the charcuterie selections are delightful, the wine selection reasonable, and ample choices of beer abound (yes, those of us with kids still drink, and often times it takes the edge off of "daddy daddy daddy mommy mommy daddy..." The meatball appetizer is lovely, the pizzas are great (I had the Soprano, wife had the Margherita) and most of the pasta dishes are tasty. Of course, for dessert, the skillet cookie is always a hit, but don't let it burn your mouth. We're never disappointed here, and it's great for a parents' night out or a place to get together with other families.
(4)
Mark S.
I love Frasca. I didn't want to at first. Frasca's popular with the stroller crowd on weekends, and wine drinking girls in the evening-- not my normal people. But the fact remains, both the dinner and brunch menu is 100% dependable and inexpensive... and often surprisingly good! The wine and beer list is great, and I love the staff. Just a few trips and they remember me? Stop and say hi even? Yeah. The fifth star is for all of the above, plus almost never being so crowded (even on a sat night or sun AM) to get a table, a nice decor, and just not disappointing me in any real way. This is one of my rare, all-purpose, never-let-me-down, places for a bite to eat. It's perfect at what it's trying to be.
(5)
Jacqueline M.
Bought a Bid My Way for this place and dragged my boyfriend -- and we both loved it! We both ordered pizzas. He built his own and I got the Capone. SO DELICIOUS! One pizza was enough to share if you're not looking to get stuffed, but we each got our own to share. We really wanted to try the bruschetta but we came in during brunch hours on a Sunday and weren't on the menu until 3pm. The upside to coming in on a Sunday was their craft beer specials, $3! We both got the Lagunitas craft, and it was awesome! Bitter, grapefruit after taste, but in a good way ;) Service was great -- we went around Halloween, and while it was loud, our waiter was very attentive and friendly. I recently won a Bid My Way voucher via Facebook for $25 worth and will be back this week to take advantage of BOGO free pizza on Wednesdays!
(5)
Steve T.
Pizza is good, service is great, everyone is attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and specials. I highly recommend the pizzas, and need to try the pasta dishes... but have had the dates as well as the meat and cheese platter. The sangria by the glass is pretty good, but I wish they had a pitcher option. I think it'd make sense, but I can also see why they would rather have everyone buy by the glass. As an aside, if you are looking for a date and happen to enjoy the company of cougars, you probably will be approached and hit on by a pack of them... in coordinated fashion. 3 cougars, 3 perfectly timed pick-up lines vs 2 vulnerable-looking 20 somethings looking svelte enjoying pizza at the bar before a night out. It was hilarious, I loved it, and so did they. Rawr. ;)
(4)
Laila C.
The Capone and the Prosciutto pizza are DELICIOUS! I've only been here twice but have had a very good time both times. The atmosphere is very relaxed, good for couples or friends hanging out. The pizzas are fantastic! I love the thin delicious crust that goes really well with their rosemary infused olive oil, and fresh toppings on all their pizzas. I'd definitely suggest going on a weeknight for one of their awesome specials. The pizzas or wine at full price can be a little pricey. Pizzas range from $10-14, good for one person. Wine's start at $8/glass or $28/bottle It's an awesome date place for a relaxing weekday night. p.s. definitely try the charcuterie list, really delicious meats and cheeses.
(4)
Jim A.
Frasca is a fantastic kid friendly place - the pizza is great, and the brunch is excellent. We go all the time!
(4)
Lee P.
This is just a delightful place. Good mix of families, 30-something's and seniors like me. Brick oven pizzas are top notch. Good list of wines by the glass.
(4)
David L.
Just talking breakfast, the breakfast pizza is excellent! Get it with the egg and prosciutto. I also live the Nutella stuffed french Toast if you have a sweet tooth. Great with the bottomless coffee! My wife also had the Italian beef eggs benedicts and was really happy with her dish. As for regular meals, I think the pizza is a little pricy, but great deal on Wednesday when it's buy one pizza get one free!
(4)
Matthew F.
Frasca is always a delight. Great staff, drink list, and food. The pizza is absolutely delicious. If you're around the area, I highly recommend checking it out. Also make sure to have a bloody Mary. My oh my.
(5)
Kristin R.
I've been to Frasca a few times now and every experience is enjoyable. They have excellent daily specials, including my favorite: 1/2 price bottle of wine night on Tuesdays. Wednesdays is buy one pizza, get one pizza free. I believe they also have a Sangria special. In any case, check their website before you go and see which special suits you best. I typically stick to the margherita pizzas, although they do have quite the selection. There are only two choices that are veggie though, out of about 10, so not a huge selection for you non meat eaters. The margherita pizza is just OK, nothing really spectacular, and I feel like the dough is missing salt or something; it's just sort of blah. They also have a nice selection of salads and some other meat and pasta dishes to choose from in case pizza isn't your scene. This is a wine bar, as well as a restaurant, so they have an expansive list of wines for most every palate, and at reasonable prices. Frasca would be a great place to come in the summer, as they have a huge outdoor seating area, and the windows to the restaurant are floor to ceiling, and retractable, making this restaurant nice and airy on the prettiest of summer evenings. Frasca is a short walk from my house, so I'm sure I'll be back to indulge in at least a glass of wine.
(4)
Lauren B.
For brunch alone I give this 5 stars. We have lived down the street from Frasca for a while but have never made it over. Just went this morning for birthday brunch with family (made a reservation - definitely suggest this since it's a pretty hoppin spot) and it was INCREDIBLE. The food was outstanding. At the table we had the Italian Farmhouse Breakfast, Breakfast Pizza, Fried Egg Sandwich and poached eggs and every dish was spot-on. I literally almost licked my plate clean. Top it off with delicious bloody marys and their bottomless mimosas...and I really would be there every weekend if I could. Surprisingly affordable considering the quality and amount of food you get. Can't wait to try it for dinner. Fantastic!
(5)
Justin M.
Ok, we've been to Frasca quite a lot and this is really a long overdue review. We've had breakfasts there with our whole family - 20 of us and I haven't written a review. We probably go there every three or four weeks and I still haven't written about this place that we find ourselves going to. Not that anyone is losing sleep, but about time I wrote hey! Usually we get either the Pizza, or the crostini and pasta. The pizzas are really good (recommend the potato pizza among others) - crust is thin but really has the flavor of the wood oven. Sometimes if the crust is too thick you just don't get the right level of crispness, but usually here they have it down and they are consistently good. The breakfast pizza is also good overall. The crostini is another favourite - they are quite tasty and there is a good variety overall. The white bean/balsamic is on par to what I make at home - I like the smoked salmon a lot, but even the simple ones like apple and brie are quite tasty, and they are always served on nice crispy bread. Entree's are also good - we used to get the parpadelle but now there is the gnocchi which is a bit of a treat. I wish there were a couple more pasta options as sometimes four is not enought to choose from, and the range of entree's is a little narrow at times. That said, the food is pretty consistent overall. Sunday's have the $3 beers, which is very important and is a real draw card. Beer range is quite reasonable too. The staff are also friendly and know the menu and wines pretty well. Well played Frasca.
(4)
Tim Y.
Pretty darn good sangria, and very tasty pizza. My only complaint is that it's really, really noisy. So noisy that it was uncomfortable. Definitely not where you want to take a first date if you want to have a conversation. Trust me. Bruschettas are all quite tasty. Go with the "pick 3" and explore. I really liked the dried tomatoes/mozzarella as well as the blue cheese/grapes. The other was unmemorable. The "Rustica" pizza was fantastic. Thin crust, prosciutto, dried tomatoes, basil pesto and provolone. It all worked very well. One pizza affords about 6 generous slices, so it's just enough to share with a friend. Service was snappy and pleasant. Various people brought various items throughout the meal - the server only dropped by a couple of times in the beginning and once at the end.
(4)
Melissa H.
Here's what you need to know about Frasca: 1. Very fresh, large, and interesting brunch options, including bottomless mimosas. 2. Free street parking (but check the Cubs game signs) 3. Wonderful bruschetta options, with a customizable form. You like traditional? Red peppers? Goat cheese? Truffles? They're all options, and all delicious! 4. Pasta options are plentiful and very fresh, although heavy at times. 5. Avoid during prime dinner times (especially on the weekend); 90 minutes plus wait times may hit you. All in all, I highly recommend this place for solid Italian options and interesting brunch options if you're in the mood for some new material. The service has been both outstanding and rude on separate occasions. Perhaps with more visits, I will be able to update you on what is the norm.
(4)
Stephen F.
Frasca is a fine neighborhood meet or date spot. Plusses include good wine and cheese lists, tasty pizzas, and bartenders who will be happy to keep your secret. It is a neighborhood spot, so service can be a bit spotty and the food isn't perfect. My friend's chicken wasn't evenly cooked, and my salad came right out of a fridge. All minor gripes to be sure. I recommend Frasca for a chill conversation or a one-night stand.
(3)
Virginia T.
I met a friend there after work. He was late and the servers were great with checking on me before he got there. They are right under the brown line, so really easy to get to and have a little patio area as well (though I sat inside). They have a pretty good beer list-though its not listed on the web anywhere and its a limited selection. I ordered the Caponata pizza (eggplant, goat cheese, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and red peppers) and J ordered the Roasted Potato Pizza (roasted onions, bacon, fingerling potatoes, 3 cheeses and he opted for the egg too). The Caponata was good but the Roasted Potato was AWESOME. I might go back just for that pizza. The crust was thin and crispy too. The waitress was great. For a Friday night there was a lot of kids in there. I know some people said this place was romantic, I didn't really see that as much.
(4)
Natalie S.
Had a wonderful summer outdoor dining experience with a small group of friends. The pizzas are reasonably priced and definitely for sharing. The salmon was delicious and the pastas looked great. The service was also quick and easy. I'll definitely be returning to this cute spot.
(4)
Abhay S.
Excellent experience. Came here for brunch with some friends after shopping at the Building Blocks store down the street. I had the fresh fruit pancakes and my wife had a panini sandwich. Both were excellent and we would return. Very kid friendly as well.
(4)
Julia J.
I've been here twice, both on nights when they had a deals going. First time was the buy one, get one pizza night. Pizzas were good. Not great, but not bad. If you're hungry you can finish the whole thing off. If not, you can take some home. Works for me. Second night was 1/2 priced bottles of wine night. Got the pizza again because I was too lazy to look into the other menus. Left feeling wine drunk and full, but not stuffed. Overall, it was a good experience, and I'll probably go back. It's a good place for the weeknights, catching up with a friend or ditching out on cooking. I wouldn't necessarily go there for a date, but it's good for a girls night out or a casul week night dinner.
(4)
Fulgencio M.
My only problem with Frasca is that it's across the street from a train station. No, it's not noisy or anything. It's just that whenever I eat there, I have to look at people who take public transportation. Frasca has become a neighborhood stop for me, which means every time I'm in the neighborhood, I stop, look at it, and then pass right by. But no, really, ever since I moved north from warm and wonderful MiAmI beAcH, I can't get enough of Frasca's drink specials (and uh, food too, I guess). Frasca has lots of special nights for wine-o's like me. Mondays are 1/2 off bottles. Tuesdays are 1/2 off glasses. Sundays are $3 drafts. I'm still waiting for the night when those cute server boys are 1/2 off... OOOH cHiLd, they're thin and bearded and look like they just got off shift at American Apparel. I'd compost for any of those hedonistic hipsters. So what was I saying? Oh right, alcohol. The wine list is largely Washington/Oregon. I think Oregon is the capital of Washington. Or the other way around. Either way, I've never been to Canada, so I can't tell you for sure. All I know is that this guy named "Owen Roe" is very popular on their wine list, and boy do his wines lighten up my sad, lonely life. Whenever I try to burn my cheating boyfriend's wardrobe like that crazy loca in Waiting to Exhale and the cops lock me up for weeks at a time, it's good to know that I can go right to Frasca and get drunk on my buddy Owen Roe. And for half off! Ugh, so you probably want to know about the food. I can sum it up in two words: Mushroom Risotto Fritters. Fried balls of perfection. And I know a thing or three about balls. I've ordered everything on the menu... from cabernet sauvignon, to cabernet franc, to sauvignon blanc, to--wait, which menu are we talking about? Oh, food? Oh, I don't eat--why are you asking me to talk about food? But whatever, the food is delicious. Pizzas are thin and cooked to perfection. The chicken breast is great if you're on a date and don't want to get gassy after the meal. The gnocchi is superb. The first time I saw that word I thought I was ordering Italian nachos. Boy was I right. So stop by Frasca. Especially on a Monday for 1/2 off bottles. I'll be there, and I expect that with the discount you'll have no problem sending a bottle my way. But if you're stuck taking the train on the Paulina line, and I have to stare at your sad public transportation face while I'm downing my fifth glass of cab franc, then don't be surprised if I Na NA na POO POO to you from the window. You deserve it. No one takes public trans anymore. Only city planners and the homeless. Which are basically one in the same. This has been a Review by Fulgencio
(5)
Lacey W.
This is one of my favorite places for brunch. They have great deals on Mimosa's and the Farm table menu is amazing!
(5)
Kyle P.
I really like this place. I have been a number of times and am always presently surprised. I guess I just don't think about it enough but the pizza is good. the gnocchi is out of this world and the service and wine is great and the music is always good
(5)
David P.
Frasca is right down the street from us, so we go there on a regular basis for brunch and dinner. They have a great selection of pizzas (our favoirtes are the prosciutto and argula and the potato and bacon), bruschetta (apple and brie is my fav) and seasonally rotating pastas (farfalle with zucchini & squash was my standby in fall 2010, so it broke my heart when it didn't come back in 2011). The staff is all extremely firendly and helpful and the daily specials are worth paying a ttention do (2 for 1 pizza night on wednesdays is a great deal.)
(4)
Kris R.
i love frasca! i used to frolick around this 'hood quite a bit a few years back and always loved coming here for dinner out on the patio. quite recently, i came here with a gf of mine on a wednesday night, which is BOGO pizza. pretty kick ass. my absolute fave thing on the menu is their farmers table menu - pick 4 or 8 items from the menu. that's actually my favorite thing to do at any place that has something like this. this time around we picked 4: mozz/basil/tomato bruschetta ricotta/pistach/honey bruschetta sopresatta delice de bourgogne all awesome. slap that meat, cheese, homemade jam on some effing bread. amaze. we also ordered 2 pizzas - the capone and the caponata. we were so full from the famers table that we ate one slice of each and took the rest to go. i'll be coming back to drink and get more of that farmers table on a beautiful summer night on out on the patio.
(4)
Damian C.
My pizza was A-MAZ-ING The wine was excellent The brie and apple bruschetta - DIVINE! I could have made a meal just out of that!
(5)
Josh C.
If it's busy the wait is ALWAYS terrible even if you have a reservation. A reservation here means you will have a table in 10-20 minutes. This has happened to us multiple times. The food is good but it's not worth being told time and time again "ten more minutes." It's as if you are stuck in that episode of Seinfeld.
(2)
Sarah Z.
Maybe if I ate meat, I'd love this place more. But the vegetarian selection of pizza's are not too creative or plentiful. The pizza we did have was good, but I was not blown away. My date had a pasta dish that seemed very oily. Also this place calls itself a wine bar? Then they would know that the wine needed to be chilled just a bit. I had a pinot noir that was way too warm for my liking. Our Waitress was totally in the weeds, so the service was not great. We sat at the bar, but the dining tables did not seem very desirable. Perhaps this is the place to go during the summer and dine al fresco? I did like the infused olive oil they serve with bread. Will I go back? Perhaps.
(3)
Johnny R.
Short: Nicely decorated, nice staff, average entrees and pricey alchohol Long: It was my 4 yr old's birthday, so the inlaws drove into town and we all piled into a wagon... and off to Frasca we went. I have never eaten here, so I was impressed by how nicely the space was decorated. It was really sharp. The staff was very friendly. We thought that the alcohol was a little spendy, and my thrifty father in law couldn't his head around the micro brew beers so he did eventually order a glass of sauvignon blanc. My wife had the rigatoni which had a good flavor. I had the roasted chicken with fingerling potatoes. The potatoes were good. The sauce at the bottom of the bowl was a little too heavy on the garlic, it was rough. I was excited by the chicken, it looked great. But bite after bite, it was overly salted. I've done the same thing too at home. Salt is easily overdone, a little goes a long way. But the location is fun, it's kid-friendly, and the space is nicely appointed, and the stuff is very nice. But for the picky foodist, 2 stars solely based on the food but not the other aspects.
(2)
Helena B.
After seeing this adorable pizzeria twice daily as I walk to and fro from the Paulina Brown Line stop, I knew I had to stop in, preferably while it was still warm enough to sit outside. Done and done. Boyfriend and I snagged a table and started to search the menu for beverages. The drink menu is predominantly wine, but we are avowed beer drinkers. Frasca has a few on tap, including seasonal Octoberfest beers, so just ask your server if you are similarly inclined when it comes to imbibing. To start, Wild Mushroom Risotto Fritters. What is a risotto fritter, you ask? We didn't know either, which is why we ordered them. Turns out they are fried mac & cheese's classier, more sophisticated cousin; crispy breaded outside, warm, mushroom inside. We like. Next, we split the Caponata pizza. I'm mad for goat cheese, and Frasca did not hold back - the pie was liberally covered with the stuff. Other toppings (eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, artichokes) likewise did not disappoint. Now, a note: Frasca does thin crust, wood-fired pizza. So, you grew up in Chicago and like things a little more deep-dish? Come to Frasca's to break out of your pizza rut - they do thin crust quite well. Crispy yet chewy, it is the perfect platform for your toppings. Trust me. Generally, post-pizza, our meal would be over. However, I happened to scan the menu and see that they had skillet cookies for dessert. I don't think I've ever met a cookie I don't like (well, except for ones with macadamia nuts...) so I knew I'd be partaking. Boyfriend was easily persuaded. Warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream: can't go wrong with that.
(4)
Q M.
This is really more of a 3.5 star place, but I'm rounding up. No complaints, my meal was good. It wasn't great, but it was good. We started out with the fondue which was definitely 4-star worthy. Our wine was ok, and my pasta was ok, but my companions loved their pizzas. Our server was great and very helpful. So, overall, it was good and I'll give Frasca another go.
(4)
Ay D.
We wandered into Frasca at the tail end of the Memorial Day weekend. Surprising to find such a charming and stylish spot with tons of patio and window seating in such gorgeous weather! Great patio and the windows by the booths open up to the patio - not a bad place to sit in the entire house. The risotto mushroom balls were orgasmic. They had a falafel-like texture on the outside with a hearty, creamy center. Salads were solid, as well. We experienced major food envy after spotting the butcher's block at the next table. Holy charcuterie! Gotta order that next time. Finished off our meal with gnocchi with wood-grilled mushrooms, peas, and chicken - chock full of rustic goodness without being too heavy for the summer patio scene. The bar is ideal for the sophisticated liver abuser. Excellent wine list - plenty of choices by the glass and an extensive bottle listing of white, rose, and red. Wonderful draft selection - local superstars such as Half Acre, Bell's, Domaine DuPage, as well as classics like Anchor Steam. One could get spoiled on the awesome revolving drink specials - $3 drafts, 1/2 off bottles, 1/2 off glasses, $6 martinis.
(4)
Stephen B.
Food and service were good - do try the prosciutto pizza. Giving it four stars because my girlfriend didn't like the place - she's a pain in the ass sometimes.
(4)
Jeffrey D.
Love the breakfast pizza and fried egg sandwich. Generous portions. Very tasty bloodies with an optional strip of bacon and a little beer chaser. They don't open till 10 so good for a leisurely start to the day. Child friendly with nice outdoor seating on both Roscoe and Paulina sides.
(4)
Lara T.
Strong selection of various wines and complementary brick oven pizzas. Very romantic inside, enjoyable outdoor seating as well. The servers were informative, made smart recommendations and were very attentive. p.s. Highly recommend the skillet cookie.
(4)
Corin C.
Great antipasto made to order platters, wood burning pizzas love the Wrightwood salad which is loaded with everything. Friendly service & a casual & inexpensive spot with good food.
(4)
Derek B.
Very friendly and efficient staff. I've only been here for brunch, but the food was great. The bottomless mimosa deal is a very good deal. Can't wait to visit for dinner.
(4)
Ms L.
Loved this place. Stopped in on a very random Saturday with my BFF and was so impressed by the service. The cheese plate and mushroom risotto were well prepared and the waiter provided us with great wine recommendations. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Julie Z.
I've been here several times and have always been pleased. Great pizza and apps. Excellent Bloody Mary's. 2 thumbs up for ambiance. Great for brunch, lunch or dinner. Check it out!
(4)
Danielle C.
Hmmmm... breakfast pizza? Eggs on Pizza? Maybe it is me, I can be picky, but it just sounds strange. Being conservative (yup, sometimes, really- only when it comes to food) I opted for a regular pizza. While we were having brunch- it was 1- so it was alright! I had the Margarita pizza and added Gorgonzola, goat cheese, and artichoke. IT ROCKED!!! CHEESY GOODNESS that hit the spot. Instead of using tomato slices they did use plum tomatoes-that did not make me thrilled, but other than that- it was great. One of my guys got the breakfast pizza with prosciutto. I tried a piece. Astoundingly- it was good. I am still a bit weirded out by the eggs on pizza- but with the prosciutto- it was awesome. My other friend had the scrambled egg sandwich and hash browns. It looked great! I need to give them props for the bottomless mimosas! That is definitely a brunch treat! Bloody Marys are not bad- but have to be ordered singly! We sat in one of the huge booths with the breeze blowing through the windows. It was a great spot for a nice and chill sunday brunch!
(4)
Corie M.
Just moved across the street from Frasca. Now this is dangerous. Buy one get one free on Wednesdays! The most amazing pizza deal since the Hot n' Ready from Little Caesars....without that pesky cardboard taste of course. But they have so much more to offer. Their Brunch is a must (the side potatoes, yum), and their bruschetta (mushroom, goat cheese and truffle oil!). This place is responsible for my current goat cheese obsession. Lucky me. I'm only a hop, skip and a jump away.
(5)
Brett F.
Did you know that Tuesdays are half-price wines night at Frasca?? I say 'wines' of course, because it's next to impossible for me to ever have just one glass of vino. At $5.00 p/glass I'm sure you'll feel the same at this cute Lakeview spot. Frasca is contemporary Italian; stylish inside complete with wine bar and retractable windows that gaze upon ample outdoor seating, ideal for some dinner and conversation on a nice summer night. The food was OK. We tried the bruschetta special, a tasty you pick 3 deal to be split amongst 3 of us... the odd thing was when served, all of the bruschettas were cut in half, for 3 ladies trying to share it made it difficult for everyone to get a little bite of each. Not a huge deal, just poorly thought out. The do-not-miss standout was the hand-dipped ricotta bruschetta with pistachio and honey, Mama Mia it was almost sinful. The Caponata Pizza had way more toppings than cheese and seemed a little dry to me... but Pizza is like sex you know, even when it's bad it's still pretty good. We got our green on and also shared 2 salads... the Caesar was, caesarish (read: good but boring) and the Wild Argula salad with crispy pancetta, apples and gorgonzola was fresh and delicious, would have loved to have seen some more cheese and pancetta though, Frasca was a bit skimpy with the fat stuff (read: my favorite part). Bottom Line: decent spot in the neighborhood, great choice if you want to sit outside, incredible bargain wine selection, nice specials throughout the week, it's worth a shot, Brett said so.
(3)
Morgan M.
Stopped in here Friday night since the weather was great and wanted to be out and about for a nice dinner. We were seated in no time at all. Unfortunately, I took quite awhile for someone to come take our drink order and then even longer to get them. That being said after the drinks came we had good service and very good food. It was the perfect Friday night dinner. We did the pick your own app thing and did a couple of flatbreads and a meat and cheese. All was very good. My husband had the potato pizza and added an egg which he LOVED! I had spaghetti pomodoro and it was totally worth the guilt of having pasta! We skipped out on dinner and walked to Scooter's nearby. Frasca was very good and we will be back since we live close by.
(4)
Meredith T.
We used to live in the neighborhood and enjoyed this place several times a month; however, i had never been for brunch. Last Sunday my besty and I tried it out. The Bloody Mary is fantastic and they also have bottomless mimosas. We ordered the breakfast pizza and it was life changing. The hash brown casserole couldn't have been better. Our server was excellent. He had my friend's next mimosa order placed even before she asked for it.
(5)
Nikki S.
The pizzas were delicious and some unique choices. My only complaint, was they seated us next to the window when it was cold out, when there were plenty of empty seats. I guess I could have said something, but just odd. Would still recommend going though!
(4)
Renee P.
Really, you tried to slip us a different cheese? This place had great service, but terrible management/back of the house. My husband I went super early on Valentines Day, and we had to wait while the management jacked up the prices, and didn't honor their 1/2 off bottles on Mondays. The bruscettas we ordered were super yummy, but we also ordered a fancy goat cheese I've had before, but they delivered another cheese. When I asked the waitress if this was the cheese we ordered, she went back to the kitchen and discovered that the cheese we had ordered wasn't in stock. So I guess they just gave us whatever, thinking we wouldn't know the difference. We decided not to order dinner and left after returning the cheese. Total Fail
(2)
Kelly M.
The pizza at Frasca is some of the best I've ever had. It reminded me of the pizza I had in Rome. A friend and I stopped in on a Wednesday night to take advantage of the "buy one, get one free" pizza deal. They were pretty crowded so we sat at the bar and watched the hockey game. The service was just so-so. They were very busy and we practically had to beg to order food hence why I gave Frasca four stars, otherwise it would have gotten five. We weren't in any hurry so it didn't bother me too much. The atmosphere was nice and not too loud. The crowd was young, but mature -- if that makes sense. This would be a great place for a casual date or to come with a group of friends. We ordered a Primavera Pizza (tomato sauce, asparagus, red onion, artichoke and lemon ricotta cheese) and a Caponata Pizza (tomato sauce, eggplant, goat cheese, red peppers, mushrooms and artichokes). Both were great, but the Primavera was definitely the best. The guy sitting next to us at the bar ordered the risotto mushroom balls which looked fantastic. I'd go back for just wine and cheese, or of course more pizza!
(4)
Hanah V.
I love Frasca -- and everyone I have ever brought here does as well. The food is great, the atmosphere is nice, and the staff has always always been amazingly friendly -- no matter if you go on a crazy Saturday night or a more calm Tuesday night. I have gone just with one person, as well as large group of 12 and have great experiences. Love the seasonal salads they offer -- the bruschetta combinations are mind blowingly amazing -- did I mention they have a chocolate chip cookie in a skillet? And every pizza I've ever tried is delicious!
(5)
Belinda E.
Our first visit, loved the dates wrapped in bacon, the meatballs (should offer a spicy option) and the gnocchi is delish! We will be back again.
(4)
Brad K.
I've been to Frasca about a half dozen times, but only on weeknights because their wine specials are so great. Monday 1/2 off bottles. Tuesday 1/2 off glasses. My girlfriend and I could be accused of being creatures of habit, but when we find something that works we tend not to veer off course. At Frasca this means we always start with the Farmer's Table, basically their meat/cheese platter. You select 4 or 8 items and they come out on a rustic board. Each bruschetta option is great and you get two big pieces per order, but the mushroom and goat cheese option is the star. The meats and cheeses are always changing, but the servers seem to be up to date on them and are great with recommendations (beware: some cheeses are quite pungent). The board also comes with grapes, nuts, crackers and chutney/marmalade. We're always happy with the pizzas when we get them. The prosciutto with arugula is my favorite, but the margherita is also tasty. The atmosphere is bustling. We always sit in the front bar area at one of the booths. It's really nice in the summer when they open their windows up. The dining room falls into the trap of so many Chicago restaurants where you're closer to the person at the table next to you than your dinner companion. This is a pet peeve of mine so we never go back there. Other drawbacks: Panko-crusted calamari was subpar, not recommended. A bit over-priced for what it is if you don't get the wine deals. They have two TVs behind the bar, why? I love sports as much as anyone, but who goes to a wine bar to watch the White Sox game? Chicago bars need to feel confident enough to turn the damn TV off.
(4)
Hugh B.
We moved into the neighborhood a couple months ago, and have been here several times. Here's the lowdown. The food is consistently good, and the service always attentive. We have found pizzas to be better than pastas or salads, although the pastas and salads are good. The pizzas are made to order and cooked in a wood-burning oven. The outdoor space is nice and very dog-friendly. (Cats are allowed only indoors.) Indoors can get REALLY loud, especially when it is crowded (like on a Wednesday night when they offer two pizzas for the price of one). That said, the Wednesday night special is pretty good and well worth putting up with a little noise. They run specials on other weeknights--like half price wine or half price martinis--but I think the two-for-one pizza is a big draw.
(4)
Melissa R.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place. That sounds bad, because I didn't really have low expectations, just no expectations to begin with. I had passed by Frasca many times and have heard good things, but never really gave it a chance. I should learn from my mistakes because we had an excellent time. A few great things about this place right off the bat: * lots of indoor and outdoor seating * kid friendly (this actually might be a deterrent for some) * super nice staff that always had smiles on their face This is a perfect setting for catching up with friends, date night, or dinner with the family. It's so nice to sit outside with fresh flowers around us and lots of people watching to enjoy and no pressure to eat and get out. But the inside is also very charming with modern (but not trying too hard) decor and lighting. The food was fantastic, and reasonably priced. Of what I tried I loved all of it. To start: bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates (um...hello delicious!) and fresh bread (a little crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside). Dinner: Infamous Wrightwood Salad (love all the various fresh ingredients, didn't even need the dressing on the side) and the quattro formaggi pizza (the blend of mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta, provolone on a soft and thin crust was phenomenal). Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookie in a skillet with ice cream and caramel. It's one of those where if you think you'll only eat one bite, you are SO wrong. Bruschetta: You're thinking the standard tomato based concept, but here it's a whole lot more. You could eat it as an appetizer if you split it with people, or order it as your meal. The caprese and brie & apples are legit. This is officially in my rotation of new favorite places. I'm kind of hooked.
(5)
Marty G.
Time for me to give some props to Frasca. Their brunch is top notch and so are the bloody marys. The fried egg sandwich is the best in the city and the new smoke daddy bloody mix is very flavorful. Was skeptical to order the new eggs benedict pizza the other day, but to my surprise it was really really good!! I suggest trying that and the fried egg sandwich soon. (oh, don't forget to try the cheesy hash browns, d-lish)
(5)
Johnny B.
I love their pizzas, specifically the Soprano (a gussied up meat lovers that somehow avoids the ridiculousness of traditional meat lovers and actually has wonderful, not-overpowering flavors) and the one with prosciutto and arugula. And buy one get one free on Wednesdays is a mid-week steal. But regular price on almost everything here is a couple bucks too much. A Daisy Cutter is $6.50. $6.50. SIX FIFTY! That's fine if I'm in a hotel bar downtown (why would I be in a hotel bar downtown?), but unacceptable for a neighborhood pizza joint. I'll stick with Frasca on Wednesdays when the drinks and the pizza even the bill out and skip it the rest of the time.
(4)
Minna A.
$6 pints of sangria, and they're not half bad tasting either! The space is adorable. Frasca makes me wish I lived in Roscoe Village! I was here on a Sunday night, which is most definitely family night. You know when you go to a restaurant and everyone's like, "Hey, [Neighbor man}! Good seeing you here!" Well this happens at frasca only it's more like, "Mommy, LOOK! It's Peter R. from my second grade class!!!!! LOOK MOMMY!!!!!" (Actual conversation.) Other than that, there's a great vibe from Fasca. Friendly service, and a great wine selection with adult/kid friendly menu items. I can see why this is a family dinner favorite!
(4)
Barbara O.
I like their kids eat free offer! Friendly staff. Good standard of food. Bustling restaurant.
(4)
Janet O.
Wow! I am so impressed with Frasca! My friends have been telling me for ages to give it a try. Finally got around to giving it a shot, and now I can't wait to go back. My friends and I started with some cheesy bread that simply phenomenal. Then I had the rigatoni which I have had dreams about since. Our wine was great, my friends daughter ate for free, and our dessert cookie was better than any dessert I've ever had. However, the real reason I am here is to talk about our server Matthew( or maybe it was Michael?) Right of the bat he was extremely welcoming, smiley, and pleasantly energetic. He was so attentive and kind, and made some really great suggestions( I wasn't going to drink until he started talking about wine.) the best part is how great he was with my friends daughter. He saw her crying while he was at another table and came straight over to see what was wrong. After making some silly faces and giving her a high five, she forgot that she was crying because she wanted an airplane coloring page instead of whatever she had. He walked right to the front and came back with an airplane for her. I have worked in the service industry an extremely long time, and I must say that I have never had such an amazing server before. I will most definitely be back. Go Frasca!
(5)
Katie K.
I love this place. I have gone many times and the food and service is consistently excellent. You can't go wrong with their wood fire pizza - each one I have had has been delicious. They have great weekday specials. This is a "go to" spot for my boyfriend and I - it never disappoints.
(5)
John F.
Popular neighborhood spot. Servers were very nice, and the place was busy on a Thursday night. Nothing I had was amazing, but nothing I had was bad, either. Wine flights were fun. I felt that the price point was slightly high given that everything I had was so average, but I will go back and try again. My pizza was kind of soggy, so maybe it was just an off night--but it made me really miss living next to Pizzaria via Stato
(3)
Erin Q.
Frasca is by far my neighborhood favorite. It's the best restaurant in RV for wine and dinner. The wine flights are fun and inexpensive. The meat, cheese, and bruchetta boards are a must for an appetizer. A perfect meal is that and a pizza. The staff is friendly, and if you have to wait, there is a huge bar to sip wine at. The only downside is the 'kids eat free' until 6:00 every day, even Fridays. I met my friend there on a Friday right at 5:45/6:00 at it was full of kids. No worries, by 7:00 it was all adults.
(4)
Mary B.
Have never had a bad meal here. The brunch is always excellent and the bloody marys are one of the best in the city. Dinner is just as good. Always good service and quality food.
(5)
Jim P.
Had my two sisters in from out of town so I took them to Frasca last night. Both the hostess and manager were extremely pleasant. Out purple haired waitress, on the other hand, was as charming as a honey badger. The sangria and pizza did however 'hit the spot'. We had a build-your-own and a Soprano which was pretty tasty and rather spicy.
(3)
Frank N.
On another brilliant recommendation from fellow yelpette Mandi, I came here to tempt my thin crust pizza fetish. Um, how does Top Chef Grayson Schmitz say it: "It's like sex in your mouth!" Came here for my birthday dinner and already previewed the menu online before I got there. Considering I got a parking spot right out front, I knew things were heading in the right direction! Immediately, we were greeted by a super friendly hostess sitting us with a great view of the pizza oven. Hey, it's the simple things in life that make me happy! Pizzas? Absofreakinglutely!! Margherita was perfection. I loved the fully cooked through and crusty bottom - obviously a veteran pizza chef - I bow to you. The Capone was another spot-on pizza with a great mix of onions and sausage. Lastly, the Caponata was recommended by our server. I loved the eggplant and roasted red pepper but the goat cheese fell just a little short for me. All in all, this place was great and the ambiance was perfect with a nice younger crowd and plenty of eye-candy as Mondays are half off wine bottles. Frasca, thank you for making my birthday dinner a filling one!
(4)
Jen F.
I'm torn. I love Frasca's food and Monday night 1/2 off wine bottle night. The decor is neat and it seems like it should be a great romantic date spot. However, nearly every table also featured a screaming, laughing, kicking child of various age range. I think it's great that there is a good neighborhood spot for kids, but it doesn't mean I want to eat next to them. The bruschetta is great, the prosciutto pizza marvelous, and the wine was perfect. Service was good too. Maybe we'll try again later in the evening after the kiddies go to bed?
(3)
Maggie W.
This is our new once-a-week spot....chopped salad is great....pizza is great and half price glasses of wine isn't too bad either. The best part of our last experience was our waitress, OLIVIA!! She rocks! She was so nice, so attentive, and gave a great recommendation on a Pinot Noir. Best server we've had in Chicago for a long time!
(5)
Erich S.
Solid Italian food in the neighborhood. I don't know that, if I lived in the Gold Coast or Bucktown or something that I'd make the commute to come, but it is certainly a lovely neighborhood gem. Food is always surprisingly good, a nice wine selection, and it is kid friendly. Very friendly and courteous staff.
(4)
Joel M.
We came in on a warm weekday afternoon and were seated quickly near the bar. They seem to be known for pizza, but we decided to order some small plates off of their "farmer's table" menu. This menu consists of many small plates of cheese, bruschetta, and cured meats that you can pick individually or as platters. Wow, everything from the farmer's table menu was excellent! Fresh gouda, mouth-watering blue cheese, country-style salami, cured italian ham, and bruschetta with toppings that included salmon, creme fraiche, brie, and apple slices. It comes all at once on a large plate (see my pic), with some delicious bread and crunchy bread sticks on the side. The variety was great, and it was enough food to fill use up pretty well. The draft beer selection is small but good (Daisy Cutter FTW) and my wife had no problem finding a great glass of pinot grigio. Overall, great ambience, food, drinks, and the service didn't miss a beat. I want to go back now just thinking about it.
(5)
Emily M.
We were looking for brunch this past Saturday, and I was hoping to go somewhere WITHOUT a dumb line and WITH interesting and tasty menu items. This place fit the bill, and it was a wonderful experience! We sat outside, and requested to sit on the Lincoln side, since it was less crowded and had a better view. The result was excellent people-watching and a lovely breeze to accompany our brunch. My boyfriend and I both ordered omlettes, and I got mine with the potatoes, which was a great decision. Mmm those potatoes...very creamy, tasty potato shreds. We also got the bloody marys that came with a 7oz High Life, which was also tasty, and a lot of fun. Overall, it was perfect. I can't imagine there was a better way to spend that gorgeous hour in this gorgeous city.
(5)
Evan H.
Great atmosphere, great food, solid prices and an ok wine selection. Wednesday is 2/1 pizza day which is always nice. A great spot right next to Waterhouse which happens to have the best buffalo rolls in on Lincoln.
(4)
Marie M.
Moved to the neighborhood recently and went to Fresca last night. The food is great, ambiance is great. We will definitely be going back. Also, we had TERRIFIC service from Will. We sat at the bar and he was bartending. Sometimes eating at the bar means you get a bit lesser service because the bartenders are also pouring the server's drinks. Will was funny, polite, helpful and attentive. Great service and great experience.
(5)
Richie D.
This Paulina hide-out has become one of my new favorite hang-outs, and I'm not one to become a regular anywhere. The decor is comfortable--love the side room with the curved wall elongated by the Birch Bark tree wallpaper (makes me reminisce to my childhood when I would draw on that type of tree's bark). In the summer and spring, take a seat on one of their two sidewalk patios and watch all the West Lakeview families stroll by with their strollers. All the food is recommended, but the "create your own" antipasto platter, or as they call it "Old World Farmers Plate", is AWESOME! I have to agree with Al D. regarding the pizza, not the best in the city: yelp.com/biz/frasca-chic… . The circulating Chef's Selection of the Week cheese is always a pleaser. After all, they do have the fabulous and Chicago's one and only fromager bring in the fresh cheeses for the chef to choose from and serve. The platter comes in small (perfect for two or three; $15) or grande ($26) sizes with your choice of 4 or 8 items including bruschettas, cheeses, cured meats or house marinated olives. I can't help myself and usually go with the chef's weekly cheese, the Delice de Bourgonge triple cream cow's milk (perfectly rich 'n creamy), the hand-dipped ricotta with pistachio and honey bruschetta (honey and ricotta, perfect combo), and a third random cheese selection based on my tastes buds that day. Even better, the cheeses come with thin crackers, homemade jam, grapes and some nuts! My favorite appetizer, which I sometimes make a meal, are the Wild Mushroom Risotto Fritters! Perfectly and slightly fried on the outside, but mushy and warm on the inside. Dunk one in their reggiano creama and you're in for a ride to heaven. On another note, I'd skip the Gnocchi all together because it is the worst I've ever come across (gnocchi shouldn't be sticky and mushy, sorry). Go with the Spaghetti Pomodoro instead, it pairs perfectly with the complimentary, homemade bread and the spiced oil. Finish off your meal with their Iron Skillet Cookie that is deliciously doughy! They offer great weekday specials which are always appreciated while on a student budget. -Monday: 1/2 off bottles of wine -Tuesday: 1/2 off glasses of wine -Wednesday: Buy one get one free pizzas -Thursday: $6 Specialty Martinis -Sunday: $3 drafts I must recommend my favorite wine there: Argentiera Cabernet/Merlot/Syrah blend from Tuscany (I know you'd think it were from Argentina with that name...). But don't purchase too many bottles because I'll whine (no pun intended) if there's none left during my visit! I hope to eventually try Frasca for brunch one day. Only time will tell.
(5)
Alison W.
All around, a fantastic establishment. Excellent service, delicious food, cold beers. My favorite pizza is the butternut squash & Gorgonzola one. It's probably a seasonal menu item, but if you ever see it on there, get it! Atmosphere is very cozy with the open kitchen wood burning oven for their pizzas. I will definitely keep coming back here.
(5)
Laura S.
I've been here a few times for dinner, and the ambiance is wonderful. The servers have been very attentive, and my food has always been cooked perfectly. I had salmon that was to die for, and their pizza is always delicious. I highly recommend this for date night or a gals' night out!
(4)
Vicky G.
My husband and I spend so much time eating out for dinner, we're bound to have our go-tos. And Frasca is our neighborhood restaurant. First of all, they have great weekday specials (bogo Wed, half off glasses of wine Tuesday). Did someone say wine? They have a decent wine selection with good prices. Their salads, pizzas and bruschettas are the best. I would say skip the appetizers, and stick to those three basics. They seasonalize their menu which makes it nice for people like me that eat there all the time! When it comes to dessert the classic skillet chocolate chip cookie with ice cream is a must try. They do a nice job of adding new desserts in the mix that are also very tasty but the cookie is a staple. It's family friendly but also later in the night it weeds out to just grown ups. If you live nearby and haven't been yet, it's a must!
(5)
Claire H.
This place is back on top. I missed the days of Carrie, Michael and Tia and when Jason was manager, and ever since Crosbys had opened, I felt like Frasca lost the attention it truly deserved. I went in on buy one get one pizza night and I saw something fresh and new. A WHOLE NEW MENU. I am a regular for sure, but honestly I havent had the service that was a regular thing in a while. There was one girl with red hair who moves slower than mollases, and another girl with braces who did not seem to know much about the menu. I powered through those uncomfortable evenings hoping something better would come a long. And it did. We sat down at a booth, all five of us, and our waiter came over, Will, with the most contagious energy in the world. He suggested some of his favorites and we immediately began to divulge. He brought over the wine which was a pinot grigio, (nothing fancy) but rather than being sad and just boring as our other lady servers had been, he was upbeat excited to be here and created a night we would not forget. HE WAS THE PERFECT SERVER. The last time I was excited about this was when they brought specials to the table at Frasca. This place has got it back. The new menu, Pizza Francese Calabrian Chicken Meatballs, Leek Bruscetta are some of my new favorites, and Will has made me feel like this place is a neighborhood restaurant again. I hope that they got rid of those old dingy staff members, cause honestly...They made me never want to return. Thanks to the manager whose name was...Michelle or Rochelle I think, and Will for making one of the best meals I have had in Chicago with the ladies!
(5)
Shelly A.
I'm definitely happy to have Frasca in my new neighborhood. This street badly needs a place like this. It's sports bar after sports bar (with an occasional pet store or baby gym sprinkled in between), and Frasca glimmers amongst the rest on the corner of Paulina and Lincoln. Being a huge fan of bruschetta, I especially loved their variety on the starter menu. Every kind I tried was top notch, and I'll def be back to try what I passed on the first time. I'm sure most people don't spring for the chicken entree here, but it was probably my favorite of everything we ordered. Great flavor and cooked perfectly. The pizzas are fantastic and you'll probably see me next Wed on BOGO pizza night. This place is especially great on a nice night when you can dine outdoors.
(4)
Janet S.
Close to our crib, came out of a show and headed for a late night snack and post gig glass of wine. $10 risotto, appy but large more like an entree pour moi - yum, sat around the bar, lots of neighborhood peeps, no pretension, no fuss, just a nice quiet wind-down.
(4)
Alyssa E.
Frasca is one of my favorite neighborhood go to restaurants. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the vibe is energetic. In the summer they have an awesome patio, offering diners the chance to sit out and enjoy the summer air and a crisp glass of wine! The food here is solid. I've had almost ever pizza on the menu. All of the pizza is wood fired, giving the crust a crispy exterior and a chewy middle. One of my favorite pizzas is the spinaci- fresh spinach, crispy bits of bacon, caramelized onions, and creamy goat cheese. Delicious! Another menu favorite of mine is the bruschetta. They have a number of different types to choose from. My two favorite are the blue cheese crumbles with slivered grapes and the ricotta with toasted pistachios drizzled with honey. Yum! The waitstaff is hit or miss at times, but if you can ask for Audra! She is awesome! Makes wonderful wine suggestions and very helpful and personable. Love this place and if you find yourself in the area, make sure to atop in!
(4)
Kim O.
I love this restaurant. Brunch is one of my favorites in the city. We are big fans of the $15 bottomless mimosas. The fried egg sandwich is wonderful & the cheesy potatoes are a must have. I also really like the turkey panini sandwich if I'm in the mood for lunch. As for dinner, this is a great place to go out with a group. It has a bar-like fun atmosphere, but is still accommodating to children & families. One negative is that I'm not a fan of sitting in the back of the restaurant as it's very cramped and cave-like. Everything I've ordered has been great. Frasca is one of those multifunctional restaurants. It works for girls night, grandma's birthday, date night, stop in for a drink, catch a game (2 small tvs) while catching a drink, etc. When in doubt, this restaurant has it all.
(5)
anne f.
I've been waiting a long time to review Frasca. I live right around the corner, so I've had dozens of experiences there over the past two years. Lots of good things, but sometimes pretty bad... Don't bother with the chicken/salmon/filet medallion entrees. They always come out EXTREMELY salty. Worth the money for the amount of food, but there's a chef back there over-seasoning everything. We just had one of their seasonal salads--roasted brussels sprouts and cauliflower. This would have been so lovely, but again, it was incredibly over-seasoned. So much cheese, plus salt, plus bacon, plus capers. Yuck. However, I will say I've had the pastas and pizzas, and I love them. Simple thin pizza with a chewy crust and usually fresh toppings. Just the right amount of cheese. My girlfriend is a big fan of the meatballs and spaghetti, though it looks like that's been removed from the menu recently (why?). We also are a little obsessed with the fried egg sandwich, which is a chore to eat, but worth the mess. Love the rye bread. The omelettes are just okay. But the breakfast potatoes, if you're not counting calories, will keep you coming back to nurse your hangovers. They are creamy and herbed and thrown on a griddle before served. As far as the staff goes, lately they seem to have been shaping up. In the past they were pretty wretched, but the hostess I see most often is a doll and their servers are competent and usually friendly. You'll notice straightaway who their long-time workers are for sure. They're quick and know the drill without being super fake.
(3)
Phil P.
Had a bad experience this am, tried to get a table of four seated, staff was extremely rude and pretentious, would not seat us properly (they tried to move us twice). Not everyone is toting a couple of kids in lakeview. The staff was very "I'm better than you" and I will not be taking my money here in the future. I've been here in the past and the food has been good, but the service was very terrible today
(1)
Joe L.
Pizza, salad, wine flights, brushetta, and cured meats!!! How can you go wrong? Great date place, but I would go a little later so the kids are not there. So starters we had a few things off the Farmer's Table menu: Fresh Mozz and Basil Brushetta Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese Brushetta Sopressata Salametto Fantastic, comes out on a board with crackers and jam..Everything was fresh and made great Ordered some Chorizo Stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon..Bacon makes everything better and if it wasn't for the bacon, these would not have been that good. I'd stay away from this next time.. Dinner: So there was 4 of us, so we split 2 pizzas and 1 salad Infamous Wrightwood Salad - Field Greens, chicken, tomatoes, craisins, avacado, corn, almonds, goat cheese and croutons Prosciutto Pizza - olive oil, fresh mozz, arugulo, and prosciutto Caponta Pizza - Tom saue, eggplant, goat cheese, red peppers, mushrooms, and artichokes. Before putting the pizza on your plate, grab the olive oil bottle shake it up and pour it on your plate. Then place you slice on top of the olive oil and allow the crust to soak up some of the olive oil....enjoy!!
(4)
Matthew K.
Went here with some friends for lunch. They seated us right away. Unfortunately took awhile to find a server. We waited 15min without being served. Ended up being a mix up on table coverage. Still not a good start for my first experience. From a rocky start, the rest was excellent. I actually ordered breakfast food and had the Roscoe Omelet. I also ordered their fruit pancakes. The Omelet was very good. Had a good portion of meat and was nicely blended with egg and cheese. The pancakes were great. It had fruit mixed in which was a nice twist. The server felt bad so she gave us free puffy sugar donuts. I don't know the exact name but they were yummy and still very warm. That was very nice of them. Definitely recommend this place. I'd say the server mix up was probably a fluke. My friends ordered the breakfast pizza and wow. Unexpected to have egg on a pizza but looked great. They loved it.
(4)
Colin M.
Frasca is great! Good food, not too expensive, and great service. They have the Wrightwood Salad, which I love from Dunlays, and the pizzas are delicious. They also have weeknight specials, which makes the restaurant even more affordable - I think one night is half price wine and another is two-for-one pizza. Definitely recommend if you are out and about in west Lakeview!
(4)
Shaun S.
Stopped here with two classmates while taking a class down the street at the Chicago Photography Center. We had quick service, great food and pretty reasonable price, definitely a nice neighborhood joint. I'm sure if the wife and I lived closer, we'd be there a lot... she kinda loves Pizza! And had I been not trying to topple a sinus infection... the beer list looked pretty fun too!
(4)
Mike K.
Frasca reminds me alot of Goo Goo Dolls...we kinda wanna be Bon Jovi, but not really. Its like wu tang clan...just way too many styles mixed into one concept, except the wu do it right. thats another story....point is, Frasca wants to be a pizzeria. its true, ask them! however its not quite there. it's like LA sent over their snooty version of what a fancy pizzeria with wine looks like. this isnt a pizzeria, this is somewhere you'd see d level celebrities come out and get interviewed by TMZ. girls who think their classy seem to love this place. i went out with a chloe kardashian loolalike recently who swears by this place, which was pretty much all i needed to know about it and her. the food doesnt suck, and if you just wanna veg and not eat and just kinda much and drink wine, then youll love this place.
(3)
Liz R.
Frasca has quickly become a favorite of mine. My mom and I went last night with our golden retriever and called ahead to let them know about the dog, and once we arrived there was a table right on the patio for us to sit at. Our waitress was very helpful and sweet and even brought out a water bowl for our dog, all the food came out fantastic (the vegetable soup is to die for), and the drinks were great as well. The GM even came and chatted with us for ten minutes talking about dogs while petting ours and being so friendly. Each time I've gone has been such a great experience- you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Mark M.
Big fan of their caponata pizza, their brunch, bloody Mary's, the wrightwood salad, and their cheese selection. Haven't had a bad time there yet.
(4)
Geoff D.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The wood-fired pizzas are delicious (the soprano and the pepperoni are my favorites, with the prosciutto as a close 3rd), and the spinach and arugula salad is fantastic. When we dine in we usually get the fondue appetizer or something from the cheese menu as well. While it's hard to venture away from the pizza, the wood roasted chicken was also very flavorful and my partner loved the short ribs she ordered as a special one time (and would love to see it as a permanent menu item). They also do takeout, which is convenient for those crowded Friday and Saturday nights when the Roscoe Village stroller crowd is out in full effect.
(5)
Bridget D.
Went this week one night for a pizza making class. One of the owners Chef Josh (?) taught the class. We learned a lot, had a really great time and ate yummmy pizza. I will definitely go back with a group - nice atmosphere - it was really busy even on a Tuesday night! Seemed that there are many deals offered throughout the week for wine/ food.
(5)
Sarah C.
WOW. What a turn of events. A few girlfriends and I did brunch here last week and the service was ABSYMAL. Like waited over 40 minutes for a check after our plates were cleared....our coffees stopped getting refilled at the 20 minute mark and the waitress we did hunt down to get us our check seemed extra irritated with us for even asking! Add to that having been seated in Stroller City--- Frasca's losing some clout. I don't like having to apologize to brunch guests :(
(2)
Alison D.
My husband and I frequently eat here because it is just up the road from us, and the owner is from the same hometown as my husband, who, being hopelessly nostalgic and sentimental, likes this fact. The food is good, about what you would expect from a restaurant like this, although it is well priced and they do have a great wine and beer selection. The wait staff is always very pleasant and prompt, and although whenever we've been seated outside we tend to have a little slower service, whenever we're inside they're great. All in all it's a good place to go in the neighborhood for a quick and filling meal and a lively environment. It's always filled with young families though, if you eat earlier, so be sure to dine after 8 if you would rather not be seated next to a family with small children. I highly recommend the wrightwood salad, the margherita pizza, and the stuffed dates!
(4)
Paul M.
I live about a block away from Frasca and I've been meaning to check it out since I moved to Roscoe about a year ago. I finally had dinner there last night with my fiancee. We had the calimari, caprese salad, linguine fra diavola, a rustica pizza and drank maker's manhattans. We liked the calimari (deliciously and perfectly fried in panko) and rustica pizza (amazing wood grilled crust with dried tomatoes) the best and were both disappointed with thefra diavola, which was overcooked and not very spicy. The space is huge yet somehow intimate and comfortable and the waitstaff are attentive and friendly. We'll be back, but not for pasta.
(4)
Sarah E.
What a great find! A friend and I visited Frasca on a Thursday night. Food was great - we had the risotto of the day and the Wrightwood salad. I tried the white flight (that's what it was actually called) of three different pinot grigios. When I told the server which one I liked best, she gave me another one to try that was just as good, and made some great suggestions for what else I should be looking for when drinking white wine. Overall, friendly, quick, knowledgeable service and outstanding food. Also very reasonably priced and conveniently located off the Paulina brown line. I'm excited to go back for this pizza deal I keep reading about.
(5)
Jeff R.
Delicious!! Wonderful salads, interesting and very flavorful pizzas, nice warm atmosphere. We will be back!
(5)
Joscelyn M.
I like this place, but I've had better. I got the caponata pizza and liked it. Cute place with nice outdoor seating. I'd go again, but probably on a night there's a special. Half-price glasses of wine (Mon) Half-price bottles of wine (Tue) Purchase one pizza get a second one free (Wed)
(3)
Melissa M.
Decided to check this place out based on a friend's recommendation, and it lived up to the expectations! Wednesday night is BOGO pizza night, so we took advantage of that, along with many great appetizers (definitely get the bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates!!!) and a salad. The menu has so many great options, you'll want to go back to try out more. One comment, and maybe this is because we dined fairly early @ 6:00, is that it was packed with families with kids. This could have been because of the Wed. night special. Nothing wrong with this, but just be aware if you're looking for a quiet, adult place.
(4)
Annie G.
I debated giving this place three stars, but my most recent visit made me choose otherwise. The food and service and ambiance was great and pushed it to four! Kevin the server should get kudos for that. Margarita pizza was yum yum yum. Perfectly cooked in the wood burning oven. Well done like it should be and fresh basil strips decorated the top. The sides of sauteed spinach and white beans were the perfect accompaniment to lots of ladies who ordered pizza for their entree. Decent wine selection. Wonderful place in the summer time. Just watch out; this place is swarming with parents of toddlers and hummer strollers.
(4)
Michael O.
As others have said, the bruschetta is really good. The farmer's table is reasonable, I think you can order any 8 items for $26. We also happened in on buy-one-get-one pizza night, which is an awesome deal. I think you have discern your flavors, but out of all the options you'll be able to find yours and enjoy.
(4)
Patrick P.
Great neighborhood. Great food. Great wine. Everytime I go to Frasca's, I get a pizza and a glass of wine. And I highly recommend you do the same. And summer time is the best there. Outdoor seating. The train in the background. And great people watching. And you can get there by the Brown Line - Paulina stop. It is right next door.
(5)
John B.
service could be better...hung up on me when I called around noon before their open hours...just dont answer .... good food though
(2)
Rebekah W.
I think three stars might be pushing it a little. - We waited an hour and fifteen minutes for a table. - The calamari was bland. - The Pizza Bianca tasted like saltines. - The server didn't seem to have much time for us. - The Soprano pizza was OK, but not worth the wait. - The bar ran out of CO2, so we couldn't order draft beer. We spent too much money and too much time at a place that didn't seem to even try to reach the mark. For the record, the restaurant was packed and it was Friday night, but I've had much better pizza, service, and drinks under the same circumstances.
(3)
Tina W.
My friend and I finally popped in here last month after years of walking by and saying, "We should try that place sometime." OMG. It was so good! The servers were funny and cool and their bruschetta haunted me for days. My husband and I went back the following week so that I could get a bruschetta fix. Unfortunately, we didn't go until about 9:00 and they were out of everything - bread, potatoes, and 1 entree choice. But they were nice about it and gave us some free champagne, so I won't complain. ;)
(4)
Emily N.
I am so sad to have to write this review for Frasca. I've been here multiple times and have always had a fantastic experience. Unfortunately, if you have a party over 8 people..forget it! I called to make a reservation and the hostess said I would need to talk with the manager so she took my name and #. The manager never called so I called twice the next day to reach him. I finally got a hold of him and he flat out refused my reservation and told me they are too busy on the weekend to give me a reservation. WHAT?!!!! It will be awhile before I return...if I ever do.
(1)
Evan M.
Awesome interior; margherita pizza and wine is a fantastic combo. Try the stuffen chicken!
(4)
Sarah K.
My brother took my family and I to Frasca on a recent visit to Chicago for brunch. I really love brunch, and this was an excellent brunch experience. With the bottomless mimosa I had 5 mimosas for $13! I'm not much of a Bloody Mary drinker, but my brother and his friends said they have the best Bloody Mary's in town. I had a taste of one of them, and I agree, they were pretty good (I could definitely drink it). I ordered the breakfast pizza for something different (and because I really love pizza.) Even though it was much larger than a typical "personal pizza" I had no problem finishing it off. The rosemary in the crust was very good. My dad had an omelette (I forget which one) and claimed it was the best omelette he ever had. If I lived in Chicago I am sure I would visit here regularly.
(5)
Catherine S.
I was there this past Sunday for my birthday with a large group. Though the service wasn't the quickest I've ever experienced, they did as good of a job as can be expected with a 15 person table. We stayed past the kitchen close time and did not feel rushed to leave. They brought out complementary dessert and a Frasca's pizza cutter for me as a bday gift (Pretty cool if you as me; I've never seen a restaurant give a gift to the birthday girl). Overall good experience - excellent food, especially the prosciutto pizza and all of the bruschetta (were cut nicely for sharing). Excellent birthday place - I would recommend it.
(4)
Lindsay S.
I went here with my boyfriend and we took a seat at the bar. I don't know, this place is just ok to me... even the outside I just don't care about it one way or another... it just is. We shared the bacon wrapped dates and a prosciutto flat bread, OK, bacon and dates is gross ... the flat bread was really good. I feel like they have good specials but I really can't remember what they are exactly, but there is a stand out front of the restaurant with them. The variety of people dining ranged from friends, to coworkers, to dates, to families... so its a place for everyone.
(3)
Jonathan C.
I probably should give this more than just 3 starts because nothing was bad but at the same time nothing was great. Overall the food was just ok and the service was also just ok, I wasn't wowed by anything. I am sure if we had a better waiter we would have had a better experience. We asked about the menu and they seemed clueless about the food they served.
(3)
ER S.
Given the other options around, I think I'd skip this place. We had a reservation, but still had to wait a long time for a table. And the bartender wouldn't let us sit at the bar because we had a child with us (we were not drinking at that point). This was odd because we've eaten dinner at the bars of restaurants and have never had a problem before. The hostess, clearly overwhelmed, kept coming back and telling us, "just a few more minutes". When we finally rec'd a table, it was in an archway and really dark. And loud. The food was generally good... I liked the prosciutto-wrapped fontina (although I would have preferred the fontina had been more melty) and my husband liked his fried calamari. I don't think I'd order another martini there though... too many big chunks of ice. Maybe the mean bartender shakes the shaker too hard. We all had pizzas for our main course. They were fine, but nowhere as good as Sapore di Napoli or Spacca Napoli. In the end, I'd say that the food was good (maybe 3-4 star), but I was so grumpy by how the evening began that I couldn't enjoy it.
(2)
Risa P.
First of all, this place is so cute!! The ceiling arch around on the side and they have twinkly lights around the bar. The place goes far back, with a bar for seating as well. We got there around 6 on a Thursday and by 7, the place was packed, with pretty much all the tables filled up. We went for a buy one get one free pizza deal, which was an awesome deal. We started with a small plate of cheese, meats and two bruschetta (you can pick four off their menu for $15) One bruschetta had ricotta cheese with honey and pistachio. YUM. The other had mushrooms and goat cheese, also delicious. We tried the hard aged gouda which was very good and I could have probably have three portions of it. (the portion was quite small) The pepperoni smelled yummy and garlicky though I did not eat it. My friend said that it was really infused with lots of delicious flavors. Next we tried the Caponata pizza and another pizza that I cant remember the name or find on the online menu. The caponata pizza had chunks of goat cheese, eggplant, mushrooms, red pepper and artichokes. It was so yummy! The goat cheese could have been distributed more evenly, but the pizza was still really yummy. I also liked the oven baked crust. The other pizza we got was a white pizza with potatoes and bacon. We asked for the bacon on the side for the one meat eater in our group and they happily obliged. That pizza was delicious too, though I am still on the fence on potatoes on pizza. It is good and I am glad that we tried it, but I think that I would have to get that a few more times to have it be a taste that I am used to. The waitress was tentative and nice. She was also kind of hilarious. Our water glasses were refilled often. The tables are big blocks of wood that are kind of funky. We were seated by the window and the door, so it was a little chilly, but in the middle of January, what can you expect. The location is perfect, really close to the Paulina stop and right off the Lincoln bus. They have outdoor seating for the summer too.
(4)
Jennifer S.
I wrote my first review of Frasca two years ago, and it's still one of my favorites in Roscoe Village. Their pizza and bruschetta are hits with everyone I bring here. Recently, I brought my group of brunching friends to try out the relatively new weekend brunch. The service and mimosas were great. Everything else was lackluster. The menu options for true-breakfast foods weren't huge, and although they had soup, pizza, and other lunch-type items on the menu, they didn't have the soup available to order. I'll still come back to Frasca for dinner, but I'll skip the brunch.
(4)
Kears H.
Amazing and creative comfort food with plentiful choices of wine by the glass. Small but cozy atmosphere- my only complaint is that there isn't a great place to wait for a table in the colder seasons but the size of the restaurant also attributes to its charm. I'm not sure if they take reservations but I reccomend making one if you can.
(4)
Michelle E.
Frasca is one of those places that I have seen a million and a half times, but somehow never made it in to actually try it! I recently came in with a group of friends for brunch, and it was a pleasant surprise! First of all, the place was empty, at 11:30 on Saturday morning. YAY! The idea of having to wait in line for breakfast is what usually makes me groan and roll over to go back to sleep, only to wake up a few hours later to eat cold pizza in front of the TV. Boo. Frasca might become one of my new secret brunch places! The service was friendly and casual, exactly what I want with brunch! Our server cheerfully answered all my questions about the menu, and made great recommendations! One of the things that intrigued me on the menu was the breakfast pizza. Basically, they put the whole pizza together, and before they put it in the oven, they crack 3 eggs on top of it. When it comes out of the oven, the eggs are done sunny-side up. I didn't order the pizza this time, I was craving eggs benedict too much, but I will have to try this pizza sometime soon! My eggs benedict was very good. The special eggs benedict that day had prosciutto instead of canadian bacon, which was a nice change. I also liked the potatoes, they were some kind of creamy, cheesy potato casserole. Yummy! My other favorite thing about brunch - bottomless mimosas! Apparently that's all I drink these days. $10 for bottomless mimosas, are you kidding me? That's a steal! Would I like a refill? Yes, please! One of my friends ordered the prosciutto pizza, and it looked very tasty, especially the crust - thin, but not too thin. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. Perfection! Must come back for dinner one of these days, too! Want a yummy brunch with a nice Italian twist? Give Frasca a try!
I love this place. The food is fantastic. Brunch is just as good. The wait staff are extremely nice (i love all of them, but Auds is my favorite). It's a great place to just stop in and have a drink or the perfect place to spend and evening with friends over dinner and wine. it's even more enjoyable of course in the summer when the have things opened up and the patio is in full swing... it makes for a great day.
(4)
Mary B.
Check website for specials under the event tab-good specials. Bruschetta was good. Bread was thick and soft and toppings were unique. Tried the asparagus, chickpea, and mozzarella. Chickpea was the favorite. Salad was on verge of being wilty due to excessive dressing, nothing special at all. Quattro pizza was good. Chewy crust. Decent price, especially if you go on a special night. Not bad, but won't demand to go there again!
(3)
David W.
Our go to place when the wife and I.... rephrase, when I decide I'm too tired to cook dinner. Choose your own bruschetta mix is great for a wife who wants a bite of everything (you can order 3 to 5 different kinds or all the same. I recommend the blue cheese with honey and the ricotta with pistachio), individual sized brick oven thin crust pizza are perfect for me the meat freak and she the classic sauce and cheese gal. They also have a cheese fondue for appetizer, though I recommend eating it fast cause the cheese isn't heated... it's good though. Love the flights option for wine and they have great wine specials early weekdays.
(4)
Laura M.
I actually really love Frasca, we used to frequent Dunlays but moved and this is our new mainstay (I believe owned the by same people). They have brick oven pizzas which are great, real italian pizza (the 4 cheese is my favorite) and you must try to cheese/antipasto/bruschetta bar thing?? you can pick out 3/6 different kinds..and ALL of the bruschetta are great. Love the ricotta/honey/pistachio bruschetta, and the brie and apple bruschetta. On Wednesday night they have buy one get one free pizza...GREAT deal..and i definitely suggest the pizza. Other food is good as well, and I suggest the herb crusted mahi! I also love this place for brunch, they have a breakfast pizza which is excellent but a little heavy (don't get if you want a light breakfast).
(4)
Brett G.
Here's what I liked: the food was decent. In fact, it was above-average Italian food. We had a trio of bruschettas (apple and brie, chick pea and white bean, and asparagus and prosciutto). Those were good. Another person had a salad and didn't complain about it. The pizzas we all had for dinner - the margarita, a create-your-own with olives, mushrooms, onions, and peppers, and the salami (which was basically covered with salami with leaves of spinach underneath) were all good, but nothing spectacular. My friends had raved about this place, and I was very under-impressed. The service was terrible. The drinks took fifteen minutes to arrive, and it was not busy. At first, the server blamed the bartender for being new, but if you get a bartending job, one would expect you have experience pouring beer. The food took far too long to arrive, and when we finally got our food, they didn't ask if we needed anything else (like more beer, drinks, etc). The service wasn't rude; but I have waited tables, and this was sub-standard. I was very disappointed, but I had high expectations so maybe that has something to do with it. Unfortunately, I don't think I would make a special trip back.
(2)
Robyn A.
I've been here twice now, and I can safely say, um, YUM. The pizza is delicious. The brunch is pretty fantastic. And the wine is a-flowin'--they have a pretty extensive list. Don't expect, though, to dash in and out for a fast food pizza experience. The servers here are super chill (and nice) and take their time, allowing you to relax and have a finer and SLOWER dining experience. Oh and don't even get me started on the bottomless mimosas. Dangerous!
(4)
Stephanie F.
This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants! From the moment you walk in, you feel at home. The food is incredible and the prices are even better. I love to go there on Wednesday and Thursday nights when they have their "Buy One, Get one Free" Pizza specials (I highly recommend the Rustica pizza - it's a pesto, prosciutto pizza) and their "Half Price Bottles of Wine" special. Dinner is not the only time you should check this place out, they also have a great brunch menu. My favorite is their oatmeal pancakes with fresh fruit AND Bottomless mimosas! That's right, bottomless mimosas. They will re-fill your glass as many times as you want for $13. You seriously can't go wrong with this place - the atmosphere, food and prices are phenomenal!
(4)
Mary T.
3 1/2 stars for great service, but average food. Frantically, I ran to Frasca after discovering my friend failed to make reservations for her birthday dinner at another establishment. I don't know what she was thinking, 10 isn't a small party and it was Saturday night afterall. I explained our situation and the nice hostesses at Frasca said they'd make it work and had a table pulled together for us in 10 minutes. The service here was great, especially because my party was let's just say high maintenance and needlessly impatient. I waited tables back in the day and to this day can't stand when customers are rude. By the end of our meal I felt like an ass for inflicting our group on them and I think they were regretting their decision to be so accomodating (I'm sorry Frasca, I really am). The food was not bad, but just average, most of us got the pizza's. First, I'll warn you the menu on the website is outdated. I was bummed about was the pasta selection, there were 4-5 pasta choices and only 1 was vegetarian, the gnocchi. There was one other dish that was almost vegetarian, it had no meat in it, but was sauteed in chicken au jous. Hey Frasca, why do you have to ruin a perfectly good veggie dish by sauteing it in chicken juice! Since gnocchi is terrible if not done right I figured the safer bet was the pizza. Second, there were only 2 vegetarian pizzas Margherita and 4-cheese, for a place that has 8 different bruschetta's I expected something more creative. I got the Margherita pizza, it was tasty and I liked the crust, but it was nothing to write home about. Sure you could create your own pizza, but it would quickly be one expensive personal pizza - most toppings were $2+ each. Like I mentioned they have 8 different bruschettas and an option to create your own sampler. Some friends split a sampler as an appetizer and really liked them, especially the green apple-brie one. They also have cheese plates too - I think those come with a sampler option as well. Bottom line, this place is pretty good, however since I'm not a meat eater or over the moon about their pizza's I probably won't be back unless it's for drinks and to try the bruschetta.
(3)
Carly O.
I've been to Frasca three times, all for different things. Once for pizza at lunch time, once for brunch and once for dinner. All three dining experiences were decent. I have no complaints about atmosphere or service. Our waitress suggested a really great wine at lunch. The outdoor section was a nice place to relax on a summer day. And the music played at dinner was at pleasant decibel level. Actually, it should be noted that I really enjoyed my wine. This past Saturday they had a "high end" California wine flight that was truly excellent. The thing is, there is nothing very memorable about the food. I had lasagna, which was decent and my boyfriend had the pumpkin ravioli, which was good, but came in a rather small portion. Brunch is also OK, but I'd rather go to Su Van or Wishbone. I'd say the stand out is the pizza, so if you can go on a day when they're having one of their specials, I say go for it. In fact, if based on that alone, I'd probably give Frasca closer to 4 stars. But considering all of the options in the city, I decided never again to be lazy (they are down the street from my boyfriend's apartment, which means no cabs, buses, or one of us forgoing a Saturday night cocktail to drive) and either try something new or go to a restaurant I know serves phenomenal food. If you're going to spend $92 on dinner, I think you should walk out feeling like the place was worth at least 4 stars.
(3)
Tracie C.
I am so in shock by all these great reviews. My boyfriend and I had dinner there last night and we were not impressed at all. First, it was so loud and I felt like everyone was competing to be heard. We did like our server, he was pretty cool. The food was just ok. We ordered bruchetta, and the bread they put it on was dry, so we just ate the mushrooms and goat cheese off the top. The pizza was nothing to report about. There was no bubbly cheese or sweet and spicy sauce. Just so boring. The best part of the evening was my pumpkin spice beer.
(2)
K M.
Had an early dinner with my g/f after shopping and we stopped off at Frasca. We split the wild mushroom risotto fritters (5) as the appetizer and they were pretty tasty. They came with this creamy sauce which complemented the fritters well. The downside was that they weren't really hot, just lukewarm. We both had pizzas (pepperoni and capone) which were great but the bottom of her pizza was burnt a little bit. I guess you'll encounter that when it's brick-oven pizza. The pizzas averaged about $11 each so they were a bit on the pricier side for individual pizzas. Service was great - they kept refilling our drinks and brought us more bread when we asked. I'd come back here again for the Weds special, which is BOGO free on the pizzas. They do have specials for the other nights so call the restaurant to find out what they are.
(3)
Lakshmi R.
Did I mention my dinner club already? For those of you who are new to my review, I belong to a "O!GOD" - Oh! Girls Only Dinner as my boyfriend calls it ;) and we check out a different cuisine every month. Frasca was Natalia's pick - since they have "buy one - get one" pizza on Wednesday we went there on a Wednesday! Big surprise there... hehe Great almost-authentic italian pizza, snooty service, decent wine - $11 each for the food!!!! I am taking my friends out on Wednesdays to Frasca!!!
(4)
Lolo D.
Okay, so I have to admit: I love Frasca. To the death. They have a pretty good wine/bar selection, and the food is really good. Overpriced? Sure, maybe a little. But they have really great specials and if you go for Buy One Pizza Get One Free day (Wednesdays? Maybe Tuesdays?), it's really no big deal. The bruschetta is pretty amazing, also, and I've only ever had the tiramisu but I liked it. And I think it's hard to make a good tiramisu. I would recommend, however, that if you are ordering a pizza, to get something that goes beyond just cheese or sausage-- they are "gourmet" and kinda pricey, so just go for it and try something new. There's one in particular that has arugula on it that I absolutely love.
(5)
Craig N.
My fiance has lived on the same block for 6 months but we didn't try it until tonight. Wow, we were really missing out on some excellent brick-oven pizza. My fiance and I split a pepperoni and a 4-cheese pizza. The pepperoni had a very sweet sauce and was very good overall. The 4-cheese was very fresh and light for being a four cheese pizza. The best part about the whole dinner was the desert! The honey and cinnamon donuts with vanilla gelato is "to die for." If you're ever in Lakeview and you want a non-traditional pizza, check out FRASCA! P.S. the place seems to have a lot of great specials during the week that "rummies" might want to check out.
(4)
L T.
Holy brunch clusterfufu! A dear friend had a b-day brunch - large group at a busy time. His wife foresaw this and made a reservation.. I think she even had to put down a deposit and guarantee the number of people. Well... they didn't have enough space for us, when 2 latecomers showed up and had nowhere to sit our server curtly told them to talk to the hostess, and it took freaking forever and a day to get all the meals served. No joke it was as if they never took anyone's order and it probably took at least 45 min to 1+ hr to serve all the meals (this after waiting an hour+ from the time we ordered to when the first plates came out). A plate would trickle out... then another... then another... there were about 20 of us... it was kinda comical... except none of the staff really explained that there was a problem. They seemed pretty oblivious and didn't seem to give 2 sh**s about any of it. That is what I found annoying. Things happen, things get screwed up, people call in sick, but dag people at least PRETEND to be apologetic about it. I don't even think anyone from our table really complained about anything, we're a pretty chill group - they were just trying to convey who had ordered what before people started eating their own arms. They did bring out a round of champagne toward the end, but IMO it was too little too late. Maybe they took something off the bill - I don't know because we left before it arrived. Oh, the food. I had a turkey panini. It was delicious. I had been here before. The space is nice, the food is good. I had a good time today and my kids even held it together (kind of haha). I'd hesitate to bring a big group here though. The staff could have handled the situation a lot better.
(1)
Nona Gayle D.
The service was good, the food even better and the extensive wine list made my night. I was trying to wind down from a rough day at work and me and my best friend decided to go for pizza. We weren't disappointed the pizza was thin crust with savory toppings and it was perfectly sized to share amongst the two of us. We each had a wine flight and then shared a bottle. The place was quaint, it had seating outside, at the bar, and of course within the restaurant. The ambiance was great and me and my friend just enjoyed the wine and pizza combo. I really liked this place and hope to go back there again.
(4)
Christine F.
I didn't have a bad experience here. However, I will say this: IT'S NOT A FAMILY FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT. I REPEAT, IT'S NOT A FAMILY FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT. DO. NOT. TAKE. YOUR. PARENTS. HERE. My cousin's girlfriend suggested that the family go here for brunch (they were in town for my graduation...family includes my cousins, grandparents, parents and uncle / aunt). I had never been here and I said why not. Once I saw the interior of Frasca I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew the brunch was going to turn into a debacle. Oh GOD. Definitely foo-foo. This would not turn out well. We sat down and milled over our options. Somehow, one half of our table was under the impression that we would be ordering a lot of bruschetta and splitting it. The other half of the table was under the impression that we would be ordering our own dishes (for instance, pizza). How this breakdown in communication happened is beyond me. The bruschetta was good, not fantastic, but it was good. The service was okay. Nothing stood out about this place in one way or another. I don't blame Frasca for the chaos that ensued with my family. I am giving them 3 stars on how I felt about the establishment, which was "meh."
(3)
Lana B.
My husband and I stopped in to Frasca after attending an presentation by one of Tony Robbins six peak performance coaches...needless to say we were full of energy and on a mission to find good food! We were sad to see that Frasca was closing up...but my husband being the the negotiator he is, asked if there was a possibility that we could have the last pizza of the night! Jason, (the incredible General Manager) served us a delicious, fresh Margherita pizza, bread and-as the icing on the cake-gave us a free taste of Italian Ice from a local spot. Everything was so good! Jason is an amazing manager and Frasca is lucky to have him on the scene being an upstanding individual to serve this exceptional food!! LOOOVE this place!
(5)
Callan C.
A couple of friends and I stopped in Frasca for dinner recently. We didn't plan out going there, but conveniently stumbled upon it in search of a dinner locale with TVs to watch a game. Essentially it is an upscale / gourmet Italian pizza and wine bar. The interior is nice, with a big brick oven, low lighting, interesting tree wallpaper and a wine room off to the side. The pizza was very delicious. I had the spicy Soprano and was pleased. They also had a nice beer selection. Service was pretty good - we got mostly attentive service apart from when we asked for extra parmesan cheese (it took a couple of reminders to come out).
(4)
johnny b.
Sucks. The pizza was weak and service lacking. Shocked by all the 4-5 stars. If you just need a place to grab a drink its fine but the food not worth it. If you want great pizza of this style go to Spacca Napoli which is amazing.
(2)
Rachel W.
I live up the street from Frasca, so it's a pretty frequent stop on the restaurant circuit. Definitely worth it for BOGO pizza on Wednesday nights. I could lick my plate clean after my caesar salad the dressing is so good, I love the brie and apple bruchetta, and the rustica pizza is my personal fave. Oh, and the iced tea is good. Really good. I get so overwhelmed by the lure of awesome pizza choices, I have actually yet to try any other entrees. I don't really see a reason why I need to though...
(4)
Danny H.
Wednesdays are a must. Two pizzas for the price of one? And very tasty pizzas? Talk about an ideal special. I came here with my Dad for a late dinner during the week and he was impressed. The service was great, and we even got some drinks comped for hanging around on an unusually busy weeknight. I'd come back here anytime.
(5)
Lauren C.
I went there around noon on a Saturday, and the oatmeal pancakes with fruit were excellent. The sausage I got on the side was good quality and the server was attentive and competent. Strangely wasn't as crowded as I figured it would be. $10 bottomless mimosa special on Saturdays is a good deal too. I'd go back.
(4)
Rachel H.
Went for buy one get one free night (Wednesdays). Got the prosciutto pizza and another one with eggplant, artichokes, and goat cheese. Both were great but the prosciutto was really amazing. Enjoyed some great wine as well with a friend on the patio (which unfortunately will probably be retired for the season soon). Really great deal and probably the best pizza I've had in Chicago. They also have half bottle wine and $5 glasses nights which I'll have to go back for.
(5)
Leang E.
I made reservations seeing as though I think it was the last day of the week to enjoy the National Pizza Week special or deal that they had going on. We could get two pizzas for $14. So my friend and I started out with some pretty delicious calamari and had the capone and the pepperoni. My friend said that her pizza reminded her of Milan. I liked mine as well. The butter was really nice and soft here. Our waiter was very friendly and enthusiastic. I like places that have specials and good deals where the food is good too. My friend and I were too stuffed to even have dessert and had 2 slices leftover.
(4)
Julie P.
Frasca has great ambiance and is lots of fun; however, the food is just not that good. It has been consistently disappointing and service is just ok.
(3)
Alyssa C.
2 for 1 pizzas on Wednesday. Outdoor seating. Enough said. Plus it was refreshing to have nice service for a change!
(5)
Candace K.
OMG! The food here was so delicious!!! My boyfriend and I went on Valentines Day and it was great. We had a reservation and didn't wait more than 5 minutes for our table. They packed us in like sardines...but that was just due to the date. Normally there are more 4 tops than 2 tops... The menu was great with creative options, but not too many that it got confusing to choose something. We had a fabulous bruschetta mix for an appetizer (you can choose 3 versions to "create-your-own" appetizer), and every meal that came out looked yummy! Our food didn't take long and was terrific! (Even on such a busy day!) I can't wait to go back and try something else! It was more pricey...so it's more of a special night kind of place... They offer wine flights to try a selection of white or red wines...I think that would be fun to try as well. I only wish they had more options for dessert that involved chocolate...Otherwise, I can't wait to return!
(5)
Kathleen O.
Went here with a large group on a Saturday night. It was ok. First, it is NOT a good place to go if you are trying to catch up with old friends cause it is soooo loud in the place. We split the table in 2 and ordered off the bruchetta/cheese menu. The bruchetta was good and the fondue was ok, but we also ordered a few cheeses and some type of jam thing. We laughed when it came because it was literally 3 pieces of cheese to split among 6 people. Definitely would have rather stuck to ordering all bruchetta and the waitress PROBABLY could have told us that, but oh well. Also our food came our really sporadically. We also shared a sausage pizaa, cheese pizza and some pasta in a cream sauce. Pizzas were ok, but the pasta we could have done without. Bland at best. The actualy place is really cute and would maybe try again with a smaller group or on a date. Overall, it was ok.
(3)
Kristin S.
I'm torn because I've been here twice and had two completely different experiences each time. The first time I went with my boyfriend, we got the butcher's block appetizer (HIGHLY recommend this, you choose from an assortment of meats, cheeses and bruschetttas. All were delicious!), and split the wild arugula salad (fantastic!) and the capone pizza which was delicious. The crust was crispy and soft and the ingredients were fresh and tasty. The wine flight was also great with generous pours for each wine. I think they might have been able to do a better job explaining the different wines, but we didn't ask, so I can't really fault them for that. The second time I went, I had a vodka martini from the bar that tasted rancid since they used the olives soaked in oil, not brine. I was disappointed, but that's what I get for not ordering wine I guess. We made the mistake of ordering a pasta dish (I don't remember what it was) that was watery, bland and pretty disappointing overall. We had the rustica pizza as well after our great experience with one the last time. The rustica pizza was SO salty it was practically inedible. I'm thinking there had to have been something wrong that night, because there's no way they serve that pizza like that all the time. I love salt and it was WAY too salty for me to eat. I'll definitely be going back since that first visit still makes my mouth water, but I'll be staying away from the pasta and cocktails.
(3)
Moe f.
Love this place in summer for the outdoor seating and huge windows if you get stuck inside. Warning, this place is kid friendly(this is why I like it). Tuesday half price glasses of wine and buy 1, get one free pizza on Wed. The vhino tinto is a nice cheap wine. Pizza Rustica is my favorite. The Margharita is a little bland for me.
(3)
J S.
My experience seems to mirror some others hinting at a lack of good management here, which is sad. The day I went to Frasca (the first and last time), it was busy but not packed for Sunday brunch. Our waiter took about 10 min. to even tell us he'd be back soon. He said they were short-staffed that day. 45 min. after being seated, we finally got our food, which was cold and incorrect. They served all our food with fruit, despite all of us ordering it with potatoes. When we finally caught the waiter, he said that yea, they were out of potatoes, and said they'd bring some bacon to make it up to us. Why not tell when we ordered, or before it came out, or when they were serving it? Did they hope we wouldn't notice? My omelet (Lincon Omelet) was tiny and looked like it would give me food poisoning immediately: besides being ice cold, it was brown and tasted weird. They replaced it with an equally bad-looking one but it was at least warm. The toast they served was also, somehow, gross, with bits of raw egg yolk spilled on the bottom sides of the toast. So, since I don't like fruit, I spent $17 in all on a tiny, disgusting, omelet. When they gave us the bill, the waiter said he "took some stuff off" for our inconvenience. When we looked at the bill, it turned out that the only thing he "took off" was the complementary bacon. Even though my friends tell me it's never been like that, all-in-all it was not a good experience, and their half-assed attempt at making it up to us made me definitely not want to go back. Lame.
(2)
Megan N.
I tried Frasca purely because of location. It's 2 or 3 blocks from my house and stares at me everytime I get off the Brown line. I ordered the gnocchi only to have my waitress tell me 15 minutes later that they were out of gnocchi....... She gave me some random noodle with some random marinara sauce instead, and with no adjustment to the bill. The wine was eh, but the appetizer was delicious! You get to do sort of a combo platter thing (that you mark off on a list with a little pencil) and it's actually really reasonably priced. I was full after sharing bruschetta and a couple cheeses with someone. I would actually go back just for that since it's so close to my house.
(2)
Stephanie H.
I have been for dinner, quite a while ago, and lunch just recently.. Just a couple weekends ago I went for lunch with a girlfriend. The Bloody Mary's were great!! We shared a pizza and salad, it was a great lunch. We sat outside and our server was great too. I will be back, I believe they have weekday specials too, worth checking out
(4)
kristine c.
I've been here several times, and it seems to be getting to be a bit much for the staff to handle. Of course, I went on buy one pizza get one free night which is total chaos, but I really think they should consider adding an additional server or two on Wednesday evenings. It took forever to get the first round of drinks, and then our server disappeared. Glasses crashed and fell at least 5 times and there was just a general feeling of chaos, rushing and panic. I used to LOVE their pizza, but the crust seems to be getting bigger and the toppings much skimpier and overall less flavorful. If it weren't for their specials I would not go back, and I may not anyway. Even with the food specials, their wine is so overpriced so your bill still ends up being way higher than it should for a meal like that.
(3)
Becky R.
Oh Frasca. Where do I begin? Your yummy, yummy thin crust pizza? Your mix & match bruschetta? Your ever-changing cheese selections? Your tasty plate of caper-dressed carpaccio? Your sidewalk seating, perfect for people watching on a lazy summer Sunday evening? Your carrot cake tiramisu? Your lovely, lovely wine list? Yes. That's it. It's the wine list.
(5)
Joe N.
I like Frasca! I've visited several times before attending photography class down the street. The wait staff is always friendly, attentive and efficient. On my last visit I ordered a pizza and it was really, really good! Frasca also had half priced bottles of wine on my last visit (Monday). Some good music would be a great touch to add to the nice atmosphere while dining! I'll be back soon.
(4)
Angie C.
Yummy! Great thin crust, crispy pizza with a lot of options and other menu items. We were in a major rush (less than 30 minutes to eat!) but were able to sit outside, get great service and fast, freshly made pizza and salad! Too bad we didn't have time for wine...next time!
(4)
Andrew V.
Frasca is a fairly good spot if you are in the neighborhood and want to enjoy some wine while sitting outside. I really can't comment on the atmosphere inside as, aside from one drink at the bar, the few times I've been here I've sat outside. Looks comfortable though. However the food, in my humble opinion, is only so-so. The concept is appealing, but I really can't get excited about this place. There are just too many other options around with better offerings. As a pizzeria it falls considerably short compared with Spacca Napoli or Apart Pizza Company. For example, the crust is a bit thicker and lacks the flavor, slight char, and blistering of these two. Equally bothersome is that Frasca's pizza margherita uses a low-moisture commercial "mozzarella" (the stretchy/stringy type) rather than fresh fior di latte or mozzarella di bufala. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but when I want a really good pizza, Frasca is not on the top of my list.
(2)
Elly K.
I've been here several times and it's always been consistent - good food, good service. Love their pizza and the fried risotto balls (yum), and the farmer's table option. Went for brunch once and it was good, too.
(4)
K H.
I love Frasca for its consistently tasty food and its family-friendly atmosphere. Kids eat free every day 4:30-6, which is a fabulous deal. I've taken my two-year-old there many times, and the staff is always accommodating and friendly. We especially love Kevin, who's always willing to stop and say hi to my son. A favorite is the rigatoni, and you can't go wrong with the small plates.
(4)
Tom S.
Went to Frasca for the first time last night and everything was great! We had the crispy artichoke hearts, caprese salad and calamari for appetizers and all were delicious. The calamari was a little more fishy than normal and served in a spicy tomato sauce with white beans so it's not the usual grilled or battered calamari appetizer. I had the prosciutto thin crust pizza as an entree and it was the best prosciutto pizza I've ever had. Prices are reasonable. For a table of 6 with 2 bottles of wine and various cocktails, the split bill was only $26 each.
(5)
Julie S.
This local spot is worth trying for a casual lunch or dinner. Not something I would recommend for a special occasion, but the menu has something for everyone. Good for groups due to the large selection of pizzas and apps. Also popular for families. They have a small outdoor patio you can try for nice weather.
(3)
Kate W.
We live right up the street from Frasca and usually go there once a month or so for their Wednesday night buy one get one free pizza's. The pizza is delish and comes in quite a few different upscale combinations- not that plain ol' pepperoni isn't good too. The atmosphere and decor is nice; great for a date- if I could ever get one (whaa-whaaa). I know they have other specials on weeknights too, including half price wine glasses and bottles.
(5)
Alissa R.
The butcher's platter is a steal at $15. You can choose from a variety of meats, cheeses, and bruschetta. I also love the bloody marys, but only on the weekends, when they come with what would be better classified as a salad as garnish (cheese, salami, pepperonicini, etc). They serve them with the typical adornments on weekdays.
(4)
Marie B.
Cool atmosphere,great Bruchetta! Pizza crust not so good. The cheese on pie was good, the sauce on pie very good, the grape tomatoes are a nice addition. Service was excellent. I came for the pizza, next time I will try an entree. Pizza was a big disappointment.
(4)
Nirali R.
For all the hype this place has gotten for its 'Za, i have to say I was pretty disappointed. We had the margharita-bland, cold and could barely appreciate the basil. Pretty good apps-especially the fondue. The nutella pie was delish too.
(2)
Stephanie B.
I love, I love I love. Everything I've had here has only ever been stellar. The staff has only ever been stellar. I asked for a cab at the bar, and the bartender automatically poured me 3 to try without my even asking. I had the papardelle last weekend (with the pork something or other in it) and have had dreams about it every night since. Super cozy and pretty reasonable. Great North side staple.
(5)
Alison M.
Frasca's great! I like splitting appetizers, pizza, and dessert there so that I can get a taste of everything. Their "butcher's plate" is a good way to start--you mix and match your choice of five bruchettas, cheeses, or meats and its great to pair with their wine flights. As for appetizers, I love their carpaccio, but I'd pass on the warm marinated olives. Their thin crust pizza is really good- perfect to share if you're looking to have dessert, which you should be, since their carrot cake tiramisu is pretty much perfect.
(4)
Amy J.
Let me start by saying- do not go hear on a Wed. after its been written up in the RedEye. We called to ask if there would be a wait around 7:30 before we left to trek up there from downtown. The hostess said "we never fill up on weeknights you'll be fine." We get there and the hostess took about 5 minutes to address our presense as she was babbling on the phone and then told us it would be 30 minutes. So we sat at the bar to eat instead. The place was full of little kids and big parties- cute I guess if you were part of the group, but not so much for us bystanders. We were psyched for the 2 for 1 pizzas and they were very yummy, but it took us an ubsurdly long time to be waited on at the bar and the food took a long time too. Then the bar tender (maybe it was his unfortunate first day?) charged us for both pizzas and took about 20 more min to reverse it. Not a pleasant dining experience on any count. Won't be back.
(2)
Rachel Y.
I went here with a group of girlfriends for the infamous bottomless mimosa brunch. We were seated right away and the service was really impressive. Loved the decor and atmosphere, and the group of us loved everything we had. The Lincoln Ave & the Paulina Omelets - both very worthy for your brunch fare. I've heard their pizza's fantastic as well so I'm excited to go back for dinner!
(4)
Grrlscoutgoneba D.
I would love to give them more stars because i love love love the cheese selections. I always get the butcher block plate. but....... every time i go the service is eh, my waiters have disappeared, forgotten wine orders, and were otherwise distracted by other employes. sorry but i don't think decent customer service is to much to ask for. also in the last month they have changed their menu and there is no longer any pasta dishes with out meat. I was told that they can just omit the meat. but come on? you cant have anything special for the vegetarians ??
(3)
Ingrid R.
The service was okay. She was attentive enough but I'm not sure if she had teeth because she didn't smile. That sounds really mean I suppose, but she didn't. We order a bottle of wine between my husband an I and the rest of our party had food also which looked and smelled good. I just didn't feel comfortable there. I had fun with my friends but would have sitting in a field drinking cans of beer. I'm not comparing the two - quite the opposite. We live within a mile of here and may try it again. Maybe a good place for a bigger group of girls?
(3)
Summer P.
Every time I go to Frasca, I'm always amazed at how far the space has come; one half used to be JT Collins and the other a convenience store...it's been completely transformed! Frasca has a great wine list, the bruschetta is fantastic (get the brie with apples...fantastic), and the atmosphere is really nice (the decor and lighting are great). That being said...the first thing that I always say is that I wish I could swap their pizza out for Spacca Napoli's; while tasty, Spacca is really the gold standard for me as far as Neopolitan Pizzerias go (in Chicago at least). I do enjoy going to Frasca and think it's a great spot to meet friends. There have been several times that we've closed down the bar and the staff never tossed any dirty looks our way.
(3)
Mary d.
A perfect score!! How can that be?? Well, my friends, sit back and let me enlighten you about the wonders of Frasca... First, it's the ambiance. The lighting is subtle, soothing. Wood and stone combine to make you appreciate the urban twist on the Prairie style of design. A large brick oven anchors the space, and a tidy and slick bar plays center stage. Then, it's the menu. Where do you begin to choose? There are so many variations on the pizza. And that's not to mention the farmer's menu. We were merely there to nosh and booze before hitting the bars, so we went with a bruschetta trio. Our three picks: ricotta with pistachio and cinnamon, mozzarella with sun dried tomato and basil, and brie with peppered apples and honey. All three made us sigh with happiness. And the vodka tonics were smooth and strong...perfect for a Saturday night. The service was attentive and prompt. At one point, one of the owners was taking our plates for us and refilling our drinks. The vibe was lively but laid-back, which is in keeping with the neighborhood. Simply put: you've got to go check it out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Tue, Wed Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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.
Kirsten N.
I've been coming here on Monday or Tuesdays almost every week for several months and I can't believe I've forgotten to write a review for this place. 1/2 price bottle of wines on Mondays, 1/2 price glasses of wine on Tuesday are definitely the draw but its the food and the service that brings me back. Cozy atmosphere, delicious wood burned pizza in several varieties or make your own. Polenta fries with garlic aioli are a staple for anyone's diet. I prefer to sit at the bar as the bartenders are a bit more attentive then the regular wait staff at the tables.
(4)Leilo P.
I walked into Frasca expecting something completely different. I searched for "pasta" in the area and it brought up Frasca... to my sadness there was no pasta, there was however the best Bloody Mary I've had in a long time! This place was busy with brunch-goers and families. It's not a huge place so we waited 30 minutes even though there were empty tables. I suggest that they have a conference with the host and hostesses because they all looked lost and overwhelmed with the waiting crowd. The bartender was very nice even though there was a large crowd! The bloody mary is spicy and comes with a small coors light for $8, I think that's a great deal! I only needed two to call it a morning. I had their Farmer's Table which included options of bruschetta, cheeses, and meets. I went with the brie and apple bruschetta, sheep's milk cheese and two types of salami. I sat back and enjoyed my Sunday morning like I was on a vacation. I also had the doughnuts which are huge and could feed 4 happily! The service was impeccable and it was fairly priced - four drinks, a Farmer's Table, and doughnuts came out to $60. I will definitely be going back for the pizza with a group, but hopefully I won't have to unnecessarily wait for a table!
(3)Mandi G.
I've been to Frasca countless times for a few glasses of wine and a pizza. However, I just recently tried their brunch and I am kicking myself for not trying that sooner. The food is so good. My name is Mandi and I am a hash brown junkie. Dare I say, these hash browns are perfection. Italian seasoned with a touch of parmesan, they are OUTFUCKINGSTANDING. Speaking of the f-word...it's slightly annoying to be around so many kids when you are trying to get crunk on your mimosas. But that is to be expected with the neighborhood. Lots and LOTS of yuppie families. So, it was packed, loud and service was a little slow. It's hard to blame a place for being too popular, but just keep those things in mind. Go for the mimosas, stay for the hashbrowns. (That is literally what I did, as I had to order a second side of them to share with my brunch dates)
(4)Emily H.
Bottomless mimosas. Got your attention, did I? Get on board the Sunday Brunch train at Frasca! Aside from the ping-pong-tiddly-yong of bottomless mimosas, they have succulent and savory omelets, gourmet pizzas, bloody brilliant Bloody Marys, and $3 draft beers in case you need a hair of the dog that bit you. Also, the very next day (Monday) you can continue the party with half off bottles of wine! Try that alluringly expensive riesling, it's ok, it's half off! The only drawbacks are the often-shouting Roscoe Villagers and their equally shouty children.
(4)Ashley C.
This place is awesome for both brunch & dinner, has great customer service, and are super dog friendly. For brunch I'd recommend their breakfast pizza or benedict which is always changes. Dinner definitely do the bruschetta or cheeses as a starter. I've had both their pizzas and salmon which is both great. Plus they have wine flights which is awesome.
(5)Amanda C.
I've been listening to a friend rave about this place literally for YEARS- finally went and now I see why! Frasca is a great place to go with a group of girls or on a date (pretty much the only two types of people I saw in the place). It does get loud but that adds to the lively atmosphere. It's cute and contemporary, and has a manageable menu that's not too big. Mondays are 1/2 price bottles of wine- major plus for a girl's night. We started with bruschetta- I loved that this was made on bread and not toast that is hard and detracts from the flavor of the toppings. They have several unique varieties and we tried 3- the roasted red pepper and goat cheese was my favorite. Some of us split salads (they have the Wrightwood salad here that I love from Dunlay's- must be the same owners?) which they were very accomodating in doing, and pizzas. All of the pizzas looked amazing and are the thin authentic Italian kind. They also have a large bar area if you're just stopping in for drinks. Would love to come back.
(4)Heidi S.
This place is quickly becoming our neighborhood favorite. Nice wine list, good pizza, and really nice, fresh, al dente pastas. At Christmas time, the place had a nice festive decoration, and the brickwork and ceilings give it a really great cozy atmosphere, especially in winter! A few weeks ago, the risotto of the day was asparagus and goat cheese, which was really fantastic. This is the type of place where you keep coming back and have a hard time trying something new because whatever you had last time was just so delicious.
(4)Emily Z.
Gorgeous modern restaurant, good service, awesome patio, steps from the train and AMAZING pizza !! Went with two lovely ladies on wednesday - buy one get one free night! We split the Margherita and Roasted Potato Pizza and an Infamous Wrightwood Salad, and all were amazing! We left full and each had two peices for lunch the next day, and at $10 each I was still able to contribute to my 'Chicago Winters are long and I'll need a vacation' fund. I also went for brunch recently and was not as impressed as I was with their pizzas. We had the breakfast pizza topped with cheese, sausage and three over easy eggs and the dongoughts; both were okay but neither will have me running back. The sandwiches that were running past us looked great though !
(5)Molly R.
Great food, great wine! 1/2 off wine on Tuesdays :) We tried a few different things and all were good. I recommend the Brussel Sprout n Cauliflower salad (my fave), the Wrightwood salad, and the pizza.
(5)Steven M.
Fresh, fresh, fresh! I was walking by and I had a good feeling about this place. We sat outside and were approched immediately. I got an iced tea and the capone pizza. Mozzarella, sausage with fennel seeds and mots on top. All baked in a natural wood pizza oven. It was delicious. I have to laugh because I can't wait to go back and I was just there. I want to bring all my friends to this little jem. The service was exceptional for being seated outside. Love it.
(5)Monica W.
People who know me, know that I am a creature of a habit. I will find something I like and return again and again. Frasca is solid all around. It is delicious, reliable, and always filled with a good crowd. The pictures on their website do not represent the space well. Expect to be pleasantly surprised. I get the rigatoni with fennel sausage, spring peas, and tomato cream sauce every time. Next time I should really try the shrimp linguine because it looks so good. I am giving it 4 stars because the bread they use to make their bruschetta falls short. They need to remedy this ASAP. My favorite combinations include the spring pea, balsamic reduction, and reggiano, and hand dipped ricotta, honey, and pistachio (my favorite). **Frasca is better enjoyed in the Summer.
(4)Cassy M.
Not good for families with young children. Although we were hopeful because this restaurant was recommended as kid friendly and kids eat free until 6pm. We were disappointed by the food and service. My husband ordered the chicken partly because it was described as crispy...it was a sad looking piece of meat with no flavor. They brought the kids meals out first so by the time we got our food, they were done. We ordered some meatballs for them. After waiting quite a while for those I asked the server about them. She brought them out. Same thing with the kids ice cream which was a little melted by the time I asked her where it was. Also the music was so loud. I admit it is more stressful having kids out to eat and I noticed many of the tables without kids seemed happy... but we won't be going back with our kids.
(1)Liz K.
I'll be honest: if my dinner had proceeded from start to finish as it did the first 5 minutes of our visit, I would be giving them a 2 star rating. But the food was nothing short of the best Italian food I've had in the 18 months I've lived here, so that in and of itself was the redeeming factor. I chose Frasca based off of the excellent reviews on Yelp and the positive word of mouth I've heard as well. They also have great specials Monday - Wednesday for both wine and pizza. I took my parents, who prefer restaurants on the quieter side with an interesting but not "out there" menu and great wine. I wouldn't say Frasca was exactly quiet, but we've been in louder places, and it definitely delivered on the other two elements. In any case, back to the first 5 minutes. We found it easily and there was no wait at 8 on a Thursday. With that said, the hostess seemed to be thinking, "Really? Another table I have to seat?" Which was not the welcome I had anticipated. We got to our table, but couldn't sit down until the busser was done awkwardly reaching in front of us to put the water on the table. Not sure why that couldn't have waited. And then it was about 10 minutes before we were approached by a waitress for our drink order. Luckily, the food and wine was so wonderful that it made me forget about that first part. I was wishing that my parents had been more hungry, because I really wanted to try the polenta fries and wrapped dates. I decided on the papperedelle bolongnese with some sort of Italian sausage; mom got the caprese salad; dad got the Tuscan sausage soup (special) and a Caesar salad. All excellent choices. I would highly recommend the Tuscan soup and the pasta dish; they were both full of flavor and something a little different than I see at most Italian restaurants. If you're not a garlic lover, beware of the papperedelle. It wasn't overwhelming until I took it out of the fridge the next day and that was the only thing I could smell. Along with dinner, we also had a really nice Pinot Noir - nice enough that my parents, who are not Pinot fans, enjoyed it as well. Unfortunately I can't remember the name. It started with an A and I think it was in bin 63. All in all, I definitely see myself coming back here, most likely for the wine deals on Monday and Tuesday, and to order some of its famous pizza as well.
(4)Jaime M.
I'm sad to have to update this review. Frasca has always been great but not so much this last time we came. While the bruschettas and pizza were not awesome as they usually are they were still good. Yet, the disappointing part was when a woman (not our server) showed up at our table and said: "we're about to switch to our dinner service, so can you hand me the creamer?" While pointing to a container on the far end of the table which we had to stop our conversation and reach for and pass it to her. After that she went "I also need the sugar", which we reached for and handed her and then she requested something else. This was at 2:40 pm on a Sunday. Really? She couldn't wait? We were about to pay and leave and the place was semi- empty (no one was waiting to eat dinner at our table as soon as we stood up before 3;00 pm), come on, I'm still stunned. My parents were visiting from out of town and were confuse by this and by how abruptly our conversation was interrupted by this "urgent" and bizarre request. Sigh
(2)Audre L.
Came here for a ladies brunch. The Bloody Marys are rockin. Food was very good as well. The pacing of the food was a little slow - we ordered the doughnuts as starters, but they came out with our entrees. The waiter was nice but this was one minor flaw. for the On a nice day, their open windows are fab for the inside diners!
(4)Jeff W.
Met up with a few friends at Frasca and was pleasantly surprised. Parking was easy, meter but only up til 6pm on Sundays. Great specials for this place... Sundays are $3 drafts and they have a small but impressive draft list. Dangerous for Sundays. Food was pretty sizable and delicious on top. Free warm bread with EVOO was a good start, especially while nursing a hangover. We ordered the panko crusted calamari as an app. Pretty good, decent flavor, but nothing memorable. The table next to us got a butchers platter from their farmers menu which is definitely the way to go. You can order a la carte or get a butchers platter of 4 or 8 things off their list of bruschetta, cheese, and cured meats. It looked damn good, I think they saw me eyeing it. The ladies were raving about their 'Infamous Wrightwood Salad' and described it as the 'best salad they'd ever eaten.' I am a straight dude, so did not get a salad. However, it was a pretty massive portion with shredded chicken, tomatoes, craisins, avocado, corn, goat cheese, fresh croutons. I would imagine if I were to ever order a salad (which I would never), then it would have to look like this (with maybe a steak on top). I got the Capone Pizza. Large pizza that could easily be shared, but I ate it alone like a fat ass. Plus I was hungover. Big chunks of fennel sausage was a good touch, as was the roasted onions. I would say not worth the $12, but the portion alone made up for the cost and I'd probably rather eat this than a Dominoe's pizza. This will definitely be my new spot in the West Lakeview/Roscoe Village area. Definitely gonna come back for their Wednesday buy one get one free pizza special. Tip: skip the dessert and walk down to Scooter's Frozen Custard. You won't be disappointed.
(4)David R.
Let's keep this short and sweet. Atmosphere: LOUD LOUD LOUD, on a crowded Saturday night. I liked the modern-rustic aesthetic, but the tables are very close together and the ambient noise cannot be blamed on the sound system, which was kept at a minimal level. By the way, the music (when you can hear it) is good stuff: I heard The Shins, The Raconteurs, and several other great songs. Service: Very good, especially from our server Amy, who was warm and friendly and never let my diet soda glass reach empty. Menu: Many, many options, to the point that I had a difficult time making up my mind even though I wasn't remotely hungry. Pizzas, pastas, appetizers, a whole separate cured meats/bruschetta card... Caprese salad: Top-notch. Even a mediocre caprese is still delicious but Frasca puts together a very nice plate indeed. The tomatoes are oven-dried, which adds something intangibly tasty. Calamari: Substandard. Too breadingy, too greasy, and far too bland. The accompanying tomato sauce has a slight kick and was the only thing that allowed me to eat about 60% of the serving. If I leave calamari uneaten, you should know that it must have been worthless. The calamari and noise were unfortunate, but I liked the place and would gladly return. My ladyfriend devoured most of her pizza, so it must be good!
(4)Anthony P.
We had a very pleasant meal here. Came in ahead of the dinner rush on a Thursday and were seated right away. Very pleasant server. I thoroughly enjoyed my gnocchi. The sangria did not disappoint, either. I would love to return and try the pizza sometime.
(4)Alex O.
I finally got to dine at Frasca after an aborted first attempt. A few weeks prior we skipped out on eating here because an uncontrolled shrieking child could be heard throughout the dining room. It was so bad you could hear it a block away as we walked to the competition. On Monday, we gave them a second chance and I wish I just kept walking. The atmosphere in here is rather loud, music is blaring and the noise from your neighbors (elbow length away) is deafening. Also, as part of the dining experience, since they have open air seating, is flies. I understand you have to contend with the elements when you dine al fresco; but when I eat in the actual dining room, I shouldn't be constantly swatting away flies. We sat for about 10 minutes before someone took our drink order. When the waiter did come, because it was so loud (keep in mind we weren't in the middle of an event - this was a normal Monday) we had to repeat ourselves 3x. Drinks were never promptly refilled and we were left with empty glasses throughout the whole meal. This wouldn't be so bad, except the food here is extremely salty. I had a pizza and it was unevenly cooked, one side was soggy, the other was blackened crisp. This wouldn't be an issue as normally you'd tell the waiter and they'd fix it, except our waiter never checked in to see how the food was. So I was stuck with an overpriced, poorly cooked $15+ personal pizza. It took over 15 minutes to finally get a bill, at which point I just had my card waiting because I wanted to be done! I wouldn't classify Frasca as "budget dining", so I have come to expect a higher level of service, food quality and atmosphere that one can get from their competition. Next time you are in the area, just keep walking, I wish I did.
(1)Emily N.
My experience here went from zero to shitty on all accounts. Went here early on a Friday evening to grab a bite with the bestie. When we got there, it was relatively empty. Of the tables that were there, most were the young family, huge stroller set that comprises most of Lakeview. By the time we left, the place was packed and outside of us, there was ONE other table in the whole place that didn't have kids with them. Hell, I watched two toddlers sit at the bar. Blah. The food started off well. We got the polenta fries and they were awesome. The salad that came out next was fine. Nothing memorable. The pizza is where the meal went south. We ordered the potato pizza and when we got it (45 mins later), it was just barely cooked. It's too bad, too. It would've been great if the crust wasn't so soggy. Finally, the service. Our server was very pleasant and efficient for most of the meal. That is, until we brought up the pizza. She was completely dismissive of our complaint and by the time we finished talking - she had become down right curt. There is absolutely no way I will ever go here again. You couldn't even drag me here kicking and screaming - even though that's what half of the patrons here are doing while they color their kids menu.
(2)S C.
I debated with myself on whether to give this restaurant 4 or 5 stars. I finally gave it five, because the real litmus test is, "Would I return?" Yes, I would. This is a cute place with nice ambiance. We only had pizza and salad when we were there, but both were admirable. The Infamous Wrightwood salad is fantastic. We shared it...I could have eaten far more as it was so tasty. We happened to be there on a Monday, which was half priced wine bottles. That was welcome! All of the pizzas we had were wonderful...the crust is tender and not too salty...which makes the toppings shine. This is a solid spot worth visiting.
(5)Cassidy S.
Tonight I enjoyed a birthday's eve celebration with my family at Fresca. We were one of the first people in the restaurant, a beautifully-designed corner spot with wooden tables and crafty uplighting. Our server was friendly, young and helpful. The wine is half-off on Mondays, so my mother and I split a bottle of red. It was delicious - smoky, medium-bodied, and so affordable! Since the menu was incredibly enticing, we opted to order three different entrees and split them all. Between the filet medallions, Caponata pizza, and Pappardelle pasta, I couldn't pick a favorite. The medallions were too rare for me, but the sauce and potato gnocchi were flawless. The grilled vegetables on the caponata pizza were perfectly done. The pasta had just a touch of goat cheese on the top... what a nice garnish. We ordered the Nutella pie for dessert, which had a nice flavor but an unexpected texture - less creamy and more grainy. Overall, a nice place. Really enjoyed the ambience, besides the smoke that filtered in from the outdoor patio. I won't make another reservation there soon, but I wouldn't mind checking out the watermelon carpaccio....
(4)M T.
Frasca is an all time favorite! This restaurant is a stand out! Wonderful food, great wine rotating list and fantastic service! I have been going for years and they consistently deliver. They are on the moderate side price-wise and worth it. Favorites include the bacon wrapped dates, any of the pizzas, Wrightwood Salad, and Lincoln Avenue Omelette are stellar in my opinion. Thank you Frasca!
(4)Amanda S.
First off...the staff is absolutely amazing! Shannon, Whitney, Will, Jeff, Eric, Bethany, EVERYONE! So nice, so accomadating, always welcoming, educated on the wine selection, all around awesome! Fasca has pretty much before my husband Billy and I's living room after work. The new food menu is A+! There is nothing on the menu that I don't like. Great vibes, def. a must go to!!
(5)Lori L.
Add another restaurant to the list of Sunday Funday drinking = a.k.a bottomless mimosa brunch. Sure, Frasca's version is pricier than others I've been to ($14 vs $10) but it is well worth the extra four dollars. Our server let us linger even though we finished our meals. I ordered their French toast which consisted of a cinnamon baguette in an orange liqueur sauce. It had the right amount of sweetness and the serving size was very generous; four big slices to be exact. I had plenty leftover to take home. It came with a side of fruit or potatoes, all for a measly eight dollars. The ambiance is boisterous and a bit loud, but it wasn't an annoyance. Overall, 30 dollars got me nice and buzzed and a good meal with leftovers.
(4)Julia W.
Love this place. Excellent neighborhood bar, and one of my favorite places to go for a salad or pizza. LOVE the Wrightwood salad, and the bartenders make excellent lemon drop martinis! Great atmosphere, and great people. Definitely recommend this to anyone/everyone!
(5)Randall G.
We met friends for dinner here (we came from downtown, they came from Evanston) on a weeknight. The food and service were great, loved the casual elegance. It felt special and fun but not stuffy.
(4)Anna V.
I usually avoid places famous for their brunch specials because I typically don't like brunch. It's too early. I also hate eggs. I do like pizza. Frasca is a solid neighborhood pizza place up the street from my apartment, where I always drive past but had never eaten at. The crust is that thin, chewy, airy, bubbled-up sort you have to fold, straight from their pizza oven. It doesn't exist on the menu, but sauceless, fresh mozzarella, dressed arugula, olive oil, black pepper, and oven-dried tomato is one really effing nice pizza. They make a few with prosciutto that are interesting. My friend appeared very obsessed with her Wrightwood salad. I want to try bruschetta. The service and interior (prepare for stampedes if you sit in the front area on 2-for-1 wednesdays) here is a little weird, but that's okay. Wine was good-ish. That said, everything about Frascsa will be much better on the outdoor patio, where I remember dodging my car around swarms of people last year as they spilled into the intersection.
(4)Julia Y.
Decided to try a new place for Sunday brunch. Unfortunately this time wasn't really impressed with the food :( Our server was nice , he came and introduced himself right away and offered some drinks . We did ask for few extra minutes to figure out what we want - and them he disappeared for quite a while (it was not busy at all...). Finally when he did come back to us - he answered our questions and made some suggestions for the order. We started with a tomato basil soup that tasted ok ( just ok ...) . For the main course I had the mushroom gnocchi & my fiancé had the pappardelle bolognese . Both pastas tasted ok (agin - just ok ...) . Nothing special that would make me want to come back here again. I guess we should have actually went for the pizza instead of the pastas since it is a "pizzeria" , I just think that next time we will go to explore somewhere else...
(3)Samantha J.
brunch: Paulina's omelet is the best I've had. they have bomb ass potatoes and the nutella french toast was the perfect closer. the bloodies are delicious too. not too pricey and great location!
(5)Barb M.
While we've enjoyed this place on late weekend nights, don't go at 6 on a weekday if you don't have at least 3 screaming kids with you. The hostess sat 3 screamers (not crying, just happy to sit and scream) next to us. Honestly despite comments to waitres and looks toward parents, it ruined my dinner. I like kids. Think they are cute but screamers? Don't go. They should seat all the screamers and potential screamers on one side and couples without kids on the other!!
(1)Emily S.
I'm not really sure how my husband and I have lived in the neighborhood for almost 8 years and never been here before last Friday, but whatever. This is a cool little spot with excellent pizzas. We shared the sausage and onion with roasted red peppers, which was delicious. For a starter, we shared a fennel and orange salad that was woefully underseasoned. Decent wine list and service. Skip the salads and go for the pizza!
(4)Christina F.
Went here for drinks with a friend one late afternoon. I can't comment on the food but the drink I had. I think it was the Bellinitini or something like that. I liked it, it was an interesting combination of bubbly with peach and was a great summer drink. What I didn't like was the price, I remember thinking "$9 for this tiny thing?" Would I come back? Maybe if I was in the area but I'd try their pizza and have my wine after dinner at my place with a bottle a la Trader Joes or something.
(3)Mandy P.
Wow! I really, really like Frasca! It's very similar to my beloved Sono Wood Fired on Clybourn. My dinner experience: On Tuesday they had half-priced glasses of wine, which was very much appreciated by this girl. My friends and I split 3 bruschettas (we wanted all of them), and a cheese (we wanted all of them), and a pizza (the theme continues; we wanted all). One thing I wasn't so keen on here is that there is some sort of dressing on the arugula on the Prosciutto pizza; I prefer mine plain. The last thing that I find absolutely inexcusable is that I was so full from eating every morsel in front of me that I didn't have any room for the skillet cookie that we could smell baking in the oven. I plan on speaking to management about that... My brunch experience: Frasca blesses weekenders with bottomless mimosas for $14. To help balance the increased calcium intake, the Breakfast pizza is what I would recommend from the brunch menu. Prosciutto, hollandaise, fried egg, and chorizo on my pizza? And I can eat it in the morning/mid-day? Holla. The donuts were also delicious and airy. $7 gets you 9 sugary treats, perfect for sharing...or not. My only recommendation is to make a reservation unless you don't mind sitting at the bar. The patio is also dog friendly if you're lucky enough to come here on a nice day with your dog!
(5)Emily M.
I hate writing this. However, our experience was really lack luster. We went on a Monday, and maybe that was the problem. I had a craving for Italian food and I thought this would do the trick. The pasta and meatballs were very bland and our server was nice but did not care about our table. I definitely think he was spread too thin. This place has a lot of potential, and from these reviews I really expected to enjoy myself. I would give it another shot if a friend invited me, otherwise I will look elsewhere for my next old world craving.
(3)Kerry S.
Food here is always amazing. Salads and pizzas have been our favorites in the past, but you NEED to try a mix of bruschetta, meats and cheeses off the menu. Only reason they don't get a full 5-star review is because a few times the service has been poor. Overall the staff is nice, maybe we caught a few people on an 'off' day?
(4)Susan F.
Frasca has really great daily deals. Come on a Wednesday and get 2 pizzas for the price of one! Holy moly, now that's what I call deal. They also have $5 wines on Thursdays. Their pizza is excellent, especially the meatza and the pizza with goat cheese I believe. They are really large, too, never a bad thing. You will definitely have leftovers. They do not carry a pizza with shrimp on it any more, as I've been told. There are also cheese and bread plates that are reasonable. Those would be great for a big group of people. They have a pretty nice outdoor space and inside is pretty large as well. Beware that is it right by the brown line if you sit outside.
(4)Katy O.
I would give Frasca 5 stars for the pizzas and the great, inexpensive wine choices. The decor is cozy and they also have a nice outdoor patio. I took off a star for the time I visited with a friend who was 8 months pregnant. Her doctor had told her that it is okay, in the 3rd trimester, to have a glass of wine on occasion. She was in town visiting and we wanted to celebrate and she hadn't had a glass of wine in, oh, 8 months. We ordered a bottle of something sparkling and asked for 3 glasses. The waiter was very uncomfortable and did not want to give my pregnant friend a glass. We eventually spoke to another waitress (or the manager), who was a woman, who apologized for the waiter's reluctance and gave us the glass. At this point, however, my friend felt like she was being judged and was sort of pissed off. I know that not everyone agrees about the glass of wine in the 3rd trimester situation, but it is not up to waitstaff to decide if a pregnant lady can have a glass of wine. The next star I took off is for brunch. They actually have a nice brunch selection here, and I do love the Wrightwood salad, but the atmosphere is not great for people without kids. Roscoe Village is a family neighborhood and Frasca is, astutely, very kid friendly, I get it. Were all of the kids poorly behaved or untended by their parents? No. Were there enough unruly children and oblivious parents to make it annoying? Yes. I like kids, I just prefer to eat my meals without them running around my table and grabbing at my purse and silverware. This is not Frasca's fault at all, in fact if you have kids it is good to know this is a family friendly place, it's just not for me, not during brunch. This is a nice neighborhood spot for a casual dinner and/or a reasonably priced glass (or bottle) of wine.
(3)Laura C.
Buy one get one free Wednesdays makes Frasca a bargain night for authentic Italian pizzas. The Prosciutto was presented beautifully with sweetly dressed arugula; although, I wanted more mozzarella. With the addition of parm and crushed red peppers, it was a good pie. The Soprano was a spicy blend of capicola, sausage, pepperoni, and sopressata - basically a fancy version of Pizza Hut's Meat Lover's, but a hundred times better. With the red peppers and fresh basil, the flavor combination was well balanced and something I would definitely order again. Our server was friendly and the pizzas came out relatively quick. One thing that bothered me was the noise level. It was pretty difficult to have a conversation with the buzz in the room, even though we were sitting in the corner. Also, the tables are pretty close, so having a server's butt a few inches from my plate kind of threw me off. Plus - parking meters around here end at 6PM, which is perfect timing for dinner.
(4)Kit G.
Last minute birthday dinner for 10? No problem. Frasca was the perfect choice. I love the atmosphere. It is so warm and cozy - it reminded me of my time in Florence. We started with a selection of cheeses for the table. They were all excellent. We obviously needed some wine to go with our cheese. Lucky for us, Tuesday is 1/2 price glass of wine night! Everyone was happy with their meals. I had the classic spaghetti and it was very well done. It was huge - which meant I got to eat it for lunch again the next day. We finished with a couple desserts for the table. The Nutella Pie is a stand out. Just order it. Trust me. I will certainly be returning to Frasca. The service was great, even though we were a larger group. Food came quickly, and the orders were accurate. Definitely a good place to bring a group!
(4)Kevin L.
Perfect example of a place that successfully caters to a different clientele (singles, couples, families, old, young, etc.) successfully, by coming through with an enjoyable experience for one and all. This place is just loud enough so you don't have to hear the crying baby on the other side of the establishment, and has just the right amount of intimate spaces for couples on their first or 1,000th date. Pluses for the small, carefully selected beer options with a slightly larger wine list and standard liquor selection; Italian style presentation complete with fresh baked bread and infused olive oil; a small but interesting number of appetizers (Fondue with fontina and reggiano with apples, toasted bread and sopressata? Yes please); and a varied list of entrees to appeal to every discerning taste. On the latest visit, the Rustica pizza was the selection, with tasty dried prosciutto, oven dried tomatoes, basil pesto and smoked provolone. Excellent. Service was impeccable and the bartenders were just the right amount of friendly. One negative that I can see popping up on occasion - the entryway can get a bit crowded if a group is waiting for a table and the spacing between the tables on one side of the place is very tight. One other qualm- as soon as we stepped inside and before we could say anything, we were greeted by the hostess telling us "hey guys, the wait is currently 15-20 minutes for a table." Well hello there, nice to see you too. The comment was a bit of a head scratcher as the meal progressed and the place didn't fill up to more than half capacity, with open tables (especially for small groups of 4 or less) open all over the restaurant/bar area. While the brunch menu looked a bit uninspired, I'm looking forward to coming back and checking out the 2 for 1 Wednesday night pizza special.
(4)Katrina R.
This is a pizza place. Not an italian place. A pizza place. If you gave up pizza for lent, that's just too bad; Jesus will be dissappointed. This place is a very cool joint right off the Paulina Brown Line stop. It's easy to find and the wait is always shorter than they tell you it will be. We were seated promptly both times we came in here but I should warn you-- this place will be stuffed with children. The service is good and we had the same waitress both times we came. While the Martinis are alright, the real standout is the drink called Easy Hummin' or something like that. It's to die for. I'm going to come back for this drink ALONE. Rhubarb bitters and cucumber something. Does it matter what's in it?! It's amaze-tastic. Order it. Order it now. The pizza is good. The first time we went, we got the pizza Rustica. It was a little spicy but the pancetta was great and the mozzarella was perfectly cooked. The second time we went we ordered the pizza with the artichokes. That was definitely the better choice. It was delicious and reheated well when we killed off the leftovers. I'll say it: the pizza is solid but the overwhelming kiddie ambiance really killed it for me. What made this place worthwhile was those drinks. Those drinks! Ahhh, I salivate just thinking of them... Oh, final note: the bruschetta-- if you are on the fence, order it. Definitely a standout and there are many many options. My favorite was the classic bruschetta and the honey pistachio ricotta bruschetta but the boyfriend liked the mushroom truffle bruschetta. Whatever. The point is, order it. It is worth the cash. Final thing: ORDER THAT HUMMIN DRINK.
(4)Blair R.
I like Frasca, It's the kind of place where everything is good enough that I'd return if I lived in the area, but nothing was good enough to make me take the trek up north to come again. I stopped in on a Friday night with a group of 5 and I do admit, I was a bit boring this night. I stuck with the Infamous Wrightwood Salad. I actually really enjoyed it and it was much better than the salad I had tried on my visit to Dunlay's. It had ample amount of goat cheese, yummy nuts, roasted red peppers, avocado, and etc that made it pretty delish. My friends tried out a few other salads for apps and the pizza for their dinner. The pizza looked good and I liked all the different variety of flavors Frasca offers. Our service for the night was a bit off and overall I felt very neglected by our waitress. While the waitress was super friendly and very energetic, she failed to keep up with us. The appetizers took quite a while to come and the entrees came out twenty seconds after the appetizers. Literally, I think my friend had two pieces of calamari by the time his pizza arrived. While we were waiting for the apps we saw her chatting away with other patrons...so I am guessing she was too wrapped up to notice that the apps were ready. When we finished our meal she took forever to come back and bring us the bill. She didn't know that we were on the edge of our seats waiting to get us some gelato from a place down the street and so this made us quite antsy. Unfortunately, her smile and chipper attitude didn't make up for the fact that she pretty much forgot about us. However, don't let this one not so great waitress stop you. If you are around the area and find yourself craving thin crust pizza, stop on in to this cute little corner restaurant.
(3)Karen G.
Meh! I'd come on the buy one get one pizza night. I've been here several times and have never been too excited about anything I've ordered. I do walk my dogs by the place a lot and they love stopping by for treats and water- I guess they have that going for them.
(2)Jason D.
Outstanding. Some of the best pizza I've ever had. Wonderful service. Excellent for brunch with kids.
(5)Jessica E.
I returned to Frasca on a Friday evening this summer for a casual dinner with my husband, but we could barely even understand each other over the HUNDREDS OF SCREAMING CHILDREN IN THE RESTAURANT. OK, so maybe there weren't hundreds of children, but there were definitely more than 10. It's just that the acoustics in the restaurant made it sound like each child was given a personal microphone along with crayons and booster seat. The high wood ceilings are easy on the eyes, but hell on the ears. I have no problem with parents who want to enjoy a night out with their kids, and I will concede that we were dining in the pre-bedtime hours. But I will heretofore avoid Frasca for all future dining experiences - at least until I have my own little bundle of noise to add to the cacophony.
(1)Pamela P.
The pizzas are quite good. The brunch is filling and with the bottomless mimosas, everything tastes better! The waitstaff has always been courteous and knowledgeable. The only drawback is that there's often a long wait, especially on the two for one pizza night!
(4)Colleen C.
Truthfully my Frasca experience didn't start out so hot. A friend of mine arrived at 6pm, and were unsure if a third friend was going to meet us. The host looked around and said "your entire party isn't here?" with an exasperated look on his face. I spanned the room and it was about 1/3 full...and just said, "hmmm, I don't see the issue." He finally sat us, but it set a somewhat bad tone for the evening. I mean, c'mon. It's not quite dinner rush and you don't have a wait, chill out. The rest of the meal was lovely. I really enjoyed the ambience. Our server was very good, friendly, informative. We split the fondue, which was a bit odd as it did not have a flame. It's hard to consume a bowl of melted cheese fast enough so that it does not acquire a skin. Cheese skin is sort of gross, in my opinion. For $9 gimme some flame. I had the caesar salad with chicken and it was delicious. We split the carrot cake tiramasu, and I just didn't "get it." It was so rich and the cream used was globby and thick. It was odd, I wouldn't recommend that. Plus, it was supposed to come with espresso, and it did not. Overall I think the menu a bit pricey for a place that calls itself a "pizzeria." The ambience is nice, the service was adequate after we shook the nervous host, and the food was a bit better than average. I'd eat here again, but won't be rushing back...
(3)Rosie S.
Yes, this is a 4 Star place! Where do I start? Of course, with the bottomless mimosas!!! $14 and they don't cut you off...simply amazing!!!! And they were delicious. We went for brunch on a Sunday at 1 pm. They place was packed, but we were seated promptly without too much of a wait. (Just a warning, it's a kid friendly place...so if kids annoy you, then you may want to find another place.) The waitress greeted us right away and was super friendly. We ordered our Mimosas right away and they arrived within minutes. Just pure heaven!!! After the 3rd refill, we told her to just keep them coming and she didn't need to ask if we wanted another. Yeah, we may like the booze a little too much, but it's all in good Sunday Funday times! The mimosas kept coming, which probably helped the fact that the food took awhile to come, which we did not notice. Until our waitress brought it to our attention. They ran out of turkey, so the chef left to go to the store to buy some more. We were shocked that (1) the Chef left to go buy it himself (2) they didn't ask us to change our order (which was nice) and (3) that we didn't notice the wait at all (which I know it's the mimosa's fault). As an apology, the gave us free hot cinnamon donuts at the end of meal. On to the food, I didn't try anyone else's food because mine was just too delicious to waste my tastebuds on, but everyone said they loved their meal. I ordered the Paulina St. Omelet...loved it! But the real star of the meal, the potatoes!!!! Yes, I know I said the potatoes. They were unbelievable, that I am still craving them days later. I was the only person who ordered them and everyone else at the table was jealous...being a nice person that I am, I did share. The potatoes should be a regular on their menu and served in the evening as well. I did asked how they were cooked...the potatoes are shredded they add cream, two types of cheese, and seasoning...but they are not the cheesy type of hashbrowns you are used too...I didn't even realize that they had that much cheese in them. If you go to brunch, you MUST order these. As promised, we did have the cinnamon donuts...they were hot and gooey and just divine!!! A must have as well This place is totally worth visiting for brunch!!
(5)Phil W.
Crust is excellent. Good sangria. Great cheese and meat plates. Need to try the rest of the menu.
(4)Will G.
Favorite neighborhood pizza place. 2 or 3 vegetarian pizzas on the menu, usually and a handful of vegetarian entree options. They also have a pretty good beer selection that changes throughout the year. Recommended if you are in the area. Try the pizzas, build your own with Arugula, you'll be glad you did.
(4)India K.
Farmhouse Salad is THE BEST dinner salad I've had in months. Absolutely delicious! The bread brought to the table tasted like someone had just pulled it from a bread machine- DELICIOUS. Risotto fritters were pretty good but I was so satisfied with the bread that I could have easily done without it. Salad was good but didn't LOVE. Red wine flight was mediocre. Next time I'll go with just a glass of wine. TERRIFIC SERVICE
(4)Priscila D.
Very tastey, fresh thin crust pizza. Friendly service. Good prices. Buy one pizza get one free. If your not in the mood for a loud and busy indoor environment, there is nice, quiet seating outside. Dog friendly. Kid friendly. Returning to try the bottomless mimosa's
(4)Mark T.
Great food. Had to take two stars off for the poor service. Had brunch al fresco, and the place was not too terribly busy for a Sunday. I knew that the restaurant was well known for their brick oven pizzas, but decided to order the Turkey Panini. Standardwise, whenever I order any type of panini at restaurants, they usually get compared to the awesome ones that were made at this cool little bistro that I went to in San Francisco a few years back. I must say that Frasca's panini is the first one that I could finally say that it was better than that bistros'. The waitress did warn us ahead of time that the kitchen was running a little behind. I guess "a little behind" meant "you have to wait 40 minutes for your food". Really? I'm an optimist....maybe I caught them on a bad day. I'm willing to come back to try their pizzas.
(2)Kevin C.
In on Sunday with kids. (eat free 4-6) so that's a draw. Tried to sit us next to open door in front (but it was cold) so I asked for a different seat. I was then sent back to sit next to/in the waiters area by the kitchen (i think as a penalty)...but I didn't bite. I sat myself down at a better table. I always wonder if hostess think - "would I want to sit where I'm sitting these people?" - unlikely. Food is always pretty decent, and it's kid friendly.
(3)Sofia D.
This place is flippin' beautiful! I came here for some after-dinner drinks and it was one of my best experiences at a Chicago eatery. I love dining al fresco but also enjoy the privacy of a booth. This place was the best of both worlds. We were seated in a cozy booth right by the huge windows that open up to the sidewalk. The tables are on a little higher level than the outside seating which is great because we were able to avoid turning slightly towards the window and meeting the awkward glances of the outdoor patrons. Anyway, we hung out here for an hour or two and the fresh breeze and laid-back atmosphere made it a fantastic Sunday afternoon for the both of us.
(4)Peggy T.
Went here on Sunday morning with a group of 6 people for Brunch. Per my receipt, our server's name was "Christopher." Let me start by saying, I wait tables on the side so I try to be fairly understanding of occasional poor service. BUT THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY AWFUL! I'd like to think this was Christopher's first day on the job, but I doubt it was. Many of us orders Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's and watched them sit at the bar for 10-15 minutes before they were brought to our table, sometimes by the bartender herself. It took him 25 minutes to come back to our table to take our orders, mind you, this place was not packed, at all. Instead he was walking around aimlessly with a coffee pot in his hand and started restocking glasses at the bar. When the food finally came, 1/2 the tables orders were wrong. Most of us ordered the Egg sandwiches w special requests like no tomato, cheese, etc, and every single one was wrong. The last person got their corrected dish after everyone was almost done eating. Took forever to get our bills as well. Luckily for him, he had added gratuity because we were a large group. SERVICE WAS AWFUL and no manager ever visited our table to check in on us, even though the food runner (manager?) was aware of the mistakes. Luckily for Frasca, their food is good. Definitely a disappointment, especially since our entire party couldn't wait to get out of the restaurant. A "quick" brunch turned into a long, painful, morning.
(2)Carly S.
Amazing FRESH and delicious food. Friendly, hip staff. Great drink and food specials. Beautiful patio area. Gorgeous interior. *Attend the pizza making class! The owner runs it and it's spectacular!* My favorite place in the city - for dinner or brunch! Never had a bad experience, ALWAYS leave satisfied...and craving it for dinner the next day as well! Can't say enough great things about Frasca!
(5)Ashley U.
Went here for a quick dinner one night. Food was pretty good and staff was friendly, although she could have bough us some more bread (I was starving!!)! Have to check out there BOGO Pizza Wednesdays. Nice vibe and always very crowded, which to me is a good sign!
(4)Ryan A.
As a customer who frequents here at least once a week for dine-in and carryout I was really dumbfounded by the service I received this weekend. My party and I were told the wait would be 30 minutes so we left and came back in 20. We then proceeded to wait another HOUR AND A HALF! We attempted to get drinks at the bar and waited about 15 minutes each time for the bartender Audra. I have never experienced such a cold person in the service industry in quite some time. Just thought management should know she brought my usual 4 star experience down to a 1 even with the 2 hour wait.
(1)John G.
Loved everything about this place! It had been a toss-up between here & another place a couple doors down. Fortunately, the first place we stopped couldn't be bothered to even greet us, much less seat us. So, Frasca's it was. It was great from the friendly hostess who seated immediately, to the fantastic waitress (who knew her beers & recommended appropriately), to the food, to the service. Everything was great, especially the chorizo-stuffed/bacon-wrapped dates!!!! I could eat those as a meal. The only reason I didn't give Frasca's a 5-star was because of the noise factor - but that's just bad acoustics, methinks ... Bottom line: If you're debating on where to go to dinner, do yourself a favor and give Frasca's a try. You won't be sorry! :)
(4)John Z.
My wife and I love the pizza and fresh salads. Food is excellent and the service has always been great for us. We typically go on Sun for $3 drafts or Wed: buy 1, get 1 pizzas. I would have given them one more star, but I think they are a little pricey... -but like I said, they do have decent specials to compensate.
(3)Therese G.
Still love Frasca - and five years and two kids later, especially love that kids eat free from 4-6, every night. Food and service, still great.
(4)Kara O.
Love the atmosphere here - also their creative bruschetta menu is delicious.
(4)Katherine R.
NIce make your own gourmet pizza place with nice prices and wines. The pizza is oven cooked and the specials are really crafty and fun as you can select your own toppings on a check list and pizzas. Its really fun and just a simple place for a few friends to go after work for a quick meal. I order the feta, gargonzola, or prozzuto. Friendly and cute place on the corner near Brown line stop Paulina.
(5)Natalia K.
Great local place for a good wine and some good pizza, especially when it's 2 for 1 pizza on Wednesdays or half-price wine on Tuesdays. Their pizza is baked in a fire brick oven and comes out just like the ones I loved having in Italy although they can be on the salty side. My personal favorite is the four-cheese. I just love having ricotta on pizza. I also like their bruschetta menu where you can choose from a variety of bruschettas for a low price- the apple and brie is always one of my picks. They claim their "donuts" are the restaurant specialty when it comes to dessert. Try something else. I tried them once and could only muster up enough interest to eat two. The waiter noticed this, however, and was kind enough to take it off the bill. Kudos for that.
(4)Casey Z.
What a great place! Great for a girls night out, date night, or a casual get together. Their food is consistently good and fresh. Great wine list. You will not regret coming to Frasca!
(4)Cristine K.
I've only been here for brunch and its fantastic. The doughnut app is a must have!
(3)Vanessa P.
I have been here a couple of times now and it's turning into one of my go-to spots when I cannot make up my mind to go anywhere else. I have had a few of the appetizers and a few of the pizzas. My favorite pizza from here is the Caponata. I love goat cheese and artichokes and combined with the other veggies makes for a great pizza. Service has always been spot on and they always have good weekly specials to make you want to come in for more.
(4)Beth G.
Warm and inviting atmosphere. Pizzas are gourmet and delicious, if a little overpriced. Good specials during the week include half-priced bottles on Monday and buy one get one pizzas on Wednesday. For one couple, going for dinner, I would recommend splitting a salad and a pizza. Not a great place to watch a game, as the TVs are limited.
(4)Jennifer B.
Oooh....lunch here on Saturday was tops.... I'm a sucker for wood-burning pizzas. What is it about pizzas that are rather dry and dusty and don't have alot of cheese on them that is so damn appealing? Here at Frasca you can pick from about 10 different pizzas, or you can make your own. These pizzas are rather large so you could definitely split one with a salad or pasta. We also ordered the quatro (that's four in Italian! haha) cheese ravioli, and yum yum yum...I could taste all four cheeses. Wait who am I kidding I couldn't taste anything other than the ricotta cheese but the ravioli was amazing in the cream sauce.....such a great winter pasta. I like the vibe in Frasca. They really encourage you to sit, relax, and take your time. Most of the tables there on Saturday afternoon were there around 2 hours. Just relaxing and enjoying wonderful Italian. I would recommend Frasca because the service was great, the food was solid, and the location is unbeatable!
(4)Meredith S.
I love ovens that blow fire to cook your pizza. I had no idea this was the case when I signed up for a pizza making class. The 2 glasses of wine that are included was the deciding factor. Plus you get to almost literally make your own 'za. Now the pizza instructor was the manager, who my friend was calling Ashton all night. I think his real name is Jason. He was very thorough in his pizza teaching class, albeit it was in the restaurant and he had to talk over the crowd. He went over the dough making process, which included a cup of beer. I like beer. We were even given little balls of dough to play with like we were in kindergarten art class. I said balls. Giggle. After the class was finished, they brought out a plate with a bigger ball of dough and pizza toppings. We made our own creations and even though they said they have a system of getting you back your 'za, they don't. None of us had the 'za that we made...nor could we tell (choices were only pepperoni and margherita). So if you are a germaphobe, get the pepperoni. At least you can make a letter out of the pepperonis. We were given the recipe for the pizza dough, but my beef was that we don't have wood burning ovens at home, so it will never taste the same. Oh and they had Oberon. On Tap. I like that too. I believe they do this either once or twice a month. It's $25 per person. This would be a good date night thing to do if you're looking for something different.
(4)Mike S.
Frasca is a pretty solid place to bring a date, or if out with friends for a classier evening. The pizza is pretty good, but not great. The atmosphere is great with low ceilings and alcoves for dinner parties keeps the noise down, while also having lots of natural light from the street, giving it an open-air feel in the summer. I personally found it to be a little expensive for my tastes, but all-in-all it's a solid place.
(3)Sarah V.
best. bloody. marys. ever... delicious bloody mix, cute little olive-meat-lime toothpick topper, and a teeny adorable miller high life sidecar. YUM. been here to eat a few times over the past couple of years too and have never been disappointed. i've had a couple pizzas and a couple of the brunchie breakfast dishes. everything has always been delish and service always friendly. the ambiance is delightful, too. i work at a nearby lakeview restaurant that is constantly teeming with stroller and screeching toddlers - this place has a much better balance of family-friendly without feeling like you're at Chuck E. Cheese's.
(4)Marissa J.
So far we've only been here for brunch, but between the yummy food and the bottomless mimosas, we were happy. Excellent service as well. I can't wait to go back for the pizza and one of the weeknight specials.
(4)Anna J.
I recently tried this place. A good friend of mine (who also loves food) had raved about their pizza's so I had high expectations. I also love pizza so I can be picky. This place didn't dissapoint me one bit. I got the four cheese pizza....so good. The crust is super thin and they use great ingredients. We also decided on the antipasto sampler. It was a good pick. It is a little pricey for the sampler but you get to pick whatever you want. They also have a huge wine list and the night we were there it was 5 dollar martini's. It looks like they have specials different days of the week. The people next to us we eating pasta and that also looked awesome. I will be coming back for sure.
(4)Emily C.
We had a great Friday evening here. We sat at the bar as we were most interested in the wine menu over actually having dinner. The wine list is deep and extensive. My friend is really knowledgeable about wines as was our fantastic bar tender. He gave us samples of wines until we settled on the red wine flight. There were two different flights to choose from and each flight had three different wines which was a decent sized glass. After finishing a flight and glass of wine, we decided it was wise to have something to eat. We started with items from the Farmer's Table where you can select a variety of items. The cheese platter was where we started which also came with bread and fruit. The bruschetta was amazing which was unique in variety and flavor. Fort dinner, the tilapia was great. Seasoned nicely with assorted spices with arugula, tomato, and roasted artichokes on the side. Service and ambiance were wonderful as was the wine and food. So much that we closed the place down which was good as we were nicely full and slightly tipsy. Will certainly be back.
(4)Gary R.
I do enjoy Fracsa. (Yes, I call it Fracsa, ok?) They provide delicious pizzastuffs and other Italian foods at a reasonable price. I recently dined there with a woman and small child (each related to me in some capacity). Yes, children are in there at earlier hours and there is a chance you'll have a crayon lobbed at your beer and/or groin. If you can get past this without resorting to physical violence, god bless you. I had a tasty pizza with red peppers and some kind of fancy peperoni. It was some made up word like "Capicola" or something. I generally enjoy their pizza. They are better than Pizza Hut, but they also are lacking any reference to any kind of hut on their premises. I may have given this place 5 stars had it not been for the small ash ball that I ate inside of my ceasar salad. Yes, I mistook a ball of ash for a crouton. I know this is a hallmark of a moron, but I did that. I had to go to the bathroom and wash out my mouth, which had a ashy, grainy taste. Ash in the mouth is not an easy thing to clean out either. I assume either the staff hated me, or something went haywire with the brick oven that they use for the Pizza. So to summarize- good pizza, good drinks, good salads if you like them topped with dressing, croutons, carrots, tomatoes and ashes.
(4)Elaine C.
Dear frasca, I'm a little angry at you. You may have delicious bruschetta and pizzas, but what the hell is up with your $13 all-you-can-drink orange juice? Can a girl get a little Champagne before she goes into a sugar coma? Dang. I had 3 or 4 "mimosas" without even catching a buzz, asked for a stronger one and it came out exactly the same. Totally lame, frasca. Totally lame.
(3)Inna B.
Delicious meats/cheeses, pizza, cocktails. Note: This place is a great family friendly option for those who live in the area. If you don't have tots in tow, I would suggest waiting til later to eat your dinner here to avoid the stroller traffic jam by the front door & the juvenile company.
(4)Jo W.
Last night was the perfect summer evening - you know the kind: the heat cooled off, there's a light breeze. Perfect weather to enjoy a drink on the patio, perhaps a bite to eat. When the hostess seated me, I spied food on the other tables and it looked and smelled AMAZING. When Paige W. joined me a few minutes later, our stomachs were demanding food. We both ordered some prosecco to get things started, and then we both ordered pizzas. Not sure what she had, but I stayed simple - pepperoni. While we waited, our server brought some bread out and it was very chewy and delicious. Mmmm.... before I had time to enjoy more than a couple bites, our pizzas were already done. The pizza is divine. You could tell it had been made in one of those wood fired ovens, and though I just ordered pepperoni it still had a nice heat to it that made me suck down the rest of my prosecco in a flash. Nice chewy cheese, the sauce had actual tomatoes in it. Ah, it was perfection! It was so good I was all, "ok, I need to stop eating now" but I couldn't because it was soooo good. Paige was enjoying her meat fest, and she said the pizza rivaled Spacca Napoli. I would tend to agree with her. Finally, Paige and I waved the white flags. Then she said, "I could go for some ice cream." So we ordered up the cookie sundae - a warm, half baked gooey chocolate chip cookie served in an iron skillet with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream topped with caramel sauce. It's ok, you can go ahead and drool now. That cookie was amazing. We ate the whole thing, and I have no shame. Overall, an excellent meal. The food is YUMMY, prices on the food are right (wine list prices are a little up there), and the service was great. The patio is perfect, and I think I just found one of my new favorite places to eat.
(4)Ryan F.
The food is wonderful, the service....not so much. My friend and I went here last night and our waitress was the most unenthusiastic person I have ever met. We ordered wine and two pizzas to share. She rarely came around to check on us and when she did, she was so boring, zero personality and when I asked which pizza she recommended, she just read off the menu in order. Original!
(3)Nicolas H.
Not bad, but not great. The wine selection is decent and the menu is pretty good as well. We had the fondue which was served with sliced green apples and more than enough bread. Also had the doughnuts which were served with honey and were pretty great (and extremely hot). While the music is really good, the seats are a little too close together so its kinda hard to have a conversation. The abundance of little kids I guess is to be expected for the area, but definitely something you want to think about if you plan on having a quiet dinner out (as it will be far from quiet)...
(3)Mihir P.
I came here for a date. Only for drinks though. But when I walked in, it smelled delicious. It's a pizzeria by the way. I met up with my date and looked at the beer and wine list - they have a very good selection of both. I had a Trumer Pils drafts. A very well balanced light beer. THe bartender was very nice and professionalI forget if they have a full bar but I'll be back for the pizza someday.
(4)Lea L.
Well I cannot rate the food as we never got seated at Frasca. I had an 8:30pm reservation for 10 people to celebrate my birthday on Saturday night. I was called in the afternoon reconfirming my reservation which is funny to do when you actually can't honor a reservation when the party arrives. My party arrived at 8:20ish to check in and was told by the host that they were waiting for 3 tables to get up so we may have to wait till 8:40. Ok well with no space in the bar area, we waiting outside. 8:40 came and went and we are still on the street. After multiple inquiries by my party to the host or other employees working the host station, we kept getting told, oh none of the tables have gotten up yet but they have closed there bill. It should be soon.. ok, so what was the point of making a reservation when we can't actually get a table?! Its now after 9pm, we are hungry and still no table. Now we request to talk to the manager who comes forward only to tell us the same thing. We are waiting for a few tables to get up as they have closed out the bill but still haven't moved. So we inquiry- Can't you ask one of the tables to move to the bar area if they have closed out there bill as you have a reservation waiting to be seated? Um sorry no we can't tell someone to leave. We aren't asking them to leave, we just want the table we reserved. And if they closed there tab, why do you want a now non paying customer to be occupying your table? Again hearing I apologize but they should leave soon...Um ok we have now been hearing that for almost 45 mins so thanks but no thanks. Because we were now all starving and pissed off -My party decided to leave since everyone we had the pleasure to deal with last night seemed to have no customer service skills nor understanding of what having a reservation means. Which makes it hard to want to spend any money at an establishment like this, no matter what the food tastes like. I don't think I will ever be back, and will make sure to not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Alicia S.
Wednesday's are my Frasca night. Why? BOGO pizza!! We love coming here for 2 for 1 pizza's and the skillet cookie. Yum. Try the traditional marg pizza or anything that is totally off the wall...never a bad choice. The Capone (their meat lovers)....delightful! Never have had a bad experience here with big or small groups; and I love the little curved corner booth in the back, great for conversations with friends!
(4)a e.
This is my favorite restaurant in my neighborhood. I really like to get a make your own pizza, with goat cheese and garlic. Mouth watering. The roasted chicken with asparagus and potatoes is delicious too. The asparagus is always cooked to perfection (I'm picky about my asparagus), and the chicken is always tender. One evening, I ordered the Limenchello Martini, and my life was changed. The first one tasted like a green Skittle. I ordered another one. That one tasted like a red Skittle. Their staff is great- they are full of excellent suggestions, knowledgeable about the menu and the specials, and are attentive. The hostesses sometimes come off as snobby. My only complaint is that the place can be a bit loud when they are busy. But whatever. I always leave in a dreamy food coma...
(5)Jen B.
Love the atmosphere and food at Frasca. It's a really cozy place to enjoy delicious pizza and the company of good friends or family. My only complaint is on the pricing of the wine -- I wish they had a few lower price options available. Will be returning very soon!
(4)Jessica B.
My platonic manfriend and I went here on a Tuesday night and had a really great meal. First, I love a wood burning oven. I mean, the flavors on the food and the smell that comes out of there is like heaven. Anything is better in a wood burning oven, no joke. Tuesday night's is half price wine night and well, I love wine. The wine list was pretty impressive too and I had a lovely Sauv blanc from a Napa winery because I was missing my trip. It was really refreshing and the list was impressive enough that I could barely narrow down what I wanted to drink. But let's move on to food. It's awesome. For an appetizer, we got the Chorizo bacon wrapped dates and they were really, really good. It came in a red sauce that had a little kick and really made them taste better. But all the appetizers looked good too, including the bruschetta, which i've heard good things about. Next time! For the main meal, we split a pizza and he graciously let me pick, so I went for the prosciutto with arugula and provolone. It was....amazing. It was perfectly cooked w/the crust not too crispy or burned and the prosciutto adding the perfect amount of flavor. I had to control myself from eating my entire half. I would absolutely recommend this place and go back. Service was good and food, as you can tell, was awesome. Can't wait to try more things on the menu.
(4)Erini S.
I work down the street at the toy store, and so we get Frasca's pizza a lot. Possibly the BEST non-deep dish pizza I've had in a long time. It's just perfect. We've had a couple different varieties and I can't pick a favorite. I've had writing classes every Wednesday night lately, but am looking forward to taking advantage of their buy one get one free deal! ugh. now I'm craving it. Frasca, I'm addicted to your pizza. It's THAT good.
(5)Rebecca T.
I thought this place was nice... the wine was good, and the service was prompt and friendly. The only reason I didn't give 4 stars, was because our pasta was somewhat bland - I had the penna alll norma, and my friend had the rigatoni with fennel sausage. Both needed salt, big time. The appetizer we ordered, a mix of bruschetta, meats, and cheese was tasty and the presentation was beautiful. And, we sat outside, which always adds to the event. All in all a great experience... the pasta just needs salt.
(3)Timothy W.
The four of us came here on Monday night, 1/2 price bottles but all of us were not in the mood for drinking. I really like this restaurant, the decor is nice, I'm a fan of the exposed brick walls and theres a brick pizza oven in plain sight. I ordered a Create Your Own pizza with goat cheese and fennel sausage, I enjoyed it. I normally don't get thin crust pizza anywhere, but this is how they serve it and I had no complaints. My girlfriend orderd a seafood linguini dish and she was happy with it as well. Although we didn't take advantage this time, I'd definitely reccommend to anyone looking for decent Italian food to check this place out on a Monday night and go for 1/2 price bottles.
(3)Mandy K.
Frasca is my go-to local restaurant. The ambiance, service, and food are always outstanding. This is a rare restaurant where I'm happy to be seated anywhere. The room is open and inviting around a central bar, and the long walls of windows in front offer great people-watching every time the brown line rumbles by. Someone has also paid thoughtful mind to the music. With selections from the likes of My Morning Jacket, the Strokes, and Radiohead, the musical backdrop is always modern and fun without being distracting or overly hip. From the farmer's table, the brie + apples bruschetta and the mushroom + goat cheese + truffle oil bruschetta are delicious. For apps, the calamari is a crowd-pleaser, and I enjoy the crispy, mild mushroom fritters. You can't go wrong with any of the pizzas, but the prosciutto pizza seems to be a universal favorite and my default order is the caponata. The pastas and entrees change seasonally to incorporate fresh ingredients, but the main components of the dishes stay the same -- this keeps the menu both fresh and familiar. Brunch is also excellent. Their rich style of side potatoes is creamy and crispy at the same time. Their weeknight deals are deals indeed and the neighborhood really comes out to take advantage of them: half off bottles of wine, buy one get one pizzas. If going on a weeknight, I suggest checking what the day's deal is and making a reservation -- it gets packed! The only thing I can complain about is wanting more. The atmosphere reminds me very much of wine bars in New York that stay busy late into the night. After the earlybird crowds of families and the regular-hours dining crowds start to abate, I would love to see Frasca fill with a later-night crowd of wine drinkers so that I could stay there all night. If located in a more central and bustling neighborhood, I could see this happening easily. But instead, I'm just left wishing that other high quality establishments would set up shop in the available spaces on Frasca's same intersection, turning Roscoe/Lincoln/Paulina into a hopping nightspot where I can sip wine and forget that I'm not in Greenwich Village.
(5)Paige K.
i have been here twice now. the first time i went i had french toast with bacon and the potatoes which were piping hot and delicious! the french toast is really good and the bacon was crispy and yummy. we had bottomless mimosas and i was disappointed there was more oj than champagne. today when i went alone i sat outside this time and my potatoes were cold. even after the second time the jerk waiter marc brought them. he didn't tell me about the specials and was not very nice. definitely disappointed but it was still pretty good. the screaming baby behind me didn't help.
(3)John M.
No matter what your expectations, this place will deliver. I live a block away, and this is a great little spot in the neighborhood. Wood-burning ovens that make the crispy thin crust pizza of your dreams with real ingredients. They have great specials Tues-Thurs i.e., martini specials, pizza specials, and the apps and salads are high quality as well. The service is attentive and not pushy, and the bar is set up nicely with stone tile and marble. All in all, a good experiece in regards to product, price and service. You will not regret going to Frasca.
(4)Kristin H.
This is my favorite go-to restaurant in Chicago. Great food, wine, ambiance..and the skillet cookie is to die for!
(5)Desiree K.
Now, its official name is Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar, and I'm just like, hand me the pizza slicer already so I can cut myself a break. Pizza demands beer like Kim Jong-Il needs nuclear bombs, so having a cellar of stellar wines on the drinks list is like Condee Rice snooping into unknown DMZs. But enough of American politics -- after all, I am from Singapore and my specialty is food. So Caroline and I ordered Lagunitas, a microbrew from Petaluma, California, which was very tasty indeed on that summer evening, and scoured the menu -- it was, perchance, two-for-one pizza day. Governor Rod Blagojevich should come here to learn a thing or two about budgeting. As Stellas, Amstel Lights and Blue Moons began to appear on the table, we settled on a flight of appetisers that took off with a trio of bruschettas, cheeses with fig jam and slices of various Italian meats. Nothing fried, but this was a bubbly, Euro-crust kinda of pizza place, so we had to fancy it up a little. They were delectable enough finger foods, and we were hungry enough to forget to take pictures. Five small plates for $15.00, reasonable. Nobody wanted to share calamari with me. For pie, I decided to honour my adopted hometown with the Capone; wood roasted onions, fennel sausage and fresh mozzarella on tomato sauce. It was tasty, but nothing special nor memorable. I had all kinds of clever captions lined up in case it was delicious, like -- "Murder Incorporated" or "State trooper can look (but he better not touch)" or "Local hero," but the best I can do is, "The cops busted Madame Capone for telling fortunes better than they'd be." Unlike our first two excursions, there was no theme to Pizzapalooza III. Crust was organic, Pizza Rustica was Venetian, Frasca is... bastard European bubbly crust? I do enjoy pizzas with cyst-like textures, but overall, I felt my 'za was average in taste, albeit a satisfying filler after a romp in the lake. If Spacca Napoli is "Born to Run," then Frasca in my mind is "Tunnel of Love." It should be really glad that it didn't end up in "Lucky Town," but that could be because it had a brilliant disguise. Yes, everyone in Chicago loves thin crust with fresh ingredients these days, but no, let's not keep opening more just for the sake of it. Let's continue to wait 45 minutes for a table at Spacca, bless its 3,000-ton brick oven imported from Naples. Dessert, however, was a different spin on a brand new record. I thought we had the best dessert of the tour thus far at Frasca, and I was pleased that the group was willing to place the burden of ordering in my hands. So I selected the carrot cake tiramisu (interesting... glad we tried, wouldn't order again), chocolate banana nut cake with chocolate gelato (now we're talking... I would learn Italian just to coo chocolate banana nut cake with chocolate gelato in its native language) and marscapone cheesecake with a chocolate crust and raspberry sauce (si si). For the six of us, we spent approximately $150.00 (plus one take-home pizza for Jim MacGregor). My verdict: 4 slices of yuppie 'zas (out of 8) -- one slice for dessert alone.
(2)Amy S.
I really like this place. I like the atmosphere, the pizzas are great, the appetizers are great, the wine list is great and the specials are great. What more can I say about it? I am actually going on Monday, so I will update with more specific recommendations on food.
(4)Kristin C.
Maybe the wine tasted THAT much better last Monday night because Lee C. and I came here to celebrate my new J-O-B, but I LOVED Frasca. A hot spot on the KC radar for sometime, I was nervous and excited to try this place. Would it disappoint me as much as Spacca Napoli? Would it become a new fave? Only a true visit would tell. . . Mondays usually stink but THIS particular Monday meant a new job for me which equaled a new reason to celebrate / blow off normal things. Funny enough, Monday is the day-o-half-priced-wine at Frasca. Sold! Lee and I ordered a bottle and some a la carte bruschetta. Both were top notch. Now for the pizza. . .fantastic! The crust was the right combo of chewy-crispy and the toppings were great. Naturally, I loved the plain old roni and cheese but adventurous Lee ordered a pie with pesto, prosciutto, and veggies. The prosciutto here is worth noting because they cook it in the form of mini prosciutto balls. This method makes the salty meat THAT much more tasty. For dessert we went with carrot cake tiramisu. I love carrot cake in any and all forms. As for the service - our waitress was a little cold at first but she got better after our initial drink order (didn't we all). The one complaint was the spacey hostess who may actually have a legitimate stick up her bum. I won't let her ruin my rave review but hopefully she had said stick removed. Sticks aside, Frasca one me over so check it out!
(5)Emily S.
We've been about 10 or so times since it's right on the corner. It's a good, reliable place to go. Usually they can seat you pretty quickly (we go around 7:30). The food has always been good and the service is great. There aren't a ton of food options on the menu, but they've got a great wine menu and there is enough variety to keep us coming back. I've always liked the specials (don't be afraid to order them). The best thing on the menu is the pizza (Wed is buy one get one free). Definitely go for the real Italian version with an egg on top -- that was my favorite thing on the menu so far. They also do wine tastings and classes on a pretty regular basis, but we've not been to those. This is owned by the same folks as own Dunley's on Clark and Dunley's on the Square and DOC Wine Bar.
(4)Joe T.
BOGO Pizza Wednesdays! I've lived half a block from Frasca for a couple years now and only recently paid a visit. The pizza was pretty good and the outdoor patio was nice and relaxing. The service wasn't great. Our waitron looked young and didn't really seem to know what she was doing. I guess the seasoned veteran waitrons aren't interested in working on BOGO Pizza Night. Maybe it has something to do with Chicagoans' take on tipping on specials? yelp.com/topic/chicago-t…
(3)Allison B.
I really like their pizza. I think I've tried almost every kind they make, and they've all been delicious. Yes, there are a few places with better thin-crust pizza in the city, but Frasca's is definitely solid and stands out. However, my favorite thing about Frasca is the 'farmer's table menu' with the bruschettas. Oh my goodness, the bruschetta with the ricotta, honey, & pistachios is soooooo good. It's almost like a dessert. Great weeknight specials... especially the 2 pizzas for the price of 1 night, which I believe is Wednesday.
(4)joel b.
They make their own cheese! Halfway through my meal I tested the server and asked which farm the mozzarella came from, "we make it here just about every day". Wholly cow! Actually, they get the curds from a Wisconsin farm and finish the cheese in their own kitchen. This was some of the best mozzarella I've had this side of Italy; beyond buttery soft, rich, ripe and creamy. Not bad was the pizza (thin crust, with a bit of olive oil), and the heirloom tomato salad. They make homemade jam - fig and apricot - and bread. Oh, the pizza... The one I had came with prosciutto and it was topped with a small green salad right on top. First I thought this was a KPC trick, but it was delicious. Table service was solid, knowledgeable and friendly waitress, clean bathroom, nicely appointed interior, cool pictures, good looking bar, and did I mention that they make their own cheese??? This place got me rather intrigued so I studied the menu some more. In addition to pizza, they offer tasting plates of different brucetta's, meats, and cheeses. Reasonably priced too.
(4)Emily R.
FRASCA SUCKS! They focus too much on the decor and ambience and completely ignore the food. Been here twice. The first time, I wasn't wowed. The second time probably was my last. Here's why; 1. I was served an awful, tangy dirty martini which I dared not consume and ordered a mediocre glass of wine (the only Pinot Grigio on the list and it was bland). 2. The bread they served us was stale. Stale. Stale. Stale. 3. The waitress brought out our entree's when we still had appetizers and stated that the kitchen was closing so she had to bring them out. This was the biggest offense because she apologized and explained why she was bringing them out which means that she KNEW she shouldn't be! I don't give a damn if the kitchen is closing. If they couldn't accommodate me they shouldn't have sat me. 4. The premature entree's weren't even good. I had a sad excuse for risotto that wasn't even made with Risotto rice AND was undercooked. Risotto is supposed to be like a creamy porridge. The dish I had was closer to a saucy rice pilaf; the shame. Maybe if they had let us finish our appetizers first, they would have had time to cook the food properly. 6. Gnocchi wasn't homemade. 7. Meatballs were cold in the middle. 8. TV mindlessly playing sitcom reruns behind the bar and sapping the energy out of the room. 9. A few minutes after serving the bad food, the waitress came by and asked how everything was. I replied with a deadpan voice, "Ok. Just ok." Her response; "Awesome!"
(1)Kristi R.
This restaurant is right down the street from where I live, and after about 6 months, I finally decided it was time to give it a try. I was hungry, and another night of boring old cook your own food just didnt seem appealing. So I grabbed my roommate and headed over. To begin with what I liked about it, the ambiance was very relaxing, and nice. The service was great, and I really liked our waitress even if she messed up our check and over charge us. She immediately fixed it and was very apologetic. But I have to say, for the price, the food was not that stellar. I paid $16 for a dish that boasted basil and oregano. Yum. But alas, the basil and oregano was dry, and not the fresh stuff that I had in mind. So that was a definite turn off for me. I could have made the exact same thing at home, although it wouldnt be AS flavorful. Anyway, point is, go here for the ambiance and the service, but try to order something that doesnt come with dried herbs for $16.
(3)Stephanie K.
**100th Review** Frasca's seems like the perfect place to nosh on a warm summer night - with open windows, chilled wine and light fare. I just wanted to sit there all night - and I almost did. Three hours flew by! After my friend Antoinette raved about this place and their weekday specials, we had to check it out. We dined on a Wednesday - which is Buy One, Get One pizzas!! - and ordered two pizzas, the bruschetta appetizer, and a couple glasses of wine. As a self-proclaimed bruschetta freak, the Pick Three appetizer was music to my ears. We chose the Smoked Salmon & Capers, the Ricotta, Pistachio & Honey, and the Roasted Mushroom & Goat Cheese bruschettas. Listen up, friends, I could've sat there all night long munching on these delectable snacks. They're *that* good. As for the pies, I tried the Prosciutto Pizza which featured the namesake, olive oil, fresh mozzarella and arugula. YUM. Antoinette had the Caponata Pizza with tomato sauce, eggplant, goat cheese, roasted peppers, shrooms & olives. Although I didn't sample her pizza, neither of us left with a doggy bag, and that's usually evidence of a tasty meal. Weekday Specials: Monday - 1/2 price glasses of wine Tuesday - 1/2 price bottles of wine Wednesday - BOGO pizzas Thursdays - $5 Stoli (?) cocktails
(5)Emily B.
I went here on a Tuesday night. The special deal was half off glasses of wine. I went with my boyfriend and another friend. The waitress did a nice job of not rushing us, she let us order a few dishes and then wait to order the pizza later. We ordered a meat, cheese, and two brushettas. The apple and brie was great! Then we order the pizza with dried tomatoes and panacatta! There was no wait and the wine was a great deal! There was music in the background but it was not so loud you could not hear the people you were sitting next to. The only thing that was upsetting was that I had a coupon I could use for the food but it was not good with a special so I ended up not using it.
(4)Julie H.
Frasca: it's a lot like Quartino, but without all the bachelorette parties. And that's why its my new favorite restaurant. Love the menu: great salads and pizzas that are perfect for sharing. Plus you can build your own platter of bruschettas and/or cheeses. Lots of wine to choose from, too! And our waitress was great; she even chimed on our conversation about Spencer from The Hills. I mean, he's the biggest douchebag and everyone knows it - even the waitress at Frasca! If only someone could clue in Heidi...
(5)Sarah L.
I used to get off at the Paulina L stop (before it closed) on my way to the gym. I have been meaning to try this place out and I finally did. It was pretty decent. The wine was divine and the pizza was OK. My man wasn't fond of his pizza so that's why I'm giving it 3 stars. I thought my pie was pretty good. They have great decor and it's nice and cozy. Their huge wrap around bar is amazing!
(3)Nicholas W.
All good but the wine and flat bread is what we go for. Half off bottles on Monday and Half off glasses on Tuesday.
(4)Gfiddy F.
Fun, exciting, great cocktails, excellent also when its warm season.
(5)Jacqueline F.
I had been meaning to try this place for quite some time, so given the build up, I was still pleased with my dining experience. I'd say Frasca is slightly overpriced... River North prices up in the Lakeview area. However, the wine list more than makes up for that! I had one of the cheapest glasses of wine ($8/glass) on the menu and was incredibly pleased. I am an Italian red lover though, so I cannot speak for the whites they have! As far as food goes, they have a pretty unique menu compared to most places in the area. We had a roasted artichoke appetizer, which I loved so much I tried to emulate the recipe the next day.... Absolutely fabulous! Then we split a decent pizza with interesting toppings (the Caponata pizza). The service wasn't stellar either. It could have been that we were sitting outside, but it took several minutes to be greeted and then to give our order. I probably would have been more disappointed with the service if I was in a rush, but I had good company and a gorgeous Chicago night to enjoy! Overall, I'd say Frasca is worth a shot, especially if you live in the area!
(4)lauren w.
Love this place. They have pretty decent pizzas and great wines. The real reason i love it is because they have great week day specials and they are super close to my house. Also, this is the best place to go if your having a bad day because they have an amazing cookie skillet desert. This thing tastes like heaven in your mouth. It is a huge cookie in a cast iron skillet that has crispy edges and a gooey inside topped with vanilla ice cream. Yum, i think i might just go there tonight, its buy one pizza, get one free!
(4)Josh G.
I went back to Frasca to try the pizza. We each ordered a different pizza and shared and my 5-star opinion holds true. LOVED the pizza. That is all.
(5)Chayla B.
I want to try this place again, hopefully give it a better review. It has potential, I believe. It was super packed. Super packed. It was also a Thursday night. Not unusual to be busy on a Thursday, so there isn't really an excuse for everything that went wrong. I sat at the bar and waited for my friend. Was greeted and handed a menu, but when my friend showed up 10 minutes later, the bartender still hadn't taken my order. When we finally did order, we had to wait 10 more minutes for our drinks. And 10 more minutes for the round of waters we ordered with the wine. The bartender was crazy busy but still... not my problem. Our server was good. You could tell she was slammed as well, but she did a good job of keeping us informed. And by informed, I mean she let me know a few minutes after I ordered that they had ran out of that particular pizza. I thought it was strange, which ingredients did they run out of? But no problem, I just ordered a different but similar pizza. A moment later she came back, looking embarrassed. Seems the restaurant was out of pizzas all together. All pizzas. A pizza/wine bar was out of pizza. It doesn't make any sense. She was very gracious, very sweet about the whole thing. We couldn't decide then what we wanted, we were both starving, hungry for pizza. The pasta options only seemed to have cream sauces. We settled on pasta, but asked for olive oil sauce or wine sauce, basically anything besides cream sauce. When our dishes arrived, they pretty much were pasta and olive oil. Not great. The salad we split as an appetizer was excellent. But the meh pasta, running out of pizza, lacking service (at the bar, at least), sort of ruined my first experience at Frasca. I do want to go back and try it again. But with a friend, not for a date or if I have guests in town. Too unpredictable.
(2)Seth U.
I tell you what, I really like Frasca. It's billed as a Pizzeria + Wine Bar but it's really just a pseudo-italian restaurant that happens to have pizza and wine on the menu (you're kidding me?). The food is really decent and they try pretty hard to make the dining experience unique. They have this small paper checklist and pencil that sits at the table so you can mark off the appetizers, cheeses, and bruscetta you want and just hand it to your waiter/waitress. Not the most unique idea in the world but I give them points for thinking outside of the box. Plus, they have about six different types of bruscetta and they're all worth a try, so check away! I recently moved out of Roscoe Village (Frasca's hood) and one of the things I miss most is Wednesday's 2-for1 pizza special. My favorite think on the menu is probably the Shrimp and Panchetta pizza, a savory, peppery treat... and 2-for-1 is hard to beat. The atmosphere at Frasca is fairly realxed, though it can get a bit hectic in primetime on the weekends. They have outdoor seating when the weather permits and all the booths along the north wall have huge open windows that really bring the outside in. The kitchen is open, it's centerpiece being a large woodburning oven that fills the air with amazing aromas... rosemary comes to mind. The waitstaff are generally friendly and knowledgable and are always quick to recommend a nice wine pairing. They kind of fade into the backgroud, which, I think is a good thing. It's always hard to move to a new neighborhood and leave the places you have come to love the most behind. It's too bad I don't live a block away from Frasca anymore, but it'll definitely be fun to go back to the old hood and reminisce with a pie or two.
(4)Chris W.
Great place to grab some cheese, wine, and delicious pizza. I like to come here for a week day drink. You should definitely try their cheese board. They have great options and you can choose what is on it individually so you don't have to worry about avoiding that one cheese that you hate. The by the glass wine selection is great, which is always a nice thing to find in Chicago. Also, I can't speak for most else on the menu except the pizza. The prosciutto is my personal favorite but I have tried bites of my co-diners and have never tasted anything I didn't like. Only complaint is there are sometimes some young kids here since it is closer to a family oriented neighborhood so I have once or twice had some loud company in the next booth over, but hey, I can't blame Frasca for that.
(4)Gerard B.
Not a bad place by any means. Good looking pizza's and whatnot. The only thing I found weird was that the pasta on the menu is not what they bring you. I ordered fusilli, and received rotini. I wonder if they figure no one would know the difference?
(3)L J.
Been here three times. Its nice, but not great. The decor is fantastic: Corner lot with huge windows and a large bar that wraps around the whole room. Their appetizers are really yummy, and the best items on their menu. Warm olives and non-fried calamari are delicious. I have to give it 3 starts because a restaurant should have awesome entrees and they do not. My husband liked his pork dish, but the pasta I've had was watery and bland. The pizzas are just OK. Frasca is fine as one stop of many, but as a final destination it is lacking.
(3)Megan K.
Last weekend a friend pointed out Frasca's gloriously classy hot-fonted neon sign, and after checking out their menu I knew I'd have to stop in soon. I managed to put the task off 'til Tuesday, when we were pleased to discover that they have 1/2 price wine glasses. I briefly thought the thick rough wood tables were hokey and northwoodsy set against sleekly curved dark wood canopies, until we were seated against a wall covered in subtle tree-printed wallpaper, and I became slightly amused at the theme. We sat at a two top against a wall-length booth, rather close to our neighbors, which would probably be more comfortable on a busier night when the place is buzzing with more ambient noise. Presented with a checklist for cheese and bruschetta, we opted for the latter, and were tickled by our selection - ricotta and pineapple, salmon and capers, wild mushrooms and goat cheese. Here it's served on thick slices of un-toasted bread, which I thought was odd but less messy! Pizza is enough for one person with a decent appetite - while it's about the size of the stuff we used to get in Rome, their crust is more of a pillowy flatbread than a thin crust. Great combinations of Italian meats and cheeses and vegetables. We devoured shrimp and Italian bacon, and a Caponata (eggplant, goat cheese, veggies).
(4)Kat S.
Came here on a Thursday for $6 Stoli martinis... what a deal! Our service wasn't the best, we got the impression that our server was assigned our table and didn't want to take it, or something.... we definitely didn't feel very welcome. However, that was a very minor part of the night, as the food was delicious (the potato pizza is wonderful - try it) and not too expensive. This is a great place for a date night or just to relax with friends.
(4)Gabrielle B.
I reserved a table for my friend and boyfriend for 7:30pm on a Friday night and was excited to go back after a great experience a few years ago. I arrived right on time and we were told we were next up for a table (the common line as I was also a hostess). My ravenous guests and I waited for over 25 minutes for a table and the hostess told us it was ready and then we couldn't find her. We decided to sit at a nearby open table (which we assumed was ours) and no one brought us menus. Finally someone remembered us and brought brunch menus. It took anotehr 10 minutes to flag someone down to get the proper menu. I ordered the beet salad and potted salmon. The salmon was too salty and the beet salad had very thinly sliced beets so I felt like I was basically just eating arugula. I love the atmosphere but it was loud and even the server was not very friendly. I was embarrased since I suggested the place and my guests were not impressed. Sad but I will not be returning.
(2)Mike B.
I really enjoy this place...it's great to just hang out after work, have a couple-twelve glasses of wine with the wife-meister, and enjoy a heapin' helping of their friendly staff, and tasty menu. I enjoy the bricked chicken, with white beans...really excellent. A little salty at times, but if you get it, just be sure to save some bread to soak up the broth that the beans are cooked in. The wine flights are nice, and really resonably priced / poured. So, when you go, just make sure you've got NOTHING planned the rest of the night, or for that matter, the next morning.
(5)Erin T.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! I seriously go here 2-3 times a month. Part of that is due to the fact that I live a block away, but it's also due to the excellent food, wine and beer. The atmosphere is very warm and cozy in the winter and light and airy in the summer, especially outside! One negative I will say is that it is incredibly loud at times. It is definitely not a quiet, intimate place. The food is probably my favorite part. If I want hearty and warm, I go with the rigatoni. It comes with sausage & peas in a tomato cream sauce. It is so delicious! My husband and I both crave it. If I am being good and healthy, I get the Wrightwood salad. It is SO delicious and filling for a salad, chicken, avocado, craisins, almonds, goat cheese. It is amazing. Their wine list is really great and affordable. They always have great local beers on tap. The service is pretty efficient and friendly.
(5)Heather M.
My dad and I stopped into Frasca on a whim, and ended up really enjoying it. I really liked the unique decor, it helped set an ambient atmosphere, if that makes sense! The food was good, and my dad and I enjoyed the wine flights we sampled. It was nice being able to spend a night out with my dad, and it was definitely convenient with him able to catch the brown line back home and me able to walk back to my apartment. I'd definitely go back...but hopefully this time on a date!
(4)Ryan F.
Been here a couple times and it's very good. My favorite pizza is the shrimp and bacon. They put put whole shrimp on top! Genius! The place is quiet and charming. The staff has always been gracious, too. Try the different types of Bruschetta. And the wine, ohhh the wine. Pizza and a few glasses of Reisling...Sigh. The daily specials are great too.
(5)Erin C.
The first time I came here, I really wasn't that impressed. Since Frasca is in my neighborhood, it seems like I get invited to come here a lot, so i've given it a few more chances. Maybe it's the quality of the company that i come here with that has warmed my middling feelings, or maybe the food is really better. Whichever, I seem to think about Frasca with nothing but warm fuzzies these days. I really like the shrimp and italian bacon pizza. The sopressata (spicy pepperoni/sausage type thing) is delicious as well. I really enjoy the half-priced wine on mondays (i think), and on wednesdays, it's buy one get one free pizza. The casual neighborhood feel of this place is very nice, and the waitstaff has always been excellent. It almost seems like people enjoy working there!
(4)Katie E.
I have been past this place a dozen or so times and decided on it when I was craving some outdoor dining. I was surprised and delighted with their very vegetarian friendly menu. The bruschetta was incredible and the pizza was unique and delicious. They have a great wine selection and fantastic beer on tap. The atmosphere was warm and the staff was very I cannot believe that I have lived in this neighborhood for 2 years and this was my first time here. I will definitely be back!
(5)Bella V.
I tried this place out a few days ago, and really enjoyed it. Here are a few things that I think you should know about it: It's very close to the Paulina brown line stop, and street parking is very convenient. They have an extensive wine menu, and I heard through the grapevine that they might be doing wine tasting events in the near future. The atmosphere is so-so. It's a small place, and I feel that they do the best they can with it. The bar is in the center of the space, and really the focal point, which gives it a cool feel. The service is fantastic, and smiles are given easily. As for food, I had the calamari, which I found to be breaded in something that didn't agree with my tastes. I didn't even eat it, actually, and I was surprised that the bus boy didn't say anything to our waitress about a full serving of food going into the garbage. My friend had the tomato basil soup, which she said was terrific, and another friend had gnocchi which was soooo good although the sauce was just a tad on the rich side. I do also want to mention that there are a ton of families here with their children. Not sure if it's just the neighborhood or what, but they need a parking lot just for the strollers in and out of this place! All in all, I really like this place, and I'll definitely be back!
(4)Jacob D.
I went there because I bought a coupon from Living Social. I was totally amazed at the ambiance, it was so cozy and the view had small-town effect, totally relaxing with the pizza oven fire on. The pizza was the best I have tasted from N-S-E-W of my travels. Perfect flavor and taste. It tantalized my tongue. The soup also was out of this world, it was some mixture of vegetables blended. The asparagus was also done to perfection. The waitress was very pleasant. I wanted to go back the next day to have more pizza!
(5)Quantas G.
I'm a big fan of the butcher's block dish. Me and my friend devoured the 'block' full of various cheeses, sliced meats, fruit, and bread. A couple of beers finished off this meal well. The rest of the menu looked pretty good too but I thoroughly enjoyed the service, ambiance, and the butcher's block. Highly recommend this dish.
(4)Lover Of Food And Culture Z.
I love this place! They have make your own pizza and it's great! I had a spinach and Arugula salad and it was fantastic! They have a great wine list too. I'd def go here again!
(5)Mabrie B.
Frasca is a little gem in Roscoe Village! The first thing you'll notice is the back wall (way to go Frasca's designer)! The wall curves into the ceiling and is wall papered with a delightful woodsy feel that the tables flow with perfectly!! I highly recommend the market plate....you get to select 10 things off this sheet that include creative versions of bruschetta, a clever selection of cheese and a lovely spread of Italian meats. I'd also add the oil flight just for fun! Frasca's you are too good to us and we love you for it!
(4)Courtney B.
Like many others I see here, I too live in the hood and have been saying, "I need to check that place out!" but just never have. Until now. I was meeting a gal pal for brunch Sunday at Wishbone but it was packed and there was a wait. So we wandered down the street & stumbled upon Frasca. The brunch menu outside looked great so we decided to check it out. The space is really cute! Very cozy and warm. There were a few other small groups of brunchers but we got seated right away, no wait. It was not crowded, not loud, it was just right for the two of us, catching up and enjoying a great meal together. I got a "bottomless mimosa" for $10 which I think was worth it. I did get a funny look from our waitress by about the 7th refill followed by, "Did you want ANOTHER one?" Umm, yes. That's what bottomless means, right? Is there a limit?? I guess I should have asked for the bottomless mimosa, hold the judgement. Anyway. We got this amazing fondue app which came with small toasted croutons, apples and a sopresetta or salami to dip into this ooey-gooey garlicy cheese dip. My fave! Then we split the fried egg sandwich, which was basically a BLT with egg on rye. It was huge and I was happy to only have to tackle the half. Everything on the meny looked tempting and I have heard of their great wine specials. I am so happy to have discovered this place! What a fantastic neighborhood spot. Loved it.
(5)Dawn S.
I have loved everything I have ever ordered from here with the exception of the cinnamon donuts for dessert (dry and kind of flavorless). The Soprano pizza, and the arugula and spinach salad, and fondue are all wonderful and are some of my favorites. I really want to find out what is in their dressing...it's quite addictive and great to dip your pizza crusts in. Speaking of pizza crusts...quite possibly one of the best thin crackery crusts in Chicago. We have only had one instance of mediocre service...but thankfully I don't think that server works there anymore. The regular waitstaff are always ridiculously nice, cheerful and helpful. I would eat at Frasca once a week if I could afford it!
(4)K P.
You just can't beat the value of $5 glass of wine on Monday's and Tuesday. I had the Fusilli last night and it was as yummy as the menu description. The waitstaff from the hostess to the bartender to the waitress were friendly and accomodating. I will definitely be going back.
(4)A C.
Being that I live literally around the corner from Frasca on Henderson and that I L.O.V.E. pizza, you would think that this place would be heaven for me. I so wish it was. Plain, plain, plain. And I'm a traditional girl, but still, the food is plain. The bread and olive oil is phenomenal. The bruschetta sampler (I'm not actually sure that they have this anymore) is really yummy, I'd recommend trying the brie and apple one. But the pizza and pasta? Plain jane. All of the specialty pies are lacking originality and flavor. The only way I found to make a memorable pizza was to pick my own ingredients (and pay up the yazoo for it!) from their ingredient list -- they actually have some great topping choices if you look hard enough. The crust I found dry and bland. This is a restaurant in an area of Chicago with lots of babies per square foot. There are ALWAYS children here, and in the summer DOGS on their nice patio, slobbering and sweating and ruining my night. I recommend this place for wine and bread (only on wine special days and outside, when no one's misbehaved dog is under my table begging me for scraps).
(3)Kerry D.
The pizza is really good. It's one of those random things I find myself craving. It's very thin, fresh toppings, you can eat it all w/o sharing or taking it home. The wine specials are great, but it's pretty expensive to drink there if it's not one of the 'deal' nights. The espresso martini was so good! The Caesar salad has anchovies in it---my friends were pissed that you can't order one w/o, just be warned if you don't love them! I haven't tried the farmers table thing, but I've heard that the bruschetta is great. Beware of all the Cubs evening parking too, it's all around there! UPDATE: Had to remove a star b/c the last 5 or 6 times have been pretty mediocre. It's still good, just not as amazing as it once was---our server told us that there were a lot of changes taking place- hopefully they get back to where they were! Update 2: Took off another star...This was a weekly stop for me, but I've given it my last shot. I'm very bummed, this place used to be so freaking good- now it's not. Boo hoo, really:( Update 3: July 2008 I'm glad I'm a pushover...my friend begged me to go back w/her (she hearts the fondue) so I did...much better. Going back more frequently and recommend again.
(3)Anpan W.
Might be good if you live in the neighborhood. Do not make it a destination. The food is underwhelming. The apps, hyped by my friend, were not good. Our server was not attentive.
(2)Stacy C.
So yummy, so fun, so cheap! I came here with the family I nanny for post trick-or-treating. The kids (two and four years old) were hungry and hopped up on sugar, and us grown ups were looking for some wine to warm up from the chilly October night. Everyone was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the pizza was, and it didn't hurt that it was Two-For-One Wednesday! The interior design was warm and appealing yet upscale and unconventional. The wallpaper was a forest of beech trees, and the centerpiece was a curved bar that mirrored the curved stone oven. The pizza was absolutely delicious, and though I'm not a pizza person normally, the next day I was begging my boyfriend to come to Frasca so that I could try some different ones. We had the prosciutto arugla and another one that was topped with artichokes and mushrooms. The two pizzas fed all five of us, and even with a decent bottle of wine the check was under $50.
(5)Katie O.
Who doesn't like a good half price bottle of wine every now and then? Perhaps a buy-one-get-one free pizza is more your style? Either way, you'll find great deals and interesting pizza toppings! And let me tell you, brunch at Frasca is done very well. I had a mouth watering BLT with a side of breakfast potatoes and a Bloody Mary...oooh! Of course there is a certain Bloody Mary from a certain diner that holds a special place in my heart, but Frasca's Bloody Mary is a good close-to-home option, and is served with a lil beer chaser. Side note: The birch tree wallpaper from Cole & Son lines the walls inside the restaurant...it is my absolute fav!
(4)Gina B.
LOVE this place! The pepperoni pizza is a-mazing! 1/2 price wine on mondays! Great ambiance. No reservations. What more could you ask for?
(5)Allison S.
I would have given this restaurant 5 stars had it not been for the AWFUL hostess (and server, come to think of it) the night we ate there. We had dinner there on July 4th 2010, and as I understand that no one *likes* to work on holidays, we sat close to the hostess desk and was witness to constant snotty looks and responses to the majority of people who walked in the door. It became so obvious because we were also subject to her poor attitude and snappy responses. Our server even walked away before I could get in that I wanted to order a salad along with our pizza. Ugh - so frustrating. HOWEVER - all this being said, the food is fantastic. Really. The rustica and margherita pizzas are perfection, and the bruschetta choices are delightful.
(4)Tina B.
Great casual place in the neighborhood (Roscoe Village/Lakeview border). The outdoor seating is great for people watching....especially since it's right by the Paulina stop. The inside is very cozy and warm. It's a good spot to meet up with friends and relax with some wine and tasty appetizers. The staff is always really friendly and prompt. We've never had a bad meal there. It always seems to hit the spot. ~~Addition~~ Monday's is half-priced bottles. AND, you can take your bottle home if you don't finish it....which is a good thing if you just want to start the night w/a glass and move on as you please : )
(4)Becky S.
Another 3.5er. Cute place, a good amount of outdoor seating. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. All of the food we had was good my only issue is that the menu is limited to about 3 sections. They have a large number of pizzas, a few salads, and pasta dishes. That's about it. Although the farmer's plate appetizer was good. They give you a list of bruschetta, meat, or cheese options and you can pick 4 for $15. We had 2 pieces of cheese and 2 bruschettas. I loved the pistachio, honey and ricotta? can't recall, but it was awesome! My salad was large and pretty tasty. I will definitely be back for their Thursday martini special and pasta. I just wish they had more options.
(3)Eric C.
My girlfriend and I live in Roscoe Village, and we have tried most of the restaurants close to home. We took a long walk with the dog a couple of weeks ago and passed by Frasca. We had been wanting to try it out and finally on Valentine's Day I made a reservation and we gave it a shot. We had a great experience. We started with three different types of bruschetta from there a la carte appetizer list. I would have to say that it was probably the best bruschetta either of us had ever tasted. We also tried the cheese fondue, which came with pieces of fresh bread and sliced apples and prosciutto. It was amazing! And the apples were so delicious and fresh. For our meals, I had the Pork Tenderloin with marsala sauce and mushrooms over gorgonzola whipped potatoes. The blend of flavors was fantastic and it was cooked to perfection. My girlfriend tried the gnocchi and liked it but I think when we go back she will try the Mahi Mahi dish. Overall it was a great experience, although the tables were a little close together, it definitely seemed like they were trying to fit as many couples in as possible. That being said, we still can't wait to go back!
(5)Ellie B.
My friend and I went here for brunch over the weekend, and I'm not certain I loved it, though I definitely liked it well enough. We started off with a delicious bruschetta appetizer. There were several options, so narrowing it down to just three was a challenge. The smoked salmon and capers bruschetta was delicious! We split the shrimp pizza and I have to say the only disappointment was how super salty the pizza was. That's actually the reason this place loses stars! Great service though.
(4)Jim S.
I went here for lunch on a Saturday. Great selection of pizzas--something for everyone, I'd imagine. I had a chicken and pesto pizza, which was a little light on the pesto, and slightly cheesier than i had imagined, but tasty nonetheless. The pizzas are more New York style than anything I've had in Chicago thus far. I didn't try the appetizers but they had a nice selection of olive-type dishes and bruschetta. The waitress was friendly and the service was fast. Also, this restaurant is very spacious and may have the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen in a big city. I think it's a tad pricey for lunch, but the portions are big so you can have leftovers for dinner.
(4)liz s.
This places is nice looking, well spaced tables and outstanding pizzas. (We loved the sausage and mushroom and the soprassata) The kids menu is great, reasonably priced, and well rounded with healthy choices. Our waitress was awful (it wasn't busy, they have plenty of staff - she just didn't care), but the food and wine were good enough that I didn't care
(4)Adam B.
During the week, Frasca gets 4-4.5 stars...the Wrightwood Salad is awesome! The pizza and pasta stands out as well. However, last Saturday, the food came out at random times, all 3 of us getting items 10 minutes apart. That didn't matter so much but the pizza was cold and soggy and the rest of the food wasn't as good as it usually is during the week. I think they do an outstanding job, but maybe can't handle the big crowds as much. I'll be back during the week!
(3)Janis W.
Good food. Nice decor. I will come back to try their brunch and also half price wine night.
(4)Christiana S.
I checked this place out a couple of weeks after it first opened. I thought it was okay. I did enjoy the white wine flight I had.... the selections were all good (and generous!) and went well with the antipasti I ordered. While the waitress didn't seem SUPER knowledgeable, she was definitely interested in what I thought and obviously wanted to make the best suggestions she could. She gets an 'A' for effort. For dinner I had the Capone, which is a pizza with fennel sausage, onion and tomato sauce. Eh. I could take it or leave it, really.... not the best, not the worst. Our server recommended the cinammon donuts for dessert, but I just decided to have a glass of prosecco. Yum. This place was pretty loud when we arrived, to the point where conversation was difficult. (Luckily it emptied out a little while we eating since we got there kind of late.) Also, I didn't care for how close the tables are to each other.... it doesn't really allow for a lot of privacy if you're on a date. The crowd's your average Roscoe Village/Lakeview sort. There seemed to be lots of groups of women here, so if you're a single guy, this might be a good bet. I'm sure I'll be back eventually.
(3)Val G.
Went to this place a while ago and it was really good. The service was friendly and the food was yum. We had a pizza and made our own which was really tasty and then our entree's were good as well. The booth's are comfy and I saw a couple of big groups, great location and look forward to going again soon!
(4)Ben B.
Well, I went there for the first time this past weekend. The service was great. The food left something to be desired. I got the Rustica pizza and my girlfriend got a pasta dish. They seem like they are trying to put fancy ingredients in their food with no thought as to whether they go well together in the same dish. My pizza had sun-dried tomatoes, basil pesto, and prosciutto. They obviously don't know how to cook prosciutto because it was overcooked and incredibly salty. The pizza would have been great without it though. Also, we got the donuts for dessert. They didn't resemble anything close to a donut. The sugar/cinnamon mix on them was good and the honey dipping sauce was great, but the fried balls of dough were over-cooked and tough. The Butcher Block for an appetizer was great and I did like how you can make your own combo. The wines-by-the-glass list was good as well Quick tip- We went on a Friday night around 6:30 or so. There were tons of kids there, but they we finishing up. If you don't like screaming kids, get there around 7:30 or later. They had cleared out by then. Overall, I may go back, but later in the evening and I'll have to try something different.
(3)Mary S.
On the night when it was a million degrees below zero, some friends and I ventured to Frasca because it was closest to home. When we arrived, it was busy but not packed. We could still hear each other talk. Then they turned on some awful Musak that drowned out any hope of hearing my dining partners. Pretty shitty. It's a restaurant, not a club. We ordered the Farmer's Platter. The blue cheese and fig jam? were great. I had the pork tenderloin for my main dish. I was really looking forward to it - until my dish came to the table. :( It was three small chunks of pork that were tough and nearly flavorless. The mashed potatoes underneath the pork pieces were fine, but overall, the dish was completely disappointing. It was almost twenty dollars for about $1 worth of food and pork that I wouldn't feed my dog. I won't go back.
(2)J H.
I went here on a Sunday night for some pasta and wine expecting decent prices for decent food. I got neither. For what they charge, I expected better than a shallow dish of egg noodles (clearly out of a bag) and a few pieces of chicken. When we were nearly finished with our entrees, the server dropped the check without asking if we needed anything else. We did. This might be a decent place for some wine or beer with pizza, but don't expect too much else.
(2)Jasmine J.
I've been to Frasca several times over the last year and can't find a thing wrong with it. It's good food for a reasonable price in a nice setting served by pleasant people. That's just about as good as it gets. They also have great weekday specials (half off wine, bogo pizza) and bottomless mimosas at brunch. What else is there to say?
(5)Angie T.
oh brick oven pizza -- you hold a special place in my heart. we can dress you up in whatever goodness and you never let us down. and thankfully, frasca makes that all possible. -- step 1 - go with a friend (or a few) step 2 - look very seriously at their wine list - its a good one. we tend to lean towards the reds. we're tried lots of bottles and never have had a bad one. or maybe i like to drink? wev. point - get wine. its a wine bar. step 3 - start with a flight of their bruschetta. they always have a special, but the ricotta and honey is a MUST. just yum. step 4 - next try one of their salads. the caprese, wild arugula or the farmers market are all a good choice. step 5 - share a pizza (or a few). they are definitely too big to eat by yourself...well maybe...but all super tasty. depends on my mood - but i love the prosciutto and the margherita. however, often times i opt for the build your own option and add: red peppers, goat cheese, roasted mushrooms and fennel sausage. that baby never disappoints! step 6: - order more wine :) -- bonus: they have a pretty delicious brunch on the weekends with $10 endless mimosas. ummmmm okay.
(4)Vivek A.
This place is amazing! Great specials every weekday and amazing different types of bruschetta. My personal favorite is the mushroom and goat cheese with a dash of truffle oil! Intense goodness. They also have a gnocchi of the day which is mouth watering.
(4)jordan h.
Frasca is a new restaurant in East Roscoe Village. The space is FANtastic - but the food is so-so. Lots of outdoor sidewalk space, and the inside has a vibrant, lively feel, with large windows all around. The staff is very friendly, but the night I went they had just reassigned table numbers so they sent us our main course three times! In addition to wine flights, they have an interesting olive oil flight, which I've never seen before. They also have many different types of bruschetta, which they allow you to mix-and-match in one appetizer (most delicious part of the meal). However, the pizza wasn't the greatest, nor were the Roman-style crepes. The pizza was soggy on the bottom, so although the flavors were nice, the bad crust ruined the whole dish.
(2)Kelley F.
I am simply in love with this place! On wednesday they have buy one get one pizza and it is so tasty!
(4)heather d.
i love this place. i live down the block and it is the perfect neighborhood casual dining spot. I am so happy they are doing well, but it is always packed now which can be annoying at times. we usually get the 3 bruschettas, a pizza and salad and of course lots of wine. it's inexpensive and it's good (which is why it's always packed!)
(4)Jane J.
I came here with my boyfriend awhile ago, but I remember the pizza was delicious, and not too pricey. They played the Beach Boys on the sound system, and our waiter was quick, knowledgeable about what was and wasn't vegetarian (for my boyfriend), and so nice and calm, even though it was kind of crowded. A+
(5)Gretchen P.
Really love this place. Nice cozy neighborhood atmosphere. Their Bruschetta menu is great, I don't know if it's available all the time, if it's not it should be because it's great. Also, save room for dessert because the cast iron chocolate chip cookie with ice cream is fabulous.
(4)Laura P.
We dined at Frasca on a Friday evening with a group of thirteen people and it could not have gone better. I was anxious about the potential for poor service with such a large group. We had a reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival despite that half our party was still stuck in traffic. Our server, Audra, was incredible. She was patient with the people of our group who arrived late and gracious when one more guest showed up that was beyond the number we expected. All of the main meals came out at the same time, piping hot and fresh. Audra allowed us to wine, dine and celebrate with ease. I cannot say it enough: the service was exceptional. The wine selection was great, our table ordered several bottles of different varieties. The meat and cheese choices were divine and worked well with a large group for an appetizer. The food was very good; most people ordered pizza and were very happy with it. As an East Coast pizza snob who is also Italian, I give it 4 out of 5 stars. The ambiance was wonderful, busy but not overly loud or crowded. It was very romantic, even for such a large group. We had a fabulous time, it was a great birthday dinner for my husband, and I highly recommend it. We look forward to going back soon!
(5)Maureen G.
Had Saturday brunch here and ordered this bottomless mimosas with our food, very tasty and a good bargain! I had the homemade granola with yogurt and thought it was very good. We tried the donuts and they were tasty, but very dense and I have to say, they resembled fried pizza dough in texture, slightly more glutinous and not a cake-like crumb that some donuts have. The hash brown potatoes were creamy, not your typical crunchy style, but they were good. The service was very friendly and they were kind enough to offer mimosa refills even after we paid the tab. Would recommend this place for a good lunch or breakfast.
(4)Renee B.
I usually love mid-priced Italian places, but I wasn't impressed with Frasca. I think the portions are a bit small, and as another reviewer said, food came out sporadically to everyone in the group. Nothing like a couple awkward "should we eat yet?" moments. Also, the crust was burnt even for Neopolitan style on the pizza, and I expected better from a restaurant that boasts it's pizza as a headliner.
(2)Teenie F.
I love this place, it's my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. I've never had a bad meal here. I love the bruschettas, their "farmer's table" and the salad dressings and the pizzas. I even brought my mother here and she loved it - and she's a tough nut to crack. Every time I leave I can't wait to get back.
(5)Aleks W.
My husband and I had quite possibly the worst service experience ever here (possibly rivaled by an ill-conceived night at Red Lobster where we had a waiter who spoke below a whisper.) Anyway, we went in at a random time -- sort of between lunch and dinner-- and there was one other couple and a woman at the bar. We were waited on by what I believe was the bartender and she only came to our table two times -- to take our order and to drop off the check. Meanwhile, two other waiters prepared for the evening service while gossiping and completely ignoring us. The pizzas we had (quatro formaggi and one with shrimp and prosciutto) were tasty but seriously not worth the hour of completely ineffectual, unfriendly service. It's a great space, in a great location -- shame we'll probably never go back.
(2)Kylie C.
Frasca is my favorite north side restaurant. This is a sister restaurant to Dunlay's on Clark, but with a warmer atmosphere and a better menu. Great wood-fired pizzas, pasta and make-your-own cheese plates. Don't forget to try the Infamous Wrightwood salad, yum! I also love the mushroom risotto frittters and the rigatoni. Wednesdays nights are a great deal with BOGO pizzas and weekend bunch is one of the best in the city.
(5)Rachelle B.
I walked past Frasca 2x/day on the way to the El for a year and a half and finally tried it out last night. I had a flight of white Italian wines, the mushroom/truffle oil bruchetta, the ricotta/honey bruchetta, the insalata frasca and a side of the potatoes with parmesan and truffle oil. I guess I was on a truffle oil kick, but it's not often you get to have it and it's not totally overpriced. I thought the meal was good. I would love to come back with friends and just drink wine and eat bruchetta and meats and cheeses. I also want to come back in the summer when they have outside seating.
(4)Sunny R.
I am so thankful for this neighborhood gem. The servers are friendly, the ambiance is homey and fun, and the wine is terrific. What keeps me coming back is the consistently delicious food. My favorite dishes are the pan-roasted tilapia and the sausage penne, but everything I have tried has been very good!
(5)Allie S.
Went here on a Friday night with my husband and my middle-aged parents. We made reservations for 7pm, but we definitely didn't need them. The place didn't start getting busy until around 9pm. They had a good wine list and some great cocktails. The best part about the place was the bruschetta -- delicious! Our waitress was friendly and helpful (even though she did drop my dad's credit card on the floor somewhere sending him into a brief state of panic...) I had the pesto linguine which was pretty good but maybe not spectacular. But I loved the mood of the place and the people there which always end up being more important than the food (for me!!) I would recommend this place. It's pretty casual-classy.
(4)Zach T.
I liked frasca a lot. It was a recommendation from my friend Heather by way of Tom S. We went with yelpers recommendations and had the bruschetta flight. Despite the truffle oil giving me burning rubber burps (as it always does) it was great. We also had teh Arugula proscuitto salad. That was dynamite, and a 4 cheese pizza that was good, but could have honestly used a little more flavor; especially where the gobs of ricotta were. We went in a Tuesday night. The special was half-price glasses of wine. Wednesday is bogo on pizzas. The atmosphere is fantastic. Just fantastic. A true interior vision is achieved. The service was not bad, but was indeed as others have noted here, less attentive than I like it.
(4)Kymberly S.
I went here in summer, sat outside, got drunk on champange and had a great time. The calamari was delicious for an appetizer. For dinner I order one of their pizzas which I was delightfully surprised by. It was delicious. I cant wait to come back here and try some more of their entrees.
(4)Alex D.
I have to agree with Sarah S. Went here on Sunday for a quick dinner with the wife. Service was severely lacking. Long wait to place order, etc. The food however, is great. Nice warm bread with olive oil that had little torn pieces of Basil in it. An Italian "fondue" of melted cheeses that came with toasted bread, soprasetta and apple slices for dipping was good. I had a shrimp and bacon pizza for $13. It was a big pizza with lots of shrimp and a great crust. The wife had a linguine with shrimp dish that she loved because they took the tails off of the critters. Decent specials. Buy 1, get 1 pizzas on Wednesdays, and $3 draft pints including Hoegaarden and Guinness on Sundays. Not sure if they are having staff issues, but once they get that figured out, they'll get 4 stars from me for sure.
(3)Tiger L.
yay! frasca is one of my favorite restaurants in chicago!! i love it. the farmers platter where you get to pick different bruscettas, cheese, meats, etc is fab. the waitstaff are all really friendly. the pizza reminded me of the pizza in roma. ooo and the bottomless mimosa brunch is great. once i had a date here and even when we got really drunk and had a gay makeout sesh in the booth the servers were still all super nice. : )
(5)Matthew P.
I have lived about 2 blocks from Frasca for about a year now and have been there several times. The pizza is pretty good (thin crust). Their wine selection is limited but reasonably priced. I think the best items on their menu is the brushetta and their pasta dishes. They have great weekday specials that change often. I would recommend this place if you are in the mood for some casual Italian food.
(4)Amanda A.
I have had such good experiences here. The wine is good, the atmosphere is good and the pizza is good. I love the bruschetta options and the cheese flight. Really, I haven't gone wrong whenever I've been here. Always on a Monday though. You can never go wrong with half-price bottles of wine (half-price glasses on Tuesdays).
(5)Tim V.
I'm embarrassed to admit how much we eat here. It's just that the food is very good, it's super kid-friendly, not too expensive, and in our neighborhood. Is it the best food in the city...it's at least in the top 10% at this price point and generally super solid. The soppresatta pizza is really nice, and so is the fontina wrapped in prosciutto. Make sure you also check out the "farmers table" menu. It's fun. The asparagus dish with parm and an egg on top is great. The poundcake for dessert is excellent too.
(5)Melissa F.
Love Frasca. It is reasonable, close, and overall good atmosphere. They have a fabulous Bruschetta menu. I highly recommend the pistachio and feta cheese & the brie and apples. On my last visit our waitress was very helpful and knowledgeable about the food/wine menu. They also have any amazing cookie skillet!!
(5)erin k.
every time i go to frasca i end up gorging myself on the bruschetta platter and walking home carrying a pizza. i can't seem to stop myself from diving headfirst into the ricotta, pistachio, and honey bruschetta, the apple and brie bruschetta, and the mushroom bruschetta with goat cheese and truffle oil. its this dairy-laden trio that has kept me thus far from the cheese board...and actually eating my dinner. it's best to visit on a weeknight if at all possible to avoid the crowds and get in on the drink specials.
(4)Jodi R.
Very disappointed the first time I tried Frasca and even more so the 2nd & final time. Pizzas were far from memorable. When dining the 2nd time with friends who had a toddler, her food didn't come out until ours did. When I told our server that what I ordered , crepes, weren't as described on the menu, she gave me an argument. They were canollis. Even though this place is walking distance, I chose to walk on by.
(1)Alexis S.
I really enjoyed having dinner there last night. We arrived around 6pm on a Wednesday night and we were the third group inside. There was plenty of seating and the decor/atmosphere was very relaxing. Our server had wild hair and was very friendly and helpful. We ordered the mixed appetizer which was a mix and match deal. We tried the brushetta with mozzarella/sun-dried tomatoes, cheese/nuts/honey and the truffle mushroom one (MMMMMM). Also on the plate was a meat (?) and brie cheese. Really good, with a smaller size portion. Then we split a sausage/onion pizza. The pizza, I thought, was mediocre and very thin crust. We also tried the carrot tiramisu, which was excellent because it was not too sweet and had a coffee flavor to it. Overall, we really enjoyed it.
(4)Jaclyn C.
Okay, not only did they add new pizza's to the menu but they finally posted their brunch menu online. The potato and bacon pizza is so good, I think it is the best one on the menu. I had brunch a few weeks ago for the first time there and I have been back three times. Everything is good from the breakfast pizza to the omelets to the lunch fare on the menu. And do yourself a favor and pass on the fruit and get the potatoes. There isn't a description on the menu but I'll do the honors...it is shredded potato au-gratin baked and served to you in a perfect cut out square. Cheesy goodness and such a change from the regular side potatoes everyone serves. Definitely better in my books that Bakin and Eggs. Oh, and their Bloody Mary's are tasty too. I have to go back for the $15 bottomless mimosas and see if it is worth the deal. Also, the best thing is that you can sit on the sidewalk patio and there never has been a wait when I've gone or passed by there.
(4)Ann G.
Came here for lunch on a Sunday and really enjoyed my meal. Had the breakfast pizza and definitely walked away full! I will be back here at night to enjoy the atmosphere and drink selection!
(4)Meredith H.
the boyfriend and i have been here numerous times and have had good experiences each time. we usually start with the fondue, which we both love. bread cubes, granny smith apple sliced super thin, and sopressata are a great mix of flavors and textures for the melted cheese. delightful. if it's bogo pizzas, we do that and usually get the capone and carponata. if it's 1/2 price wine, we usually order pastas - chicken pesto penne for me and something involving seafood or snausage for him. we've always had great service there and good wine suggestions. very accommodating servers. in fact, the last time we were there i got a MONSTER nose bleed and had to frantically run for the bathroom. our server noticed this, went and talked to bf, and had our check to him stat so i could run out of there with a whole box of kleenex shoved up my nose ASAP! great food, great wine, great ambiance. also just down the street from waterhouse - usually our next stop after dinner at frasca.
(4)David H.
Frasca is delicious. I loved the pizza and we tried several different selections. The salad was incredible also. The noise can be a little loud but I still loved the place. Our service was great and they make a good cocktail.
(5)Art K.
We dined here on a Friday night. We've been here about 5 times in the past year, and each time we get 5 star service and 5 star fresh italian food. We always get the chef's platter appetizers, which is a you pick 4 or 8 selections of cheese, meat, and bruchetta. The plum jam that accompanies the pecorino cheese w/truffles is amazing - so is the cheese! We often get a gourmet brick oven pizza, and add something "extra" such as fresh shrimp. The martinis are great too, try the italian cosmo for a real treat - we've actually started making that one at home. Oh, and the red wine flight is a real treat as well. This place does fresh/contemporary italian right!
(5)Anne M.
I give it a four. It is NICE and casual, no pretense. Friendly staff and patrons...lively. A little noisy, but the service is quite good and the pizza is better than Spacca Napoli (NY-style, strictly my opinion). We had the warm olives appie (great), pepperoni pizza and a surprising carrot cake tiramisu that actually worked! Not too sweet, but kinda heavenly. Really like this place. Upon second visit; the calamari appie (not breaded) was pretty awesome.
(4)G G.
Solid neighborhood choice and worth traveling depending on where you live. Great specials. Farmers table choices outstanding. Well priced innovative wine list.
(4)K M.
Really a 3.5 - I was here for a little girls night out dinner and found it to be a pretty pleasant place for that sort of night. We started off with a nice note- while our table was going to be a wait despite our reservation, they were throwing in a free cheese fondue appetizer to compensate for the delay. Pretty cool in my opinion. I started off with a martini which didn't exactly get the job done- tasty, but it could have used a bit more alcohol! After a martini, a wine flight, and another martini, I was not even buzzed- which may either mean the martinis are just generally weak, or I have developed some serious alcoholism. One of my friends and I split a pizza- I wasn't sure what would be enough to order. This was just slightly not enough to fill us up- thankfully we both had salads (ok I had caprese, that counts as salad right?!?). The pizzas seemed to be in the $9-13 range, and are pretty light so a person with a decent appetite might just barely be a little too stuffed with a whole pizza. Hopefully that explanation makes some sense! The crust was pretty good, not too crunchy (I dislike crispy pizza so I definitely notice this stuff) but not soggy, kind of light really. Our other friend's penne was smaller than I had thought it would be for the price too (entrees start around $12 I think, with pricier items like steak being closer to $20) The drinks were very tasty though, particularly the sparkling wine flight- there was a sparkling red in there which was amazing! The atmosphere is also very cute- but there were families with young kids which cuts either way I guess. Otherwise just groups of happy looking people- very inviting and warm feeling to the decor (even if physically you might be a little chilly by the windows!) Not something I would go out of my way for (I'm lazy like that), but when looking to meet up with friends further north I would be happy to come back here, so anyone in the neighborhood really should check it out
(3)Adam T.
Frasca was decent--the crust was chewy with just a hint of crisp, and the tons of basil and juicy tomatoes were nice complements on my pizza marguerita. I thought about giving it 3 stars, but I ordered dessert--warm chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato (amazing!)--and I enjoyed the atmosphere of eating outside, so it gets bumped up to 4. but I'd have to say that the pizza at Spacca Napoli is better, so no perfect score here.
(4)Robyn M.
Good Pizza, fair entrees and I didn't like the chopped salad. I LOVE a good chopped salad and this one had too much dresssing and wasn't really chopeed that much. They should have just called it a salad.
(3)Steve C.
Went here for breakfast and loved it. Shared the breakfast pizza which was good and the fresh fruit pancakes which were really good. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Franny S.
I really love Frasca. The food is delish, especially the interesting varities of bruschetta...I seriously dream about the ricotta, pistachio and honey version. It's a great neighborhood place to meet friends, or for a date if you just want to have a glass of wine and some appetizers or pizza.
(5)Andy G.
I give the service a 2 and the food a 4. Frasca was a selection from a couple we know, who had been wanting to go for quite some time. The four of us arrived at 8 p.m. for our 8 p.m. reservation and were made to wait for approximately 25 minutes for our table. Not off to a great start, and the inside is crowded, so there wasn't anywhere to stand (outside wasn't an option due to rain.) When we were seated, we weren't offered any explanations or apologies for the wait, and had a waitress that was much more interested in the table that was seated next to us (and after us.) After asking for water three times, three glasses (out of four) finally showed up. We ordered a salad and an appetizer to share, with the salad being forgotten until our entrees arrived (45 minutes later) and no refills on drinks without approaching the bar on our own. The pizzas, when they did arrive, reminded us of Italy - with thin crusts and fresh toppings...almost making it worth the wait. I would definitely go back for the pizzas - but next time get it to go and skip the poor, frustrating service.
(3)Matt N.
This is an exceptional place that feels like it belongs in the neighborhood. Great place to hang out at the bar for a bottle of wine (they have flights too) after work (not after working late though, the bar can get full), and the prosciutto pizza is a must have! The soft music (can turn annoyingly 70's at times), lighting, connection to the streetscape, and attentive bartenders make this is great find! Only down to 4-star because of the pricing.
(4)Sam J.
Frasca is good but not great. It's not too pricey and the wine selection is moderately good. I'll come back, but it's neither on a special occasion or often.
(3)aileen b.
I really enjoy Frasca. I have now been a couple of times since I live in the hood and both times the food has been outstanding. The pizza with prosciutto is my personal favorite. You can also order non-traditional bruschetta combinations to split. I think this is a great place for a date or to go with a couple of friends and just split a few items from the menu.
(4)Alanna O.
I wanted to wait to write a review for this place until after I had been there more than once as the first time I was not that impressed. I went there on a Wednesday for the first time and scored on a good special! Buy 1 Pizza, get one free!! You can't beat that!! They were slammed, we we managed to grab a seat at the bar. It took over 25 minutes to even get the bartender to acknowledge the fact that we were there, so that annoyed me right off the bat. When we FINALLY got served, our table was ready (after about 35 mins), but then we couldn't get the bartenders attention again to pay the bill. So we just told the hostess to either transfer it over to our server, or to bring us the bill at our table. No biggie. They were very accommodating on that one. I got the Caprese salad and my friend got some fresh greens salad....I loved hers...and hated mine. I didn't read the description very closely and it's oven dried tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes and I wasn't really expecting that. So, for me, that wasn't very tasty. We got 2 pizzas and they were both OK.....but we got the last 2 pizzas that night!!!! They actually ran out of Za! How can that be for a pizza place???? The one thing I will say is that the Prosciutto was hard on one of our Pizza's but otherwise it was good. Service was VERY slow too.....VERY slow. I know that they were busy, but that just means that ppl. need to work together more efficiently and maybe the manager should be helping out as well. I decided to give this place another shot and I know that it has potential and it was probably an off night for them. That happens in this industry!! Anyway, I went back last night on a Wednesday again for the Pizza special. This experience was soooooo much better!! They were not as busy, which was nice and the Pizza's were outstanding this time around:) I just ate the leftovers for lunch!! Service was still slow.....but I had the same waitress the same time so maybe it's just her;( Not sure. I will be back again and hopefully I will not have the same server!!! UPDATE(12.10.08): We just had our company X-mas party here(30 ppl)....and WOW!! Everything was awesome!! Our server was great (don't remember her name-very pretty brunette) and the food was outstanding!! Good work!!
(5)Carrie C.
I work kind of goofy hours and find myself trying to find a decent dinner a little later that is good but not to pricey and has decent wine and is easy to hit by public transportation and I can sit and eat alone at the bar without being treated like a am a loser sitting and eating alone at the bar. Frasca meets all of my needs. The wine lists is Italian and interesting and inexpensive. I heart that they have 3 sparkling wines by the glass. The food is delicious. Love the pizzas. If eating by yourself you will have leftovers for lunch the next day. Bonus. Salads are always fresh and tastey. Love the Tuscan white beans. Had a nice small fillet there too. Plus the patio is pleasant during warm weather despite being on a three way intersection. The staff is helpful and in general really sweet.
(4)Susan J.
Their arugula pizza is THEE best in the city...and they allow dogs on the patio...and have great specials during the week which keeps me coming back!
(5)Luther Z.
On the day we went, the service was great and the pizza was enjoyable - but the olive oil flight is an excuse to make you pay for what is complimentary at almost all restaurants. After we left, I realized that we had been suckered into paying $5 for a small loaf of warmed bread and three tiny dishes of different olive oils.
(4)Meghan S.
Flights of bruschetta-does it get any better than that? You can chose from all different types of bruschetta and go between different wines as you make your way through the flights. The pizza is amazing-thin Italian style. I believe they have the same owners as Pizza D.O.C.-another amazing restaurant. The outdoor area is cute and fun in the summer, although right next to the EL so it is a bit loud. The inside is super cozy and rustic-like. That was a cheesy description-sorry. Since it is so close to the Paulina Brown Line stop you should stop by on your way home from work.
(5)deb s.
Love. love the pizza & the 1/2 price bottles of wine on Mondays. Good service too.. I had a dinner party here for my last birthday and it was fantastic!
(5)Esme W.
Love it! Love the pizza, love the bread, love the service, love Katie our cute bartender, LOVE the decor and love that I can walk home after too much delicious wine!
(5)Megan C.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Frasca and their delicious pizzas. I have the luxury of living pretty much directly across the street from there so my roommates and I try to go on Wednesday's for buy-one-get-one free pizza and it is never a let down! I think we've pretty much gone down the line of all of the pizzas but I'd say our favorites are the coponada, primavera, and the classic margarita (absolutely delicious!). They also have an awesome assortment of bruchetta which are all very unique yet tasty. Their brunch is amazing as well; the chicken pesto panini and the omlettes never disappoint! Although I give this place 5 stars for their food and overall great service, I would not recommend ever getting the bottomless mimosas. We paid $15 dollars for them and it took forever to get them refilled. I'd say we only ended up getting 2 or 3 per person in the course of a 2 hour brunch which is not worth the money considering they are mixed with $4 Andre's champagne!
(5)Michelle D.
We went to Frasca last nigth for dinner. It was too cold to eat outside, but I love the fact that they are a winebar that has outdoor seating! We started with bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates that were covered in red pepper sauce. These were great! Lots of different flavors all at once that really blended together well. I recommend. Then we had the Capone pizza which was awesome. They also had tons of wines to choose from. I would probably have given Frasca 4 stars based on everything up until dessert. The waitress recommended these cinnamon and honey doughnuts. They were AWFUL. I think they were supposed to come with gelato and we did not get that. Basically we got a bowl full of hard fried dough that was pretty tasteless served with a small ramekin of honey. It was one of the worst desserts I have ever had. I was very disappointed. Also, strangely, the waitress never came back to see if we were enjoying it so I never got to ask about the missing gelato. I left disappointed, but feel better remembering how yummy the pizza and dates were :-)
(3)Jessica M.
Good food, nice atmosphere, OK service. On a few occasions the service has been adequate, but one day a friend and I waited at our table over 20 minutes after being seated and a waiter never came.
(3)M S.
This is a great place for a date or quiet conversation in a dimly lit restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised to see a $5 per glass wine special on Tuesday night and loved their white wine selection. The cheese plate was amazing, and the service was prompt and friendly. I couldn't believe they let us stay way longer than we should have after eating, and I'm grateful for that. Unfortunately the pork tenderloin entree was a little dry, but I'm not going to crack on it too much. Go here for the wine and appetizers if you're looking to enjoy excellent ambience without breaking the bank. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Brandon H.
This is a brand new spot in Roscoe Village that hasn't even been open a month yet. Just to clarify, this is not a regular pizzeria, they serve a few different types of pizza for a more eclectic taste than say Domino's. That being said, the pizzas themselves are very good, I had the 4 cheese pizza with the fennel sausage and I also tried the sopressata which was excellent. We had the olive oil flight with bread for an appetizer and that was very good as well. I highly recommend the Italian wine flight, but they also serve beer and mixed drinks which are not on the menu, just ask for them. The service was a bit slow and the decor wasn't much but with the place being as new as it is they have the time to work all of that out.
(4)Joanna B.
We went to Frasca last night as I live down the block and have been curious what the new place was like. Although they have lots of outdoor seating, there was a wait when we were there so we sat at a table inside. There is lots of seating inside as well. We had the calamari appetizer which was a little on the spicy side but good. Five of us ordered 5 different pizzas and we all enjoyed what we ordered. The pizzas are big enough for a man but a little too big for a lighter eating woman. We did order a couple beers which weren't on the menu as this is a wine place. The waiter offered to bring us bread which was good. I would probably go back if I was in the mood for wood burning oven pizza.
(4)Courtney B.
The food was great. My only complaint is the liquor and beer selection. They have limited beer and a limited bar. They have a great brucetta appetizer variation which was nice to try different flavors without ordering multiple things. Good addition to the neighborhood, a nicer restaurant in a bar-dominant neighborhood.
(4)Andrea J.
This is by far one of the greatest things that's happen to us in a long time :) Very good kid friendly restaurant. The food is consistently delicious. The service is incredible. The management staff is attentive and routinely checking in on guest to ensure that they're enjoying their meal and experience. If you live in the Lakeview area and you have kids, you're doing yourself a great disservice if you've not stopped into Frasca! The Brussel Sprouts and Cauliflower salad is my fave!
(5)Ashley B.
So, my husband and I took our friends, who were visiting from out of town, to Frasca last Saturday night. Compared to previous visits to the restaurant, I was highly disappointed. We made a reservations, but when the hostess wanted to put us at the high-top right near the front door, I asked for a different table. She told me it would be 5-10 minutes for a booth, and I said that was fine. 25 minutes later, we finally got a booth. The service was slow, if at all existent. The waitress took our drink and appetizer order at a decent time, but took a while to come back for the entree order. My husband ran out of coke right away and waited for the waitress for a while. but then finally just went to the bar on his own to get a refill. When entrees came, we were all shocked at the lack of ravioli in my $15 ravioli entree. I think it had 8 pieces of the pasta. And the waitress never came back to check on us, nor did she even deliver the food. And one of the entrees was late getting to the table. We left a bad tip, that my husband still feels bad about, so I don't think we'll ever be going back. Wish is too bad, because I still think the bruschetta is wonderful.
(2)Little T.
My friends and I wanted to try a new place and it was our turn to go to Lakeview. So, Wednesday we go...and it's 2 for 1 pizzas! What a treat. The pizzas were incredible - everything tasted very fresh and there was plenty of cheese. The artichoke fritters were delicious (I'm always game for a fritter), and the choose your own meat and cheese platter was amazing. Our server was very friendly, and we couldn't have gotten our food any faster...but they weren't trying to rush us out of there - very laid-back... I can't wait to go back to this place. So many selections, fast and friendly service and a nice outdoor area.
(5)Alexandra B.
It was just ok. I'd probably go back for appetizers/brushetta, that menu looked really good. We just had pizza and it was no different than frozen Trader Joe's brand, but three times the price. I'm really picky about my pizza and I didn't think it was really worth the price and I've definitely had better. Had the key lime cocktail, that was really good. The service was really fast. Our pizza came out just a few minutes after our waitress put the order in. We went Friday right before 7pm and it was not busy at all, I was expecting to wait for a table. There were also a couple of families, so I guess it's a good place to bring kids.
(3)Clayton J.
I went here on a cold Sunday night in November and found Frasca to be very fulfilling. I had a chicken dish that was very delicious, but at the same time, was lacking in quantity. It wasn't that big of a deal though, I just like to eat a lot of chicken. It had a football game on the T.V. so I knew it was the right place to be. I would suggest taking a date here, as mine really enjoyed it. Frasca is definitely a solid 4 star restaurant because it is a nice mix of quality food, comforting environment, and decently priced food. It's also very close to my apartment, which means I can walk here. Well done
(4)Philip N.
I discovered Frasca by accident a few months ago. I'm so glad that I discovered it. After my very disappointing pizza experience at Spacca Napoli, I'm happy to say that Frasca has an awesome selection of hand crafted Neapolitan style pizzas; you can even design your own. Our first time experience was on a Wed and we were even more thrilled to discover that it was a two for one pizza special day. The menu was so interesting, we over ordered. Loved the grilled artichoke appetizer with hot pepper flakes. It was so good, we ordered a second round. Then came our pasta course which pushed us over the full edge but it was so good. We've actually made this a regular dining spot at least twice a month. The daily specials mentioned in other reviews are really something. They have a great wine list too. This place is so much more than a pizzeria and so worth trying. Overall the service is good and friendly. The staff seems to have a good wine knowledge and can lead you through their rather extensive wine list. Impressive for a neighborhood spot.
(5)Duyen D.
The food here is decent but the patio makes it a nice place to dine on a warm summer night. We have had the calamari (not good), pizza (pretty good), and chicken pasta (ok). If it was not for the patio, I would not go to this place as the food is just so-so. I would just stick to the pizza esp. on Wed when it's buy one get one free!
(3)P N.
I decided to take a friend here for dinner and drinks after Volo was closed due to a private event. I was very pleased. We made a reservation for 7:30pm on a Saturday and when we got there there was no wait. My friend and I decided to order the wine filghts, she got the Reds and I ordered the Sparking Wine. They came with three different types of wines and a description of each one. And they weren't small glasses either! We ordered both the wild arugula and fresh spinach salad and the proscuitto pizza to share. We told them we would be splitting it and they brought out the salad already split onto two plates. It was nice. The food was really yummy and I give extra points to the waiter for putting up with my playful/sarcastic attitude. I was trying to throw him for a few loops but he kept up quite well. Overall I was very happy with the food and service. Will definitely come back, even if it's not during the week when they have great specials. The iron skillet cookie was a little too rich for my taste but it was still good. Between two wine filghts, a salad, pizza and dessert the bill came to $67 w/o tip.
(4)Julie R.
Pizzas are good but the desserts are even better. Love that they have a wine flight and you can try several different wines with your meal. Great ambiance and they are very 'kid' friendly and dog friendly outside.
(5)Jared S.
I was looking forward to trying Dunlay's new restaurant and thought this pizza and wine bar was pretty good. It's thin crust pizza so don't expect the chicago style pizza, but i enjoyed it. The wine was very reasonably priced.
(3)Larry D.
Excellent! Simply excellently delivered through and through. My wife and I were hungry and as usual, didn't know where we would ultimately end up. Driving down Lincoln avenue, my wife says very nonchalantly, as we pass by, Frasca. I pull over and Yelp it. Almost 5 stars and a few(okay more than a few) reviews and we decide to give it a go. Since the Air & Water show was going on, it was very quiet and low key. Despite the humidity and heat today, we opted for the streetside outdoor seating. After a refreshing sip of moscato for the wife and the"scurry" on tap for myself, it was just a great Sunday afternoon to order up some food. In particular, we had ordered the campari tomato watermelon salad and the prosciutto pizza to share. The salad arrived first. It was a summer delight. The fresh mozzarella on top combined with the crispness of the watermelon cubes,tomato wedges, mixed greens and garnish of red onion hit all of my taste buds. The pizza came out shortly and it was hot. First thing I noticed was the mound of arugula on top of the prosciutto. I grabbed a slice and topped it off with more arugula. The saltiness of the prosciutto combined with the arugula on the light thin crust and cheese. This was absolute perfection! Needless to say, between the six slices there was nothing left after a matter of minutes. Update 1: ordered the spinaci pizza on Monday. It was delectably delicious with the carmelized onions, bacon and cheese. Update 2: it's Friday (of the same week) and we ordered to go the buccatini with a side of beef meatballs and the potato bacon pizza. The pasta was al dents in the light tomato sauce. It was such a delicious comfort food with the lightly seasoned beef meatballs! The pizza was light and doughy with just enough bacon and potatoes to complement the pizza. We can't say that we have a favorite pizza yet. They have all surpassed our expectations.
(5)Melissa N.
Great little Italian place right off the Paulina Brown Line stop. Frasca has a cute outdoor patio and a comfortable interior: nothing too fancy, just a warm and inviting atmosphere. The wine list is extensive, and the pizzas are fantastic: I've tried the pepperoni and the margherita, and want to try the soprano next. This place also has great deals: on Mondays, bottles of wine are half off. On Tuesdays, glasses of wine are half off. And on Wednesdays, pizzas are half off. Those are all great deals, especially because pricing is really good to begin with. My friends and I split two pizzas and had, ahem, 12 glasses of wine between us the other night, and the total bill was just over $100, including gratuity. My only gripe with this place is the service, which is rather inattentive, especially when it gets busy. But I do highly recommend this place!
(4)Marisol A.
The watermelon salad was amazing! The server recommended ordering it with some burrata, and it was perfect! I will be dreaming of this salad! Highly recommended! They also have a really nice outdoor seating area!
(5)Garrett C.
Event: Friday night dinner with the kids. Food: New Bacon and Potato pizza. Pizza rocked. Manager Tony saw our 2 babies were beginning to fuss from across the room and booked over. Tony got our food to us quick and we were able to eat and get going in under 20 minutes. Thank u! Great Place and Great Management. Plus Daisy Cutter on tap. BAM! Garrett
(5)Chelsea P.
Recently having moved to Roscoe Village, I was really excited for my fiance and I to try out new places to eat around the area. My advice: there are a lot of restaurants near Frasca where you'll get better food for a better price and BETTER SERVICE. We walked in (2 hours before closing, with 1/3 of the tables full, mind you) and stood at the front door for 10 minutes. The host was M.I.A. The first person to notice us in front of the host stand was a waitress who was sectioned outside. If she hadn't acknowledged us, who knows how long we'd have kept waiting. All of a sudden the host shows up! Miraculous! She asks us where we'd like to sit and gives us literally the WORST table in the restaurant. It's a little table located right next to the host stand. I literally felt like I had to lean forward every time a waitress came to ring up her tables, with the other side of the table literally stuffed in a corner. Not to mention, when you're seated right next to the register, you get to hear all of the staff's complaints about their customers and their bickering :):):) I'm sitting here wondering, there are SO many other tables that aren't located in this tiny cramped up spot and you give us this one? Fast forward to 15 minutes after we sit down. The bus boy brings us water. Fast forward to 10 more minutes. There's a gathering of 5 waitresses by the host stand and no one has asked us for our drink orders yet. They scatter, and one sweet blonde girl stops and asks us "has anyone helped you yet?" We asked if she'd be helping us and she says she doesn't know who our waitress is. Cool, great, awesome. She takes our orders and we wait for another 10 minutes for 2 glasses of wine. The food came out right after, which was nice. FINALLY our actual waitress stops by the table and asks us how the food/drinks are. I'm not entirely sure why we tipped the girl who ignored us for 45 minutes, or why we tipped her when she literally did nothing but ask us twice how the food was, but whatever. Essentially, the service sucks. We paid $16 for a tiny portion of 4 cheese ravioli. At least my fiance's pizza was okay. It's overpriced Italian food that you can really find anywhere. Not a terrible wine selection, but that was about the only positive thing about the experience. If you want to wait around for almost an hour in a restaurant that's not even busy, be my guest. Otherwise, go a little bit farther north on Lincoln and hit up Big Bricks Pizza.
(2)Karen C.
I think I've figured out the secret to Frasca: Go in the summer, sit outside & get BOGO pizzas on Wednesdays. Why? If you are sitting outside, it's quieter (no screaming kiddos... or if there are any, the sound dissipates much better because you are outside!); it's lovely to be outdoors; it's a bargain. I've always liked Frasca, but I admit that I do not come here as often as I would if the dining room wasn't so freaking loud. Sitting outside is the bees knees.
(4)Kendrick W.
Delicious. That's really all there is to say. I stopped by on a whim one day because they had a nice outdoor seating area and have been back several times. I had the soprano pizza. It's not on the menu so you'll have to ask for it, but think meat lover's pizza with supremely high quality meats and a little spice. Amazing. Their salads are also pretty great. They also do a pretty solid brunch. The eggs florentine is great, as is the fried egg sandwich. Definitely a great spot on a beautiful day and surprisingly not too hectic.
(4)Magen R.
Had a great night at Frasca a couple months back. This place is a perfect neighborhood spot to grab a drink and appetizers or to have a date night. The ambiance is casual while being intimate and I immediately felt at home upon being seat. It's also worth noting that they have a gorgeous sidewalk eating area if you're around on a nice night. For my meal I opted to go with the Roasted Brussels Sprouts + Cauliflower salad while my boyfriend went with the Rustica Pizza. The salad was one of the best I've had in ages, the vegetables were perfectly roasted to just the right level of crispiness and the flavor combination of capers, parmesan, and lemon were a perfect complement. I literally could not get enough of this salad and probably should've shared more than I did... I also couldn't help by try a couple pieces of the Rustica he ordered. Just like the salad the pizza hit the spot. At Frasca they cook their pizza in a wood fired oven and it really makes the difference. I loved the Rustica and by the end of our meal there was nary a slice to be found...
(4)Romana Y.
Food was mediocre; setup was fun. I won't return for the food, but the atmosphere is nice. Bread and oils: 2.5 (not great bread and subpar oil) Meatballs with marinara: 2.5 Cured duck: 3 Bruschetta: Roasted peppers: 4 Eggplant: 3 Avocado and cherry tomatoes: 2.5
(3)Jared B.
The food here is pretty good, if a little pricey for what you get. I've enjoyed the brick oven chicken. Unfortunately, if you order takeout, they WILL screw up your order eventually. I just had my order given away to someone else for the second time after fewer than 8 orders ever. While they were very apologetic, I order an hour before pickup because I don't have time to sit around waiting for them to cook my meal. Moral of the story: Don't do takeout here
(1)Tracy Y.
I've been to Frasca several times. I seem to only go on Wednesday nights for their buy one get one free pizzas. They have a nice wine list. The sangria is jus alright. On my most recent visit, we tried the special risotto that had asparagus, prosciutto and a fried egg. It was a nice starter plate. For pizza, we ordered a rustica and a soprano. Both were quite good. The soprano had a bit of a kick to it. While it isn't the best pizza I've ever had, I love the buy one get one special and love the neighborhoody feel to this restaurant. They get quite busy and service gets a tad slow, but we weren't in any hurry so it wasn't a big deal.
(4)KB C.
Excellent, excellent, excellent... It was so hot and humid both inside and out- it really didn't matter where you sat as the windows were open- which was cool as winter is coming... So we sat our butts inside, started with a nice cold bottle of Sauv Blanc and moved to a table and ordered his/her pizza- damn. Having lived in NYC for the last 4yrs, this pizza is excellent. Thin, chewy yet crispy crust with whatever ingredients you want=nirvana. Great night tonight- many thanks to the staff!
(5)Lucas H.
Excellent pizzas and great service. Also they are dog friendly out in the patio. The bread before the meal was warm and soft. The oil at the table is really well prepared with spices. The pizzas are buy one get one on Wednesday so def a good day to try it. Highly recommended
(5)Jack B.
My girlfriend and I went there for brunch and sat on the patio with our dog. The brunch was great and we had a good time. We switched tables bc we felt our dog was in the way, it took some time for that switch to get to our server. Onto our most recent trip. We were both extremely tired and we didn't want to cook so we went to the bar for a pizza and wine. The food was great, pizza was on point, great flavor, and the calamari was good too. The bar staff and servers were often very busy running around tending to some other customers needs, however, if you sit at a bar, and order 6-7 glasses of wine, at $15 per glass, and you need to track down the 3-5 people standing directly in front of you to tell them you have no more wine left, I found this beyond annoying. The bar staff was friendly, but completely inattentive to the people they were serving. I have never sat at a bar anywhere in my life, and had to flag down a refill like I did here. My mother showed up from the suburbs as a surprise and while the restaurant was busy, we needed another chair, so I asked the bartender if there was another one. I had to go through the entire restaurant to the other side, to obtain a bar stool from another couples table. I am sorry, but for a meal that cost me $170 for two pizzas and 6 glasses of wine, the bartenders or servers could have done this task. I am not at work, they are. When the food came out, we only had 2 table sets and my mother was left eating off of the pizza plate with no napkin. If you are looking for good food with a great atmosphere for enjoying a date or night out with your significant other, go here. But the service doesn't live up to the looks (or cost) of this place.
(3)Jacqueline B.
Pizza and pasta and wine, oh my! Everything on this menu is delectable. I'm talkin' top notch. Brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks - Frasca is a Lakeview hot spot. It truly caters to everyone in the neighborhood. Families love it for the kid's menu and the fact that the little ones eat free from 5-7 pm during the week. Young adults love it because it great for a date night and a fun spot to grab dinner or brunch with friends. Casually classy and laid back, this lovely wine bar is a win win. Everything I've eaten here is just fabulous! Some of my dinner favorites are the rigatoni, prosciutto pizza, any of the bruschetta's, the farmer's table menu, and my absolute fave - the Wrightwood salad. De-lish. Brunch is amaze-balls too. You absolutely have to get the donuts to start! My go-to is either the breakfast pizza or breakfast sandwich - both equally as good in my book. Then of course there's their bloody mare's which is the perfect way to get your Sunday started on the right foot. They use Smoke Daddy's bloody Mary mix which they also have available to purchase by the bottle for $5. The prosecco they use in their mimosas are spot on. I highly suggest enjoying their outdoor patio space on a beautiful day - it's awesome! Pro tips: Bring your dog to the door and they'll be greeted with a drink! Your pup is always welcome to enjoy the patio. Tuesday is half off bottles of wine and Thursdays is half off glasses. Wednesday they have BOGO pizza
(5)Karolina T.
I love places like this. Warm and cozy interior with good food and large wine selection. We came here twice, on a Wednesday for their 2 for 1 pizza. They use quality ingredients so we will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. This place is sophisticated and classy, and they also have an intriguing brunch menu. Another thing they offer occasionally is pizza making classes. Definitely want to check it out.
(4)Brittany A.
I have to disclose that I treated this place more as a wine bar, rather than to dine at so maybe the food is 5 stars, but I didn't get that far....this time. Don't worry Frasca, Ill be back. I went here on Sunday night. The place is cute. It was pretty slow, but all of the staff seemed to be in a cheerful mood. We started on the patio, but had to be moved inside once it looked like rain (per our request.) They were happy to do so. The patio is inviting, the windows were open and the flowers are always a nice touch. The wine flights aren't buildable, they are selected by Frasca. This turned me off a bit, however I was pleased that their selection was suitable for my pallet. Long story short, its a cute spot. The food smelled wonderful. The wine was good. The service was attentive and friendly. If you are close by and haven't tried this spot...go.
(4)Ivanna S.
I came here because it is super dog friendly. They even gave my dog a treat! So that was nice. The outside space is rather small, so I wouldn't come with a large dog though, cause it will be in the middle of the little hall! . So we had the Brussels spout pizza and the 4 cheese ravioli. The pizza was rather cold! So that was a shame! And the ravioli were not a big deal. I give 3 stars because the place is nice and the service is great. The tiramisu is not bad either but lacking a lot of coffee flavour. Oh and please don't ask for the oven roasted artichokes... $12 went lost there.
(3)Rebecca L.
Just moving to the neighborhood and wanted to try something in the area. The food was great (definitely try the Rustic pizza!), wine was tasty, ambiance was fun and casual. Service was super fast and every staff person I interacted with (shoutout to our server, Felix!) was kind, engaged, and just overall lovely. Definitely coming back.
(5)Michael V.
Went to Frasca with two friends on a Friday night around 8 pm. There was a 45 min wait for a table, which I think in part was due to the rain outside. Frasca has a huge outdoor patio which is really nice when the weather cooperates. It was totally worth waiting for a table inside though! The decor and setup is really nice inside, perfect for anything from a romantic date to a girls night out or a big family dinner. Service was very friendly and prompt. I started with their homemade Sangria which was really good! They also start you off with bread and olive oil which I always appreciate. I ordered the Soprano pizza, which had several kinds of meat. Something on it really gave it a strong kick, which I loved! There's nothing like a big spicy meaty pizza. (There's plenty of vegetarian pizza options, don't you worry!) The pizza is more Neapolitan style than anything else. Food all around was outstanding! We ended our meal with the skillet cookie, because have you ever had a bad skillet cookie?? It was super soft and delicious. Two big thumbs up for Frasca! I will definitely be back again, probably to try their weekend brunch!
(5)Erin R.
I went to Frasca for the first time last night. It's a cute little spot in a cute little area. Wait time on a Friday night at 7 was only about 20 minutes! You have to get the bruschetta sampler to start! I also had a glass of sangria which was delicious. We also had the potato and bacon pizza-VERY good! We topped off the meal with the skillet cookie. The only reason Frasca doesn't get 5 stars from me is the service. Our server (who I won't name) was WAY less than attentive. We were done with our appetizers before she ever came to take our entree order. My roommate couldn't even get a refill on her drink until we were almost done with the meal. We were also never offered bread! Such a tragedy. I did notice that our server was helping out behind the bar but it looked as though we were her only table in the dining room so the slow service was a bit confusing. We had to flag someone else down for our check and then she never came over to say thanks or have a good night. Overall we loved the place! We'd love to come back on a not so rainy night and try the patio. Just a fluke waitress.
(4)Jamel J.
First off, no I do not work at Frasca so if you see my family and I there 2-3 times through out the week just know we are simply customers. Secondly, I'm fairly new to the area, less than three years, and this place is absolutely outstanding. I want to believe I am a simple person to please. Cut up some lettuce and give me a form of animal that's not moving and I'm good. However, the food is excellent and the service is even better. If you have the time for superb service and delicious meals then look no further. Definitely one of Chicago's hidden gems. Hopefully no longer.
(5)Jackie C.
YUM. Fab location and great food. The corn app is a MUST. Best thing I had in Chicago all weekend. The bruschetta is very unique (beet/strawberry and the peach/mint) def recommend it. The 8 finger rag was had (Delish) another recommendation- the rainbow trout & any pizza !!
(5)Jenna K.
Wrightwood Salad. Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower. Margherita Pizza. You're welcome. Oh! Super kid friendly too!
(5)Audrey L.
My first experience here was not as I expected; customer service was superb, however there were a few issues with our food. My chicken tasted similar to a lean cuisine frozen meal. My friend ordered steak, which was brought to her cooked in a way that she did not request. There was a certain seasoning on her broccoli which tasted very similar to marijuana. Although I'm sure this was not the case, the taste was most likely herbs we are not familiar with, it was rather off putting. I hope to come back and try other items on the menu....im sure the experience will be different.
(3)Gordon B.
Went here on a Sunday night for dinner since the weather was awesome and they have outdoor seating. They have a great selection of bruschetta which a friend said I needed to try. It was a good call. They come in an order of 3 and they're pretty big, probably 4 bites each. My favorite was the melon, ricotta, and prosciutto. I'll definitely be back to see what else this menu has to offer and probably get some more bruschetta.
(4)Andrea H.
Last night I went with friends and ordered the Italian Chopped Salad. It was 9.50, which I thought was steep for what would be considered a side salad at many restaurants (think Olive Garden!) But when it came out it was actually ALOT more substantial than I expected and the combos of the prosciutto, grapes, olives, peppercini, and tomatoes were really amazing. I was going to get a pizza as well, but ended up sharing my friends instead (sausage) which was really tasty. Sausage was super spicy and not heavy on the grease, which was a nice surprise. The service at the bar was spotty - we kind of had to fight to get the waitress's attention. They made up for it later when my friend decided she would try to send back a spinach pizza she had mildly destroyed. I was like, no way, you are not going to try to send that back! The waitress thought the same thing and gave her a huge "WTF" look when she explained she was planning on just eating the toppings and because they were stuck to the cheese that really was not working for her. She claims to be gluten free thus could not eat the crust. The waitress snatched the pizza away and left saying fine thereby agreeing to give her the other pizza she wanted instead for free. She then went over to her manager and spent a good five minutes (no doubt) explaining that my friend wanted to send the pizza back after eating half the toppings, while they both stared daggers back at my friend. I was mortified. I could not believe they did not just flat out refuse to sub out her pizza for another. But they brought back the other (aforementioned sausage) pizza she ordered about ten minutes later. I felt like apologizing when we left but did not. I guess this is my de facto apology on her behalf. Or something like that... Anyway! I have been here many times in the past and always enjoy the neighborhood bar atmosphere, and overall laid back vibe. They have a good wine and cocktail list as well. I will return sans finicky friend.
(4)Bob H.
My son and his girlfriend are regulars who chose Frasca to celebrate my wife's birthday! We called in a reservation and our table was ready at the appointed time. We chose four pizzas on a two for one Wednesday night special. We shared slices from all pizzas and declared them all GOOD! Server was attentive and the price was right. My wife thought the choice was excellent!
(5)Abraxas T.
We just ate the chicken meatballs and three cheese ravioli. It was amazing. The Malbec was tasty and the service was excellent. Usually this place is filled with mommies and daddies and kiddies, but after 7:30 it turns into a grownup place to go. Clean, good service, and tasty food.
(5)Jamie B.
I just noticed I've never written a review for this place! How did that happen?! Great food, service, and ambiance. Packed house on Friday nights so plan on a wait. The wrightwood salad is so yummy! We had the polenta fries and calamari to start and the polenta fries rock! Pizzas are delicious and not all greasy, very nice! We had a super time on our recent visit and will for sure be back more often!
(5)Mallory S.
The pizza had no cheese whatsoever... See the picture I posted. If I order pizza that says it has mozzarella on I'm assuming it's more than 1 shred. Not to mention no one else's pizza was like that !! The Capone was a tad salty. Service was very good. Prices are very fair. Increase the cheese factor and I'll be back!
(3)Erik P.
Frasca is the type of neighborhood gem if you're in the mood for artisan style pizza. I've been here a few times and pretty much everything I've ordered is good. The pizza are just the right size for a single serving or maybe for two if neither of you is particularly hungry. They have a full bar and a nice atmosphere. They also do a Saturday/Sunday brunch special. As an added benefit Frasca is located a very short distance from the Paulina Brown Line stop. If you want to have a few drink and a tasty pizza come here and let the CTA provide the ride. The pizzas are in the lower teens regarding price. So a dinner for two won't break the bank. Street parking on the side streets is a breeze. So if you're in the neighborhood give it a try.
(4)Adrienne T.
Let's preface this review by saying that soup is important to me. Very important. I make it weekly. AFter five years of making soup (the homemade kind), you can tell if a soup is homemade or not. I'm always weary to order soup at restaurants because they end up being something that was canned and reheated. Has that ever happened to you? Anayway... On the first ridiculously cold day of the year my friend and I decided to pop into this Pizzeria for a drink and soup. Honestly, we weren't expecting much. Mostly because from experience, places that cater to a specific food, like wood-fired pizza, sometimes over look the other menu items. However, that was not the case for FRASCA. We ordered their ROASTED VEGETABLE and WHITE BEAN SOUP to start. WOW. I mean, WOW. Best soup ever. My nana used to make a soup like this. It hit home. I mean, it was amazing. I actually thought to buy some extra to take home and freeze it for another day, that's how amazing it was. Their pizza was lovely. Not the best pizza in the whole world, but very good. I enjoyed the crispy but soft in the middle crust. The ingredients that topped the pizza were fresh. Also, they have buy one, get one free pizza on Wednesdays. You can't beat that. I've had their salads a few times, always fresh and flavorful. You definitely won't see any cheap, iceberg lettuce crap popping up on their salad menu. Overall, I'm so happy to have a pizzeria specializing in homemade Italian fare. Love you and your soup.
(4)Kobi K.
We found this place by chance and have been back to Frasca on special family occasions. We order the pizza, the roasted brussell sprouts, and olives. There is something wonderful, relaxing and refreshing about eating here, reinforced by the great staff, and the neighborhood folks who bring their families to Frasca to eat. My family really loves this place.
(4)Richard R.
Let me begin by saying that, hands down, Frasca serves the best brick-oven pizzas in Chicago. I highly recommend the Spinaci and Rustica but you can't go wrong with any of the others (including the always fresh and light Margherita!). The salads are always tasty (and quite large, it must be said) and their selection of quality wines is impressive. I'm also a big fan of the rigatoni when in the mood for pasta. Once finished with your meal you'll be planning your return visit. Frasca's staff is always friendly and even when the restaurant is busy they are attentive and quick to make sure all is well. The ambiance is ideal for a date but also for a night out with family or friends. Frasca is five stars all the way!
(5)Kathryn F.
I am very torn if I should give this place 3 or 4 stars -Great neighborhood spot, cute interior, and a nice patio in the summer months -pizzas are good (although one time they messed mine up and I had to send it back, and then they brought me out a replacement that was completely burnt! Must have been and off night though because it's been great every other time. -a little overpriced -I did NOT like their brunch. I have been there twice with my boyfriend and neither of us enjoyed our meals either time. He had the hash the second time and it was all carrots and celery! Barely any meat or potatoes. I ordered the fruit cup as my side and it was all melon and honeydew... The meal was all "filler" foods! -good bloody Mary's I would recommend this place for dinner, but there are so many better brunch places in the area.
(3)Marjorie F.
Beautiful summer night Dog-friendly outdoor seating Half-priced wine by the glass (Tuesdays) Delicious pizza What more can I ask for??? My neighbor and I came here with our pups. We arrived around 5:15pm in anticipation of a crowd. We were seated right away and greeted by our server almost as soon as we sat down. Not only did she ask for our drink order (hello, half-priced glass of wine!), but she asked if we wanted water for the dogs. Gee, thanks! Keeping it light, we each ordered a pizza. I had the prosciutto which was perfect - not too much cheese, a decent helping of meat on each slice, topped with a little olive oil and arugula. My friend had the pepperoni which I also sampled. Yum! The sauce is on the sweet side, just enough on the pizza. If you want to dine al fresca during the last warm nights before the chill of Fall sets in, I recommend Frasca. Just get here early, because it is really busy by 6:30pm!
(4)Josh C.
Not a huge deep dish fan so I'm always on the look out for good Neapolitan-style or similar simple/dressed down pizza. I might not have look much farther than Frasca. The prosciutto pie was amazing. Good beer and wine list. Did not have any but did see people with some good looking cocktails too. Not sure what nights they do it but I was there on a Monday and they had half-priced bottles of wine. Nothing like getting a great malbac for 21 instead of the menu listed 42! Will be back again for sure.
(5)Jaime E.
I'm torn on Frasca. They have a great location, a nice selection of beers on tap but they're overpriced compared to other Italian restaurants in the area. It's always crowded but they have friendly service if you're willing to wait. Frasca is usually overrunning with kids but they have good weeknight specials on pizza and wine. There's a nice patio seating option when the weather permits. I like them but might chose another place if I want slightly better Italian food without the crowd for less money.
(3)Cheryl B.
We love this place for brunch. It's one of our go-to spots. Dinner is also great. The only reason I'm only giving it 4 stars is because a) there is one waitress who works there who is awful. We have had her several times, every time, awful. Now if we get her we move to the bar. and b) the acoustics in the restaurant are weird. Today the music was WAY too loud where we were sitting (it was 10:00am, we just wanted to talk and could barely here each other. Yes I'm old). Other times we have sat on the south side of the room and the curved ceiling lets you hear conversations on the other side of the room. Or if there is a baby crying, like today, we heard it loud and clear and it seemed amplified. and c) Years ago they gave you a small draft beer with the Bloody Mary's. Than they switched to the mini Miller high life bottles. YUCK. I never drink mine. I would much rather have the small mini draft. I've left comments on comment cards and emailed them to let them know, but oh well I think the mini drafts were better. The Bloody Mary's are very good though. All of this aside, we still come back time and time again. Their pizzas are amazing. The breakfast pizza with hollandaise sauce is out of this world. Very easy for two to share. Wood fired pizza crust loaded with cheese, bacon, sausage, sunny side up egg, than topped with prosciutto and hollandaise - YUM~!! The rosemary breakfast potatoes are like a yummy creamy casserole, awesome. If you go with the group, start with the fresh doughnuts. They are awesome! For dinner you can't go wrong with any pizza. They have a great selection of meats, cheeses, and bruschetta. And last but not least the Wrightwood Salad is legendary and will suit anyone's tastes! We need to head up there more for dinner when they have half off bottles of wine or buy one pizza get one free :)
(4)Kolin B.
Amazing bloody Marys! Great food ! great service! Highly Recommended!!! Had the fried egg sandwich , big sandwich, relaxing atmosphere
(5)Mike M.
Love this place for early dinner with kids in tow! Can't go wrong with the brick oven pizza and or Farmer's Salad. The kids loved the pizza making class/demonstration too if you can catch one.
(4)Adam Z.
I feel bad for places like this. The food is so good here, and it's so busy, so not everything is going to be perfect. In fact, a lot of things didn't go well at all for our table of 7. But Dan, the manager, went above and beyond to make it right. There are a lot of critics out there, myself included, but when it comes down to it, all I have to say is, put yourself back there and pump out 200 orders of donuts and see how many come out perfect. I wish I lived closer so I could back more often. The breakfast pizza is great and everything else I didn't have looked really good.
(5)Rachel V.
"I can't believe I just ate all that pizza." I went here for brunch on a chilly winter Sunday and let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed my hot breakfast pizza. First, it's huge. Second, the pizza dough is perfectly doughy in the middle of the pizza. Third, I'm pretty sure Frasca has managed to combine two of my favorite things - eggs and pizza - into one glorious meal. Just delicious, and I'm certain I won't ever even think about ordering a breakfast pizza anywhere else after eating Frasca's; I don't think anything will compare!
(5)Kori E.
What a great spot! We joined some friends of ours and their baby, great spot for kids too FYI, last Friday night and we all had a great time! The interior is so warm and cozy, and the food was great! we started off with the bruschetta, and all were great! I typically never order pasta, but saw the seafood pasta and couldn't resist! The pasta was cooked well and the seafood was great, the only thing I picked around was the salami. I don't think the dish necessarily needed that. My boyfriend had the rags pasta with lamb ragu and that was really good, too! I will definitely be returning as I was obsessed with the ambiance as well as the food! Awesome wine selection as well! Great spot off the paulina brown line!
(4)ML M.
Frasca...hhhmmm? What happened to our favorite neighborhood spot? It use to be the neighborhood "Cheers"....where everyone knew your name. Now I don't think they even care. Food is still really good. And wine list decent. Ambiance including outdoor area is comfy. Dog friendly. But the newbie staff...unorganized, unprofessional, unfriendly...and perhaps uncaring. Frasca...you use to be everything a neighborhood spot could ask for...hope you get your mojo back.
(3)Jerry F.
Incredibly good. Butchers plate is a must. Caesar salad is very good. Skip the calamari.
(4)Larry S.
Eat your brussels sprouts! These words have never been so appealing as they are at Frasca. One of their appetizers is mixed brussels sprouts and cauliflower. The dish is roasted with bacon and parmesan. What a suprising delight at this friendly, informal restaurant in Roscoe Village. I dined here last week with 6 others. Other than the veggies, we tried calamari, pizza, Rigatoni Gigante, pasta rags (lamb ragu), 8 finger cavatelli, and mushroom ravioli. The calamari was the lone miss, all of the other dishes were prepared perfectly, with the pasta served al dente. The pizza is baked in their brick oven, and the result is a thin, crisp crust. Pizza Hut fans should stay away! The ambience is comfortable, and as loud as should be expected at an informal restaurant (yes, loud). Service was perfect, and if this makes or breaks a meal then at Frasca it is a plus. I prefer restaurants with shorter, well executed menus and that make you feel like everyone working there truly enjoys the place. Frasca fits the bill, and I would return for a pasta or pizza night!
(4)David P.
My girl and I love this place! We have only been a couple of times, as we just discovered it recently, but we will be back again very soon. Our last visit was for Sunday brunch, this past weekend, it was crowded, and I understand why. I feel like we have always gotten good service and the food is very solid. I love their wood fire pizzas, any flavor is good, you can't go wrong. I also like the wine flights and the appetizer plates with cheese, meats etc... I know the French name, but no way can I spell it, sorry! It looks like they have buy one, get one free pizzas on Wednesday night! I will be back for this and some of the other happy hour specials during the week. I also like their outdoor café area, it's very welcoming and the service is very good. Some places you are forgotten outside, not here; they will take good care of you.
(5)Samantha J.
My favorite place to stop and get a quick and light bite. Casual setting appropriate for any week night or weekend. Bar is very inviting, you can sit and eat at the bar as well. Calamari here is really good. I love their pizzas as well. Had the risotto in the past that is very good as well. love there BOGO Pizza weekday special.
(5)Christine H.
Loved this place! Ate here on a Friday night around 830 and it was packed. Got a table after about a 30 minute wait. Started with polenta fries and calamari, both excellent! Polenta fries were very creamy. For our meals we shared a couple of pizzas. The first one we got was the pizza Francese. It was outstanding and I loved how all the flavors came together. The other one we tried out was a special, which had Creme fraiche, potato, Rosemary and bacon. It was delicious! I have gotten pizzas with potato on top before and the potatoes have been too large making it more difficult to enjoy, these were perfect. all in all, this was an outstanding restaurant and will definitely try and go back if I am in the area
(5)Leah C.
where has my frasca gone?... and why haven't i reviewed this place 'til now? i can't count how many times i've been to frasca - before marriage, with husband, with kid, without kid, with girlfriends, with family, big groups, small groups...i'm always there! it's that kind of versatile "go to" place and i'm disappointed that now that i've finally decided to review it, i don't have a stellar review. why do i feel that ever since her brother crosby's opened up, this place has gone down hill? the service is very spotty now. one of my last visits, our entrees came before our appetizer and our server was nowhere to be found. when it was closing time, she reappeared and gave us the look of death to wrap it up (even though there were 5 other tables finishing up). i know this is petty but i've boycotted all other wine ever since they stopped pouring meiomi by the glass. now their food has become extremely inconsistent. i get the wrightwood salad 99% of the time and the last few times, it's been a bowl of overdressed costco greens with some burnt, buttery croutons. we took advantage of the free kids meal the other day for the first time and we know now why we usually pass it up. the cheese pizza was all crust... hopefully one day i'll be able to sing the praises of frasca again.
(3)Ann Marie B.
I have been to Fasca for Bruch and dinner. Brunch was great, we got to sit outside and there was a great amount of outdoor tables. The mimosas and bloodys are great! The food was also amazing. For dinner the indoor atmosphere is very quaint and warm/cozy. It is just a kind of place you want to go to for really tasty pizza and wine and to chat with good friends or a date. The service is really great here, I have always had a good experience with friendly servers. Definitely one of my fav spots in Roscoe Village.
(4)Adam W.
Came through Frasca later on a Sunday night and was impressed - we were a bit rushed on time, but the waiter was very helpful with selections and politely reminded us that the kitchen would be closing in about 30 minutes (not being sarcastic here, he was legitimately kind and wanted to make sure we got what we wanted and had a pleasant experience)... Anyway, ended up with the Soprano & Spinaci and both were very good - I haven't come across a lot of pizza places that offer napoletano style, so this was a nice change of pace... Looks like there are quite a few different specials on through the week, so I'll probably come back at some point. The setup and decor is nice - very cool that they open the windows when the weather is cooperating!
(4)Katherine G.
Frasca is hands down my favorite brunch spot or even week-night dinner spot when I need somewhere delicious and reliable! We hit up their restaurant for brunch more than I should admit to, and have begun to enjoy their pizzas in evenings as well thanks to such incredible week-night specials (BOGO pizza, 1/2 priced wine... amaze!). It's a staple in the Roscoe Village area, there's never TOO long of a wait, the pizzas are fantastic, as is the rest of the very seasonal menu.. Can never go wrong with a bloody there either. PS they love my dog, so I love them even more for that!
(5)Annie B.
Frasca is definitely one of those decide-five-minutes-before-we-leave-where-we're-Âgoing-to-eat sort of restaurants. Food is always good/decent but it's hard to mess up calamari, salads, pasta, and pizza (although I definitely have gone to a few places in Chicago who have figured out how to do that so I take that back). I like the atmosphere (typically lots of children but I usually come here for a late dinner & it's not like Lakeview has the most unruly kids in the world anyways). Service is fine, prices are fine, location is great.. Sitting outside in the summer is nice. Their brussel sprout salad is pretty legit so pretend like it's healthy and get that.
(3)Luisana R.
Came here to meet friends for dinner and had an awesome experience. Everything we ordered was delicious. We started out by ordering several of the bruschetta. We tried the mushroom, beet/strawberry, pear/prosciutto, Apple/Brie, and pistachio/honey. Each one was absolutely delicious. I can't pick a favorite and I'm convincing myself I have to go back as soon as possible and try them all again so that I can decide. I shared the Brussel sprout pizza with my friend. We asked them to add bacon to it, best decision ever. The pizza was so yummy! Our other friend ordered the risotto which I didn't try because it had goat cheese which I am not a fan of. He said it was a good effort but didn't blow him away (to be fair he has spent time in Italy and conceded that it's hard for risotto to impress him since then). I had the build your own wine flight (their Thursday drink special) and it was the perfect compliment to my meal. Since everything else was good we decided to give dessert a try. I'm so glad we did! The tiramisu was divine and the gelato/sorbet combo was also very good and a huge portion. I will definitely be back soon to enjoy more delicious bruschetta and pizza.
(5)Deanna S.
There are very few places that I can go for a kid-friendly spot after work/school with the kids, an evening out with the girls where a good wine-menu is a must. a weekend spot for a tasty brunch AND a place with a great outdoor seating area. Frasca has it all! Come before 6pm and your kids eat free and have a great kid-friendly menu without a bunch of fried foods. The kids menu has buttered noodles, grilled cheese, pizza, PB&J, etc. Again, if you come before 6pm, be prepared for romper room. If you don't want to hear a bunch of kids, come at 6:30 or 7pm when the kids are headed out. Win/win. I've tried just about every pasta dish and most pizzas. I've not been disappointed. I love that they have specials on certain nights for 1/2 price bottles of wine or buy 1 get 1 free pizzas. Check out the website before you come in! Last thing...you can't come here without trying the iron cookie skillet. Oh My Gawd...
(5)Josh M.
One of the best bloody Mary's in the city and a great brunch. Good for crowds and good for kids. You won't go hungry on the breakfast sandwich either.
(5)Betsy H.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday, our second time dining here (first time was for dinner). Both times we were impressed with the quality of the food, the service, and the overall atmosphere. The food has unique twists to contemporary Italian and American dishes, and is delicious. Highly recommend - and bonus, in nice weather they have really nice ample outdoor seating!
(5)Matthew S.
There's a reason this place is always crowded-- it is a consistently great experience. Friendly (downright bubbly at times), efficient service, delicious food (order the Rigatoni or the Margherita pizza), good wine selection and lovely atmosphere (weather permitting their outdoor space is very social and fun). Since we moved into Roscoe Village, this has become our go to place.
(5)shivi d.
Hit or miss food. Their brunch seems to be better than other meals. Super kid friendly.
(3)Stephanie S.
Frasca is consistently churning out tasty pizzas and sangria. Also, they have the famous Wrightwood salad, which I LOVE. They run some pretty great daily specials - Wednesday is a favorite as it's BOGO pizza.
(4)Saba A.
Reviewing for a Sunday brunch spot: My sister-in-law made reservations for 4 on Sunday morning for 2 p.m. and we got it! I do recommend making reservations- this space is cozy, very well kept, and busy! It was very inviting as soon as I came and with the friendly service, made me feel right at home instantly. They are known for their pizza, and bloody mary's, but they should also be known for their panini's! I had the pesto chicken with the market salad, fair price of 9 dollars, but the salad was nothing special. Too salty. My husband and my brother in law ordered two eggs any style, with turkey, and it was a thick slice of turkey, and not so good. The eggs were nothing too special either. My sister-in-law got the omelette, and that was a better choice! We began with the doughnuts, and those were worth the sharing, especially with coffee. The service was great, but just a little slower. They have a coal oven for the pizzas and I guess they make everything fresh. If you are in the neighborhood, it's a great stop. It's great for groups in the fact that the brown line Paulina is less than a block down and convenient for people to meet at.
(4)Sandra May L.
Perfect place to take a date, they have a special for everyday. I went on a Wednesday so it was buy one get one free pizza! It was the best, their pizzas are delicious as well! It goes great with wine and they also have a wide selection of wine and other drinks
(5)Samantha Q.
My favorite wine & pizza place.
(5)Roberta P.
Definitely a new go to spot! Loved the bruschetta and the sangria was fantastic! Beware Friday night is kids eat free so tons of kids but don't bother anymore :) awesome for outdoor seating quick and friendly service! Noticed they have great specials everyday which we will definitely come back for. Wish the bruschetta came on bread slightly warmer but regardless awesome unique bruschetta choices we loved! Also bread and seasoned olive oil come when you sit down was a treat :)
(4)Brittany V.
Came here the other night for a quick impromptu date night with my man. Walked in and was seated promptly. Our server came quickly to go over drink specials and we ordered the 1/2 price wine by the glass. We then decided on a trio of bruschetta and 2 pizzas. The bruschetta was devine. The tomato mozzarella is a classic and the ricotta with honey was a sweet bite, however the real standout was the roasted beet bruschetta. Paired with fresh strawberries, ricotta and balsamic it was the clear winner. After appetizers things started to go downhill. The food coming out of the kitchen was taking quite a bit of time. Normally I am lenient but seeing as we were one of 5-6 tables in the restaurant it was frustrating. Then we proceed to watch our pizzas sit in the window for almost 10 min. Multiple servers and bus boys walked past them and didn't deliver. I was just about to get up and get the pizzas myself when our server saw them and brought them to us. The pizzas were ok. Very doughy for a supposed wood fired pizza. The special Brussel sprout pizza of the night was unfortunately pretty bland and the margarita pizza was tasty but nothing to write home about. We were hoping to indulge in the skillet cookie we noticed on the menu earlier, but thoughts of long wait times deterred us from making the plunge. I would definitely go back here for the killer bruschetta and maybe to try something on the menu other then pizza.
(3)Sarah C.
I'm all about it. I've never had a potato pizza but I'm so glad I tried theirs. The margarita is really solid. What was really great was that they had wine recommendations to go with just about anything. I love the look of this place. I would go on a date here but I'd also take my girls here for a fun night out. It's a dimly lit, funky architecture, and groovy waiters. I will very happily come back.
(4)Sarah N.
We went to Frasca for breakfast on Sunday morning. We were seated right away. Server pleasant. Nice atmosphere, bright, open windows. Music on the loud side. Kids ordered cheese pizza. It was mostly crust, bubble like crust with edges on the burned side. Kids did not want at first until I cut off all the crust which left 40% of pizza. My food was good. On the disappointing side, once food was served, we were abandoned. I was flagging down anyone for help . The kids did not get fruit with meals, even though server stated they would. I would not return with kids.
(2)Elizabeth S.
We went there for a Bachelorette party and there was plenty of seating and the ambiance was a very homey Italian feel. I had the Pizza Margherita and it was delicious! Enough to split. We also had the appetizer which was a flight of different bruschettas and it was perfect to share. Considering we had plenty of alcohol and each had our own entree, I was VERY impressed that the pre-tip bill was under $30! The only minor dings I have were that my one friend asked for extra garlic and I had to run down our waitress because she didn't give me a glass of water while I was in the bathroom and she served everyone else. We had an early reservation (5:30) and there were a lot of young families, which is understandable. So, feel free to bring your kids if you've got them! If it's a date night I would say definitely go later at night. Extra bonus: it's about a cartwheel's length away from the brown line so if you're like me and tend to hate straying too far from your neighborhood don't fear!
(4)Meredith B.
Now I see what all the fuss was about! I've lived near Frasca for a few years but never stopped in. My first time was, admittedly, after one too many after-work glasses of wine. Silly to have and then go to a wine bar and not order wine, but that is how I roll (or, stumble). I sat at the bar with friends - the place was pretty crowded on a Thursday night, and had a very comfortable but energetic atmosphere. Lights are dim, wine is flowing - fantastic place to linger over a glass and have a plate of pasta, which I did! Well no, technically I had gnocchi. Hand-rolled sweet potato gnocchi with pancetta, apple, pearl onions, brussels sprouts, and sage. Um, yes please. It was warm and comforting, and a wonderful fall entree. The apples added a very pleasant fruty taste, the pancetta a bit smoky, and the gnocchi were pillowy. I'm sure it's even better sober! I would go back and order with confidence, because clearly somebody has some skill in the kitchen.
(4)J G.
Frasca is 100% our go-to neighborhood place. The food is always reliably yummy, the ambiance is warm, friendly, & bustling, and the service is always friendly & efficient. Plus, they are super dog-friendly and in the summer we can go sit outside on the patio with our pooch. Even if we just walk by with the dog, they'll always come out with a treat and fuss over the dog a bit. My favorite is the margerita pizza, and my husband's a fan of the Soprano. For brunch, the breakfast pizza is so decadent but so delicious. They also have solid pastas and other entrees. Perfect spot for when you feel like going out but don't want to spent a ton of money or wait around for a table. Love Frasca!
(4)Lysette H.
Really liked the food, including pasta w/meatballs, calamari and especially dessert...tiramisu! The casual ambiance was perfect for Monday night dinner, however, I do wish a nice cappuccino was available to top the meal. I plan to explore their selections of pizza next!
(3)Rachel M.
Frasca is one of my new favorite places in the city. Our server, Matthew, was phenomenal. Very friendly and helpful, and he made great recommendations for both wine and food. We ordered four of the bruschetta options as our appetizer, all or which were delicious. We loved our entrees as well- the potato gnocchi was the unanimous favorite. We finished with the skillet cookie, which was also delicious. The wine list was great, and the create your own wine flight was perfect for our group. There was a wide variety of options, and we really enjoyed the prosecco and roses. I will continue to go back. The restaurant is adorable, and the windows let in a great breeze. I don't have a single bad thing to say about the restaurant.
(5)Karla B.
Wednesdays are buy-one, get-one for their pizzas. Great deal for really good pizzas. However, we were there last Wednesday and the brushetta stole the show! Your server will give you a smaller menu called "farmers table" in which to order brushetta. (I specify that because we almost didn't notice it). Our table ordered a combo platter of brushetta to share: mushroom/truffle oil, melon/proscuitto, brie/apples, and white bean/olives. The mushroom and truffle oil brushetta was to die for. Seriously it was everyone at the tables favorite of the night. The mushrooms were perfectly roasted, placed on top of pecorino which offered the right amount of buttery and salty flavors, with just a couple drops of truffle oil. The bread was appropriately crusty but not overly dry. For us, the melon/proscuitto was a miss. It didn't offer enough of the sweet and salty balance in which it was striving for. The melon just over took the proscuitto and ricotta.
(4)Nathan F.
I come here for brunch every couple of weeks and am always happy with the food. The donuts are incredible and the menu has a good variety to choose from. The one area that could use some work is the service. I have been left waiting for a while before a server comes to greet us on multiple occasions and have ended up asking if we even have a server a couple of times. It isn't ever enough to prevent me from going back, but it can be a little annoying.
(3)Ryan C.
A great place if you are looking for a casual, date night spot in the north Lakeview area. I've had a few of their appetizers and salads and all have been impressive. Obviously they are known for their pizza and wine and I've never been disappointed in the ~5 times I've been there.
(5)Dee B.
Make your own pizza is the best!!! I highly recommend truffle oil, smoked peppers and goat cheese:) It was delicious on my pizza. I also love the weekly specials; especially half priced wine night!
(5)Valerie J.
Still in love with Frasca! We went for brunch - the prosecco is of course awesome. My fiance loves the bloody mary that comes w/a bacon and is a meal in itself! My friend Leigh had the chicken pesto panini which was super amazing. They just do food right here!! My fiance and I got our standard over-kill pizza w/tons of toppings and loved it! I am merely updating to recommend the panini if you are not in a pizza mood :) And the bloody mary if you are feeling manly ;D
(4)T V.
Stopped in on weds for bogo pizza. Enjoyed the margarita pizza and pepperoni pizza (but it was a bit spicy). Sangria was average - not very sweet. But the rest of their wine menu is great. We've done brunch as well, but I prefer the dinner menu. Get there early, as it fills up with local families so there may be a wait for a table, unless you can grab a spot at the bar.
(3)Dean W.
Good place for families. The thin crust pizza rates highly with other places in the city and their big booths/open floor plan lends well to bringing kids along. Have always had good experiences with the service.
(5)krysti s.
I've been to Frasca many times and always enjoy it! I went in a couple weeks ago with my sister and had a great night! We came in at 8:30 on a Friday night, with no reservation. We found a spot at the bar... but there were no bar stools there. However, the bartender was kind enough to find us bar stools to sit there. We were off to a good start.... We ordered a cheese board (always a must!) and decided to try a bruschetta with strawberries and beets. It was Fantastic. I also had the best white bean soup I've ever had that night. Well done, Frasca! We'll be back. A+
(5)Michelle S.
Frasca has the food and service consistency I always look for in a great restaurant. The food is amazing and the chef caters to each individual guest. The fried egg sandwich is amazing and their meat and cheese selections is fantastic. I love coming here for brunch!
(5)Kyle D.
Wasn't disappointed with Frasca. After the unfortunately long wait (place was packed) my party was treated quickly and politely. The salads looked amazing but it was all about the pizzas for me. They have so many fresh and unique combos, and they are all thin crust which could be a welcome change from the ever-present Chicago deep dish. Our pizzas were all amazing and there is plenty of alcohol options too. This is more of an intimate restaurant but you definitely get what you pay for. They also have patio seating which was perfect for the dog in our party. Well worth the wait! UPGRADED: 5 stars. This has become my go-to local thin crust pizza. It's the perfect date restaurant and the pizzas are fantastic. The service is always great and I haven't been disappointed yet. Cheers! Atmosphere: 9.5/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9.5/10
(5)John K.
Not sure what to expect but was surprised. Decent food, nice selection and not oversized portions. Drawback .... It's a bar and a noisy one at that. Got the feeling it was for those folks in transition from their twenties to thirties and now they have a child with them. Kind of surprised about a wait list to get a table but settled in at the bar and found pleasant and accommodating bartenders so we stayed there. Risotto always a test for me at any restaurant was done well. Calamari was good with a little spice. My companion's pasta dish was a conglomerate of things in it that I felt didn't work but wasn't that bad either. Desert was a hot cookie dish that was too soft. Mixed drinks were good. Would I go back? Yes. If I would, pizzas looked very good and would try them next. Would I break both legs trying to do so, probably not.
(3)Rhonda G.
I've been here about 5 or 6 times and it is very reliable for brunch. I had also been a fan of the bottomless mimosas. Fast forward to this most recent time, sadly the mimosas are no longer bottomless because apparently they got better champagne? I don't believe that but that was the given reason...ah well so be it. New per drink price is only $5. I think Pizza and wine and brunch food is what they do best. Once you start straying off into salads and sandwiches you might be a bit let down, I was. The chicken used in the infamous Wrightwood salad appeared to be torn of pieces of deli meat and not what I expected. Maybe they ran out of the good stuff. Why the 4 stars? Well I like the place, the staff is friendly, I've never really had to wait and a visit doesn't break the bank.
(4)DJ F.
Great atmosphere later in the evening when all the screaming kids go home. (If there are 20 strollers parked out front, do yourself a favor and walk away...) Great wine specials on Tue and Wed nights. Love their pizzas. The Spinach is awesome, and definitely try the Roasted Potato pizza if you're up for something different. Great flavors and be sure to spring the extra $1 for the egg! We usually belly-up to the bar: the bartenders rock and staff always seems nice and knowledgeable. Great outdoor seating area in the summer. If we ever see summer again! My only real complaint - PLEASE bring back the Spinach & Arugula salad! Servers have said they get complaints all the time about this being taken off the menu. I know they have to hear it from me when I come in! Lots of unhappy people when that disappeared.....
(3)Frances A.
Brunch is so hard - I love it, but so often I find that I could easily have made w/e I was ordering at my house. So i really pride a restaurant when they can do something slightly different. The Italian Farmhouse Breakfast was that. It sorta looked like a tomato sauce soup. With yummy prosciutto-esque stuff over it. It was interesting, yummy. But simple in taste. By the way it looked, I was hoping for something a little more fiery. Different. But the potatoes I think were the best. There's a spiciness. Oh, and the bread. Right out of the oven. Enjoyed.
(3)G A.
One of my favorite casual neighborhood joints,I go back at least 2-3 times a month. Good pizzas and pastas,good wine selection and great specials that they run during the week like two for one pizza on Wednesdays and half off bottles of wine on Monday.Bruschetta used to be amazing and one of my absolute favorites but unfortunately they switched to the different bread which brought the quality way down. Cheese and cured meat plates are still great,I would also recommend Risotto,Soprano pizza and Fried egg sandwich that they have for brunch.Not the destination for your first date,the place is pretty loud.
(4)Mike Z.
One of our favorite places to go for pizza/wine/beer in the city. Reasonable prices and Wednesday's are BOGO pizzas.
(4)Zach F.
Pretty good spot. Came here and enjoyed a half price glass of wine, their rigattoni, and tiramisu at the bar. Great atmosphere. Casual and friendly, with the bar right in the middle of the room. Service was friendly and prompt, even at the bar. The bread was great. Riggatoni was pretty good, and the tiramisu was great, but a very large portion. Plan to share it. They have amazing daily specials (1/2 price bottled wine, 1/2 price WBTG, etc.) depending on the day of the week. Will definitelybe back.
(4)Kristin L.
One of my favorite places in the city. From the wine to the pizza to the cheese.... its all perfect! FIrst of all they run great specials during the week! Half price bottles of wine, half of glasses, BOGO pizza... just amazing. The wine is some of the best, in my opinion. I am a huge fan of Turley Vinyards, and they ACTUALLY carry several of their bottles. It's the best Zin I've ever had. The food is spectacular! Every time I go I order the must-haves, burrata olive tapenade, large butchers plate and the margherita pizza. All of them to-die-for. Most recently I enjoyed the roasted potato and carmelized onion pizza, also fabulous. They always have a great selection of cheeses and meats. All I gotta say is the place speaks for itself.... try it immediately.
(5)Meagan H.
Such a cozy little place! It's got great decor and the staff has a humble attitude. The appetizers were amazing (Try the bacon wrapped dates)! The pizza was a perfect size for 2 and tasted great. Not too much sauce, cheese. But just the perfect amount. Not too filling. You won't walk out of there with a food coma like most pizza places create. They have a wonderful wine selection too (which is necessary). A great date place! I will definitely be going back!
(5)Ashley B.
Great food, great wine and a nice ambiance. I'm so happy this place is in our neighborhood! We've been countless times for dinner (never disappointed!) and for brunch (the eggs Benedict is the way to go along with the egg sammy). It's fun to go for pizza as well (buy 1 get 1 free on Wednesday!). My husband and I have gone there for date night and with family and friends. Always good service.
(4)Mary M.
Great food, great wine, and amazing service every time. What's not to love about this place?! The way it's decorated is also very cute. I love getting the wine flight if i don't want to stick with the same glass of wine.
(5)Megan K.
I flippin love this place. I have since it opened. It's a quaint little place but still has plenty of room inside and on the sidewalk. It's just clean and modernly rustic, which makes no sense but you get it. The food is consistently good. I'm partial to the pizzas. The bruchetta is also excellent. The ricotta, pistaccio, and honey is my FAVORITE. SO good. The sides are also just great. Tasty and well done. They have a great wine list and the servers know their stuff. Sometimes they have really fantastic specials on wine. The servers are always friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. They have a pretty great little brunch too!
(5)Tony T.
Our friends John and Athena introduced Frasca to us. Pizza, pasta and wine yum yum! The pizza actually takes me back to Italy. Brunch or dinner, overall it's an awesome place.
(5)Matt G.
I'd give it a 4 for food and 2 for service. Sunday Brunch.... Pulled Pork Benedict with hash brown potatoes. Not a morsel left on the plate. Not a one. I thought the pork was well done, with a decent amount of spice, but not too much. Potatoes were pure bliss and cheesy and creamy. It was, however, impossible to run down the server to order, to get coffee warm up or to make sure that my 3 yr old son got his pizza while the rest of us got our food.
(3)Kathleen C.
I've now been to Frasca a few times now and have had nothing but delicious food and a great time. I especially like the daily specials during the week which are great deals! I've been seated in the bar as well as the restaurant area and no matter where you sit, it's a lively restaurant with really friendly staff. What I don't enjoy is that the food comes out fast, but what I do enjoy is that they definitely don't rush you - and it's nice to sit and relax there. I've tried almost every pizza, and all have been delicious. I will say that the proscuitto pizza has come out a few different ways (last time with LOTS of proscuitto in sort of a bit lump on top)...so, fresh ingredients and flavorful, sometimes a bit inconsistent in presentation. The cheeses are wonderful and it's fun to play around with ordering them (and the meats as well)...since they're all great, go ahead and mix and match! Value is definitely there - during the weekend as well as the 'deal days' with (example) buy one pizza get one pizza one day of the week! You can't go wrong. $5 wine night - perfect! The bathrooms could occasionally use a bit updating...and considering there are only 2 for a bustling restaurant. Value - 5 Service - 5 Atmosphere - 5 Food - 4 Bathrooms - 3
(4)Jennifer G.
The food is excellent. Wow. I had the brick chicken yesterday for the first time and it was EPIC. I wish I knew how to do that to chicken. Epic! The service is also consistently fantastic. And I'll never get sick of the Wrightwood Salad! The only problem here is that many patrons bring ill-behaved children. It's a bummer, but not the fault of the restaurant.
(5)Erica L.
I always pass this place heading home from the Paulina stop and wanted to give it a try. Hubby and I went for a Friday night dinner date a few weeks ago. The place was crowded and we had to wait a few minutes for a table. First off, it is really dark in there! Maybe I'm getting old, but we had to bust out our phones to use the flashlight app to read the menu! Yes there is a candle on every table, but it was still really dark. We ordered the Capone pizza and a selection of cured meats and cheeses. The meats and cheeses arrived first, and were accompanied by some bread, crackers, and dried fruit. The pizza had a nice thin and crispy crust and not too much sauce, which was perfect. The sausage was delicious! The server was friendly, gave us adequate time to review the menu, and checked on us intermittently throughout the meal. I'd go back just for the pizza alone - equipped with my phone flashlight!
(3)Gwen D.
Brunch review only. Frasca's breakfast pizza makes the perfect start to the weekend. Sausage, bacon and over-easy eggs with rich, runny yolks on a perfect thin crust, set over the top with sliced prosciutto and a drizzle of hollandaise. A little pricey with a bottomless cup of coffee, but since I get two {um, not-so-healthy} meals out of it, I can deal. I wouldn't travel out of my way to brunch here--I'm sure other neighborhood spots have stellar signature dishes, as well--but as long as I live in the area, I'll be back.
(4)Jessica N.
I knew I was going to be a fan when I saw the relationship with Dunlay's on Clark. Same amazing egg sandwich! Salad was also awesome. Would come back to try the pizzas as well. Bloody Mary lived up to Dunlay's as well. LOVE the high life chaser :) Service was a little slow, though....but I'll be back!
(4)Lauren F.
Great food! My fiancee and I were impressed when we stopped into Frasca for the first time on Valentine's Day. We stopped in around 6pm without a reservation and were able to be seated right away. There was a little wait when we were leaving but it looked like there were only a few couples. Plus, they have a bar where you can park yourself and enjoy a glass of wine while you wait! They are very kid-friendly here so if you're looking for a quiet, romatic dinner this might not be the best place, at least when we stopped in. We started with a couple special wine flights that they featured for Valentine's Day-I tried the Rose flight and my fiancee had the Classy Reds (or something along those lines). All the wines we tried were great. Their appetizers and Farmers Table offerings sounded so good that we decided to forgo entrees and just share a few things-we ordered the Italian Sushi that was on special-tuna and vegetables wrapped in rice that was wrapped in prosciutto with a horseradish sauce underneath...this was soooooo good! The horseradish took the place of the wasabi and it was perfect-also a very large portion. From the Farmers Table menu we ordered 3 types of Bruschetta-mozzerella/basil/tomato, mushroom/goat cheese/truffle oil, and goat cheese/roasted pepper. These were all awesome! The bread was warm and crunchy and the topping were all fresh and super tasty. We also got the Hot Coppa Salami-little kick of heat, very good. To finish off our meal we ordered the Nutella Pie. This slice is huge, definitely recommend sharing. The nutella filling was fluffy and rich and the crust was really good-not too sweet, a little crumbly-just how I like it! We really enjoyed Frasca and will definitely be adding it to our list of neighborhood favs! Half-priced glasses of wine on Tuesdays!
(4)Lia V.
Mmmmmmmmm Frasca. This place has the best weeknight deals. Apparently kids always eat free so there are a ton of families there all the time. There's a bottomless mimosa thing going on on the weekends. Buy one get one pizza night. Check out their website for the deal of the day. Fantastic location near shopping and right off the Paulina brown line. A little quieter of an area... would be nice to get away from the noise near Wrigley. Solid food. Decent price. Clean. Nice ambiance. Great sidewalk patio too. Kill time grabbing a drink at the wrap around bar or have a nice sit down dinner with friends.
(4)Courtney B.
Our Chicago friends took us here and it was a happening neighborhood spot with a mix of people + kid friendly. The service was pretty good and so was the food. We started off with a trio of bruschetta. My husband and I are still debating whether the apple & Brie or peppers & goat cheese was better. We shared a beet salad that was good since the beets were the star, but it had a weird aioli dressing. I had a margarita pizza, which was the best I've had in both of my trips to Chicago. It was thin crust, but not the super crunchy burned type. The only reason I did a 4 versus a 5 is because their Moscow mule was just all wrong. They should change the name or take it off the menu.
(4)Kate C.
Great for Brunch and Dinner! Good Italian restaurant for wheat/gluten allergies. Staff was very helpful and they offer gluten free pasta.
(4)Genise L.
Delicious food and nice outdoor seating! I will definitely be back!
(5)Leslie B.
Frasca with a girlfriend on a Friday night = great way to start the weekend. Met Maggie H. at Frasca for an early dinner on Friday and had a looovely time! Convinced that wine would only make me sleepy (I'm getting old.), I opted for the Sam Adams Oktoberfest ($5). The interior of Frasca is warm and comfortable, it was crowded around 7:30 on a Friday night, but not packed. We started with the bruschetta option where you can choose three varieties. We went with the classic tomato/mozzarella, roasted red pepper/goat cheese, and brie/apple. All were so delicious! It came with two large pieces per type which worked out perfectly. We also split the Soprano pizza which we both really enjoyed. Topped with hot capicola, sausage, pepperoni, and peppers, this was spicy and flavorful. We only had a couple things, but were very full! Frasca is a great, reasonably priced place to grab a bite and some drinks with friends.
(4)Wayne H.
Buy 1 get 1 free pizza night on Wednesdays! That's right. This place serves Italian style wood burning pizzas and they are excellent. My favorite is the "Rustica". It consists of dried prosciutto; oven dried tomatoes, basil pesto, and smoked provolone. Delicious! I also enjoy their salads and the chorizo stuffed dates appetizer. Frasca also offers a great selection of wines for decent prices. Speaking of wine, Mondays they have 1/2 off bottles. I have also tried their breakfasts, which are pretty good too. When it's nice out make sure to grab some outside seating because this area is great for it.
(4)Christy L.
I've been going to Frasca for the past four years and think that it's starting to be past its prime. Or we were just there on an off night. In the past, I've been a big fan of the Bruschetta from the Farmer's Table menu. I still think the toppings are delicious, but the bread was not toasted enough and was cut too thick and "bready." The Bruschetta was 80% bread and 20% toppings. Our pizza crust was also undercooked, and the Proscuitto toppings were not as complimentary of each other as in the past. It tasted like there was Italian dressing on the Arugula. I prefer a simple olive oil dressing with seasoning; Italian dressing was a bit over-powering. They were out of one of the ingredients for the cocktail recommended by the waitress. How does a pseudo-Italian place run out of Limoncello? I appreciated that we were able to get seated immediately at 8pm on a Saturday night without a restaurant. The restaurant was busy but there were a couple of tables available.
(3)Kimberly K.
This is my second visit to Frasca. I was not blown away the first time and this time I went with a group of 6 for a birthday dinner. The food was fine, nothing to write home about. My group shared the calamari, polenta fries, ceasar salad, and some pizzas. On food alone, I probably would have gone with 3 stars, but the service was awful. Our server was cold and inattentive. She rarely stopped by for water refills, didn't ask how we were doing, didn't even try to sell us dessert or coffee (which we wanted). We saw plenty of other employees smiling, so maybe we just got a dud. I probably wouldn't go back based on this experience alone.
(2)Jen D.
Oh Frasca - you have become one of my favorite brunch spots!! My most recent visit... first in a long time. Actually wondering why the hell I don't come here more often. You can take a group of 9 adults and 2 gremlins (babies) - we can be loud, yet it's unnoticeable (and let it be said - the gremlins in our group were angels and nowhere near as noisy as some of the other gremlins in the joint). You serve bottomless mimosas with the swiftness and stealth of a ninja. I'm not sure I ever actually saw one being placed in front of me, they just kept reappearing. Maybe there was a trap door in the table that just popped them up in front of me? Before I had 1/3 left, a new one was poised and ready to go. You have excellent bloody mary's and good vodka with which to make them. You make the most amazing fried egg sandwich ever... fried egg. Awesome bacon. Cheddar. Great bread. Need I say more? Your hashbrowns are like potatoes sent from heaven. Creamy and delicious. I'd describe them as the beautiful love child born from shredded hashbrowns and au gratin potatoes. Your sweet dishes are amazing too. We ordered the nutella stuffed french toast to share. Forking fantastic. Everyone else enjoyed their food, too many dishes to list (omelets, etc). Plus the service was great. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Elizabeth F.
Love! I could sit there all night with a great bottle of wine and snacking from all of their amazing dishes. I especially love when they open the windows during nice weather, can't wait for spring! I love that this is a kid friendly place, but on date nights, I get a little overwhelmed depending on the night. You should definitely try the chorizo stuffed dates and caponata pizza. Honestly, I've never had one thing I did not like from there.
(4)Rachael F.
We got the grande farmer's table, which lets you choose from a list of bruschetta, cheeses, and meats. It also comes with some fresh bread, grapes, nuts, chutney (forgot the fruit), and flatbread. We selected the following: - roasted pepper + goat cheese bruschetta - brie + apples, EVOO, cracked pepper bruschetta - mushroom, goat cheese + truffle oil bruschetta (my favorite) - Zanetti Grassi Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P. - Mona Lisa Gouda - Emilio Mauri Telaggio D.O.P. - Salametto - Applewood smoked duck breast It was excellent! They also have a pretty good wine selection. We were visiting a friend in the area, and this was right by our metro stop on the way to her house. When we told her where we stopped for (a very late) dinner, she was so happy we went there because it is one of her favorite places.
(4)Carolyn L.
I've been here twice for brunch and it's become one of my fave places in the neighborhood to go. Roscoe Village definitely has a lot of good breakfast spots. I've had the pleasure of trying out the red velvet pancakes at Frasca along with a bloody mary with beer back and it was one of my fave brunch combos ever. Even compensated for an awkward date I was on :) This morning, I ventured over for an early 10AM new year's day brunch and I have to say that their breakfast hash browns are incredible. Not sure if they use cream of mushroom or what, but those things are addictive! I almost ate every bite off of my friend's plate. Can't wait to go back and try something else! Maybe it will be eggs benedict next time?
(4)Heather C.
Went here for breakfast on a Sunday around 10:30 - 11:00 am and the place wasn't very busy at all (Frasca opens at 10 am for breakfast on the weekends). Since it was a nice day, people were sitting outside. My party and I chose inside to avoid the wind. I was seated immediately despite my two friends not being present which was nice because I wanted a Bloody Mary. My server was super nice and allowed me to take my time with ordering especially since my friends took 40 minutes . . . So first, I ordered the Bloody Mary with cucumber vodka, no meat and cheese. That was a tasty beverage! It was also served with a 7 oz Miller High Life - too cute! After my friends arrived we ordered food. Sadly there are no vegan options for traditional breakfast items but Frasca does offer some lunch options like pizzas, salads, sides, a few main dishes. I decided on the Campari and Watermelon salad. I was not disappointed! So many tomatoes and cubes of watermelon with fresh basil, arugula, olive oil and fresh lime! Yum! I also ordered a side of potatoes but I think they were made with butter . . . They still tasted good! I'm hoping they were made with olive oil ;-) My friends ordered pancakes with bacon and they really enjoyed their food. Like I've said before, Frasca is a very family-friendly joint so regardless of time of day or day of week, you will see lots of children! That Sunday wasn't too bad though :-)
(4)Laura S.
Frasca is as good as it gets! They have the best flat bread pizzas in Chicago! My sister and I love to go there on Wednesdays for their buy one get one free flat bread specials. After you order your meal, they have fresh bread with dipping oil which is fantastic! The service is always great and the prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend Frasca to anyone interested in a great wine bar and pizzeria in the Roscoe Village area.
(5)Louise M.
I am writing this review for their new brunch menu we just enjoyed last Sunday. I was craving a hearty brunch after a night out and this was just the ticket. Atmosphere was great too, love that you can sit inside by the big open windows as if you were outside, but without the heat. Now to the food....we ordered the breakfast pizza and the baguette french toast. The pizza was Neapolitan style with maple breakfast sausage and 3 sunny-side up eggs- it was awesome! You could easily split this with 2 or even 3 people. Very tasty. The french toast had great flavor and had some sort of honey butter to spread on it. Only thing, it was a little on the soggy side but I'm taking this as a fluke thing. It was yummy enough to look past. The potatoes that come on the side were the real stand out. They were absolutely amazing! They were hash browns cooked in a creamy gravy-like sauce. We couldn't stop eating them. All in all, very pleasant experience. I will absolutely keep Frasca on my list of favorite brunch spots in the city!
(4)Jack P.
My friend Doug and I checked out this place recently, and found it to be a very positive experience, on the basis of the food, ambience, and service. I ordered a market salad which was absolutely delicious, with thin julienne style strips of apple and cheese. In fact, the entire salad was this julienne style, similar to a Vietnamese or Thai presentation. It was great tongue shui-a good way to deliver the various flavors without overwhelming the palate. Doug ordered a crusted Mahi which was crispy on the outside, deliciously moist and sweet on the inside, and it sat in a most compatible butter-based sauce. I ordered the Capone pizza, and that was just OK. I would definitely go back and try another variety though. We imbibed with some Proseca bubbly, which was very reasonable, but we both felt the next day as if we had drunk way too much, which we didn't. Make mental note about that. I liked the menu a lot, because the choices were varied yet limited. The real surprise and treat was the superb service and outgoing, friendly staff. Even the manager (owner?) came by to check on us and see if we liked our meals. The room is a warm and inviting one, and I look forward to going there on a chilly winter night, (not that I'm pushing for the advent of winter. I just need to put it on my "cozy, warm" list.) This one is a real keeper. I hope it sticks around.
(4)Babs H.
Heck yes 1/2 price martinis! The staff is friendly and knowledgable - especially Carrie. As far as food goes, do the appetizer list thing - you won't be disappointed. You can choose 5 or so different types of meats, cheeses, and bruschetta. Delizioso!
(4)nancy b.
i want to like this place. great location, nice space and good outdoor patio and good service. it is a good spot for drinks / light apps, especially in the summer, but as far as a seated dinner, there are many other places i would choose to go to instead. (it also probably doesn't help that the last time i was there i was serenaded to Mexican Cousin by a guy i was on third date who didn't "care if people were looking". oy.) both times the food was very salty. salt is good to bring out flavors, not as a flavor itself. my casanova-date's rigatoni was better, but still not out of this world. overall, i think it's good for drinks but would ultimately choose elsewhere for food.
(2)Modibo S.
We went to Frasca just for a drink before heading up the street to Terragusto for dinner - my wife wanted a kir royale. The place was absolutely packed, but there were a few seats at the bar. The interior reminded me strangely of an underground beer cellar / bar in Prague I was once in. Obviously this is the place to go with a group - not for an intimate dinner. There seemed to be a lot of merriment. The bartender got to us immediately with a menu, and came back promptly to take our order - I can't complain about that. My wife's kir royale came immediately, and the barkeep poured the Italian white flight as soon as he had gathered up the bottles he needed. One thing that made an impression on me was that when one of my glasses came up just barely short, he went and opened a new bottle and topped me up. Frankly I wouldn't have noticed... but then again I'm sure he was going to pour more of that wine, so it's not like it was just for my benefit. But he wasn't taking shortcuts. The food looked great but I can only comment on the wine. My wife was a little disappointed with her kir royale - a little too much Chambord for her taste. The white flight was nice, and an interesting mix. There was a fragrant, fruity Friulano, a dry Pinot Bianco, and a very interesting Soave that they described as fruity and "creamy." What struck me was the full creaminess and slight sweetness, combined with the tree fruit flavors - it tasted not unlike a good dry Belgian ale, maybe a golden ale (they're fruity and not too hoppy). I would go back here for pizza, but it's a long way away.
(4)Mia P.
My parents picked this place, so they made reservations for 8 and my boyfriend and I met them there. Even though the reservations were made, we still had to wait in the front area for about 20 minutes [it was cold out]. They were not very accommodating to us, the staff pretty much just stared at us like we were inconveniencing them. Aside from the poor hosting and the ultra dimness, the food was great. My parents loved their take on calamari and my boyfriend really enjoyed their bruschetta. All in all, I don't think I'd go back unless it was somebody else's suggestion.
(3)Kelly C.
I seriously loved my experience at Frasca. I take the brown line all the time and look out my window to see Frasca. I've never heard any of my friends talk about this place so I wasn't even sure what kinda of food it was. My husband and I went there last weekend and it was really great. The atmosphere is relaxing and chill but nice enough to go on a date. I loved everything we ordered and I already know what I would get if I go again. We tried the bruschetta (you choose 3 kinds from a list of about 6 or 7) we had Goat Cheese/Red Pepper, Ricotta Cheese, Pistachios, Honey and Brie with Apples. They were all excellent and the bruschetta bread was perfect. Honestly, the perfect bread! For dinner I had the Wrightwood Salad and loved it. My husband had a Chicken Entree with Fingerling Potatoes and Asparagus. I can't wait to go back and try their Cheese to start and Pasta or Pizza for my entree. I also had the white wine flight which was really good. I loved all 3 wines. They were really decent sized pours and only $14.00. I really liked it and I was surprised at how laid back it was. You should go and check it out for a nice, relaxing night with friends or for a date.
(4)Cynthia G.
I recently had a free night with my fiance so we decided on going somewhere we hadn't been yet. We decided on Frasca bc it looked like a cool place to go and we both like wine, as it's a wine bar. Our first impressions were great. There was outdoor seating and the decor was done very well. With a centrally located bar and mood lighting throughout it certainly had a intimate date like feel about it, however the food, service and prices left more to be desired. When we first got there it wasn't crowded. There were several tables left open and we were seated right away. We ordered a couple of martini's as their Thursday night special was $6 Stoli martini's. As I would have liked some wine the cheapest glass they had was $8 so martini's it was. Not that I'm complaining but hey we "save" were we can. Ha. After perusing the menu we decided upon the calamari for an appetizer. For entrees, I got the handmade gnocchi's in a red sauce and my fiance got the pork marsala. After ordering, the bread came out and it was 3 pieces of french bread, rather small as I'm used to being overwhelmed by bread at restaurants but no worries bc we had the calamari coming. When the calamari came out it looked delicious and it was except for the ketchup like cocktail sauce. At this point we had already gotten our drinks and apparently the bartendar doesn't 't like to rinse out the shaker bc my dirty martini tasted like chocolate...yum and had chunks of ice in it. Throughout the meal we had two different waitresses. After my fiance finished his first Martini, he ordered another one but never received it. Mind you it was a Thursday night and neither the bar nor the restaurant was crowded. Our original waitress was seen busing tables and what seemed to be waitressing the patio as well. Maybe they cut staff as times are tough but service was mediocre at best. The food came out shortly after we finished the app and it looked great however the portion size, for the money, of the gnocchi was tiny. We did notice that everything seemed to be very "over-herbed" and definitely tasted that way. The gnocchi's and the pork marsala were both good but neither were worth the $15 and $18 we paid for them. Both could have been $4-$5 less. Once we asked for the check we canceled the last drink order, since we never got it anyway. The waitress(es) both realized we weren't that happy and did give us a gift certificate for our next visit. Frasca touts itself as a pizza and wine bar so maybe we should have just stuck with that. Seeing as we now have a gift certificate maybe we'll return for another shot. Again, we loved the atmosphere but we thought the food and drinks were overpriced and the service was meh.
(2)michael p.
I was only going to give Frasca four stars because it was overrun with children. But as I see on the web-site, children eat free every day 4:30-6pm. We arrived at 6 so the throngs of children were finishing up dinner and it was quite loud. I can't really knock a place for being family(kid)-friendly. It went down to a normal buzz of a busy restaurant after 6:30. There was a pizza making class going on and it looked like a lot of fun, something I will definitely try in the future (held every 3rd Thursday of the month). We had the filet medallions and they were perfect. The pizza was excellent too so I will be torn as what to order next time. Great food, and wine selection with friendly staff, I don't know what more one could expect.
(5)Dennis L.
I visited Frasca for brunch with some friends. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and menu looked delicious. I chose to go with the special of the day: Eggs Benedict Pizza. The pizza consisted of 3 eggs over easy, cheese, prosciutto, and a some hollandaise. It was a great breakfast pizza and certainly hit the spot. Our server was very friendly and never let me see the bottom of my glass. Overall, a wonderful experience.
(4)Clone Pilot R.
This restaurant/bar has all the qualities one looks for in a top restaurant...stellar food and interesting menu. What sets it apart from the masses of mediocre restaurants in the Chicago area is the attention to detail and fantastic service. If there is even the slightest thing amiss the staff promptly pounce all over it to make it right, without even being asked. Very old-school customer service and a good reason to frequent this lovely restaurant on a regular basis.
(5)Scott N.
I'm sorry, but an Italian restaurant that doesn't make its pasta fresh can't get more than 3 stars. That said, it was tasty. Service was good. Outdoor seating a huge plus. A-OK
(3)Natasha C.
Seems like this would be a great date spot. We order 2 pizzas and I had a sangria. The Sangria was EXCELLENT. I've had one too many waters down "grias" in my day and this one was RIGHT! Thank you Frasca. The husband and I sat down immediately and went right to work on scouring the menu. We decided on two pizzas but we were tempted by the whitefish special. We have promised ourselves to come back for that one. I really like the ambiance here. Dim lights, warm candlelights. Seems like a place I'd want to come on a snowy Chicago evening. We sat close to the oven but we weren't hot at all. Server was great and not a helicopter server. We liked him very much. I wish I could eat more but I just couldn't get that last slice in my tummy. Thanks heavens for carry out boxes. We shall return.
(5)Laura C.
I was new to the area, and excited to see something outside of my Damen/Division/Milwaukee world. I met my best friend for dinner, and we decided to get the sparkling wine flight-- 3 glasses for $14. Now, I have had a few flights in my day, and I was disappointed that our server did not explain them to us, or suggest an order to drink them. Wildfire does a nice job with that! The 3 offerings tasted somewhat similar to me, and it was too bad that there were no sweeter options in the three. On to the food.. we went on Wednesday, which we found out was buy one pizza, get one free night. Yes! We decided on the margherita and the pepperoni. I really enjoyed the margherita... the crust was a bit salty which I liked, and there was a lot of fresh basil on top. Excellent! The pepperoni pizza was too spicy for me. There was some interesting Italian word in the description of the pepperoni pizza that we asked about... it meant spicy pepperoni, and they weren't kidding! I might go back again for Wed. pizza night.
(3)KM Y.
Frasca never gets old. The pizzas are always reliably good. There's always a good deal to be had (1/2 off bottles of wine; buy one, get one pizzas) and I like the atmosphere. The only "meh" thing I've ever tasted is the calamari. Not exceptional, but not horrible. Living near Frasca helps. I am not sure how often I would trek across town for it, but it's a great neighborhood spot for dine in or carry out.
(4)Nick M.
I know I use the adjective fantastic a lot but this place really is a fantastic modern pizzeria!! What is it about a Calamari, Salad, Pizza combo that hits the spot every time?! Throw in friendly staff, a killer jukebox, and stiff drinks and you'll have the perfect evening! You feel it (I don't know what IT is but it's true) right when you walk in the door, Frasca's warm contemporary Italian design just sets the mood. I don't know about you but dark wood and leather gets me going, then with the lights dimmed, friendly faces, and Italian cuisine filling the air... oooohh yeaaaah. Also, it helps to that the the pizza rocked. The Calamari however, needs some work. But round it out with a nice wine list (hence being a wine bar), a patio, weekly deals to save money, and near the Brown el line. What reason do you have not to go?! This place works if you need a nice date spot or just for a few friends to hang out.
(4)Nichole F.
Frasca was great! We started off with the donuts which were the perfect appetizer and so yummy! I was boring with my order and got two eggs over easy, sausage, toast and hash browns. As boring as that is, it was very good. Everyone I was with ordered a pizza and they all looked good too. Next time I will have to try one. We split a skillet cookie - YUM! The prices were decent. They had a $14 bottomless mimosa special for brunch. I loved the decor in the restaurant. The only thing I didn't like was their one person bathrooms. Every time I had to go, I had to wait.
(4)Anna P.
Great ambiance. Best gnocchi in Chicago. Pizzas are good too. Great wine & beer selection. My favorite Italian restaurant in town!
(5)Al D.
Forget the pizza, screw the wine. Just go to create your own antipasto platter. You'll see a custom-order list for "appetizers" (but it's actually authentic antipasto components) on your table, and you can choose between order four or eight combinations. Not to sound like a snob...but I'm a 1st gen Italian-American, lived in Italy, and was just there last month. Frasca's got the real stuff - not garbage like at some pizza-pasta joint. Salami with fennel - and I'd have to sneak this in my luggage returning from my family's town. Lupini beans, bruschetta with cheese and fruit and honey. Impeccable. The pizzas and dinners also look fantastic - frutti di mare (Italian seafood delicacies) with seasonal fagioli ( beans), wood-fired pizzas. The only thing that prevents me from giving Frasca five stars is that if you are sitting in the bench area along the wall, you'll be very, very close to the tables on either side of you. Try to score a regular table instead. Also, prices aren't budget friendly. I'm coming here again.
(4)Chris H.
We have been here a couple of times since we moved to this area last summer. I was enticed to go back after the hostesses kept coming out to offer my thirsty German Shepherd some water and a treat each time that we passed by running down Paulina. Thanks ladies, Preston appreciates your generosity. We went last night and started with the Risotto fritters and the Veal Marinara Meatballs. Both were prepared almost perfectly and showcased the balance between the savory sage and the tomato-y tang of the sauce. My wife ordered the Chicken Saltimboca and I ordered the Filet Medallions with the Potato Gnocchi and Mushrooms. A good call all around, although I liked the Chicken better than the Filet. The two things that I didn't love: they assess a $20 corkage fee, which is a bit steep, even by Napa standards. In addition, for reasons that escape facile explanation, they saw fit to blast Top-40 music over the noise of the crowded establishment, which made conversation a challenge, as I was seated directly underneath a speaker, which hung over my head like the proverbial Sword of Damocles. We're excited to try their pizza special on Wed. night. I would say that this is a step down from Francesca's but it offers good value and good service. We'll be back before too long.
(4)R B.
Frasca! Say it aint so!!!!! Rumor has it that you've been taken over by new management that is CORPORATE with background from The Cheesecake Factory! (Noooooooooooo!) Unfortunately it's already showing. I have been a huge fan of Frasca for the last year or so. I've had brunch, lunch and dinner there and have enjoyed everything. I've brought a lot of friends there and spread the word. The service has always been stellar, the food fresh, UNIQUE and delicious. One of my favorites has been the "Infamous Wrightwood Salad". I loved it's pulled chicken, generous portions of avocado that you could see, sweet craisens, crispy toasted almonds and more. Yesterday I ordered it and was bamboozled, perplexed, and taken aback! Gone were the luscious slices of avocado (apparently it's still in there - but hard to find), absent were the craisens and almonds, and the juicy chunks of chicken replaced by sliced chicken that tasted like deli meat. Bleck. PLEASE don't fall subject to the corporate cookie cutter menu and mentality. It's possible to have more than one restaurant and maintain their unique qualities. Stay true to your integrity and high quality. If I want Cheesecake Factory, Chili's, Outback, Red Lobster, etc. I'll go to the suburbs. Don't ruin a good thing.
(1)Tricia S.
Excellent service and I LOVED the bruschetta! $8 for 3 of any kind. YUMMY!
(5)Carri C.
I have been here several times and have always had positive experiences. The pizza, bruschetta, and cheese selections are nice choices. I have not had good luck with the cocktails and they are too expensive for what you get. Beer prices are too high as well-$6.50 for a Daisy Cutter?-should be no more than $5.50. The number of children in this place is unreal. To me, the decor and food do not reflect this is a "family friendly" restaurant, but it has turned into that scene. For me, this is a negative, but so far it has not ruined my experience. If you own a stroller, roll on in.....
(4)Adam S.
Went on a Saturday night so there was quite a wait. Clientele seemed to be all neighborhood types and it was pretty noisy to be sure. Atmosphere is nice though, candles on the tables and lights dim with good wood trim to give the place a comfortable vibe. Now on to the food: Starter bread was a nice warm half crusty loaf served with olive oil and freshly grated romano. We ordered a beet salad and the caesers to start. Both were sizable and tasty. While the caesers dressing was homemade, it missed the anchovy flavor a classic caeser dressing has, but it was good and creamy and fattening nonetheless. Then we both decided on ordering pizza. I got the capone which was sausage and roasted onions with a marinara sauce. The ingredients were fresh and plentiful. The crust was good, but I would say a level below some of the other wood fired ovens in the area like Spaconapoli. That said, it did hold up to all the ingredients and had a nice char on the edges so complements to the kitchen for not under baking. Service was attentive and friendly even though they were clearly quite busy. We sat at the bar when we checked in with the hostess who told us our wait time had doubled from her original estimate. All in all a really nice upscale pizza evening out.
(4)Sara S.
Awesome place to grab drinks and dinner with friends or to on a date. The patio is fairly small, but right on lincoln and good for people watching. Inside is romantic, cozy and a big bar in the middle to grab drinks. I love wine, but not a snob/like yellowtail as much as more pricey wines- at any rate, the wine I've had there has always been good. The pizza is great and if you go on wed for buy one get one free it's a deal you can't pass up. We got the capatona with is all veggies. Great with huge chunks of artichokes & mushrooms but also thought it was a bit watery bc of all the veggies. We also got the margarita pizza and added mushrooms- that was our favorite. Big, fresh slices of basil on it. Delicious! The most recent visit I didn't get brushetta but got it before and remember loving it. Try it out!!
(4)Phil C.
Unfortunately I had a bad experience the last visit to Frasca. Went with a group of 4 and we all ordered drinks and entrees. Unfortunately my entree didn't come out at the same time as everyone else's. Once it did come out, it was a completely different plate. We were outside and the staff and waitress was nowhere to be found. Finally I flagged down a bus boy who helped me. The waitress finally came out saying they had given my plate to another table and were getting another plate ready. Things happen, right? Well, I waited.....and waited. Then the manager came out to apologize. He was a younger guy, but at this point everyone in my party was almost done and now waiting for my plate so they could finish. He started to ask "can I get you......." Followed by "more water". I'm not looking for a free-bee, but a drink on the house seemed like a reasonable apology. The waitress came back out, no offer. My food was rushed and not the normal quality. Got the check, no discount, no sorry, nothing. Unprofessional in my book.
(2)Katie F.
The butcher block appetizer is awesome--you can pick and choose whatever you want. Frasca's pizza is great. Their skillet cookie is the best around!
(4)Katherine M.
LOVE this place. interior is so beautiful, homey, and cozey. service is excellent and friendly. everything i've ordered here has been very good, esp. the wrightwood salad, the rigatoni, brushetta, and filet. the cookie skillet is delicious. great wine by the glass selection. yummy bloody marys. yummy margaritas too.
(5)joe t.
I don't know what's going on this week. But me having multiple 5 star joints is unheard of. First off service fast, friendly, and knowledgable. 2nd bottomless mimosas. Need I say more. I had the grilled chicken panini. Fantastic. The wife had Paulina Street omelet. Fabulous! And our son had scrambled eggs with sausage. And I have to say its the best sausage I've had in this country by far. Our server Jeff was right on the money!! Highly recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Jacques M.
I use the Paulina el stop everyday on my way to work and have been eying this place for months. However, every time I walked by, the outdoor patio was littered with strollers. I may be in the minority (in the Roscoe Village area) but nice restaurants with Italian food, wine, and tons of babies...don't mix. However, curiosity finally got the best of me and we decided to give it a try. The dishes were excellent (we both ordered pasta dishes) and we got a great wine flight, with 3 full glasses for around $13 (pretty decent wine). I've since been back for brunch and was fairly impressed considering it's a Pizzeria/Italian restaurant. There omelets are a great option and there is enough seating that you shouldn't have to wait long (if at all for brunch) Overall, its a good option for established couples who just want so good food and wine. Keep in mind it can get a little loud and there are usually children running around, so it may not be an ideal romantic date spot (or ideal if your looking for peace & quiet). Conversely, if your parents looking to get a decent glass of wine, in a moderately upscale place were it's socially acceptable to bring small children this is a great option.
(4)Elizabeth S.
So painfully average. The only semi-decent restaurant in the entire west lakeview area, of course it's crowded when they have so much stroller parking available! I've drunkenly made pasta better than this. They have a decent wine selection, average beer selection and waaaaay too many kids. Fine if you need a quick sit down bite to eat but don't expect anything stunning.
(2)Kristy B.
Chorizo stuffed bacon wrapped dates = looooooove Never had a bad meal here. Think I've tried all the pizzas and have enjoyed them all. Impressive wine selection. Fantastic house sangria as well. Beautiful space. Great date spot I'd say.
(4)Brian S.
As many of the other reviews have mentioned, Frasca is kid-friendly, which works great for us because...wait for it, here it comes...we have a kid. Frasca is always consistent, and this past Friday night was no exception. Yes, at 6 on a Friday, they're going to be busy, and yes there will be lots of kids. Probably not the best time and pace for an intimate date. However, the charcuterie selections are delightful, the wine selection reasonable, and ample choices of beer abound (yes, those of us with kids still drink, and often times it takes the edge off of "daddy daddy daddy mommy mommy daddy..." The meatball appetizer is lovely, the pizzas are great (I had the Soprano, wife had the Margherita) and most of the pasta dishes are tasty. Of course, for dessert, the skillet cookie is always a hit, but don't let it burn your mouth. We're never disappointed here, and it's great for a parents' night out or a place to get together with other families.
(4)Mark S.
I love Frasca. I didn't want to at first. Frasca's popular with the stroller crowd on weekends, and wine drinking girls in the evening-- not my normal people. But the fact remains, both the dinner and brunch menu is 100% dependable and inexpensive... and often surprisingly good! The wine and beer list is great, and I love the staff. Just a few trips and they remember me? Stop and say hi even? Yeah. The fifth star is for all of the above, plus almost never being so crowded (even on a sat night or sun AM) to get a table, a nice decor, and just not disappointing me in any real way. This is one of my rare, all-purpose, never-let-me-down, places for a bite to eat. It's perfect at what it's trying to be.
(5)Jacqueline M.
Bought a Bid My Way for this place and dragged my boyfriend -- and we both loved it! We both ordered pizzas. He built his own and I got the Capone. SO DELICIOUS! One pizza was enough to share if you're not looking to get stuffed, but we each got our own to share. We really wanted to try the bruschetta but we came in during brunch hours on a Sunday and weren't on the menu until 3pm. The upside to coming in on a Sunday was their craft beer specials, $3! We both got the Lagunitas craft, and it was awesome! Bitter, grapefruit after taste, but in a good way ;) Service was great -- we went around Halloween, and while it was loud, our waiter was very attentive and friendly. I recently won a Bid My Way voucher via Facebook for $25 worth and will be back this week to take advantage of BOGO free pizza on Wednesdays!
(5)Steve T.
Pizza is good, service is great, everyone is attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and specials. I highly recommend the pizzas, and need to try the pasta dishes... but have had the dates as well as the meat and cheese platter. The sangria by the glass is pretty good, but I wish they had a pitcher option. I think it'd make sense, but I can also see why they would rather have everyone buy by the glass. As an aside, if you are looking for a date and happen to enjoy the company of cougars, you probably will be approached and hit on by a pack of them... in coordinated fashion. 3 cougars, 3 perfectly timed pick-up lines vs 2 vulnerable-looking 20 somethings looking svelte enjoying pizza at the bar before a night out. It was hilarious, I loved it, and so did they. Rawr. ;)
(4)Laila C.
The Capone and the Prosciutto pizza are DELICIOUS! I've only been here twice but have had a very good time both times. The atmosphere is very relaxed, good for couples or friends hanging out. The pizzas are fantastic! I love the thin delicious crust that goes really well with their rosemary infused olive oil, and fresh toppings on all their pizzas. I'd definitely suggest going on a weeknight for one of their awesome specials. The pizzas or wine at full price can be a little pricey. Pizzas range from $10-14, good for one person. Wine's start at $8/glass or $28/bottle It's an awesome date place for a relaxing weekday night. p.s. definitely try the charcuterie list, really delicious meats and cheeses.
(4)Jim A.
Frasca is a fantastic kid friendly place - the pizza is great, and the brunch is excellent. We go all the time!
(4)Lee P.
This is just a delightful place. Good mix of families, 30-something's and seniors like me. Brick oven pizzas are top notch. Good list of wines by the glass.
(4)David L.
Just talking breakfast, the breakfast pizza is excellent! Get it with the egg and prosciutto. I also live the Nutella stuffed french Toast if you have a sweet tooth. Great with the bottomless coffee! My wife also had the Italian beef eggs benedicts and was really happy with her dish. As for regular meals, I think the pizza is a little pricy, but great deal on Wednesday when it's buy one pizza get one free!
(4)Matthew F.
Frasca is always a delight. Great staff, drink list, and food. The pizza is absolutely delicious. If you're around the area, I highly recommend checking it out. Also make sure to have a bloody Mary. My oh my.
(5)Kristin R.
I've been to Frasca a few times now and every experience is enjoyable. They have excellent daily specials, including my favorite: 1/2 price bottle of wine night on Tuesdays. Wednesdays is buy one pizza, get one pizza free. I believe they also have a Sangria special. In any case, check their website before you go and see which special suits you best. I typically stick to the margherita pizzas, although they do have quite the selection. There are only two choices that are veggie though, out of about 10, so not a huge selection for you non meat eaters. The margherita pizza is just OK, nothing really spectacular, and I feel like the dough is missing salt or something; it's just sort of blah. They also have a nice selection of salads and some other meat and pasta dishes to choose from in case pizza isn't your scene. This is a wine bar, as well as a restaurant, so they have an expansive list of wines for most every palate, and at reasonable prices. Frasca would be a great place to come in the summer, as they have a huge outdoor seating area, and the windows to the restaurant are floor to ceiling, and retractable, making this restaurant nice and airy on the prettiest of summer evenings. Frasca is a short walk from my house, so I'm sure I'll be back to indulge in at least a glass of wine.
(4)Lauren B.
For brunch alone I give this 5 stars. We have lived down the street from Frasca for a while but have never made it over. Just went this morning for birthday brunch with family (made a reservation - definitely suggest this since it's a pretty hoppin spot) and it was INCREDIBLE. The food was outstanding. At the table we had the Italian Farmhouse Breakfast, Breakfast Pizza, Fried Egg Sandwich and poached eggs and every dish was spot-on. I literally almost licked my plate clean. Top it off with delicious bloody marys and their bottomless mimosas...and I really would be there every weekend if I could. Surprisingly affordable considering the quality and amount of food you get. Can't wait to try it for dinner. Fantastic!
(5)Justin M.
Ok, we've been to Frasca quite a lot and this is really a long overdue review. We've had breakfasts there with our whole family - 20 of us and I haven't written a review. We probably go there every three or four weeks and I still haven't written about this place that we find ourselves going to. Not that anyone is losing sleep, but about time I wrote hey! Usually we get either the Pizza, or the crostini and pasta. The pizzas are really good (recommend the potato pizza among others) - crust is thin but really has the flavor of the wood oven. Sometimes if the crust is too thick you just don't get the right level of crispness, but usually here they have it down and they are consistently good. The breakfast pizza is also good overall. The crostini is another favourite - they are quite tasty and there is a good variety overall. The white bean/balsamic is on par to what I make at home - I like the smoked salmon a lot, but even the simple ones like apple and brie are quite tasty, and they are always served on nice crispy bread. Entree's are also good - we used to get the parpadelle but now there is the gnocchi which is a bit of a treat. I wish there were a couple more pasta options as sometimes four is not enought to choose from, and the range of entree's is a little narrow at times. That said, the food is pretty consistent overall. Sunday's have the $3 beers, which is very important and is a real draw card. Beer range is quite reasonable too. The staff are also friendly and know the menu and wines pretty well. Well played Frasca.
(4)Tim Y.
Pretty darn good sangria, and very tasty pizza. My only complaint is that it's really, really noisy. So noisy that it was uncomfortable. Definitely not where you want to take a first date if you want to have a conversation. Trust me. Bruschettas are all quite tasty. Go with the "pick 3" and explore. I really liked the dried tomatoes/mozzarella as well as the blue cheese/grapes. The other was unmemorable. The "Rustica" pizza was fantastic. Thin crust, prosciutto, dried tomatoes, basil pesto and provolone. It all worked very well. One pizza affords about 6 generous slices, so it's just enough to share with a friend. Service was snappy and pleasant. Various people brought various items throughout the meal - the server only dropped by a couple of times in the beginning and once at the end.
(4)Melissa H.
Here's what you need to know about Frasca: 1. Very fresh, large, and interesting brunch options, including bottomless mimosas. 2. Free street parking (but check the Cubs game signs) 3. Wonderful bruschetta options, with a customizable form. You like traditional? Red peppers? Goat cheese? Truffles? They're all options, and all delicious! 4. Pasta options are plentiful and very fresh, although heavy at times. 5. Avoid during prime dinner times (especially on the weekend); 90 minutes plus wait times may hit you. All in all, I highly recommend this place for solid Italian options and interesting brunch options if you're in the mood for some new material. The service has been both outstanding and rude on separate occasions. Perhaps with more visits, I will be able to update you on what is the norm.
(4)Stephen F.
Frasca is a fine neighborhood meet or date spot. Plusses include good wine and cheese lists, tasty pizzas, and bartenders who will be happy to keep your secret. It is a neighborhood spot, so service can be a bit spotty and the food isn't perfect. My friend's chicken wasn't evenly cooked, and my salad came right out of a fridge. All minor gripes to be sure. I recommend Frasca for a chill conversation or a one-night stand.
(3)Virginia T.
I met a friend there after work. He was late and the servers were great with checking on me before he got there. They are right under the brown line, so really easy to get to and have a little patio area as well (though I sat inside). They have a pretty good beer list-though its not listed on the web anywhere and its a limited selection. I ordered the Caponata pizza (eggplant, goat cheese, artichoke hearts, mushrooms and red peppers) and J ordered the Roasted Potato Pizza (roasted onions, bacon, fingerling potatoes, 3 cheeses and he opted for the egg too). The Caponata was good but the Roasted Potato was AWESOME. I might go back just for that pizza. The crust was thin and crispy too. The waitress was great. For a Friday night there was a lot of kids in there. I know some people said this place was romantic, I didn't really see that as much.
(4)Natalie S.
Had a wonderful summer outdoor dining experience with a small group of friends. The pizzas are reasonably priced and definitely for sharing. The salmon was delicious and the pastas looked great. The service was also quick and easy. I'll definitely be returning to this cute spot.
(4)Abhay S.
Excellent experience. Came here for brunch with some friends after shopping at the Building Blocks store down the street. I had the fresh fruit pancakes and my wife had a panini sandwich. Both were excellent and we would return. Very kid friendly as well.
(4)Julia J.
I've been here twice, both on nights when they had a deals going. First time was the buy one, get one pizza night. Pizzas were good. Not great, but not bad. If you're hungry you can finish the whole thing off. If not, you can take some home. Works for me. Second night was 1/2 priced bottles of wine night. Got the pizza again because I was too lazy to look into the other menus. Left feeling wine drunk and full, but not stuffed. Overall, it was a good experience, and I'll probably go back. It's a good place for the weeknights, catching up with a friend or ditching out on cooking. I wouldn't necessarily go there for a date, but it's good for a girls night out or a casul week night dinner.
(4)Fulgencio M.
My only problem with Frasca is that it's across the street from a train station. No, it's not noisy or anything. It's just that whenever I eat there, I have to look at people who take public transportation. Frasca has become a neighborhood stop for me, which means every time I'm in the neighborhood, I stop, look at it, and then pass right by. But no, really, ever since I moved north from warm and wonderful MiAmI beAcH, I can't get enough of Frasca's drink specials (and uh, food too, I guess). Frasca has lots of special nights for wine-o's like me. Mondays are 1/2 off bottles. Tuesdays are 1/2 off glasses. Sundays are $3 drafts. I'm still waiting for the night when those cute server boys are 1/2 off... OOOH cHiLd, they're thin and bearded and look like they just got off shift at American Apparel. I'd compost for any of those hedonistic hipsters. So what was I saying? Oh right, alcohol. The wine list is largely Washington/Oregon. I think Oregon is the capital of Washington. Or the other way around. Either way, I've never been to Canada, so I can't tell you for sure. All I know is that this guy named "Owen Roe" is very popular on their wine list, and boy do his wines lighten up my sad, lonely life. Whenever I try to burn my cheating boyfriend's wardrobe like that crazy loca in Waiting to Exhale and the cops lock me up for weeks at a time, it's good to know that I can go right to Frasca and get drunk on my buddy Owen Roe. And for half off! Ugh, so you probably want to know about the food. I can sum it up in two words: Mushroom Risotto Fritters. Fried balls of perfection. And I know a thing or three about balls. I've ordered everything on the menu... from cabernet sauvignon, to cabernet franc, to sauvignon blanc, to--wait, which menu are we talking about? Oh, food? Oh, I don't eat--why are you asking me to talk about food? But whatever, the food is delicious. Pizzas are thin and cooked to perfection. The chicken breast is great if you're on a date and don't want to get gassy after the meal. The gnocchi is superb. The first time I saw that word I thought I was ordering Italian nachos. Boy was I right. So stop by Frasca. Especially on a Monday for 1/2 off bottles. I'll be there, and I expect that with the discount you'll have no problem sending a bottle my way. But if you're stuck taking the train on the Paulina line, and I have to stare at your sad public transportation face while I'm downing my fifth glass of cab franc, then don't be surprised if I Na NA na POO POO to you from the window. You deserve it. No one takes public trans anymore. Only city planners and the homeless. Which are basically one in the same. This has been a Review by Fulgencio
(5)Lacey W.
This is one of my favorite places for brunch. They have great deals on Mimosa's and the Farm table menu is amazing!
(5)Kyle P.
I really like this place. I have been a number of times and am always presently surprised. I guess I just don't think about it enough but the pizza is good. the gnocchi is out of this world and the service and wine is great and the music is always good
(5)David P.
Frasca is right down the street from us, so we go there on a regular basis for brunch and dinner. They have a great selection of pizzas (our favoirtes are the prosciutto and argula and the potato and bacon), bruschetta (apple and brie is my fav) and seasonally rotating pastas (farfalle with zucchini & squash was my standby in fall 2010, so it broke my heart when it didn't come back in 2011). The staff is all extremely firendly and helpful and the daily specials are worth paying a ttention do (2 for 1 pizza night on wednesdays is a great deal.)
(4)Kris R.
i love frasca! i used to frolick around this 'hood quite a bit a few years back and always loved coming here for dinner out on the patio. quite recently, i came here with a gf of mine on a wednesday night, which is BOGO pizza. pretty kick ass. my absolute fave thing on the menu is their farmers table menu - pick 4 or 8 items from the menu. that's actually my favorite thing to do at any place that has something like this. this time around we picked 4: mozz/basil/tomato bruschetta ricotta/pistach/honey bruschetta sopresatta delice de bourgogne all awesome. slap that meat, cheese, homemade jam on some effing bread. amaze. we also ordered 2 pizzas - the capone and the caponata. we were so full from the famers table that we ate one slice of each and took the rest to go. i'll be coming back to drink and get more of that farmers table on a beautiful summer night on out on the patio.
(4)Damian C.
My pizza was A-MAZ-ING The wine was excellent The brie and apple bruschetta - DIVINE! I could have made a meal just out of that!
(5)Josh C.
If it's busy the wait is ALWAYS terrible even if you have a reservation. A reservation here means you will have a table in 10-20 minutes. This has happened to us multiple times. The food is good but it's not worth being told time and time again "ten more minutes." It's as if you are stuck in that episode of Seinfeld.
(2)Sarah Z.
Maybe if I ate meat, I'd love this place more. But the vegetarian selection of pizza's are not too creative or plentiful. The pizza we did have was good, but I was not blown away. My date had a pasta dish that seemed very oily. Also this place calls itself a wine bar? Then they would know that the wine needed to be chilled just a bit. I had a pinot noir that was way too warm for my liking. Our Waitress was totally in the weeds, so the service was not great. We sat at the bar, but the dining tables did not seem very desirable. Perhaps this is the place to go during the summer and dine al fresco? I did like the infused olive oil they serve with bread. Will I go back? Perhaps.
(3)Johnny R.
Short: Nicely decorated, nice staff, average entrees and pricey alchohol Long: It was my 4 yr old's birthday, so the inlaws drove into town and we all piled into a wagon... and off to Frasca we went. I have never eaten here, so I was impressed by how nicely the space was decorated. It was really sharp. The staff was very friendly. We thought that the alcohol was a little spendy, and my thrifty father in law couldn't his head around the micro brew beers so he did eventually order a glass of sauvignon blanc. My wife had the rigatoni which had a good flavor. I had the roasted chicken with fingerling potatoes. The potatoes were good. The sauce at the bottom of the bowl was a little too heavy on the garlic, it was rough. I was excited by the chicken, it looked great. But bite after bite, it was overly salted. I've done the same thing too at home. Salt is easily overdone, a little goes a long way. But the location is fun, it's kid-friendly, and the space is nicely appointed, and the stuff is very nice. But for the picky foodist, 2 stars solely based on the food but not the other aspects.
(2)Helena B.
After seeing this adorable pizzeria twice daily as I walk to and fro from the Paulina Brown Line stop, I knew I had to stop in, preferably while it was still warm enough to sit outside. Done and done. Boyfriend and I snagged a table and started to search the menu for beverages. The drink menu is predominantly wine, but we are avowed beer drinkers. Frasca has a few on tap, including seasonal Octoberfest beers, so just ask your server if you are similarly inclined when it comes to imbibing. To start, Wild Mushroom Risotto Fritters. What is a risotto fritter, you ask? We didn't know either, which is why we ordered them. Turns out they are fried mac & cheese's classier, more sophisticated cousin; crispy breaded outside, warm, mushroom inside. We like. Next, we split the Caponata pizza. I'm mad for goat cheese, and Frasca did not hold back - the pie was liberally covered with the stuff. Other toppings (eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, artichokes) likewise did not disappoint. Now, a note: Frasca does thin crust, wood-fired pizza. So, you grew up in Chicago and like things a little more deep-dish? Come to Frasca's to break out of your pizza rut - they do thin crust quite well. Crispy yet chewy, it is the perfect platform for your toppings. Trust me. Generally, post-pizza, our meal would be over. However, I happened to scan the menu and see that they had skillet cookies for dessert. I don't think I've ever met a cookie I don't like (well, except for ones with macadamia nuts...) so I knew I'd be partaking. Boyfriend was easily persuaded. Warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream: can't go wrong with that.
(4)Q M.
This is really more of a 3.5 star place, but I'm rounding up. No complaints, my meal was good. It wasn't great, but it was good. We started out with the fondue which was definitely 4-star worthy. Our wine was ok, and my pasta was ok, but my companions loved their pizzas. Our server was great and very helpful. So, overall, it was good and I'll give Frasca another go.
(4)Ay D.
We wandered into Frasca at the tail end of the Memorial Day weekend. Surprising to find such a charming and stylish spot with tons of patio and window seating in such gorgeous weather! Great patio and the windows by the booths open up to the patio - not a bad place to sit in the entire house. The risotto mushroom balls were orgasmic. They had a falafel-like texture on the outside with a hearty, creamy center. Salads were solid, as well. We experienced major food envy after spotting the butcher's block at the next table. Holy charcuterie! Gotta order that next time. Finished off our meal with gnocchi with wood-grilled mushrooms, peas, and chicken - chock full of rustic goodness without being too heavy for the summer patio scene. The bar is ideal for the sophisticated liver abuser. Excellent wine list - plenty of choices by the glass and an extensive bottle listing of white, rose, and red. Wonderful draft selection - local superstars such as Half Acre, Bell's, Domaine DuPage, as well as classics like Anchor Steam. One could get spoiled on the awesome revolving drink specials - $3 drafts, 1/2 off bottles, 1/2 off glasses, $6 martinis.
(4)Stephen B.
Food and service were good - do try the prosciutto pizza. Giving it four stars because my girlfriend didn't like the place - she's a pain in the ass sometimes.
(4)Jeffrey D.
Love the breakfast pizza and fried egg sandwich. Generous portions. Very tasty bloodies with an optional strip of bacon and a little beer chaser. They don't open till 10 so good for a leisurely start to the day. Child friendly with nice outdoor seating on both Roscoe and Paulina sides.
(4)Lara T.
Strong selection of various wines and complementary brick oven pizzas. Very romantic inside, enjoyable outdoor seating as well. The servers were informative, made smart recommendations and were very attentive. p.s. Highly recommend the skillet cookie.
(4)Corin C.
Great antipasto made to order platters, wood burning pizzas love the Wrightwood salad which is loaded with everything. Friendly service & a casual & inexpensive spot with good food.
(4)Derek B.
Very friendly and efficient staff. I've only been here for brunch, but the food was great. The bottomless mimosa deal is a very good deal. Can't wait to visit for dinner.
(4)Ms L.
Loved this place. Stopped in on a very random Saturday with my BFF and was so impressed by the service. The cheese plate and mushroom risotto were well prepared and the waiter provided us with great wine recommendations. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Julie Z.
I've been here several times and have always been pleased. Great pizza and apps. Excellent Bloody Mary's. 2 thumbs up for ambiance. Great for brunch, lunch or dinner. Check it out!
(4)Danielle C.
Hmmmm... breakfast pizza? Eggs on Pizza? Maybe it is me, I can be picky, but it just sounds strange. Being conservative (yup, sometimes, really- only when it comes to food) I opted for a regular pizza. While we were having brunch- it was 1- so it was alright! I had the Margarita pizza and added Gorgonzola, goat cheese, and artichoke. IT ROCKED!!! CHEESY GOODNESS that hit the spot. Instead of using tomato slices they did use plum tomatoes-that did not make me thrilled, but other than that- it was great. One of my guys got the breakfast pizza with prosciutto. I tried a piece. Astoundingly- it was good. I am still a bit weirded out by the eggs on pizza- but with the prosciutto- it was awesome. My other friend had the scrambled egg sandwich and hash browns. It looked great! I need to give them props for the bottomless mimosas! That is definitely a brunch treat! Bloody Marys are not bad- but have to be ordered singly! We sat in one of the huge booths with the breeze blowing through the windows. It was a great spot for a nice and chill sunday brunch!
(4)Corie M.
Just moved across the street from Frasca. Now this is dangerous. Buy one get one free on Wednesdays! The most amazing pizza deal since the Hot n' Ready from Little Caesars....without that pesky cardboard taste of course. But they have so much more to offer. Their Brunch is a must (the side potatoes, yum), and their bruschetta (mushroom, goat cheese and truffle oil!). This place is responsible for my current goat cheese obsession. Lucky me. I'm only a hop, skip and a jump away.
(5)Brett F.
Did you know that Tuesdays are half-price wines night at Frasca?? I say 'wines' of course, because it's next to impossible for me to ever have just one glass of vino. At $5.00 p/glass I'm sure you'll feel the same at this cute Lakeview spot. Frasca is contemporary Italian; stylish inside complete with wine bar and retractable windows that gaze upon ample outdoor seating, ideal for some dinner and conversation on a nice summer night. The food was OK. We tried the bruschetta special, a tasty you pick 3 deal to be split amongst 3 of us... the odd thing was when served, all of the bruschettas were cut in half, for 3 ladies trying to share it made it difficult for everyone to get a little bite of each. Not a huge deal, just poorly thought out. The do-not-miss standout was the hand-dipped ricotta bruschetta with pistachio and honey, Mama Mia it was almost sinful. The Caponata Pizza had way more toppings than cheese and seemed a little dry to me... but Pizza is like sex you know, even when it's bad it's still pretty good. We got our green on and also shared 2 salads... the Caesar was, caesarish (read: good but boring) and the Wild Argula salad with crispy pancetta, apples and gorgonzola was fresh and delicious, would have loved to have seen some more cheese and pancetta though, Frasca was a bit skimpy with the fat stuff (read: my favorite part). Bottom Line: decent spot in the neighborhood, great choice if you want to sit outside, incredible bargain wine selection, nice specials throughout the week, it's worth a shot, Brett said so.
(3)Morgan M.
Stopped in here Friday night since the weather was great and wanted to be out and about for a nice dinner. We were seated in no time at all. Unfortunately, I took quite awhile for someone to come take our drink order and then even longer to get them. That being said after the drinks came we had good service and very good food. It was the perfect Friday night dinner. We did the pick your own app thing and did a couple of flatbreads and a meat and cheese. All was very good. My husband had the potato pizza and added an egg which he LOVED! I had spaghetti pomodoro and it was totally worth the guilt of having pasta! We skipped out on dinner and walked to Scooter's nearby. Frasca was very good and we will be back since we live close by.
(4)Meredith T.
We used to live in the neighborhood and enjoyed this place several times a month; however, i had never been for brunch. Last Sunday my besty and I tried it out. The Bloody Mary is fantastic and they also have bottomless mimosas. We ordered the breakfast pizza and it was life changing. The hash brown casserole couldn't have been better. Our server was excellent. He had my friend's next mimosa order placed even before she asked for it.
(5)Nikki S.
The pizzas were delicious and some unique choices. My only complaint, was they seated us next to the window when it was cold out, when there were plenty of empty seats. I guess I could have said something, but just odd. Would still recommend going though!
(4)Renee P.
Really, you tried to slip us a different cheese? This place had great service, but terrible management/back of the house. My husband I went super early on Valentines Day, and we had to wait while the management jacked up the prices, and didn't honor their 1/2 off bottles on Mondays. The bruscettas we ordered were super yummy, but we also ordered a fancy goat cheese I've had before, but they delivered another cheese. When I asked the waitress if this was the cheese we ordered, she went back to the kitchen and discovered that the cheese we had ordered wasn't in stock. So I guess they just gave us whatever, thinking we wouldn't know the difference. We decided not to order dinner and left after returning the cheese. Total Fail
(2)Kelly M.
The pizza at Frasca is some of the best I've ever had. It reminded me of the pizza I had in Rome. A friend and I stopped in on a Wednesday night to take advantage of the "buy one, get one free" pizza deal. They were pretty crowded so we sat at the bar and watched the hockey game. The service was just so-so. They were very busy and we practically had to beg to order food hence why I gave Frasca four stars, otherwise it would have gotten five. We weren't in any hurry so it didn't bother me too much. The atmosphere was nice and not too loud. The crowd was young, but mature -- if that makes sense. This would be a great place for a casual date or to come with a group of friends. We ordered a Primavera Pizza (tomato sauce, asparagus, red onion, artichoke and lemon ricotta cheese) and a Caponata Pizza (tomato sauce, eggplant, goat cheese, red peppers, mushrooms and artichokes). Both were great, but the Primavera was definitely the best. The guy sitting next to us at the bar ordered the risotto mushroom balls which looked fantastic. I'd go back for just wine and cheese, or of course more pizza!
(4)Hanah V.
I love Frasca -- and everyone I have ever brought here does as well. The food is great, the atmosphere is nice, and the staff has always always been amazingly friendly -- no matter if you go on a crazy Saturday night or a more calm Tuesday night. I have gone just with one person, as well as large group of 12 and have great experiences. Love the seasonal salads they offer -- the bruschetta combinations are mind blowingly amazing -- did I mention they have a chocolate chip cookie in a skillet? And every pizza I've ever tried is delicious!
(5)Belinda E.
Our first visit, loved the dates wrapped in bacon, the meatballs (should offer a spicy option) and the gnocchi is delish! We will be back again.
(4)Brad K.
I've been to Frasca about a half dozen times, but only on weeknights because their wine specials are so great. Monday 1/2 off bottles. Tuesday 1/2 off glasses. My girlfriend and I could be accused of being creatures of habit, but when we find something that works we tend not to veer off course. At Frasca this means we always start with the Farmer's Table, basically their meat/cheese platter. You select 4 or 8 items and they come out on a rustic board. Each bruschetta option is great and you get two big pieces per order, but the mushroom and goat cheese option is the star. The meats and cheeses are always changing, but the servers seem to be up to date on them and are great with recommendations (beware: some cheeses are quite pungent). The board also comes with grapes, nuts, crackers and chutney/marmalade. We're always happy with the pizzas when we get them. The prosciutto with arugula is my favorite, but the margherita is also tasty. The atmosphere is bustling. We always sit in the front bar area at one of the booths. It's really nice in the summer when they open their windows up. The dining room falls into the trap of so many Chicago restaurants where you're closer to the person at the table next to you than your dinner companion. This is a pet peeve of mine so we never go back there. Other drawbacks: Panko-crusted calamari was subpar, not recommended. A bit over-priced for what it is if you don't get the wine deals. They have two TVs behind the bar, why? I love sports as much as anyone, but who goes to a wine bar to watch the White Sox game? Chicago bars need to feel confident enough to turn the damn TV off.
(4)Hugh B.
We moved into the neighborhood a couple months ago, and have been here several times. Here's the lowdown. The food is consistently good, and the service always attentive. We have found pizzas to be better than pastas or salads, although the pastas and salads are good. The pizzas are made to order and cooked in a wood-burning oven. The outdoor space is nice and very dog-friendly. (Cats are allowed only indoors.) Indoors can get REALLY loud, especially when it is crowded (like on a Wednesday night when they offer two pizzas for the price of one). That said, the Wednesday night special is pretty good and well worth putting up with a little noise. They run specials on other weeknights--like half price wine or half price martinis--but I think the two-for-one pizza is a big draw.
(4)Melissa R.
I was pleasantly surprised by this place. That sounds bad, because I didn't really have low expectations, just no expectations to begin with. I had passed by Frasca many times and have heard good things, but never really gave it a chance. I should learn from my mistakes because we had an excellent time. A few great things about this place right off the bat: * lots of indoor and outdoor seating * kid friendly (this actually might be a deterrent for some) * super nice staff that always had smiles on their face This is a perfect setting for catching up with friends, date night, or dinner with the family. It's so nice to sit outside with fresh flowers around us and lots of people watching to enjoy and no pressure to eat and get out. But the inside is also very charming with modern (but not trying too hard) decor and lighting. The food was fantastic, and reasonably priced. Of what I tried I loved all of it. To start: bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates (um...hello delicious!) and fresh bread (a little crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside). Dinner: Infamous Wrightwood Salad (love all the various fresh ingredients, didn't even need the dressing on the side) and the quattro formaggi pizza (the blend of mozzarella, gorgonzola, ricotta, provolone on a soft and thin crust was phenomenal). Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookie in a skillet with ice cream and caramel. It's one of those where if you think you'll only eat one bite, you are SO wrong. Bruschetta: You're thinking the standard tomato based concept, but here it's a whole lot more. You could eat it as an appetizer if you split it with people, or order it as your meal. The caprese and brie & apples are legit. This is officially in my rotation of new favorite places. I'm kind of hooked.
(5)Marty G.
Time for me to give some props to Frasca. Their brunch is top notch and so are the bloody marys. The fried egg sandwich is the best in the city and the new smoke daddy bloody mix is very flavorful. Was skeptical to order the new eggs benedict pizza the other day, but to my surprise it was really really good!! I suggest trying that and the fried egg sandwich soon. (oh, don't forget to try the cheesy hash browns, d-lish)
(5)Johnny B.
I love their pizzas, specifically the Soprano (a gussied up meat lovers that somehow avoids the ridiculousness of traditional meat lovers and actually has wonderful, not-overpowering flavors) and the one with prosciutto and arugula. And buy one get one free on Wednesdays is a mid-week steal. But regular price on almost everything here is a couple bucks too much. A Daisy Cutter is $6.50. $6.50. SIX FIFTY! That's fine if I'm in a hotel bar downtown (why would I be in a hotel bar downtown?), but unacceptable for a neighborhood pizza joint. I'll stick with Frasca on Wednesdays when the drinks and the pizza even the bill out and skip it the rest of the time.
(4)Minna A.
$6 pints of sangria, and they're not half bad tasting either! The space is adorable. Frasca makes me wish I lived in Roscoe Village! I was here on a Sunday night, which is most definitely family night. You know when you go to a restaurant and everyone's like, "Hey, [Neighbor man}! Good seeing you here!" Well this happens at frasca only it's more like, "Mommy, LOOK! It's Peter R. from my second grade class!!!!! LOOK MOMMY!!!!!" (Actual conversation.) Other than that, there's a great vibe from Fasca. Friendly service, and a great wine selection with adult/kid friendly menu items. I can see why this is a family dinner favorite!
(4)Barbara O.
I like their kids eat free offer! Friendly staff. Good standard of food. Bustling restaurant.
(4)Janet O.
Wow! I am so impressed with Frasca! My friends have been telling me for ages to give it a try. Finally got around to giving it a shot, and now I can't wait to go back. My friends and I started with some cheesy bread that simply phenomenal. Then I had the rigatoni which I have had dreams about since. Our wine was great, my friends daughter ate for free, and our dessert cookie was better than any dessert I've ever had. However, the real reason I am here is to talk about our server Matthew( or maybe it was Michael?) Right of the bat he was extremely welcoming, smiley, and pleasantly energetic. He was so attentive and kind, and made some really great suggestions( I wasn't going to drink until he started talking about wine.) the best part is how great he was with my friends daughter. He saw her crying while he was at another table and came straight over to see what was wrong. After making some silly faces and giving her a high five, she forgot that she was crying because she wanted an airplane coloring page instead of whatever she had. He walked right to the front and came back with an airplane for her. I have worked in the service industry an extremely long time, and I must say that I have never had such an amazing server before. I will most definitely be back. Go Frasca!
(5)Katie K.
I love this place. I have gone many times and the food and service is consistently excellent. You can't go wrong with their wood fire pizza - each one I have had has been delicious. They have great weekday specials. This is a "go to" spot for my boyfriend and I - it never disappoints.
(5)John F.
Popular neighborhood spot. Servers were very nice, and the place was busy on a Thursday night. Nothing I had was amazing, but nothing I had was bad, either. Wine flights were fun. I felt that the price point was slightly high given that everything I had was so average, but I will go back and try again. My pizza was kind of soggy, so maybe it was just an off night--but it made me really miss living next to Pizzaria via Stato
(3)Erin Q.
Frasca is by far my neighborhood favorite. It's the best restaurant in RV for wine and dinner. The wine flights are fun and inexpensive. The meat, cheese, and bruchetta boards are a must for an appetizer. A perfect meal is that and a pizza. The staff is friendly, and if you have to wait, there is a huge bar to sip wine at. The only downside is the 'kids eat free' until 6:00 every day, even Fridays. I met my friend there on a Friday right at 5:45/6:00 at it was full of kids. No worries, by 7:00 it was all adults.
(4)Mary B.
Have never had a bad meal here. The brunch is always excellent and the bloody marys are one of the best in the city. Dinner is just as good. Always good service and quality food.
(5)Jim P.
Had my two sisters in from out of town so I took them to Frasca last night. Both the hostess and manager were extremely pleasant. Out purple haired waitress, on the other hand, was as charming as a honey badger. The sangria and pizza did however 'hit the spot'. We had a build-your-own and a Soprano which was pretty tasty and rather spicy.
(3)Frank N.
On another brilliant recommendation from fellow yelpette Mandi, I came here to tempt my thin crust pizza fetish. Um, how does Top Chef Grayson Schmitz say it: "It's like sex in your mouth!" Came here for my birthday dinner and already previewed the menu online before I got there. Considering I got a parking spot right out front, I knew things were heading in the right direction! Immediately, we were greeted by a super friendly hostess sitting us with a great view of the pizza oven. Hey, it's the simple things in life that make me happy! Pizzas? Absofreakinglutely!! Margherita was perfection. I loved the fully cooked through and crusty bottom - obviously a veteran pizza chef - I bow to you. The Capone was another spot-on pizza with a great mix of onions and sausage. Lastly, the Caponata was recommended by our server. I loved the eggplant and roasted red pepper but the goat cheese fell just a little short for me. All in all, this place was great and the ambiance was perfect with a nice younger crowd and plenty of eye-candy as Mondays are half off wine bottles. Frasca, thank you for making my birthday dinner a filling one!
(4)Jen F.
I'm torn. I love Frasca's food and Monday night 1/2 off wine bottle night. The decor is neat and it seems like it should be a great romantic date spot. However, nearly every table also featured a screaming, laughing, kicking child of various age range. I think it's great that there is a good neighborhood spot for kids, but it doesn't mean I want to eat next to them. The bruschetta is great, the prosciutto pizza marvelous, and the wine was perfect. Service was good too. Maybe we'll try again later in the evening after the kiddies go to bed?
(3)Maggie W.
This is our new once-a-week spot....chopped salad is great....pizza is great and half price glasses of wine isn't too bad either. The best part of our last experience was our waitress, OLIVIA!! She rocks! She was so nice, so attentive, and gave a great recommendation on a Pinot Noir. Best server we've had in Chicago for a long time!
(5)Erich S.
Solid Italian food in the neighborhood. I don't know that, if I lived in the Gold Coast or Bucktown or something that I'd make the commute to come, but it is certainly a lovely neighborhood gem. Food is always surprisingly good, a nice wine selection, and it is kid friendly. Very friendly and courteous staff.
(4)Joel M.
We came in on a warm weekday afternoon and were seated quickly near the bar. They seem to be known for pizza, but we decided to order some small plates off of their "farmer's table" menu. This menu consists of many small plates of cheese, bruschetta, and cured meats that you can pick individually or as platters. Wow, everything from the farmer's table menu was excellent! Fresh gouda, mouth-watering blue cheese, country-style salami, cured italian ham, and bruschetta with toppings that included salmon, creme fraiche, brie, and apple slices. It comes all at once on a large plate (see my pic), with some delicious bread and crunchy bread sticks on the side. The variety was great, and it was enough food to fill use up pretty well. The draft beer selection is small but good (Daisy Cutter FTW) and my wife had no problem finding a great glass of pinot grigio. Overall, great ambience, food, drinks, and the service didn't miss a beat. I want to go back now just thinking about it.
(5)Emily M.
We were looking for brunch this past Saturday, and I was hoping to go somewhere WITHOUT a dumb line and WITH interesting and tasty menu items. This place fit the bill, and it was a wonderful experience! We sat outside, and requested to sit on the Lincoln side, since it was less crowded and had a better view. The result was excellent people-watching and a lovely breeze to accompany our brunch. My boyfriend and I both ordered omlettes, and I got mine with the potatoes, which was a great decision. Mmm those potatoes...very creamy, tasty potato shreds. We also got the bloody marys that came with a 7oz High Life, which was also tasty, and a lot of fun. Overall, it was perfect. I can't imagine there was a better way to spend that gorgeous hour in this gorgeous city.
(5)Evan H.
Great atmosphere, great food, solid prices and an ok wine selection. Wednesday is 2/1 pizza day which is always nice. A great spot right next to Waterhouse which happens to have the best buffalo rolls in on Lincoln.
(4)Marie M.
Moved to the neighborhood recently and went to Fresca last night. The food is great, ambiance is great. We will definitely be going back. Also, we had TERRIFIC service from Will. We sat at the bar and he was bartending. Sometimes eating at the bar means you get a bit lesser service because the bartenders are also pouring the server's drinks. Will was funny, polite, helpful and attentive. Great service and great experience.
(5)Richie D.
This Paulina hide-out has become one of my new favorite hang-outs, and I'm not one to become a regular anywhere. The decor is comfortable--love the side room with the curved wall elongated by the Birch Bark tree wallpaper (makes me reminisce to my childhood when I would draw on that type of tree's bark). In the summer and spring, take a seat on one of their two sidewalk patios and watch all the West Lakeview families stroll by with their strollers. All the food is recommended, but the "create your own" antipasto platter, or as they call it "Old World Farmers Plate", is AWESOME! I have to agree with Al D. regarding the pizza, not the best in the city: yelp.com/biz/frasca-chic… . The circulating Chef's Selection of the Week cheese is always a pleaser. After all, they do have the fabulous and Chicago's one and only fromager bring in the fresh cheeses for the chef to choose from and serve. The platter comes in small (perfect for two or three; $15) or grande ($26) sizes with your choice of 4 or 8 items including bruschettas, cheeses, cured meats or house marinated olives. I can't help myself and usually go with the chef's weekly cheese, the Delice de Bourgonge triple cream cow's milk (perfectly rich 'n creamy), the hand-dipped ricotta with pistachio and honey bruschetta (honey and ricotta, perfect combo), and a third random cheese selection based on my tastes buds that day. Even better, the cheeses come with thin crackers, homemade jam, grapes and some nuts! My favorite appetizer, which I sometimes make a meal, are the Wild Mushroom Risotto Fritters! Perfectly and slightly fried on the outside, but mushy and warm on the inside. Dunk one in their reggiano creama and you're in for a ride to heaven. On another note, I'd skip the Gnocchi all together because it is the worst I've ever come across (gnocchi shouldn't be sticky and mushy, sorry). Go with the Spaghetti Pomodoro instead, it pairs perfectly with the complimentary, homemade bread and the spiced oil. Finish off your meal with their Iron Skillet Cookie that is deliciously doughy! They offer great weekday specials which are always appreciated while on a student budget. -Monday: 1/2 off bottles of wine -Tuesday: 1/2 off glasses of wine -Wednesday: Buy one get one free pizzas -Thursday: $6 Specialty Martinis -Sunday: $3 drafts I must recommend my favorite wine there: Argentiera Cabernet/Merlot/Syrah blend from Tuscany (I know you'd think it were from Argentina with that name...). But don't purchase too many bottles because I'll whine (no pun intended) if there's none left during my visit! I hope to eventually try Frasca for brunch one day. Only time will tell.
(5)Alison W.
All around, a fantastic establishment. Excellent service, delicious food, cold beers. My favorite pizza is the butternut squash & Gorgonzola one. It's probably a seasonal menu item, but if you ever see it on there, get it! Atmosphere is very cozy with the open kitchen wood burning oven for their pizzas. I will definitely keep coming back here.
(5)Laura S.
I've been here a few times for dinner, and the ambiance is wonderful. The servers have been very attentive, and my food has always been cooked perfectly. I had salmon that was to die for, and their pizza is always delicious. I highly recommend this for date night or a gals' night out!
(4)Vicky G.
My husband and I spend so much time eating out for dinner, we're bound to have our go-tos. And Frasca is our neighborhood restaurant. First of all, they have great weekday specials (bogo Wed, half off glasses of wine Tuesday). Did someone say wine? They have a decent wine selection with good prices. Their salads, pizzas and bruschettas are the best. I would say skip the appetizers, and stick to those three basics. They seasonalize their menu which makes it nice for people like me that eat there all the time! When it comes to dessert the classic skillet chocolate chip cookie with ice cream is a must try. They do a nice job of adding new desserts in the mix that are also very tasty but the cookie is a staple. It's family friendly but also later in the night it weeds out to just grown ups. If you live nearby and haven't been yet, it's a must!
(5)Claire H.
This place is back on top. I missed the days of Carrie, Michael and Tia and when Jason was manager, and ever since Crosbys had opened, I felt like Frasca lost the attention it truly deserved. I went in on buy one get one pizza night and I saw something fresh and new. A WHOLE NEW MENU. I am a regular for sure, but honestly I havent had the service that was a regular thing in a while. There was one girl with red hair who moves slower than mollases, and another girl with braces who did not seem to know much about the menu. I powered through those uncomfortable evenings hoping something better would come a long. And it did. We sat down at a booth, all five of us, and our waiter came over, Will, with the most contagious energy in the world. He suggested some of his favorites and we immediately began to divulge. He brought over the wine which was a pinot grigio, (nothing fancy) but rather than being sad and just boring as our other lady servers had been, he was upbeat excited to be here and created a night we would not forget. HE WAS THE PERFECT SERVER. The last time I was excited about this was when they brought specials to the table at Frasca. This place has got it back. The new menu, Pizza Francese Calabrian Chicken Meatballs, Leek Bruscetta are some of my new favorites, and Will has made me feel like this place is a neighborhood restaurant again. I hope that they got rid of those old dingy staff members, cause honestly...They made me never want to return. Thanks to the manager whose name was...Michelle or Rochelle I think, and Will for making one of the best meals I have had in Chicago with the ladies!
(5)Shelly A.
I'm definitely happy to have Frasca in my new neighborhood. This street badly needs a place like this. It's sports bar after sports bar (with an occasional pet store or baby gym sprinkled in between), and Frasca glimmers amongst the rest on the corner of Paulina and Lincoln. Being a huge fan of bruschetta, I especially loved their variety on the starter menu. Every kind I tried was top notch, and I'll def be back to try what I passed on the first time. I'm sure most people don't spring for the chicken entree here, but it was probably my favorite of everything we ordered. Great flavor and cooked perfectly. The pizzas are fantastic and you'll probably see me next Wed on BOGO pizza night. This place is especially great on a nice night when you can dine outdoors.
(4)Janet S.
Close to our crib, came out of a show and headed for a late night snack and post gig glass of wine. $10 risotto, appy but large more like an entree pour moi - yum, sat around the bar, lots of neighborhood peeps, no pretension, no fuss, just a nice quiet wind-down.
(4)Alyssa E.
Frasca is one of my favorite neighborhood go to restaurants. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the vibe is energetic. In the summer they have an awesome patio, offering diners the chance to sit out and enjoy the summer air and a crisp glass of wine! The food here is solid. I've had almost ever pizza on the menu. All of the pizza is wood fired, giving the crust a crispy exterior and a chewy middle. One of my favorite pizzas is the spinaci- fresh spinach, crispy bits of bacon, caramelized onions, and creamy goat cheese. Delicious! Another menu favorite of mine is the bruschetta. They have a number of different types to choose from. My two favorite are the blue cheese crumbles with slivered grapes and the ricotta with toasted pistachios drizzled with honey. Yum! The waitstaff is hit or miss at times, but if you can ask for Audra! She is awesome! Makes wonderful wine suggestions and very helpful and personable. Love this place and if you find yourself in the area, make sure to atop in!
(4)Kim O.
I love this restaurant. Brunch is one of my favorites in the city. We are big fans of the $15 bottomless mimosas. The fried egg sandwich is wonderful & the cheesy potatoes are a must have. I also really like the turkey panini sandwich if I'm in the mood for lunch. As for dinner, this is a great place to go out with a group. It has a bar-like fun atmosphere, but is still accommodating to children & families. One negative is that I'm not a fan of sitting in the back of the restaurant as it's very cramped and cave-like. Everything I've ordered has been great. Frasca is one of those multifunctional restaurants. It works for girls night, grandma's birthday, date night, stop in for a drink, catch a game (2 small tvs) while catching a drink, etc. When in doubt, this restaurant has it all.
(5)anne f.
I've been waiting a long time to review Frasca. I live right around the corner, so I've had dozens of experiences there over the past two years. Lots of good things, but sometimes pretty bad... Don't bother with the chicken/salmon/filet medallion entrees. They always come out EXTREMELY salty. Worth the money for the amount of food, but there's a chef back there over-seasoning everything. We just had one of their seasonal salads--roasted brussels sprouts and cauliflower. This would have been so lovely, but again, it was incredibly over-seasoned. So much cheese, plus salt, plus bacon, plus capers. Yuck. However, I will say I've had the pastas and pizzas, and I love them. Simple thin pizza with a chewy crust and usually fresh toppings. Just the right amount of cheese. My girlfriend is a big fan of the meatballs and spaghetti, though it looks like that's been removed from the menu recently (why?). We also are a little obsessed with the fried egg sandwich, which is a chore to eat, but worth the mess. Love the rye bread. The omelettes are just okay. But the breakfast potatoes, if you're not counting calories, will keep you coming back to nurse your hangovers. They are creamy and herbed and thrown on a griddle before served. As far as the staff goes, lately they seem to have been shaping up. In the past they were pretty wretched, but the hostess I see most often is a doll and their servers are competent and usually friendly. You'll notice straightaway who their long-time workers are for sure. They're quick and know the drill without being super fake.
(3)Phil P.
Had a bad experience this am, tried to get a table of four seated, staff was extremely rude and pretentious, would not seat us properly (they tried to move us twice). Not everyone is toting a couple of kids in lakeview. The staff was very "I'm better than you" and I will not be taking my money here in the future. I've been here in the past and the food has been good, but the service was very terrible today
(1)Joe L.
Pizza, salad, wine flights, brushetta, and cured meats!!! How can you go wrong? Great date place, but I would go a little later so the kids are not there. So starters we had a few things off the Farmer's Table menu: Fresh Mozz and Basil Brushetta Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese Brushetta Sopressata Salametto Fantastic, comes out on a board with crackers and jam..Everything was fresh and made great Ordered some Chorizo Stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon..Bacon makes everything better and if it wasn't for the bacon, these would not have been that good. I'd stay away from this next time.. Dinner: So there was 4 of us, so we split 2 pizzas and 1 salad Infamous Wrightwood Salad - Field Greens, chicken, tomatoes, craisins, avacado, corn, almonds, goat cheese and croutons Prosciutto Pizza - olive oil, fresh mozz, arugulo, and prosciutto Caponta Pizza - Tom saue, eggplant, goat cheese, red peppers, mushrooms, and artichokes. Before putting the pizza on your plate, grab the olive oil bottle shake it up and pour it on your plate. Then place you slice on top of the olive oil and allow the crust to soak up some of the olive oil....enjoy!!
(4)Matthew K.
Went here with some friends for lunch. They seated us right away. Unfortunately took awhile to find a server. We waited 15min without being served. Ended up being a mix up on table coverage. Still not a good start for my first experience. From a rocky start, the rest was excellent. I actually ordered breakfast food and had the Roscoe Omelet. I also ordered their fruit pancakes. The Omelet was very good. Had a good portion of meat and was nicely blended with egg and cheese. The pancakes were great. It had fruit mixed in which was a nice twist. The server felt bad so she gave us free puffy sugar donuts. I don't know the exact name but they were yummy and still very warm. That was very nice of them. Definitely recommend this place. I'd say the server mix up was probably a fluke. My friends ordered the breakfast pizza and wow. Unexpected to have egg on a pizza but looked great. They loved it.
(4)Colin M.
Frasca is great! Good food, not too expensive, and great service. They have the Wrightwood Salad, which I love from Dunlays, and the pizzas are delicious. They also have weeknight specials, which makes the restaurant even more affordable - I think one night is half price wine and another is two-for-one pizza. Definitely recommend if you are out and about in west Lakeview!
(4)Shaun S.
Stopped here with two classmates while taking a class down the street at the Chicago Photography Center. We had quick service, great food and pretty reasonable price, definitely a nice neighborhood joint. I'm sure if the wife and I lived closer, we'd be there a lot... she kinda loves Pizza! And had I been not trying to topple a sinus infection... the beer list looked pretty fun too!
(4)Mike K.
Frasca reminds me alot of Goo Goo Dolls...we kinda wanna be Bon Jovi, but not really. Its like wu tang clan...just way too many styles mixed into one concept, except the wu do it right. thats another story....point is, Frasca wants to be a pizzeria. its true, ask them! however its not quite there. it's like LA sent over their snooty version of what a fancy pizzeria with wine looks like. this isnt a pizzeria, this is somewhere you'd see d level celebrities come out and get interviewed by TMZ. girls who think their classy seem to love this place. i went out with a chloe kardashian loolalike recently who swears by this place, which was pretty much all i needed to know about it and her. the food doesnt suck, and if you just wanna veg and not eat and just kinda much and drink wine, then youll love this place.
(3)Liz R.
Frasca has quickly become a favorite of mine. My mom and I went last night with our golden retriever and called ahead to let them know about the dog, and once we arrived there was a table right on the patio for us to sit at. Our waitress was very helpful and sweet and even brought out a water bowl for our dog, all the food came out fantastic (the vegetable soup is to die for), and the drinks were great as well. The GM even came and chatted with us for ten minutes talking about dogs while petting ours and being so friendly. Each time I've gone has been such a great experience- you will not be disappointed!
(5)Mark M.
Big fan of their caponata pizza, their brunch, bloody Mary's, the wrightwood salad, and their cheese selection. Haven't had a bad time there yet.
(4)Geoff D.
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The wood-fired pizzas are delicious (the soprano and the pepperoni are my favorites, with the prosciutto as a close 3rd), and the spinach and arugula salad is fantastic. When we dine in we usually get the fondue appetizer or something from the cheese menu as well. While it's hard to venture away from the pizza, the wood roasted chicken was also very flavorful and my partner loved the short ribs she ordered as a special one time (and would love to see it as a permanent menu item). They also do takeout, which is convenient for those crowded Friday and Saturday nights when the Roscoe Village stroller crowd is out in full effect.
(5)Bridget D.
Went this week one night for a pizza making class. One of the owners Chef Josh (?) taught the class. We learned a lot, had a really great time and ate yummmy pizza. I will definitely go back with a group - nice atmosphere - it was really busy even on a Tuesday night! Seemed that there are many deals offered throughout the week for wine/ food.
(5)Sarah C.
WOW. What a turn of events. A few girlfriends and I did brunch here last week and the service was ABSYMAL. Like waited over 40 minutes for a check after our plates were cleared....our coffees stopped getting refilled at the 20 minute mark and the waitress we did hunt down to get us our check seemed extra irritated with us for even asking! Add to that having been seated in Stroller City--- Frasca's losing some clout. I don't like having to apologize to brunch guests :(
(2)Alison D.
My husband and I frequently eat here because it is just up the road from us, and the owner is from the same hometown as my husband, who, being hopelessly nostalgic and sentimental, likes this fact. The food is good, about what you would expect from a restaurant like this, although it is well priced and they do have a great wine and beer selection. The wait staff is always very pleasant and prompt, and although whenever we've been seated outside we tend to have a little slower service, whenever we're inside they're great. All in all it's a good place to go in the neighborhood for a quick and filling meal and a lively environment. It's always filled with young families though, if you eat earlier, so be sure to dine after 8 if you would rather not be seated next to a family with small children. I highly recommend the wrightwood salad, the margherita pizza, and the stuffed dates!
(4)Paul M.
I live about a block away from Frasca and I've been meaning to check it out since I moved to Roscoe about a year ago. I finally had dinner there last night with my fiancee. We had the calimari, caprese salad, linguine fra diavola, a rustica pizza and drank maker's manhattans. We liked the calimari (deliciously and perfectly fried in panko) and rustica pizza (amazing wood grilled crust with dried tomatoes) the best and were both disappointed with thefra diavola, which was overcooked and not very spicy. The space is huge yet somehow intimate and comfortable and the waitstaff are attentive and friendly. We'll be back, but not for pasta.
(4)Sarah E.
What a great find! A friend and I visited Frasca on a Thursday night. Food was great - we had the risotto of the day and the Wrightwood salad. I tried the white flight (that's what it was actually called) of three different pinot grigios. When I told the server which one I liked best, she gave me another one to try that was just as good, and made some great suggestions for what else I should be looking for when drinking white wine. Overall, friendly, quick, knowledgeable service and outstanding food. Also very reasonably priced and conveniently located off the Paulina brown line. I'm excited to go back for this pizza deal I keep reading about.
(5)Jeff R.
Delicious!! Wonderful salads, interesting and very flavorful pizzas, nice warm atmosphere. We will be back!
(5)Joscelyn M.
I like this place, but I've had better. I got the caponata pizza and liked it. Cute place with nice outdoor seating. I'd go again, but probably on a night there's a special. Half-price glasses of wine (Mon) Half-price bottles of wine (Tue) Purchase one pizza get a second one free (Wed)
(3)Melissa M.
Decided to check this place out based on a friend's recommendation, and it lived up to the expectations! Wednesday night is BOGO pizza night, so we took advantage of that, along with many great appetizers (definitely get the bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates!!!) and a salad. The menu has so many great options, you'll want to go back to try out more. One comment, and maybe this is because we dined fairly early @ 6:00, is that it was packed with families with kids. This could have been because of the Wed. night special. Nothing wrong with this, but just be aware if you're looking for a quiet, adult place.
(4)Annie G.
I debated giving this place three stars, but my most recent visit made me choose otherwise. The food and service and ambiance was great and pushed it to four! Kevin the server should get kudos for that. Margarita pizza was yum yum yum. Perfectly cooked in the wood burning oven. Well done like it should be and fresh basil strips decorated the top. The sides of sauteed spinach and white beans were the perfect accompaniment to lots of ladies who ordered pizza for their entree. Decent wine selection. Wonderful place in the summer time. Just watch out; this place is swarming with parents of toddlers and hummer strollers.
(4)Michael O.
As others have said, the bruschetta is really good. The farmer's table is reasonable, I think you can order any 8 items for $26. We also happened in on buy-one-get-one pizza night, which is an awesome deal. I think you have discern your flavors, but out of all the options you'll be able to find yours and enjoy.
(4)Patrick P.
Great neighborhood. Great food. Great wine. Everytime I go to Frasca's, I get a pizza and a glass of wine. And I highly recommend you do the same. And summer time is the best there. Outdoor seating. The train in the background. And great people watching. And you can get there by the Brown Line - Paulina stop. It is right next door.
(5)John B.
service could be better...hung up on me when I called around noon before their open hours...just dont answer .... good food though
(2)Rebekah W.
I think three stars might be pushing it a little. - We waited an hour and fifteen minutes for a table. - The calamari was bland. - The Pizza Bianca tasted like saltines. - The server didn't seem to have much time for us. - The Soprano pizza was OK, but not worth the wait. - The bar ran out of CO2, so we couldn't order draft beer. We spent too much money and too much time at a place that didn't seem to even try to reach the mark. For the record, the restaurant was packed and it was Friday night, but I've had much better pizza, service, and drinks under the same circumstances.
(3)Tina W.
My friend and I finally popped in here last month after years of walking by and saying, "We should try that place sometime." OMG. It was so good! The servers were funny and cool and their bruschetta haunted me for days. My husband and I went back the following week so that I could get a bruschetta fix. Unfortunately, we didn't go until about 9:00 and they were out of everything - bread, potatoes, and 1 entree choice. But they were nice about it and gave us some free champagne, so I won't complain. ;)
(4)Emily N.
I am so sad to have to write this review for Frasca. I've been here multiple times and have always had a fantastic experience. Unfortunately, if you have a party over 8 people..forget it! I called to make a reservation and the hostess said I would need to talk with the manager so she took my name and #. The manager never called so I called twice the next day to reach him. I finally got a hold of him and he flat out refused my reservation and told me they are too busy on the weekend to give me a reservation. WHAT?!!!! It will be awhile before I return...if I ever do.
(1)Evan M.
Awesome interior; margherita pizza and wine is a fantastic combo. Try the stuffen chicken!
(4)Sarah K.
My brother took my family and I to Frasca on a recent visit to Chicago for brunch. I really love brunch, and this was an excellent brunch experience. With the bottomless mimosa I had 5 mimosas for $13! I'm not much of a Bloody Mary drinker, but my brother and his friends said they have the best Bloody Mary's in town. I had a taste of one of them, and I agree, they were pretty good (I could definitely drink it). I ordered the breakfast pizza for something different (and because I really love pizza.) Even though it was much larger than a typical "personal pizza" I had no problem finishing it off. The rosemary in the crust was very good. My dad had an omelette (I forget which one) and claimed it was the best omelette he ever had. If I lived in Chicago I am sure I would visit here regularly.
(5)Catherine S.
I was there this past Sunday for my birthday with a large group. Though the service wasn't the quickest I've ever experienced, they did as good of a job as can be expected with a 15 person table. We stayed past the kitchen close time and did not feel rushed to leave. They brought out complementary dessert and a Frasca's pizza cutter for me as a bday gift (Pretty cool if you as me; I've never seen a restaurant give a gift to the birthday girl). Overall good experience - excellent food, especially the prosciutto pizza and all of the bruschetta (were cut nicely for sharing). Excellent birthday place - I would recommend it.
(4)Lindsay S.
I went here with my boyfriend and we took a seat at the bar. I don't know, this place is just ok to me... even the outside I just don't care about it one way or another... it just is. We shared the bacon wrapped dates and a prosciutto flat bread, OK, bacon and dates is gross ... the flat bread was really good. I feel like they have good specials but I really can't remember what they are exactly, but there is a stand out front of the restaurant with them. The variety of people dining ranged from friends, to coworkers, to dates, to families... so its a place for everyone.
(3)Jonathan C.
I probably should give this more than just 3 starts because nothing was bad but at the same time nothing was great. Overall the food was just ok and the service was also just ok, I wasn't wowed by anything. I am sure if we had a better waiter we would have had a better experience. We asked about the menu and they seemed clueless about the food they served.
(3)ER S.
Given the other options around, I think I'd skip this place. We had a reservation, but still had to wait a long time for a table. And the bartender wouldn't let us sit at the bar because we had a child with us (we were not drinking at that point). This was odd because we've eaten dinner at the bars of restaurants and have never had a problem before. The hostess, clearly overwhelmed, kept coming back and telling us, "just a few more minutes". When we finally rec'd a table, it was in an archway and really dark. And loud. The food was generally good... I liked the prosciutto-wrapped fontina (although I would have preferred the fontina had been more melty) and my husband liked his fried calamari. I don't think I'd order another martini there though... too many big chunks of ice. Maybe the mean bartender shakes the shaker too hard. We all had pizzas for our main course. They were fine, but nowhere as good as Sapore di Napoli or Spacca Napoli. In the end, I'd say that the food was good (maybe 3-4 star), but I was so grumpy by how the evening began that I couldn't enjoy it.
(2)Risa P.
First of all, this place is so cute!! The ceiling arch around on the side and they have twinkly lights around the bar. The place goes far back, with a bar for seating as well. We got there around 6 on a Thursday and by 7, the place was packed, with pretty much all the tables filled up. We went for a buy one get one free pizza deal, which was an awesome deal. We started with a small plate of cheese, meats and two bruschetta (you can pick four off their menu for $15) One bruschetta had ricotta cheese with honey and pistachio. YUM. The other had mushrooms and goat cheese, also delicious. We tried the hard aged gouda which was very good and I could have probably have three portions of it. (the portion was quite small) The pepperoni smelled yummy and garlicky though I did not eat it. My friend said that it was really infused with lots of delicious flavors. Next we tried the Caponata pizza and another pizza that I cant remember the name or find on the online menu. The caponata pizza had chunks of goat cheese, eggplant, mushrooms, red pepper and artichokes. It was so yummy! The goat cheese could have been distributed more evenly, but the pizza was still really yummy. I also liked the oven baked crust. The other pizza we got was a white pizza with potatoes and bacon. We asked for the bacon on the side for the one meat eater in our group and they happily obliged. That pizza was delicious too, though I am still on the fence on potatoes on pizza. It is good and I am glad that we tried it, but I think that I would have to get that a few more times to have it be a taste that I am used to. The waitress was tentative and nice. She was also kind of hilarious. Our water glasses were refilled often. The tables are big blocks of wood that are kind of funky. We were seated by the window and the door, so it was a little chilly, but in the middle of January, what can you expect. The location is perfect, really close to the Paulina stop and right off the Lincoln bus. They have outdoor seating for the summer too.
(4)Jennifer S.
I wrote my first review of Frasca two years ago, and it's still one of my favorites in Roscoe Village. Their pizza and bruschetta are hits with everyone I bring here. Recently, I brought my group of brunching friends to try out the relatively new weekend brunch. The service and mimosas were great. Everything else was lackluster. The menu options for true-breakfast foods weren't huge, and although they had soup, pizza, and other lunch-type items on the menu, they didn't have the soup available to order. I'll still come back to Frasca for dinner, but I'll skip the brunch.
(4)Kears H.
Amazing and creative comfort food with plentiful choices of wine by the glass. Small but cozy atmosphere- my only complaint is that there isn't a great place to wait for a table in the colder seasons but the size of the restaurant also attributes to its charm. I'm not sure if they take reservations but I reccomend making one if you can.
(4)Michelle E.
Frasca is one of those places that I have seen a million and a half times, but somehow never made it in to actually try it! I recently came in with a group of friends for brunch, and it was a pleasant surprise! First of all, the place was empty, at 11:30 on Saturday morning. YAY! The idea of having to wait in line for breakfast is what usually makes me groan and roll over to go back to sleep, only to wake up a few hours later to eat cold pizza in front of the TV. Boo. Frasca might become one of my new secret brunch places! The service was friendly and casual, exactly what I want with brunch! Our server cheerfully answered all my questions about the menu, and made great recommendations! One of the things that intrigued me on the menu was the breakfast pizza. Basically, they put the whole pizza together, and before they put it in the oven, they crack 3 eggs on top of it. When it comes out of the oven, the eggs are done sunny-side up. I didn't order the pizza this time, I was craving eggs benedict too much, but I will have to try this pizza sometime soon! My eggs benedict was very good. The special eggs benedict that day had prosciutto instead of canadian bacon, which was a nice change. I also liked the potatoes, they were some kind of creamy, cheesy potato casserole. Yummy! My other favorite thing about brunch - bottomless mimosas! Apparently that's all I drink these days. $10 for bottomless mimosas, are you kidding me? That's a steal! Would I like a refill? Yes, please! One of my friends ordered the prosciutto pizza, and it looked very tasty, especially the crust - thin, but not too thin. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. Perfection! Must come back for dinner one of these days, too! Want a yummy brunch with a nice Italian twist? Give Frasca a try!
(3)Kelly A.
I have food allergies, and the chef, Brad, personally came out to speak to me about them. He was so knowledgeable that I actually learned something from him! Food was great. Asparagus tasted roasted, but was actually sautéed. Amazing flavor!!
(4)Stephen D.
I love this place. The food is fantastic. Brunch is just as good. The wait staff are extremely nice (i love all of them, but Auds is my favorite). It's a great place to just stop in and have a drink or the perfect place to spend and evening with friends over dinner and wine. it's even more enjoyable of course in the summer when the have things opened up and the patio is in full swing... it makes for a great day.
(4)Mary B.
Check website for specials under the event tab-good specials. Bruschetta was good. Bread was thick and soft and toppings were unique. Tried the asparagus, chickpea, and mozzarella. Chickpea was the favorite. Salad was on verge of being wilty due to excessive dressing, nothing special at all. Quattro pizza was good. Chewy crust. Decent price, especially if you go on a special night. Not bad, but won't demand to go there again!
(3)David W.
Our go to place when the wife and I.... rephrase, when I decide I'm too tired to cook dinner. Choose your own bruschetta mix is great for a wife who wants a bite of everything (you can order 3 to 5 different kinds or all the same. I recommend the blue cheese with honey and the ricotta with pistachio), individual sized brick oven thin crust pizza are perfect for me the meat freak and she the classic sauce and cheese gal. They also have a cheese fondue for appetizer, though I recommend eating it fast cause the cheese isn't heated... it's good though. Love the flights option for wine and they have great wine specials early weekdays.
(4)Laura M.
I actually really love Frasca, we used to frequent Dunlays but moved and this is our new mainstay (I believe owned the by same people). They have brick oven pizzas which are great, real italian pizza (the 4 cheese is my favorite) and you must try to cheese/antipasto/bruschetta bar thing?? you can pick out 3/6 different kinds..and ALL of the bruschetta are great. Love the ricotta/honey/pistachio bruschetta, and the brie and apple bruschetta. On Wednesday night they have buy one get one free pizza...GREAT deal..and i definitely suggest the pizza. Other food is good as well, and I suggest the herb crusted mahi! I also love this place for brunch, they have a breakfast pizza which is excellent but a little heavy (don't get if you want a light breakfast).
(4)Brett G.
Here's what I liked: the food was decent. In fact, it was above-average Italian food. We had a trio of bruschettas (apple and brie, chick pea and white bean, and asparagus and prosciutto). Those were good. Another person had a salad and didn't complain about it. The pizzas we all had for dinner - the margarita, a create-your-own with olives, mushrooms, onions, and peppers, and the salami (which was basically covered with salami with leaves of spinach underneath) were all good, but nothing spectacular. My friends had raved about this place, and I was very under-impressed. The service was terrible. The drinks took fifteen minutes to arrive, and it was not busy. At first, the server blamed the bartender for being new, but if you get a bartending job, one would expect you have experience pouring beer. The food took far too long to arrive, and when we finally got our food, they didn't ask if we needed anything else (like more beer, drinks, etc). The service wasn't rude; but I have waited tables, and this was sub-standard. I was very disappointed, but I had high expectations so maybe that has something to do with it. Unfortunately, I don't think I would make a special trip back.
(2)Robyn A.
I've been here twice now, and I can safely say, um, YUM. The pizza is delicious. The brunch is pretty fantastic. And the wine is a-flowin'--they have a pretty extensive list. Don't expect, though, to dash in and out for a fast food pizza experience. The servers here are super chill (and nice) and take their time, allowing you to relax and have a finer and SLOWER dining experience. Oh and don't even get me started on the bottomless mimosas. Dangerous!
(4)Stephanie F.
This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants! From the moment you walk in, you feel at home. The food is incredible and the prices are even better. I love to go there on Wednesday and Thursday nights when they have their "Buy One, Get one Free" Pizza specials (I highly recommend the Rustica pizza - it's a pesto, prosciutto pizza) and their "Half Price Bottles of Wine" special. Dinner is not the only time you should check this place out, they also have a great brunch menu. My favorite is their oatmeal pancakes with fresh fruit AND Bottomless mimosas! That's right, bottomless mimosas. They will re-fill your glass as many times as you want for $13. You seriously can't go wrong with this place - the atmosphere, food and prices are phenomenal!
(4)Mary T.
3 1/2 stars for great service, but average food. Frantically, I ran to Frasca after discovering my friend failed to make reservations for her birthday dinner at another establishment. I don't know what she was thinking, 10 isn't a small party and it was Saturday night afterall. I explained our situation and the nice hostesses at Frasca said they'd make it work and had a table pulled together for us in 10 minutes. The service here was great, especially because my party was let's just say high maintenance and needlessly impatient. I waited tables back in the day and to this day can't stand when customers are rude. By the end of our meal I felt like an ass for inflicting our group on them and I think they were regretting their decision to be so accomodating (I'm sorry Frasca, I really am). The food was not bad, but just average, most of us got the pizza's. First, I'll warn you the menu on the website is outdated. I was bummed about was the pasta selection, there were 4-5 pasta choices and only 1 was vegetarian, the gnocchi. There was one other dish that was almost vegetarian, it had no meat in it, but was sauteed in chicken au jous. Hey Frasca, why do you have to ruin a perfectly good veggie dish by sauteing it in chicken juice! Since gnocchi is terrible if not done right I figured the safer bet was the pizza. Second, there were only 2 vegetarian pizzas Margherita and 4-cheese, for a place that has 8 different bruschetta's I expected something more creative. I got the Margherita pizza, it was tasty and I liked the crust, but it was nothing to write home about. Sure you could create your own pizza, but it would quickly be one expensive personal pizza - most toppings were $2+ each. Like I mentioned they have 8 different bruschettas and an option to create your own sampler. Some friends split a sampler as an appetizer and really liked them, especially the green apple-brie one. They also have cheese plates too - I think those come with a sampler option as well. Bottom line, this place is pretty good, however since I'm not a meat eater or over the moon about their pizza's I probably won't be back unless it's for drinks and to try the bruschetta.
(3)Carly O.
I've been to Frasca three times, all for different things. Once for pizza at lunch time, once for brunch and once for dinner. All three dining experiences were decent. I have no complaints about atmosphere or service. Our waitress suggested a really great wine at lunch. The outdoor section was a nice place to relax on a summer day. And the music played at dinner was at pleasant decibel level. Actually, it should be noted that I really enjoyed my wine. This past Saturday they had a "high end" California wine flight that was truly excellent. The thing is, there is nothing very memorable about the food. I had lasagna, which was decent and my boyfriend had the pumpkin ravioli, which was good, but came in a rather small portion. Brunch is also OK, but I'd rather go to Su Van or Wishbone. I'd say the stand out is the pizza, so if you can go on a day when they're having one of their specials, I say go for it. In fact, if based on that alone, I'd probably give Frasca closer to 4 stars. But considering all of the options in the city, I decided never again to be lazy (they are down the street from my boyfriend's apartment, which means no cabs, buses, or one of us forgoing a Saturday night cocktail to drive) and either try something new or go to a restaurant I know serves phenomenal food. If you're going to spend $92 on dinner, I think you should walk out feeling like the place was worth at least 4 stars.
(3)Tracie C.
I am so in shock by all these great reviews. My boyfriend and I had dinner there last night and we were not impressed at all. First, it was so loud and I felt like everyone was competing to be heard. We did like our server, he was pretty cool. The food was just ok. We ordered bruchetta, and the bread they put it on was dry, so we just ate the mushrooms and goat cheese off the top. The pizza was nothing to report about. There was no bubbly cheese or sweet and spicy sauce. Just so boring. The best part of the evening was my pumpkin spice beer.
(2)K M.
Had an early dinner with my g/f after shopping and we stopped off at Frasca. We split the wild mushroom risotto fritters (5) as the appetizer and they were pretty tasty. They came with this creamy sauce which complemented the fritters well. The downside was that they weren't really hot, just lukewarm. We both had pizzas (pepperoni and capone) which were great but the bottom of her pizza was burnt a little bit. I guess you'll encounter that when it's brick-oven pizza. The pizzas averaged about $11 each so they were a bit on the pricier side for individual pizzas. Service was great - they kept refilling our drinks and brought us more bread when we asked. I'd come back here again for the Weds special, which is BOGO free on the pizzas. They do have specials for the other nights so call the restaurant to find out what they are.
(3)Lakshmi R.
Did I mention my dinner club already? For those of you who are new to my review, I belong to a "O!GOD" - Oh! Girls Only Dinner as my boyfriend calls it ;) and we check out a different cuisine every month. Frasca was Natalia's pick - since they have "buy one - get one" pizza on Wednesday we went there on a Wednesday! Big surprise there... hehe Great almost-authentic italian pizza, snooty service, decent wine - $11 each for the food!!!! I am taking my friends out on Wednesdays to Frasca!!!
(4)Lolo D.
Okay, so I have to admit: I love Frasca. To the death. They have a pretty good wine/bar selection, and the food is really good. Overpriced? Sure, maybe a little. But they have really great specials and if you go for Buy One Pizza Get One Free day (Wednesdays? Maybe Tuesdays?), it's really no big deal. The bruschetta is pretty amazing, also, and I've only ever had the tiramisu but I liked it. And I think it's hard to make a good tiramisu. I would recommend, however, that if you are ordering a pizza, to get something that goes beyond just cheese or sausage-- they are "gourmet" and kinda pricey, so just go for it and try something new. There's one in particular that has arugula on it that I absolutely love.
(5)Craig N.
My fiance has lived on the same block for 6 months but we didn't try it until tonight. Wow, we were really missing out on some excellent brick-oven pizza. My fiance and I split a pepperoni and a 4-cheese pizza. The pepperoni had a very sweet sauce and was very good overall. The 4-cheese was very fresh and light for being a four cheese pizza. The best part about the whole dinner was the desert! The honey and cinnamon donuts with vanilla gelato is "to die for." If you're ever in Lakeview and you want a non-traditional pizza, check out FRASCA! P.S. the place seems to have a lot of great specials during the week that "rummies" might want to check out.
(4)L T.
Holy brunch clusterfufu! A dear friend had a b-day brunch - large group at a busy time. His wife foresaw this and made a reservation.. I think she even had to put down a deposit and guarantee the number of people. Well... they didn't have enough space for us, when 2 latecomers showed up and had nowhere to sit our server curtly told them to talk to the hostess, and it took freaking forever and a day to get all the meals served. No joke it was as if they never took anyone's order and it probably took at least 45 min to 1+ hr to serve all the meals (this after waiting an hour+ from the time we ordered to when the first plates came out). A plate would trickle out... then another... then another... there were about 20 of us... it was kinda comical... except none of the staff really explained that there was a problem. They seemed pretty oblivious and didn't seem to give 2 sh**s about any of it. That is what I found annoying. Things happen, things get screwed up, people call in sick, but dag people at least PRETEND to be apologetic about it. I don't even think anyone from our table really complained about anything, we're a pretty chill group - they were just trying to convey who had ordered what before people started eating their own arms. They did bring out a round of champagne toward the end, but IMO it was too little too late. Maybe they took something off the bill - I don't know because we left before it arrived. Oh, the food. I had a turkey panini. It was delicious. I had been here before. The space is nice, the food is good. I had a good time today and my kids even held it together (kind of haha). I'd hesitate to bring a big group here though. The staff could have handled the situation a lot better.
(1)Nona Gayle D.
The service was good, the food even better and the extensive wine list made my night. I was trying to wind down from a rough day at work and me and my best friend decided to go for pizza. We weren't disappointed the pizza was thin crust with savory toppings and it was perfectly sized to share amongst the two of us. We each had a wine flight and then shared a bottle. The place was quaint, it had seating outside, at the bar, and of course within the restaurant. The ambiance was great and me and my friend just enjoyed the wine and pizza combo. I really liked this place and hope to go back there again.
(4)Christine F.
I didn't have a bad experience here. However, I will say this: IT'S NOT A FAMILY FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT. I REPEAT, IT'S NOT A FAMILY FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENT. DO. NOT. TAKE. YOUR. PARENTS. HERE. My cousin's girlfriend suggested that the family go here for brunch (they were in town for my graduation...family includes my cousins, grandparents, parents and uncle / aunt). I had never been here and I said why not. Once I saw the interior of Frasca I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew the brunch was going to turn into a debacle. Oh GOD. Definitely foo-foo. This would not turn out well. We sat down and milled over our options. Somehow, one half of our table was under the impression that we would be ordering a lot of bruschetta and splitting it. The other half of the table was under the impression that we would be ordering our own dishes (for instance, pizza). How this breakdown in communication happened is beyond me. The bruschetta was good, not fantastic, but it was good. The service was okay. Nothing stood out about this place in one way or another. I don't blame Frasca for the chaos that ensued with my family. I am giving them 3 stars on how I felt about the establishment, which was "meh."
(3)Lana B.
My husband and I stopped in to Frasca after attending an presentation by one of Tony Robbins six peak performance coaches...needless to say we were full of energy and on a mission to find good food! We were sad to see that Frasca was closing up...but my husband being the the negotiator he is, asked if there was a possibility that we could have the last pizza of the night! Jason, (the incredible General Manager) served us a delicious, fresh Margherita pizza, bread and-as the icing on the cake-gave us a free taste of Italian Ice from a local spot. Everything was so good! Jason is an amazing manager and Frasca is lucky to have him on the scene being an upstanding individual to serve this exceptional food!! LOOOVE this place!
(5)Callan C.
A couple of friends and I stopped in Frasca for dinner recently. We didn't plan out going there, but conveniently stumbled upon it in search of a dinner locale with TVs to watch a game. Essentially it is an upscale / gourmet Italian pizza and wine bar. The interior is nice, with a big brick oven, low lighting, interesting tree wallpaper and a wine room off to the side. The pizza was very delicious. I had the spicy Soprano and was pleased. They also had a nice beer selection. Service was pretty good - we got mostly attentive service apart from when we asked for extra parmesan cheese (it took a couple of reminders to come out).
(4)johnny b.
Sucks. The pizza was weak and service lacking. Shocked by all the 4-5 stars. If you just need a place to grab a drink its fine but the food not worth it. If you want great pizza of this style go to Spacca Napoli which is amazing.
(2)Rachel W.
I live up the street from Frasca, so it's a pretty frequent stop on the restaurant circuit. Definitely worth it for BOGO pizza on Wednesday nights. I could lick my plate clean after my caesar salad the dressing is so good, I love the brie and apple bruchetta, and the rustica pizza is my personal fave. Oh, and the iced tea is good. Really good. I get so overwhelmed by the lure of awesome pizza choices, I have actually yet to try any other entrees. I don't really see a reason why I need to though...
(4)Danny H.
Wednesdays are a must. Two pizzas for the price of one? And very tasty pizzas? Talk about an ideal special. I came here with my Dad for a late dinner during the week and he was impressed. The service was great, and we even got some drinks comped for hanging around on an unusually busy weeknight. I'd come back here anytime.
(5)Lauren C.
I went there around noon on a Saturday, and the oatmeal pancakes with fruit were excellent. The sausage I got on the side was good quality and the server was attentive and competent. Strangely wasn't as crowded as I figured it would be. $10 bottomless mimosa special on Saturdays is a good deal too. I'd go back.
(4)Rachel H.
Went for buy one get one free night (Wednesdays). Got the prosciutto pizza and another one with eggplant, artichokes, and goat cheese. Both were great but the prosciutto was really amazing. Enjoyed some great wine as well with a friend on the patio (which unfortunately will probably be retired for the season soon). Really great deal and probably the best pizza I've had in Chicago. They also have half bottle wine and $5 glasses nights which I'll have to go back for.
(5)Leang E.
I made reservations seeing as though I think it was the last day of the week to enjoy the National Pizza Week special or deal that they had going on. We could get two pizzas for $14. So my friend and I started out with some pretty delicious calamari and had the capone and the pepperoni. My friend said that her pizza reminded her of Milan. I liked mine as well. The butter was really nice and soft here. Our waiter was very friendly and enthusiastic. I like places that have specials and good deals where the food is good too. My friend and I were too stuffed to even have dessert and had 2 slices leftover.
(4)Julie P.
Frasca has great ambiance and is lots of fun; however, the food is just not that good. It has been consistently disappointing and service is just ok.
(3)Alyssa C.
2 for 1 pizzas on Wednesday. Outdoor seating. Enough said. Plus it was refreshing to have nice service for a change!
(5)Candace K.
OMG! The food here was so delicious!!! My boyfriend and I went on Valentines Day and it was great. We had a reservation and didn't wait more than 5 minutes for our table. They packed us in like sardines...but that was just due to the date. Normally there are more 4 tops than 2 tops... The menu was great with creative options, but not too many that it got confusing to choose something. We had a fabulous bruschetta mix for an appetizer (you can choose 3 versions to "create-your-own" appetizer), and every meal that came out looked yummy! Our food didn't take long and was terrific! (Even on such a busy day!) I can't wait to go back and try something else! It was more pricey...so it's more of a special night kind of place... They offer wine flights to try a selection of white or red wines...I think that would be fun to try as well. I only wish they had more options for dessert that involved chocolate...Otherwise, I can't wait to return!
(5)Kathleen O.
Went here with a large group on a Saturday night. It was ok. First, it is NOT a good place to go if you are trying to catch up with old friends cause it is soooo loud in the place. We split the table in 2 and ordered off the bruchetta/cheese menu. The bruchetta was good and the fondue was ok, but we also ordered a few cheeses and some type of jam thing. We laughed when it came because it was literally 3 pieces of cheese to split among 6 people. Definitely would have rather stuck to ordering all bruchetta and the waitress PROBABLY could have told us that, but oh well. Also our food came our really sporadically. We also shared a sausage pizaa, cheese pizza and some pasta in a cream sauce. Pizzas were ok, but the pasta we could have done without. Bland at best. The actualy place is really cute and would maybe try again with a smaller group or on a date. Overall, it was ok.
(3)Kristin S.
I'm torn because I've been here twice and had two completely different experiences each time. The first time I went with my boyfriend, we got the butcher's block appetizer (HIGHLY recommend this, you choose from an assortment of meats, cheeses and bruschetttas. All were delicious!), and split the wild arugula salad (fantastic!) and the capone pizza which was delicious. The crust was crispy and soft and the ingredients were fresh and tasty. The wine flight was also great with generous pours for each wine. I think they might have been able to do a better job explaining the different wines, but we didn't ask, so I can't really fault them for that. The second time I went, I had a vodka martini from the bar that tasted rancid since they used the olives soaked in oil, not brine. I was disappointed, but that's what I get for not ordering wine I guess. We made the mistake of ordering a pasta dish (I don't remember what it was) that was watery, bland and pretty disappointing overall. We had the rustica pizza as well after our great experience with one the last time. The rustica pizza was SO salty it was practically inedible. I'm thinking there had to have been something wrong that night, because there's no way they serve that pizza like that all the time. I love salt and it was WAY too salty for me to eat. I'll definitely be going back since that first visit still makes my mouth water, but I'll be staying away from the pasta and cocktails.
(3)Moe f.
Love this place in summer for the outdoor seating and huge windows if you get stuck inside. Warning, this place is kid friendly(this is why I like it). Tuesday half price glasses of wine and buy 1, get one free pizza on Wed. The vhino tinto is a nice cheap wine. Pizza Rustica is my favorite. The Margharita is a little bland for me.
(3)J S.
My experience seems to mirror some others hinting at a lack of good management here, which is sad. The day I went to Frasca (the first and last time), it was busy but not packed for Sunday brunch. Our waiter took about 10 min. to even tell us he'd be back soon. He said they were short-staffed that day. 45 min. after being seated, we finally got our food, which was cold and incorrect. They served all our food with fruit, despite all of us ordering it with potatoes. When we finally caught the waiter, he said that yea, they were out of potatoes, and said they'd bring some bacon to make it up to us. Why not tell when we ordered, or before it came out, or when they were serving it? Did they hope we wouldn't notice? My omelet (Lincon Omelet) was tiny and looked like it would give me food poisoning immediately: besides being ice cold, it was brown and tasted weird. They replaced it with an equally bad-looking one but it was at least warm. The toast they served was also, somehow, gross, with bits of raw egg yolk spilled on the bottom sides of the toast. So, since I don't like fruit, I spent $17 in all on a tiny, disgusting, omelet. When they gave us the bill, the waiter said he "took some stuff off" for our inconvenience. When we looked at the bill, it turned out that the only thing he "took off" was the complementary bacon. Even though my friends tell me it's never been like that, all-in-all it was not a good experience, and their half-assed attempt at making it up to us made me definitely not want to go back. Lame.
(2)Megan N.
I tried Frasca purely because of location. It's 2 or 3 blocks from my house and stares at me everytime I get off the Brown line. I ordered the gnocchi only to have my waitress tell me 15 minutes later that they were out of gnocchi....... She gave me some random noodle with some random marinara sauce instead, and with no adjustment to the bill. The wine was eh, but the appetizer was delicious! You get to do sort of a combo platter thing (that you mark off on a list with a little pencil) and it's actually really reasonably priced. I was full after sharing bruschetta and a couple cheeses with someone. I would actually go back just for that since it's so close to my house.
(2)Stephanie H.
I have been for dinner, quite a while ago, and lunch just recently.. Just a couple weekends ago I went for lunch with a girlfriend. The Bloody Mary's were great!! We shared a pizza and salad, it was a great lunch. We sat outside and our server was great too. I will be back, I believe they have weekday specials too, worth checking out
(4)kristine c.
I've been here several times, and it seems to be getting to be a bit much for the staff to handle. Of course, I went on buy one pizza get one free night which is total chaos, but I really think they should consider adding an additional server or two on Wednesday evenings. It took forever to get the first round of drinks, and then our server disappeared. Glasses crashed and fell at least 5 times and there was just a general feeling of chaos, rushing and panic. I used to LOVE their pizza, but the crust seems to be getting bigger and the toppings much skimpier and overall less flavorful. If it weren't for their specials I would not go back, and I may not anyway. Even with the food specials, their wine is so overpriced so your bill still ends up being way higher than it should for a meal like that.
(3)Becky R.
Oh Frasca. Where do I begin? Your yummy, yummy thin crust pizza? Your mix & match bruschetta? Your ever-changing cheese selections? Your tasty plate of caper-dressed carpaccio? Your sidewalk seating, perfect for people watching on a lazy summer Sunday evening? Your carrot cake tiramisu? Your lovely, lovely wine list? Yes. That's it. It's the wine list.
(5)Joe N.
I like Frasca! I've visited several times before attending photography class down the street. The wait staff is always friendly, attentive and efficient. On my last visit I ordered a pizza and it was really, really good! Frasca also had half priced bottles of wine on my last visit (Monday). Some good music would be a great touch to add to the nice atmosphere while dining! I'll be back soon.
(4)Angie C.
Yummy! Great thin crust, crispy pizza with a lot of options and other menu items. We were in a major rush (less than 30 minutes to eat!) but were able to sit outside, get great service and fast, freshly made pizza and salad! Too bad we didn't have time for wine...next time!
(4)Andrew V.
Frasca is a fairly good spot if you are in the neighborhood and want to enjoy some wine while sitting outside. I really can't comment on the atmosphere inside as, aside from one drink at the bar, the few times I've been here I've sat outside. Looks comfortable though. However the food, in my humble opinion, is only so-so. The concept is appealing, but I really can't get excited about this place. There are just too many other options around with better offerings. As a pizzeria it falls considerably short compared with Spacca Napoli or Apart Pizza Company. For example, the crust is a bit thicker and lacks the flavor, slight char, and blistering of these two. Equally bothersome is that Frasca's pizza margherita uses a low-moisture commercial "mozzarella" (the stretchy/stringy type) rather than fresh fior di latte or mozzarella di bufala. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but when I want a really good pizza, Frasca is not on the top of my list.
(2)Elly K.
I've been here several times and it's always been consistent - good food, good service. Love their pizza and the fried risotto balls (yum), and the farmer's table option. Went for brunch once and it was good, too.
(4)K H.
I love Frasca for its consistently tasty food and its family-friendly atmosphere. Kids eat free every day 4:30-6, which is a fabulous deal. I've taken my two-year-old there many times, and the staff is always accommodating and friendly. We especially love Kevin, who's always willing to stop and say hi to my son. A favorite is the rigatoni, and you can't go wrong with the small plates.
(4)Tom S.
Went to Frasca for the first time last night and everything was great! We had the crispy artichoke hearts, caprese salad and calamari for appetizers and all were delicious. The calamari was a little more fishy than normal and served in a spicy tomato sauce with white beans so it's not the usual grilled or battered calamari appetizer. I had the prosciutto thin crust pizza as an entree and it was the best prosciutto pizza I've ever had. Prices are reasonable. For a table of 6 with 2 bottles of wine and various cocktails, the split bill was only $26 each.
(5)Julie S.
This local spot is worth trying for a casual lunch or dinner. Not something I would recommend for a special occasion, but the menu has something for everyone. Good for groups due to the large selection of pizzas and apps. Also popular for families. They have a small outdoor patio you can try for nice weather.
(3)Kate W.
We live right up the street from Frasca and usually go there once a month or so for their Wednesday night buy one get one free pizza's. The pizza is delish and comes in quite a few different upscale combinations- not that plain ol' pepperoni isn't good too. The atmosphere and decor is nice; great for a date- if I could ever get one (whaa-whaaa). I know they have other specials on weeknights too, including half price wine glasses and bottles.
(5)Alissa R.
The butcher's platter is a steal at $15. You can choose from a variety of meats, cheeses, and bruschetta. I also love the bloody marys, but only on the weekends, when they come with what would be better classified as a salad as garnish (cheese, salami, pepperonicini, etc). They serve them with the typical adornments on weekdays.
(4)Marie B.
Cool atmosphere,great Bruchetta! Pizza crust not so good. The cheese on pie was good, the sauce on pie very good, the grape tomatoes are a nice addition. Service was excellent. I came for the pizza, next time I will try an entree. Pizza was a big disappointment.
(4)Nirali R.
For all the hype this place has gotten for its 'Za, i have to say I was pretty disappointed. We had the margharita-bland, cold and could barely appreciate the basil. Pretty good apps-especially the fondue. The nutella pie was delish too.
(2)Stephanie B.
I love, I love I love. Everything I've had here has only ever been stellar. The staff has only ever been stellar. I asked for a cab at the bar, and the bartender automatically poured me 3 to try without my even asking. I had the papardelle last weekend (with the pork something or other in it) and have had dreams about it every night since. Super cozy and pretty reasonable. Great North side staple.
(5)Alison M.
Frasca's great! I like splitting appetizers, pizza, and dessert there so that I can get a taste of everything. Their "butcher's plate" is a good way to start--you mix and match your choice of five bruchettas, cheeses, or meats and its great to pair with their wine flights. As for appetizers, I love their carpaccio, but I'd pass on the warm marinated olives. Their thin crust pizza is really good- perfect to share if you're looking to have dessert, which you should be, since their carrot cake tiramisu is pretty much perfect.
(4)Amy J.
Let me start by saying- do not go hear on a Wed. after its been written up in the RedEye. We called to ask if there would be a wait around 7:30 before we left to trek up there from downtown. The hostess said "we never fill up on weeknights you'll be fine." We get there and the hostess took about 5 minutes to address our presense as she was babbling on the phone and then told us it would be 30 minutes. So we sat at the bar to eat instead. The place was full of little kids and big parties- cute I guess if you were part of the group, but not so much for us bystanders. We were psyched for the 2 for 1 pizzas and they were very yummy, but it took us an ubsurdly long time to be waited on at the bar and the food took a long time too. Then the bar tender (maybe it was his unfortunate first day?) charged us for both pizzas and took about 20 more min to reverse it. Not a pleasant dining experience on any count. Won't be back.
(2)Rachel Y.
I went here with a group of girlfriends for the infamous bottomless mimosa brunch. We were seated right away and the service was really impressive. Loved the decor and atmosphere, and the group of us loved everything we had. The Lincoln Ave & the Paulina Omelets - both very worthy for your brunch fare. I've heard their pizza's fantastic as well so I'm excited to go back for dinner!
(4)Grrlscoutgoneba D.
I would love to give them more stars because i love love love the cheese selections. I always get the butcher block plate. but....... every time i go the service is eh, my waiters have disappeared, forgotten wine orders, and were otherwise distracted by other employes. sorry but i don't think decent customer service is to much to ask for. also in the last month they have changed their menu and there is no longer any pasta dishes with out meat. I was told that they can just omit the meat. but come on? you cant have anything special for the vegetarians ??
(3)Ingrid R.
The service was okay. She was attentive enough but I'm not sure if she had teeth because she didn't smile. That sounds really mean I suppose, but she didn't. We order a bottle of wine between my husband an I and the rest of our party had food also which looked and smelled good. I just didn't feel comfortable there. I had fun with my friends but would have sitting in a field drinking cans of beer. I'm not comparing the two - quite the opposite. We live within a mile of here and may try it again. Maybe a good place for a bigger group of girls?
(3)Summer P.
Every time I go to Frasca, I'm always amazed at how far the space has come; one half used to be JT Collins and the other a convenience store...it's been completely transformed! Frasca has a great wine list, the bruschetta is fantastic (get the brie with apples...fantastic), and the atmosphere is really nice (the decor and lighting are great). That being said...the first thing that I always say is that I wish I could swap their pizza out for Spacca Napoli's; while tasty, Spacca is really the gold standard for me as far as Neopolitan Pizzerias go (in Chicago at least). I do enjoy going to Frasca and think it's a great spot to meet friends. There have been several times that we've closed down the bar and the staff never tossed any dirty looks our way.
(3)Mary d.
A perfect score!! How can that be?? Well, my friends, sit back and let me enlighten you about the wonders of Frasca... First, it's the ambiance. The lighting is subtle, soothing. Wood and stone combine to make you appreciate the urban twist on the Prairie style of design. A large brick oven anchors the space, and a tidy and slick bar plays center stage. Then, it's the menu. Where do you begin to choose? There are so many variations on the pizza. And that's not to mention the farmer's menu. We were merely there to nosh and booze before hitting the bars, so we went with a bruschetta trio. Our three picks: ricotta with pistachio and cinnamon, mozzarella with sun dried tomato and basil, and brie with peppered apples and honey. All three made us sigh with happiness. And the vodka tonics were smooth and strong...perfect for a Saturday night. The service was attentive and prompt. At one point, one of the owners was taking our plates for us and refilling our drinks. The vibe was lively but laid-back, which is in keeping with the neighborhood. Simply put: you've got to go check it out.
(5)