Francesca’s Intimo
293 E Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, IL, 60045
Francesca’s Intimo Menu
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Appetizers
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Salads
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Entrees
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Pasta
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Pizza
Healthy Meal suggestions for Francesca’s Intimo
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Appetizers
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Salads
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Entrees
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Pasta
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Pizza
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lake Forest for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
293 E Illinois Rd
Lake Forest, IL, 60045 - Phone (847) 735-9235
- Website https://www.miafrancesca.com/static.asp?path=3115,3248
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate, Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Jennifer H.
I'm the Dutchess here and I haven't written a review yet? Impossible! I don't even bother "checking in" anymore I've been coming here for so long.... Okay. Looked at my reviews and it's possible. Probably because Francesca's is such a restaurant staple for us that it never dawned on me. And so, I profusely apologize Mia Francesca Intimo. You have treated me so well over the years and I have taken you for granted. Forgive me. Okay. Enough drama! When we first moved here, people kept asking us, have you been to Francesca's yet? It was like a never ending echo. Francesca's Francesca's Francesca's. (Marsha Marsha Marsha!!!) Well, we finally went and about hit ourselves over the head that we hadn't gotten there before. Think of Francesca's as a good friend. It's the place that the neighborhood goes to for warm atmosphere, lively conversation, comforting food that fills your tummy and soul. They consistently serve delicious food. I think over the past years they've maybe served one dish to me that was just too salty. And that's it! I've eaten almost everything they offer on the menu. The linguini mare remains my all-time favorite pasta dish -- slightly zesty tomato basil sauce, hearty linguini noodles, huge shrimp. Depending on the menu for the evening they may throw in asparagus or spinach. The pasta portions are ridiculously huge. Like crazy huge. Always have leftovers to take home. The fish dishes I return to the most are the ones with tilapia -- usually with spinach. (yep. I like my vegetables and spinach rocks the top of the list.) The appetizers are straight forward. We often skip them to leave room for dessert. (Have I mentioned the huge pasta portions -- it's hard to do pasta and an app and dessert. A lady has to choose!) We about die over the coconut cake. If you like coconut, get it! And if you don't see it on the specials menu or dessert menu, just ask. You never know! We even get take-out from this place if we're stuck home without a sitter. Lots of families here with junior high and high schoolers earlier in the evening. Not exactly the place for preschoolers -- pasta thrown on top of the woman seated next to us, red wine splashed on the older gentleman trying to have a lovely dinner with his wife, bread pieces chucked across the room at texting teenagers. It's too much to bare just thinking about it!!! But I digress. The decor is welcoming and inviting. Dark woods, a flowing wave-like ceiling gives a sense of calmness and movement all at the same time. Tight seating that seems to fit the place and doesn't make one feel scrunched in. Exceptionally friendly waiters. Picked up take-out this weekend and one of them saw me and said hello. Asked when I was going to get said phantom sitter so I could come in for a proper date night again. The bar area is pathetic, that I will say. A five seater at best right by the door. But most people don't just walk-in so it's not really meant to be a true bar. You can walk-in for lunch but dinner generally needs a reservation so be sure to call beforehand to see if they can squeeze you in. You may just see me there!
(5)Allison M.
We had a wonderful bridal shower brunch here last week. My mom's best friends planned it, and told me the restaurant was very easy to work with (even though they were mistaken on the party start time, they were able to get it together just in time!). From a partygoer's point of view, the food was fantastic, the atmosphere was light, airy, and modern, and the service was extremely attentive. We had a lentil goat cheese spinach salad that was incredible as well as some smoked salmon that was so far beyond your grandma's lox. The eggs as well were cooked perfectly. If you're looking for a venue for a party, this is an excellent choice! We have beautiful photos and even more beautiful memories from my bridal shower here.
(5)Brian K.
Great food in a warm inviting atmosphere. I enjoy the food very much. Fish, chicken, and pasta are always excellent. Pricing is more than fair. Go give them a try!!
(5)Vince V.
Delicious Italian food ... outstanding service ... great wine ... relaxed but attentive atmosphere. A colleague and I were able to spend over two hours at times doing work and at times enjoying the meal. We started with customized antipasto assembled at our request and with some suggestions from the waitress. Consider asking for this on your next visit! The pasta portions are enormous. As tempting as it is to order several courses, you should consider splitting a plate among two ... it is a shame for such delicious and large portions to go to waste. Wine was delicious, and the atmosphere generally is pleasant and warm.
(4)Ai L.
We love this place and have been regulars for years!!! Consistent delicious, well priced, great portions of yummy Italian food right in my neighborhood! And their servers and staff are super nice! What's not to love about this place? Also very family friendly and you will find parents/grandparents with kids on any given day! We always order the lentils and spinach with goats cheese as an appetizer and its one of the best kept secrets since its not on the menu! But they always can whip it up :) We love the calamari, all the pasta dishes and the seafood. They also have fantastic deserts! You just can't go wrong with this wonderful gem in Lake Forest :)
(4)Thomas R.
Large portions were a welcome surprise after wading through the somewhat fussy menu. Among our tribe, all successful entrees from the baked chicken to the pasta. Salad meh - definitely needed a blast of acid. Elegant space framed overhead by curved wooden beams. The mussel appetizer was tasty and tangy though missing in zing. A server-induced spillage of a beer (my friend's) and a glass of wine (my wife's) resulted in the manager removing the $11 mussels off of our bill. As we split checks, my friend never received any compensation for the beer. Replacing both drinks would have been the better (though - admittedly - the more expensive) solution. Disappointingly stingy and put a damper on an otherwise satisfying meal. Server - very professional, knowledgeable, if a bit cool.
(4)Anne W.
I ate at this location a few days ago and at their Naperville location (La Sorella de Francesca) in September. Both times I found the food to be very salty. On both occasions I ordered the chicken entree and I found it to be very dry and smothered in a sauce to compensate. 15 years ago I liked these restaurants, but I think it is not nearly as good as it once was. The prices are very fair, but that's not enough to make me want to go back again.
(2)Adam S.
I have been to several of the Francesca's restaurants, and have found each of them to be very impressive. The consistent quality of the food, staff, and environment is what will keep me coming back to Francesca's regularly. As others have said, it does have a tendency to be very crowded, but I have never been disappointed when a reservation had been placed in advance. The food is quite good. If you order pasta, be sure to get something from their homemade category. I'm not convinced that all their pasta is fresh, but everything I've had there is still quite good. Their bruschetta is great, they have a rather extensive wine list, and the desserts are worth saving some room for.
(4)Susan B.
Very good Italian food in Lake Forest. Standouts are calamari, pasta verdure and seafood dishes. Expect a wait on weekends, so make a reservation. Tiny restaurant is bustling. Our family enjoys this restaurant very much .
(4)Abby W.
Had a reservation here for 4 people at 5pm on a Friday - my brother had to be back on base early so we dined with the blue-hair crowd. I chose this spot because it was convenient and had GF pasta items - plus per the Yelp reviews they are accommodating to special requests. I'm a special request kinda girl these days, being that I'm on a restricted diet from my doctor that excludes wheat, dairy, mushrooms, garlic, onion, and many other things. They did not fail to deliver! I was able to get their gluten-free pasta with the toppings from the pizza of the day (sans mozzarella) and with a bit of pesto added for flavor. Tomato, arugula, lemon, prosciutto, oh boy was it delicious. Tastiest meal I've had in days. At first they forgot to add the prosciutto but one quick word to our server rectified it immediately. The glass of Malbec I ordered was OK, not amazing, but serviceable. Everyone else enjoyed their pasta dishes as well and we left fat and happy. The ambience was very nice and quite intimate, as the name implies. It was a worthy location for our new RTC graduate's celebratory dinner.
(5)Mary T.
If you are expecting an intimate little Italian place leave those expectations behind. It's loud, busy, crowded, and again LOUD! Limited menu which always surprises me when we try a different Francesca's. food was good, but ambiance was icky. We did have a reservation but still had to wait 45 minutes. Really? What's the point? I am pretty much done with this group of restaurants.
(2)M Z.
I love FI.....always guarantee delicious with a downtown chi-town vibe. Great to see the same servers over te who know your name. Very yummy risotto and the fresh fish is always great! Also great for take out and catering!
(4)Steve R.
Francesca's Intimo causes ambivance. I would normally rate the restaurant very highly, as the food quality is excellent. The quality of the service is in sharp contrast to what comes out of the kitchen. These problems are not just confined to this location of Francesca's as I have experienced similar problems at Francesca's North. There is no respect for reservations as the restaurant seems to overbook on a regular basis. I have waited more than 30 minutes for our table, and I considered myself lucky that tonight's wait was only 18 minutes. After being seated, it took 10 minutes before a waiter came to ask for drinks. A similar wait occurred before my appetizer was delivered, but the appetizer was piping hot, and perfectly cooked. However, the appetizer plates were not cleared and when the entrees arrived, a juggle ensued between the bus boy and the waiter, (who didn't remember who had what) as the plates from the appetizers were cleared. It is a real shame, as these service gaffes could be fixed easily. The food is first rate, with a good variety of pastas, chicken, and seafood preparations (beef options are few) . I would be inclined to return more often if I could be assured that I would be seated on time and served better.
(3)Rebecca R.
Since my last visit, I arranged a for a last minute 'girls dinner' on a Saturday night. I called for reservations and the hostess was very kind and helped me find a time that would have us seated right away. (My suggested time of 8 was made for 8:15 and we were seated right on time.) We got a nice size booth in the packed room full of dinners. Our waitress brought us water and soon a very kind busboy brought fresh bread. He was all over the place all night helping our very busy waitress to give us a good dining experience despite the overcrowding in the small room. Our food was hot, fresh, and three times more than a normal human could imagine eating. All three of us were impressed with the flavor and portion sizes of our food. I had a fresh veggie pasta dish dressed with a light tomato olive oil. My sister had a creamy three cheese and sausage pasta dish, and our other friend had a fresh spinach and pepperoni pizza. Yum to all three! Overall, the dining experience was very nice and we had a great night. Although it was jam packed and noisy, we had everything we needed, and the meal was fresh and delicious.
(4)Uyi O.
Food was okay. Service was very good.
(4)Rick M.
Interesting food and wine pairings tonight. Would have preferred something besides lamb for the entree. Service was phenomenal. Worth the trip to Lake Forest. I'm certain we will be back.
(3)Jennifer C.
Molto bene! That's the very least I can say about this place. Recommended in a pinch by a complete stranger, me and a friend decided to try this place while trying to find dinner before an event. And let me just say, I will be forever grateful to that stranger whoever she was. Walking in this place any questions you have about why the use of "intimo" is completely dispelled. You basically enter the door and fall into the laps of those patrons who've chosen to eat at the bar. The space is that cozy. There is a slightly more spacious main dining area but I wouldn't recommend going there to discuss confidential government information, as you'll definitely be overheard by your fellow diners. However, while small and cozy the space is lovely. White table linens, fine china and cutlery, warm candlelight and, my favorite, the artwork is a collection of black and white photos of elderly Italians (at least I think they're Italian). The menu is small (one page) but impressive. There are a selection of starters that include the traditional calamari and bruschetta amongst the more unexpected carpaccio and asparagus. There is also a tempting selections of salads that could easily satisfy as a main course (they looked quite filling and fresh); particularly the caprese salad I saw someone devouring at a neighboring table. Then there is a small selection of specialty pizzas (5 including a make-your-own 2 topping). You'd be tempted to skip over this section, but I warn you not to make such a mistake. Simply read the ingredients of these gems and you'll know that these are not your son's pizzas. The menu is then rounded out with a selection of pasta and main dishes that sounded absolutely divine (Tortellaci Tre Funghetti, we will meet soon). The wine selection was very nice as well with satisfying selection of reds, whites and sparkling that can be purchased by the glass or by the bottle, and a separate selection that are offered by the bottle only. As we didn't have much time we decided to keep it simple; individual pizzas and wine. My companion ordered the Quattro Stagioni. and since I have a strict rule about ordering the same dish as anyone (you can't share if you both have the same), I ordered the Pizza della Foresta. T he best part of going out to eat with someone whose palate is just as curious as your own is that there are no qualms about sharing. The Quattro Stagioni was a decadent combination of prosciutto, artichoke, mushroom, olive and egg. My friend surprised me by proving she's a surprising culinary genius and added eggplant, simply because she "really likes eggplant". The combination of ingredients in this dish is enough to impress, but it goes the extra mile with the show it puts on when served. Fresh from the oven with that quivering golden egg still cooking from the residual heat nestled in the center. The waiter then proceeds to mix the egg up in the middle of your pizza, letting the heat of it start to firm up the yolk. When the server starts to cut it up for you the egg is just firm enough not to run all over the plate (in such a classy restaurant you can't expect them to let their patrons sit there with egg running down their chins). Thank goodness my friend was put into a state of catatonic bliss by the taste because it gave me a chance to steal a piece. My goodness, was this pizza good! It was salty and creamy and crispy and... everything. I guess the trend word would be "umami" but it surpassed even that in my opinion. Just perfection! This is what Italian pizza always wanted to be but just never knew how. My friend washed it all down with a glass of Chardonnay that she described as "heaven". While I have to honestly admit that I preferred my friend's pizza to my own, I can't say I was at all disappointed. In fact I was quite delighted with my Pizza della Foresta. A simple pizza but it packs quite the taste-bud wallop. Wild mushrooms, plum tomatoes and Fontina cheese just create this harmony that just works so well together. I love mushrooms but I know that they can be a bit touch-and-go. Over cooked and they become these gelatinous slimy blobs that just kind of coat the tongue with a almost moldy taste. Don't even get me started on canned mushrooms. But these mushrooms were perfect. They were cooked to perfect tenderness that enhanced their earthy flavor and provided a nice meatiness to a meatless dish. The Fontina gave just the right amount of saltiness and creaminess., and the tomatoes added a much needed fruity brightness to bring it all together. This is how you elevate pizza night to the next level. I paired my dinner with a wonderful 2012 Zinfandel that was dark and rich with really deep notes of juicy berry. You can see why we were far too stuffed to even look at their dessert menu so I have no review about that. But if they do desserts as well as they do their pizzas I doubt you'll be disappointed. I hope you'll take the time to visit Francesca's. I know I will again and again and again.
(4)Chris X.
Service was good, our server was friendly and engaging. Food was unremarkable upscale Italian food that could be mistaken for a lot of other Chicago chain Italian restaurants.
(3)Christi K.
And, for my 100th review of 2012... Francesca's Intimo! Overall, great food and value for lunch. Consistently good service, too! My sister introduced me to Francesca's for lunch. They offer a special lunch deal for $17.99. You get soup or salad, a piece of bruschetta, an entree (your choice of chicken, fish, pasta or veg from the lunch menu) and tiramisu or sorbet for dessert. They don't cut down the lunch portions, so it's a ton of food! It is more than enough for two to share. We get the lunch deal and an extra cup of soup. The minestrone soup is excellent. I've also tried their soup of the day (pumpkin bisque and cream of broccoli) which were also tasty. Their bread is crusty and perfect for dipping into EVOO or slathering with butter. Their entree options change daily but the always offer a chicken, fish, pasta and veg dish. We always get the chicken dish, Pollo Pagliacci. It hasn't been on the menu yet, but they will make it for you if you ask. The chicken is cooked perfectly every time and it's served with a heavenly brandy sauce. The dish changes a little every time, as they use whatever veggies they have that day. I'm sure the rest of their menu is delicious, too... but I can't bring myself to order anything else! To end a great meal, the tiramisu is the perfect balance of espresso soaked lady fingers and mascarpone. If I wasn't in a restaurant I'd lick the chocolate sauce off the plate! The service is always pleasant and the ambiance is great. You never feel rushed. We always have a nice leisurely lunch and a very full belly! Oh, and did I mention, they serve lunch till 4pm!
(5)Emily B.
I first came here with a large group for a bachelorette party, we had reservations and were seated in a timely manner. I'm a vegetarian and after glancing over at the menu I was a little concerned that the only options would be a little boring. How wrong was I. When our waiter came over, I asked about vegetarian modifications and he informed me that he could do me one better, they were having a special that was not on the menu that night that would be perfect, a mushroom ravioli dish. Usually, I don't like mushrooms because of their tendency to become rubbery when cooked wrong, but I figured I'd try it. It was fabulous, homemade pasta shell and everything. I am so heartbroken that I haven't been there on another night when they had it available since. The staff is great, they definitely went out of their way to make sure we all had a special evening. It is a little pricy but definitely worth every penny. I can't wait for my next visit!
(5)Jay I.
This is a great example of hit or miss. I tried this restaurant several times, only for dinner. The first time I went, the calamari was one of the best I tasted, and the pasta was very solid too. At that time I thought I found a hidden gem. In my second visit, I had a pasta dish, but the topping was similar to ratatouille. This tasted pretty good (I usually don't even order veggie-based dish, but this was an exception). Then, in my third and fourth visit, I ordered different kinds of pastas, and they were either too salty or too bland. Didn't have a flavor. I was disappointed, and I haven't been to this place since them. This was what I meant by hit or miss. I think the calamari should be good, and there should be some other tasty stuff. Still, too risky to hope for consistently good dishes at this point.
(3)Jonathan E.
Although I am from Minneapolis, I would definitely return to this restaurant. I consider it one of my favorite Italian dining experiences in the country. The food is well-prepared and presented, but the best aspect of this restaurant is it's ambiance and location. Located in Lake Forest, it is a great get-away from the urban bustle of nearby Chicago. The interior creates a fantastic mood for a date night. I once took my girlfriend here for an evening out and we were not disappointed. I had seen on OpenTable that it was rated highly for it's romantic atmosphere, and I think that assessment was right on the money. I had a fish entree and my girlfriend had pasta. Both were prepared well and the portion sizes were larger than average. Combining great food with an even better atmosphere make Francesca's one of my favorite spots when Im in the Chicago area. Overall, highly recommended. Pros: Excellent food, location outside the city, romantic atmosphere, small/intimate dining space. Cons: Location (might be out of the way for some people), small dining space may require reservation or planning for larger groups
(4)Justin H.
This place was packed on a saturday night and rightfully so. The dinner my fiancé and I had was excellent. The service was timely and courteous. We were quite pleased and would consider this place again for good Italian food.
(5)Joel M.
Freshly made pasta!
(4)Eric P.
Dinner on a Monday night wit ha group of colleagues. Not a busy night Very good food. The roasted chicken is the best I had in a long time. Deserts are good too. Service was good too. Will return for sure!
(5)Vivi W.
Favorite dinner spot. Amazing food always; everything on menu is great! Cocktails are always fun and yummy. Also, they have lucky draw every hour? for a table in the restaurant to get a free desert. It gets busy even on weekdays, so always make a reservation!
(5)David L.
Food: 4 Decor: 4 Service: 4 I came here with a coworker for dinner at 7pm Thursday. Tip: free street parking and parking in garage across street (3 hrs) 1. Pollo arrosto alla Romano, 16 Roasted half chicken with garlic, shallots, rosemary, lemon and olive oil. Served with roasted potatoes. ~Very good. Chicken and potatoes were both cooked perfectly. 2. Cream puff Profiteroles with pistachio ice cream, 7 ~Very good, although portions were very large. My coworker got the chicken with lemon and cooked spinach, which looked good, but he said the chicken was overcooked, spinach undercooked, and there wasn't much lemon flavor. His coconut cake was huge and looked pretty good. Service was good.
(4)Dkrejser S.
In the beginning I didn't like this place so much but perhaps due to the lack of any decent italian restaurants in this area I have grown to like it over the summer. Went quite a few times this summer and fall and now really enjoy it. The atmosphere is great and makes up for that the food is still american italian not true italian. Very generous portions. The carpaccio is probably my favorite.
(4)Meagan H.
I went here on a date one time. This must have been a few months ago but I still remember it very well. I had never been there before and was quite impressed. I've lived in Lake Forest for over 15 years and never once saw this place. It's small and some what hidden. The atmosphere is very mellow. It's pretty small, yet cozy. When it gets busy it can get a little noisy. But the sound isn't traveling too well, so you can still have a conversation with the person sitting across from you. The lights are dimmed. I loved the photos on the wall. I liked the decor in general. The menu is perfect. There's a good amount of options, but not overbearing. The service was on point. The servers were attentive but not annoying. They had a great wine selection and are great at describing the different kinds for those who have no clue about wine :) The size of the platter was large. So you definitely get what you pay for. I had enough for leftovers. I looove leftovers, and I really liked my pasta. So why not? My date and I decided to share dessert since we knew the portion size would be large. We got some kind of chocolate lava type of cake. Yummmmy. I was trying not to be stingy with it but I definitely took more than my fair share. I'll recommend this place to anyone looking for some fine dining in the area. I still need to take my parents here. They would love it just as much as I did! I need to go back for some cake. Can't stop thinking about it!
(5)Barbara W.
Inrteresting decor. Fantastic food. Very good service.
(4)Deb H.
It is a small place, so it seems full all the time. The seating is a little tight, but not terrible. Our server was great, with excellent descriptions of the entrees when I had a hard time choosing. The beef carpaccio was excellent. The Gnocchi melted in your mouth. This was one of the entrees I was torn on and our server suggested getting a side of it to split so we could try it - great call. James had the swordfish and loved it. I had the salmon and calamari in a lemon wine sauce with spinach. My son even loved the leftovers the next day. So delicious - we'll be back. Wish parking was better or they had valet. There was none at 6pm on Saturday night. There is a public lot down the street.
(5)David B.
I've eaten here many times as you can always expect good food at a very fair price. It will never thrill but it will never disappoint. The menu isn't adventuresome but all of the basic dishes I've tried have been consistently good. Order one of the pasta dishes and I can guarantee you'll have leftovers for the next days lunch. The only real issue is that even with reservations, at the peak 6:30-8:00 time period, you end up waiting crammed into a tiny bar area. You are much better off going early, but the best time to go is late, around 9pm when the crowds have begun to exit, the noise level drops and the wait staff is more relaxed as they see light at the end of the tunnel.
(4)Rich A.
Same great menu as all the other Francesca's restaurants! Francesca's is a great Italian restaurant with an intimate, romantic atmosphere. I had the Pollo Arroyo alla Romana which was good, and my lovely wife had the Penne Diavola con Pollo - which was great!
(4)Carolyn G.
I seriously thought about calling the fire marshal: this place is WAY too small and they've got WAY too many tables shoved in there. First, we could barely get in the door because of the folks standing at the very teeny tiny bar. Then, we were seated at the very first table, right after the bar - just in front of the server/hostess station. So, throughout dinner, our table was surrounded by people, people, and more people. In fact, at times, it felt like folks were hovering over our table, just waiting for us to get up and leave so they could sit down. Aside from the tiny space, and overflowing people, the service was pretty good. My water glass was continually refilled, the dishes arrived in the proper order and the server remembered who ordered which dish. He even split up our salad onto separate plates for us when we indicated that we were going to share. The food was just okay, though. I had the seafood linguine in a "spicy tomato" sauce, I didn't taste any spice at all. The seafood was well cooked, and the bowl of pasta was freaking huge. Others had the gnocchi which was moist and tasted pretty good. The best part was by far the dessert: tiramisu was great, the gelato came as two heaping scoops, and the cappuccino was well-made. Over all, I'm not sure that I'll go back. It would have been a much more pleasant experience had we not been stuffed in like sardines and then had to fight our way upstream to get out the door at the end of the night. Clearly this place is doing well and should consider expanding or relocating to a larger space.
(3)Rahul D.
Their spinach dish is great and I don't even like veggies! they were very helpful in making us vegetarian dishes. i will definitely check this place out again. It reminded me of a place i went to in switzerland as it is antique and very classy with a warm family ambiance.
(5)Jennifer F.
You'll want a reservation for Friday or Saturday night. We've been many times and the food is consistently great. I've been to several of the Francesca's Restaurants. This is one of my favorites.
(5)M K.
Superb my any metric.
(5)Tricia R.
Fantastic Italian food in the suburbs. I've never been to the other Francesca's locations, so I don't know if it's the same as the others, but this location in Lake Forest is great. The food here is authentic and well-prepared. If you get anything with seafood, it's always fresh and perfectly cooked. Service is kind and attentive. Basically, anything you get here is great. Great place to have in Lake Forest.
(5)Gabby D.
I try to come here at least once a week for lunch. The food is always delicious and the bread is always warm. The chicken is tasty and juicy, while the pasta choices rotate from week to week. Nice outdoor seating in the summer too.
(4)Parker P.
Way overrated...food just average.
(1)Deyu Z.
I came as a group of 10 for a lunch celebration of the co-work's promotion. The service is excellent. The food is also great. The bread is warm and tasty. We tried different appetizers including calamari, pizza and brochette. I like every single items of it. I have tried those at other Italian restaurants, and I have to say they are very good compared to others I have. I ordered burger as my entree. The burger is very juicy and tasty, which is cooked perfectly. It is better than most of the burger restaurants only second to Lovell at Lakeforest. My colleagues had pasta and salmon dish, and they all like it. The only thing I don't like is the salad dressing, which is too sour for me. I can't wait to come back by myself with my wife for a dinner.
(4)Ned S.
This is number one of my two favorite weekend restaurants. We usually eat at the bar unless we're with another couple because we've had some interesting conversations with our seating neighbors. They do more take out business than any restaurant I've ever seen. It's the local (Lake Forest) diner.
(4)Jessica W.
It's been two years since I've been back to Lake Forest and this restaurant has been on my mind since. After a long day at work, I came here and say at the bar and had a really fantastic dinner. There is absolutely nothing I can complain about here. You owe it to yourself to go!
(5)Lauren K.
Although Francesca's was the last stop in a long interview for a dream job that I did not get, I will not blame this lovely little Italian restaurant for my unlucky fortune in obtaining a job. Francesca's really is a delightfully intimate Italian restaurant nestled into a little nook and cranny of beautiful Lake Forest. This is probably my favorite Italian restaurant in this area and if given the chance I would gladly go again...just not when on an interview because that did not seem too work out to well the last time. Now, I will say that when having gone with a group of people everyone ordered something different and it all looked amazingly tastey! And it smelled even better! Personally, I can only attest to how good the chicken parmesan sandwhich was. I'd not had a chicken parmesan sandwhich before but you can bet your little butt it was damn good. And oh my goodness, the chicken was so tender that I barely had to bite into it. I decided to get it with fries (as opposed to a salad) which are awesome! Dude, don't knock it till you try it. This Italian place has got da goods - what's better than fries and pasta? Uh, nothing. Like I said before, all of the food looked quite good and I am waiting until I can go again arena order some of that pasta. You will surely go home with pasta leftovers, especially if you eat the bread and salad before your pasta. I loved the atmosphere in there. It was very classy and perfectly intimate. It would be good for a date night with your significant other or a business meeting with your co-workers. I'd say this is a versatile place that can cater to your ever need and desire...and still leave money in your wallet after all is said and done. We all know some Italian restaurants can jack up their prices, but oh no - not Francesca's. They understand the meaning of good food on a budget. Now, go poppa da cherry and eat at Francesca's!
(4)PooBear F.
Unexpected stop in 30 mins before close because of the Market Square car show and had a fantastic pasta -- scallops & spinach in a light tomato cream sauce -- awesome. Started with hearts of palm salad also super light & refreshing. Young hostess first greeted us hesitantly because it was close to closing time, but eventually they realized a good amount of customers were coming from the car show.
(4)Daniel S.
Gave north 3 stars but I think this Francesca's is superior. Nice ambiance but even better food. Really solid dishes prepared well. Good Italian in lake forest.
(4)Stephen M.
The Francesca group of restaurants has always been a good experience. Several years ago, we had a large family meal at the Clark Street (I think) location in the city. A very fond memory. These restaurants seem to catch the spirit of a high energy merry dining room that many restaurants don't. As the the name Intimo implies, it's cozy. My dining companion the night we went was my daughter with the very refined palate (we spoiled her into being a wonderful friend and knowledgeable foodie). We stayed with the night's specials, splitting our dishes. Each step of the way received an enthusiastic nod of approval (appetizer, entree, dessert, coffee and drinks). The pizza quatro stagioni (prosciutto and egg--(fantastico!) and linguine all Arlecchino (seafood pasta--fantastico!). That fantastico thing is my effort to sound Italian-ish and say it was great!
(5)Chris I.
Francesca's does not disappoint. The menu here is typical of all Francesca's. I enjoy a good cut of veal and this place delivers. Food was excellent for the other guests at the table.
(4)M Y.
Was here last night and we kept saying over and over again "SO GOOD" - we didn't leave one strand of pasta! Ordered the Shrimp Bisque with crab meat - delicious! The bruschetta is always amazing - fresh and tasty. I ordered the Salmon Alfredo, perfect serving size, not too saucy, pasta was perfect, salmon - cooked to perfection. My BF ordered the fish - he loved it and soak the bread in the sauce afterwards. Banana bread pudding was fine - nothing spectacular, but couldn't disappointed after such an incredible meal. A traditionally delicious meal and soothes your craving for good quality food. Will remain a true gem of a restaurant in my books.
(5)Nic Z.
Very nice place. My wife and I dine here regularly and like the food/service very much. The problem we have with this place is that they insist on playing classic rock music during dining hours. While that might be something the staff enjoy we certainly do not.
(3)Kevin N.
Francesca's is my favorite restaurant in Lake Forest. Intimate it is, with maybe 25 tables inside and a cute outdoor patio open during the warmer months. Part of the larger chain, the food is consistently good. The handwritten menu changes frequently and includes delicious salads, sandwiches, pastas and entrees. What sets Francesca's apart from other Italian restaurants is the lighter hand they use with their cooking, even the richest food isn't heavy. Further, you can order any of the pastas with whole wheat or even gluten free! The service is friendly and professional. While the interior is warm and, uh, intimate, with closer tables along with some booths along the back right wall. The ceiling undulates in waves and feels upscale. Standouts are the calamari and the coconut cake. The delicately breaded squids served with the light homemade marinara are simply perfect. The giant hunk of cake will feed a small family with its delicious buttercream frosting.
(3)Jacqueline N.
For the quality and service we received, service and mediocre food was not a good experience. Service was very slow and I had to ask for things (like water) multiple times. Parking was a pain to find and the wait for the food was excruciatingly long. Food: 1. Ravioli with vegetables consist of 4 filled pasta with a cheese sauce, pink from a touch of tomato sauce and parmigiano. It was alright but not the best combination of flavors because the vegetables in the ravioli had a funny taste. 2. Pollo Arosto Alla Romano: consists of roasted half chicken with garlic, shallots, rosemary lemon, and olive oil served with roasted potatoes. The chicken pieces were quite dry, but decently flavored. the cream sauce was well seasoned but the chicken breast meat was just a bit dry. Francesca's did not suit my tastes but maybe it will for others. They were nice enough to accommodate our large group so I would give 2.5 stars if possible.
(2)Mitchell Y.
A nice environment with good food and great service. We started out with the three cheese bruschetta and napoletana pizza. The bruschetta was excellent. The pizza (and I lived in Wisconsin for years, so I can't believe I'm saying this) had too much cheese. There were about four cherry tomato halves on the whole thing, so it was hard to get all flavors together. For the main course we both had the pomodoro, which was quite tasty. The pasta was cooked perfected and it was a nice size. Well executed. The only drawback was the added chicken. It was about half a breast and extremely dry. For dessert, my brother had the lava cake which he said was fair. I had the profiteroles and was surprised (pleasantly!) that instead of being filled with cream they were filled with pistachio gelato. Not as light as I had expected, but it's hard to be upset about more gelato in your life. All in all in a good, but unexceptional, dinner.
(3)John G.
Smaller and more intimate than their typical restaurant and much better than the ones near us downtown. Service was good and food deliciously prepared. My pasta with vegetables was nicely prepared and my wife's pasta with salmon was too. The place is pretty popular so make a reservation because even the small bar was filled with people eating.
(4)Luke L.
This is easily one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to. The original Fancescas is in Downtown Chicago and is just as unbelievable.
(4)Koizumi Y.
This establishment is part of a chain, with Francescas spread throughout the Chicagoland/suburban area. Apparently a deliberately well kept secret for regular local patrons, we'd not been to Francesca's Intimo though we had patronised its Northbrook locale. Our original plan was to order take out after retrieving an out-of-town visitor. Alas, the tantalising aroma upon entering caused us to change course and dine in this intimate restaurant. Warm and relaxing whilst maintaining a smart urban look via clean lines, wood, and black and white artwork, the environment is one of elegance and comfort. Still, I would have preferred if our booth had walls or partitions for a bit more privacy or barrier as it is small. The service was quite attentive and prompt, with a variety of dishes we shared. The risotto with porcini was properly prepared and not starchy. Spinach with garlic was delicious if not somewhat overpowering, and the rigatoni with asparagus, pine nuts, and a light cream (which didn't overplay other ingredients). Wines were reasonably priced and included a list less typical given its inclusion of many Italian options. We skipped dessert. All in all, a pleasant dining experience, but not something I'd characterise as life-changing. Nonetheless, I can see why it has a loyal following.
(3)Giovanna B.
I think this is probably the only restaurant open until late up in Lake Forest, or at least it seems that way by the sheer number of locals that are often found dining in this establishment. I have been to this location multiple times, mainly for sponsored events, and still am quite surprised to find that catering to a large number of people did not equate to a decline in quality of food, as I have experienced in other establishments. Things to note: - The food is good, though the only thing that comes to mind right now is the herbed olive oil for dipping bread. - The service is good as well (unless you count that one time one of the busboys got yelled at for forgetting to replace my utensils after I was done with one of the courses - yikes!). - Their wine selection is "okay". - Their desserts.... well, I've only experienced their tiramisu and I wasn't impressed. - In case you are claustrophobic, the place is VERY small, and you really get to know your neighbours. - Finally, though I have no negative remarks about this place, there's nothing about it that makes me want to get up and run down the street screaming out of the top of my lungs: "I LOVE FRANCESCA'S INTIMOOOOOOOOO". But I guess that's something you just have to judge for yourself. I would rather give the place 3.5 stars overall since it just doesn't blow me away, but it has treated me well, so 4 stars it is.
(4)Victoria h.
The food was fabulous!! The service was even better, if at all possible. We were waited on hand and foot. But back to the food - it was incredible! We went to the other Francesca's in Glenview and it wasn't nearly as good. The atmosphere at Francesca's Intimo is fantastic. Very romantic but also great for friends. They change their menu to match the food that's in season. So everytime it's something different.
(5)Inna T.
It was pretty darn good; better than I expected. I had the veal (which most restaurants screw up) and it was quite good. Nothing to write home about but not a disappointment. Very comparable to Mia Francesca in the city.
(3)Ed W.
We decided on Saturday afternoon to go here for dinner so the only reservation we could get was 6:00 PM. That turned out to be perfect. The table we had would have been in tight quarters if the place was full but we were very comfortable with a sparse crowd. By the time we left, the outside seating completely packed and the inside was filling in. A suggestion - don't do the outdoor seating on Sat eve. Think sardines seated at wire tables - not very romantic to me. Anyway - the Chianti was nice at $6.50/glass, the bell shaped pasta with sausage was excellent and the salmon with asparagus was good. The herb flavored olive oil for bread dipping was a nice touch - it made it feel a little exotic. The service was great - again as result of the early seating I suspect. I liked the interior decorating but if the place was full it would seem cramped and closed in. Overall I would recommend it but it is right between a 3 and 4 star rating. I'll give it 4 for the service and the reasonably priced wine.
(4)gnat c.
This is my *favorite* restaurant in the north shore. The service is UNBELIEVABLE at this location. The staff go above and beyond a normal dining experience and make it phenomenal. Rob is one of the best bartenders. He makes a fantastic french martini and the sangiovese is a great wine. My favorite is walking into this restaurant and Rob has already begun pouring my drink....of course you have go dine there a few times for this to happen. The appetizers are delightful as well as the main courses. Being the picky eater that I am, the staff make exceptions with no problems and taste of the food is out of this world. Save room for dessert! I've also hosted a private party and again, the staff went above and beyond the call of duty making my guests feel right at home. Make a reservation, the place fills up any night of the week. Yum...I wish I lived closer.
(5)Samantha D.
Consistently good. I've been there with a large groups and as a party of two, and each time the service has been fantastic, and so has the food they put out. I would say definitely close to being the best restaurant in Lake Forest. Maybe it is the best, but it's that the competition isn't very competitive that is the problem.
(4)C S.
I like Francesca's because of all the places in Lake Forest, this one somehow has avoided being snooty and cold. The atmosphere is nice, the decor is pleasant, the service is reliable, and the food is good. It's not haute cuisine by any means, but I've never had a bad meal there and everything is fresh. They now serve gluten-free pasta, too ... It's not the place to go for a 45 minute lunch -- expect your meal to last more than an hour at least....they don't rush the diners, either, which is nice. In the summer they have a patio, and there's a small (well, ok, TINY) bar if you're looking for a place to have a drink and can't stomach South Gate (I know I can't). Try the warm spinach appetizer -- it's phenomenal!
(4)Verena B.
I have never had a bad meal here. The food is quite good, and some of it is almost inspired. Prices are not cheap, but not out of hand. Only criticism is that the service is slow sloww slowwwwwww.
(4)