Francesca's On Chestnut

From the moment we stepped inside, the place felt warm and inviting. We were greeted right away and guided to our table, tucked downstairs where the energy softened and the noise from the bustling upstairs faded into a gentle hum. It created this unexpectedly intimate, almost romantic pocket of calm. Our server was fantastic — confident with recommendations, attentive without hovering, and always appearing at just the right moment. And then…the food. Everything arrived beautifully prepared and cooked to perfection. The Calamari Fritti was crisp and flavorful, a perfect start. But the standout was the Pollo Milanese — a golden, crispy chicken cutlet paired with velvety rigatoni alla vodka, bright cherry tomatoes, peppery arugula, red onions, and a generous snowfall of grana padano. Every bite was rich, fresh, and incredibly satisfying. The atmosphere carried a warm, ambient glow, and the staff added to it with their kindness and genuine hospitality. The restaurant manager, Constantine, stopped by several times to check in, and we ended up chatting for a while. He was gracious, welcoming, and clearly passionate about the place. I’d recommend this restaurant without hesitation — it’s the kind of spot that turns a simple night out into a memorable experience.

My husband and I surprised our 15 year old twins to a first ever (for us) trip to Chicago Christmas morning (we’re from St. Louis). I booked reservations for Francesca’s on Chestnut for Christmas night at 8 pm. When we arrived to the restaurant, the place was packed with many guests waiting for their table. The welcoming host seated us right away at our reservation time. Our waiter was amazing and attentive. The food was fantastic from the drinks, apps, salads, entrees to the desserts. We started with the meatballs and risotto as appetizers. My family all had different entrees. My son didn’t see chicken fettuccine on the menu but the kitchen made him linguine in white sauce with chicken. He devoured it! We all (my family of 4) loved everything that was ordered. What I was really impressed was how well the restaurant was managed and smoothly ran by the staff. You could definitely tell they have a good team and management to make the busy nights run smoothly! At the end of the night, we had a pleasant encounter with owner which made our first night in Chicago even better. I highly recommend this restaurant when visiting Chicago!

Francesca's On Chestnut had a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The food and drinks came out fast and the food was amazing. The proportions of our appetizers and food were a great size and worth the price. Our server Emily was so sweet and did a great job taking care of our party of 6. 10/10 would come back here!

Ok, forgive the crappy pics, I just took them AFTER we dove into the plates. We loved the food - starting with the Lenticchie and Bruschette starters. Our entrees included spinach ravioli, vodka rigatoni, the montovana gnocchi and the eggplant parmigiana. We also had a pizza caprino. All of them were great, but the eggplant parmigiana was the star, because the eggplant was somehow still crispy even with the sauce on top. I'd also like to rave about the customer service. Ben was amazing, and made sure our birthday boy felt special! The cherry on the top was the profiteroles with pistachio gelato. Superb!

Francesca’s on Chestnut truly deserves 5 stars. We had the spinach ravioli and a risotto, both absolutely delicious. The service was excellent—friendly, attentive, and professional. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for enjoying a great meal with friends or as a couple. Definitely a highly recommended spot worth visiting for a memorable dining experience.

Server Ben B. is the absolute best. A must-have server especially if you have food allergies or intolerances. He was attentive to all needs, kind, and very communicative with the kitchen staff. We have complete faith in his and the restaurant’s ability to provide a safe and enjoyable dining experience. 5/5 stars easily.

Came here for the half chicken I’ve been craving for way too long. Stayed for the company at the bar. Thank you Andy for the relaxing vibes on the first day of this year. I know that was your playlist going. Shout out Helmut!

Loved the classic atmosphere and tomato-based dishes. Would also highly recommend the caesar salad on the side. Whitefish was a little bland but paired very well with their recommended wine. Will definitely come again and try out other signature dishes.

Will def come back! Pollo Arrosto alla Romana (5/5): This is roasted half chicken. So juicy and tender. The lemon makes it bright, but it was still savory and umami. The sauce was almost like a soup with how you could eat it alone--didn't seem like a marinade. I appreciate how the rosemary and lemon didn't overpower. The potatoes were also perfect, not salty not soggy. I also like how it's skinless, it's really a French fry. This dish is hearty and reminds me of a Thanksgiving plate. Very crave worthy, would get again. Linguine agli Scampi (5/5): Mom loved this--cleaned her plate. The scallop was a bit fishy for me, but the seasoning is on point. Almost every seafood pasta dish is bland or salty, but they nailed the seasoning ratio here. Amore Primaverile Spritz (4/5): The spritz adds a nice soda kick to the passionfruit-orangey cocktail. Not crave worthy, I would rather try a different drink next time. Interior and ambience is just what you see in a Christmas movie! So cozy and moody, but also lively with the amount of people inside. NY Christmas personified in a restaurant. Staff is also top notch and super attentive. No surprise this restaurant has been open for 35 plus years.

Visited Francesca's for the first time on NYE. I was pleasantly surprised that they had their full menu that evening. Ordered the roasted beet appetizer and the rigatoni alla Melanzane. Beets were good, but the pasta was a standout - truly al dente and flavorful. Signature cocktails were also good. Everyone at the table got something different and enjoyed their option. Appreciated the warm breads and oil for the table. Space is large and cozy. Would be a good spot for a large group.

Arrived in Chicago hangry and landed here. GREAT, cozy spot. Servers are friendly and attentive. Know their menu and willing to help out some hungry folks. We walked in at a quiet time (4ish?) and watched as the restaurant filled up. They start you off with bread and parmesan. The parmesan is fresh and pungent. The olive oil on the table is delicious and rich - dive in! Add a Chianti and you're speaking my language. I ordered the Chop salad, which had generous helpings of Cavelstrano olives, peppers, cheese et al. I'm not really a sausage+peppers kind of gal - but we ordered as an appetizer and WOW! Flavors are on point. Also ordered the Burrata as an appetizer. Served with pine nuts, neon-green tasty olive oil and ripe, roasted tomatoes still on the vine. Absolutely delicious. My husband ordered the Francesca pasta, which was delicious but unexpected presentation. This particular pasta dish is made fresh. Tastes almost like a large egg noodle, wrapped with spinach and cheese and a delicious sauce into spirals. Very good. We finished with a lemon olive oil cake with fruit. A dense, baked cake bread with light sauce and berries. I loved the feel of this restaurant. Very cozy and warm on a cold day. Reminded me of Italy. My only reco would be less pop music, more Sinatra. But that's the old lady in me talking.

What a fantastic team @ Francesca's ....thoroughly impressed! Katherine helped with planning my teen daughter's bday and was meticulously in following up with me regarding the menu and arrangements. John was extremely patient in serving 18 noisy teen girls in the 3 hours spent. Lisa greeted me warmly and let me camp by the bar till the party ended . Everyone enjoyed the food and service. I shall certainly not hesitate to host another party!!

Magical experience floating in the food at Francesca's on Chestnut. Starting the night off strong with their complimentary bread, olive oil, basil, Parmesan cheese combo. Followed by the Focaccia appetizer that made me see stars with its flavors. I wasn't prepared for the bomb dropped on our table with the three entrees of pasta. Prepare your pallet for a divine dining experience, enhanced by wine, great conversation, and outstanding service. I'd go here with my mom and great aunt. A first date. A friend. A business partner, or a solo night out on the town. You'll definitely catch me at Francesca's again!

Fantastic experience! I have been here a few times and loved it, but it is my first time leaving a review. We came here for our anniversary (put it in my OpenTable reservation notes), and they immediately celebrated us and brought champagne to the table. Our waitress was terrific, well-informed on the menu, and very attentive. The dining area can get cramped/loud during busy hours, so we asked to move to another area that felt less cramped between other parties. The vibes are traditional/family Italian, and we love the Gold Coast area that it's in. Our food was delicious and well portioned (I'm biased for hardy Italian servings). They brought us complimentary bread for the table, and we started with the fried calamari, which was a great portion, lightly breaded, and delicious. We then got the pasta carbonara (add chicken) and half chicken on the bone, which were both delightful. I highly recommend it for some great Italian food, stellar service, and lovely vibes/location.

The food was amazing and the ambiance was also great. The service was quick and very helpful and kind. I got the rolli alla francesca and that tasted really good and left me full. I also got the CARPACCIO CON AVOCADO and wasn't sure what it was exactly but it ended out tasting pretty good as well. Definitely would recommend going!

Dinner was delicious, loved the seafood linguine, it was very lemony. It took a while for a waiter to come take care of us but the service beyond that was great. We finished the meal with a cappuccino. Loved the ambiance, very close, dimly lit and intimate. Will be back !

I ordered on uber eats, food came really quickly, restaurant prepped the food well, it was hot when I got my food. The paccheri alla vodka e salsiccia is divine. I liked everything I ordered. Would definitely try again.

The food here was decent, definitely not bad, but also nothing that sets it apart from other Italian restaurants. Out of all the dishes that I tried, my favorite was the ravioli. The ravioli was balanced the best and didn't feel overwhelming in any particular way. With the other dishes I often felt like it was either too sweet, or too heavy. The service was great though, very pleasant and eager to help.

Went her for a girls night! I got there 15 minutes early and they were able to seat me. The waiter was very attentive for the first half, but I think he got pretty busy the second half and forgot one of my friend's drinks. When she mentioned this, he got the drink almost immediately and gave us all a free round which was very nice of him! The meal itself was great, but it wasn't very hot when it came out. I got the Rolli alla Francesca and I would definitely get it again!

Visited for an early dinner on a sat night before a show at the Chicago theater. We sat at the bar, it's full service at the bar top and the bartender Andy was wonderful. We were kind of on a time crunch and he timed all of our food out perfectly so we left right when we needed to but didn't feel rushed at all. Great service, attentive but not overbearing. We got Nonna's meatballs, the chicken romana, and the agnolottis (little cheese-stuffed dumplings in a brown butter sauce with mushrooms.) everything was sooo good, I couldn't stop eating even after I was full. We opted out of dessert and the other bartender Zach made me an amazing espresso martini for a little liquid dessert. The restaurant is clean and beautiful, and a great location close to a lot of shopping and entertainment. Will definitely be back next time we're downtown!

Overall the meal was delicious and the seafood was fresh. A traditional Italian restaurant, the items on the menu can be found at other classic Italian places, nothing unique. But the quality is amazing and outstanding. House Bread: I loved their bread, it is plain and chewy. If you prefer flavored bread (e.g. garlic bread) then this might can be too plain for you. But if you're like me that just love chewy on plain bread then you must try their bread when it is warmly served. It does come with cheese on the side. Beets Salad: it was part of their special menu of the night and we absolutely enjoyed it! The roasted pecan adds a great crunch to the salad and the vinaigrette adds a nice touch to the dish. This should be put in this menu and served regularly. Cozze Bianco O Rosso: The mussels are fresh and well- flavored. The sauce(white-wine) was not salty and did not steal the flavor of the mussels. The portion is not small. My friend had a great time dipping the garlic bread with the sauce, while I went for the house served bread. Scampi Alla Francesca: the portion of this dish is not too big and filling. The shrimps and scallops were fresh and cooked to the right timing. My only complaint is that it was a bit too salty for me. Wished its flavor could be as light as the mussels dish. Fettuccine Limone E Gamberi: not an outstanding/ must order pasta. My friend wanted to try something different, so she picked a newer selection. There's barely any shrimp on top. Definitely order something that has been on the menu since opening. Overall, the service was excellent. Our server made sure we had the best experience. He kindly accommodated most of the dish for me. The atmosphere is cozy and friendly. If you are planning to visit the restaurant during the busy hours then make sure to have a reservation. It can definitely get crowded and loud in the evening.

Celebrated Valentine's Day here with the fiancé and cannot recommend more. The ambiance was so comforting, romantic, and moody, which really helped play into couples' special moments. The service was incredible! We couldn't decide between a couple of pinot noirs, and our server was so knowledgeable and even gave a sample flight to taste before we decided! More wine no problem. Pasta was incredibly rich, fresh, and savory. Also the desserts? AMAZING. Left feeling so full and happy

This is such a lovely Italian restaurant in Chicago. It is a cute and cozy spot with a calming ambiance. We went this past weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday and the team at Francesca's was on top of everything! My husband and I shared the meatballs appetizer which was SO good. I loved the ricotta cheese it came with and the sauce itself was so delicious with the bread that the dish came with. For my entree, I got the Linguine all Fagottaro and added scallops. I am still dreaming of my food because it was great quality Italian. The restaurant even allowed us to bring a cake in for the birthday girl and held it in the back! They brought it out with candles when it was time and even cut it for us! Our server was so attentive, friendly and anticipated our needs ahead of time. I'd absolutely recommend this spot if you're looking for a more upscale Italian restaurant!

Italian pasta always is my favorite dish. We come to Chicago for a few days, Francesca is just one block away from our hotel. We ordered two pastas, with one bottle of sav blanc, with our favorite appetizers fried calamari. I would say their calamari is surprisingly good, without much batter. Pastas are al dente. Mine is perfect with my favorite hot spicy. Shrimps and scallops are fresh, with the white wine, it's a wonderful dinner.

The food was spectacular, the service was outstanding, the waiters were very friendly, professional and helpful. The ambiance was and old school Italian restaurant.

Our service was excellent. The food was excellent, and the location was great. We were staying at the Hilton and had show tickets across the street. I'm so glad we made reservations because the place was packed. Not an open table. Everything was really good and I'd come back.

This was my second time to this restaurant chain. I had been to the one in Naperville previously. I went with my husband on Valentines day here. The ambience was great with having pink and red balloons everywhere. The table had a special menu for valentines day. The napkins were even pink in color. The food was absolutely delicious. The food was super fresh. As soon as we seated we were served bread. Then we started with Bruschetta for the appetizer. We had Mezze Rigatoni with Spicy Tomato Sauce and Chicken. Both the entrees were tasty. There is a parking garbage near by also there is plenty of street parking. I would definitely recommend this restaurant! MUST TRY!

Cute place w warm ambience with good food in the Gold Coast across from the theater. Food is a bit salty but it's good and the pasta was al Dente and good quality plus chewy and fresh. We had:0 Cute place with good food in the Gold Coast across from the theater. Food is a bit salty but it's good and the pasta was al Dente and good quality chewy and fresh. We had: Alla Vodka E Salsiccia $24.95 Sauteed with vodka sauce, basil, fresh mozzarella, crumbled sausage - the pasta was so chewy and looks like blankets and tasted great along w the sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese Bucatani Al Funghetto $23.95 Porcini and wild mushrooms, mascarpone, white truffle oil, oregano, brandy-cream sauce -- the sauce was a bit salty and good but not enough mushrooms and wish it came with fresh Mozzarella cheese but the bucatini pasta was really good and fresh Overall a great little place! I just wish there was more food or bigger serving size for the price. Service was great too.

What an excellent spot walking distance from the ritz! Good hosts good service and obviously good eats I enjoy their chain of restaurants and frequent a new location each trip. Wonderful pollo francese and artichoke appetizers!

Stopped in for a quick drink and a an appetizer. The beer was ice cold and the bruschetta was warm and fresh! Very lovely atmosphere with good music and candle lighting. Seems like a perfect date spot!

Took my wife for a romantic weekend to Chicago. This restaurant is an easy walk from our hotel (Westin on Michigan Ave). The building is a block east of N Michigan next to WaterTower place. It is a popular spot. So we did have to wait 10 minutes for our reserved table. But the ambiance is great and we didn't mind at all. Service is very attentive and helpful. We ordered a bottle of Chianti since we were walking. We began with fried calamari. For dinner my wife had Paccheri ala Vodka et Salsiccia. Which is a large pasta with crumbled sausage in a cream red sauce. The sausage has some spice and the flavor was very nice. I had the Frutti de Mare Acqua Pazza which is a collection of jumbo shrimp, scallops and mussels in a cherry tomato red sauce. No pasta with it. So it's not a heavy dish. I loved it. For dessert, we had cappuccinos. I had gelato and my wife had the profiteroles. Loved the cappuccino although it was not very hot. And absolutely loved the gelato. I had pistachio and banana chocolate chip gelatos. They were super creamy and delicious. The profiteroles were tasty. But the pastry was chewy and difficult to cut. A minor issue. Overall our meal was excellent with great service and I would highly recommend this restaurant.

The ambiance here is amazing. Definitely a good date night spot. The food is very good and you can tell they only use high-quality ingredients. I made a reservation on Yelp and still had to wait about 15 min before finally getting seated. Understandable, though. They were very busy tonight (Friday night). The service staff were on top of it! Never had an empty glass. They were extremely attentive. I highly recommend starting with the meatballs from the appetizer menu. They were very juicy and just melted in your mouth. I'm only visiting Chicago but will def return to this spot next time I'm here.

Welcoming Italian restaurant in the heart of Chicago. Our waitress Veronica did an excellent job taking care of us. A few of the staff came up, Santiago & Ben introduced themselves and ensured we were welcome. Be sure to meet the manager, Constantine! Great guy, born in Chicago and knows all the ins and outs if you're interested in going out after dinner. Will be back!!

Such a nice atmosphere and bar area. Our bartender Andy was fantastic! We would have loved to go in again but we were on vacation.

A very nice location and amazing ambiance. The food and service here is top tier. Full of flavour and reasonably priced. I would highly suggest this location for a relaxed dinner at the end of the night. Just be sure to get a reservation as this restaurant looks to be a local favourite.

It was awful ...We were 4 Japanese and 2 kids. We had lunch there. It was in September and there was only one server even though there were around 20 tables. I felt bad about that, but the server's attitude was also bad. Was it because we were Asian? He smiled at the customers at the other tables. But to us, he took his stress out on us. He didn't come to take our order, no bring water, and when I told him that our dessert didn't come, he angrily told us that one of us hadn't finished that dish yet even we already ordered...I will never go there again. Worst server I've ever had.

Really slow service even though we came when the restaurant was basically empty. The food was boring. We were highly disappointed. The waitress brought our drinks and disappeared for 20 minutes. We had to ask another server to take our order. She later said she was busy "making drinks"

Bad as usual. We live in the neighborhood and years ago we frequented this restaurant weekly. We forgive the inconsistent food and service once a year and give it another try. Mistake as usual! As soon as we entered the restaurant we were told rudely by Constantine that the kitchen closed in 15 minutes and he gave us the worst table in the front, while there were numerous tables in the dining room. We quickly ordered and 2 more couples entered and he gave them great tables! The new waitress was so sweet and the food was fair, not as bad as usual. We skipped appetizers and drinks just to get out of there.We will have to be desperate to ever try again. So unpleasant and disappointing.

Fabulous meal to celebrate son's graduation from boot camp. Great atmosphere. Food was perfect and service was delightful. 10/10.

Service was amazing, very disappointed with the fried calamari, overcooked and hard, meatballs was way too much breading vs meat. The server asked if the kitchen could prepare a chicken parm and voila!!! I ordered the seafood pasta, was a bit too spicy for me. The profiteroles was hard and dry.

we made reservations at Francesca's on Chestnut for our 30th wedding anniversary one and a half months in advance. Get a call before our reservation night that they were canceling our reservation because of an event. Pathetic.

Gluten free menu. Food was decent. I asked several times about the gluten free pasta and if it was made in house and was told yes, but it's boxed for sure. The dish was still delicious and I'm thankful to have a GF pasta option (without GF it would have been 3 stars). My reservation was for a high too at 6 and it was slammed - my service suffered, but the bartender did his best to take good care of me. He definitely need more support from managers/other staff to get him through the rush, and I hope additional support will be given more attention in the future Eventually, they brought in another server to handle the other tables. Also, I had a fake candle on my table but it was never lit. I tried myself but it was dead. I had the Caesar salad with bufala mozzarella instead of parm. The mozzarella was underwhelming, but the salad was decent. Aside from the boxed pasta, and the pasta being different than described shape wise, the dish was super flavorful, even if the sauce was a bit thin. I went to move my dish, and put my hand it something sticky on the rim of my dish - yuck! Underwhelmed, but for GF options, I may return.

Subpar service. Food is okay. Expected real Italian as they market but it was not comparable. It was good, just nothing special and did not taste homemade.

Maitre'd was very friendly upon entering the restaurant. The bread they provide when you sit down is warm and fluffy. The Parmesan side is a great addition to a classic staple. Our server is great at touching our table, and has a keen eye for detail (Especially given he just got assigned to a 12-top). Would recommend based on food quality and popularity. Great for a family dinner, friendly get together, or just a more casual date night.

Came to visit for a graduation in the city. Me and my gf had a free night to explore and came across this lovely restraunt that was close by. Booked a reservation the hour before and was seated within 10 mins waiting for our table to open. Cocktails were great, wine selection was good, waiter was attentive and the food was pretty good/no complaints. Desert as well was delicious. Atmosphere was lovely, not too loud and the lighting was perfect mood lighting. Would visit again!

All the feel of a comfortable, warm hug. The interior is filled with the energy of its occupants and the chatter exudes community. We waited at the bar for our table and had a lovely drink which we carried to our spot moments later. We had Caesar salad, whitefish and pork rib fettuccine. All were delicious. There's no fussing by adding fresh cheese or pepper and they don't make a flashy display of the olive oil and bread. They simply let you enjoy your meal. We had a lovely time.

I'll be honest, this place is a different kind of experience. Exquisite service like a fine-dining establishment, service was prompt and attentive (keep an eye out for Veronica, Santiago, Ben and the manager aka "Mr worldwide" Constantin). I snagged myself a salmon and some drinks during my first time in Chicago. It's family oriented, welcoming and wholesome.

Night started off with Lisa, the sweetest hostess and Santiago with some drinks, after getting us a table extremely fast. Veronica and Ben took care of our food and it was absolutely delicious. Veronica was also very knowledgeable and helpful with food decisions. Being new to the city, Constantine, the restaurant manager, offered us Complimentary Drinks and showed us the absolute best experience we've experienced at an establishment. If you want an experience, come here, period.

Food is wonderful with great ambience. The waiter and the manager Constantine was very welcoming and professional. Definitely go back.

We stopped here walking back to our hotel. They were busy but we were able to spread our large party of 8 to multiple tables, which we didn't mind. We were grateful that they could even accommodate us. It is super cute and small inside. I enjoyed the warm lighting and decor. Our server was super sweet. I wish I remembered her name, but she was great! I had the vodka sauce dish and omg, I ate every single bite (I never do that). It was definitely a top 10 for me when it comes to Italian. I also had the gin-let.. so good! I would definitely recommend this place.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Anyone who gives this place less than top stars must have been at the wrong restaurant. The two times I have been here I have been completely surprised by the delicious sauces, fresh pasta, and overall excellent experience. This is a local place that deserves support from the neighborhood.

The ambiance is nice and classic, and I see this as a good spot for a dinner with parents or family . There's a nice variety of pastas and Italian dishes to choose from. We got bread started with our meal, which was nice. I ordered the rigatoni pasta, which had a nice creamy tomato sauce and chunks of mozzarella. I added chicken to the dish to make it a little more hearty and filling. The pasta was great! Overall I had a good experience. I felt that a lot of the dishes (including the pasta I ordered) were a little pricy considering the portion size and lack of meat included, but it was tasty. Personally if you're looking for good Italian food I think there's other places where you can get better bang for your buck.

While our meal was tasty, the service was very slow. I understand how hard the service industry was hit due to COVID, but if you do not have the staff, maybe cut back on the number of tables you book a night. Maybe try and non-weekend night for better service. And make sure to get the Apollo Milanese, as it was fantastic.

It's a nice Italian restaurant with good food and lovely ambiance. The service was good,Benjamin was taking care of us and gave us advise about what the best dishes there.The mussels dish it's so good maybe one of the best one that I ever had in Chicago.The calamari dish was fresh and good.We wanted to make my friend try the artichokes but weren't good.they were soft but smelled smoky which it's not the taste that should have plus the lime sauce and fresh onion on top are not a good mix.Benjamin was very nice about it and offer to have something else and also didn't charge us for it ,so they say a lot about the quality of the restaurant.congratulations for that.The profiteroles were so yummy to bad couldn't finish all.They have various good wines from all over the world which is great.The rosé "Bieler Pere et Fils" from Provence was exquisite.

Horrible food cold. You can't talk to a human when you call. They are going down hill. Sad!!!!

Excellent experience. Have brought my board members here 2 years in a row. Lower private room was exquisite. Connor was outstanding and swiftly handled a last minute dietary issue with kindness and understanding. Food was so good! Waddling out of the restaurant

Excellent service, our waiter was attentive but not overly. The food was very good. The ambiance was refined and relaxing.