There were a few things I enjoyed about this place: their mules were tasty, the bread basket was great, and the appetizer we ordered (burrata cheese fritter) was filling & delicious. Aside from that, I did not have a great experience. I ordered the veal francaise and it was very thin, over cooked, and very salty. I got the Italian wedding soup to pair, and that was also very salty. I understand that mistakes happen, but to top it off, our server spilled the water pitcher on our table covering a quarter of our table in iced water. I had fairly high expectations for this place and was pretty disappointed. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Veal Francaise 4/10: Salty, very thin piece, very over cooked - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

We had a reservation here at 8:00pm, we showed up 15 minutes early and then we ended up being sat 15 minutes late which wasn't a huge deal, but it gets worse. They put us in a tiny corner table that was very uneven, and the air conditioning vents just happen to be directly under our seats. Our server came and took our orders right away, so there was really nothing too substantial to complain about yet. We both ordered an entree which came with a salad. Our food came out within 20 minutes, but they forgot both our salads before our meals. I ordered a filet that was really good but my green beans on the side were cold and bland. My fiancé loved his chicken riggies. I said something to our server about the salads missing, she apologized and said she would bring them to go, which was fine with us! When she came back she only brought one salad to go, but we were over it at this point. She charged our card and we were on our way. Later that night we find out our card was TRIPLE CHARGED!!!!! Yes, 3 separate charges of the same amount. We called the next day to get it settled, the women on the phone said there was a glitch in their system for whatever reason and the money would be back in a few business days. However the inconvenience of this all left us with a bad taste in our mouths. They never offered any compensation for these issues. We were excited for a good night here, but sadly we are extremely hesitant to return or recommend this spot. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Filet, utica greens, chicken riggies - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

My husband and I go here every year for our anniversary dinner! This place is a must go for Italian cuisine! Their pasta is homemade, fresh ingredients to die for! I normally get the lobster ravioli and it is always so delish it's ridiculous! We start with crab stuffed shrimp! In the summer the outside terrace is so romantic. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Strawberry ButterCake To Die For ! - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

We went here the night before Thanksgiving with a party of 8. The service was great and the portions were very generous! I had the crab stuffed salmon over risotto and it was delicious! The room we were in was a bit loud but the food and service were very good. read more

Totally impressed!! The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting. The service was top notch and the food was amazing. I ordered the crab stuffed salmon and it was cooked perfectly, with so many flavors that complimented one another. We came with dessert in mind and were not disappointed. The butter cake and cheesecake were incredible. Can't wait to go back again to try something else on their menu! read more

The food was superb. We love the outdoor patio and the service was exceptional. Enjoyed the evening with that NYC style ambience

went here on a thursday night, made sure to make reservations which was super easy. the atmosphere inside is perfect: warm and nice great for a date! you get some delicious focaccia and sauce to start and they have great drinks to pair with your meal. the portion sizes are big and the food is super delicious. my friend got the gnocchi and it was so pillowy and light. i got the pork bracciole and it was seasoned perfectly. we finished with the super delightful chocolate mousse. the staff is experienced and made our experience great. would definitely return here :) read more

Francesca's Cucina - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Celebrated my best friends birthday here. Making the reservation was super easy but it is a must (so plan accordingly). There was 4 of us total and the restaurant is small. With that said the atmosphere is intimate. Our server was amazing; he helped us make entree and drink decisions. The food was delicious and the drinks were made well. The restaurant is pricey but for the experience it is worth it. I will visit again on my next trip to New York. read more

Again and again I decide to give Francesca's another chance... and I am burned every single time. Their pasta is mediocre and sauce is nothing special. Won't be returning. read more

my boyfriend and i came here for my birthday dinner, our waiter didn't come to see us for 20 minutes and our food took a very long time to come out. when it did mine was cold but his was fine. I had mine sent back to just warm it up. it was okay but i was kind of disappointed seeing all the great reviews on here. I'm normally a big fan of gnocchi but something about this one was off. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Homemade Gnocchi with Pink Vodka Sauce - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Why the heck has no one ever told me about this place? It was next level good. I got an item off the special menu - scallops with parsnip mash and roasted root vegetables. I couldn't believe how great it was and the presentation was gorgeous! The waiter (Jason, I think) was terrific - super friendly and personable. I can't wait to go back with my family! read more

Francesca's Cucina - Scallops with parsnip mash & roasted root vegetables. Tasted as good as it looks! - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

I like this place more than Pastabilities and Attilio's (the 2 other Italian places I've tried in Syracuse). I came on a Tuesday and there was a 40 minute wait. They have a private parking lot out back but there is also street parking (2 hours, metered) that's free after 6PM. I liked the romantic/moody atmosphere and dim lighting. They had exposed brick, a bar, high tables, and regular lower tables. They also have a side room that looks like a banquet/event area for private parties or weddings. There were many menu items I wanted to order but I ended up getting the chicken and shrimp dish for $22 (sautéed chicken scallopini and jumbo shrimp with shallots, garlic, wild mushrooms, and roasted red peppers. Finished with a sweet Marsala cream sauce. Served over linguine). I love the unique and sweet flavor of the Marsala wine sauce. I had leftovers and I ate it a few hours after I got home from dinner. The dish was really delicious and rich. It is probably really high in calories because the sauce is probably made with heavy cream. Their menu includes specials and many of the entrees come with a side salad or soup. The soup options today were Italian wedding soup or green bean soup. I got the salad with peppercorn parmesan dressing. Other dressing options were balsamic, ranch, Italian and raspberry vinaigrette. My only complaint was that they mixed up the to-go boxes at the end and I ended up getting someone else's at my table. This isn't a big deal but apparently this happened to my friend last time she came here too. She was given someone else's to-go box (who wasn't at her table) and she lost her 2 scallops (out of the 3 that were on her $30 dish). I had actually forgotten my to-go box at the restaurant and came back to get it later on that night. The bartender ignored me for a good minute despite having time to address me. I like the complimentary, large and seasoned focaccia bread with tomato sauce dip that they give you at the beginning. I would have liked for there to be more sauce to dip into. I would like to try the lobster or wagyu beef ravioli next time. The seafood riggies was also a dish that caught my eye. They sell gift cards! read more

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The best meal I have had in years! I got the gnocchi and it was phenomenal. Even the salad dressing on my starter salad was incredible. It was peppercorn something and I would definitely recommend it. Also we had bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer and they were the best thing I have ever eaten. The restaurant is super cute and a great little date spot. Expect to spend a decent about but trust me, it's worth it. read more

WOW...just passing through, flying out in the am. Hotel recommended Francesca's. The SAUCE is awesome! We got lucky to get in on a cancellation! Call ahead, make reservations! We will plan ahead next time we are town! From the hostess, bar and wait staff all very courteous and professional- Thank You! These two Texans will be back! read more

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Amazing, food is awesome, great vibe service not to be missed. The place to be seen in Syracuse

Great Italian restaurant for CNY! Food is delicious and the service was pretty good. Inside gives off good vibes, but the location is not the greatest knocking off 1 star. read more

Overall great evening at Francesca's. We shared the tomato and burrata to start and it was so delicious and creamy, the tomatoes were perfectly marinated in the vinaigrette. We both then had the surf and turf special, which consisted of a 13oz steak, half a lobster tail, scallops and some potatoes. The steak was cooked perfectly as requested, as well as the scallops. The lobster was cooked well but tasted a little fishy to me which I didn't enjoy as much as the rest. We had a nice seat in the corner of one of the dining areas, which was nice being out of the way, however there was a slight draft from the window which made it slightly cold. The only other downside is parking, however we were lucky and were able to find a space in the lot the restaurant has reserved around the corner which is a short walk. I really enjoyed our evening mostly due to the food and service. As staff was friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. Felt like a special evening, just as I had hoped. We will definitely be back. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Vine-Ripened Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Excellent food and service. Lobster ravioli, chicken francaise were excellent. Service is very attentive. A MUST MUST...is the butter cake with strawberry sauce. Simply amazing dessert. DO NOT MISS the Butter cake!! read more

Decent Food, No Hospitality The tone was actually set before we even arrived. We had to make a reservation through an app and leave a credit card because we were informed there would be a $25/person no show fee (charged if we were 15min late!), then the app texted me the day off and let me know there was a 1.5hr time limit for a table of two! When we arrived 5 min early we were informed our table wasn't yet ready. We waited 20 min (should have asked them for $25/person...) The service was attentive and our waitress came over quickly, but was never interested in us. When seated we immediately had our glasses filled and bread and sauce was brought over (sauce was kind of thrown on the table by the bus boy). The bread was uncooked in the middle and the sauce tasted like something out of a jar. Our appetizer of calamari was good. The pieces were tender and the marinara sauce here was significantly better. However, the bus boy whisked the plate away as soon as I had taken the last piece without asking if we were done (or even stopping...this guy was on a mission all evening! Never smiled, never made eye contact, and never stopped: everything was grabbed or placed/thrown while walking by our table). We weren't done! My husband was just about to grab some sauce for the calamari he had on his plate. The soup was not impressive. We both had Italian Wedding Soup and counted 5 meatballs between the two of us. The broth seemed more like a vegetable broth than a chicken broth. The entrees were mixed. I had a pasta dish with Utica greens, red sauce, and chicken. It was delicious. My husband ordered the bolognese and it tasted like Cincinnati Chili (sweet and cinnamony). We had coffee and dessert. The cappuccino was tasty, but had little foam. The key lime crème brûlée was fantastic. The entire experience was underwhelming. The restaurant staff seemed focused on moving people through as quickly as possible and completely sacrificed service to accomplish this (we observed a table being cleared/reset before the diners had even left!). We were seated at a table on the corner of the room/hallway and my husband was bumped several times. What was frustrating was that we stared at two open 2-tops during our entire meal: why weren't we seated at one one of those? Finally...my husband had an upset stomach when we got home, and still feels ill this morning. I mention this because we looked a little more carefully at other reviews this morning and noticed quite a few people mentioning upset stomachs! Health Department: take note? My husband and I haven't been out to a nice meal in quite a while. While we are understanding of the current challenges service industries are facing, Francesca's was a huge disappointment and seems to have forgotten they are in the service and hospitality business. People go out to nice restaurants to feel special, not like an inconvenience to the establishment. read more

Celebrated my birthday at Francesca's recently and had a wonderful time. My personal favorites here are the goat cheese fritter, the calamari, and the salmon filet. The saffron risotto that comes with the salmon is delicious. Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. read more

Francesca's Cucina - salmon filet - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Let me start by saying, I enjoy this restaurant and have lived in Syracuse for a long time. It has always been a great summer spot with their back patio and even indoor dining experience. The pasta dishes are consistently good. Large portions, decent service and quality Italian food. My last experience here, we sat at the bar on a Saturday evening. I ordered the chicken riggies which were phenomenal. My friend who was visiting the area ordered the Braciole which is listed under featured items on the menu. When the dinners came out, my friend noticed that her pork was basically raw. Although pork is intended to have a slight pink color, it was evident the cooking was rushed. We informed the bartender of this issue and she sent the dish back to be cooked more. I am giving 3 stars because the bartender took the item off the bill and apologized for the inconvenience. Also, as prior mentioned the pasta dishes are consistently done well. But for a featured item at an Italian restaurant this situation was unfortunate. read more

I feel like this has been one of the nicer spots that I've been to here in Syracuse. I did feel like the appetizers were absolutely delicious! However my entrée and my dessert didn't we're not up to par. The exquisite appetizers that I had on that that day were: Fried goat cheese, Utica herbs, the fried shrimp dish ( sorry forgot the name), Andries calamari. ( unfortunately none of these are pictured) I had a special entrée that had pasta with squid ink and fried scallops and I believe an arugula pesto. I would've added a bit more sauce for the pasta. Then I had The raspberry creme brûlée which I felt like the raspberry sauce was a little too sweet and not tart enough so I didn't think it was amazing. The butter cake that they are known for was really good since it was fresh and warm. But when I had it later on after I had called down I felt like it was just overly sweet. Overall the staff and the ambience is 10 out of 10!! read more

Francesca's Cucina - Strawberry butter cake - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Francescas has a great ambiance, especially in the outdoor courtyard. The food is a little bit on the pricey side but I would say it's on par with other upscale Italian restaurants in the area. Most nights you need a reservation as they are always busy. Reservations can be difficult to get. I'd suggest calling several days in advance. The service has been great whenever we go and the food is even better! Make sure you save room for dessert or take some to go for later. The cakes are delicious. I definitely recommend for a nice dinner or special occasion. read more

Food is an A+. Atmosphere was a D. If you request a table for two, you might get stuck staring at a brick wall. There are a few tables that are located in front of a brick wall in the dining area seated 2 feet from other tables. Behind you is the area where people flow into the dining room so it's constant traffic. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Gnocchi with vodka sauce - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Service was good. And the food was also good. I enjoy how fresh the food is, my first time coming to am Italian restaurant and this is very delicious. I will be coming again read more

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Outstanding service, intimate setting, delicious pasta and specialty dishes, and we appreciated the parking lot! My wife and I really enjoyed the bread and sauce as we sat down, the Utica greens app was perfectly spicy, cheese raviolis with pink vodka sauce was smooth and filling, and I am sure you cannot go wrong with their speciality menu. My wife had the scallop special and the scallops were a great size and the incorporation of apples alongside the risotto was spot on. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Butter cake with homemade strawberry sauce. - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Once again, another great meal at my favorite restaurant in CNY. Had a reservation at 6PM on a Friday night, we got seated by 6:15. They were incredibly busy but the hostess and bussers did a wonderful job of flipping tables and sitting people. The food was so tasty as always. I got a bone-in veal Parmesan and it was so tender and flavorful. The atmosphere was a that of a lively restaurant that is busy. read more

1st time we went there food and service was amazing (this is a year ago) we have tried it 4 more times. Very disappointing!! But tonight was the worst! Waitress sucked, food sucked steak - we asked for it to be medium and it came out rare!! Then they took it back and make it worse! Will not be back.... so sad! Not many good places to eat around here anymore! Good as in good food AND service! Water boy was the best part!!! They were great! read more

Delicious food, varied menu, many vegetarian options. Flavors were exceptional and justified the prices, which were reasonable for a decent dinner out. Despite it being a very busy restaurant, the hosts, bussers, and servers were highly attentive and quick. Only downsides for us were that the pop music was a little loud and the AC periodically turned on behind us so we were cold. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Gnocchi Gorgonzola - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Would have ranked this among the best Italian restaurants in Syracuse a couple years ago, but it's slid, both from a quality of food standpoint as well as customer service. When you refuse to light the outdoor gas lamps, sighting policy, when you give customers a time limit at their table, expect us to look elsewhere. I can make better Shrimp pasta at home, any day of the week. read more

I have enjoyed eating here in the past. Yesterday I ate there and the service was slow. We were there of course for Mother's Day and that might have been part of the problem. So after being there for about two hours with 5 adults and 2 babies we just wanted to pay the bill. I'm not use to having the gratuity slipped In Without me knowing on a small group. The waiter never mentioned the 20% tip so in the end he was tipped 45% to the tune of $187.26. I'm sure he must like that happening. Loosing my business isn't going to break this restaurant and I will miss going here, but that's the last time I'm eating here. read more

Too loud, 85 to 92 DB, have to give credit card for reservations! The food is excellent! Nice decorations.... read more

Amazing food and great service! Take out or dine in. Their steaks, and lash are amazing and the deserts even better

Unfortunately one of my worst dining experiences I've had in Syracuse. Besides the absolute circus of individuals next to us, we were sat in the open rain while numerous covered tables sat vacant the entire two hours were there. I understand under-staffing is rampant, however the 20-30 minute wait between seeing our server, followed by "what did I forget for you?" really exhausted the hope. Lastly, the food was somehow the most disappointing of the mix, as you can see below, I paid $52 for a heaping pile of lamb fat. When I explain to our server that we weren't exactly thrilled, I was met with "yea I feel that way at other places too". This place has incredibly beautiful ambiance, a great model, and such potential, I truly hope others don't find a similar experience, but I will not be back. read more

Francesca's Cucina - Lamb Chops - Italian Near Me - Syracuse, New York

spent $550 last night had a terrible meal. they must have a new chef. the halibut was overcooked, my sister had the chicken franchise which was watery, no flavor, chicken breasts we're not pounded down, just absolutely awful. we did have an excellent waitress tho.going back to joeys or santangelos. oh but the butter cake for dessert was really the only good thing . so sad that since covid it's really hit or miss when you go to any restaurant anymore! read more

Disappointing to say the least. I was expecting a pleasant dinner of well prepared food. Coming from out of town, we had made an early reservation and had arrived a few minutes early and were curtly told we could sit at the bar, but we chose to stand outside. The dinning room is small with tightly fit, paper covered tables with silverware in rolled napkins. When seated we were quickly served water and warm and tender focaccia leading me to think a tasty meal would be coming instead a big disappoint came. I ordered Bracciole, with out checking the menu, expecting tender rolled beef simmered in sauce/gravy. I got dry, rolled pork sliced into medallions and a huge pile of pasta, not in the least eye appealing. No greens. It came with a House salad smothered in dressing. Another meal that had more eye appeal, was bacon wrapped scallops. The scallops tasted awful. She was not able to eat them. She did not expect the sweet tender goodness of "diver" scallops but something she could enjoy. The taste, we were told, was because she was not used to the horseradish as if we had never had fresh grated horseradish. The plate did have more eye appeal with what appeared to be hercot vert on the side. Because we were displeased we were given, gratis, a super sweet, sponge dessert with ice cream covered in red syrup. Cannot understand why it gets a high rating. Do Not plan on returning. read more

Not pleased at all.....On vacation in NY and was invited to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday dinner. The service started on a down side with the initial interaction with the hostess. You will be required to have "all" your party present prior to being seated. The hostess acted as if we bothered her. Our party of 10 were cramped in a corner table with very little room between us. I had the surf and turf, ordering my steak medium and it came out rare. Waitress never came back to ask how my steak was. No flavoring in the steak and the lobster tail smelled as if it was bad. No follow up from our waitress for drink refills. The only positive note would be the girl cleaning up. She removed our plates in a timely manner, but as I read the website, that is to expedite table turnover......Not impressed at all. read more

The service was very good and friendly. The food was awful. The homemade tomato sauce is too sweet. I had the veal saltimbanco, the veal chop was too cooked and my fettuccini were " floating " in a very sweet mushroom sauce, awful.... This place seamed to be recommended , Well not for us anymore, after all these years if that's the way they cook , we will go elsewhere. I am sorry normally i like to encourage restaurants , but this time I have to be honest and not recommend it. Too bad , its a lovely place. read more

We went to Francesca's for my birthday this year and it was a disappointment. The seating arrangement is tight, the service wasn't friendly, and the food was bland and unappetizing. I love eggplant parmigiana, but their version was a plate filled with sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and only small bits of eggplant. If I wanted a plate of ricotta cheese and sauce I could've stayed home and saved myself the money. My family members ordered pasta dishes and a steak dish and weren't satisfied either. read more

I went here for my birthday dinner and I was so pleased! The interior is beautifully decorated, probably the best decor I've seen in a Syracuse restaurant. They offered tasty, affordable ($11ish), and elegant cocktails. I loved their fall sangria, it perfectly captured fall. I also was impressed with the bread they served as an appetizer. It was soft and warm, with tomato sauce to dip. For dinner, my family really enjoyed their pasta. Whether it was ravioli, a fish-based pasta, or just fettuccini Alfredo, it phenomenal and thoroughly enjoyed. They were all served with soup or salad (I recommend their Italian wedding- if possible), so it's a lot of food! I wish I saved room for desert because it look so delicious. The waitress showed us what was available that night, and it looked incredible. Next time! Overall, a great choice if you want to go to a restaurant for finer dining in the area. read more