So delicious! My dad has lived in Temecula for over 5 years now and I've seen Francesca's every time when driving down Temecula Parkway but somehow hadn't tried it until this past weekend. My dad had his favorite Italian place at a different location, so we never really veered away from it, but we decided to change the norm this time and I'm glad we did! I opted for the Chicken Parm, my dad the Spaghetti Bolognese and my husband the White Sauce Lasagna special. We all loved our food so much that we raved about it all night and kept talking about it the next day. My dad said that he is going to start making Francesca's part of his rounds. The meals provided so much food and mine turned into 3 meals for me. I really liked that it came with some veggies as well as the pasta and chicken to add something to the plate of carbs. The chicken was breaded and cooked perfectly, and the skinny spaghetti noodles were a perfect compliment. Perhaps what I liked the most was the complimentary bread! Italian places generally provide bread with oils, but this bread came out doused in garlic and butter and it was literally mouthwateringly good. I can't wait to come back! read more

Francesca's used to be one of our favorite restaurants, but unfortunately it has gone downhill over the past year, and last night sealed it for us. We went for Valentine's Day and had made our reservation over six weeks ago, specifically requesting a booth. When we arrived, we were told there were no booths available. Instead, we were seated at a table extremely close to another couple, which completely took away from what should have been a romantic dinner. To make it worse, there was a Moroccan dancer, performing with extremely loud Moroccan music at an Italian restaurant. She was moving from table to table trying to get attention while guests were clearly trying to enjoy a quiet Valentine's dinner. At one point even blowing fire. Weird. The whole atmosphere felt more like a loud show than a restaurant experience. Even the basics have changed, and not for the better. The bread they bring to start is now dry and crumbly, like day old bread. The iced tea is no longer brewed and had an acidic, off taste. The menu has also changed, and overall the quality and experience just aren't what they used to be. This used to be a place we loved, but we won't be coming back. read more

We have been going to this restaurant for 15 years and we have always been a fan and usually order or go to this restaurant once a week This place has gone down hill and the recipes are NOT the same I used to love the lemon chicken and it tastes horrible now and the quality of the chicken is terrible , it definitely does not have the same taste !! The penne fillet has hardly any fillet in it and it's not the same !!! I'm so bummed, we will definitely not be ordering or eating here again !!! read more

Fabulous experience. Local little eatery that has it all. The food is house made as is the pastas. 4 of us attended today and we had 2 pastas and two pizzas. The first pasta was the checca which was tasty and light as it should be. The other pasta was the stuffed spinach tortellini with vodka sauce, another winner. The two pizzas were both the carnivores. Lovely sliced meatballs, sausage, and pepperoni. Tasty all around. The portions were a good size, and for the overall taste and size, the prices are fair. Our server Cristina was delightful, and she even brought us a mini cannoli to taste. Wonder soooo good. This review was almost less than 5 stars because the music was a bit too loud. Suggestion would be to move the speaker to an upper shelf somewhere so it's not blasting at table level. Otherwise great place. Don't miss it!! read more

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Great service and food was delicious. Servers were friendly and anticipated our needs before we did. Food was served quickly and was yummy. We will certainly be back. read more

The food the service and the ambience were very good Gilmarie was a super server! We had a large group of 15 and the service was great!

Food and service were outstanding! Love this place! Lasagna was superb!! Owners are so nice read more

A gem of an Italian restaurant hidden away in a local strip mall. Delicious and authentic Italian food at a good price with excellent service! We recently visited the restaurant with a group of our friends after a fun few days of gambling at the nearby casino. Each of us ordered something different and we were bragging about whose dish was the best (I think it was a 3-way tie between the Lasagna Alla Bolognese, Tortellini Ricotta E Spinaci, and Filet Mignon). We were still reminiscing days after about the food and our experience. The guys especially enjoyed the bread and conversing with our server, Maryam, adding to our already enjoyable evening. read more

We live local but haven't been back in 10 years. This place is now owned and run by a mother and daughter. Lots of love in the food. Was good before too. The bread they give when you sit is crazy good. We loved the delicious muscles as appetizer and to dip their bread...another level. I ordered risotto and salmon soooooo delicious. Husbands pizza was really good. I think it's a good plan to patronize a well run family owned business like this. Bravo Zulu read more

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Food is Amazing! Best pizza I have had in years. Paris, is the sweetest... & very professional. So welcoming & attentive. Bar has many options & all of the bar tender's & employees were so friendly. I was accommodated the second I walked in. I will be back very soon read more

We had reservations for 6:30 on a Saturday night, they were slammed but we were seated immediately. Our wait staff was great, totally on top of everything. The kitchen was backed up but the staff kept us informed and made sure we had plenty of cocktails. I had the veal Marsala and it was absolutely amazing with a side of angel hair pasta and steamed veggies. read more

Francesca's Italian Kitchen - Outstanding Chianti! - Italian Near Me - Temecula, California

We had the most amazing experience here! Our server Gillmarie V was incredible. I have several food allergies, and she was so attentive and helpful, while also making us laugh. The manager also came out to relay messages from the chef for how they could modify the meal so I could eat it. The food was incredible, and we all felt so taken care of. I cannot recommend this place enough! read more

Like a VIRGIN, it was our first time trying this lovely Italian restaurant and it will definitely NOT be our last! We came during happy hour on a weekday evening and we tried a recommendation from Rhett. SHOUTOUT to RHETT! He was so professional and knew many on and off the menu items and we tried the Arancini for the very first time that he recommended and we loved it! It was like an Italian fried rice ball with cheese and goody vodka sauce... The spaghetti and meatballs with sausage on the side was my husband's most favorite of all and my Chicken Mama Mia was really good too. I wish they would give more of that Mama Mia sauce because Oh! MAMA Mia! It was oh so delicious!! MUST TRY the soufflé! Takes 30 minutes though!! We've been living in Temecula for 5 years and wished we tried this GEM sooner! All the staff were young, good looking and very nice! Mama Mia! We will be back!! read more

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Good food, service and friendly staff but the food is not fully authentic Italian. The filet minion pizza was good but the tiramisu is on the dryer side and not as creamy. read more

We came to taste some of the dishes before our family event. We ordered fried calamari and shrimp, lasagna, mushroom risotto, bruschetta, lobster ravioli. Wow! Every dish we ordered was so good! Definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

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We've been coming to Francesca's for 10 years. This review is for the latest version of the restaurant with new owners. Our greeter/server was Cristina, who was simply the best. We learned about her family and the new ownership changes. Lucky for us, it's still a great restaurant. Some old menu items are still there, and some great new ones. I had ravioli with filet & mushroom sauce, and wifey had the lasagna, which was great. And if you're looking for a great in-house-made tiramisu, you can't go wrong. read more

Francesca's Italian Kitchen - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Temecula, California

Dining at Francesca's was a truly memorable experience. Coming from San Diego, I had high expectations and Francesca's exceeded every one of them. Every bite told a story and was full of incredible flavor. Kevin, was outstanding friendly, efficient, and extremely knowledgeable. He even went above and beyond by making me a handcrafted Bloody Mary from scratch, even though it's not on the menu. Chef Alonso came out personally to greet us and check on our experience, which made the night feel even more special. My favorite dishes were the Bronzino and the lobster risotto both were absolutely exceptional. read more

As you can tell by the photos we absolutely devoured the sweets & food here. Some of the absolute best tiramisus I've ever had in my life. The bread pudding with icecream is a must try as well. The pasta is so DELICIOUS. Must come here, especially if you want amazing service and an Italian vibe & food that matches the authenticity! read more

Francesca's Italian Kitchen - Bread pudding - Italian Near Me - Temecula, California

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We came for happy hour and it was fabulous! The drinks and the food were amazing! The prices can't be beat! We had the meatball's, the bruschetta, and the fried ravioli. All were excellent. We then came back and had a party in the private room. Christina was an incredible server and owner. She continued to check on us. She even helped us decorate the room.The food and drinks were so good. We had the bread, 4 different apps, salads and the amazing entrees. She helped make the party a success.. Christina helped us pick menu and wine items everyone would love! Christina gave incredible service! 5 Stars. Come check this family owned place out! read more

Francesca's used to be our go-to for holidays. New Year's Eves and Mother's Days have been spent here. We have been here twice in about the past two months and there has been a change in both the quality of the food and the service. When we left on Mother's day this year, we questioned whether or not we will be back. It was not crowded, so that can't account for the service being off. read more

Just got married the night before, my family and I chose Francesca's Italian Kitchen for a special dinner, and it could not have been more perfect. From the moment we walked in, the staff was warm, accommodating, professional, and genuinely kind they made us feel celebrated and welcomed all evening. The Manhattan clam chowder was hands down the best I've ever had! Rich, flavorful, and unforgettable. I ordered the Frutti di Mare, and it was absolutely phenomenal. It had the soul and depth of a beautiful cioppino, loaded with perfectly cooked seafood and incredible flavor in every bite. My family ordered the specials, including a beautifully prepared swordfish dish and a ribeye steak that was crafted to perfection. To finish the evening, we shared their homemade pistachio tiramisu, which was out of this world and the perfect ending to an already amazing meal. Every dish was divine, the atmosphere was wonderful, and the service truly elevated the experience. A special thank you to Kevin and his incredible team for making our post-wedding family dinner so memorable. Your hospitality and attention to detail made the night even more special for us. This is a night we'll always remember. 10/10! highly recommend! read more

i live in the neighborhood and have passed by this place a million times. completely unassuming on the outside, and a 5 star experience inside. the service: we were seated right away (no wait time) around 7pm. without knowing it, my table was being serviced by the owner of the restaurant. it wasn't until we asked that the owner revealed who she was. incredibly endearing to see the owner putting in the work and being so hands-on with her business. she gave wonderful recommendations for drinks, answered questions about the menu, and checked on us periodically to make sure we loved everything we ordered. the food: some of the best food in the city. the drinks were wonderfully delicious (and surprisingly strong). every bite melts in your mouth and the food keeps getting more and more delicious the more you eat. from the bread, the entrees, to desserts. there's not enough nice words to describe the food here. a bit expensive, but everything was easily worth double what was being charged, and we did order some of the more expensive menu items. definitely recommend for a date night or celebrating special occasions! read more

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Great ambiance, the servers are very attentive, but the star is the food. The good in this place is 6 stars, best Italian restaurant in the Temecula Valley. We had the Pasta fruit di mare and it was the best I've had in a long time. Came on 12/17/25. read more

The service is great and the owners are amazing! The food was out of this world! The atmosphere felt like I was in Italy with the music. read more

Francesca's Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Temecula, California

The chicken marsala is the best ive ever tasted, the service is great. Everything we've had is delicious. read more

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After watching our grandson play in a basketball tournament at Pechanga, we were starving. We almost went to In-N-Out but decided to look around and noticed Francesca was still open around 9:00 pm. What a great decision. I've spent time in Italy and eaten very traditional Italian food, so I don't say this lightly,the meal was excellent. We had the Chicken Marsala, a fresh salad, and an appetizer with scallops and shrimp, and everything was delicious and well prepared. The restaurant has the warm, authentic feel of a true Italian restaurant, very much like Joe's in Escondido. We will definitely return, even though we don't live in the area. The staff was very nice, friendly and accommodating. read more

We have always loved this restaurant but since new ownership it has declined tremendously. Last night was my second time since new owners. The first time the owners and their daughters which are working the floor just sat at the bar visiting. Last night same daughter service was horrible took 20 minutes to get our carpaccio and the chef had to bring it. A new hire brought out food, cleared plates and brought our bill all while Christine sat at the bar. Needless to say will not be back read more

This is always our take-out option for Saturday nights if we're not in the mood for going out. The food is delicious and they are warm and friendly every time. We order from them at least twice a month. I highly recommend Francesca's. read more

Had the most amazing time here! The atmosphere is so comfortable and welcoming. Kevin and the bartender were so welcoming and gave great service! The food was so delicious and fresh I could've sat all day. The owners were all so kind and constantly make sure you're enjoying yourself. This is going to be my new regular spot!! Great spot to have a small private party! read more

Food portions cut in half from previous takeout!s now, too many new owners! New cooks now? read more

We were sat immediately upon walking in at 8:30pm and had such a great dining experience here. The restaurant itself was very clean and cozy. MISTO FRITTO - was perfectly cooked and crispy - I love the marinara here ZUCCHINI BLOSSOM - a little bit too cheesy for our taste - overall was nothing special but we still enjoyed it FETTUCCINE BOSCAIOLA - pretty standard white sauce; the sausage and mushrooms were a great addition! LASAGNA - their meatball sauce is so delicious - a very filling dish that satisfied our cravings TIRAMISU - so soft and melts in your mouth - not too sweet either! read more

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OMG far exceeded my expectations. This restaurant is casual with the fine dining feel. The food is simply amazing. From the Bruschetta (best I have ever had) to the Chicken Marsala everything is perfect. The service is always on point! We come back 1-2 times a month! Love it read more

Fried mozzarella presentation was great , disappointed when they put cold bechamel sauce on a hot piece of fried mozzarella. We ordered the meatball pizza and the crust was under done and the Spaghetti with bolognese and pasta was sticky and sauce was underwhelming. Waiters were talking loudly behind the bar but service was good . Not a top notch Italian place in my opinion . read more

The best gem in a little shopping area!! I would drive an hour again for this place. Perfect when in Temecula. Parking is easy, service is great, cute restaurant with a little bar and comfortable booths. But what's most important is the food!!! - Complimentary toasted bread in olive oil - to die for - Caprese Salad - Chicken Parmigiana with double veggies instead of pasta - Penne Pasta with a pink sauce and sausage (not on the menu but so good) read more

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Highly recommend. The food and staff are fabulous. They have great deals throughout the week. But more than anything else I have to shout out Christina who helped us decide on everything tonight. I let her know what I was deciding between and she said "how about I get you gnocchi made my way?" I let her know I was down with that. When I tell you it was one of the best dishes of gnocchi I've had in my life it is no exaggeration. She basically took what I was torn between and figured out what I would really like. Here you will find incredible service and delicious food. We will be back! read more

My husband and I are new residents of Temecula and enjoy trying different restaurants. Francesca's did not disappoint. We made a reservation as it does get very busy later in the evening. We had a starter of calamari and the portion was very generous, as was the delicious bread. Our server Fawn was fantastic! Friendly, helpful and very attentive. We will definitely be going back and recommending Francesca's to others. read more

Recently had Francesca's Italian Kitchen Cater my daughters wedding reception. We chose the Spaghetti & Meatballs and the Pasta Primavera for a group of 30. We worked with Maryam Yousif, who was extremely helpful and accommodating. The full pans were plentiful and our guests commented that food was delicious. Could have easily fed 40 people. We had plenty of leftovers. Maryam also allowed us to use their chaffing dishes at no-charge. I would definitely use Francesca's again for any Italian Food catered events. Thank You Maryam for your excellent service. read more

This place is outrageous! We had mussels and a pie. Out if this world! Gilmarie was attentive and fun! Wish we lived here we would be here weekly!!! Great ambiance! read more

The food was decent, the ambiance was nice considering it's a strip mall, the service was thoughtful. The crème brûlée had too liquidity and not much flavor. It's a bit over priced for the quality of food. read more

I was craving craving pasta and a good glass of wine. We tried Rustico's but the wait was an hour long, so we opted for Francesca's since we hadn't been here in a while and we knew the food and wine would be good. We called ahead and learned there was no wait, which was a bit surprising, but we were excited to head over there. Our server came to take our order and recommended the shrimp tequila fettuccine (not on the menu), it did not seem very Italian, but she said it so popular she had sold about 18 of them today alone, so I went with it. We also ordered a bottle of City Lights Pinot Noir, which we have ordered here before. It was on the menu. When she brought out our wine, we noticed it was already open, not opened at the table like usual. She also turned the bottle around so the label was not facing us. She poured the wine and my husband tried it and said it was okay. When she walked away we turned the bottle around and saw that it was a bottle of Bogle Pinot. Bogle is a $10 bottle of wine. The wine we asked for was close to $40. When we called her over and pointed this out, she said that that's what their vendor sent them. She offered to swap the wine and we got a bottle of Fallbrook Winery Cab. Again, the bottle arrived already open, she just pulled out the loose cork when she poured the wine. Again, we found this odd. When she left, we realized that the cork was absolutely dry. We wondered if they refilled their bottles with a cheaper wine. About 30 minutes later, our food arrived. The place was not busy at all, I saw 3 other tables with customers, so it didn't justify such a long wait. The food wasn't bad though . I then noticed the owner of one of our favorite restaurants, Papa Feta, walk out from the kitchen. We later asked our server if they were the new owners and she confirmed this, but said the kitchen staff was exactly the same and that they had just taken ownership 3 months ago. Later in the evening, the table right behind us voiced their concerns to the same server regarding the service they received and their wait time. It turns out the server was also an owner. We heard her say that they took ownership last month. We noticed a few things she said to them didn't coincide with what she said to us regarding the ownership and kitchen staff. The whole experience was just off. Although the food wasn't bad, my problem was the issue with the wine. It is wrong to deceive customers by serving them something other than what they ordered without informing them first. It is wrong to bring a less expensive bottle out and pour it without showing the customer what you are pouring. We love eating at Papa Feta's and go there often. We will continue to go there because the food is very good, but based on our experience tonight, we will not be dining at Francesca's again. read more

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