Great pasta! The best desserts. The canolli is delicious. Everything is made fresh daily. read more

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

See all

4 of us had dinner here the other day. No one had been here before. At first, I was put off by the somewhat limited menu selection and the prices seemed pretty high. However, everyone's food was absolutely delicious. Could there be more selection, sure, but what if the quality suffers? So, ok, do what you know. The prices still seemed a bit high even though everything was great. We had the Chicken Mamma Mia (basically chicken marsala), the Chicken Parm, the Lobster Ravioli, and the Ravioli with Meat Sauce. The chicken dishes came with a small side of linguine with red sauce (good) and with roasted veggies. The veggies were legit, they were fresh and cooked until just tender and there was a little singe on the broccoli, which I love. Gregarious owner, pleasant staff. read more

Been coming here for quite some time. Never a bad meal. One of the best Italian restaurants in the area. Staff is always friendly and accommodating. Our server tonight was Luigi who is always attentive to our needs and is very friendly. read more

Luigi was a very welcoming greeter and made my wife and I feel special. It was our weekly date night and I felt like we were both single again. The food was excellent and on point and the creme brûlée was at another level. A perfect night for a perfect restaurant. Great job! read more

I saw cockroaches in the restroom. I am sure there are cockroaches in the Kitchen. The food is pricey for the amount of servings. It is ok tasting food but there are better Italian restaurants for better pricing. read more

So it is a Friday evening, my boyfriend and I have tried 5 different restaurants and all had over an hr wait. We decide to just get off at an exit of the freeway and drive until we see something that sounds good. We see Francesca's so we decide to stop to see if it is busy. We walk up and THEY WEREN'T!!! Its so beautiful the way the atmosphere is set. With the candles and dim lighting. Our server was Karmella and she is hands down so freaking sweet. She just gave off wonderful vibes. I was one of those annoying customers and asked what she would recommend and she actually took the time to ask me stuff I like ( different sauces and such). She recommended Penne Con Crema Di Pesto. SO GOOD! Literally best pesto I have ever had. My boyfriend had the chicken parm. He loved it. Such a big piece of chicken too. I don't know what it was about this place but it just made me feel so happy. Our hangry moods totally changed and we jest felt happy. Can't wait to come back :) read more

Great first experience, Joe was our server and took great care of us!! and they have amazing choices.

Save your money!!!! I started out by looking at the menu online. The prices looked good so we decided to go. The price online and the prices on the menu at the restaurant were completely different! I got the raviolis and asked if they could NOT make them al dente. I guess she doesn't know what al dente was because not only were my raviolis hard as rocks they were definitely frozen from a bag! The sauce looked and tasted like is was from a jar! Drive down the road and go to Vince's Spaghetti House for half the price and much better food! Plus the waitress sat us down and asked if we were ready to order in 2 seconds. Best thing about the place was the bus boy who never let our water and ice tea get half empty! Not going back! read more

I was going to be generous and give a 3. Just could not go there since 3=OK. My wife and I went for dinner last night. To be fair, she would give a higher rating. She had ravioli. She enjoyed her meal, just thought it was a bit small for the price. We had not been back for several years. Our prior experience was the food was inconsistent. I had chicken Parmesan. The chicken was pounded so thin that the breading seemed thicker than the chicken. The sauce had no taste. It seemed to be canned tomato sauce. When the person bought the food, he asked if we would like cheese on the meal. We said "yes." I also asked for extra sauce. He never returned. We finally saw our waiter who brought both the cheese and sauce. The waiter was excellent. No complaints about this part of the service. The reason for the low score was the chicken Parmesan. It was a flavor I would expect from fast food, not a nice Italian restaurant. Based on our different experiences last night, the food still seems inconsistent. read more

My fiance and I decided to try this out for my Mothers's Day dinner and thought the quality of food (mostly) was exceptional! We ordered the calamari as an appetizer and both agreed that it was some of the best we had eaten. I then got a salad, which was warm and the lettuce was cut in too large of pieces. I also ordered the cheese ravioli and was very pleased! I could tell the noodles were handmade and the tomato sauce was not overwhelming and complemented the dish nicely. My fiance got the lobster ravioli and was a little disappointed, and I didn't blame him. There was hardly any filling in the few ravioli that were presented. The tiramisu wasn't anything special. read more

I love this place! Yesterday, I had the privilege to experience this wonderful restaurant at a private cooking class and bridal shower! The food, service and staff were simply incredible. The atmosphere was very inviting and fun. I will definitely be returning to explore the menu further. Thank you Alessio and GiGi, I felt like I was family! read more

What a beautiful little slice of Italy. Best Italian food. Service Fantastico. Thanks Francesca for a great experience.

Listen up- if you haven't been here, I feel bad for you. These people are like family when you walk inside. Service is exceptional and ALWAYS has been. Food is outstanding! We have tried multiple dishes and always walk away pleased. Every time we visit Temecula- we visit Francesca's. Dine here, drink here, no disappointments. read more

Welcome to Italy in Temecula! Great ambiance, clean, superb customer service, and the food was mind blowing! Being Italian, I have expectations and they were met far beyond what I though possible. My husband had linguine and I had the lasagna. We also had bruschetta for an appetizer. I asked the waiter to choose my wine as well as my husbands beer. How was this pair even possible??!! I'm mind blown by the quality of food here! The owner comes out to the tables to talk to customers. Not a lazy body exists in this fine dining establishment. This is the gem of Italian dining in Temecula and miles and miles around. We are about an hour and a half away and will make the trip back as often as possible. read more

So bad, what a letdown,Service is horrible , food is tasteless and the manager is a complete jerk, so many other places to get a great meal trust me skip this place ! If I could give it zero stars I would! read more

Came here while we were in town for wine tasting & we couldn't be more pleased with our meal. We started with a meatballs appetizer then split the chicken parmesan and everything was so delicious. The complimentary bread was great too. Our server was very attentive and friendly and the owner even stopped by to make sure everything was okay. We will definitely be back next time were in town. read more

First time here and we loved it! As soon as we walked in we were greeted and they absolutely made it us feel like we were family. We lived in Italy for a while so we are pretty picky when it comes to Italian food but we were not disappointed the food was amazing! This is our new favorite restaurant! read more

Couldn't find a place in Temecula near wine country on a Wednesday night. We felt like a Italian and tripped upon this restaurant in a strip mall. What a lovely surprise. Excellent fresh dinner and a lovely gentleman who served us. He was very professional and ended up helping me select the perfect dinner. I'll be back! read more

The service was very slow. Took too long to take drink orders then too long to come back to take dinner orders. Finally, took our simple order and came back three times to tell us our food was almost ready. Food finally came out...but came out three people as the other three waiting. The bill came and was wrong. Had to wait and wait to get it corrected. Not a good experience. Food was adequate not good. Service was way too slow. Will try somewhere else next time. read more

Food was delicious! Calamari was fresh, not chewy rings like you sometimes get. I got the chicken Marsala, super flavorful and I didn't even need a knife, the chicken was so tender. My husband got the chicken Parmesan, it was massive and super tasty! Everything came with sautéed veggies which I really appreciated :) deserts were amazing!! The tiramisu was absolute perfection. And their house made cheese cake was some of the best I've had! The owner was so gracious and really made you feel welcome. Loved our dinner tonight, thank you! read more

We are so glad to have picked Francesca's for our rehearsal dinner. They have the best Italian food in the Temecula area - handmade pasta, delicious classic dishes YUM! So it is great any day, but is a particularly nice place to host a small event. They are much more affordable than many other spaces we looked at (they don't charge a room fee, have minimums, etc), yet it felt very classy and special to us. They have a back room that accommodates about 20 people (we had that many and felt about at capacity) and feels very private. They did a tasting for us (for $100 deposit towards final cost) and were friendly and professional throughout the process. We liked that Luigi thought through details for us (e.g. suggestions for room arrangements, setting up a gift table for us, helping with wording when making my own menus) - he and all the staff (another gentleman who I believe is also named Luigi) were extremely hospitable and made us feel like VIPs. They timed our meals perfectly, kept our glasses full, and made sure everyone was taken care of all night. I also liked that they didn't rush us out despite it being a Saturday night, and were flexible in details such as offering drink options ($25/bottle of wine, pay for first drink, or pay for all drinks) and especially that we got to have TWO desserts :) I highly recommend them! read more

Francesca's Italian Kitchen - Rehearsal dinner setup (decor provided by us - cozy back room with nice setup) - Italian Near Me - Temecula, California

I had Francesca's cater my husbands 60th surprise birthday. From the planning of the menu with Francesca the experience was truly wonderful. We had appetizers of meatballs (huge) Antipasto and bruschetta delicious!!! Later Gigi arrived with the main courses, Everything was absolutely delicious!! If your having a party I would highly recommend Francesca's you will be over the top thrilled!!! Judy H. Temecula, CA read more

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

See all

My "daughter" and I were looking for Italian Restaurant and read a few yelp reviews and decided upon Francesca's. We were so happy we did! The service was fantastic and the food was authentic Italian and delicious! The portion sizes were perfect. I had their Risotto special. It was supposed to be Saffron Risotto with Scallops, but I'm not a huge fan of scallops so I asked them to substitute shrimp instead. They did it for me, no problem! It was fantastic! I am not a huge bread eater, but their homemade focaccia bread was so good that I ate almost the whole basket! Oil and vinegar are excellent quality. The service was top notch and the owner came out to chat with us. It was a great dining experience! read more

Great service, friendly and prompt. We ordered the clam linguini because of the picture on the website. However, it was sadly lacking in clams. Maybe that's why it wasn't on the menu. The seafood special was scallops in a pesto sauce. Amazing! The Francesca salad with fried goat cheese was delicious and nicely split for two. Just order off the menu. read more

Finding an authentic Italian restaurant is not easy. We stumbled upon this place a few weeks ago and all that I can say is wow. The food, service and ambiance is a 5 out of 5. I could go on and on about this place, so just do yourself a favor and try it. Absolutely worth it and everything is made from scratch. read more

By far the best Italian restaurant in the area. The food is excellent and family owned by Francesca and her husband Alessio. A romantic atmosphere with a local feel to it. They have a full bar as well. Totally recommend this if you're looking for good Italian food that's well worth the money. read more

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Temecula. The food is authentic Italian both flavorful and fresh, with a large variety of options. The service is phenomenal and Luigi is such a delight! What a wonderful family place. read more

My father and I come here frequently for dinner. The food is wonderful. Last night Dad had the veal marsala and I had the chicken mamma mia. Both were delicious comfort food. From previous visits I can tell you the chicken piccata, the lasagna and the cioppino are also wonderful. They even serve a fabulous martini. Even though the food is delicious, it is not the only reason we come. Francesca and her team are warm and inviting. They seem to give every guest a special welcome that sets the tone for the whole evening. Last night Luigi was our waiter and he treated us like family, but at the same time he behaved with utter professionalism--not an easy mix, but he pulled it off. I highly recommend Francescas. Oh, and don't pass on the dessert. Their profiteroles are sublime. read more

Outstanding! Food was excellent. Our server Luis was very professional and provided very good service. We were treated to pistachio cello drinks that were so tasty and satisfying. Dont go anywhere else if you like italian food. read more

This is by far the BEST Italian food I've had. I mean, phenomenal! We had the lasagna and the gnocchi. The service is great as well. Luigi was most attentive and friendly. He made sure everything was perfect. This ristorante will be a regular on the top of our list. Authentic and delicious!!! If I could give it 10 stars I would! If you want outstanding Italian food, Francesca's is a must!! read more

Great place!!! We had a private celebration here. my cousin and I met up with Allesio and he helped us put the menu together, he also made up a special menus for all the guess. As a family and friends were walking in the comments I was hearing from everyone were "wow it smells so good" I knew they were in for a special treat, they didn't . Francesca's does not disappoint, the food is " ITALIAN" The atmosphere is "ITALiAN" warm, friendly and happy. It is a small quaint restaurant full of good spirits and terrific food. Thank you so much for such a wonderful day. PS Great prices. I can't wait to take a cooking class!! read more

First of all the food is fantastic, Alessio the owner is over the top friendly and will gladly tell you stories from Italy. Love the staff, the food, the atmosphere...can be a family night or romantic couples dining....You truly feel like they are there to accommodate and you give you a little part of Italy. read more

This is the best italian restaurant I have tried in Temecula. The food feels like home made food. It's delicious. Luisito is the best waiter very attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and courteous. I am so glad my husband found this restaurant in Yelp. My husband is very picky and always like to pick and choose what he eats but Luis was very helpful. I had salmon with pasta and vegetables. The salmon was cooked to perfection and it was tender, the past was cooked al dente and zucchini, broccoli and carrots were yummy. I would totally recommend the restaurant to my family and friends read more

Third time here and this place is phenomenal! I've eaten a different meal each time and each time the food is amazing...very authentic Italian food and Italian service. Service here doesn't get any better at other restaurants. The owner really loves to service you and it shows ... I will definitely come back a 4th, 5th, and every time I'm in Temecula. read more

Spur of the moment decision on Saturday night for dinner and was NOT disappointed!! Service was very friendly. Place was very clean and atmosphere (with Frankie S music in the background) was a pretty cool romantic setting. Food was very good and will definitely be back. read more

Are you kidding! All i can start with is WOW! The people are wonderful, kind and courteous! Francesca is Awesome, so sweet, funny and kind. The food, wow I had the special, filet mignon with blue cheese sauce and vegetables, amazing! I found my home here! read more

I had my wedding rehearsal dinner at Francesca's in the private room with 25 people and it was perfect! The food (as always) was amazing and the service was impeccable! Luigi took great care of us, keeping the food and drinks coming like we were part of the family! I couldn't imagine a more warm and hospitable beginning to my wedding weekend. Thank you Francesca's. The memories will stay with me, my wife, and my family forever! read more

Our wedding rehearsal dinner for 29 couldn't have been more terrific. Alessio the owner is the real deal. By that I mean he was accommodating in every way, flexible, generous, energetic. He worked hard to make us feel special and welcome. We had both French and Italian families, who were IMPRESSED by his menu and the great food he provided. From the six piece appetizer for each person to the salad or wedding soup (delicious), to the choice between numerous entrees and desserts. It could have matched the finest bistros in the world. Thank you Alessio read more

The food is amazing and the owner is very kind and funny! If y'all don't come here, y'all gonna miss out on some good fooooood!

We had my sister in law rehearsal lunch here about a week ago. Sooo amazing! The owner closed the whole restaurant down for us & it was so much fun. Not only was the food so delicious but the owner was awesome. He & his staff were so attentive, very friendly as well, & I will recommend this place over & over! :) read more