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    Francesca's On Chestnut

    4.0 (704 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Francesca's On Chestnut Takeout or Delivery

    Francesca's On Chestnut Photos

    Business Info

    FRANCESCA'S ON CHESTNUT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Francesca's On Chestnut

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    Sophie T.

    Perfect homey but still upscale Italian restaurant right in the city. The staff were very knowledgeable about the wine menu (it's like 100 pages, awesome). Been here a few times now and the service/large portions do not disappoint. Highly reco for date night or for an intimate dinner with friends/family visiting

    Nikhita T.

    My friend and I went here for Christmas Eve dinner. We had booked a reservation a week earlier and were lucky to get a table. The place has a very cozy, old-school Christmas vibe with lots of warm, wooden décor. Our server was super nice and helpful. She recommended a Vermentino white wine, and it paired perfectly with my pasta. For antipasti, we ordered the roasted beets and the pizza Napoletana. My friend especially loved the beets -- the walnut butter gave them an amazing flavor. For pasta, we tried the Rigatoni alla Vodka, Ravioli ai Spinaci, and a customized Alfredo-style pasta for my friend. They were able to make the white sauce just the way we wanted. The rigatoni was a bit salty, and the Alfredo pasta was too salty for our taste. But what I really appreciated was how quickly our server took care of it. she replaced the dish right away with another pasta that tasted great. It showed they truly care about customer service. For dessert, we had the brioche bun with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the tiramisu. Both were delicious. Overall, the whole meal paired with the wine made it a wonderful Christmas Eve experience.

    Lasagna Bolognese
    Jasmyn F.

    We had such an amazing experience! Visiting from California, we were craving some classic Italian food and Francesca's did not disappoint. The whole menu looked so good that it was hard to decide, but thankfully our server Mark N gave us excellent recommendations for appetizers, wine, and entrees and everything he suggested was delicious. He also provided really wonderful, attentive service. It was a busy Friday night, so I was really glad we had made a reservation through OpenTable. From the food to the service, everything was spot on. I just wish we lived closer so we could come back more often!

    Nonna's Meatballs and insalata Asparagi
    Shereen S.

    What an absolute delight. This is my second visit and it was every bit as wonderful as I remembered. The meatballs are perfectly seasoned, moist and creamy, and the asparagus salad is fresh and delicious. Service is friendly and attentive! Highly recommended this cozy spot!

    Insalate - Asparagus, Tomatoes, Blue Cheese,, Lemon, and fabulous olive oil!
    Tom D.

    This is what I love about the Chicago dining scene, true neighborhood gems are everywhere, you just have to make the effort to find them! Francesca's on Chestnut is just such a gem! It sits in the sunset shadow of the magnificent John Hancock Tower and occupies the southwest corner of the block, tucked into it's neighborhood and known only to those who frequent Francesca's in Chicago, those who live and work around it, and those who make the effort to find it. We were staying a block away at the Hilton Suites Magnificent Mile. Francesca's is unpretentious, yet classy. It fits the architecture of the space. It's quiet, comfy, and you get the feel, true or not, that those dining around you are the locals that frequent this space. That's comforting to me. Locals know where to eat! We really enjoyed our server, Dillon. His recommendations were spot on! We started with a unique salad, the Asparagus salad with tomatoes, blue cheese, lemon, and extra virgin olive oil. Very fresh and tender asparagus with a really fresh and authentic Italian presentation. For entrees we went with two excellent choices! The Linquine Agli Scampi and the Rigatoni Alla Vodka (see photos for more ingredient descriptions). Both were outstanding Italian dishes with marvelous flavor profiles and beautiful presentation. Francesca's on Chestnut is a gem. Don't miss it!

    Tiramisu
    Ada S.

    I went on a weekday night for there happy house specials, my glass of wine was $8, the pizza was $10 and the tiramisu was normal priced at $12. Overall, it wasn't bad. The pizza was underwhelming in my opinion. The wine was average. The tiramisu was very good, tasted like hazelnut, but did lack espresso. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. The inside of the restaurant was very cute. We sat at a high top near the window. Small table, you can fit 2 people comfortably, three if you squeeze. There is Street parking and next door is a hotel that has valet.

    Calamari Fritti
    Camie T.

    Had a reservation for 5pm on a Sunday and got a table right away. Service was fast and friendly, the food was delicious. We were very happy with the visit. The vibes were good, some people were dressed up and some people wearing street clothes. We preferred this to be a fancier dinner, but were satisfied overall. Would go again!

    Bruschette con Spinaci and Rigatoni alla Vodka
    Ellen L.

    this was a great place for me to enjoy a celebratory post-race chicago marathon meal with my family! my cousin made a reservation for (5) @ 14.00 on a sunday afternoon, perfect timing since i crossed the finish line around noon and had to hobble from grant park to the restaurant...we ended up taking a pedicab to my cousin's car, and drove the rest of the way...cuz 26.2 miles was enough "movement" for me for a day! upon arrival we saw many other chicago marathon finishers, all wearing their hard earned medals, tshirts, jackets and enjoying a well deserved celebratory meal! i had a few snacks post-race, knowing that i wouldn't be able to get any real food for a while and quite frankly, didn't have much of an appetite, as usual for me, post-marathon. but seeing and smelling the delicious italian cuisine definitely whet my appetite.... mom and i ordered several apps and entrees to share: +bruschette: sliced italian bread topped with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella cheese, sauteed spinach and a drizzle of olive oil +lenticchie e spinaci: braised lentils mixed with spinach, diced carrots, topped with goat cheese +rigatoni alla vodka: we ordered this vegetarian, so no sausage, just the vodka sauce, topped with mozzarella sprinkled with parmigiano. their house italian bread was also very delicious and i enjoyed dipped it in olive oil mixed with some crushed black pepper. for dessert, since it was also my cousin's birthday, we ordered the tiramisu (it was a tough choice given how many delicious looking desserts were on the menu!) 1 dessert, 5 forks! this was honestly the best italian food i'd had in a while and i was quite pleased with everything that went into my stomach. i loved how each dish had its own unique flavour. we honestly ordered so much i had enough leftovers for dinner...err midnight snack since we didn't finish lunch til around 1700! the service was impeccable, very attentive staff, despite a pretty busy afternoon, and were so kind to us the entire 3 hrs we were there! i can't recall the last time i sat for a 3 hr lunch, but we really took our time enjoying the food and especially the company since i'd not seen my cousin and his fam in a few years. i really appreciated that they did not rush us, despite the growing number of customers, and let us sit and relax as long as we wanted...as they say in italian "famiglia" we definitely felt like we were treated like family here. i highly recommend dining here if you have a special occasion and want to have some delicious italian fare!

    Calamari Fritti
    T J.

    We've eaten at several Francesca's locations but this was our first at the Chestnut location. The restaurant is large and has a nice layout. The restaurant wasn't busy and we were seated right away. From the time we sat down till the time we left we felt rushed. Drinks, bread, and apps all coming at the same time. Staff picking up plates or attempting to before we had to tell them we weren't done yet. Not the kind of service we expected for the amount of money we dropped at this place. This will definitely be a one and done dinner at this location. There are so many great Italian restaurants in this area. It's a shame that this one fell short.

    Pollo Arrosto alla Romana - Roasted Half Chicken
    Hanna T.

    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.

    Francesca pasta - made and prepared in-house.
    Kristin H.

    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.

    Rigatoni Alla vodka
    Donna T.

    I went here before a show on a Sat night and sat at the bar. Service was attentive. I started with the fried calamari which was ok. Sauce slightly spicy which was nice. This is a dish for two. Would be nice if there was a smaller portion as the price was equivalent to an entree and too much for one. My entree was the rigatoni alla vodka. Came with sausage which was a nice touch. The sauce was so good. It also came with basil which I do not feel it needed as there was already a lot of flavor. Pasta was cooked perfectly. I paired it all with a pinot noir. The place is not that big so recommend reservations.

    Panino con Vegetali Grigliata
    Lindsay F.

    I went here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon - it was nice we didn't have to wait for a table even though we didn't have a reservation. I got the vegetable panini off the lunch menu - Panino con Vegetali Grigliata - so so delicious. I'm a meat eater but was craving tons of veggies and it didn't disappoint. Love the creaminess that the goat cheese added in the sandwich, and the baguette it came on was so good. I did not realize it came with fries (I didn't see that notated on the menu) and would have probably rather substituted for a side salad (I looked at the online menu after and that is an option instead of fries) The fries were okay but the sandwich was the main part that made it worth it. My boyfriend got the Rigatoni Pomodoro and he loved it. My mom got the Italian chopped salad and my dad got the Caprese sandwich (Panino alla Caprese); they both really enjoyed their meals as well. We were pretty immersed in conversation the entire time so it was nice the waiter wasn't constantly asking us how we were doing, but there was enough staff around if we did need something. Waters were kept refilled. Given the ambience (waiter service, quiet/classy vibe) and quality of food, I thought the prices on the lunch menu were reasonable. Would definitely come back again when I visit!

    Risotto con Funghi

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    6 months ago

    Fantastic atmosphere and food! Ask the waiters for their recommendations, they know best!

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    6 months ago

    The calamari and the mussels lacked seasoning. Service was great. Great place for happy hour.

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    Page 1 of 18

    Francesca's On Chestnut Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Francesca's On Chestnut

    Is there a Dress code?

    No. Other than the no shoes no shirts no service!

    I can't see prices on the website menu. How much is a pizza or pasta dish?

    I can't recall exactly, but I think $18-$25.

    View All 4 Questions

    Peanut Park Trattoria - Sausage and Peppers

    Peanut Park Trattoria

    4.1(162 reviews)
    2.9 miUniversity Village

    Our server was super friendly and we never had a shortage of water…read more The restaurant had a nice vibe, with a cool deconstructed Vespa on the wall. Lots of open air flowing into the space. The asparagus in my pasta was well grilled, some of the best asparagus I've had. The pasta was also very flavorful as well.

    Although I am a new customer, I've been loyal to Peanut Park for the past six months and have…read morerecommended it to many friends and family. Up until tonight, my experiences had always been positive and the food was fantastic. Unfortunately, this visit was more than disappointing. I ordered a salad I've had at least a dozen times before, accept I added grilled chicken on top. I live for this salad and was just there maybe three weeks ago. Unaware that they have changed their menu, I ordered as usual. The name of the salad has not changed on the menu, but apparently the ingredients had been completely altered. When the dish arrived, to my surprise, it was drastically different and not something I enjoyed at all. I politely informed our server, who was kind and accommodating, and offered to replace the dish. However, it was now 6 p.m. we had tickets to see The Wiz at 7 p.m. and didn't have time to wait for another order, which I also informed her. I asked if the salad could be removed from the bill since it was essentially untouched. The server checked with the owner, who refused to remove the $30 salad or offer any kind of discount. When a restaurant changes a dish but keeps the same name, it creates a reasonable expectation for returning customers. When that expectation isn't met, basic customer service should step in. What makes this even more frustrating is that the restaurant was willing to prepare an entirely new dish, but not willing to remove the uneaten one from the bill. That simply isn't logical. If you're prepared to replace an item, it clearly acknowledges there was an issue, so refusing to comp or adjust the original charge is unreasonable. That decision was extremely disappointing. I, in-turn made the decision to eat only the additional grilled chicken on top, leaving the rest of the salad, paying the full bill and promptly getting out of there so we could be on time for our show. The only positive part of the experience was our server, who handled the situation with professionalism and kindness. Sadly, the new menu leaves much to be desired and this experience has cost Peanut Park my business and my referrals going forward.

    Photos
    Peanut Park Trattoria
    Peanut Park Trattoria - Tender piping-hot light crispy calamari fritti, with deep lightly-spiced tomato pomodoro and bright golden Calabrian aioli

    Tender piping-hot light crispy calamari fritti, with deep lightly-spiced tomato pomodoro and bright golden Calabrian aioli

    Peanut Park Trattoria - Outside

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    Outside

    Ciccio Mio - Black Truffle Bucatini

    Ciccio Mio

    4.7(636 reviews)
    1.0 miRiver North, Near North Side
    $$$

    Truly one of the most enjoyable Italian food experiences in Chicago. It's worth the effort to plan…read moreahead and make a reservation. Reservations are released 21 days ahead of time, which I personally find impossible to make. Every time I've checked over the last several years there have been no availability. Yesterday I decided to pop on their website again and was delighted to find that they had released same day dinner reservations for patio only dining. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining so I went ahead and booked a table for Friday night. I felt like I won the dinner lottery. Service was wonderful and I didn't mind sitting outside at all next to the road with cars. I actually never stepped foot in the restaurant so cannot comment on what it's like inside. But do not give up that patio dining reservation if it's available. All of our dishes were delicious. I was really impressed by the meatball appetizers, chicken vesuvio (the potatoes are a must get as a side if you skip this dish), and branzino. The meats and sauces were wonderfully balanced and tender. Nothing tasted overly salted. Ironically, the pasta felt less of a star compared to the other dishes. And of course I had to get the gelato, which was so aesthetically presented and the taste just reminded me of an Italian summer vacation.

    They stick people on their front coffee table as their dining location and act like it is normal…read more There needs to be a discount to eat at this table. Removed the "restaurant surcharge" after I asked.

    Photos
    Ciccio Mio - Espresso machine

    Espresso machine

    Ciccio Mio - Lasagna Bolognese

    Lasagna Bolognese

    Ciccio Mio - Toasted Almond Gelato

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    Toasted Almond Gelato

    Tuscany - Taylor - Raviolacci Toscani

    Tuscany - Taylor

    4.0(529 reviews)
    2.5 miUniversity Village
    $$

    We dined here on a Sunday before a hockey game and all four of us really enjoyed it. The ambiance…read morewas nice, a great casual vibe, but the service was superior, elevated beyond casual. The server was attentive and in tune with our table. The courses were properly paced and the food was delicious. We ordered the chicken parm, short rib ravioli, oreccheite salsiccia and salmon, with a starter of Caesar salad and meatballs. Everything was perfect. I know many places offer Caesar salads but this one was superb, perfectly dressed with light croutons and tasty dressing. We will definitely go back!

    Such an amazing restaurant, I can't recommend enough. We came for dinner so the place was packed…read morewith people. The inside of the restaurant felt like a classic Italian restaurant you might find in Italy. Our waiter was super nice and gave some great wine recommendations. First, they bring you some bread and give you a small platter mixed with olive oil, fresh garlic, and Parmesan. This is the first time I've seen it done this way but it was delicious. The calamari was delicious, not too fried and oily but still had so much flavor to it. We also decided to order the peperoni pizza, which is just a magnificent pizza. It was just cooked perfectly with just the right amount of flavor and spice. I ordered the raviolacci toscani, which took a bit of time to come out (but understandable given the amount of people). It was just delicious. The meat filling had such a deep flavor and the sauce wasn't so heavy that I didn't want to finish it. I would recommend this to anyone that wants a good Italian meal with great portions. Reservations might be hard to get so plan ahead.

    Photos
    Tuscany - Taylor - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Tuscany - Taylor - Insalata Pera

    Insalata Pera

    Tuscany - Taylor - Sausage Potato and Vegetable Soup

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    Sausage Potato and Vegetable Soup

    Francesca's On Chestnut - italian - Updated May 2026

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