First time here tonight. They had a sign on the door asking patrons to be patient as they were short staffed. Service was a bit slow but excellent! Great selection on the menu. We went with Persian. The food didn't disappoint! Great flavors & portions. We will definitely be back to try other dishes. read more

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Great food definitely a place to try. Had the chicken kabobs they were delicious . My cousin had the Halibut fettuccine it was fabulous. I definitely recommend this restaurant cute small and fantastic food read more

O U T S T A N D I N G ! We visited after reading about Francesco's Cafe in social media. This restaurant is a true gem. Quiet, comfortable, attentive service and food that exceeded our expectations. The antipasti salad was the best I've ever tasted! Margarita pizza was outstanding and scratch made, and the chicken kabobs were so delicious and the vegetables cooked to perfection. Great prices too. We loved everything about our visit and meal and highly recommend Francesco's Cafe. read more

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The margarita pizza was amazing. The presentation for the beef koobideh was nice and tasted great too. The portions were average. In light of CV 19 they did great in social distancing the seating. Would love to dine there again. read more

Francesco's Cafe - Beef koobedeh - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

Another great lunch,. We had the kabob's today Chicken for me and Beef for my friend, It was the first time he finished the whole meal, always got a doggie bag, But he loved it.. Me too read more

I had a few "go to" Italian restaurants on my list, but move on over guys, you're going to need to share the "favorite "go to" space with Francesco's!! The salads are super fresh, great garlic bread, and chicken Alfredo is "amazing "!! Great air conditioning is a plus especially here in the desert- not looking to sweat while I'm eating, lol! Great and attentive service, and the value was definitely there. A good balance of all three categories, great food, good portions, reasonable price. MaKe sure you get out there and give them a try. Support our local business, especially since our Canadian and east coast friends will be leaving the desert soon. Enjoy! read more

We are from Yucaipa and happened to be in the area. We felt like Italian food and Googled the restaurant. It was absolutely amazing. We both got the ciopino which contained scallops, shrimp, clams, lobster and fish. They ask if you want pasta in it, which we did. It was delicious. The broth was seasoned perfectly. The service was outstanding. There was a note on the door saying they were short staffed but you would never think it was. There were approximately six people that kept checking on us to see if we needed anything and kept refilling our drinks. It is about a half hour drive, but we will be coming back. You will not be disappointed! read more

Francesco's Cafe - Ciopinno - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

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It has a note on the door, closed till further notice. Last time I was there, pre covid, they charged an up fee of $4 per plate because we asked for wrap ingredients to be in the plate. That kept us away till we found the note. read more

The best Pasta in town I can't wait to taste other and other dish from this amazing place!

Persian salad is my favorite salad and I order it every time. The Persian entries are good humans is excellent and staff are most gracious this is my go to restaurant in this valley and never had a bad meal! read more

This is probably my favorite restaurant ever, the food is so delicious and tastes homemade I love it! All the pastas are so tasty and huge portions!! Definitely give them a try :) 10/10 recommend read more

Francesco's Cafe - Ravioli and carbonara - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

Every dish I have eaten has been excellent. Great variety. The service is always wonderful. The family who manages the place make you feel at home. read more

We've loved Francesco's for many, many years now and will continue to go back for their delicious food and service. Maria is the best and always remembers just the way I like my Persian Salad. Always fresh food and just a couple of minutes from our home in Rancho Mirage. read more

Server was very friendly but it service was slow. The chicken shawarma was dry. The container with mint sauce was tiny. The hummus was also a tiny serving. It was really thin in consistency. My husband's was supposed to come with tabbouleh. We didn't see anything resembling tabbouleh on the plate. It was supposed to be in a pita. The pitas came on the side and couldn't be split open. We split a small salad. It was good and more than enough for 2 as a side. read more

I've been coming here for quite some time and I will continue to come here as long as the place is open. The establishment that Jose & Maria have provides you with food that is specifically made for you when you order it. If you are stopping by to dine and are in a hurry this is not the place for you since everything is made to order. I've ordered quite a few different things on the menu and all of them have been great. In a time where you can take your money anywhere just know that this is a local spot with great food but you have to give them the opportunity to make your food and not rush it. The staff takes pride in providing you the best customer service and are very attentive. read more

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Disappointing! My food arrived cold then 5 minutes later my husbands arrived HOT. It took our salad about 30 minutes to arrive and not what we ordered. We received the delicious bread before the salad, then the waitress asked us if we wanted more and never came back with it! I know that they are short staffed and we have always been patient but this time it was not right. We will find another place or just cook at home so we have better service and wine read more

Food is great. Waitstaff is really lovely. Just be aware that it can be a wait to receive your order.

The Persian food is a joke but the Italian food is tasty. No ambiance whatsoever and no atmosphere at all. The price right and I recommend the spaghetti bolognese. read more

I guess covid and inflation finally caught up to Francesca's café. This was always one of our favorites when in the area, but yesterday we had to ask, where's the meat? $27 for 2 sandwiches that were bread, (good bread), lettuce & dressing, the meat was virtually non existent. We understand it's really difficult for small restaurateurs to make it work in this environment, but if they stop making the great food everyone loves them for, then it's an even bigger tragedy. Also missed those wonderful crispy french fries with truffle salt they used to make :( read more

It's a casual neighborhood strip mall restaurant serving both Italian and Persian dishes. Pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff. Food was just okay. I ordered Cannelloni Bolognese. What arrived was a flat dish with an alfredo marinara sauce. When I questioned it, instead of taking it back and making it correctly, they brought me a cup of Bolognese sauce. I ended up taking it home so I could scrape off the incorrect sauce and prepare the way I ordered it. Another in our party had a combination pizza that he liked, another got a Hawaiian pizza, also liked and my other half had a lamb kebob that looked really wonderful. Service is slow. Order was taken promptly, but it was a long time getting the food. Service is attentive though. Is give them another try and order something different, as the Cannelloni was mediocre. Reasonably priced. read more

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Food and service were outstanding. My wife and I can't wait to come back and try other dishes on the menu. read more

Francesco's Cafe - Lamb Chops - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

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The food is terrible. I had the beef kabob plate and the person I'm with had the lamb kabob plate. The lamb was raw (not even rare but raw). We sent the lamb back and switched to beef. The second plate of beef was past charred and half of it burnt and inedible. The beef was such bad quality and chewy. Very low quality food. And they never came back to ask how the 2nd plate was. They just dropped it and left. Horrible service. I was shocked how bad this place was. read more

Second time in a row, this time I walked out. Was seated and then it began (again) THE WAIT.... Sat there for 15 minutes and no one came to my table asking if I'd like a drink or to order. This time I just walked out! read more

Understaffed and we wound up leaving after 15 minutes no one came to the table. Frustrating and too nad read more

Sad lonely guy can eat here all alone but be cheered up by a great meal!!! My wife did not travel with me for this trip but I asked her to check Yelp for a place for me and this was it. I ordered and the food came fast and hot. I only lost the 5 star rating because after my meal I waited there for a very long time for my waitress to come back and give me the check. I finally had to go to the waitress area/carryout booth to request my check. That ruined a perfect trip, because when I got my meal I expected to have to get a to go bag for my hotel room. The to go bag thing never happened, once I started eating the tastes took over and I went a little past the stopping point that I thought that I was going to have at the beginning. read more

Francesco's Cafe - Lamb Kabob Pits - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

I was wary, but was really craving Persian food and didn't want to drive 2 hours to LA. I think a well done, authentic Persian restaurant could do very well here in the valley. Perhaps the hybrid Italian/Persian is safer, but I'm not sure if it works. I did not try the Italian food, so I cannot comment on that. I chose the chicken kabob plate. The presentation was nice, but I immediately sensed the lack of authenticity. I was missing the soft, fluffy rice with the dollop of saffron in the center; the tender chucks of chicken, marinated and slowly grilled over charcoal; the option to order half rice, half salad. This version looked and tasted more like Mediterranean cuisine. The rice was yellow. The chicken was thinner, almost like strips with grilled onions, red pepper and zucchini. It was served with pita bread. read more

Francesco's Cafe - Chicken Kebab - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

Francescos. Francescos. Francescos. Where do I begin? Empty restaurant, average service, bland food. Servers were nice. Admittedly. That's the only positive I can grasp. I am a massive fan of Aglio E Olio, Bolognese, garlic sauce, Alfredo, etc. Because I like these sauces I am able to make them myself. One of the reasons I like going to restaurants is to eat food that is better than what I can make, and obviously I don't have to clean up. Unfortunately, Francescos has been unable to out cook me. I'm not that good of a cook either which is the sad part. The Aglio E Olio pasta I had ordered tasted like tap water. That's it. Not garlic. Not oil. Not pepper. Tap water. My SO got the Pesto with Spaghetti, and when she tasted it she also tasted tap water. Now in order to avoid this tap water taste, we then drowned out respective dishes in Red Pepper and Parmesan. While it didn't fully mask the tap water taste, at least it was an improvement. Service was average restaurant service. Not good, not bad. It existed. I think if you are into Italian food, I would reccomend not coming here and getting some Prego Sauce and Barilla pasta from Walmart. That would be significantly more flavorful than what we have experienced at Francescos. Final Thought: Francescos, shorten your menu. Please. It's huge. Restaurants with huge menus tend to lack in quality on all dishes across the board. Focus on 10-20 dishes and do them amazingly. I promise you quality will improve massively. Hopefully when we come back there will be improvement! read more

I'm always looking for an excuse to eat here so, I try to schedule appointments nearby. As I slowly introduce this restaurant to my friends I have more and more reasons to meet them here. I just love how creamy their hummus is and I especially love it when the pita comes out hot & freshly made. I always order food from the Persian side of the menu, something with lamb without a doubt. I love how fresh and tasty the salads are. Come early for lunch and avoid the weekend dinner rush. This place is very popular with the older crowd, you will wait even with a reservation as people tend to stay and converse. I get a kick out of how we are greeted, always with a surprised, recognized look, one that genuinely conveys a sense of, "We are so glad to see you again!" Haven't tried ALL the desserts yet, but almost there - none of which have disappointed. Looking forward to tackling the Italian menu next, or not. read more

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Between 3 and 4 stars. Mediterranean Pizza was amazing and filling. Two meals from one small pizza. The pomodoro spaghetti was delicious too - but made me and my son sick. I know it was this because it's the only thing we both ate that day. My guess - the amount of oil. If you are sensitive to excessive fat don't order this dish - if you are not - go ahead! The chicken shawarma (don't know the correct spelling) was ok but my son LOVED the rice that came with it. Service was good. read more

This restaurant is both Italian and Persian come here for the Persian food and it is excellent I'm sure the Italian food is good to the only thing I'll say is it's a long way it's all made fresh very fresh but it may take 40 minutes to get your meal still it's worth it maybe call ahead even if you're going to eat here in the restaurant called ahead do you know if you're alone or something like that or with your partner the food is outstanding that I think you can very happy even if you have to wait all the while it's worth it good prices too... read more

Francesco's Cafe - Chicken kebab plate with the basmati rice and vegetables and pita bread and hummus - Persian/Iranian Near Me - Rancho Mirage, California

Service was extremely SLOW!!! Half hour+ to order & one & half wait to get food. So disappointing. The food was still great,

What a lovely surprise. Yes, it is an odd fusion but the food was excellent. We both had the Persian salad- one lamb and one chicken. Nice flavors, good portions, right price. read more

OMG. The spaghetti bolognese was awesome. Great service & lovely staff. I'm coming back tomorrow to try something else. Love mom & pop type places. HUGE portions. Back for lunch on the following day for the baked Mostaciolli. It was awesome. Trying to figure out what to have for dinner tonight. And, for dinner, Veal Piccata. Awesome. read more

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Pleasant surprise, a better than average restaurant in a strip center. Let me be fair but honest--- stay away from the "Italian " menu items. The kabobs are fantastic! Beef and chicken both seasoned and cooked very well. Too much parsley sprinkled everywhere, on every dish- it's crazy messy. The ultimate, beyond extreme, chocolate- chocolate cake literally KICKS A$$. I'd go back just for that! The staff were OK, I didn't feel overly welcomed but they did provide a no-nonsense service . I'm not a vegan or vegetarian but there were several customers ordering to go, all the same eggplant kabob plates, so it must be good. If I'm in the area again, I'll go back. read more

Never a bad meal, always attentive service from a friendly staff. Some folks just don't want to understand that most, if not all restaurants are working harder to hire then train staff as the pandemic literally caused staff shortages everywhere. So please be patient and understand that this continues to occur. Here at Francesco's the customer is king. The antipasto salad is a wonderful appetizer that can be served with delicious garlic bread in a generous portion. The lasagne is our absolute favorite as is anything with their house bolognese sauce. Even their Persian entrees are awesome, anything in a grape leaf here is superbly created and accompanied by a yoghurt dressing. I usually try to take some dolma's home for lunch the next day. The booths are spacious, the restrooms clean and there's always a friendly neighbor offering great conversation. Enjoy! You'll be happy. read more

I was spoiled rotten living in Los Angeles for so many years. I could find good Mediterranean or Persian food without much effort. In the desert, there are few choices and they are a mixed bag. Francesco's is cute and clean. The waitress I had was pleasant and kept my tea glass full. The food is not real Persian. It isn't bad, but it isn't what I would consider authentic. I liked the hummus. It had some interesting textures with mixins (maybe olive? not sure) The rice pilaf was not the fluffy rice I'm used to with Persian food. Good, but different. The koobideh that I ordered was cooked on a griddle, I think. I didn't see any holes for skewers. I liked everything that I ordered, just wasn't quite what I was expecting (or hoping for.) I do want to go back and try a few other things on the menu. read more

My first time to eat here. Wanted to try the Persian food. I ordered the Persian salad with kobedeh Kabob. The salad, hummus, pita were all great but the kobedeh kabob was so salty it wasn't good. I was disappointed in it but didn't say anything. I'll try the chicken next time. The service was outstanding. read more

Delicious! They have a note on their windows stating they are "short staffed" and it is noticeable by how long my "to go" order took and the fast pace they moved around with only a few tables inside. Regardless, the staff was most pleasant and attentive. Although I received a steak kabob instead of a lamb kabob (I'm not sure I clarified my order, so may have been my fault) it was extremely tasty! I can't wait to go back and dine in next time! read more

Excellent food and service. Very large menu for Persian and Italian food. We had the Persian food which was good. Swordfish cooked correctly. All spices were used well. read more

We're into take out these days and searching for a good solid pizza in Rancho Mirage. Then Francesco's Margherita Pizza stole the show. It's like you either made it yourself or hired an Italian pizza chef. Soft tasty crust, super fresh cheese, delicious sauce and fresh tomatoes has made the our "go to" take out pie. We love, love, love it and are going back to sample the rest of the menu! Super friendly staff too. read more