The food was excellent.. as always. My MAJOR complaint was being seated in that "Coach House." What was it before being converted into a dining room? A garage? A storage shed? Whatever it was, it was NOT meant to be used as a place for fine dining. It is incredibly noisy. The AC vents kept blowing a steady stream of icy cold air right on my neck and our legs. We and other diners across the room asked to have the AC shut off or turned down. The VERY NICE waiter did what he could. MF could salvage this awful room with lots of wall tapestries to cover up those bare, cold, echoing brick walls... lower the lights.. get some candles.. make it more like those Italian grotto-like restaurants of old. That said, when the host askes you if you want to sit in the ":Coach House".. answer with a firm, resolute NO!! PS: The Sicilian Manhattans were really good. read more

This place has gone down hill. Prices up. Quality down. I added a photo of how they packed two half pizzas that were leftover. Seriously? Ever heard of a pizza box? Or at least not piling it up like dog food. They have earned their last dollar from me. read more

Mia Francesca - How Francesca packs pizza to go. Yuck! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's hard to argue against the original Scott Harris invention that spawned the Francesca empire. The food is dependably great, the atmosphere lively and the prices right. I probably only make it to Mia once a year, but that's only because I'm a little different and need to try new places. More normal people that live so close to a culinary staple that is Mia Francesca likely go here once a month, and I envy them (especially in summer). This visit occurred over Thanksgiving weekend after going to the movies down the street. We had a lateish reservation but the place was still packed (and quite loud with the soundtrack). Our starter was a delicious pizza special. My memory and picture suggest it had garlic, arugula, garlic, shaved Parmesan, olive oil, truffle oil and other cheeses. It was the perfect way to start an Italian dinner and the perfect size to avoid ruining our appetite. The ingredients were fresh and it arrived quickly. Erica and I shared a caesar salad to start, with standard tastiness but with the addition of grilled red peppers. Kind of a weird texture and flavor to throw into a classic salad. Erica was not a huge fan. I liked the salad, including the peppers, though it was different. Continuing with the sharing theme, we ordered a rigatoni with lots of vegetables in a light tomato sauce. Again, I liked the dish more than Erica. The vegetables were well seasoned, which made for a great combination with fresh pasta and tasty shaved cheese. It doesn't take much to please me with pasta but it still has to taste great - something Francesca does extremely well for the price ($12.99). At the end of the day, I agree with 460 people on Urbanspoon that Mia Francesca's is one of the best restaurants in Chicago (#19 on their list). I wouldn't say it's 4 Star dining, but it's not supposed to be. They do a great job of provided great Italian food in a fun, casual, neighborhood setting at affordable prices (and affordable wine list too). Our service was solid, and the only critique was that they like to play dance/pop music throughout the restaurant at high levels (contrary to typical romantic Italian spots). Mia remains a solid choice for local Italian, especially when the patio is open for summer. read more

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Our server was Melvin. He was very helpful and accommodating. We didn't realize the brunch menu was different and they allowed us to order off the dinner menu. The pasta was fabulous and the salmon was cooked to perfection. We will absolutely be returning! read more

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Service = amazing. Calamari = one of the best calamaris I've had Caprese = SOO GOOD and thick Lobster pasta = DELISH Pesto pasta = not worth the price but still pretty good. Nothing too special. Tirimisu = soft and rich. Would definitely go back. I also love the inside; It's a little small, but it gives the place character. read more

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Amazing food!! Alfonso is the best server, attentive and sweet

Eugene had impeccable service! I would come back here just for his level of professionalism and service. He 100% took care of us. I didn't not have a moment where my wine was empty or my water was empty. His food recommendations were wonderful. The ambiance was beautiful and live jazz music on Thursdays was a wonderful touch. The calamari was good and the linguine diavallo was good as well. Eugene made the night extra special though. Thank you! read more

I don't normally write reviews.. however, Michael deserves this review. My husband and I went in for what we thought would be a normal Italian dinner. Little did we know that Michael would transform our dinner into a culinary adventure. I was conflicted on what entree to order and what wine to choose so he said "how about I pair something for you that I know you'll love" so, we trusted him. He chose the best wines for me and curated a great cocktail for my husband, pairing it with the best entrees on the menu (the short rib fettuccini, salmon entree and a taste of the shrimp ravioli). We finished off our dinner with the best espresso martini and tiramisu we ever had and a shot of his very own homemade limoncello. His knowledgeable personality and ability to guide us was exactly what made the perfect dinner. read more

Eugene is the best waiter I've ever had. He was so sweet and had great recommendations. So accommodating and my glass never stayed empty! This place has great staff and Eugene made the experience all worth the while! read more

Eugene is the most amazing server! He was so personable and we had timely and amazing service all night! We love it here and will be back often! read more

Great spot! Eugene was our waiter and he made the already amazing meal even better. Will be back!

Amazing food! Had the COSTOLETTE DI MAIALE CON CAROTE and person I was with had LINGUINE AL FAGOTTARO. Both dishes were immaculate!! Loved how it was presented and the taste of both dishes! Highly suggest to anyone in or visiting read more

This place was decent. Nothing too special. My drink was terrible unless their goal was to come as close as possible to cough syrup. We got the spaghetti which was classic and delicious. The baked chicken was quite filling and had delicious flavor. Overall delicious and decent prices but not something to write home about. read more

My friends and I stopped by here for dinner on the way to a Cubs game (it was recommended to us as a must try if you're in the area). We were so glad we did! We were running late and called in a few times to move around our reservation. They were very nice about it. Food: - Bread with herb infused olive oil: very good and held us over until the rest of the food arrived. - Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Polenta and Wild Mushrooms: I ordered this dish and was surprised at how tasty everything turned out. I didn't realized this dish had mushrooms, but the flavors were so good I didn't even mind it! The polenta was too creamy and had the texture of mashed potatoes so I didn't enjoy that part of my dish too much. - Pollo alla Florentina: the-juiciest-chicken breast-i-have-ever-tasted. lemon butter sauce..not too big of a fan, but WOW. JUICY and TENDER! - Rigatone con Melanzane: the sauce was out of this world. - Spaghetti with Sausage: ehh...not much I can say. It's spaghetti.... - Cavatelli con Pesto: cavatelli was a little too doughy for my taste, but the pesto was good. Service was impeccable. Our server was warm and friendly. We told him we were in a hurry because we had to get to the game, so he brought everything out super fast! This was one of our favorite dining experiences during our trip to Chicago. read more

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I had a great first experience at Mia's. Michael was fantastic and very attentive. For the new year, I am doing solo dates and Mia's was my first stop. Michael made it very special with a complimentary Limoncello which I later learned he makes in-house. The first thing that intrigued me about Mia's was the live jazz music they hosted. The place was filled and I knew I had to try it. I am sad to hear that this is no longer available and I hope it comes back soon. Nonetheless, I will be joining Mia's again for a Wine Tasting or Limoncello Class by Michael. See you soon! read more

Food is amazing and so fresh. Service is also great, waitresses have always helped us choose wine pairings and been super friendly. Garden patio is very pretty in the summer too! read more

Honestly, I found this place by mistake. I was planning on going to a different restaurant I found on Yelp, but ended up taking the wrong street and walked by Mia Francesca! First of all, their menu is awesome. They switch it up every now and then so you might have to get something different every time you go there! We started off with the bruschetta - the fancier one that is a dollar more than the original - totally worth the extra dollar. It came with arugula and avocado on top. It was one of the best bruschetta I've ever had. For my entree, I ordered the special ravioli. I want to say I tasted some goat cheese in the ravioli, but I'm not sure. It was delicious though! Super filling, so I thought the price was just right. On Thursdays, they do $5 martinis. I ordered the Blood Orange martini. It was good at first, but granted, Svedka... not the best. For dessert, the special was a peanut butter cream pie with peanut butter whipped cream and an Oreo crust. I wish I were eating it now. Service is good. There are many servers around who can assist you. Also, definitely sit in the back patio! I love the mural! read more

Solid food overall, with a nice Tuesday half price wine bottle that I would come back for. Enjoyed the pizza crust and sauce. The pasta diavola, had another great sauce but I don't like that its not homemade paste. Not a place I would frequent, but its solid. read more

I could not reccomend this restaurant more! Our service was amazing and the waitress was really knowledgeable about their wine list and was able to reccomend different wines for everyone in my group's tastes. We all got different pasta dishes and they were fantastic. I got the farfelle with a parmesean cream sauce and it was so creamy with fresh pasta. Perfect portion size too - I was able to finish my plate but didn't feel overly full. Huge plus - Free delicious fresh bread. As for the atmosphere- definitely very cozy and I feel like you could dress up and not feel out of place or be more casual. Highly highly reccomend! read more

I've never had anything bad here. This is my go-to place for solid, decent priced Italian food. The space is super cute too. They have an upstairs party room that we're thinking about inquiring about for an event in the future. The roasted half chicken is my favorite, I find myself craving it often. They do a great family style meal for pick up if that's something you're interested in, we did it once and got a ton of food. read more

Customer for years great place to hang! Great service. Been going for years nice to see a place with longevity. read more

Food was decent but SO overpriced, service was slow, the restaurant was loud and the music was loud and bad

Drinks and food were amazing! We sat upstairs, Ellen, our server, was awesome. So sweet and accommodating. 10/10 we'll be back. The pistachio gelato is a good dessert to end with on a hot summer night. read more

Mia Francesca - Insalata - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was the second visit to this restaurant and very disappointing. Upon arrival there were two ladies behind the hostess stand that were not trained nor welcoming. The wind was blowing. We were with two small children, trying to gain entrance, and no one to assist as we arrive. We then inquired about a table that was open. It was only 5:15 PM and the answer was I don't know I have to talk to my other girl who's on the phone and she said, I'm sorry that table is for more than four people even though it's in the corner and I cannot seat you there. The other options turned out to be a disaster even though the restaurant was the only half full when we left after dining, I'd suggest you give some training or hire more mature people to greet Patrons as they arrive we won't be back read more

If you love Italian, you need to check them out. FABULOUS experience eating in the restaurant as well as to go during covid. This is our absolute favorite restaurant. The staff is incredible and authentic food even better. Also from a 100% Italian gal- best tiramisu I've ever had in my life. Check it out. You won't regret it read more

Wonderful experience, as always. They are taking necessary precautions. It was our first time dining inside since March. We sat in the Coach House with the doors open. We felt totally safe. The food was incredible - no drop in quality at all. read more

Mia Francesca is not the best I've ever had but it's definitely the best pasta I've found so far in Chicago! I'd been to one of Mia Francesca's sister restaurants out in the suburbs a few years ago and didn't love it, so I was hesitant to check this place out. But the positive reviews held true! It's a quaint, family-oriented Italian restaurant with solid, typical-Italian menu choices. My fiancé had the rigatoni with meatballs, and I had the gluten free penne with asparagus and cream sauce. Both were top notch! Although the cream sauce was watery, the flavors were just what I'd been hoping for, and my fiancé declared that the spicy marinara was the best sauce he's had anywhere. If you're looking for down-to-earth, classic Italian food, Mia Francesca is definitely the place to come. I can already tell this is going to become one of my go-to spots! read more

We carried out our Thanksgiving dinner from Mia last night and it could not have been more perfect. Turkey, cranberry sauce, green beans, stuffing with sausage, gravy and mashed potatoes. We asked for and received all white meat, an ample portion which came in pan juices. The ordering and delivery processes were efficient. Price reasonable. Could not have asked for more. Would highly recommend. Thank you Mia! read more

We stopped in on a whim after a long day downtown - and we were met with an incredible meal and fantastic service. We ordered calamari, a caesar salad, and lentils - all of which were exceptional. Ethan offered a very pleasant dining experience by checking in on us regularly and answering all of our questions on the menu. It was very busy (on a Friday night), but the environment still felt warm and very fun (loved the music). We'll be back! read more

Still one of the most consistent restaurants in Chicago. Saturday night I had the Salmon over Asparagus and a Francesca Salad. Always very good!! read more

This was an AMAZING dinner. It started with homemade olive oil (infused with herbs) and bread. I ordered the Italian wedge and the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. The fettuccine Alfredo was not on the menu but they were more than happy to whip me up the classic dish. The wedge salad was exactly what I wanted- not too much dressing and just the right amount of cheese. My Alfredo was the best Alfredo I've had in at least five years. This place is truly a gem. Also, it's half price cocktails on Tuesday from 5-8! read more

Mia Francesca - Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing dinner at Mia Francesca. Service was outstanding and so friendly, and we really enjoyed our meal/wine. Highly recommend. Felt very safe during COVID. read more

Went here tonight and food was amazing. Ask for Tom as your server, he is awesome. He got me a desert for my birthday and made my night extra special. Thanks tom! Great service and food! read more

We had a a great meal at the bar. Doc is the bartender and he was spot on in his recommendations, the drinks and his timing. We had the carpaccio con avocado. It was more than enough for 2 and was incredible. Give it a try. The Sea bass was awesome. And the Tiramisu competed the dinner. I will definitely be back read more

Highly enjoyed my recent visit to Francesa's. My entree was delicious but I have to say my favorite part was dessert. Don't miss out on the chocolate cake with mint ice cream! read more

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Francesca's is a sure bet if you love Italian. I have been to many different franchises, but I went to Mia's for the 1st time this past weekend and it was great. I had the 3 course meal for $39: a glass of Montepulciano, a hearty Italian salad highlighted with blue cheese, salmon on a bed of sauteed spinach in a tomato white wine caper sauce, and a chocolate molten lava cake with mint ice cream for desert. We generally get pasta and/or get seafood which is what I think Francesca's does best. My wife and son enjoyed their meals. In addition to the good food, the atmosphere is just cozy, relaxed, quite and romantic. read more

If you want to experience the vibrancy and energy of Wrigleyville in a restaurant (as opposed to a bar), I would guess this would be the prototypical place. We had a Saturday night outing here and it was packed and energetic. I found the food to be very good based on the appetizers and gnocchi ala bolognese dinner entree ($18) I had. Appetizers were bruschetta and a proscuitto wrapped cantaloupe dish. It was quite loud and somewhat difficult to carry on a conversation. The tables are also packed quite tightly and there is really no elbow room. For that as aspect as well as the overbearing loudness, I would go for a 4 star rating here for our outing. Prices are reasonable here for the quality and portion size, so this could be a 5 star sort of business except for what I mentioned. They also change the menu frequently I am told, and everyone in our party of 7 enjoyed their entrees. They have an open kitchen format, so avoid a table by the server traffic if at all possible. They also have $10 valet and that was very handy given, unbeknownst to us, that there was a Pearl Jam concert at nearby Wrigley Field, so really impossible to get street parking around here on this night anyway. read more

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A lovely restaurant with great food and great staff. We had the Pollo Arrosto alla Romana and the Rigatoni del Pastore. If we hadn't been in a public place, I would have licked my plate clean. Drinks were good, service was very good and over all experience was wonderful, especially after a long day of moving. I can't wait to go back to Chicago just so I can have another dinner here. read more

We had a delicious meal at Mia Francesca along with attentive service. We had some of the best sauces on our pasta!! The appetizer of muscles had the most savory spicy tomato sauce that I swear I could just eat the sauce like soup. The staff was very friendly and accommodated our needs. Kevin too my reservation and it was nice to be greeted by him at the door. Other guests included various sorts of people. Even children who were happy enjoying the atmosphere. I witnessed the host even accommodating a last minute carry out order after they had been closing. The sorbet desert was huge. I could not finish any of my portions. I highly recommend Mia Francesca! Cost is a bit high but when you see the portions and realize you will get a second meal out of it, you understand. Very similar to the other Francesca restaurants I frequent. Thanks for the great evening. read more

Classically understated, Mia Francesca epitomizes the best in hearty Italian cuisine with generous portions that are extremely fresh and distinctively well prepared. If you're on a calorie restricted diet, maybe not the restaurant for you, but if you want excellent food, great portions, and a to-die-for tiramisu then Mia Francesca's cannot be beat read more