Mia Francesca

While in town in Chicago, we stopped by for dinner at Mia Francesca because it was where our friends got engaged over 20 years ago. We are so happy we did because it was a lovely experience. Kyra was our server and she was great. She helped us decide on what to have because everything looked delicious. We started with cocktails. We had an Empress martini and an Espresso martini and they both were cold and strong and a great start to our dining experience.Kyra suggested as a first course the Meatballs and their Antipasti. Both were delicious and fresh. The meatballs were tender and juicy and came with a delicious pomodoro sauce and bread to mop up any extra sauce - amazing. The Antipasti came with Cippolini onions and spicy peppers and we also tried the Gigante beans. The beans were tasty and creamy and they came with artichokes and olives and the onions were soft and sweet and had the right amount of spice. For our main we split the Chicken Milanese and our daughter had the Paccheri alla Vodka e Salsiccia and we also had an order of the arugula salad - I LOVE arugula salad. The salad was crisp, and cool, with the right amount of lemon and a generous amount of cheese. They split the Milanese for us which was great. The Milanese was everything a Milanese should be, a well seasoned and breaded chicken cutlet with perfectly dressed greens and shaved parm. Perfection. The Paccheri a la Vodka was creamy and toasty with delicious meaty bits. We were stuffed but it was my daughter's birthday so we celebrated with a Sloppy Sundae and it was so yummy and enough for us all. Great service, drinks, and food. We had a lovely time at Mia Francesca and cannot wait to return.

What a great venue and restaurant! The staff are all super accommodating and friendly. My bf's family had their son's graduation lunch here and it was such a great experience. They chose the lunch option with 2 appetizers, 1 salad, 2 pastas, 1 entree and 1 dessert. Everything was delicious and fresh with generous portions for family style that could feed 6 people per table. You could also order refills of anything. The standouts for me were the sausage rigatoni, the bruschetta, and the spinach ravioli. The ravioli had a 4 cheese sauce that reminded me subtly of blue cheese but it went so well with the spinach filling in the ravioli. There's paid street parking around the area. The only downside to the experience was the pace for the lunch. It started at 1 pm and didn't end until 4 pm because of the pacing of the food. Appetizers started coming out at around 1:30 pm, the salad came at 2 pm, the pasta and entrees came around 2:45 pm. Dessert came at around 3:30 pm so the lunch finished at 4 pm. I do wish that the food came out at a better pace so the meal wouldn't be so long. They definitely check to see if people want refills on wine or more drinks quite often. That's probably where they make the majority of the money. They have an extensive wine list and I really enjoyed the Pinot Grigio. I would definitely recommend coming here for your next large gathering or big event. They are very reasonably priced and the staff are all very professional and helpful. Thanks again for a great meal!

WOW! From the moment I walked into this restaurant I knew it was going to be good. For one it smelled incredible and two, the place was PACKED! The decor was beautiful with half a car jutting out of the wall, flashing its lights. Tables were packed close together and everyone was clearly having a good time. So if you're looking for a quiet, romantic place to eat, avoid dinner time here. It was truly crowded from 5pm on. My daughter ordered the 100 layer lasagna and it was baked to perfection! So cheesy with a delicious bolognese. So good! I ordered ricotta stuffed gnocchi with a delicious bolognese and basil. Amazing!!! One of the best Italian dishes ever!

We came on a Friday evening. we arrived early so we could have a drink before dinner. The restaurant is long and narrow with a bar on the right midway through the space. The place was crowded but not packed. It was loud and sort of cold because every time the door opened there was a breeze. We kept our coats on. When it was time, we were seated at a table in the back near the outdoors patio. Again it was cold because it was the door to the patio there. We asked to be moved and they moved us two tables away. We had to keep our coats on during dinner. It had the feeling we were sitting in cold garage and it is not really winter yet. We ordered a bottle of wine to drink. The menu was a paper menu and the selection was good. It included some vegetarian items as well. We shared a Bruschette alla Romana for appetizer. I ordered Bucatini al Funghetto and my partner ordered Pacceri alla Vodka for entrees. They brought some bread for the table. The bread was good. The wine was delayed because they got confused about what we ordered. But they figured it out and swapped our wine glasses out and brought the correct wine out.The wine was very good. The bruschette arrived after the wine was brought back. It was wonderful. Nice toasted bread with tomatoes and a whipped cheese on top. Our entrees arrived after about 10 minutes. They looked nice and we were excited to try them. My entree was a disappointment. The mushroom and cream sauce should have been flavorful but it was bland. Maybe a little more truffle oil would have saved it. My partner said the same about his pasta, bland with little flavor or direction. Overall....service was not great, the food was not good, the atmosphere was crowded, cold and noisy. I don't think you should have to wear a coat in a this type of restaurant, maybe at a hot dog stand. The wine, bread, and appetizer were good. We came for the food and obviously we will not return. That is sad because we see no way to get better results. Really 1 1/2 star, but not a option.

If you're looking for authentic Italian in Chicago, look no further than Mia Francesca! My table ordered the Calamari Fritti ($18) and Polpette della Nonna ($16) to share. The calamari was breaded perfectly and the seasoning complemented the squid. The polpette was soft but robust and came with creamy ricotta cheese and tomato sauce. I ordered the bucatini ($23) and was blown away! The flavor combination of egg yolk, parmesan cheese, chives, evoo, and guanciale was absolutely perfection. I often take home leftovers, but I finished my plate. I didn't get to try my tables entrees, but everyone left happy and full. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and had outdoor seating options. The servers were well informed and attentive. This place is quite popular, so make sure to call in for a reservation in advance. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Most definitely my favorite spot I've been in Chicago yet. Mia Francesca is a simple but elegant neighborhood Italian restaurant. It's intimate and elegant, though not stuffy in the slightest.My group and I visited while celebrating a birthday. High on spirits, our waitress met us at our level and ended up buying us a round of limoncello shots (and did one herself)! She had that sort of attitude and air to her like you'd have known her for years. We started off the night with some Bruschetta and Calamari Fritti, both of which set the stage for what was next to come.The only way I could properly describe the Paccheri alla Vodka e Salsiccia is that it transported me to another plane of existence. If this is the state I died in, all worries, regrets, and missed opportunities would have faded away into bliss ignorance. Never have I had a vodka sauce so tender to the soul that I actively spooned up the rest, long after the paccheri itself was gone. And no, this was not just the wine and limoncello talking, it's as if I almost achieved a state of enlightenment.So, if that's not enough to drive your expectations up the wall, I don't know what is! I know there's so much more in Chicago to eat and explore, but you better believe I will make it my mission to return next time I visit.

Have always heard about this place and decided to give it a shot and it was fantastic. Definitely adding Mia Francesca's to my weekly rotation.Paisley and Ryan the bartender were the best!Great liquor selection!

The service was amazing and the food was delicious! Claudia and princess did a great job of taking care of us. Will definitely come back!

Unfortunately there was something left to be desired by the food. I had the carbonara and whether it was some salt missing or something else, it didn't hit the mark 100%. Service was good, but the food was just okay. Others I was with felt the same.I will say the calamari though was pretty good.

This was my target on this trip to Chicago. I loved it years ago. I loved it this trip. Kendra behind the bar was a joy, and very conversant with all of the menu options. Chef Felipe was too kind in making sure we got everything we need. Front of house Scott was the perfect host. This is an amazing experience, and we recommend it for all.....