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  • Francesca's Intimo

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Francesca's Intimo
Francesca's Intimo

Francesca's Intimo Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Elegant
  • Website: http://www.miafrancesca.com
  • Phone: (847) 735-9235
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday from 11:30am - 4:00pm
    Hours of operation:
    Monday - Thursday: 11:30pm - 9:00pm
    Friday 11:30am- 10:00pm
    Saturday 5:00pm - 10:00pm
    Sunday 5:00pm - 9:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Executive Chef: Scott Harris - Chef de Cuisine: Marco Rea
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Private Party Facilities: Semi-private areas of the restaurant may be booked for functions
  • Private Party Contact: Shiri Nissim (847) 735-9235

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Western
  • Public Transit: UP-N Metra Lake Forest
  • Parking: Street Parking
A word from Francesca's Intimo
Francesca’s Intimo opened in early 2001 and is the 11th restaurant in "The Family of Francesca Restaurants", bringing downtown Lake Forest a restaurant with a contemporary, casually sophisticated trattoria ambiance, good, rustic cooking, friendly service and fair prices. The menu features the zesty… earthy cuisine of Rome and the surrounding areas of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. The design features a rolled-mesh ceiling, warm woods, and colorful slate. Striking black and white photographs of rural Italian life by Paul Elledge line the walls to create a comfortable, decidedly urban setting. Reservations are accepted for lunch and dinner. Carry out and Catering are also available.Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerItalian
Diner Reviews
  • "Summer pizza topped with fresh tomatoes and herbs, hangar steak salad, and pasta dish were split in the kitchen, offering a delicious and beautiful meal for two on a very special occasion. Many seasonal options on their lunch menu."
    Dined on 7/21/2014
  • "The server was amazing and patient & the food was good. A little saltier than I'd like for the lobster ravioli - but overall it was good. The 1/2 chicken my date had was perfect! The blueberry bread pudding was AMAZING!!"
    Dined on 7/20/2014
  • "One of our favorite restaurants--always good food--and especially nice in the summer when you can sit outside and eat."
    Dined on 7/20/2014
  • "After spotting Francesca's during a bike ride , we tried it for a Saturday evening dinner. The setting was beautiful.... The service was knowledgeable and attentive . And the food was incredible. What more could you ask for !! Thank you for a very enjoyable evening!!!"
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Went here with a gift certificate for my anniversary. Haven't had traditional Italian in a while and glad we went to Francesca's. Outdoor seating looked nice but busy and full so we just had a table for two inside. Right from the moment we sat down to the time we left our waitress was awesome! We had calamari app which was fantastic. We had a salad with some honey balsamic dressing which was also great. My wife got the salmon pasta dish in vodka sauce which was solid. I had the lobster ravioli in vodka sauce and it was perfect. We finished it off with the blueberry bread pudding and I wish my wife didn't eat most of it b/c it was wonderful. Wish it had a better bar scene but it's a family Italian restaurant so I get it."
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Overall very good, the food was excellent, the bread was hard and dry, but the wine and service and ambiance was enjoyable."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "I have eaten at this Francesca's many times. This is the first time that the experience was not satisfactory. The service from the waitstaff was excellent. Our main courses (tilapia and salmon) were also very good. However, the appetizers (risotto and mussels) were quite bland. In addition, I had called several hours before our reservation to tell the staff that we were celebrating the anniversary of the couple we were eating with who are regular customers of Intimo. I asked if they could do something (a dessert with a candle, etc.) and they assured me they would. I kept waiting after dinner expecting them to bring a dessert as they have in the past for such events, but all we got was the check. All we could do then was pay and leave."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "The outdoor patio is nicely lined with table level planters. However they attract lots of bugs intent on sharing your food. The menu is very limited as is the amount of salmon served with the over abundant pasta."
    Dined on 7/13/2014
  • "Food great. Waiter a bit aloof. Airconditioning was broken so we had to eat outside. Fortunately it was warm and didn't rain outside. We had a recerv so would have like to know about a/c"
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "Nice evening with excellent food and service. Outdoor dining are was very nice."
    Dined on 7/9/2014
  • "I just wish their portions weren't so huge. I really don't need a bowl of pasta that's enough for 3 people. Also, I thought the pasta was going to be shell-shaped and it was rigatoni, instead. Place is lively and fun, service good, and menu has a nice range. For some reason, this place and others has flat tonic water and club soda. Wish it was fizzier."
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "Solid food, great service and a nice location in the very uppity downtown area of Lake Forest. I would have given an overall 5 but the parking issue held me back. Guys, you need get that figured out, it is very difficult to find parking."
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "Quite some time had passed since we last dined at Francesca's, and we would not hurry back after our experience Friday evening. We sat for the better part of 15 minutes before anyone approached our table. Finally, when we asked for our waiter, one of the hostesses came and took our drink order. We can always be forgiving if the waiter comes and explains the situation, but to completely ignore the table is just not acceptable. There are too many alternatives, restaurant-wise, to put up with bad service."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "The food was excellent, the wait service was friendly, funny, complimentary, very helpful with menu choices, and the food came quickly. The presentation was awesome and was very tasty. We were there at 3:30 pm so it was pretty early with only a few other customers in the restaurant. That can change things obviously but I am pretty sure quality wouldn't be compromised, just the speed. We will go back when we return to the area for sure."
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Very nice service and nicely presented. Good quality."
    Dined on 6/16/2014
  • "The pasta dishes are always tasty and well-prepared. Portions are large, so ask for less pasta or be prepared to take some home."
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "Reservation was honored and we were immediately seated. The waitress was friendly and knowledgeable and allowed time for a drink and conversation before introducing the evening's specials. The appetizer arrived and again time was allowed for relaxing enjoyment and conversation. The entrees were delicious and we split a dessert that topped the evening."
    Dined on 6/11/2014
  • "This popular Italian restaurant in Lake Forest is indeed a "neighborhood gem" that is always reliable and generally packed but very hospitable. Our server on this last visit, Diane, was a model waitperson, and she, as well as the menu, specials and wine list, insured a happy experience for all at our table. That not only are domestic wines available by the glass for chauvinists and xenophobes - or for those whose knowledge may be limited to the varietals, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot - but a good number of Italian ones also for those who recognize that they did choose to dine on "Italian" fare. For example, with respect to white wine, not only is palatable Pinot Grigio and Prosecco offered by the serving but Gavi and Vermentino as well!"
    Dined on 6/11/2014
  • "Food is good, consistent, wait staff was nice, hadn't been in a while. Will go more often."
    Dined on 6/7/2014
  • "We had several meals there.wonderful food. friendly reception and staff.Pleasent ambience. We enjoyed our lunch.will be back. "
    Dined on 6/4/2014
  • "Our 18 year old daughter LOVES this place so we decided to take her here for her high school graduation. Six of us shared delicious appetizers, bread and salads and we all ordered our own main courses. Everything tasted fresh and was seasonal, as usual. The coconut cake for dessert was divine and our waitress could not have been friendlier!"
    Dined on 5/28/2014
  • "Great service in a nice and warm place. I ordered a veggie Ravioli and the sauce was great, but the Ravioli should be warmer. It was fine, but could be better. It is a nice choice, anyway."
    Dined on 5/28/2014
  • "We prefer outside dining at Intimo; you can have a conversation with your fellow diners. Because of the weather, we ate inside this time. The vibe was great, but so noisy. And, lest you think I'm just a crabby old guy, I can't imagine anyone having a conversation above the din. The dishes were also uneven this trip; my seafood and pasta was exceptional; my wife's chicken tough and salty. The waiter was either overworked, confused, or both as he mixed up the orders from different tables and then disappeared for long stretches. We still enjoy Intimo and will go back for sure, but the place has to keep the food consistent. And, yes, only go when the weather is warm enough to dine al fresco."
    Dined on 5/23/2014
  • "Excellent service. Food was well prepared. We especially liked the fact that they didn't put a ton of salt in the food. Courses were presented in a timely, but unrushed manner. Definitely will be back"
    Dined on 5/22/2014
  • "This is a favorite of ours because of the extensive gluten free menu. Also, the chef is willing to make most of what is found on the regular menu gluten free whenever possible! Bravo for him understanding the needs of those of us who must be gluten free due to medical reasons!!!"
    Dined on 5/18/2014
  • "We have now been to Intimo 15 times, we can always count on a great meal!"
    Dined on 5/16/2014
  • "Nice and relaxed, never feel at all rushed. We enjoy the cozy feeling of this restaurant . The food is not fussy and what ever we have ordered has been excellent. Highly recommend for date night or a party."
    Dined on 5/15/2014
  • "Nice for small groups... the 1/2 chicken is the best !! Can be a bit noisy."
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Brought my Mom and my family for Mothers' Day. We all had an enjoyable time. The food was delicious and the staff couldn't have been nicer. My first time at Francesca's Intimo and I will definitely be returning."
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Francesca's is willing to accommodate your every wish if possible. The food is great, service the best (Michelle and Guadelupe) make sure your experience is the best they can offer. We had a cozy booth and a great evening. We will return again and again."
    Dined on 5/8/2014
  • "We frequent several of the Mia Francesca restaurants. Intimo is one of the smaller restaurants. Like other Mia Francesca restaurants, there is little room to wait before being seated and on a Saturday night, this can be problematic. The food at this location is outstanding, even compared to other sister restaurants. "
    Dined on 5/3/2014
  • "the food was excellent.The gnocchi had great flavor, "
    Dined on 5/3/2014
  • "Very good Italian food on a consistent basis. We go here regularly. If you are in the Lake Forest area and like this type of cuisine, you cannot do better."
    Dined on 5/1/2014
  • "75% of us had the calamari salad, that's the reason we go there for lunch. It is the best. Service was great too."
    Dined on 4/28/2014
  • "I have been to Francesca's North and Northbrook and the ambiance is terrible. So I was a little concerned about this restaurant. But the Intimo was awesome. Food was great and service was outstanding. "
    Dined on 4/28/2014
  • "thank you for listening to my past comments about serving the food hot"
    Dined on 4/25/2014
  • "My husband and I enjoyed our dinner very much. The food was fresh, and although the menu is small, we found several things we were interested in trying. The service was very good. All in all, a very pleasant experience."
    Dined on 4/23/2014
  • "Took my 88-year-old mother out for birthday dinner. Food was great and we enjoyed ourselves."
    Dined on 4/6/2014
  • "We love this restaurant! Even though it is part of a chain - the help has all been there for years and they are constantly updating their menu and trying new things. The food is freshly prepared. Their Pollo Arrosto is out of this world!!"
    Dined on 4/5/2014
  • "Service is always excellent and very helpful to our family of four including two boys 8 and 12. Our meals generally were quite good and although portions are somewhat smaller than in years past still a good value. Decor is timeless and the restaurant is appropriate for a date, couples, families or groups. All items on the menu will be good and service is always exceptional."
    Dined on 4/5/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
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  • Italian
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