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Fresco Da Franco, Montclair, NJ

Fresco Da Franco

4.5
4.5
1355 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian
Top Tags:
With over a decade in business, Fresco Da Franco is renowned for its warm and inviting ambiance, coupled with the unmistakable aromas of homemade Italian cuisine. As you step through our doors, you'll be greeted by friendly staff and an atmosphere that exudes both elegance and comfort. Whether you're looking to enjoy a romantic dinner, celebrate a special occasion, or simply unwind with friends and family, our restaurant and bar provides the perfect setting.

Our menu showcases the rich culinary heritage of Italy, with a focus on traditional recipes passed down through generations. To compliment your meal, our Bar Franco has an extensive bespoke Italian drink list carefully crafted by world renowned Italian mixologist Luca Cinalli. Our mixologists hail directly from Italy and bring you an unforgettable bespoke experience of a lifetime.

We look forward in welcoming you and creating lasting memories of exceptional dining and warm hospitality.

Cin Cin

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 21 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (973) 337-5100
  • Website
    http://www.frescodafranco.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx or Hispanic, LGBTQ+, Middle Eastern, Native/Indigenous, Persons with Disabilities, South Asian/Indian, Veteran, Women
  • Executive chef
    Giuseppina Porporino
  • Private party facilities
    For any occasion, we will create an event as special as the occasion. For large groups, there is the option to rent out the entire restaurant to have the complete private dining experience.Please email liz@frescomontclair.com
  • Private party contact
    Sarah Arcuri: (347) 974-2420
  • Location
    15 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042
  • Neighborhood
    Montclair
  • Cross street
    Between Bloomfield Ave and Park St.
  • Parking details
    South Fullerton Parking Deck or Crescent Parking Deck
  • Entertainment
    Friday and Saturday Night after 9 p.m. we raise the music to the sounds of Studio 54! Dancing is permitted at your own will!
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Dancing, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Offers

  • 50% off your favorite glass of wine

    Multiple dates available
    Mon - Fri - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    HAPPY HOUR AT FRESCO DA FRANCO! Join us every Monday - Friday from 4 PM - 6 PM and enjoy your favorite glass of wine at 50% off.

    50% off your favorite glass of wine Photo

What 1,355 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

1,355 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Extremely great restaurant highly recommend! Food is great and customer service is amazing!

    Is this helpful?

  2. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food and service was phenomenal. Would recommend. We had the tuna tartar for starters and risotto with rock shrimp and mushrooms.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Great experience! So energetic and fun! We had a lovely time!

    Is this helpful?

  4. MicheleL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent experience all around! My new favorite Montclair restaurant!

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience4
    Nice place, good service. Outside dining was great.. the value for the food is really bad. It’s mediocre at best and WAY WAY WAY overpriced. More of an enjoy the ambiance with a glass and an appetizer. Total rip off for a full dinner.

    Is this helpful?

  6. RachelRacheRachelrayray

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food and service every single time! Always consistent.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Dave1

    New York Area

    80 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    80 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Ambiance and food were excellent. BEST place in the area for an excellent outdoor dinner on a beautiful evening.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Familyof4

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall2food1service2ambience3
    The pizza was thick, undercooked and had bitter sauce. Maybe the worst pizza any of us have had in our entire lives.

    Is this helpful?

  9. GaryL

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What a great find! The food, service, and atmosphere were excellent. We went to their bar next-door after dinner, and that was a great experience as well! 

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was a five-star experience for all of us last night. The food was so fresh and so flavorful, and the service was top-notch. The ambience is gorgeous from the crystals chandeliers to the open airy layout that makes you feel like you are either on vacation or in NYC. We also had a drink at Bar Franco (next store) afterwards and the drinks were delicious and thoughtfully executed. Special thanks to Moe and Kelly for making the night extra special. Definitely high class all around! Highly recommend

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  11. TimK

    Greater Boston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great restaurant with fantastic staff. The specials were delicious.

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  12. jerseyjamm

    New York Area

    31 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Eight of us there for my wife's birthday. Servers were attentive to us. Food was excellent and everyone enjoyed their meals/

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    First time visiting here and will definitely be back! Wait staff were wonderful, food (and drinks) were delicious!

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  14. MarieC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great place to gather friends. Good food, lovely staff.

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  15. DoctorJoeE

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience2
    Nothing wrong with the food or cocktails. Beet/carrot and fig salads were very good, clam appetizer very tasty. Veal chop parmesan, fish entree, zuppa di pesce all good. Our problem was with the service, which was very, very slow. They were obviously short on servers -- approximately one and a half waiters taking care of the entire indoor area, which was busy (and noisy) on a Saturday night -- and the kitchen would probably benefit from additional personnel as well. Our other problem was the New York prices for basic Italian food. I get that they're on Church Street and their overhead is probably ridiculous -- but with so many other Italian restaurants in the area with comparable menus at half the price, I don't see the attraction. Parking is also a problem on Church Street -- they have a valet, if you want to make your evening even more expensive -- or you can park a few blocks away and walk. Suggest sitting outside, if weather permits -- cooler and quieter.

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  16. JoeB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous fabulous restaurant! Everything was awesome! The atmosphere was fantastic as was the food, wine, dessert, and the service! We loved everything about it, and recommend it highly

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  17. Dave1

    New York Area

    80 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    80 reviews

    Dined on August 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Love this place. Excellent friendly service. I had a pesto shrimp pasta that was excellent. The grilled peach and Gorgonzola salad was outstanding

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  18. MariluS

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a great experience at Frescos .. food is delicious , service is always top notch .

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  19. Oaxaca87

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    Food was excellent! Unfortunately two out of three of the wines I chose from their wine list were not available - and I had chose my meal protein based on the bottle I thought I was ordering. In the end, I ended up ordering way more wine than I wanted to compensate for the switcharoo and did not order the original main I wanted. With that said, the food was delish!

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  20. SBG900

    New York Area

    25 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    We had dishes from the "specials" menu which were quite good although my husband did find it odd that his salmon was wrapped around the asparagus! Delicious cocktails! Our waiter was very helpful & even turned down the music when he realized that we couldn't hear him. The reason we didn't stick around for coffee and dessert is because the damned chairs were so uncomfortable ... I kept wriggling around trying to get comfortable and I thought it was just me when my husband announced that his back was killing him because his chair was so uncomfortable. So we just got the check and left. There was a lot to like about the restaurant and it's wildly popular on a Saturday night but I need a comfortable seat.

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  21. Ashany

    New York Area

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Unique sauces and flavors that are executed well. Good wine selection. The music was a little loud at times but the open patio leading out of the main dining area provided a great ambiance in the Summer. We look forward to going back.

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  22. nitikas

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful dinner experience - great food and ambience

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  23. PhilipM

    Atlanta Metro

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great Experience had dinner outside, beautiful night, service was great, Vermentino wine excellent and great value. Started with Zucchini Blossoms and a Peach Radicchio goat cheese salad, both excellent. for main course we had the Red Snapper and also the Pasta special of Tomato infused fresh Rigatoni with rock shrimp and pesto sauce in a white wine, great dish. Sould be on the menu.

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 16, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience4
    The menu options for brunch was limited.

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  25. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service was spectacular, the food was amazing and the ambiance was wonderful. Totally recommend it!

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  26. Armymanny

    New York Area

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Waitstaff was on point and food came out fast, tasting great! Aesthetically pleasing! We want to return soon!

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  27. BritneyD

    New York Area

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on July 14, 2023

    overall5food5service3ambience4
    Overall well - server was not very attentive though the restaurant was not busy.

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  28. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 9, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Had reservations for 8:15, so seating wasn't a problem. Way too loud inside, so we moved outside. We were gladly accommodated. Seating is comfortable enough. Ordered Rock Shrimp in Vodka sauce served over fettuccine. The fettuccine was prepared al dente (perfect texture). The flavor was good (not great, a bit bland). What was disappointing though, was the shrimp itself. Instead of full shrimp, the meal came with the shrimp cut into barely bite sized pieces. Odd choice to prepare an expensive meal. My wife had the Pasta Amatriciana. Again, the pasta was prepared perfectly. Not too spicy, just enough bite to let you know what you were eating. The service was exemplary. From hostess to busser, definitely the high point of the evening. I've had worse Italian food... I've also had better. It's give it another shot. 6/10

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  29. RobertD

    West Palm Beach

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on July 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was very good and cool place to go , music was played later in night and people started dancing

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  30. MicDenBur

    New York Area

    57 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    57 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience4
    The food was very good. We were frustrated with the slow service since the restaurant wasn't full. It took 10 mins to get our cocktails and when we asked for the check, the waiter disappeared. I had to ask the bartender to locate him and when he came out of the kitchen he still didn't have it ready. For a $500 bill we expected more.

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  31. ashm

    New York Area

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on July 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I’ve never had a bad experience at this restaurant. It’s a literally my favorite I’ve been coming here since it opened they always change of the menu with really good food options depending on the season I always get some type of salmon because it’s always cook so deliciously. 

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  32. RomeoJ

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 4, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience4
    Great service. Food needed more flavor. I enjoyed the outdoor seating.

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  33. Liam

    Greater Boston

    16 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on July 3, 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience2
    Some of the worst service I’ve ever had. Waiter did not care from start to finish.

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  34. ChadM

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 3, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4
    Had an early reservation on July 3, odd Monday during Holiday weekend. Had drinks at the neighboring affiliated bar before which was wonderful. Service for the meal started out great with near empty dining room and great knowledgeable waiter. But as the restaurant filled up they were clearly understaffed. Responsiveness fell into a very frustrating pace. Food was a mix. Loved the octopus appetizer and some of the pasta dishes. My pork special was dry. For dessert, tiramisu was wonderful. They didn’t have the chocolate cake we wanted and the substitute cheesecake was substandard, very dry.

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  35. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 3, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    The food and cocktails were wonderful! Cool atmosphere/ vibe sitting outside. They were very helpful with gluten free options for my mom who has celiac. She enjoyed the salmon dish and octopus appetizer they were tasty and looked like art! Thank you for the experience! Will be back when we visit. Cheers 🥂

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  36. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful atmosphere and, most importantly, great food. Salads tasted fragrant, fresh, and organic. Arugula Salad had delightful blue chesse crumbles. Calamari was crispy, very tasty with marinara sauce and lemon. Meatballs were very moist and soft, but a little bland for the taste. The topping of ricotta definitely makes up for it. Last but certainly not least, the veal chop parmigiana was 10/10. I definitely would try that dish again. Service was friendly and attentive.

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  37. PaulB

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 30, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience2
    Service was very good, friendly, attentive. Food was only so-so: good salads, nice bread; mediocre, gloppy chicken dish. Ambience loud; bad music. Would give it another chance to see how the pasta dishes are.

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  38. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on June 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food every time!! The service was amazing!

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  39. SergioV

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Very pleasant location with a somewhat limited menu for a Sunday lunch. Nonetheless good was very good and presentation was also attractive. Noise level related to music was, Joy, way too high.

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience4
    I have been to Fresco numerous times and this was shockingly the worst experience I had there. It was my birthday dinner with friends and have always enjoyed eating there. When we sat down for our 8pm reservation, we placed our drink orders and 45 mins later still did not receive our drinks. I had to remind the server about the drinks. We placed our orders at the same time so it would be easier for the server. It was an hour and a half later and we still did not receive our entrees. My friend went to talk to the manger who was a tall thin woman with curly dark hair and she gave my friend an attitude saying “Everyone is running around, it’s busy”. When our food arrived around 10:45pm, my prawns were old based on the texture and flavor, my friends burrata was very acidic and sour and another friends scallops tasted very very fishy. We were not the only ones complaining. There was a wedding party who had the same time reservation and they got their food three hours later. Horrendous. My friends even were going to surprise me with a birthday cheesecake and that never came out. So many other tables were complaining and getting up. Many people were going to Benvenuti to get ice cream for either dinner or dessert because of this chaos. All in all: I am still in awe by the unprofessionalism of management, the avoiding of bringing the issue to the table guests that the food would take a while and the disturbing concept of being served old food. (Have food business background, very well aware of the food industry). I do have to give a HUGE shoutout to one set of employees there: the busboys! Very respectful, always checking in at the tables, consistently refilling our waters and feel bad they were taking the brunt of everyone’s complaints. Fresco, I always enjoyed coming to your restaurant and yes there will up and down evenings, but please, reconsider your management. A more professionalized management and consistent staff communication especially with guests are key. 😞

    2 people found this helpful

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff temperature check required

FAQs

Fresco Da Franco offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (973) 337-5100.

Fresco Da Franco is rated 4.5 stars by 1355 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 21 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Fresco Da Franco

15 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Between Bloomfield Ave and Park St.
  • Neighborhood
    Montclair
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    South Fullerton Parking Deck or Crescent Parking Deck
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Latinx or Hispanic, LGBTQ+, Middle Eastern, Native/Indigenous, Persons with Disabilities, South Asian/Indian, Veteran, Women
  • Executive chef
    Giuseppina Porporino
  • Entertainment
    Friday and Saturday Night after 9 p.m. we raise the music to the sounds of Studio 54! Dancing is permitted at your own will!
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Dancing, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.frescodafranco.com/
  • Phone number
    (973) 337-5100
  • Private party facilities
    For any occasion, we will create an event as special as the occasion. For large groups, there is the option to rent out the entire restaurant to have the complete private dining experience.Please email liz@frescomontclair.com
  • Private party contact
    Sarah Arcuri: (347) 974-2420

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