Sunday lunch at Fresco was pleasant even while they hosted a Baptism. Ordered the Angus Burger medium without the bun off the menu and it delicious. The fries were fresh, hot, sprinkled with dried parsley and maybe Parmesan cheese or salt, but it was delish. The four star is I felt they were missing at least 2 more waitstaff while hosting a medium party. They missed the mark and I didn’t get my tea... it’s important to have my tea after dinner. But, I will definitely go again.

Terrible service.
Long wait for food.
Not very good.

The food was amazing. Mommas meatballs are a must. Great night out with friends.

We had a wonderful time and the food was excellent . We sat outside next to another couple and hit it off . That just added to a wonderful evening .

Seems like this place is more of a “scene” than a place to get a quality meal. The music was weirdly club-like; trance/electronic with heavy base. We were there on Friday night at 8pm and it was half full. Our server was friendly and relatively attentive, but we were seated behind a large pole and found it hard to get anyone’s attention for things like a wine opener and eventually the check. The area to one side of us was completely empty the whole time so we felt a bit like we were in a hidden spot in a corner. Food was good, but there’s definitely better Italian in town, especially at the higher price point. We got the ricotta for an appetizer which had too much truffle for our liking (typical fail for a restaurant trying too hard). The maiz salad was warm and very good. For my meal I got the fettuccine with lobster and vodka sauce, which came in aluminum foil (?). It was tasty and super rich. Overall, decent experience, but we likely won’t be back based on the ambiance and the fact that the food was just decent. Also, BYOB. If you don’t come prepared you can order a bottle from a local liquor store for a 30% markup. Convenient I guess, but better to bring your own.

Awesome brunch! The pizza with egg and prosciutto is amazing!

We were packed in, felt like we were eating with the people next to us. The service was terrible, the food was good

Was very good but opening at 10:30, they only had like 4 options for breakfast brunch which was weird and not a smart decision

Me and 2 friends went for lunch. We all got The Church Street salad it’s excellent. Service was great.

Interesting small cafe cafe ..great lunch menu...pizza, pastas ,sandwiches and full plates..great service ,cozy seating and fairly priced...should be a local favorite

You would think he fresco pizza (named after the restaurant ) would be amazing. Instead- it's just a pizza with a pound of arugula on top. See pic below. Over priced. Very loud (this could be good or bad). The gnochi was good but the dish was very small. Good for big groups.

Food was good, tasty etc. Service was friendly and fairly observant. My big complaint is that if you are sitting in the middle of the restaurant in the main room, it will be incredibly LOUD. The music was too loud for the room (low ceilings etc)and because of that the patrons haves to speak over it to be heard. If you combine this with the fact that people were(are) drinking during brunch, the net effect is that it’s impossibly LOUD and STRESSFUL. You have now been warned.

Fresco Da Franco is a restaurant where we always have an amazing meal only to be surpassed by its amazing service. The food is second to none, the atmosphere is vibrant and lively. From the appetizer to the entree to the dessert you will be completely satisfied. The service is impeccable Their food is fresh, the handmade meatballs are a MUST. I had the fig & goat cheese ravioli and I couldn't get enough of it. For your next brunch, girls night out, family dinner, or romantic evening with your loved one try Fresco Da Franco - You will not be disappointed!!!!

I want to start off by saying, we typically love this place, and have eaten there several times, particularly during the warmer months when you can eat outside, and have lived out experience. This was our first time eating inside during the winter, and apparently our first time on a Saturday. If you are looking for a club atmosphere, complete with moving lights and music that makes your eardrums bleed, with your Italian dinner and bottle of wine, this place is for you. If you’re looking for a place to have a nice date night where you can hear the person sitting across from you without them rupturing a vocal fold, come back Monday -Thursday, or find some place else. Again, love this place, but wasn’t quite prepared for Club Franco. If they would mention that it’s club atmosphere on the weekend, could make a more informed choice.

Horrible service, too noisy

I've dined at Fresco only once or twice before for lunch - never disappointed. Sunday brunch was very good and the service was terrific!

I enjoyed my experience at Fresco DaFranco but felt that the food was over priced. The service was excellent and so for that reason I would return.

Too loud, too crowded, and too bland. Hadn't noticed that the place is BYOB, but their solution actually helped keep the meal price reasonable. Wouldn't go again - too loud and crowded. Maybe for the kids, not for adults seeking a serious Italian meal. Food was so-so. But the place was jammed. Go figure.

not very impressed no bread brought to table until we asked
noise level completely not for a dining spot, great for a dance club
valet parking was a night mare took 25 minutes to get the car
my skirt steak needed a hack saw to cut and two shrimp on the steak and shrimp dish were maybe 31/40 at best which in non seafood peoples terms very small!

This restaurant lives up to the reputation of being a great neighborhood place with creative and well prepared food. That you can bring your own wine keeps the bill very reasonable.

Great Food and a great find on Church Street! Many parties of 6 or more on a Saturday night. Bring your friends.

I have only visited on a Monday night. It's a slow night. You are invited to sit where you want. Good food, pleasant service.

Heard a lot of good things. Didnt feel very welcomed. The hostesses werent the friendliest. We felt we were put in a corner with a empty restaurant. But the meatballs and the lasagna was amazing. Our waiter was really cool too, Matt. I will recommoned but was just dissapointed with the people hired to represent the restaurant wasnt so welcoming, hopefully that will change.

Saturday Brunch at fresco!

Fresco is great for an intimate dining and a great venue for celebrations. The interesting thing is that this can happen at the same time. There will be no infringement of one situation into the other. My guest and I started with a truffle honey ricotta spread served with grilled bread. This was so yummy you could spread it on your finger and be happy. My friend had the blackened salmon served with a melange of quinoa, mushrooms, kale and wondrful aromatics. My entrée was the perfectly prepared delicate crispy skin branzino served with a really creamy risotto. For dessert we enjoy a lovely slice of strawberry cheesecake. Even now I'm trying to create a reason to go back and enjoy the other offerings on their menu.

My daughters & I were getting together for dinner and a movie at the Claridge Theater. The location couldn’t be more convenient. Our waiter was friendly, helpful and very attentive. It was lent so we steered clear of any meat dishes. Would have loved more non meat options. The shrimp & scallops frat Diablo was delicious & definitely had some heat. The crab cakes were tasty. This was our third visit & we will return.

Valentines Day

Tables are on top of tables!!!

This restaurant is consistently great! The place can get a bit loud but the food is always good and the service is fast and friendly. We will definitely go there again!

So disappointed. Beware....restaurant likes to use text messages. Got multiple day of to confirm my reservation and then follow up that there is valet parking. It was a crummy night so we decided to use the valet. No information on fee in sign as you pull up- and then attendant informed my husband AFTER WE WERE OUT OF THE CAR that it was $10. Yes it can be tricky to get parking in Montclair, BUT there is a municipal parking garage directly across the restaurant through the alley!

We had a 6pm reservation and the restaurant was already fairly full and very loud. Within a half hour they turned on music with a volume ABOVE the din of the crowd. Tables were squished together and extra tables where there shouldn’t be any. We did not care for the ambiance at all.

I had a stuffed chicken special which was mediocre. It was drenched in a sauce and that was not reflected on the menu. The side veggies were good. My husbands veal Milanese was tasty.

We were told restaurant has curbside valet parking: we were not told it was $10 until we got there. We had a two-top and were seated originally sandwiched between a 10-top and a server's station: horrible arrangement. Eggplant tower was good but did not match the menu description. We were told not to miss the exceptional desserts, including the owner's mother's apple fritter. It was thin and nothing spectacular. The lava cake was so pedestrian. Will not be back. There are too many other exceptional restaurants in Montclair.

Our experience was mediocre at best. Our server was very good, pleasant and accommodating. Unfortunately everything else was sub par. Our entrées were bland (scallops and gnocchi) and at some point relatively early in the evening the background music turned to club music which was pretty unappealing.

Fresco’s is my absolute favorite restaurant- their food, staff, atmosphere- it’s all amazing and makes for a wonderful weekend night out. While you can never go wrong with any of their specials, the meatballs, gnocchi, and Chicken Francese will always be favorites as well. The staff goes out of their way to make sure you have a great time, and if you do have to wait, they’ll do everything they can to make your wait comfortable.

This past Saturday my family and I celebrated my father-in-laws 50th birthday at Fresco. We made the reservation over a month in advance because having been before (during brunch over 2 years ago) I knew that the earlier the better to ensure they'd be able to seat a table of 7. None the less, my FIL's big day had come and we arrived at the restaurant 10 minutes early but waited outside for another 20 minutes after our 7:30 reservation. Once the hostess (very nice) called us in, she offered us a seat in the center of the restaurant. The manager/owner (not sure) came over and told her to seat us in the back part of the restaurant but she quickly responded "They have been waiting for a long time" so he agreed, but was visibly agitated.
Upon being seated we were asked our drink order and if we'd like any appetizers at which time we gave our order. We did not get any bread (which all of the other tables were provided with) and our appetizers didn't come out until 40 minutes later!!! Oh, and the entrees-- another hour and 20 min after apps!! Our waiter apologized several times for the delay and thanked us for our patience without us even having to say anything. The (manager/owner) kept sending members of his clearly shorted staff, including our waiter over to tables he seemed very familiar with, "usuals" I assume who also received their meals much sooner than my family whilst being seated much later which was frustrating for us especially with 2 hungry young children (5 & 7). Not to mention, while we waited we could barely hold a conversation because the music was so loud we could barely hear one another speak. The entire experience was absolutely dreadful. It's unfortunate because the food was actually very good.. But hey, After spending a $400 on dinner for 5 adults & 2 children (no alcohol as its BYOB) with poor service and even poorer management, its no wonder how they manage to stay in business.

Food was good with the exception of one entree which was cold and since it was lamb was not edible. In exchange for the barely touched entree we received a pie.
It should have been a credit in our opinion. Also felt kind of rushed.

We were seated at a noisy location near the bustling service area despite requesting a quiet table, though there seemed to be a couple other options. Food was not spectacular. I expected a better overall experience based on the glowing reviews. The waiter was pleasant and attentive.

Came here with my girlfriend for our anniversary. Low lighing made the perfect ambience, service was fast and kind and the food was amazing, especially the Linguine al cartoccio and the board of meats and cheeses.

Food was better than expected but very expensive and the place is very noisy.

The food and service are good but the noise level is high and makes it difficult to hold a conversation.

The service was excellent but the food was bland and the portions too small for what they charged

Brunch was really great. Two thumbs up for both service and food. We’ll definitely be back to try their dinner menu out which also looked really good.