Villa Francesca

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1. JR

   JoanneR

   New England

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   The food was delicious, the service was on point. A wonderful dining experience.

   Report
2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall1food1service1ambience3

   Waitress did not attend to our table at all. Had to ask for bread when our food came because we never got any. Food was also very mediocre and it was a disappointment

   Report
3. C

   Chris

   New England

   16 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   16 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   overall4food5service5ambience4

   If you're seated in the first room, it's a bit tight due to the bar and all the people coming in the door and standing around.

   Report
4. JJ

   JoJoS

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 5 days ago

   overall4food4service3ambience3

   The portions were huge and we went for dine out Boston so the price was well worth it.

   Report
5. SS

   SarinS

   New England

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on March 15, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   It was our first time eating there and we love it! Very authentic Italian food and very delicious. We can taste the freshness. We will definitely go back again.

   Report
6. V

   Vinny

   New England

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on March 12, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Amazing Italian food!! Great service! Wonderful people!

   Report
7. b

   blytheb

   New England

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 5, 2023

   overall2food4service1ambience3

   Got seated 45 minutes after our reservation. We didnget get our food for another almost hour. Food was great but was disappointed in the overall service for a birthday dinner with friends

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8. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Orlando

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on March 4, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Had a great evening with family and friends. Food and service were on point, definitely recommend if looking for a place to eat in the North End.

   Report
9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   New England

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 3, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Always nothing but the best at Villa. Have been going for 30 years and will keep going for another 30.

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10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Antonio

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience3

    Best Espresso Martini I’ve ever had

    Report
11. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    vip
    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 26, 2023

    overall3food2service2ambience3

    I had been at Francesca years ago and had a good experience. Last night was disappointing. The meat (pork) was rancid with a very strong smell. I couldn’t eat my pasta and neither my friend could eat hers. Service was very slow.

    Report
12. SN

    SteveN

    New England

    38 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    Food was good, but slow to get to the table. I realize that everything is made fresh, but it is at other restaurants in the neighborhood we've been to and doesn't take nearly as long. People around us were commenting about the slowness for their meals as well. Our menus didn't have inserts for the day's specials and our waiter didn't tell us there were any. We didn't find out until we'd ordered and found out from a table next to us that there even were specials. Shortcomings here are easily fixable.

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13. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Valentines Day

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14. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 14, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience4

    Went here for Valentine’s Day and had a wonderful experience! Our waiter was fantastic, the food and wine was great, and we enjoyed the range of options on the menu. We were seating in the basement where the ambience was quiet and comfortable. One note is that there were many tables close together, we luckily sat next to a wall on one side and had no one next to us but if you don’t enjoy dining in close quarters that is something to consider.

    Report
15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 12, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience4

    The food was amazing the service was lacking although it was a busy Saturday night.

    Report
16. AG

    AlanG

    Los Angeles

    27 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Great food and experience. True historic North End Boston dun.

    Report
17. BO

    BrianO

    Naples

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2023

    overall5food5service2ambience3

    Birthday dinner

    Report
18. S

    Sally

    New England

    33 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    Good food. Good service. Good size portions but not oversized. Friendly staff.

    Report
19. JM

    JMMM

    Philadelphia

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on January 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great place with wonderful food and service.

    Report
20. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 29, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    We had a pretty poor experience at Villa Francesca. To start the hostess stand was backed up and we were seated about twenty minutes after our reservation time. This would have been okay but unfortunately, they sat us in the basement which appeared half-finished, with cobwebs hanging from the ceiling. It was much less ambient than the upstairs restaurant. It was also freezing downstairs - most people were wearing their winter jackets to stay warm. It appeared that the air conditioner was turned on in the middle of January. When we sat down our plates and tablecloth were dirty. The food was mediocre. We had to ask for everything including salad plates for our appetizers, staff to clear our appetizer plates when our meal came, Parmesan cheese for our pasta, etc. In the middle of dinner water started pouring in from the ceiling splashing us and fellow diners. We were told that it was just a leak from the bar upstairs. We weren’t relocated while this mystery water poured down, just had to scoot our table over so we didn’t get wet. They kept a dirty mop bucket under the leak for the rest of our meal. Finally, no one apologized for the experience. I would have expected the manager to come around and say sorry and make sure that patrons were at ease. The servers cracked a few jokes but didn’t apologize, and we never spoke with anyone from management. I would not recommend Villa Francesca.

    Report
21. c

    christinef

    New England

    24 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on January 21, 2023

    overall3food3service1ambience4

    This has ALWAYS been our go to place! When we have out-of-state visitors, we always recommend a trip to this restaurant. On a lazy Saturday we decided to make the trip in for an Amazing meal, including the lobster ravioli, no other place compares! Today our server was awful and we had to keep looking for her. I asked for some dessert menus, she dropped them. I waited 10 minutes couldn’t find her. Finally another server asked if we needed anything so I requested the check come to find out she went to break and never told us never checked back in. I had to ask for bread from another server who rolled her eyes. They were not busy only 2 tables were occupied. So disappointing plus the Raviolis were not as good as usual. I’m sad to say we probably won’t be back. Overall very disappointed.

    Report
22. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We have not had better service in Boston. The food was moving. I may have even shed a tear on the first bite.

    Report
23. DC

    DanCT

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 17, 2023

    overall1food4service1ambience3

    Sat for 10 minutes at table until server came over, only 3 parties in room including us. He took our dinner order before table next to us, but their food came before ours? No bread, no grated cheese with dinner. Asked for another option of Cabernet Sauvignon; servers' response was-We have Merlot and Pinot Noir...?? This was a business dinner and I expected better service.

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Cleveland

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 16, 2023

    overall2food1service3ambience5

    Food was ok. Side of very over cooked chicken was $14 and the specialty pasta was $44! After explaining it, they never said the price, and all other pastas were under $25, so that was shocking. Service was fine, location was great and ambiance fabulous. Bread was good and so were their meatballs,but not worth coming back for. So sad! This place used to be incredible.

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25. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Anchorage

    2 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience1

    I was surprised to see that the menu, posted outside the front door, was different that what was presented to us when seated. Some dishes (i.e spaghetti and meatballs and carbonara) were not listed in the table menu. Instead, there was a note prompting that any items not listed can still be ordered. When we received the check, the prices were $10 more that was listed on the menu outside. There was nothing to justify this significant change in price. Felt dishonest!

    Report
26. JH

    JerryH

    New England

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on January 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lobster Ravioli of the gods! I could have this for breakfast lunch and dinner. Server was the epitome of professional and the ambiance was perfecto. Our new North End Favorite

    Report
27. YM

    YasmeenM

    New England

    7 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience1

    We were sat underground near sewer pipes. Food took over an hour to come. Mediocre Italian food. Service was very slow. They served us apps without giving us silverware, we told two servers that we didn’t have silverware. Silverware came after 10 mins

    Report
28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    Not what it used to be. Was a favorite restaurant for years, but tonight's visit the host/hostess forgot we checked in at 7:15p for a 7:30p reservation. We were asked to wait when we checked in, but had to ask again about our table approaching 8pm, when it came out they forgot about us. They were busy but I did not think that busy. Initial drinks and apps went fine, but after waiting an hour and a half for our main courses, we had to again ask for a status update, to find out it would be another 30mins for our orders, and later finding out our orders for main course did not make it to the kitchen. Unfortunate showing for what was once a great restaurant in the North End.

    Report
29. DM

    DMJMS

    New York Area

    42 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall3food3service1ambience2

    It was meh. Seated 20 minutes after our reservation by a somewhat surly hostess. Initial interaction with waitstaff was quick but then disappeared. Food was average. Oversauced pastas. So many restaurants in the North End to try so I would not go there again.

    Report
30. SC

    SuzanneC

    Unspecified

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our waiter Martin(?) was fantastic. He provided great service. We witnessed another customer berate and disrespect him and he handled it with respect and patience. My family enjoyed their meal and the drinks were fantastic. The only bad part was the ladies toilet didn’t flush. I told a waitress who didn’t even acknowledge me.

    Report
31. JH

    JerryH

    New England

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Hanover shmanover. The best meal we’ve ever had by far. Lobster ravioli to die for. best Chicken parm in Boston. Slight glitch in meal delivery for the whole table at the same time, but they took the number one spot of the fifteen north end restaurants we have sampled.

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32. CS

    ChadS

    Atlanta Metro

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Awesome!!!

    Report
33. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall2food2service1ambience2

    The up side of the restaurant is that they will basically make any "Italian" dish you'd like even if it isn't on the relatively limited menu. The menu is mostly seafood and veal. The prices are as expected for the North End, but the quality of food didn't match compared to other restaurants in the area. The chicken parmigiana and lasagna were more on par for the Olive Garden than fine dining. We waited about an hour for our food and had to ask for a basket of bread for our table. Eat elsewhere if you are in a rush or are hungry.

    Report
34. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Great place to eat on date

    Report
35. KG

    KerriG

    New England

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a girls night with daughter, mom, grandmother. We had the best meal! Mussels for appetizer delicious (save the broth to dip your bread)! Got the cheese wheel special and the show they put on while mixing is so fun and a great experience! It was a 10 out of 10 amazing!!!

    Report
36. TI

    TomI

    New England

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 28, 2022

    overall2food3service2ambience2

    Unfortunately Villa Francesca seems to fit that category of an Italian restaurant that looks and feels like it should be an authentic Italian restaurant experience, but it's not. The service was unenthusiastic and disengaged. There was an extraordinarily long wait between our starters and our entrees. So much so that a random staff stopped by our table and asked if we "needed anything else tonight?", to which I responded, "just our meals". He sheepishly slipped away. The food tasted fine and when delivered it was hot, which is good. But none of our meals were overly memorable. When the check arrived, it struck me that we had stepped into what is best described as an expensive, tourist trap. Embarrassingly, I have to admit we aren't tourists. Perhaps the fact that there were still plenty of reservations available on Open Table the same day should have been my big clue to Villa Francesca not being at the top of their game. Lesson learned. My advice to Villa Francesca, beyond the bottles of red wine on display, and the performance of flaming cheese pasta prepared table side, treat your guests as if they were coming into your home for dinner. Demonstrate an interest in your food and a love for what you do. Make them feel like they are the only people in the house that night. Then the $$$$ you charge will feel more worth it.

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37. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall1food1service3ambience1

    We went on Christmas Eve. The food was mediocre say the least . The front was rude and not accommodating.

    Report
38. CC

    CoreyC

    New England

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    Overall very nice family dinner for Xmas Eve. Arrived at 7:10 for 7:15 res. Seated at 7:40. Awkward wait near bar- at least away from cold air at door. Basement seating was nice and cozy. Bread was a disappointment as we expected nice Italian crusty bread, not soft Stop and Shop baguette. Drinks pricey- 4.50 for soda/ 13 for simple mixed drink. Entrees we’re tasty. Excellent preparation and presentation. Disappointed that it was an extra 14 to add chicken to pesto pasta dish that was already 29. North End restaurants are expected to be pricey and in the end we were happy with the meal. It’s great that they emphasize that Italian staples like chick parmigiana, fettuccine Alfredo, and other dishes are available when requested. Little things will improve the experience: better bread. Offer fresh parm over dishes. Offer proteins in pasta at reasonable cost.

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39. C

    Chabeski

    New England

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We went for Xmas Eve. Was absolutely perfect! Great food, service and atmosphere!

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40. EB

    EllenB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 21, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Perfect for our holiday lunch, something to appeal to everyone. The portions were very generous!

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