Francesco's Hole In the Wall

“Food and service were great.”

Food and service were great. Got several appetizers, including sausage and peppers, which weren't even on the menu. The veal chop was delicious and huge; and the cannoli was the perfect way to end the meal. My only complaint was the spacing of the tables. Because the dining room is so small, they stack the tables on top of each other. All night our chairs were banging against the people behind us, making trips to the restroom a difficult task. Even with this, I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Jim K

Dec 2025

“Great food, great service.”

Great food, great service. From appetizers to desert, all are incredibly prepared with fresh ingredients. Highly recommended.

Young Kang

Dec 2025

“What a wonderful restaurant.”

What a wonderful restaurant! This little gem is the perfect spot if you want authentic Italian food. My meal was outstanding! The interior is small, but it adds to the experience of the restaurant. Wonderful service. I loved the decor. Get there early as this place fills up quickly with lines forming at the door by 5.

Donna Theimer

Nov 2025

“Large and varied menu, and they were quite accommodating to our party of 7.”

Large and varied menu, and they were quite accommodating to our party of 7. Every person at our table ordered something different and was delighted with their meal. I had the osso buco with risotto and it was delicious. Banana cake and butter cake for dessert were enough to feed the whole table after such a rich meal. It's the kind of place where you want to try everything on the menu because it all sounds so good. I will definitely come here again the next time I'm in town.

Jen Gosnell

Oct 2025

“Delicious food and cozy atmosphere.”

Delicious food and cozy atmosphere! The pasta was fresh and full of flavor, and the service was great. Definitely recommend this place!

Daisy C

Sep 2025

“This is the place.”

This is the place. Hands down the best restaurant in the suburbs of Chicago. Nothing wrong except some people might not like the closeness of your fellow diners at the table next to you. The menu and food will overcome that minor obstacle. Jenny our server was attentive, sweet and fun to interact with. Our second time there when working in Chicago. Just quit looking at other restaurant reviews and go.

Rob H.

Aug 2025

“Great service and great food.”

Great service and great food. Menu changes regularly. Close to Chicago Botanical Garden. Get there early. The Butter Cake is phenomenal!

Marcia Bednar

Jun 2025

“Wow! Just wow! We recently moved into the area and found ourselves a new go-to Italian restaurant....”

Wow! Just wow! We recently moved into the area and found ourselves a new go-to Italian restaurant. We haven’t had such great Italian dishes since Italy. My husband made a reservation for our lunch date and to our surprise, the place is quite intimate. I love the atmosphere but it can be crammed for some people. The tables are really close to each other. We definitely didn’t mind that at all. It was so close that the next table can smell our food and asked what we ordered because it looked so good. I love seafood and the Seafood Diavolo didn’t disappoint. It was spicy but very tasty. The pasta cooked perfectly with plenty of lobster tails and a variety of seafoods. Can’t wait to be back and try other pastas on the menu!

Kim Nguyen

Jun 2025

“Cute Italian restaurant; not far from the Botanic Gardens.”

Cute Italian restaurant; not far from the Botanic Gardens. Open on the weekdays for lunch. Stopped in after the Botanic Gardens for a nice lunch. Menu changes but they can make any pasta combo you want! Have lunch specials too!

Dude Knows

Apr 2025

“Francesco's: A Hidden Gem Worth the Wait.”

Francesco's: A Hidden Gem Worth the Wait! Five stars! My coworkers and I stumbled upon Francesco's Hole In the Wall during a recent work trip, and it was the culinary highlight of our week. Yes, there was a bit of a wait to be seated (it's clearly a popular spot!), but I promise you, it's absolutely worth it. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm, bustling atmosphere. The unique, daily menu written right on the wall added to the charm and made it feel like a truly authentic Italian experience. We started with the bruschetta and calamari – both were incredibly fresh and flavorful, setting the stage for a fantastic meal. For my main course, I opted for the Seafood Diavolo with linguine. It was divine. The seafood was perfectly cooked, and the sauce had a delightful kick of spice that I absolutely loved. The service was impeccable. The staff was attentive and friendly, and the owner even came by to check on us. To top off the perfect meal, we were gifted a round of limoncello – a wonderfully generous touch! We loved Francesco's so much that we were already joking about making a return trip before we even left. If you're looking for amazing, authentic Italian food, a lively atmosphere, and truly exceptional service, Francesco's Hole In the Wall is a must-try. Just be prepared for a potential wait – it's a testament to how good this place is!

Keith Greenway

Mar 2025

“What a place! Cozy, limited tables, tremendous servers, and I haven't even gotten to the...”

What a place! Cozy, limited tables, tremendous servers, and I haven't even gotten to the food....amazingly authentic Italiano.

Tim Swiat

Feb 2025

“Wonderful fresh Italian food in a friendly slightly cramped cozy atmosphere with a very strong local following.”

Wonderful fresh Italian food in a friendly slightly cramped cozy atmosphere with a very strong local following. The entire menu is always on the whiteboard and the variety of dishes is wonderful. If you want an Italian dish that is not on the menu they will make it for you. Prices are high but so is the quality and the service.

Timothy Aines

Jan 2025