Franco's Ristorante

recommending this spot to everyone i know. their seafood is fresh, their bread is warm and crispy on the outside, and their serving sizes are perfect. my husband and I got their fried calamari, bruschetta, linguine and mussels in white wine (special), beet and goat cheese salad, and their molten lava cake (special). you can taste the love in their food and it’s the perfect spot for a date night. our server Aida was very sweet and attentive and the restaurant’s vibe was very cozy. can’t wait to come back here!

Family owned location in Bridgeport, food is amazing. The staff is great. The portions are huge and every thing is fresh.

Franco's Ristorante is an Italian restaurant. The food is delicious we ordered a total of 5 entrees including Chicken Marsala it was very flavorful if you like mushrooms this is the dish to order, spaghetti for my 1 year old son he was crying for more each time he would finish chewing his food it come with 2 meatballs for kids meal, 2 entrees of chicken and fries for kids the way its prepared is not your typical deep fried food its a whole piece of chicken breast breaded with spices and don't know what else pan seared it is delicious (so good i tried my self.) the presentation was good it just looked so good i had to try it. for my self I ordered the Shrimp Fra Diavolo let me tell you this dish is so savory it has the perfect spicies in my opinion the portions are big we had so many left overs. can't wait to eat them tomorrow night. The food was delicious now let's talk about service as soon as we got there we where greeted warmly and seated right away one of the highlights of this place is that it is kid friendly high chairs are available. the waitress came right away took our order for drinks came back in less than 5 minutes with our drink. She took our order for the entrees within a few minutes of that they brought bread to our table and as we were breaking bread the food was brought to our table. we had a great time another highlight is how cozy this restaurant is the light is slightly dim there is a small candle on the table I felt like I was on a date with my hubby and 3 kids 😊 all together while a faint frank Sinatra song was playing in the back that I loved to it wasn't so loud that we couldn't converse. for adults there is a bar in the front, they had a liquor menu as well. over all 5 stars 🌟 can't wait to come back just my husband and I. looking forward to it

My friend found Franc’s Ristorante! Sooo, let me get into it. Before I get into it, my friend was the one who made reservations. I was under the impression that it would be just a normal Italian place. I would be remised if I would say that it was normal. The food, of the food! It was hands down the best Italian place I have been to since living here in Illinois. The pasta was cooked perfectly. And the amount of heat / spicy that it was made me want to keep eating more of it. Even the salad, everything in it was coated in the dressing. And the pizza was like eating heaven. Now on to the service. It was perfect our waiter / waitress checked in often and asked what we needed or if things were good. And they were highly attentive. The atmosphere was excellent all the pictures and the lighting made the experience one that I would not forget. Overall, I will say give Franco’s a try you will not regret it and will want to come back to try more things on the menu!

An amazing place to get a loving Italian feast! The choice of pasta offered is amazing! The staff is really helpful and give good suggestions! It’s a vegetarian friendly place. The portions are also really generous. There is nothing better than a wholesome authentic Italian food!

A tasty neighborhood Italian restaurant which has been in business for 30yrs. The flavors, presentation, and service were all spot on. Only a few blocks from the ballpark, stop by for dinner before or after the game, park on 31st St. for free parking and walk to the game!

Very nice food with good service! Always come here for nice food!

Classic "family run" Italian restaurant feeling. Weekday lunch service was fast and the gnocchi in sauce was simplistic....could have ordered another serving.

The food here is really good! This is one of my favourites places to go for dinner with friends, family or even with a date! 🫶🏻

Leaving Chicago was hard cuz the food is so so good!

This place is located on the corner and you almost miss it. It's a great little Italian restaurant, serving the oil/cheese and bread basket as soon as you sit down. My husband had the gnocchi with a side of sausage, both were delicious. I ordered the chicken and pesto fettuccine, I didn't think I would finish all of it, but I'm embarrassed to say I did! We started the meal with the fried calamari and it's the best we've ever had. Definitely recommend.

By far the best Italian restaurant. It is truly a hidden gem but the atmosphere was very cozy and welcoming. Our server Ralph was amazing and went above and beyond. I highly recommend making this play your go-to. I tried the spicy pene pesto and it was so good.

Loved it. Had the meatball app, gnocchi, and veal parmesan. Cesar salad was a little weird, almost like they used a little miracle whip or something tangy in it. Not bad, just weird. Didn't stop me from finishing it 😅

I've always wanted to dine in but never seem to have the time I have visited before and tried a glass of chianti reserve which I bought a bottle of but this time upon visited I was having a business lunch my party and I did not have to wait long at all for our food which by the way was delicious and flavorful the fragrance of aromas and the ambience makes you feel like your in a Ristorante in a littlle village in italy I took the liberty of ordering a bottle of wine for my table, once we were done we decided to sit by the bar for wine and conversation Good laughs were held that day and by the way our bartender Monica was such a pleasure to be around she was so funny and such a truly professional she delivered some of the best world class customer service I will be back and tell others to visit I give this business 10 stars instead of 5

Love it. Cooked to perfection. Sauce is tasty and the waitress so si friendly abd sweet

Went there before a white six game. It's great Italian food with a casual atmosphere. We wore shirts and jerseys. We all ordered different dinners and all was perfect and large portions. It is a small restaurant for sure. We sat inside it we didn't really feel cramped. Service was amazing and customized what we wanted. Double espresso to top it off. Will be going back again before our next white six game.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An Old-School Gem in the Heart of Bridgeport Franco’s is hands-down one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warmth and a sense of familiarity that only a family-owned neighborhood spot can deliver. The atmosphere is classic and inviting — white tablecloths, cozy booths, and the hum of conversation in the air. The food? Absolutely top-tier. Their pasta is always perfectly cooked, and the sauces are rich and full of flavor. The chicken parm is a standout — crispy, tender, and smothered in just the right amount of marinara and cheese. Don’t sleep on their specials either — every time I’ve gone with one, I’ve been blown away. Service is consistently friendly and attentive without being overbearing. It’s the kind of place where they remember your name and your usual order. If you’re looking for authentic Italian food, generous portions, and a true Bridgeport vibe, Franco’s is the spot. A local institution that never disappoints.

Authentic Italian food. No pretense. A Chicago neighborhood gem. The dressing on the house salad is amazing as is their marinara and meatballs. Love Franco’s.

Very warm and inviting restaurant. Food is pretty tasty too and reasonablely priced. Definitely a go to for intimate classy dining

I can’t even say enough about how delectable this food was. I came in starving and left absolutely full. My date and the food were amazing❤️

One of the great food ever I like the way they serve it and how it taste would definitely recommend it on getting back again.

We had a wonderful experience at Franco’s Ristorante in Chicago. Everything we ordered was truly delicious. The seafood pasta was exceptional, perfectly cooked with fresh ingredients and a rich, flavorful sauce. We also had baked eggplant, which was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is warm and intimate. It’s a small place, but very cozy and beautifully decorated. The service was friendly, attentive and made us feel very welcome. Prices were reasonable, especially for a nice dinner in Chicago. I would definitely go back. If you’re looking for authentic Italian food in a charming setting, Franco’s Ristorante is an excellent choice.

Amazing restaurant, I love coming to this establishment. The food is so delicious and fulfilling and the portion sizes are perfect. You will easily enjoy their homemade bread with olive oil and Parmesan that they serve at the table. This location is perfect for any special date night or celebration. The ambiance is very well set and smooth, I enjoy that they offer booth and chair seating options to choose from, this is a C reservations restaurant so you’ll want to call ahead of time or book in advance online so you can enjoy your evening lunch or dinner. Not to mention they have an amazing wine selection so you will never run out of tasty selections to choose from.

A hidden local gem, and favorite date night place for my wife and I. Highly recommend their food and appreciate their selection. They have rotating specials each week, and I love being surprised and delighted when I try something new. If nothing on the specials seem appealing, I typically order the Pork Vesuvio and their Fried Calamari. Their portions are generous and I have honestly never really been disappointed by anything I order here. Their dining area is a bit on the smaller side since the building occupies only 1 lot, but its very efficiently laid out, I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time. During the warmer months, they do have outdoor seating. I've also gotten takeout from here if I can't dine in, and their food is always well packed and thoughtfully arranged to ensure it stays fresh and doesn't spill.

My mom raised me on trays of eggplant parmigiana from Franco’s growing up. To rediscover them as an adult has been so delightful and nostalgic. The eggplant is exactly how I remember it!!! I can’t stop eating it and it’s right in my neighborhood now. Thank you for my ultimate comfort food that deeply satisfies me and brings back sentimental memories.

Food was amazing all around from the pizza to dessert all the food was great including the bread. Service was a little slow and focused on a game so I was constantly running out of water and soda to drink and waiting to order seconds. But the food makes up for that thankfully. This place is always booked I am always trying to eat here and I can never get a reservation. I finally had free time in the morning to walk in during a time where there was only two other people and then we quickly began became the only people in the restaurant.

Delicious food, loved the atmosphere, and service was great. The vodka sauce with ricotta was life altering. Menu has tons of great items to select from, easy wine list, full bar. Food came out hot & fresh.

We had an early dinner here, and the food was delicious! The staff were so friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is nice, and there is indoor or outdoor seating. We had meatballs, gnocchi, and a special with chicken breast with artichoke and mushrooms.

Great neighborhood Italian restaurant in Bridgeport. Small dining room . Great menu and kitchen. Friendly and prompt service. We made a reservation for our party of 8.

They have red sauces that don’t all contain cheese or cream, which is huge for an Italian Restaurant. The sauces taste Amazing as well. The owners and management are nice as well.

Can't say enough about the service, the dishes from salads, main dishes to desserts. Excellent! You can make a reservation or go as "walk-in". After 6pm on a Saturdays, it gets busy and crowded. So a rsvn is recommended. Street parking. If there's a ball game going on, be sure to let the host know. They will provide a parking pass, which you need to return after your meal. Many drink options. The tiramisu was excellent!

The atmosphere was nice and service was excellent. Our food was served promptly and full of flavor. We definitely plan to visit again and bring a few friends! I recommend this hidden gem.

The Alla Franco was delicious. I ordered appetizers but the main dish came out really quickly and did not have time to finish it. We felt a little rushed but over all the food was good and the place had charm.

Franco's is a quiet place in Bridgeport with very nice and caring staff. They accept reservation and the ambiance is very nice too. The food has an authentic Italian feeling to it and they complement it with some very fine wine. I tried the spicy calamari linguini with a soup. The sauce tastes very nice and the dish had a very good texture with ample toppings of calamari, shrimp etc. Upon being seated warm bread and butter was served immediately. I look forward to testing other items off their menu. Would definitely recommend it to a friend for a casual dinner or date night. Price of the main course can vary between $12-$30 depending on your order.

Filling hearty, and delicious! Franco’s Ristorante was pretty much a trendy spot for the neighborhood. You could immediately tell the regulars and newbies. Very much a steady flow with customers in & out. We were seated outside the restaurant due to air conditioning issues, which wasn’t a problem it was about 530ish so the sun has already started to set. It felt beautiful outside. Nice patio seating that spoke Italian culture. As soon as we stepped in the in the restaurant we were immediately greeted. Our waitress was sweet and very polite. She suggested her favs and we went from there. She was very attentive and patiently waited for us to place our order which we are talkers lol! We ordered the Bucatini which consisted of Calabrian Chilis, Crumbled Sausage, Roasted Garlic, Fresh Tomatoes! Fantastic aroma which tickled my nose hairs! Literally could taste all the spices and hot and ready it was! We Also ordered the Chicken Giardiniera which was Breaded Chicken Cutlet, House-Made Giardiniera, Roasted Potatoes! Boy! The hearty entree was nothing short of amazing flavorful combo! The chicken was so tender and two huge fillets that made the entree even more sweeter. The Giardiniera peppers just complimented the dish so well. In great company with great food and great customers service is ALWAYS good in my book! They also had a nice wine menu. Check em out!

This place is OK. We made reservations and came in right when they opened. The SERVICE was excellent, but unfortunately the food was hit and miss. Some courses were good, other were sub par (peas in pasta were very undercooked and hard to eat, almost raw, chicken parm came with pasta that was flavorless and could tell was pre-cooked). Was nice to give it a try, but won’t be coming back.

The service was excellent at this restaurant, the service was 5/5 stars. The 3 stars is solely based on the food. We had the baked clams and bruschetta for appetizer, the fettuccine and the vodka pastas, and the tiramisu for dessert. Really enjoyed the baked clams and the fresh bread they serve. Tiramisu was standard. The pastas however were both just not good. The fettuccine’s “pesto cream sauce” was super watery, also not very green or flavorful for being pesto, and the vodka pasta was flavorless. We had a nice time though and enjoyed the ambiance.

As far as quality of food, this would unfortunately be one tier below Olive Garden. It was okay- only okay, not great. They are charging $20 a plate when the quality says it should be $7.99

This review is a few years late, but I figured I should write something. We were a party of 6 and all ordered entrees. Some of us even ordered alcohol and drinks. We enjoy the bread in Italian restaurants and always ask for refills. One of the staff made a comment in Spanish to our server that they should charge us for the bread because we were asking for so much of it, not thinking we could understand Spanish. So basically, staff had the nerve to complain that we were eating too much bread. What's it to them?!?! Even if they were the owner, that bread costs pennies! And the price of the entrees we each ordered as well as the drinks more than covered what we ate in bread! Now, to the credit of the manager/owner, once I complained, they did comp our meal. But hopefully, they fired that woman who made that asinine comment.

Service sucked. They won’t let you combine tables outside when you have a large party but when the owner comes in with his family- he delays his customers food from getting out while he prioritizes his own, he also makes sure to combine all of the tables he needs for them to sit together.. go figure. The servers were clueless on their menus. Bathroom was small, very hot, and dirty. A member of our group was vegan and all they could have was oily pasta, it looked depressing. This is a tik-tok restaurant.