Says they are a pizza place, but it's oh so much more. Had an angel hair chicken dish with a white wine sauce that was SOOOOOOO good. Will definitely be heading there again the next time I'm in Sarasota.
Virginia Reese Holleran
+5
We ❤ this place. Was our sons birthday & going there was his request for linguini with red clam sauce....his favorite!!!' We ❤their pizza too; the best as far as we're concerned.
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Imagine that you're the owner of an establishment. And you get a call from a customer during your dinner rush asking if you can accommodate a group of 23. And then that lady on the phone tells you that they'd like to come in within the next 15-20 minutes. Most of us would laugh that off and say no. Not the staff at Francesco's.
After a long day of travel and tournament prep we took a soccer team of 16-18 year olds for dinner. Francesco's set up an entire corner for us, had servers ready and waiting to take our order and didn't even blink an eye when we requested separate checks. The food was plentiful, well priced AND delicious. Despite the fact that 23 people all placed orders at very nearly the same time, the kitchen delivered our orders quickly. Pleasing all the members of a small family is no easy task - pleasing every single person in a party of 23? Nearly unheard of but Francesco's did not disappoint a single person.
Go for the complimentary focaccia alone, stay for the hearty servings and leave feeling like you've just eaten at your Nonna's kitchen table.
We were looking for some pasta and new spot to try tonight and Google sent us to Francesco’s. It’s a cute little place with lots to choose from. The service was a little rough to say the least, my wife asked 2 different servers 4 total times for her drink and it never came and our son gave up after a second failed request. Our food took about 30 minutes to arrive, but we weren’t in a hurry so it wasn’t a big deal. I figure we caught them on a bad night. Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed their pasta. Next time I’ll skip the Stromboli and just go for a pizza. I’ll still give them 4 star, the atmosphere was nice and while slow and forgetful, the staff was super friendly so there is that. :-)
We took an entire soccer team and they accommodated us last minute. The service and food were 10 stars. With 23 people from teens to adults ordering different dishes and everyone enjoying the food i shouldn't have to say more.
But... The prices were so reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get. And the complimentary focaccia bread was worth the visit alone. Service was more than friendly; they make the meal feel like you're dining with friends and family. If you are in Sarasota and don't eat here you've missed a great dining experience. Oh. And I have to give mention to the best pink sauce I've ever had!
We’ve been in Sarasota for years and never tried this place till now. It’s small, cozy, friendly atmosphere. Mike greeted us, also our server. Great food, very generous servings, piping hot. The lasagna and pasta with sausage and peppers were both delicious. Will definitely be back to support this locally owned restaurant.
The best tasting real New York style pizza you will find! Our family was in Sarasota on vacation and we were running late from the beach, decided to look for authentic NY style pizza and we found it! Ordered a large pepperoni and a large Hawaiian. The pizzas were devoured before I could say manga! Wish they were closer as we are in the Greater Toronto Area and our family still talks about the great pizza!
Sarasota is overwhelmed with Italian restaurants and being from NYC, we had always struggled to find truly authentic spots that don’t cook from canned/frozen around here. With that being said, I cannot say enough good things about Francesco’s- truly authentic Italian food cooked from scratch every time (even the mozzarella sticks!). You can tell by not only how hot the food is when you get it, but by the freshness and flavor you can taste in every single bite. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out!
Such a great experience! Thomas was a great server! Very attentive and on it. Drinks never ran empty and he was always back quickly with whatever was needed. I ordered the baked ziti, which was delicious. Coming from an Italian family where my nana makes homemade sauce, I’m very picky. Their sauce was actually really delicious! They didn’t put ricotta in the ziti which I thought was odd, I asked for a side and Thomas informed me I’d be charged. No big deal, but I would’ve liked for it to have come with ricotta already in there. The tiramisu was subpar. I didn’t feel like it had a lot of flavor. I love tiramisu, but wasn’t a fan. All in all, it was a great experience and I’ll definitely be back! Can’t wait to try the pizza next!
Stephanie Bledsoe Bachle
+5
We visited this restaurant and had quite an experience. The wait was told to be about 25 minutes but ended up waiting for about 45 minutes at no fault of the place. People were just holding their tables and visiting. The staff offered us drinks and bread as we waited, and apologized several times for our wait. We were fine as we waited, it's just a small place so we sat against the wall as we waited. Once we were seated, the waitress again apologized for the long wait time. It felt like it really mattered to them that we had to wait a while. The bread and house balsamic/olive oil was better than any we've ever had. We also had the salad with pears and candied pecans. For our main, most of us opted for the Aurora sauce with pasta and it was simply amazing. The best sauce I've ever had. The main cook had a great personality, and Jennifer & Andrea were incredible. We ended up ordering again to go another night. The salads weren't quite the same but the pasta was a solid match. I recommend eating at the restaurant. It's not a chain and we love that. It was a wonderful experience. I look forward to visiting again next summer.
Fantastic food and friendly atmosphere. Possibly the best lasagne I've ever had! The bruschetta and pizza were also very tasty. This place won't impress you from the outside, but it's worth a visit for some of the best Italian food in Sarasota. Oh and save room for a cannoli!
Francesco’s is awesome! They were recommended to our family by an employee at the Carlisle Inn while we were recently vacationing in Sarasota. I am so glad we decided to try them out! We went back to dine 3 times during our stay! Everything was delicious! We ordered pizza, salad, pasta, stuffed shells, calzone, and subs. They gave us huge portions and everything tasted fresh and from scratch! It was some of the best Italian food we have ever eaten! Also, the entire staff was so friendly and made sure we had a great dining experience. If you are craving excellent Italian food, I highly recommend Francesco’s!
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