Located in the heart of Northbrook at 1145 Church St, Francesca's North stands as a welcoming destination for those who appreciate the timeless traditions of Italian dining. The restaurant captures the essence of a rustic Italian trattoria, blending a warm, inviting atmosphere with a commitment to culinary excellence. Whether you are planning a quiet evening with family, a celebratory dinner with friends, or a professional gathering, the space is designed to provide a comfortable backdrop for meaningful connections and memorable meals.
The philosophy at Francesca's North is rooted in the belief that great food begins with high-quality ingredients and a passion for authentic preparation. The kitchen team focuses on delivering dishes that honor regional Italian flavors while maintaining a contemporary approach that appeals to modern palates. By prioritizing fresh produce, artisanal pastas, and carefully sourced proteins, the restaurant ensures that every plate served reflects a dedication to quality and consistency. The dining experience is further enhanced by a professional staff that strives to make every guest feel like a regular, fostering a sense of community that has become a hallmark of the establishment.
Key Highlights of the Dining Experience
Authentic Culinary Approach: The menu is thoughtfully curated to showcase classic Italian techniques, offering a diverse selection of dishes that range from traditional favorites to innovative seasonal creations.
Inviting Atmosphere: Designed with comfort in mind, the interior provides a sophisticated yet relaxed environment suitable for a wide variety of occasions, from casual lunches to formal evening dining.
Commitment to Hospitality: The service team is dedicated to providing attentive and personalized care, ensuring that every guest enjoys a seamless and pleasant visit from the moment they arrive.
Prime Location: Situated conveniently on Church Street in Northbrook, the restaurant is easily accessible for both local residents and visitors exploring the area, making it a reliable choice for high-quality dining.
Beyond the food and the setting, Francesca's North prides itself on being an integral part of the local Northbrook neighborhood. The restaurant serves as a gathering place where the simple joy of sharing a meal is celebrated daily. By maintaining a focus on genuine hospitality and culinary integrity, the team continues to uphold the standards that guests have come to expect. Every aspect of the operation, from the preparation of the sauces to the arrangement of the dining room, is handled with care to ensure that the spirit of Italian hospitality remains at the forefront of the experience.
As you plan your next outing, consider the unique blend of tradition and comfort that defines Francesca's North. Whether you are a long-time patron or a first-time visitor, the restaurant invites you to experience a meal prepared with passion and served with pride. We look forward to welcoming you to our table at 1145 Church St, where the focus remains on creating a dining experience that is as enjoyable as it is authentic. Join us soon to discover why this location remains a cherished part of the local culinary landscape, offering a consistent and high-quality escape for food lovers in the region.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Service options
Curbside pickup
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service
Great beer selection
Great cocktails
Great coffee
Great dessert
Great wine list
Serves local specialty
Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining
Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Comfort food
Hard liquor
Healthy options
Late-night food
Private dining room
Vegan options
Vegetarian options
Wine
Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Table service
Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Romantic
Trendy
Upscale
Crowd
Family-friendly
Groups
Tourists
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs
Kids' menu
Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Usually plenty of parking
Menus
Antipasti
Menu
Popular
Contorni
Menu
Popular
Insalate
Menu
Popular
Pasta
Menu
Popular
Dolci
Menu
Popular
Secondi
Menu
Popular
Insalata
Menu
Popular
Pasta
Menu
Popular
Antipasti
Menu
Popular
Bambini
Menu
Popular
Secondi
Menu
Popular
Kids
Menu
Popular
Photos
Reviews Francesca's North
Jack Sincere
30-05-2026
Ordered the lobster bisque for an appetizer. The broth was delicious, however no chunks or pieces of lobster-I could taste it, but was disappointed . I ordered the veal chop special. The veal was perfectly cooked and delicious. The … More
Amina T
30-05-2026
Becca was our server and she was super friendly and welcoming! The customer service and food were excellent, definitely coming back again :) More
Margaret
30-05-2026
Becca was sweet, superb, and spot on with her recommendations. We had a great night thanks to her great service and the great food. My husband really enjoyed his birthday dinner. More
Catherine Harris
30-05-2026
We thoroughly enjoyed our entire experience. We always order calamari and use it to gage the quality of the food. It was very fresh and perfectly prepared — more squid, less breading. Also noteworthy was when we asked for no added salt, … More
Simon Electric
30-05-2026
We absolutely love dining at Francesca’s North whenever we’re visiting, it’s truly one of our favorite spots and we make it a point to go often. The food is consistently outstanding: fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared every single … More
Maya
30-05-2026
Venny & Ivan were phenomenal. We came to celebrate our anniversary and the food & service absolutely blew us away. The servers were kind & prompt. The food was not only delicious, but presented beautifully. … More
James Potter
30-05-2026
Alberto gave wonderful service and made us feel very welcomed for my girlfriend and I’s anniversary dinner. The food was amazing and we even got a creme puff on the house at the end for our special night. We’ll definitely be coming back! More
Jennifer Troppe
30-05-2026
Had a wonderful dinner at Francesca’s North! We shared pasta and pizza, both were fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The pasta had great texture and the pizza crust was just right. We finished with the tiramisu cake, which was light, … More
Lauren McLaughlin
30-05-2026
Had a cousins dinner and we picked this place randomly as it was a good central place for us all! The decor was very festive and had a great atmosphere and the place was packed so it was clear this was a very popular place to eat! And we … More
Shreya Gupta
30-05-2026
beautiful dining experience at francesca’s - food was so flavorful, and my mother who’s often picky about italian remarked that the sauce in her linguine arribiata was perfect- not too creamy and not too sour - and our server Alberto was … More
Joe King
30-05-2026
We dined at Francesca’s North in Northbrook on Christmas Eve, and despite the place being packed, the service was solid. We started with Sophia’s Sausage & Peppers and Calamari Fritti. The calamari was fresh, tender, and perfectly cooked, not overdone like you sometimes get at other places. The sausage and peppers was just right, with good flavor and a nice balance.
For our mains, I had the Filetto Gorgonzola, which was cooked medium rare and came out perfectly. The gorgonzola sauce added a nice richness without overpowering the steak. My wife had the Pollo Milanese, and she really enjoyed it. It was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and a good portion.
They have a decent wine selection, and the Old Fashioned I ordered was well made.
Alberto, our server, was on top of everything. He made sure our food came out on time and was always available if we needed anything.
All in all, it was a great experience. The food was good, the service was efficient, and the atmosphere was lively but comfortable. We’ll definitely be back.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
Suitable for all group sizes
Seating type
Indoor dining area
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Ana Garcia-Doyle
30-05-2026
We booked Francesca’s North for our Dad’s 80th bday party & it was a smash hit. The private event space was perfect for our group of about 50, and everyone loved the food. The best part was the incredible service we received from the team - … More
Ria C
30-05-2026
I have been in search of a good rigatoni with vodka sauce and i believe I found the place. I loved their creamy vodka sauce with sausage. Tried the Nona's meatballs, 2 huge meatball portions. Had better ones but still tasty. My husband … More
Nikki l
30-05-2026
Cozy, inviting atmosphere, great Italian dishes, ordered the Chicken Milanese & Linguine with Shrimp scampi. Soft, warm bread at your table. Excellent service. A nice place to take friends and enjoy a flavorful dinner. We'll be back. More
Rhiannon Halbleib
30-05-2026
Me and my boyfriend had an amazing experience here! Very quick service and the food came out right away. Ivan was our server and he was so helpful and made sure our meal was delicious. I would definitely come back here, they were so friendly and the food was so good. More
Madelynn Barrett
30-05-2026
This was our first time at Francesca’s and it was phenomenal. We made a reservation for Valentine’s Day as we assumed it would be busy. We got there a bit early and they seated us right away. The service from Daniel G was awesome. He was quick, attentive, and friendly! The manger Chris was also very kind and you can tell everyone cares about your experience here. We will be coming back!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
M Sumner
30-05-2026
We did a full course meal and ended up at $100/person- but it was probably worth it! Everything was top quality, even if some was not to my taste, I can still tell it is done right. I enjoyed the carpaccio and the sorbetto the most honestly. Everything between was good too, but shame on me for getting a steak at an Italian joint… I had just recently had pasta so was venturing out. Again, I don’t really think you can go wrong here if you’re in the mood for Italian. So enjoy!
Price per person
$90–100
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4
Noise level
Quiet, easy to talk
Group size
3-4 people
Seating type
Indoor dining area
Gia Schluchter
30-05-2026
Amazing food, beautiful restaurant, and perfect service, Alberto was our server and he was wonderful, very efficient and friendly! It always makes the experience better with a good server and ours was amazing. The food came out so fast and was some of the best I’ve had, so rich and delectable, one of my new favorite Italian places! We ordered multiple appetizers including the meatballs, calamari, and bruschetta, all so delicious. I ended with their Rigatoni Alla Vodka and Tiramisu for dessert! Both so creamy and rich, the pasta was cooked perfectly, best vodka pasta I’ve ever had, same with the Tiramisu, so so yummy. I recommend this for any type of occasion, even just a night out with family! Thank you Francesca’s and Alberto for the amazing evening!
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reservation
Reservations recommended
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area, Outdoor patio / terrace, Booth seating, Counter seating, Private dining room
Parking space
Plenty of parking
David Rodgers
30-05-2026
Fantastic place. Loved the lobster bisque, salad was chopped fresh, entree pastas for myself and my friend were good, not great. The shrimp was cooked perfectly in the scampi but the sauce ran kind of bland and watery. The crispy chicken vodka dish was also cooked perfectly but again I just feel the sauce kind of ran flat... But I definitely want to acknowledge the level of quality ingredients used to prepare our meal, I just like more of a spice kick...
Anyway, the service was great. The Francesca's team keep the plates cleared and drinks filled the whole time, without feeling rushed or in any sort of pressure to get you out the door. Good management and passionate staff.
I'd like to note that I made a reservation at 6pm for 6:45, was 19 minutes late to that reservation, and in a packed house was still sat at the type of table I requested.... The hostess wasn't snarky or dismissive, she just checked her floor, and found us an opening. Thank you for a wonderful evening! Happy Holidays!
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Group size
2 people, 3-4 people
Seating type
Indoor dining area, Bar area, Counter seating
Recommendation for vegetarians
Not sure
Vegetarian options
Vegetarian options but not explicitly expressed
Dietary restrictions
Lots of shellfish and nuts in dishes.
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Parking
Make a reservation.
Kid-friendliness
If they handle noisy dining rooms and fast paced employees sure.
Wheelchair accessibility
Tight fit around tables may be an issue.
Miriam Melinte
30-05-2026
such a fantastic dinner. vibes were amazing and food was incredible! I loved the salmon! Alberto served our table and I was so pleasantly surprised with how accommodating he was. He was so friendly and made me want to come back!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Reviews Francesca's North