Francesca’s Italian Bistro

Couldn’t ask for a better all around experience especially in the heart of coventry. Cant wait to go back

First of all if your not from Ct., like us, you may drive right by this place thank goodness for the Italian flag out front. Once we found it we were glad we did. I had the chicken Marcella and it was very good, it really didn’t taste like the Marcella I have come to know but it was actually better. My wife had the stuffed rigatoni in a blush sauce and she really enjoyed it. Our son had the eggplant and thought it was excellent. We had planned to go to Hartford but we were glad we didn’t and glad we found this little gem.

Went here for lunch this week. Food was delicious. We ordered the arancini– delicious! The sauce is wonderful. Lunch was served with warm rolls and dipping oil– yum. I had the garden salad with shrimp. It was huge with great Italian olives and such– wonderful. My daughter had the portabello ravioli — she was very pleased as well. Restaurant is small, and very quaint. Very comfortable. Highly recommended.

Very fresh authentic Italian cuisine. Prices are relatively high but you really receive what you pay for food is amazing. Service is always up to standard but prepare to wait in line if you don’t make reservations it can get very busy.

Good things come in small packages. This restaurant experience was excellent in so many ways. One waitress working the entire room (small, but three big parties and three small parties going on!) and service was great, friendly.
Appeitzers — bruschetta with sausage and mushrooms was fantastic, bruschetta with chicken, tomato, mozzarella was a close second. Calamari very good, although the portion could have been a little bigger.
Entrees — linguini with white clam sauce was fresh and light — garlic and lemon but not overpowering; chicken parm and chicken francaise were excellent, parpadelle delicious. Entrees were good portions of food.
Highly recommend.

Oh my gosh!!? Amazing food!!! It is a small place SO CALL AHEAD!!! But oh my. It was amazing. We went here on the recommendation of a friend it was so worth it and not over priced either! We will be going back even though it’s an hour away! Yum. We had the mussels for an appetizer, I had the lobster ravioli with three sauce, and he had the Richards lamb rack. All were amazing! Again it’s a small place so services is a little slow but the waitress was attentive and the food is not an out of a jar/​box food so it’s worth it!!!

Their sauces are just fantastic. Possibly the best vodka sauce I have ever encountered. They serve many different Italian-​American sauces, such as Alfredo and Vodka as well as the traditional Bolognese and Carbonara. Everything is prepared to order and comes out hot and fresh. They serve a delicious house salad, dressed perfectly with many of the entrees. The arancini are to die for. They are seasoned with saffron and served in the vodka sauce.
The establishment is small and reservations are needed often, especially on the weekend. It is very nicely decorated and it is a pleasant, clean, and comforting environment.
It seems they often only have one waitress working. She works hard and does her absolute best to serve everyone in the restaurant, but it does make things feel a bit rushed at times and things like refilling water do not always happen promptly.
Everything is very reasonably priced and it is a delicious and intimate place to eat!

I had the best Italian food of my life here. The service is fast and friendly. I enjoyed the house wine, it was an excellent choice, you could tell that they know what they’re doing. The Lemon Cielo cake was out of this world. You really need a reservation to be sure to get a table.
Love that place
Gary Koval

Very delicious home made Italian food! Recommend ravioli.
Sometimes they get busy and you have to make reservations ahead of time.

If you’re looking for an authentic European dining experience with excellent Italian cuisine, I would highly recommend this restaurant.
Make a reservation as seating is limited. The dining area is clean, updated with low lighting providing an intimate rustic feel. This is a perfect place for a date night or anniversary. The food was amazing we had the lasagna which was highly recommended by the waitress and Chicken Parmesan. Portions were typical Italian, each meal enough for two people.
There was only 1 waitress on the Friday night we were there, she was seating, taking orders, serving, bussing, and plating. So service was on the edge of being too slow after we got our meals but we were there to enjoy ourselves and the atmosphere so it wasn’t a deal breaker.
We will be back to enjoy another meal in the future.

Stopped here Tuesday evening (late for CT-8:00 pm) with my husband and daughter and we were graciously seated in their small and comfortable dining room. I had wanted to find a place just like this for a plate of pasta, and I was not disappointed! We each chose something different and happily guarded our choices from each other’s forks! Small, non-​franchise restaurants like this hard to find, but when you do, hold on tightly – especially here in Eastern Connecticut! Yummy, and thank you for being in Coventry!

The restaurant is small and cozy; you definitely need reservations to get in. We had a reservation for 6 and got our table a couple of minutes after our reserved time.
All of the staff were very friendly and accommodating. The food was delicious. The wine list was a bit pricey, but good.
My husband and I shared the Brushetta DiMare as an appetizer and were very happy with it. I ordered the Gnocchi Marinara, which was very fresh and cooked perfectly.
This is a great place to have a nice dinner (date, special occasion, etc). As a CT native now living in NY, I’m happy to see a great restaurant in the area with authentic Italian food. FYI — The New York Times gave them 2 stars, which is a great mark for a small, local restaurant.

Francesca’s is in an unassuming little store front on Rt. 31 in Coventry, just across the street from the Bidwell Tavern. Don’t blink, you might miss it as you drive by.
The interior is small and very cozy, the walls and columns lined with layered slate, creating a unique grotto-​like atmosphere. Even though it was Tuesday, a reservation was suggested. We got there at about 7:30 and were promptly seated. We ordered a couple of drinks (beer and wine only) after being presented with our menus and a basket of warm, freshly baked bread. As a stall tactic while perusing the menu, we ordered Calamari, which turned out to be just the right size for an app, not too big, and fried up crispy with small rings of peppers and marinara for dipping. Way above the usual.
I’m not usually that impressed with Italian food, as I said, because it is so common… like raving about a plate of General Tso’s Chicken from a take-​out place. But this place is awesome. After a fresh, cool salad (basic, with house dressing of course) I ordered Veal Marsala. I don’t usually order veal, but this seemed like the place if I was going to go for it. I wasn’t disappointed. It was excellent in every way, prepared perfectly, tender veal, wonderful marsala flavor, just the right amount of mushrooms and sun dried tomato, on a bed of penne… mmm.
My wife ordered Eggplant Rugadino, a sublime combination of eggplant stuffed with prosciutto di parma, asparagus and fontina cheese, topped with a wonderful sherry marinara. The portions were very generous, and the food was straight off the stove, piping hot. We both took a moment to savor the incredible aromas wafting off our plates. Blown away! We just sat back after the first bites and said «Wow!» The flavors of each dish were balanced to perfection, and it certainly helped that they were served fresh, obviously not sitting under a heat lamp, or mixed up from a vat of pre-​made ingredients awaiting to be assembled. This was the real deal.
This is a family run place, obviously the obsession of some real foodies. Sal & Gina, as it says on their web site. The beautiful, friendly atmosphere, the freshly prepared food, made be feel like I was visiting a friend’s home for dinner. While we went in pretty casual (as were most patrons), it’s a great date night place. It’s romantic, the lighting is right, the dining room is cozy. Everything about to was spot-​on. It made me re-​think my aversion to Italian restaurants. Highly recommended.

If you have not visited this amazing Italian eatery in downtown Coventry, you are doing yourself a serious injustice.
From the moment you walk in, till the moment you leave, the experience is second to none.
Upon entering, you will be greeted by Gina (the owner along with her husband Sal who is the MASTER Chef).
The ambience is amazing, the service is top notch and the food is to die for. I have been to Francesca’s about 20 times and tried many different meals, and every dish was fantastic.
Sal is without a doubt, a master of his craft and Gina will make you feel like one of the family.
If you haven’t been to Francesca’s, give them a call and prepare for an experience you won’t get anywhere else in CT.
Eric M.

If you’re looking for a nice place to have dinner in Coventry — someplace with good food, decent wine, nice ambience, and no TVs blaring over your discussion — then Francesca’s is probably the best place in Coventry.
First, this place is *small*. We’re not talking twelve seat Momofuku small, but it still is small. Unless you really plan ahead don’t count on having more than four people in your group. Honestly, it’s best for couples.
Second, while not terribly expensive, after our tour of all the restaurants in Coventry it is the one that we walked out of with the biggest bill. That’s not a bad thing, we had some wine, a appetizer of calamari, main dishes of gnocchi and veal, and a terrific piece of cheesecake for dessert.
We made a reservation for later in the evening on a Friday night a little earlier in that day, it was, apparently the last reservation slot, but it worked well for us. We arrived a few moments before our reservation and had to wait a couple of minutes as the last group finished up and the table was bussed. The table location was a little odd, and crammed right up next to a post. Basically a result of their incredibly small dining room that only seats about 20 people.
Drinks, bread, and appetizer came out quickly. We were given time to linger over each portion of our meal without feeling as though we were rushed to move to another stage in the meal. Our main portions arrived and we were impressed. The veal was done quite well — which is to say, not well done, but enough done so it was safe and still retained the flavor and juices. The gnocchi was incredibly rich with a lemon cream sauce that managed to pull off the balance of a cream sauce with the lemon nicely without curdling or separating.
At this point we realized that we missed our salads, which was a little disappointing. The staff realized this error and rather than bringing a salad at the wrong spot in the meal they brought us a great piece of crème brûlée cheesecake which was quite simply, divine.
Overall it was a very pleasant experience and a great spot for a nice date evening. I’m sure we’ll be back soon.

The pizza is dense but delicious. I went one night to pick up a few pizzas I called in and the weather was pretty terrible — cold, rain/​sleet mix with a few inches of snow already on the ground. There was no one — literally, zero people — inside the restaurant. I had never been to their old location but the décor inside was awesome, the ambiance was great, lighting dim but not dark, and overall I was very impressed.
I ordered the a margherita, a pepperoni, and a Sicilian pie, the last of which was explained as being square cut into squares. Turns out, all three were round.
Despite this, the pizzas were devoured by the 5 of us in a matter of minutes.
I’ve had the buffalo chicken pie at a friends and it was killer as well.
Going to have to try dining in some time.

What a wonderful dinner! The dinner salad is somewhat pedestrian, but that was the only relative low point of the evening. My shrimp calabrese with gluten free pasta and broccoli was fabulous! The shrimp were large and succulent! The sauce had delicious chunks of tomato and onion but didn’t overpower the shrimp and al dente broccoli. My husband was thrilled with his sweet and sour tuna. The medium rare tuna was beautifully plated. The sauce had cranberries instead more traditional raisins. The sauce was not a cloying sweet taste that is so often served in Chinese restaurants. The wine list isn’t extensive, but with ten or so each white and red, there are excellent choices. Once again, we were too full for dessert.
Service is friendly, helpful and unobtrusive. I can’t wait to return to try the sea bass!

Ok we live in town and order pizza once in a while. Well I’m all done with them. I called last night because we were in the mood for their style /​flavor of pizza. The girl said they were out of pizza. It was 6 PM on a Sunday night. They have been open for only 2 ½ hrs.
In just a couple of hours they run out of pizza? What the hell. This is the second time this happened.
Another time we wanted to order a meal to go. We ordered it to go because the restaurant is way to small. It’s only like 7 tables. They did not include the bread and salad in the bag. When we found out we were already across town, Home and it was late. Screwed again.
I’ve never experienced SO many problems with Just one restaurant.
Their old place had only like 10 tables. They built this new location and it looks like the same amount of tables OR LESS. I agree they had to move. They did do a terrific job with the décor. It’s beautiful. But to get a place So small again? Seems like such a waste.
I think they have only one waitress. I know she’s doing the best she can, but just another question of why?
After so many disappointments I’m getting the signal that the owners just don’t care. It takes more than just tasty food for a good restaurant experience.
Good luck. They have been open for around 3 years now. We were hoping they would do well. :-\
Never again.

This is our go to Italian restaurant. We have yet to have a bad meal and that is thanks to Chef Sal and his wife who run a great operation. Chicken Parmesan and Chef Sal’s lasagna are simply amazing.
Make sure you make a reservation!

TL;DR version: This place is heaven. Make a reservation, get in the door, and enjoy the meal of your life. Try new things– there will be offerings you’ve never had before, and they’re all worth it. Expect big flavors and big portions, plates that look as gorgeous as they taste, and a warm and romantic atmosphere. Wine & beer only.
*****
I’m sharing a lot, as this will be Francesca’s first review:
Our date nights have never been the same since a beloved Italian restaurant closed unexpectedly. We’ve searched and searched for a replacement with fresh ingredients, a marinara worth raving about, and romantic atmosphere. After a honeymoon in Rome, we’ve been spoiled, and longing for something similar.
Last night we visited Francesca’s, at the urging of friends and with the help of an Amazon Local deal. We looked over the extensive menu through their website, read the story of their start (family owned/​operated), and made a reservation (recommended!).
This little gem sits on Main St. in Coventry, across from the Bidwell Tavern. There’s a large parking lot to the left, and with a short walk you’re inside a gorgeous stone-​walled Italian/​Sicilian heaven. The host (Luigi) greeted us warmly, and our table was ready in a minute. Ice cold waters, warm bread, olive oil with herbs, and a simple table setting were waiting. Tucked in the corner we got a good view of the whole restaurant, filled with happy diners. We heard hearty laughter, saw beautiful entrees arrive at tables, and plenty of hospitality. The menus offer lots of delicious choices, and we quickly decided on his perennial favorites (Chicken Parmesan & fried mozzarella) and two news dishes for me (Gnocchi Limoncello & a Sicilian salad). Both dishes also came with a small salad — crisp romaine, black & green olives, and tomatoes. A great start.
The Sicilian Salad was flavor-​filled from the start. The intense mix of herbs and oranges, olives, capers, onions, and roasted red peppers had me humming with delight. It came with three crusty bread sticks, which I used to steal the marinara sauce that accompanied my husband’s fried mozzarella. The mozz was a fresh ball coated in a very light and crispy batter. The marinara was fresh, perfectly balanced, and bursting with tomato flavor.
Entrees were perfectly timed. We felt welcomed to take our time with the meal, never rushed, but never long without attention. The Chicken Parm arrived on a huge plate — two huge portions topped with more heavenly marinara and fresh mozz. My husband enjoyed every bite, remarking on how long it’s been since he’s had Parm this good. The Gnocchi Limoncello was another delight. The cream sauce was sweet like the liquor, but dotted with peppercorns and seasoned perfectly. Usually I’m searching for fresh pepper, but this needed nothing. The gnocchi were perfectly little pillows, both dense and light in the way you know they were just made. I looked forward to each bite, with a smile that could not be contained! Could it be. a new date night spot had been found?
We both had to take half of our dinners home — the portions are large and we were happily full. One cappuccino was ordered– which arrived like everything else, beautiful and elegant, full of flavor. Our minds were filled with reminders of Italy– flavors, atmosphere, and hospitality– and excitement to return quickly to Francesca’s — our new date night spot.