Franco's Ristorante Review

By Zoe Kim

Photos by Chris Low

Neighborhood: Bridgeport

Prices: $$

Dishes to try: Homemade Gnocchi, Fettuccini alla Franco

Tucked in the corner of 31st street and Princeton Avenue lies Franco’s Ristorante, a quaint, old-school style Italian restaurant nested in the heart of Bridgeport. Familyowned and operated since 1989, Franco’s has been a Chicago favorite for their cozy atmosphere and classy, but unpretentious demeanor.

With its outer walls painted in red and black, coupled with a neon light sign in the front, the restaurant is hard to miss. Stepping in, the long hallway-like interior fills you with a warm hug. From the red button tufted leather booths, to the countless family photos hanging on the rustic brick wall, Franco’s exudes a classic coziness that welcomes you.

The coolest part, just past the old-school bar — the long window that looks directly into the bright kitchen. The tables were tightly packed together, but only added to the quaint family-style ambiance it possessed. We were lucky enough to be right next to an older couple who upon seeing us take pictures, added that they themselves own a food blog and gave us some recommendations of what their family loves to eat. One of the biggest things mentioned by the sweet couple were the portions. Each dish was generously served on a big plate, making it more than enough to split between two people and possibly leaving more to be enjoyed for later.

The menu made it easy for us, with a little red pasta symbol to mark their most popular dishes. We went big and ordered three of their most famous entrees. The first on the menu: the Chicken Giardiniera. The chicken cutlet was deliciously cooked and coupled well with the zesty flavor of the breading. The giardiniera was heavier on the vinegar than normal, with a surprising amount of sports peppers on the plate. Although the chicken was delicious, the relish was a confusing match with the cubed potatoes to the side of the chicken.

We turned it around by following up with the Fettucini alla Franco: Fettucini pasta in a rich pesto cream sauce topped with sautéed mushrooms and chicken. The mushrooms really shone in the dish; the medium sauce wasn’t overpowerful or too rich, allowing the earthy flavor of the mushrooms to add a unique complexity and freshness to the cream. The pasta was perfectly al dente, adding a nice firm texture to the smoothness of the sauce.

The showstopper, however, was their famous handmade gnocchi. Being their only pasta made in-house, the gnocchi did not disappoint with its excellent texture and flavors. Tossed in a rich tomato sauce and some fresh basil, the gnocchi was soft and smooth. The tomato sauce had a bit of refreshing tartness that paired well with the richness of the pasta. The taste was fresh and classic. Its simplicity made it better in a way that can only be described as a classic dish done perfectly with no bells and whistles, just its own flavor to speak for itself.

Lastly, our generous server gifted us their tiramisu to end our dinner. We were greeted with a large block of tiramisu topped with chocolate drizzle. It did not fail to disappoint, as the moist ladyfingers added a delicious sweetness to the mild mascarpone and light cream on top. It was not too sweet, and incredibly light, making it easy to finish it all as a satisfying conclusion to our hefty meal.

The portions were great, the food was delicious, and the dining experience was lovely. Not to mention, we met some nice friends along the way. A great representation of “a little can go a long way,” Franco’s Ristorante makes an excellent dinner destination for fun, old-school Italian cuisine. The next time you find yourself in Bridgeport, Franco’s is absolutely a place to check out.