Who Discovered This Under‑the‑Radar Chicago Italian Spot?!

Francesca’s On Chestnut — mostly American diners, so what a hidden gem we found! Today’s Menu 🍽️ 🦑 Calamari Fritti Classic fried calamari — rings are lightly salted, served with a tangy tomato‑based dip. A solid, appetite‑whetting starter. 🥗 Insalata Cesare Just Caesar salad — we skipped others due to blue cheese (if you like it, try something else! Drop salad recs in the comments). 🍝 Paccheri alla Vodka e Salsiccia First pasta — absolutely delicious! Chewy, hearty pasta in rich vodka‑sausage sauce. We added shrimp — highly recommended. 🍝 Pasta Parm Cream (Off‑Menu) We tried to order from a Google Maps photo, but they didn’t have it — so they suggested this unlisted creamy Parmesan pasta. Rich, buttery, great for cream‑sauce lovers. 🍰 Tiramisu Italian‑restaurant tiramisu never fails — the cream layer is incredibly soft and airy. 🍫 Profiteroles Chocolate‑dipped profiteroles filled with pistachio gelato — nutty, not too sweet, balances the chocolate richness perfectly. Key Details 📍 🍴 Restaurant: Francesca’s On Chestnut 📍 Address: 200 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611 💰 Price: $30‑50 per person (portions aren’t huge — if you want to try multiple dishes, expect ~$60). Why I highly recommend it: Flavor is on point — pastas are memorable. Service is exceptionally kind — we misordered dessert (blame the Italian menu 😅), and they happily swapped it for what we wanted. (Skip the lemon tart unless you love tartness!) Overall, a perfect dining experience — definitely coming back! #ChicagoEats #ItalianFood #HiddenGem #FrancescasChestnut #MustTryChicago