Francesca Italian Bakery & Delicatessen — Restaurant in Toronto

Extremely poor handling of cake reservations + customer service. I called in the day before to ask about whether I could have a medium cheesecake ready with "Happy Birthday" written on it for the afternoon on the next day. Keep in mind that these are one of the cakes they regularly make, so there should be many of them available.

The morning of picking up the cake, I called to confirm the time that the cake would be ready at, and they said it would be ready at 2 pm. When I got to the bakery at 2:30 pm, the employees there seemed to be scrambling and unable to find my cake. They left me waiting for 10-15 minutes, only to have different employees ask for the details of my cake several times since they couldn't find my cake in the end.

After waiting, my cake was finally here (they were rushing to prepare it on the spot after I had arrived), except they gave me a large cheesecake instead of a medium without even asking me in the first place (because they ran out of medium sized cakes), and still insisted that they charge me the $36 for the large instead of the $28 for the medium - even though it was their fault for being unable to fulfill my request regarding the size of the cake, with me informing them of this request the day before.

So, here are the following things that went wrong in my interaction with them: Saying that it would be possible to reserve a cake the day before, but failing to call me or inform me in advance that my order would not be fulfilled the way I wanted - and failing to ask for any alternative requests as a result Confirming the morning of that the cake would be ready at 2 pm, when cheesecakes are made everyday, and yet still somehow forgetting about my order until I show up to the bakery Not willing to charge me the price for a medium cake, which I originally requested, as a result of their inability to give the product that I wanted, and overcharging me as a result of their mistakes Going through with the order assuming that a large cake size would be fine, and failing to communicate this to me while my cake was being prepared after I arrived at the store

While their food may be good, their logistics + management of cake reservations is nothing but a disaster. Go elsewhere to get cakes for a special occasion in a...

Following up on my previous glowing review (@Chancellor_K) of Francesca Italian Bakery, I am thrilled to share my experience with the Italian Rum Cake we chose for my brother's birthday. The cake was an absolute masterpiece, both in flavour and decoration. Each layer of the cake was a perfect blend of moist, spongy texture, infused with just the right amount of rum to tantalize the taste buds without overpowering. The cream filling was light and airy, providing a delightful contrast to the rich flavour of the cake.

The decoration of the cake was a work of art. It was evident that the bakery pays great attention to detail, with elegant designs that matched the joyous occasion. The presentation was impeccable, making the cake not just a dessert, but a centerpiece of the celebration.

Upon visiting Francesca Italian Bakery to pick up the cake, I was immersed in a world of authentic Italian foods and pastries. The variety and quality of their offerings were exceptional. From fresh bread to a variety of pastries, each item showcased the culinary excellence that Francesca Italian Bakery prides itself on. It was like a slice of Italy right in the heart of Scarborough!

Moreover, the diversity of the employees at the bakery added to the authenticity and warmth of the experience. It was heartening to see a team that not only represented the rich Italian culture but also the diversity of the community. This inclusiveness speaks volumes about the bakery’s values and its commitment to celebrating cultural heritage while embracing the local community.

Francesca Italian Bakery is more than just a bakery; it's an experience. From the exceptional customer service by Maria Lopez to the delectable Italian Rum Cake and the diverse range of authentic Italian delicacies, every aspect of this place is impressive. Their commitment to quality, authenticity, and community representation is truly commendable. I am already looking forward to my next visit and would highly recommend this bakery to anyone seeking a genuine Italian culinary experience. Thank you, Maria Lopez and Francesca Italian Bakery, for making our celebration not just memorable, but absolutely...

Been to this bakery several times now and have been consistently impressed.

One of the things I love getting here are the arancini. If you're lucky enough to get ahold of them as they're coming out fresh from fryer, don't hesitate. They're delicious. On my first trip here, that's exactly what happened and I had first choice of both the cheese and the meat varieties. Both were delicious with a light crispy shell that was not greasy in the least, and rice that was moist and creamy but not mushy. The meat arancino - filled with ragù (ground beef tomato sauce) and peas - was deliciously flavourful... but what really wowed me was the cheese arancino which had a molten center oozing with fresh mozzarella and parsley.

Arancini is $3 each which is a steal considering that each one is HUGE (about the size of my fist). I would also add some sauce to it ($0.50) to make it extra tasty.

Francesca has a small seating area and I would recommend to eat the arancini there if possible. The shell gets soft after its been packed up and covered in sauce.

I would also recommend to save room for dessert as their cakes ($4.49 each) are fabulous. I've only tried three below but am looking forward to trying them all!

The Sicilia was delicious with the most tasty Pistachio bavarois cream. It had a slight hint of orange pastry cream which complimented the pistachio flavour well and some almond meringue and almond genoise adding to the aroma and texture of the cake. Honestly, I don't think I've ever had a pistachio dessert taste this good.

The Passione was also spectacular. The outer layer consisted of a mango mousse that actually tasted like ripe mangos. Inside, there was a passion fruit milk chocolate pudding filling with coconut dacquoise. I loved how the coconut added some gritty texture to the mousse and the chocolate filling was light and not too rich. Perfecto!

The cheesecake was also very well done. It had a light crumbly graham cracker crumb base. The cheesecake itself was surprisingly light (probably because they incorporated ricotta into the mixture) and the cream on top was fresh and airy. Topped with a ripe sweet strawberry, it is a wonderful way...