Francesca Pizza & Pasta — Restaurant in Elmwood Park

Originating while Sicily was under Arab rule beginning in the 9th century, arancini are a popular Italian street food made of bite-sized breaded and lightly fried spheres of risotto. They literally mean "little oranges" from the fact that, after being fried, they resemble the shape and color of small oranges.

Named after one of the owner’s grandmothers in Italy, I decided on lunch at Francesca Pizza and Pasta, located on Market Street in Elmwood Park. Upon entering this small, clean, and informal eatery after my visit of 5 years, I was greeted by Salvatore, one of the owners.

Their menu features rice balls, pizza, pasta, wraps, and sandwiches using original homemade family recipes except for the chicken nuggets and French fries. I decided on the Baby Spinach Arancino and Regular Arancino with the beef and cheese.

When one bites into them, you’re met with layers of flavor and texture. First comes the crispy outer layer, followed by a creamy risotto, and finally a center of melted cheese. Their homemade marinara sauce complemented the rice balls, which were deliciously tasty and the right serving portion.The staff was friendly, and the service was quick. The price was comparable to the area.

I can...

My recent experience from Francescas left much to be desired. Opting for their half pepperoni half sausage pie at a steep $28, I anticipated a satisfying meal, but regrettably, what I received was far from acceptable. The sausage used on the pizza tasted inexplicably cheap, leaving a substandard flavor that significantly detracted from the overall taste. Furthermore, the pie was glaringly undercooked and had a mushy texture, making it nearly inedible. The promised basil was hardly present, leaving the pie bereft of the expected flavor profile. Despite being a repeat customer, this experience has undoubtedly sealed my decision never to return. For the price paid, the quality delivered was abysmal, resulting in a complete waste of hard-earned money. I had previously held Francescas in high regard, but this disappointing encounter has shattered that perception entirely. The lack of attention to quality and taste is concerning, and I wish I could...

We absolutely LOVE Francesca's. Food is always fresh, delicious and plentiful. The owner came to our office to introduce himself last year and on a whim we decided to order lunch one day and now, a whole year later, our office orders lunch every 2 weeks from Francesca's (20-30 orders) and this place has become a favorite to a lot of our employees. I'm the one who personally places the orders and coordinates deliveries and even when there were (very small) issues, they were quickly resolved and everyone has never been anything less than pleasant! I highly recommend just about the...