Went to Hole in the Wall the other night and wow what a great meal. Fantastic salad, awesome cold fish salad. I had the salmon and it was cooked to perfection. My husband had the osso bucco and it was incredible. The restaurant has been remodeled and looks really great. You will be treated wonderfully. The servers have all been there for years and know the menu inside and out. It's really a delightful place. Yes, you will wait if you go on a Saturday night at 7pm....so DON'T GO ON A SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7PM. Check it out one night during the week. You will be happy you did.
Review Source:The menu is written on a whiteboard, so I am guessing that it changes daily or weekly. There were plenty of choices for my party of 4 of which 2 don't eat meat and 2 don't eat beef. A lot of great seafood dishes.
Like other people have said, if you go on a weekend you will have to wait. It is a small, intimate restaurant. The ambience was wonderful once you are seated, but it comes at the price of having to wait for a while. Unfortunately they estimated our table to be available in 45 minutes but it ended up taking more than an hour and fifteen minutes. BUT to make up for it they brought us a free appetizer and took $20 off our bottle of wine. And we were able to drink that wine while we waited :)
I would definitely go back!
We stopped here for lunch a few weeks ago. It is a cute, small restaurant, so plan accordingly. When I read the name I thought it would be a less formal place. "Hole in the wall" means casual to me, but this place was a mix of casual and formal. It was also quite pricey for lunch.
The bread was terrific. The soup was good, but not great. Christopher's pasta came with a vodka sauce, as did Mom's lobster stuffed ravioli. They were both tasty. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan and was rather disappointed. The chicken was totally unseasoned and had a "refrigerator" taste to it. All the cheese and sauce on top could not really change that.
This seems like a prime place for the suit and tie crowd to go for lunch, but I don't think we'll be rushing back soon, although most of the food was fine.
Yes, you do wait to dine, no reservations.
Yes, the parking lot is often packed.
Yes, the waiting area is small and cramped.
Yes, the food is not the least expensive in the area.
GET OVER IT! Â
A great little place with consistent food and service. Â The owner has been there most evenings we have eaten there, strolling around, impeccably dressed, can't miss him. Â Just sit, take your time once you get a table and enjoy.
We loved the roasted artichokes, oysters, veal, and salmon
Last night was my first time at Francesco's and I LOVED it! My boyfriend and I came for date night and it was our best dining experience in a long time. We stayed for two hours and enjoyed our entire evening there. The food is delicious, service is great and the other diners are really friendly. Great atmosphere here.
We started with the beet salad with Gorgonzola cheese and were pleasantly surprised. They did not skimp on the beets and used simple, quality ingredients. We also tried oysters on the half shell (at Frank, the owner's, suggestion). The oysters were huge and tasted very fresh. We couldn't decide on entrees so we got 3: black linguini with seafood, penne with mushrooms and chicken, and oso bucco with risotto. The seafood in the linguini was really fresh and tasty. The penne sauce was perfect (our favorite dish of the night). The oso bucco fell off the bone and the meat was tender and flavorful. They also leave the bone marrow inside for you to eat! Yum!!! We topped off the meal with a bottle of moscato, an espresso and tiramisu (which is not on the dessert tray they bring around). The wine was perfect and the tiramisu was probably the best I've had.
At the end if the night, we were nervous about the bill. We were surprised one again when the entire meal came out to $120. Extremely reasonable considering all the food we ordered and worth it because we had the best date night ever. We'll definitely be back to see Frank again.
My husband and I went yesterday for the first time and it turned out to be a great experience. Â Food was excellent. Â
Well...the first 5 minutes was questionable, but thank goodness it all turned around for us afterward. Â When we arrived at 5:05pm, the place was already packed but there were a couple of tables available so we were seated right away. Â It's a small crowded restaurant and the tables were very close together so getting to our seats takes a little maneuvering. Â My husband had to push the table out a little just so he can sit down and got scolded by a waitress who just happened to be passing through. Â She told us that we couldn't do that in a not very nice tone and I thought, "oh no, this cannot be a good start to our New Year's Eve dinner". Â Plus, my husband sat with his back toward the menu board so it really strained his neck trying to read it. Â Â
But as I said, it all turned around. Â Once we settled in, we found the restaurant to be nicely decorated and cozy. Â Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Â Food was YUMMY!! Â Their bread was freshly baked and delicious. Â My husband had the lobster ravioli because of all the positive reviews on Yelp and he loved it. Â We tried their seafood appetizer (calamari and shrimp with lemon, oil and capers) and it was divine. Â We ended our meal with their chocolate cake and it was decadently yummy. Â We just found our new favorite restaurant, but can only give 4 stars due to the negatives mentioned above.
This place is not exactly "a hole in the wall," but it is quaint and the menu is most certainly original. They mark up the menu on a large whiteboard and it varies from day-to-day. I had a wonderful Rigatoni & Sausage dish while my wife had a great Ravioli dish - Giant Raviolis. There was a moderate wait for a Saturday night, the service was wonderful and though the space is a bit cramped, I will definitely be back for more. If you're on the North Shore, stop in and try this place for some authentic Italian.
Review Source:Oh, my...grab some cash and get there early 'cause you're going to love the food! Â I went there for the second time last week with my daughter. Â The food is AWESOME! Â We arrived to this tiny place just as it opened, and good thing too because it filled up fast. Â
The negatives: Â There are only about two dozen tables all crammed together. Â It is a cash only place. Â No menus - it's all written on a chalkboard. Â That is where the fifth star went.
The positives: friendly, attentive service. Â The biggest plus though is the food. Â Both the lasagna my daughter had and the rigatoni I had were among the best Italian dishes I have ever had. Â The portions were perfect for normal human beings (not too big, not too small). Â
The price - a nice round $50 for an appetizer, two entrees and two sodas.
So tremendously good, I can not wait to go back.
I went here yesterday for the first time and it was great! There are no physical menus that you hold in your hand. The menus is written on a giant dry erase board which was kind of fun! The server was polite, attentive, and gave great recommendations. The parking lot is small but from the name you can kind of tell... but literally it's a small place kind of hard to find but totally worth finding! It's a gem for great Itallian food!
Review Source:We moved from Lincoln Park to Evanston recently and have had a difficult time finding the abundance of wonderful restaurants we had in the city. There are some in between, but on average, not much to choose from. Either high end like Oceanique or what I'd describe as "fine...it's ok" in Dave's Italian Kitchen. However, FHITW made us extremely happy! Frank's take on Italian is unique in its own way from tradional Ossobuco to a lasagna napoletana. High marks on food and service. Wonderful flavors and a nice variety. The staff couldn't have been more accomodating. The decor is best described in the restaurants name "hole in wall" - small and cramped - but didn't take away from our night. If you're looking for a winner, check out Francesco's!
Review Source:Ehh... This place had good review so i decided to check it out while here in Chi-town... I have the shells with venice meatballs and chicken vovusu or something like that.. decent, ok, but not worth the price. The waitress was great though - very nice friendly lady who is a chicagoan but has a new york accent.
Review Source:i had a fantastic experience here. our server was polite and attentive. we had calamari for an appetizer, i had the salmon for dinner, and cannoli for dessert. everything was delicious.
we arrived before the dinner rush, which was nice, as it is a very tiny restaurant and it's hard to get a table. as a party of three, we arrived separately but simultaneously. i walked in first and asked for a table because the other two in my party were on their phones in the parking lot. they wouldn't seat us until we were all inside and ready to sit down at once, so just a heads up there.
My favorite classic Italian restaurant in Chicagoland. When I say classic, I mean hearty food, no fancy gimicky dishes. It's where you go when you want something home cooked, but made by a better chef. The calamari are awesome, the pasta dishes are fantastic (all except, surprisingly, the lobster ravioli), and I've never had room for dessert so I can't review those. Although they look tempting every time.
The downsides: It's a bit cramped, a bit noisy, long waits. But it's all worth it for the great food and staff. And, well, the first two are part of the atmosphere of a classic Italian restaurant, right?
I stopped in for lunch the other day with a couple of my co-workers. It's a very small place, and the menu is written on a dry erase board on one wall. If you don't have very good vision (and you forgot to wear your glasses), you have to navigate through the crowded dining room to get a closer look.
I had mushroom, ricotta, and asparagus ravioli, which were good, but I feel that it was overpriced for what you god.
Went for lunch with 3 women who had never been to Hole in the Wall before even though they live quite close. Â Late lunch so service was great we enjoyed the meal. Â
2 of us had chicken vesuvio (a bit salty for me, but good flavor) and 2 had pasta dishes (stuffed rigatoni) and all said they would return. Â Since we couldn't finish our meal, we thought we'd share a dessert, profiteroles. Â My favorite part of the lunch!
No reservations so unless you don't mind the wait, go early for dinner. Â Cash only so it could be a factor for many.
Food: 3
Decor: 3
Service: 2
I'd give 3 stars, but the service drops it down to 2.
1. Hole in the Wall Salad
So-so. Didn't get what all the hype was about.
2. Shrimp scampi
Mediocre. I tried a shrimp. It wasn't that great.
3. Osso bucco with risotto <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8QIKbPeXGW152HbrYwDn-w?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Okay. Meat was pretty tender, but flavor wasn't quite there. Risotto was also more like regular rice with some stewed veggies and was pretty disappointing.
Our server had a bad attitude, and she was pretty unfriendly. Won't be coming here again.
I tried really hard to like this place and frankly, I'm done trying. Â Most pasta dishes we've tried have been disappointing. Â Overcooked papardelle and watery lasagne. Â Whitefish wasn't very fresh and I got quite sick afterwards from eating it. Â
They do have decent wine that's very reasonably priced. Â
Owner's not here to help anyone except to say hi to his friends. Â When you're clearly looking for your waitress, he'll look right at you and ignore you.
Good food. Excellent service.
I had the lobster ravioli. Pretty good. I love lobster ravioli.
Why do I always order the lobster ravioli?
Maybe I could actually order something else besides the lobster ravioli 'cause it seems I always get the lobster ravioli if it's on the menu no matter where I am....I could be inside a lobster trap off the coast of Maine with the angry claws attacking me like a bad Japanese horror flick......I'd order the lobster ravioli.
Mia fidanzata had the house salad. No drama, just a delicious salad in a monster bowl.
Get there early or be cool with waiting for a table.
Not sure I've ever left a restaurant and been depressed over how let down I was.
This review is purely based on the food only. The atmosphere is wonderful. Great service and fun idea to have menu only on a communal board. The disappointment came with the food. Particularly the chicken parmesan. The chicken had a horrible taste of freezer burn. The sauce was good but watered down. As if they were trying to make it stretch for the day. Â Cheese was a let down as it wasn't fresh motzerella.
The saddest part was that These burb people think this place is really good. Sigh.
I'm feeling ripped off at the moment. Â I reluctantly paid but I want my money back.
For the first time Yelp let me down...came here based on all the amazing reviews and now wonder if those people ate at the same restaurant I just did. Â
We called because driving directions were about three blocks off. (there digital map location is wrong) Woman on the phone was very rude. She said we are across from the starbucks in a mean tone!!! Â How do I know where the Starbucks is at? I don't live around here? Â This should have been my first sign but I figured it is lunch maybe they are swamped.
We walked in and met the rude phone person. No personality at all...and she really shouldn't  be mean on the phone because she is just seating people and almost all tables were full...so life should be good for her.
I was reading the big menu on the wall, when waitress interrupted me and said, "Have you ever been here?". I turned my head and said "No" and she said, "Our menu is on the board!" Really? Did you not see me reading it?!?!? Â (I was thinking that, but did not say that)
The waitress was also a little rude too. I just did not understand the attitude. There are 16 tables in here with two waitress! Is life really that hard?
The place is cute and small. I think this is what people like. One reviewer complained that the menu was all in Italian. I was laughing a little because it wasn't. It used common Italian words that most people know.
The bread was amazing but what Italian bread dipped in olive isn't yummy. Â And that was about it on the yummy food here.
I am sorry maybe the cook was having a bad day but this was some of the worse Italian I have ever had. I can not believe others rated this place so high. Â I just can not see it. Â Our sauces were watered down. Like the chef didn't care enough to properly drain the pasta. Â In my house that is just lazy. Â I am so sad we even spent money here. Â
I will say one thing...our dishes looked amazing but didn't taste how they looked. I will never go back here again. Â We drive by the area every weekend and we fell in love with the outside of the building but not with the food. Sorry not a winner!!! Â
(Oh yeah with over 50 reviews why was I the first person to post any pictures?)
Mama mia, if good food was illegal, Mr. Francesco would be serving a life sentence. How about this place made me realize that I've been eating fake Italian food for 28 years.
The place itself is small. Some would call it intimate, some would call it crowded, I call it who the heck cares because I'm busy stuffing my face with palatable artistry.
There is a giant white board hanging on a rustic wall with the daily specials that acts as the common menu. It hangs over tables, so you have to stand in front of it to decide what you're going to spend an average of $20 on. It may seem awkward having your tush in other people's faces while deciding on a dish, but you really don't think about it because you're too busy picking your jaw up off the floor at the mad selection of perfection.
The waitress (super nice and quite witty) told us they cook anything, so if there is something not on the menu, to order it anyway. So, I did. Penne arrabiata. A vegetarian sanction dish. Whew, was it spicy! I was so pleased that it had a kick to it, as my buds aren't easily excitable. I know, they're high maintenance. The pasta was light, the sauce was made with real tomatoes, everything tasted uber fresh. It isn't often you eat an entire plate of pasta and not feel painfully full after, but the servings were just right. And the food had a clean, authentic taste.
My GF had the Aunt Louisa's Sunday's meat sauce with pappardelle noodles. She had eaten it before they set it down. I had a taste and my eyebrows raised so high they're still coming down.
We ordered a carafe of wine, reasonably priced and a proper precursor to the Ravinia show we were about to see.
The dessert tray is a work of art and never ending. Raspberry sorbet in a dark chocolate shell. White chocolate gelato. Banana slices submerged in chocolate, peanuty magic.
Service was great. We got lucky with the wait, it can get pretty piled up outside. Parking was easy and abundant. A few outdoor tables. Only 15 minutes from Ravinia. We'll be eating here again, fo' sho'.
Wow this place serious is a whole in the wall. It took me 20 mintues to finally spot the little sign behind that other little sign on Skokie. But when you walk through the parking lot you think, what kinda CEO, Superstar, high roller, big baller goes to a whole in the wall?!
Answer is - all of them! For a damn good reason. The food here is AMAZING. We ordered the Bruchetta to start and it came out with fresh tomatoes and garlic. The bread was grilled so it was smoky and crispy. Great dish I am definitely adding garlic to my future home Bruchetta escapades.
My entree was the Osso Buco over a bed of rissotto. I was hopeful for a good rissotto and it was amazing. It spread perfectly and mixed with the juices from the veal it became even more delicious. The veal was fall off the bone tender and so damn flavorful. I put it all down and licked my plate after.
The only problem I had was that the meal got really salty by the end of the meal, a typical problem when roasting.
Atmosphere was lively and friendly, but you were elbow to elbow in that little room. On a busy night expect to wait.
Like eating in my own kitchen-except I don't have a blackboard with the menu written out.  If you don't mind crowds and a bit of a wait, you will not be disappointed.  This place delivers.  Authentic taste.  They were cash only and have recently accepted plastic  (now I can eat dessert too).
This is the only Italian restaurant I will go outside of "Little Italy".
Damn good italian.
Theres two places I would go in the city for what I would call Nannas italian food...where you feel like you are eating some meatabaalls and saaaasuage...
this place is one and has fresh pasta. Viaggio in the city is the other.
Lasagna is awesome
salads are awesome
i love the papperdelle pasta and raviolis.
mangia
This place is amazing if you know when to go. They are closed Tuesdays so going on Monday is Yuck! The food is not fresh. But go on a Wednesday and you could have the best Italian meal in all of Chicago. And they are not even in Chicago! Food is good thru Saturday. After that, go somewhere else and wait for Wed. To roll around.
The snapper vesuvio is outstanding!!!
Get there early, get there often. All the serves have been working there for 17+ years, the owner stands in the back and gets tables for his best customers and friends, and their menu is written on the wall.
The spinach bread was amazing, and we had the best calamari of our lives. Everyone enjoyed something different for dessert, and it was all delicious, savory, and came in large portions.
It is an extremely small place, less than 20 tables, so they'll cram you in and get you out, but if you're an optimist, it's just part of the experience. Best meal I've had in Chicago, hands down.
Key Yelp: Â Not convinced. Â I will go back, but I am thinking people are getting caught up in the "allure" or history as opposed to the food. Â N.B. NO RESERVATIONS, COLD, HARD CASH ONLY!.
Review: Â Went on Sat night, party of four. Â Our first table was really bad - in the middle of all the server traffic and very little elbow room between tables. Â We requested a switch and were accommodated. Â The resturant is small, dark and a bit loud, but very tolerable.
The chalkboard looked very, very promising.  We tried the famous "hole in the wall" salad, it was OK.  Nothing inspired per se, plain iceberg lettuce, though the artichoke hearts and peppers are a must to add some color and life to it.  We shared spideni as a hot app;  again, sounded better than the execution.  Very bready, lack of cohesiveness between the layers of mozzerella, tomatoe.  It was prepared well, but not a memorable  dish.  The thing that bothered me was it looked redundant to the loaf of bread on the table. Â
My friend ordered a chicken entree with peppers and veggies (perhaps chicken Francesco?), a peasant dish that looked great, with crispy chicken, sauce and tons o' garlic. Â I tasted: it was OK - albeit dry.
We shared a simple spinach fettuccine with bologonese and goat cheese. Â Very fresh tasting, home made pasta. Â Sauce was very meaty and good, but the chicken base lacked the "oomph" I have experienced with similar preperations. Â The effect was a fine but somewhat bland dish - also, the goat cheese did not work. Â Portions are huge, BTW.
I need to go back and order classics (which I did not see) veal parm, or saltimbocca, the southern comfort foods I love and see how they do them. Â Contrast this with my meal last week in San Diego at an old school Italian, Â BACI, which blew this place away.
Service was fast, attentive but a bit cold. Â Wine list is way too short, not enough Italian varietals. Â We did not eat dolce, but it looked very good.
As a New Yorker, I think this is one of these Chicago places that frankly is just not as good as its local reputation. Â However, the menu, portions and price point are very good, so a return visit is required before rendering a final verdict.
Foodwide, Francesco's is 'Old school Italian'. Â Just tremendous high quality food. Â They would fit in just fine in any Little Italy anywhere in the country and more than hold their own.
Like all Yelpers, I would expect you to browse the multiple reviews to get opinions from many people. Â I will second what you will hear from the others: quaint, homey, charming,very high quality ingredients, and attentive service WITHOUT any hovering.
They have a great menu from osso buco, to a multitude of pasta dishes, to shrimp scampi that people intend to share but can't when it's sharing time. Â Chilean sea bass on a bed of spinach - OMG perfect. Â Mushroom risotto that must have been prepared by the ristotto gods. Â I have been here half a dozen times in the last 2-3 years and although the menu changes they are consistently outstanding.
Some important notes. Â It's a small restaurant. Â They can, and do, get crowded. Â Call ahead and they'll give you an honest guesstimate of how long a wait it might be. The waiting area is tiny, BUT they own the bar next door which is a mere 90 feet away door to door. Â They will announce your name in the second place too! Â Last thing - no joke it's CASH only. Â I have seen 'em take a check, but it seems to be from serious regulars. Â Check out the great pics - Robert DeNiro, and Tony Amonte and Jeremy Roenick sporting mullets.
REAL Italian food.
This is the original hole-in-the wall restaurant in the Chicago area. Â None of your run of the mill chintzy pastas and pizzas here. Â The menu is written on a massive chalkboard at the back end of the restaurant, and the food is just plain amazing. Â When you walk in, you take in the cozy ambiance and dim light, and can't help but notice the celebrity photos all over the place; testimonials to the deliciousness that dwells within.
I can't say enough good things about this place. Â Only, as with most good restaurants, with small capacities, expect to wait around a bit.
By far the best Italian meal you will ever have. You must start your meal with the Hole in the Wall Salad, and a house special is the Veal Parmesan. And best of all... it is very moderately priced.
Yes, there is a wait on a busy night - but walk next door to "Next Door," which has great chips and a fantastic wine list. Conveniently they are both owned by the same people, and they will gladly tell you when your table is ready.
One small dining room, no more than fifteen tables, and the menu is written out nightly on a big chalkboard. Â Whenever I walk into Hole In The Wall, I feel like I've been transported to something you'd find on the set of The Godfather. Â More often than not, the people seated in the foyer waiting for tables are speaking Italian. Â And there are ALWAYS people waiting for tables; they don't take reservations.
The menu is small, but the food is delicious; I recommend the Chicken Vesuvio, but you can't go wrong with anything else.  The staff are always friendly, as are most of the other patrons.  It's true that they don't take credit cards, which is a bit of an inconvenience; however, this is almost always a sign of a great business, you know that their clientle is strong enough and loyal enough to keep coming back  despite the inconvenience.
you can also phone in an order to carry-out, this is a great way to avoid the typically-long wait for a table; the food doesn't lose much for being taken home before it's eaten.
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