Reviews of Francesca's Italian Kitchen Christchurch. (Restaurant) in Christchurch (Canterbury).

Name: Francesca's Italian Kitchen Christchurch
Address: 149 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand, Christchurch, Canterbury
Telephone: +6433749790
Price range: €€
Rating: 4.5

Francesca's Italian Kitchen Christchurch

824 Reviews

381 Comments

Francesca's Italian Kitchen Christchurch

Restaurant

149 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand

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Description Map Open Hours Reviews Contact Photos

Description

Information of Francesca's Italian Kitchen Christchurch, Restaurant in Christchurch (Canterbury)

Here you can see the location, open hours, popular times, contact, photos and real reviews done by the users.

This place has good reviews, this means that they treat their customers well and you’ll feel great with their services, recommended 100%!

Map

Open hours of Francesca's Italian Kitchen Christchurch

Sunday

12–2:30pm, 5–9pm

Monday

12–2:30pm, 5–9pm

Tuesday

12–2:30pm, 5–9pm

Wednesday

12–2:30pm, 5–9pm

Thursday

12–2:30pm, 5–9pm

Friday

12–2:30pm, 5–9pm

Saturday

12–2:30pm, 5–9pm

Popular times

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Reviews of Francesca's Italian Kitchen Christchurch

Lovely little italian restaurant in central city. The wait for the food was a bit long (~30+ minutes), however there were many full tables in the restaurant with big orders, so the wait was understandable. The wait for the food was worth it though, as the pizzas were absolutely divine, especially the Tartufo! I'll be coming back for more. The service was also great, as the staff were very accommodating with changes in my reservation and general hospitality within the restaurant. All in all, very worth going to, and I myself will definitely be headed back! Pros - >Great food >Lovely atmosphere >Good Location >Great staff Cons - >Wait times (Then again, this depends on the day etc.) >It can get quite busy, so may not be for everyone. >A bit on the pricey side for desserts.

Really excellent food and great service. My GF friend said the polenta chips were some of the best she’s ever had. I really enjoyed the pizza- I loved the chili oil on the pepperoni and the four cheese was so tasty but not too heavy on the cheese. Some of the best pizza in Chch.

After our garlic flatbread served as an appetizer. It is the best pizza base I have ever tasted. It is fluffy and light, and it is stuffed with garlic. It's a good start. The dough is well done and the pasta is also very good. They are definitely the two best Italian dishes we have ever eaten. It's delicious, the portion is moderate, and it ends with Italian cannelloni, which tastes good.

Great weekday lunch menu. My mushroom risotto was very tasty, wonderful comfort food on a cool day. Very quiet restaurant that deserves to be busier. Will definitely return and take friends.

The food is so mouthwatering. If you want to taste authentic Italian food in Christchurch then this is the place. It is a little pricey but the food is absolutely worth it. Perfect place for dates and family gatherings. Their menu is perfect for mushroom lovers and vegetarians! You do not have to worry, there is heaps of options for you. This place has my heart. Nothing is more romantic than Italian food. ♥️

Great wine, good cocktails, excellent starter dishes, mains were good but not the highlight of the night, decent desserts. Service was fantastic 🙂

Had an enjoyable lunch, the menu is set out in usual Italian format , antipasto, primi and do on. You can splash out and try everything, or as I did, skip to secondi (beautifully cooked and plated red cod on broccolini) and finish with dolci and caffe. The coffee was good (I opted for NZ style flat white). The Torta al Limone e Meringa was ok, but as it is a small individual pie the crust over powers the curd and meringue making it a bit heavy and the base was still a little chilled, so flavours of the cremeux and meringue were hard to discern. Apparently the Cannoli and the Budino Cremosa were very good. I didn't try the whole menu so not possible to give 5 stars, but all in all a very enjoyable, good service, nice ambiance and not an expensive lunch if you eat judiciously.

My girlfriend and I came here for our one year anniversary. The waiter that served us was really good and was very attentive of my dietary requirements. The food was amazing and so was the dessert. My girlfriend ended up leaving him a tip at the end of the night because of how great he was. Will definitely come back here again 🙂

Amazing food and lovely atmosphere, with a great drinks menu, but sadly this was let down by poor service- no smiles, no engagement or conversation at all from the person who waited on our table.

Amazing 🤩 The pasta here was delicious. I haven’t eaten Italian much before however my taste buds knew this was next level 😝

We came by this place without reservations and it was almost full, but the staff were most welcoming and accommodating. We managed to get a seat. The food was exceptional and hit all the right spots. We ordered a gnocchi with beef cheek - tender and flavourful cheek, tender gnocchi. The napoletan pizza's dough was spot on and the toppings were incredible. We finished off with a tiramisu and it was out of this world. 10/10 would definitely recommend.

Pricy but amazing food. The braised beef cheeks were the most tender I've had. The dessert was beautiful to look at and tasted just as good. Would definitely come back for another special occasion.

Fantastic location, vibe, food and service. The beef cheek & lamb were tender, the portion sizes generous, wine choices top notch and the gnocchi was light fluffy, crispy with notes of cheddar & fresh lemon. I've never tasted gnocchi this good. Would definitely recommend, use entertainment book to leave your wallet as satisfied as your taste buds. 10/10

Amazing Italian food, relaxed atmosphere, friendly, helpful, courteous staff. . .we are never disappointed with Francesca's. . .World class dining!

Dinner for one at Francesca’s Italian Kitchen. Service: 5 x ⭐️ Food: 5 x ⭐️ Value: 3.5 ⭐️

Absolute perfection! I ordered the slow cooked beef cheek and gnocchi and it was divine - I wish I knew their secrets!! Also loved the setting - large tables, and spacious dining area. Service was great! P.S. They are also in the Entertainment Book for 2-4-1 Main Meals, thank you - we will certainly be back!

Came here for dinner, was a fantastic experience! The food and service were absolutely brilliant, I really can’t recommend coming here enough. Make sure you order the flatbreads, they’re sooo good! Also the carafe of wine was delicious and excellent value. I had a mushroom risotto that was to die for, very well recommended!

Amazing food and the service was fantastic. A wonderful restaurant for families and friends.

Amazing food, great service, can't fault this place at all. We called ahead to book a table at 7 but none available till 8, then we got a courtesy call from the restaurant at 7:15 saying a table had become available, amazing service , thank you

This was my first time trying some beautiful authentic Italian. Excellent service from friendly staff, great presentation and flavors. A perfect selection of wines to go with fabulous flavoured meals. The side dishes were generous enough to share. Well done Francescas, definitely coming back.

Francesca’s was one of the top culinary experiences I’ve had in Christchurch and will now be one of the few places I will happily recommend to visitors without adding caveats. The staff was all friendly and very helpful and the food was even better. We had an early booking, because we planned our Saturday night only a few days in advance (it was just a random July Saturday), but that didn’t take away from anything. We had the beef carpaccio, garlic bread, gnocchi with beef cheek ragu, and a pizza with a name I can’t remember. All were tremendous, but surprisingly, the pizza stood out with the most interesting and well-balanced taste. It seemed they had someone assigned only to making pizzas in the wood-fired pizza oven (and garlic flat-bread) and he was definitely doing a fantastic job. We will definitely be back.

I've been to a fair share of italian restaurants in NZ and this is one of the better ones out there. Big thumbs up to their clams dish and their beef cheek gnocchi. The flavour of the wine broth for the clams was on point, tasty and light(some places have them too salty or too bland). Their beef cheek gnocchi main was beautiful, their gnocchi was slightly crisp on the outside and pillowy melt in your mouth soft on the inside. Seriously the best gnocchi I've had in NZ so far. Their other dishes like the polenta fries, prawn paccheri pasta and lamb shoulder raging pappardelle was done well but did not stand out as much as their gnocchi and clam dish. Least favourite dish was the pizza. Overall, italian food done well, will be back to try their dessert and risotto. Service was friendly and attentive, fast serving time. Note that they do have a 2 hour dining time limit.

Stumble upon this by chance, tried the gnocchi and it did not disappoint. The service was very quick and the waitress was attentive. Food was delicious, bit on the salty side but would had been best served with a slice of bread perhaps. Ordered a cappuccino and was ok. Overall had a pleasant experience, bit on the up market side (pricey) I think if my dish came with complementary sides i.e bread would have secured a higher rating.

The mushroom bruschetta and beef capacio were the perfect start to an amazing meal. Both superb and flavorful with an amazing touch to presentation. The mains, beef cheek gnocchi and lamb shoulder parpadelle were absolutely supreme. The meat was tender enough to separate with a fork and was perfect with every mouthful. Please never overlook this amazing Italian restaurant. Would never hesitate to eat here again, even to say the best Italian I've had in new zealand. 10/10. Also big ups to the wait staff, very polite and attentitive. Could not fault in anyway even if I tried.

Amazing Italian food. The owner clearly sets very high standard on the food served here.

The staff were kind and helpful. Good atmosphere! Clean! My friend and I had a cheese pizza, seafood pasta and sparkling water. Very good portion and the tasty😊 they were incredible!

Delicious food, good service. A very welcoming place. Good food. Lovely staff.

Delicious food and great service. I've recommended this place to my friends already!

Had the Braised Beef Cheek Gnocchi which was delicious. And for dessert we tried the Torta Mousse al Cioccolato e Gelato all'Amarena. It was divine. Will definitely be back.

Great food and service. Best Pizza and Pepperroni in NZ. Service is impeccable. Ambience is nice as well. Will definitely be back.

Great pasta and the best tiramisu you'll ever have. Make reservations because its busy any day of the week. We were lucky to snipe a table and saw 10 groups get turned down throughout our meal. Lamb ragu was to die for. Would definitely go again.

The food was magnificent, the people were wonderful and the setting was beautiful. Next time we're in Christchurch, we'll be back 😊

Great polenta fries, Pinot gris was not dry as I asked but was fine with food. Was very hot inside due to the pizza oven. Good location.

Delicious pizza and mushroom risotto. A must visit while in Christchurch, also great service.

Came upon this busy Italian restaurant nearby the hotel, had a quick meal. The Prawn tomato pasta is very tasty, and the Tiramisu never fail. Great choice for the evening! The cocktail is a tap weak, but still good.

We were recommended to book at this restaurant by a friendly young lady (Jordie??) who happened to work there. We thought if she is confident enough to do that it must be good and we were not disappointed. Great food, great service and a great atmosphere. The 3 staff we dealt with on the night were great

We had great lunch. Tasty food and good atmosphere

Authentic Italian pizza baked in a woodfired venison. Look nice and taste delicious too. Friendly service .

We have been here a few times and have been trying to get back as every visit it hits the top mark. And last night was no exception! Thank you Nellie our waitress. Superb service with that extra effort! Made for memorable night with fabulous food - entree main desert the works. Till next time & if you’ve not been put on your to do!!! Bellissimo

Good menu and service. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. I will go again:)

Good service and nice food, we were just a walk in but got a table at the window. Nice lamb pasta

Great PIZZA!!!! Highly recommend calling up/ dropping by to see if you can book a table as it was really busy on a Sunday night. The pizzas were very yummy and piping hot, easily comparable to some I’ve had in Italy! Was very reasonably priced and very tasty! If in Christchurch I will definitely be visiting again!!!

Great service and a fantastic atmosphere. The waitress was really lovely and nothing seemed a hassle. I was a little disappointed with my main though. I ordered the vegetarian gnocchi - it was good but the tomato sauce was quite watery. A real shame as it sounded amazing from what I read on the menu. The Polenta Fries were also quite bland unfortunately :(

Friendly and helpful staff, delicious and authentic Italian food. The beef cheeks and gnocchi was delicious. Highly recommended! Great wine list too!

Miss 14 asked, "Can you rate this place?" "Sure," I replied. "What rating do you want to give it?" "Five," she said. "Why?" "Because it is really yummy and the waiter is really nice." Didn't see a Covid-19 QR Code.

I went here once because it was next to venue I attended for my alumni event and I was pleasantly surprised with how great everything was. The staff were attentive and friendly, the service was fast, the food quality and presentation was excellent. I ordered the fish main and was super happy with my choice. The broccolini was crunchy, the mashed potato was creamy and the fish was SO TENDER. I'm so pleased that I've stumbled across a well-loved gem!

$15 Lunch specials, good value and large portions, really filling

Love the place, food, services, most staff apart from one are welcoming, attentive, and friendly. Would've been a 5 stars experience if that one staff wasn't serving our table. But still pretty amazing right from the start. They worked with me over the phone to find a time that they are able to fit us in on the same day. Food ordering was nice and easy, table services quick. We were asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu again when we had already ordered our desserts up front. Linguine with prawns are of good size and the sauce was special. Pepperoni pizza had fresh vege on top added that extra layer of texture to it, and the freshly made and baked crust is so crunch outside and soft inside. Our little one almost had the whole garlic flat bread all by himself. Will definitely go back and highly recommend.

My mother and i had an amazing meal! We shared a pizza which was delicious and we both had mock tails which were refreshing. We then finished our meal off with tiramisu and wow! Best tiramisu, so delicious. Staff were friendly and attentive also. Will definitely be coming back!

Great food avd service

Excellent food, wine and service. The braised beef cheek gnocchi is a must. Delicious Italian food.

I've been out for dinner a few times lately and nothing's really impressed me until we went to Francesca's last night. It was so incredibly delicious. Great staff, menu was varied and enticing, quick service and warm ambience. We can't wait to go back.

Authentic Italian! My mum used to cook this food very similarly at home and it took me back to some really great memories. Really great time I had with my girlfriend and the food was fantastic. Will be coming here again in the future! For the price you pay it is certainly worth it.

Went to Francesca's for my birthday with my flatmates and we all loved our experience. We had gnocchi with beef cheek, rosemary flat bread and garlic bread which was all good quality and tasty. The service was fast and friendly. Would definitely go back again

The staff was super friendly and helpful. ordered pizza & pasta, The portions were enough for two people to share. The food was DELICIOUS, specially the pizza and the price was good. Will definitely come back again!

New Years eve dinner in Francesca. It was a perfect choice ♥️

WOW! First Time at Francesca's, the restaurant was minimalistic and cool, the service was first class and the atmosphere was lovely However, the food was A-Mazing..... Polenta fries to start - yuss they were good! Merino lamb shoulder ragu for main - it was soooooo good!! With the true test of any Italian restaurant, tiramisu for dessert....... The best I've ever had!!! The only disappointment was that no one came to ask about our meals so we could gush about how good they were. My new favourite Italian restaurant - We will be back!!!!

Could not fault a thing! The food really took me back to our holiday in Europe, The service was on point and never had to wait too long for anything, it wasn’t too loud/over-crowded, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. Enjoyed every bit!

We have been wanting to eat here for a while now but haven't been successful as they are always busy when you don't book in. But the wait was well worth it, best risotto I've ever had. Service was great. My husband is a chef and very picky, but even he enjoyed the food very much. I think we have found our new favourite restaurant. Just yummy

This was just a bit of a quick, late dinner after a couple of drinks so didn't get a chance to try much, but the Summer Carbonara that I had was really bloody good. I assume it's a season dish, so try it out soon. I'd definitely go back, but would partake of a full three courses next time!

Unequivocally the best Italian in Christchurch. I have visited here half a dozen times and have never been disappointed. Perfect for a first date, or anniversary the atmosphere is beautiful. Awesome menu, and for the wine Enthusiasts the choice of reds is fantastic. A truly authentic Italian experience located here in Christchurch.

Food was excellent. Will go again. Able to cater for anyone with dietary needs

Excellent wood fired pizzas and fresh salads, nicely served in a high quality setting. Classy, not fancy, reasonably priced for what you get. 4 pizzas were ample for five hungry people.

Awesome food. Very authentic Italian. Ordered a salami pizza and was fantastic. They also said that they could do children specific menu which my 4 year old enjoyed. Wine and Fransesca beer was also good

Fantastic food. Took us a while tk find a spot we liked but so glad we settled on this place. We got in really late just before closing but the staff still served us, and we pleasant about it too. Didn't rush us. The food was very high quality - definitely fine dining. Not the cheapest place we could have eaten but worth it. I got the lamb shoulder, was cooked to perfection with very high quality meat.

My group of 30 and I dined at Francesca's in the weekend. I had the seafood pasta which was paired beautifully with a glass of Nautilis sauvignon blanc! Both my tummy and heart were very content at the end of the night. Staff were amazing and accommodated to all our needs really well.

My girlfriend and I came here last night for dinner. We were blown away by the service and food! Our waitress was so accommodating and so lovely. The pizza and pasta was definitely the best we have had in Christchurch :) we will definitely be coming back!

Really tasty, simple dishes well executed. We were a group of ten and everyone loved their meals. Staff were effecient and friendly. A very good dining experience indeed.

Fabulous lunch here today! It's great to see one of Christchurch's nicest restaurants keeping up its high standards, even in trying times! Thanks for the great service too 👍

OMW we had the best time. The moment we walked in we received an celebratory prosecco on our 3 year anniversary. The food from starters through to dessert was just amazing. Most friendly staff. Can't wait to come back for more!

I've been past here a number of times, never had a chance to go in. The menu is nice and select, with some old Italian favourites. Thank you for being accommodating with some of the changes we wanted made, we absolutely loved the food, and we will be returning. Vegetarian friendly options

Great food and dining experience. Recommend, and will be back.

Quality through and through, friendly informative staff, food was excellent.

The best Italian food in Christchurch. The Woodfired pizzas are unreal.

Contemporary Italian restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. The service was friendly and efficient. We enjoyed all our dishes which were freshly cooked and served hot. Loved the fact there was no load music only the sound of people enjoying themselves.

Went to Francesca's with the family for Mum's 72nd birthday and we all had a great time. The service was fantastic, and the food was bloody brilliant! Would highly recommend! They even take into consideration guests who are heading to the theater and in for early dinners 😊

Went there for an evening with the team. Had to shuffle reservations, and staff was extremely accommodating. The food was great. I have eaten my way through Italy when I lived back in Europe, and found the food as authentic as you can get it here. Really good eating, portions were just nice, and the pricing is appropriate and not over the top. Great value. The service was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and quick. Will definitely return and can recommend.

Love this place. Third visit now. Fantastic food. Had the merino lamb shoulder. The meat was perfect, so tender. Staff are wonderful, very attentive and quick with taking drinks orders, the food orders. The place was busy but food service was good, didn't wait long. They have improved the seating as well much more room to move around.

We went on Saturday night. The service was quick, even when the restaurant was full. The waiter was polite and helpful. Potatoes skins were delicious, the pepperoni pizza had a good balance of sauce and pepperoni, the base was thin but not crunchy. The tiramisu is worth making room for.

Since Francescas opened their doors, I have wanted to dine here. I love good Italian food and was encouraged to hear so many friends and colleagues speaking highly of it. So much so, I needed to try it for myself. When I walked in, I didn't notice the simple decor, it was the fragrant aromas from the kitchen that lured me in. Our waitress was enthusiastic, professional and helped make for a lovely evening with some well placed quips. When I left I was repleat and I realised that they didn't need to distract your focus with an opulent decor as the food spoke for itself. It was simple, beautiful, delicious. Will I return? Is the Pope catholic?! And, I want to try every dish on the menu.

Food was awesome. Great taste, tender meat, fluffy gnocchi. Dessert was light and refreshing. Staff attentive and we appreciated the restaurant didn't squash tables together in order to cater for more customers on Valentine's Day.

Friendly staff and delicious food 😋 We got seated and served even without a booking and the service was amazing.

We went on a Wednesday evening. The restaurant was almost completely full and we did need to book ahead of time. The wait staff were friendly and very quick. I got a pizza and my partner got a beef genocchi . She absolutely loved her meal. My pizza was nice, but a little mild flavoured, could have done with a bolder taste. Most of the mains were mid 20s to mid 30s in price which is pretty normal. Overall an enjoyable evening but didn't quite wow me.

Heading down Gloucester st we found Francesca, a Pizza restaurant. The menu was interesting and the service friendly and efficient. The Italian lager brewed locally was well balanced and delicious. The bruschetta was perfect while the pizza was being prepared, mushrooms and truffle oil made it as a great main. A good dinner, we will be back!

Friendly service and great tasty food.

As always a great place for dinner. The service is attentive but not intrusive. Importantly there is no intrusive music, just a background of chatter and clinking.

Wow! What a pleasant experience! The food was spectacular and the service was simply divine! Maya our waitress was incredible and served us with a beautiful smile on her face all the time. Could not have a better experience in a restaurant. Thank you guys 👏🏼

Very friendly and well trained staff. We had a lovely meal, which was well priced and very tasty. Lots of choice on the menu too. Restaurant was full on the Sunday evening that we ate here. Would thoroughly recommend this eatery .

The best gnocchi I have ever had. Soft and yes, like little pillows. The limoncello and gin and tonic was a great way to start the night.

Oh my goodness so yummy, great service too.

The true italian experience, grazie mólto! Great pizza, great polenta fries, great gnocchi hummm and this wine list... Mamamia!! I even feel the italian sun shining on my skin while I am writing this thinking of the experience I got in this place...

Fantastic dining experience, lovely staff with great atmosphere. I thought it was particularly good how they brought out all the orders at once. We have a pizza and pasta dish to share each, each was phenomenal and worth getting one of each!

We had a belated 60th birthday celebration tonight at francesca. Great service. We all enjoyed our meals. The orecchiette was a standout for me. However I was disappointed with the budino which was not as described in the francesca s cookbook as being basically a chocolate fondant which should be served warm but a dish of cold brownie cut up into small pieces covered with a cream of sorts.

Delicious pasta with great ambiance... Pizza was average and generally a bit pricey. Lovely restaurant though and would have the house made gnocchi with beef cheeks again. Scrumptious.

Went here for a friends birthday a couple of months ago ... I would have to say one of the best Italian places in Christchurch. Good service (for me - The lady serving got a couple of meals wrong). My meal was great. I shared with a friend so got to have the pizza and the pasta :) The gnocchi just melted in your mouth. Yummmm thinking about it is making me hungry again.

Amazing food! Great atmosphere and tight restaurant. Great service. Super fast, amazing wine! Everything was great. Make sure you make a reservation, though I walked in and somebody had just made a cancellation. Try the Nero D’abola wine from Sicily. Great test, and great price too!

Great food as always although we waited far too long - over an hour for our food - on what wasn't that busy a night. I've been there 3 or 4 times before on much busier nights and never had such a long wait for meals :(

Beetroot, goats cheese and walnut salad to die for. Potatoe skins topped off the starters. Lamb ragout devine! Pea and asparagus risotto was up there with best I have had. Cannot wait for my next visit.

Service as usual friendly efficient. Food absolutely beautiful. Recommend a visit. Not many people at lunchtime as not such a hub bub in central Christchurch. Wort a visit.

Customer service was really good; the bartender was wandering around all the time looking for us to want some more wine. The pork belly was tender, but the potatoes were floating in the sauce. Also the salami-pizza was way too saulty! The toilets were very tidy. Overall, I would recommnend this place.

+ Good effort at making proper Italian pizza + Pizza dough is thin, fluffy and soft - Pizza dough should have more flavor - Was lacking a bit of basil on the margarita - Vegetarian pizza options all have things I don't like (truffle oil, feta...), please offer a few that are a margarita with some more regular toppings, not fancy stuff

Food was delicious from crunchy potato skins, delicious pizza, risotto, salads and yummy desserts. Our waitress was very professional

We've been to Francesca's Kitchen a couple of times, and it was excellent service and great food both times. We'll be going back again for sure!

Just had a last minute lunch before leaving for airport, staff are very pleasant and polite. Pizza was amazing and restaurant had great surroundings. The total cost exceptional good for such fresh and great quality food. Thanks for making my last day in Christchurch finish on a hi. Peter

Best Risotto we have tasted for a long time. Quite cool/cold in the room, so much so we didn't take our jackets off. Would like to see a wider selection of pastas on the menu. I guess the menu will develop over time. Our visit was on the 2nd night open. Will definitely go back to try the pizzas as they looked amazing. Great staff.

Delicious food, good service. Would absolutely reccomend starters of polenta fries and ravioli with sage and brown butter. To die for

Fantastic experience and absolutely delicious food. We had diner there on a Tuesday night. It was definitely THE best Italian food we’ve ever had. We had the beef cheek potato gnocchi, lamb ragu, margarita pizza and a tiramisu. The beef cheeks and lamb were so soft and tender that they fell apart just by pulling it with a fork. The gnocchi was crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth soft on the inside and the sauce for the ragu was perfection. The margarita pizza was delectable, and the tomato base was really great too. Tiramisu was so good. The mascarpone was light on the palate and matched perfectly with the espresso and the liquor. I could totally eat two bowls of it and not feel queasy! The service was marvellous, and the staff were super friendly and attentive. Do make a booking as it could be hard to get a table through walk-ins, especially during dinner. 10/10 would recommend!!

Great food all around. We had the beef carpaccio, beef cheek gnocchi and prawn linguine. Fantastic flavors and professional service. Pity we were so engrossed with the food we forgot to take any photos to share.

Great Italian food. Have visited 3 or 4 times now. Love the Duck Risotto and the lamb shoulder ragu with parpadelle. Wasn't too impressed with NZ white wine options. Service is good.

Incredible food & ambiance. We shared the veggie gnocci and the the pumpkin risotto. THE best! Especially the gnocci 😍 We also enjoyed a delicious limoncello and cannoli as dessert - I will say that they seem known for their pizza so we will have to try that next time!

Lovely authentic italian food. Great staff and a welcoming inclusive place to share good food and company

A lovely spot in Christchurch to stop for dinner, make a reservation and make a date out of it. A warming atmosphere for those cold Canterbury plain evenings. From the entrees, mains and even dessert had us wanting more. Fairly basic menu but everything is done just right.

Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Have been to the one in Wanaka also and loved it too. Real shame about no one telling us about the surcharge however... "The Commerce Commission says if businesses charge additional surcharges over Easter, they must clearly disclose them and accurately describe the reasons for the surcharge to avoid breaching the Fair Trading Act 1986" But other than this, one of my favourite places to fine dine in CHCH

Delicious food and great service ❤️. We ordered the polenta chips, prawn linguine, and pepperoni pizza. They all exceeded our expectations - definitely would come back again.

Food was sort of bland and poorly prepared - surprising to find overlooked pasta in a place that calls out their Italian connection. Service was also not ideal, but this was the same night as the hospitality awards so it’s understandable that the staff was distracted.

A delightful authentic Italian-style dining experience. Situated by the Isaac Royal Theatre and not far from the New Regent St precinct. The service was attentive and friendly. We ordered confit duck leg on lentil risotto which was creamy and flavours were well-balanced. The other dish was pesto gnocchi served with slow-cooked beef cheeks; the gnocchi was light and fluffy and beef cheeks were melting into mouth. Buon appetito!

Very generous food servings, authentic Italian flavours and wonderful service. A must visit when in Christchurch.

After reading other reviews we booked a table for four. We were not disappointed. We started with the pear and gorganzola salad as well as the kale and apple. Both were very good. For mains we ordered the quattro formaggio pizza, lamb ragu pappardelle, the grouper fish of the day and the gnocchi with broccoli and broad beans. All were thoroughly enjoyable and very tasty. We were all impressed by Francesca's Italian Kitchen and I highly recommend this dining establishment.

This place is amazing!! it only has a 4.5 star rating. I couldn't believe it so I dicided to review this place. By far the best and only true Italian restaurant I have been to in Chch so far and I'm from Melbourne so my Italian food standards are high. Authentic feeling as soon as you walk in. Cute intermate setting with amazing attentive waiters. Food is fresh And delicious!!. Highly rated the Beef check Gnocchi and lamb Ragu. Smaller portions but that just Meant I had room for Dessert aswell.

I've been to Francesca's three times now and it's becoming a favourite. The food is delicious, the service is very polite and efficient. The atmosphere/vibe is great, prices are reasonable considering the quality. Will be back.

Great place to eat before a show at the town hall, but you'll have to book ahead on those nights. Pasta's not amazing, but pizzas and mains are really good. Love the carpaccio.

We really enjoyed our meal here. The menu choice was good and the food well prepared. The staff were particularly pleasant and helpful

Great food. Went for lunch and thought it was the best Italian restaurant we have been to in Christchurch.

Nice service. The clams were delicious. Perfectly cooked with great sauce and the black garlic bread was amazing. The green salad was one of the best I have had because it was good ingredients done simply. The polenta chips were crispy and not oily or stodgy and truffle aioli divine. But our two pastas were a bit of a let down. Lamb ragu was lamby but the sauce was weak and had no depth of tomato and the pappardelle was over cooked. The spinach and ricotta tortolini was too claggy with ricotta and no spinach flavour and definitely not enough sage in the sage and butter sauce,

Simply fabulous, the food was so tasty, fantastic flavours, we ordered the garlic flat bread and the polenta fries for our starters, flat bread was fresh made on site and so light, the garlic was not overpowering either. The polenta fries came with some sort of aoli really creamy a great accompaniment to the crispy, crunchy polenta fries. For our main it was pizza, margherita for me, Tartufo (mushroom with black truffle oil) for one of my colleagues Salsiccia (pork sausage) for my other colleague. Just delicious, the base was so crispy & super thin. Will definitely be coming back for dinner! Couldn't fault the servers really lovely friendly & very professional staff

Beautiful food without the pretentious prices. Restaurant was superior in both ambience and taste compared to other Italian eateries in this city. The attendant was nice enough to allow us into the restaurant even when I misplaced the booking.

Had a wonderful evening. Delicious food and fantastic atmosphere but... please please play italian music or have it at a reasonable volume! When I dined here there was nothing and it would add sooo much to an already fantastic experience :)

We had a really disappointing experience at Francesca’s tonight. We called up earlier in the day and made a booking for 7, however when we got there they said they had no record of this and after sitting us down with menus told us that we had to go, even though the next booking wasn’t until 2 hours away. This really put us out, as it’s reasonably hard to find a last minute booking for a group of 7! Luckily the guys at O.G.B restaurant (a different restaurant) came to our rescue and we had an absolutely delicious dinner in the end! I understand things like this happen, but how you deal with mistakes like this is part of the experience... and I feel like we were really let down. Addition: Since posting this review, they have personally called me up to apologize, which I really appreciated.

Perfect food and service, high quality for reasonable prices, would gladly revisit. 4/5 only because I find the environment slightly cold. Very warm service helps make up for this. Very highly recommended.

Food was nice but unfortunately felt rushed to eat.... table for 2 booked at 6.30pm and felt they wanted the turn around for next seating too quickly. We ordered two starters (clams and bruschetta) and were still finishing them when our waitress arrived with our mains. She took our plates away which still had our bread on it that we were eating!!! We asked for it back as we hadn’t finished and now our mains are on the table as well. Shame really as we were out celebrating our wedding anniversary and it spoilt our night. We wanted to relax and enjoy our meal and not feel rushed.

Had the lunch special. It was super good! Really good atmosphere and the service was excellent. Food came out at a reasonable time. Overall a great experience.

The food is amazing, awesome wine list and desserts. Friendly staff, and the price is super reasonable for how high quality everything is ❤️

Amazing Italian restaurant. Delicious food and great wine options. Attentive and friendly waiters.

Came here once for a birthday dinner and I enjoyed it so much. It was so good and the staff were really friendly, I can't wait to come back and eat here again. It was such a good experience!

Buzzing little place. Good Italian vibe. Meals took longer than expected to arrive but they were delicious. The waitress was attentive and made sure we were all happy and well watered!

To die for DELICIOUS! And great service, good wine. Not a single bad thing to say about this place 😁 will be going back! Everything we had was divine, but especially the zucchini bruschetta entree, definitely try it if you get the chance

Good service. Food was solid. I was expecting larger portions based on other Italian restaurants I've been to but it was definitely adequate.

Amazing service and food. Absolutely beautiful place to go. The food was so well presented and the service also. We even had the chef come to the yableand explain some of the food which was an absolute treat! It is a lovely place to go just before the theatre next door.

Great italian food with good service, they had a lot of staff around so you never had to be waiting to long and everyone was very friendly. I got there early but it did get busy very quickly. I saw a few people being turned away who didn't have reservations because there wasn't enough room, so book ahead if you know you're going!

Lovely meal, well matched with the wine

Very friendly service and AMAZING food. Their pizza is delicious and light, their pasta with lamb ragout is mind blowing! This is my new favourite place in Chch. Definitely recommend to everyone who loves good Italian food.

Love this place, great food and service. The Best pizza I've had since being in Rome.

Tasty food, good service, nice decor, wood fired ovens

Been here several times. Food is delicious, atmosphere is great and staff are fabulous. Highly recommend.

Love The broccoli gnocchi. Perfect match

10/10 cannot fault this place. Great food, wine and atmosphere. Can’t wait to go back and would definitely recommend!

Very nice ,food good not brilliant but good QUITE expensive for what you got don't be put off still NICE....

Food was enjoyable but would not jump for joy over it. Not sure if the staff were having a bad night but the service was terrible! Asked for a drink menu and from then on it was like they had a vendetta against me for asking. Sure I heard the waiter say "I was difficult".

Modern and Cosy with traditional comforting foods that melt in your mouth and leave you questioning if you can get away with licking your plate in such a place. Every meal here has been thoroughly enjoyed.

Really good menu and wine list. Very friendly and efficient service. Good ambience and good value. Centrally located. Popular so recommend booking.

We came here for a meal on our honeymoon. The staff were kind and attentive, even offering us a glass of prosecco each to celebrate the occasion. Such a lovely touch. Strongly recommend the mussels, lamb ragu, gnocci and of course, rounding the meal off with the tiramisu. Best meal we had in Christchurch!

Try the licorice ice cream. A hit with both adults and children.

very nice place, young and friendly staff and the Tartufo Pizza was really delicious. prices are further reasonable for the quality food you get.. Definitely go there but better reserve a Table as it gets very crowded

Awesome service and a great tiramisu! Love it!

Found this place by accident and we certainly weren't disappointed! Great food with very friendly service. Thoroughly recommend Francesca's!!

Decent food. Food had some of room to improve though. My bruschetta didn’t taste very good. The fish was great. Service was pretty good.

We couldn't get enough of this place. To the point that we probably ate too much! The smoked salmon entree is plentiful and heavenly. Skip all other entrees and have this only. The beef cheek gnocchi was rich and perfectly cooked. If you're interested in cocktails, go the limoncello martini. It's sweet but not over powering. If you're full after two courses, share the tiramisu for dessert. It's everything tiramisu should be. If you still have room for more, grab a cannoli. Crispy shell filled with velvety custard. We would eat here every night if we could.

Never been a fan of Italian food, but this place changed my mind. Food was amazing!!

We booked Francesca's without having been there before...Wow! By far, the best restaurant that Christchurch has to offer. The food was beautiful, the atmosphere was warm, and the staff made it an experience to remember. We describe Francesca's as 'Tutto Bene on steroids' - a cut above one of the most popular restaurants in Christchurch.

Amazing food quality surroundings and lovely staff ! An excellent place to eat and unwind , they is a reason this place is always busy ❤😋

Food was great! Lovely restaurant would definitely go again.

Stays true to its origins, with its menu which appears authentic. Not wide ranging but is tasty. Can get busy and therefore noisy. Go early for peaceful dining.

Beautiful beautiful food!!! - friendly and welcoming staff - very alive atmosphere and great location - definitely will be going back 😊

Top food, excellent young ladies serving with humour and professionalism...not cheap ,but one of the best eating experiences in Christchurch..pasta, pizza (oven cooked in front of your eyes) are superbly done...wine list pretty comprehensive ...not to be missed for me is the garlic flatbread, but our party of four all had different meals and rated them as great.

I had the market fish, it was very oily and nothing special about it, Main pasta options are limited, everyone around seemed to be enjoy a pizza. Service was excellent!

My favourite Italian restaurant! My Mum used to live in Italy and loves going here because their pizzas and food are so authentic! Their dessert menu is to die for!

Apart from the great food l love the friendly staff. Always get a nice welcome and good service. Doesn't seem to matter how busy they are.

A large group of us great food well looked after nice restaurant buzz reasonably priced will be back

Excellent food, friendly staff and restaurant has a great vibe

Good food and service with spacious and nice atmosphere. Great place if you want to talk and hear what your dining companions are saying!

Best gnocchi I've had since Italy! Nice atmosphere, polite and friendly staff.

Wonderful pizza baked in the wooden oven by the italian pizza-chef . If you are looking for a taste of Italy, you shall definitely go! #NOPINEAPPLE!!! :D Service is extremely professional and focused on cuatomers' needs. Housemade Cannoli fresh and tasty! Well done! Ps. Prices are not exactly cheap! ;)

Enjoyed a fabulous meal at your new Christchurch restaurant last night, we were entertaining business guests who were also very suitably impressed. Just wanted to let you know that the google map linked from your website page with your exact location is incorrect...it has your building placed on the western side of Colombo Street in an area that is fenced off for the new convention centre.

The food here is utterly exceptional, and the service is always lovely. New favourite dinner date destination.

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Italian taste in CHCH city centre~

Food is super great, yummy and absolutely delicious. Cozy and staff are so friendly.

Lovely food.good menu.real Italian food.i had potato gnocchi with gorgonzola and spinach then a cannoli for dessert.great service and reasonable prices.good portion sizes as well.would go there again.

Food average, not much of a wine selection and the prawn pasta had hardly any prawns, so expensive for what you got. Ambience of restaurants was great.

Both the food and service were amazing! Definitely looking forward to going back another day!

Beautiful place, staff genuinely knowledgeable and you can see the pizza oven at work in the kitchen. Really good value, loved everything we tried!

Great food slightly different interpretation of carbonara. But a lovely light summer version. Pleasantly surprised.

Back for another round. Had pasta last time (the Beef cheek gnochi is awesome). Authentic Pizzas this time. Beautiful thin crust. Tasty toppings.

Lovely place and food is pretty good but slightly lacking in authentic flavour in the pasta dishes but the BEST polenta fries in town

Amazing food, amazing service, the only slight problem was understanding what I was ordering because I don't know much italian cuisine lingo, but the waitress was really helpful with that.

This is a very new restaurant opp the rendezvous hotel. We are impressed with the food and the ambience. Very nice place to have dinner. Price is acceptable. Thumbs up!

This restaurant has everthing that one needs for a good dinner: ambience, great food, great location. I visited Francesca's both in Wanaka and Christchurch and love their food! Highly recommended

Limited menu. Pizza is average. Prices is fair.

So delicious, we came on a busy Saturday night and still received great service, our food came quickly and everything was delicious.

Really enjoyed the food here, thanks!

Lovely food, good service.

Always excellent service and quality food. Could benefit from a bigger menu, but it does touch all the bases. Polenta chips and the taramasiu are absolute winners.

Outstanding food, service AND you can have a relaxed conversation while enjoying your meal. Full marks Francesca's, we are very grateful you came to Christchurch.

Great service and lamb ragout

A very welcoming place. Great food. Lovely staff.

Great place. Check their website for prices. If you are a fan of the wood-fired pizza you definitely need to make a booking

Very friendly staff! Nice atmosphere! Pizza crust could be more crispie. Would still recommend this place :)

Tasty as food and good service. Long table meant not the best for large groups to converse with each other.

Beautiful place, lovely staff and excellent food! I would definitely recommend Francesca's Italian Kitchen. The decoration on the plate is perfect!! :)

Excellent food 😋 friendly staff

Delicious pizza for lunch..will pop back again for an evening meal.

Unfortunately, you need to book. However the wait is alright and the food is delicious. They can make it special if you have allergies or needs too.

Excellent food and service. Pleasant atmosphere and surroundings.

Food was excellent. Just the right portion and very nice

Good food, nice waitress

Really enjoyed our dinner here, food was delicious and the gnocchi was to die for

Friendly welcoming staff. Normal sized portions but delicious, fresh, authentic flavours. Would recommend :)

Great food and very friendly staff, we'll be back

Really nice pizza, great service. Prices very reasonable.

Really good mains, just a bit too expansive though

Excellent pizza, and nice waitresses. Tiramisu was a tad dry though due to thick layer of cacao.

Nice little Italian in city center. Every dish had a positive little taste surprise, staff was helpful and friendly. We came, saw and ate.

Very tasty food, we shared entree, smoked salmon, one main, market fish, other gnocchi w broccoli, broad beans etc, good service 😋

Tiramsu was very good. Gnochi was excellent. Prwan linguini was very good though a little too spicy. The entrances were not at the same level though. Good selection of wines.

Awesome food and fabulous Italian drinks, great service. Best book as this place is very busy.

Delicious Antipasto and pasta. Excellent service. Good beer and wine selection. What more do you want?

I would come back for the polenta fritto.

We got takeaway pizzas and they were delicious. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Great food and dining experience. Highly recommend, and will be back!

Great Italian food and the best chocolate cake in town. Wait staff are friendly and it has a nice ambiance.

Food was great, service was slow without restaurant being full. Disappointing from that perspective

Amazing place ! People are very nice and the pizza.... Just wonderful. I want to say thank you to the master pizza ( alexandro ).

Hands down best gnocchi ever!

Good food and service. Would be nice if they had a vegan pasta option but they were happy to make something up

Impeccable service and incredible food - our favourite restaurant in Christchurch. Would recommend it (and the lamb Ragu) to anyone.

Nice food

Absolutely fantastic food. Wanted to keep eating despite being stuffed. Great service too.Will be back.

I've had dinner at Francesca's several times and the food is always delicious. The service is faultless too.

Great food, but took too long for the mains to arrive. On the whole pretty good.

Great service, menu superb, tasty food. What more do you want!!!

Pizza is always good here.

Fantastic service, fabulous food, totally delicious and reasonably priced. Excellent restaurant.

Great food, the clams are fantastic, friendly staff.

Great food, great atmosphere. A true italian restaurant fitted with their own pizza oven.

Delicious food and excellent service. Only downside was the location was a little cold

Great salmon starter but pasta and risotto were a not so great. Very nice coffee and connoli.

Beautiful food, nice restaurant! Would absolutely go back!

Amazing food and great service. Ambiance pretty well thought through as well.

Great night out. The place was really busy for a Tuesday night and the staff did their best to keep the food coming.

After spending 2 months in Italy it took coming home to get authentic Italian cuisine. Very impressed

A Christchurch classic. Went last night and everything was perfect. Best pizza in town, amazing pastas.

Food was delicious, very reasonably priced and service was good. A really good experience!

Great service and amazingly good food.

We had an amazing time, really appreciated the happy birthday to my husband. Thank you!

Amazing food and service!! Best risotto and gnocchi we have ever had

Fantastic food, friendly staff and great atmosphere.

Great comforting food and good service. Timely too as easy were heading next door to the Isaac Theatre Royal.

It's a OK place. Food just ok. Staff friendly. Way over priced.

Food was great, service was a little slow especially when the restaurant wasn't very busy.

Very yummy food, great atomesphere

Excellent service and delicious Italian. Love the kale salad and mushroom risotto.

Best polenta chips and decent sized pasta and pizza the tiramisu is a must have here

Superb service, delicious meal. Wonderful family birthday celebration, thank you guys!

The food was delicious.

Very good food. Simple cozy ambiance. Prior reservation is a must.

You have to make reservations, heavy used place. Great food. Had the pototao skins, which I would strongly as a starter.

Very good pasta. Not cheap. Awesome dessert. Great service.

The giro was incredible! Thank you again.

Delicious food and a lovely atmosphere -I rolled out the door full and happy!

This place ticks all the boxes! Wonderful atmosphere,wonderful service and amazing delicious food!! I highly recommend it!

М.

Great food! Great location! It offers probably the best pizza in Christchurch .

Absolutely delicious food, definitely worth going back.

Great meal authentic Italian dishes.

Best italian in christchurch. The end

Beautiful food, comfortable setting and great service.

Casual restaurant with quality food. It is close to Isaac Theatre Royal, so handy for a pre-theatre meal.

Amazing food & Great ambience. Staff is very friendly and the wood oven pizzas are to die for.

Italian food, great wine menu, great ambience and super friendly staff.

Good food and very pricey. You should make an advance booking.

Love this place. It has a great atmosphere and really nice food.

Great pizza. Good service.

Great food and fantastic, helpful and friendly service by Maia. Awesome. XX

Fantastic. Will definitely be back when next in the area. Food was superb, as were the staff

Axing, tasty and fresh food. So impressed!

Beautiful authentic Italian cuisine takes me back to my time in Italia grazia raggazzi

Great food and good service. Absolutely delicious!!

Delicious food and friendly efficient service. Would gladly go there again.

My favourite Italian restaurant in Christchurch. Great quality food and service.

Awesome food and wine. Very nicely decorated restaurant

Fantastic food, service and lovely warm atmosphere

Had a wonderful evening. Beautiful service & wonderful meals.

Real Italy in christchurch. Beef carpaccio and pizza were formidable.. Highly recommend the place

Excellent but busy on a tuesday night. Still great service and food

Best restaurant I've been to, ten stars

Fine dining without breaking the bank, excellent service and fantastic food

The food was delicious and the service was efficient. Not over priced!

Really good Italian food. Wonderful service.

Delicious food combined with great service. Tiramisu nearly the best

Exellent food , staff fantastic , left very satisfied thanks for your hospitality

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Fantastic service and great food. Awesome experience!

Some of the best Italian I have had outside of Italy it self the risotto is to die for

Delicious food and awesome staff. Really enjoyed it.

Brilliant food very good service not rushed and good value

I really enjoyed the food and the table service was excellent

Great food and fantastic staff. One of the best in Christchurch

Great margherita pizza - so light, I ate the whole thing!

Great good, great service. Highly recommended

Fantastic food, good location, friendly staff

Good food, slightly limited menu tho. Tiramisu was on point.

Very nice food, atmosphere and friendly staff

Went for lunch, food was great and good service.

Delicious! Best tiramisu ever. Make reservations in advance.

Excellent service by friendly staff, and the food was great.

Lively place, good food, maybe a bit pricey though.

Service was outstanding. Food was very good too.

Excellent Italian restaurant. The best pasta in town.

Amazing food and top notch service, highly recommend

Fantastic service but the food left something to be desired.

Yum! Delicious ingredients and tasty food!

Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Great restaurant.

Great vibe... lovely staff... great food - A+++

Best gnocchi i can remember having, absolutely delicious ❤

So yummy and exceptional service. Definitely a return visit!

Best pizza! Great service!

Love the atmosphere, helpful staff and great food

Excellent quality food ... a little too pricey

Great food, friendly helpful staff.

Great good. Consistently great service and attentive staff!

Amazing food . Well worth dining here.

Absolutely delicious food.

Excellent food

Cozy, good choices of wine and food at reasonable price.

Good food, good service, will return here.

Meal delicious. Very pleasant

Very very healthy style food.. I want more flavour..

The food is good, but the taste is very strong

Hell of a show 7 rivers 7walks go see it .great theatre

Italian food in centre of Christchurh. Ideal for food when visiting the theatre next door!

Amazing food, service and wine !!

Best pasta in town, beef cheek gnocchi is unreal.

Very nice and well presented food.

Cool spot near the theater, cozy spot with good food.

So tasty!!!

Staff was friendly and attentive. Food was amazing.

Very good food, but rather poor and uncoordinated service.

Fast service and great food, perfect before the theatre

Delicious food and a good atmosphere.

Amazing food friendly staff with good service

Always good food and food service.

Beautiful food

Love it! Definitely recommend the beef cheek gnocchi.

Amazing food, great staff

This was good. Need to book. Would visit again.

Food was incredible as was the service!

Beautiful food with great service

I really enjoyed the food and the table service was excellent

Great food and service

Great food and fantastic staff. One of the best in Christchurch

Tiramsu was very good. Gnochi was excellent. Prwan linguini was very good though a little too spicy. The entrances were not at the same level though. Good selection of wines.

Fantastic service but the food left something to be desired.

Amazing food, amazing service, the only slight problem was understanding what I was ordering because I don't know much italian cuisine lingo, but the waitress was really helpful with that.