Photos brought to you by Citysearch

• 

From Citysearch.com

Small plates favor rustic flavors at this boisterous scenesters' trattoria in Wicker Park.

The Scene
Anchored at the busy Six Corners intersection is this looser, hipper version of sister Mia Francesca on Clark. An L-shaped dining room features a bar and open kitchen to the left, with banquette seating, distressed wood tables and mismatched chairs to the right. Globular light fixtures hover over thrift-store chic hipsters who practically have to shout to be heard over the conversational din. Floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto North and Damen make gawking at passers an irresistible distraction.

The Food
Shareable small plates plus pasta and meat entrees appeal to classic Italian palettes. Start with antipasti like tangy Sicillian tuna served puttanesca style or truffle-flavored sheep's milk cheese, honey-infused ricotta or prosciutto. Chilis spice up lump crab and tomato paired with black-colored squid ink linguine. Succulent chicken breast is topped with prosciutto, fontina, portabella and drizzled with white wine sauce. Star desserts include gelato sandwiches in chocolate, caramel and raspberry flavors.

Opentable Reservations

Located in the Wicker Park neighborhood, home of Chicago's edgy artistic community, Francesca's Forno is surrounded by chic clothing boutiques, hip coffee houses and cafes, modish rock clubs and seedy taverns made infamous by local legend Nelson Algren's novel, "Man with the Golden Arm". The dining room at Francesca's Forno showcases a wood burning oven, glass encased antipasto bar, tin-paneled ceilings and intricate flooring. The uncluttered wooden table tops and mismatched chairs will seat 78 guests, with an additional 15 seats at the bar. Francesca's Forno encourages the lively art of dining in an unpretentious atmosphere, with good, simple cooking, friendly service and fair prices. Co-Owner, Terry Alexander, describes the new concept as "small plate dining, which encourages sampling and sharing of the zesty and earthy cuisine of Northern Italy".

Make a Reservation