Budget conscious picky eaters (and those *with* picky eaters) around the Baker Street area. I haven’t met many people who don’t like Italian food, and it’s very hard indeed to beat these kind of prices if you’re out in Baker Street!

Francesca (named after the brand’s founder; Francesca Albanese) are a chain of French restaurants that specialise in Italian cuisine (eat in or take out) – though you’d probably have no idea that they were French if someone hadn’t told you this beforehand. Almost everything inside is Italian, from food (obviously), to the walls – adorned with common (mainly food related) Italian sayings.

 

The first Francesca opened in Strasbourg, France, way back in 1997 and at this point there’s more than 50 to be found all over the world. The one you are currently looking at is the first (and, at the time writing, only) one in the UK, having opened back in 2012. It’s in a fantastic central location – just up the road from Sherlock Holmes museum and hustle and bustle around Baker Street tube station. 

 

Fast food is not something you’d usually associate with the country that quite literally pioneered slow food… riiiiight? Which is a little unusual as Francesca are most certainly and unashamedly a fast food restaurant, and a chain. Just look at the layout. You can tell.

 

The staff wear a uniform that, in conjunction with the sparse minimalist decor, gives the place a fast food feel. ‘Unassuming’ would be the word. The are walls adorned with the faces of presumably important people from the Francesca chain, and sepia faded shots of people eating and drinking Italian foods (we can presume that these are random people…) 

How about that food then? Mainstream. Anti-hipster. All the crowdpleasers, and probably all stuff you have heard of. Traditional selections of Italian meals from pastas to various kinds of pizzas. To quote the restaurant itself “all our sauces and dressings are based upon traditional Sicilian family recipes.” Most of the food comes pre prepared, such as the salads, pasta sauces and panninis – though they do apparently cook the pasta to order.  

 

Speaking of pasta, I had heard a few people complain about Francesca’s pasta portion sizes not living up to expectations: though having tried a bowl of ‘maxi’ size pasta (which is the largest portion they serve), I would politely disagree with these people. The plastic, translucent cups plus trays for the food feel a bit… ‘budget’ and cheapen the experience. But as it IS cheap (and cheerful) maybe that’s what they’re going for?

There’s actually a more comprehensive drinks list than you might expect from a place that operates this kind of ‘fast’ approach. Yeeeeess think WINE (and some beers too).

 

Every drunk champagne in a fast food outlet? I haven’t either but you could do that here. Compared with your ‘average’ Italian restaurant it’s a pretty small drinks menu.

 

Also the coffee offering is strong (confirmed), and they seem to have a thing for Illy.

As for the overall experience? Better than I expected. It is fast-casual: no frills, no fluff. Execution is flawless, and food arrives very quickly indeed. There’s not much waiting, and it’s also open ’til late (…I am not exactly sure of how late). Convenience is definitely the word.

 

Prices are pretty decent too, especially once you take into account Francesca’s central location. There is a definite cafe ambiance to this place – but the thing that derails this ambiance is when you notice a shelf of exciting looking wines besides the metallic tubs of Illy :3

 

In summary, surprisingly delicious Italian food at a very decent price for a central London. But do we need more chains around here? I don’t know.

 

Regardless, it’s good food and probably the perfect place to bring a picky eater….