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Fresco Da Franco, Montclair, NJ

Fresco Da Franco

4.5
4.5
1502 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Good for groups
With over a decade in business, Fresco Da Franco is renowned for its warm and inviting ambiance, coupled with the unmistakable aromas of homemade Italian cuisine. As you step through our doors, you'll be greeted by friendly staff and an atmosphere that exudes both elegance and comfort. Whether you're looking to enjoy a romantic dinner, celebrate a special occasion, or simply unwind with friends and family, our restaurant and bar provides the perfect setting.
Our menu showcases the rich culinary heritage of Italy, with a focus on traditional recipes passed down through generations. To compliment your meal, our Bar Franco has an extensive bespoke Italian drink list carefully crafted by world renowned Italian mixologist Luca Cinalli. Our mixologists hail directly from Italy and bring you an unforgettable bespoke experience of a lifetime.

We look forward in welcoming you and creating lasting memories of exceptional dining and warm hospitality.

Cin Cin

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    South Fullerton Parking Deck or Crescent Parking Deck
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Giuseppina Porporino

Experiences

  • Socialista Lounge

    Multiple dates available
    Montclair’s Premier Late-Night Experience. Starts Every Friday and Saturday at 11PM to 2AM - Live DJ and Bottle Service. Why travel to the city when Montclair’s most sophisticated lounge is right here? Socialista Lounge is where elegance and energy collide, offering an exclusive nightlife experience every Friday and Saturday. After indulging in Montclair’s vibrant dining scene, the night continues at Socialista Lounge, where beautiful people gather, the music sets the mood, and the atmosphere is nothing short of electric. The after-party begins at 11 PM, bringing you a chic and upscale ambiance unlike anything else in the area. Located through Bar Franco at 5 Church Street, Montclair, NJ, Socialista Lounge is your destination for a night of class, style, and unforgettable memories. For reservations, please email reservations@bar-franco.com . (347) 560-0321 Moe - VIP Host

What 1,502 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Essex

    Hot spot

  • Essex

    Great for fine wines

  • Essex

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Fresco Da Franco in Montclair stands out with its "phenomenal" food and "fabulous" service. Guests rave about its vibrant ambiance and unique specials. Whether enjoying the "best salad dressing" ever or the "perfectly prepared" scallops, diners are consistently impressed. Despite occasional service hiccups, its charm and quality shine through, making it a must-visit.

1,502 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    New York City2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was attentive but a bit slow. We were seated for almost an hour before someone took our food order.

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  2. Jennifer

    New Jersey1 review

    1.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    When we looked at the website, we should have been able to figure out that this place wasn’t for us—they have a restaurant, a bar, and a lounge. The lounge should have been a red flag. The bar is tiny and overcrowded. If you’re not sitting at the bar which has about 8 seats, you have to stand behind it or in the doorway leading to the restaurant. You also have to wait for someone to come to you to place your drink order. There’s a small seating area in the front that can be reserved for groups. If that’s booked, it fills up and there aren’t enough drink menus to go around. The restaurant was full and we had a reservation for 8:45. It looked like there was a birthday party for a middle schooler booked and that took up about a third of the dining room. The tables are cramped and when people are shouting at each other over the dance music that’s playing, you can’t hear the person you’re dining with. We ended up ordering two drinks and then cutting our losses. We didn’t want to cut the staff short on a reserved table for two, but the place was absolutely unbearable. If you’re looking for a night out with a group of friends, maybe I’d recommend this place. If you want to actually spend an evening with someone you enjoy, I would find another spot.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service . A place you want to return.

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  4. Danielle

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have dined at Fresco many times for brunch but never dined for dinner. I went with my husband for our 1 year anniversary and had such an incredible dining experience. I can’t remember the last time I have dined out and had every touch point be absolutely incredible!! The staff is exceptional and professional. Timing on point, not rushed perfectly spaced out in between courses. The food truly spectacular!! I can’t wait to go back, Fresco Da Franco never disappoints. Lastly the ambiance is beautiful I loved the little lamps with beautiful deep red lamp shades on each table. Highly recommend for a great dining experience.

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  5. Michele VIP

    New York City69 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The salmon entree and beet salad was delicious. The pasta bolognese was nothing to rave about. The atmosphere was nice and noise level was good. We were able to have a conversation easily.

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  6. Sheila VIP

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had an apple spinach salad to begin my dinner. It was excellent. Crisp, thinly sliced apples with walnuts, goat cheese and cranraisins with an apple cider dressing. My main course was salmon Florentine with risotto. This was an amazing dish. The salmon was fresh and was not overcooked. The spinach, red peppers and mushrooms enhanced the flavor of the salmon. The risotto was a perfect to complement the dish. BRAVO to the chef’

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  7. Amit VIP

    New York City8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was an amazing experience including food, service and ambiance.

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  8. Jim

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food, service was outstanding. Great experience.

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  9. Alex

    New York City5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Note: we went for Valentine’s Day so take it with a grain of salt. They added lots of extra tables and the seating felt cramped. It also seemed like because of the increased volume in customers, the kitchen was very behind and we were waiting more than 30 minutes for our appetizers, entrees and desserts (each). Our server was apologetic and friendly. It just seemed as though the staff was scrambling and having trouble keeping up. The food was good, but not the best in the area.

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  10. Lourdes

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The tuna tartare was exquisite. Our table ordered the bolognese, DA MARE, CAMPANELLE SCAMPI and chicken with mashed. The Campanelle scampi was disappointing as I was expecting at least 5 full shrimp but the dish came with very little shrimp and they were chopped into very small pieces. My party however had no complaints with their dishes. Would definitely revisit to try other dishes.

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FAQs

Fresco Da Franco offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (973) 337-5100.

Fresco Da Franco is rated 4.5 stars by 1502 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Fresco Da Franco

15 Church St, Montclair, NJ 07042

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    South Fullerton Parking Deck or Crescent Parking Deck
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Giuseppina Porporino
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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