Casale Franco

Courtesy of the great generosity of my girlfriend's employer ?! WhatIf, last Tuesday (08/05/07) we were given free reign to sample the delights of this charming local Italian, the best in Islington I've been to.

We started simply, with a pear, rocket and pecorino salad and a mushroom and truffle tart - quality ingredients complementing one another agreeably. A deliciously fishy king prawn tagliatelle preceded my enormous and perfectly roasted pork belly while Blanca chose the special of the day - salt cod with capers and roast potatoes. The service was knowledgeable (in particular as to the wine), courteous and responsive, and the setting ,rustic with an original modern twist - we left feeling that we had been the recipients of a fine dinner provided by a truly local restaurant - uncommon for London.
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mark
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, May 14, 2007

apart from unhelpful booking staff i like this restaurant.....why can they not be courteous to people who ring to book?
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, April 27, 2007

Not having eaten at Casale Franco for about 18 months, my partner and I decided to go back last night for a meal, as we had always had a fantastic experience there in the past.

As always, the service was appropriately attentive, never overbearing, and helpful when required. However, our surprise at the vastly reduced menu options was apparent. One of the great things about Casale Franco was the extensive choice of menu options, daily specials on the board and a superb wine list. To be presented with a 'mini menu' consisting of 6 or 8 starters, 8 or so each of pasta dishes, main dishes and pizzas was quite disappointing.

The food itself was adequate - fresh as always, nicely presented, but not exciting. We each had seared scallops in spinach as a starter, which was just a bit too green on the eye for comfort. The mains were adequate - roast pork with crackling and lamb fillet in morello cherry jus. We forgot to order vegetables, and the staff did a creditable job of rustling up a dish of greens in extra quick time.

Unfortunately they have ruined what was always an excellent ambience in the main room by suspending fairy lights inside netting tubes from the ceiling
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David
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 6
Monday, April 23, 2007

my son and i ate at casale franco very recently,the service is spot on and friendly the menu varied and beutifully presented.As for pizza or calzone ther are no better to be tasted in London.Try it ,whether you are a family a couple or just on your own

go to Casale Franco, if you enjoy life you will enjoy your food at Francos . Nigel and Andrew
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Nigel Wharton
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Monday, April 09, 2007

This is such a great restaurant! So authentic. It is hard to find a good italian restaurant in London that isn't a chain! The service was great and the food was amazing. The atmosphere is really intimate, great for couples. I definitely reccommend this restaurant.
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jordie
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 05, 2007

A group of 20 of us came here on March 6 for a friend’s birthday. We were seated in the private room. Service was mediocre, with only one waiter and one waitress serving us. The waiter got one of our orders wrong then gave us attitude about it!

A couple of us had the ravioli, which was quite over-priced for the small portion we got. The risotto was quite bland. Dessert was the best thing about the experience.

At the end of the night (and several bottles of wine later), everyone contributed to the bill (including tips), yet according to the young waiter, this just wasn’t enough and he proceeded to be very huffy with us (prompting others to tip more) – and this still wasn’t enough! When one of our friends left the restaurant and got hold of all rest of the group (putting in yet MORE money for a tip), she gave a fist of pound coins to the manager who was at the door. He shrugged, gestured to his staff then began to talk in Italian (didn’t sound very happy). We asked him what the problem was and he said that the tip wasn’t enough and that they worked for tips. At that stage I was prepared to draw my own blood and hand it to them in a pint glass to see if that would make them happy. Very ungracious staff indeed, which has totally put me off going back. In fact, none of us will go there again. If you are going in a big group, try and avoid this place, or bring out an additional £20 each to tip the awful staff. That may make them happy.
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Pat
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Thursday, March 15, 2007

Is still the best Italian in Islington by a mile.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Finally an Italian which feels like a good authentic Italian local should. In my experience the service here has always been friendly and knowledgeable, and the food seasonal and fresh tasting. the atmospere somehow manages to be both romantic and vibrant making it the ideal place for a first date or a meal with family/friends. In all this place offers a certain something that is missing from the mass of corporate chains that now dominate the area. A must for anyone who enjoys the experience of eating out, and is not afraid to try something differrent. Highly recommended.****
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Matthew
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Expensive with poor service ... a waiter who obviously expected our undivided attention and made clear his upset when that was not forthcoming. This would appear to be a restaurant trading on past glories
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David
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Friday, July 28, 2006

We have eaten here a couple of times now and have really enjoyed both experiences. Although the staff were a little tardy bringing us the menu, and we had to ask for it after sitting there for 5 or 10 mins, similarly for our dessert, that was the only critism and the food was well worth the wait! The seafood specials were fantastically fresh with unusual flavours, complemented by a good wine list. The shared cheese platter was fantastic and enormous.
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Abby Orchard
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, July 03, 2006