Lunch @ Francesco's Hole in the Wall - Wed 2/27, 11:30 am

Hi all,

Back at our January lunch, several attendees expressed interest in having lunch at Francesco's Hole in the Wall. The place is quite small and they don't take reservations, so we'll have to adapt accordingly.

Folks at the restaurant advised that for a larger group, the best time to arrive is right when they open; at 11:30 a.m. So, I propose that we meet there for lunch on Wednesday February 27 at 11:30 a.m.

Due to the size of the restaurant, our group will be limited to 12 people. Please post below if you're in. Spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis. If there's more interest than spots, we'll establish a wait list and fill any vacancies in the order in which people signed up.

Please note that Francesco's Hole in the Wall is CASH ONLY

Thanks,

=R=

Attending:
=R= +2

Total = 3

9 spots remain

Francesco's Hole in the Wall
254 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062
847 272-0155

Haven't been there in ages - I'd love to join.

Helen and I.

Thanks!

Updated list:

=R= +2
nr706
Cathy2
Helen

Total = 6

6 spots remain

=R=

I'm in.

Please add me to the list! Thanks!

Please count me in

Updated list:

=R= +2
nr706
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
tarte tatin
Kennyz

Total = 9

3 spots remain

=R=

A northerly errand is not out of the realm of possibility for a Wednesday - please count me in.

Updated list:

=R= +2
nr706
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
tarte tatin
Kennyz
Santander

Total = 10

2 spots remain

=R=

I am in

Updated list:

=R= +2
nr706
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
tarte tatin
Kennyz
Santander
davecamaro1994

Total = 11

1 spot remains

=R=

Hope I replied in time....I would like to join you.

-Will

WillG wrote:Hope I replied in time....I would like to join you.

-Will

You're in and that's a wrap!

Updated list:

=R= +2
nr706
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
tarte tatin
Kennyz
Santander
davecamaro1994
WillG

Total = 12

This event is now full but please post if you'd like to be put on the wait list. Also, if you've signed up and learn that you cannot attend, please let us know right away. I'd hate for any of our 12 spots to go unused.

Thanks!

=R=

That was quick!
Please throw me on the list for being a backup.

seebee wrote:That was quick!
Please throw me on the list for being a backup.

seebee, we've got one request (via in-person request) ahead of you, for our waiting list. But if we have 2 cancelations, you're in. Katie is #3, after you. If I learn, after speaking to someone at the restaurant again, that we can increase the size of the group, I will report back here and ammend the lists accordingly.

Updated lists:

Attending
=R= +2
nr706
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
tarte tatin
Kennyz
Santander
davecamaro1994
WillG

Total = 12

Waiting:
G Wiv
seebee
Katie

=R=

It usually doesnt get too crowded until closer to noon, so if others showed up in groups of 2 or 4, I am sure that they could get tables. They only seat larger groups along the north wall, and I dont think that it fits many more than 12. Of course another group could eat at Next Door (excellent roast chicken with crispy leeks) and we could compare notes afterwards.

-Will

My afternoon event at Northwestern was cancelled and replaced with one back at ol' U of C, so I don't think I'm going to be able to complete the "open jaw," of Oak Park - Northbrook - Hyde Park in a reasonable amount of time. I respectfully withdraw and hope someone else's open jaws can be filled by Francesco in my stead. Thank you for setting this up and for the public invite, RS.

Santander wrote:My afternoon event at Northwestern was cancelled and replaced with one back at ol' U of C, so I don't think I'm going to be able to complete the "open jaw," of Oak Park - Northbrook - Hyde Park in a reasonable amount of time. I respectfully withdraw and hope someone else's open jaws can be filled by Francesco in my stead. Thank you for setting this up and for the public invite, RS.

Santander, I'm sorry to hear this but I do appreciate the advance warning (as does G Wiv, too, I'm guessing). We'll break bread another time, I'm sure.

Updated lists:

Attending:
=R= +2
nr706
Cathy2
Helen
stevez
tarte tatin
Kennyz
davecamaro1994
WillG
G Wiv

Total = 12

Waiting:
seebee
Katie

Thanks to Ronnie for getting us together for enjoyable company. I might as well take the plunge and be the first to post about our lunch. I have a feeling my take may not be as positive as others'. The main thing I learned yesterday: when you're dining with trustworthy-looking regulars, order whatever they recommend. WillG raved about the sea bass vesuvio from the moment we arrived, and it came out of the kitchen looking beautiful and tasting even better. My pasta, on the other hand, was just OK. I ordered homemade ravioli with asparagus, spinach, and porcini. I mistakenly thought this would mean some sort of pureed combo of those ingredients would fill each raviolo - instead, each had one of the three fillings. The porcini was quite good, but the asparagus was a grainy mush with asparagus flavor that was barely discernable, and the spinach ended up being simple ricotta filling inside a spinach noodle. It was fine but unremarkable. The ravioli were all floating in what I thought was an overly sauced plate of watery tomato puree, and they were served on an ice cold plate which meant that within 30 seconds the dish was luke warm at best.

Thanks to the generosity of fellow LTHers, I was able to taste a few other dishes, and found them all to be just fine, but not special. This was my second visit to Francesco's, and while the place definitely has a certain charm, I won't be rushing to back (unless I call ahead to find out that the sea bass is available on the specials menu!).

Well Kenny, I have to agree with you, infortunately. I have eaten at Francesco's several times and this was my first dissapointment. I had seen the loster cavalini(?) on the menu many times and wanted to try it. So I did this time. I was disapointed. I am not sure what I wanted to expect, but I was not impressed. The vodka sauce was not that great that it came with either. I did really like the swordfish and chicken vesuvio. The swordfish was very fresh, light and buttery. When I go back those will definately be my choices.

I'vve posted some pictures of our lunch in the main Francesco's thread.

I had a great time, too and I'll be posting some pictures when I get a chance. I loved my Chicken Vesuvio and the parmigiana dishes I tasted -- both the veal and the eggplant -- were very tasty. I tried the ravioli and I have to agree with Kenny that it was just ok and that it cooled off rapidly. The gnocchi, otoh, were excellent, I thought.

I'm guessing that part of the problem we experienced was due to bringing a group so large into such a small place, without any advance warning. I tried to provide such warning but the person with whom I spoke on the phone made it abundantly clear that no such advance notice was necessary, or even desired by the house. In spite of all my questions, his only reply was "just get here early, we open at 11:30." But, the folks in the restaurant provided a different take on it, informing me that calling in the morning before our arrival would have been the thing to do. I'm not sure how much this might have affected things because service was excellent and pasta is what pasta is. Still, I imagine it's hard for such a small kitchen to land 12 equally-hot dishes on a table all at once. I certainly don't want to make any excuses but providing advance warning to the house (or even forcing it upon them) could have only helped things, I'm guessing.

Thanks again to everyone for coming out. As always, the company was the thing!

=R=