Don Francesco is only getting a two out of me because the food was great and the atmosphere was great. But, the attitude of our server was deplorable, especially for an automatic gratuity of 18% on a table of seven people.

The restaurant was warm and inviting, and the Spaghetti Seafood Puttanesca I ordered was well portioned, and delicious, full of different types of fish and mussels in a not... more

my friends and i were actually having a lovely night here, enjoying the ambience, the food, and each others company. then the bill came.

what a nightmare. not because of the cost, but because of the way it was presented to us and handled. we asked them to split it and the server informed us that he could not (umm... seriously?!) so we had to split it ourselves, which is always fun (/sarcasm).... more

Without even being here I am already dissappointed in how my patronage has been handled thus far.

First, I called for a reservation for Valentines day, they took a reso for 7:30pm and then called me back 15 minutes later saying "whoops we goofed, the person who talked to you had no idea what she was doing and we actually have to have you in for 8pm" fine by me.

3 weeks roll past and they call... more

Came here for dineout with my friend since the lobster lasagna caught our eyes. For Appies we tried the Italian meatballs and lobster bisque. The meatballs were juicy and tasted great, but the bisque was not what we expected. There were some pieces of lobster but it was obvious they just threw some pieces in near the end because it was not flavourful at all. The soup had a weird taste to it... more

we went there last night with another couple for their Dine Out Menu. I absolutley loved the decor and ambiance, its quite lively, so if you want a quiet meal probably don't choose here. The menu options were quite vast, and of course everything sounded amazing (so I definitely have to go again). I started with the meatballs - to die for! My only complaint was that there were 3 and I could have... more

Had their Brisket and Sablefish. Both were very good. When my family visits, we will be visiting Don's for their first time in Vancouver ;)

I was really looking forward to dining here. But I must say I was greatly disappointed.

Great location at the heart of downtown. The ambiance is nice. Was greeted right away by the hostess.

Our waiter was very uninterested and quite frankly didn't seem to care. I've been to many restaurants before and the service here is spotty at best.

The food is good, ordered the lobster risotto, duck and... more

I love the ambiance, the food and the staff. It is a great place for food with a very traditional old fashioned Italian vibe. Great for a date night. The staff are professional and elegant. Five stars.

Beware, we had a party here and for us to sit the forced us to order the anti pesto. Didn't seem like a problem but it was $14 per person, still okay until the brought out only one 12' plate of meat and cheese which costed us $84. Total scam beware of this restaurant and there tricks

My husband and I were always a fan of the traditional italian culture that Don Fransisco had to offer , the food was always delicious and the employers were so kind. But lately there has been a drastic change form the decorations to the music to the management, it doesn't feel the same. The vibe in there is now strictly about the money, seemingly it seems the staff don't have time anymore to... more

Don Francesco is a long standing tradition in Vancouver. It has been around for decades. The food is best described as traditional Italian. It is a safe and reliable choice for good Italian food. I have been here on a few occasions; I do not visit often, but I have visited it throughout the years. Every time I've visited the food has been well prepared, and the flavours are well coupled. I... more

My friend got a coupon of 50th year anniversary for 50% off for pasta from Don Francesco (Sunday night only) and she would love to try such classy Italian restaurant.

After I parked my car, we walked to the restaurant and saw 6-8 super sport cars parking right on Burrad St in front of restaurant! OMG!! All those super fancy cars must worth over 1 to 1.5 Million (Lamborghini's, Ferrari's,... more

Wandering around Vancouver at 10 o'clock on a Monday night, my wife and I along with our 2 teenage sons expected slim pickings in choices for restaurants, but finding Don Francesco was like hitting the jackpot. We were just some tourists, dressed OK but casually and the maitre d' immediately made us feel welcome. Waiter came over and made us feel like part of the family. Had some great lobster... more

Lobster Lasagna ($29) emmenthal cheese, shallots, dry white vermouth, light cream, seasonings, lobster meat
This is a SMALL portion. The actual amount of lasagne is about the size of two decks of playing cards. Did you save some of the warm buns they bring to your table after you order?
Every little bite is packed with strong lobster flavour and lobster meat. You also get the meat from one half... more

100/100

YES!!! Finally. 100 reviews! This restaurant seems to be a good one to mark 100. I think if I come here again ot would have to be a special occasion because it was a bit too over the top for me!

We heard the hostess sing Happy Birthday. Oh, did I mention she is a former Opera Singer? They have gorgeous chandeliers and a really nice bar. All the servers appeared to be male except for... more

Amazing Experience - the decor, ambiance, service... can't say enough about the service.. and then there's the food. We had the halibut. Perfectly done and the fresh veggies and beans set of the dish wonderfully. A guitarist played romantic music in the background... overall it was a perfect 10 - if you're looking for a classic Italian restaurant... this is the place

Looking for a place to take someone for that special occasion? It is here in an older style . We went here for the Mothers Day lunch and it was above and beyond what I had expected. The service was impeccable. We were greeted outside by an employee and walked to the door. Once inside we were again greeted, had our coats taken to the coat check and were escorted to our seats. It was a three... more

Told us the fire stand on the patio didn't work, but it did.
Told us they were out of the wine we requested. Tried to upsell us.
Overcooked meat. The server was kind of sleazy. I don't think we'd come back, but the food was OK and the scene was cool...just not up to the price.

Food Excellent

Great service, Very attentive staff, looks like they have long time employees, extensive menu, good selection of game dishes, wild boar, quail, etc...
Pricey dishes.
Atmosphere is that of a dark quaint formal Italian restaurant, has a back room for private dinner party.
Good place to go for a formal dinner - able to talk to each other.

Stopped by this place for dessert after a night out on the town. We had the espresso semifreddo, which started out built up like a tiny fort, but was almost completely-freddo when it came out. But after it softened a little bit...it was soooo good. Pretty big though, so I'd recommend sharing.

The place reminded me of really old school italian restaurants without the mafia vibe. The service is... more

Pasta and game dishes seem to be the specialty of this 40 year old restaurant. My wife and I had the quail and rabbit main courses preceded by a delicious salad. The two whole quail came with polenta and many vegetables with a very dark and tasty reduction. My dinner was most of a rabbit with mushroom risotto and many vegetables. The hit for me was the small pitcher of the cooked and reduced... more

I google the reviews of Don Francesco Ristorante which was not very positive and my expectations was kind of low when I step in. But turn out the total experience for me is impressive: service is courteous, food (wine, appetizers, main course & desert) is delicious, atmosphere is pleasant. I enjoy dinning there very much!

This was our second time here. First was on valentines and it felt like a production line that night as they tried to get us in and out as fast as possible. We thought to give them one more chance on a non-event evening. We sat down at 7:15 and it wasn't until 7:30 before the waiter came around to take our drink order. The Prosecco we ordered wasn't available because they hadn't chilled it.... more

OUTSTANDING!!!!

Best "Wild Boar" ever!

Don Francesco is a first-class restaurant with an excellent selection of wine and huge assortment of wonderful dishes.

Wonderful quality of food, decor and service.

We are 5 sisters, living in the US and Canada, who meet one time per year in a different location to talk & eat and revitalize ourselves. Our hotel managed to recommend and get us into Don Francesco on very short notice, on a Saturday night before Canada Day, when reservations at another restaurant were unacceptable due to being placed literally in the bar, too loud!! How could we relax & talk?... more

Overall Excellent

Food Poor to fair

I had dinner here late on a Monday night. No reservation required.

One special thing about the menu to note: they have an extensive wild game section. Wild rabbit, duck, quail, hen, bison - all things out of the norm. The portions of the rabbit I had were plenty large (approx $40) and so were the plates of the people who joined me. The recommended chianti went well with the rabbit.

I liked... more

Since my usual DT Italian haunt was quite booked up, I decided, what the heck, I will finally try Don Francesco. It's been here forever, and hey, they have Spaghetti Carbonara (which I am on a never-ending quest to find the restaurant with the best version of this dish). The one thing that usually holds me back though, is the price. at 24.96 per plate, I found this to be, well, a little STEEP.... more

Way Overpriced. Poor service. Would not go back.

I pass by this Italian restaurant all the time, so I thought I would finally try it. There is outdoor seating which is eye catching, and I was stoked because I read on a website somewhere that it was dog-friendly, and they absolutely are. The waitress was extremely nice and friendly to my dog which was such a relief!

We ordered:

Chicken breast - The portion is tiny, and resembled something I... more

Came here for dineout. Let me preface this review by saying that my expectation was well executed classic Italian dishes in an excellent / rustic setting. My comparable was Il Giardano.

Ordered the fusilli pasta, sole and tiramusu.

First, we were given the worst table in the restaurant right by the door. I suspect they reserve the worst section for dineout customers so be aware. Not a big... more

We went for new years eve dinner and we were really excited. Maybe all the great reviews overhyped our expectations, but this is a below average restaurant that is so incredibly overpriced it hurts.

We started off with the Buffalo Mozzarella and tomato salad which was good, but I can make that just as well. My wife ordered lobster - serious mistake as it was delivered on a plate hotter than... more

"""Old school charm, a place where they take food, service, and your experience very serious. Don't let the initial stuffiness of the restaurant scare you off. They will go beyond your dreams to execute a memorable dinner on or off the menu. Wine list is e"""

Way overpriced...even for Vancouver!

Very lively place with great options on the menu. The fish was fantastic and the appetizers set the stage.

Good old world italian food.

"""have you ever longed for great food in a traditional setting with very attentive service. Don Francesco is a rare find, where many new, upscale restaurants have to fight for their market by being trend setters. Don Francesco does not have to prove itself,"""

Absolutely wonderful food and service. The somolier was top notch and instantly knew what to suggest. Good ambiance for a date too.

Had just the beef carpaccio, but definetely want to do a full dinner here!

Poor man eats luxurious food. WIN.

Thanks to Dine Out Vancouver, a poor dying and stressed college student can savor the taste of Italian food. And not just a dish, but 3 dishes! Wow I wish they had Dine Out Cafeteria or something...

Anyway... Don Francesco is an upscale restaurant located in Burrard St. and Robson St. It's right across the hotel with Japadog stall in front of it... I forgot... more

A great choice for a special occasion. Food was excellent and so was the service. The appetizers were fantastic and one can have a great meal without looking at the main courses. By the way, they were excellent too. The ratings are lower than they deserve to be and one should not hesitate putting this restaurant on the must visit list. Italian fine dining done right.

This is my measuring-stick for good food in Vancouver. This is my awesomeness in a meal.

I've been here twice. Both times for my birthday (I couldn't afford it otherwise). Both times the waiting staff were wonderful (even bringing out a birthday cake with my name on it), but even if they weren't, I'd come back here for the food.

This place is an indulgence - bare that in mind - you're not... more

Excelenet service and wonderful italian food. Go for the grilled squids and the mushrooms risotto. Not the run-of the -mill italian food, several steps beyond it. This was a great discovery when -e visited Vancouver.

YUM. I'll go here again.

Split the cesar w/your companion, it's too big for one.

Came here for Dine out Vancouver and was thoroughly pleased with everything. I started with an Italian version of French Onion Soup and it was so delicious. I wasn't sure how the Italian version was different from the French, but it doesn't matter - I just slurped it down. For my main and had the sole in phyllo pastry. The sole was ridiculously melt in your mouth tender. For dessert I had the... more

Overall Poor to fair

I dreaded writing this review because I really didn't want to revisit the experience.

I went with a few of my friends for Dine Out 2010 and we were disappointed with the food and the service. Why bother offering dine out when the plate is warmer than your food?

Upon entering this restaurant, we were pleasantly greeted by the host but it went downhill as our unsmiling waiter led us to our... more

a place extremely overpriced for the services offered. the food was average but prices are sky high.

I was taken here last night by a work colleague and it was amazing. And also, I didn't have to pay which was even better.

We ordered 3 appetizers - the salmon carpaccio, the wild sauteed mushrooms & the foie gras.

I've never had foie gras before. I never wanted to. Until it was in front of me... I slowly put it in my mouth as I was afraid I'd hate it. I have never ever tasted anything so... more

went there for a christmas dinner with close friends. it was overall a pretty good experience. we went a couple of weeks before christmas on a saturday night so it was pretty packed. btw parking is horrible... but then it's in downtown so what do you expect? i was super lucky and found parking right in front on the street. the place is not that big, not all that fancy. dimly lit... has a very... more

I went for a business lunch and we were there for almost three hours. Although, unlike many places it didn't seem like that because we weren't getting any -i "hey it's 3 p.m." attitude. I've been here for dinner too - which was a little bit of a disappointment - in terms of middling dishes we were served, but this time around I had a better experience.

The service is great, atmosphere is solid... more

Good God. Italian food at it's best. I loved the service, food, ambiance, the works!

I went a few years ago and I have never forgotten the experience. I remember for desert my friend and I had the freshly made Tiramisu.... it was to DIE for! The main courses we had were phenomenal and one of the wines they offered was perfect with our meal (also, we cannot remember the name of the wine, but It... more

The food was wonderful as was the attentive staff. We had a lovely leisurely dinner, but never felt we were left unattended. Don't miss the squash ravioli in spinach cream sauce. It is outstanding. The grilled swordfish was the best we've ever had. My college age daughter raved over the Italian chicken, and we lingered luxuriously over dessert listening to the soft sounds of the string quartet... more

When we were first seated at our table, the waiter gave off an kinda of snooty-vibe. Maybe because we didn't order any really expensive wine or cocktails? Either way it, it didn't start off that great...

But once the meal started it all faded away! The waiter got into his groove and the food was amazing!

I ordered the Roasted Half Chicken, and it was pretty F*ing incredible! The spices on the... more

you want 'old school' italian dining, this is it! don't think it still isn't fun, the service staff are 'old pro's' & there is a laugh or two to be had there, close to Robson Street & all that great shopping too!

charming venue convenient to major downtown hotels. Great seafood, wonderful service.

They're better days are behind them.

Quel surprise! Stopped in here for lunch, thinking it looked like your average Italian restaurant, but the food and service were excellent. A great place for a filling and comfort-foodie lunch. Probably great for dinner too.

Always reliable for a great meal and service both lunch and dinner.

Very good italian food in a well-appointed dining room with attentive and charming staff. A lot like being in Italy without leaving downtown.

good italian food....with a little opera thrown in

The food is here good, standard Italian fare. Certainly no chain restaurant, care is taken in preparation and pasta is always good al dente. Menu items are recognizable for most; perhaps creativity is lacking a bit in the kitchen. Still, the convenient lo

like it especially for the game selections on the menu, not many restaurants like that in Vancouver

All around excellent. We are coming all the way from Southern California just for the dinner. Is that good.

Great food, and old country Italian feel to the place. These operators are the real deal!

Lively atmosphere and attentive service. A good selection of wines.

Classic Italian cuisine and, if you are lucky, an Italian aria may be added as well.

Very nice Italian food in a convenient downtown location with good service to match. The owner is wellknown. Value for money.

very consistent. the owner is often there serenading and making it memorable!

Hearty Italian food served quickly with no fuss. Good choice when you have a big appetite! Lots of pasta selections plus the usual choice of veal dishes.

Everytime I've been here, the owner is seating people and talking to the customers - talk about hands on! Excellent Italian food, but I love the seafood, and their sea bass is to die for! Don't miss this place!

good food often accompanied by the owner singing arias for our dining pleasure. a fun night out

No better place to match wines to great food

The menu is varied,they use the best quality ingredients, and there is an extensive wine list. It can be crowded, so it is best to make a reservation. The restaurant participates in Vancouver food festivals, during which it is possible to enjoy a three

Got to admit... I've never eaten at a real Italian restaurant where the candles were lit to set the mood and they had some hairy guy in the corner singing in front of an accordion player. I was slightly nervous going in. I wanted to fit in. (After all, I am hairless... ladies?)

I thought maybe I'd be under dressed and the waiters would see right through my thin disguise, (that being my best... more

We very much enjoyed our pasta dishes which is what we went there for. Three of us had the penne Arrabiata and each wanted a different spice intensity; they complied with our request without a problem. Service was very attentive but slow, they said the kitchen was behind because they had a full house. The place was packed with locals and tourists, some quite well groomed and attractive.

Outstanding experience
My colleague and I enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Don Francesco Ristorante on Burrard St, Vancouver. We both ordered the Dinner Fixe which included an appetizer, dinner and dessert. Each item was outstanding, with great flavours exploding in your mouth. The dessert was very light, with perfect subtle flavours and was a just a perfect ending to a perfect dinner. The... more

Food cooked as ordered and the service was indeed excellent.