We had our post Valentine’s Day celebration at Cucina di Francesco, a community cafe that serves Italian comfort food, freshly-baked products and coffee drinks. It’s located across St. Pio Chapel, only three minutes of walk away from our office, making it an excellent spot for our dinner last Friday after work. While having dinner, the team surprised us and threw a baby shower. We had games and plenty of fun! Anyway, that’s another story to tell in a different time. Here’s a review of the restaurant and a food rundown.
Review of Cucina di Francesco (Libis, Quezon City)
Ambiance:
Cucina di Francesco has a cool, casual, and confident atmosphere that remains mercifully undercrowded. The neutral space features a minimalist, elegant interior with color accents inspired by the Italian flag. Brick and beige walls are matched with wooden furniture and sleek and bright lighting that added a little warmth in the dining room. Everything looks crisp and clean. The painting on the wall by the stairs brings a further oomph; it’s designed by some UP Diliman Fine Arts students.
Food:
Toasted Ravioli (PhP 165) was an easy choice to begin with. It’s pan-toasted spinach ravioli drizzled with marinara sauce, a great appetizer.
Next up, the Breakfast Pizza (PhP 360) was delicious and simple without having too many elements of complexity. Specially made bacon, ham, eggs, mozzarella, and marinara formed a great interplay of flavors with the crusty bread.
Another pizza we tried that’s new on their menu was the Tre Formaggi Pizza (PhP 350). It’s your usual four-cheese pizza made with mozzarella, emmenthal, blue cheese, and bechamel and it didn’t disappoint. If you love cheese, get this.
It was time now for the main attraction: Frutti di Mare (PhP 330). This pasta dish is one of the must-orders when dining in Cucina di Francesco. The pasta game is strong and I love the combined seafood flavors. Shrimp, clams, and anchovies provided a great salty overtone that’s then punctuated with sun-dried tomatoes in garlic butter and olive oil. It was very good indeed.
Porchetta (PhP 780) is another bestseller and sure enough, the 14-hour roasted pork belly was lovely and extra aromatic. The porchetta was rich and crisp and it looked like a perfect centerpiece for a special-occasional meal. Brimming with porky sapor, it was topped with garlic confit and was served with olive-fig tapenade, balsamic vinaigrette, and au jus gravy. The taste of the pork belly alone was on point even without these various condiments. The wonderfully crunchy, salty skin satisfies your basest cravings.
Price for Value:
Cucina di Francesco is a bustling moderately-priced Italian restaurant that’s a nice spot especially for families after visiting the chapel or for people working in Libis. If you’ve had your fair share of Italian food in other restaurants, then the dishes here wouldn’t be something that will particularly “wow” you, but they’re pretty decent. Must orders are pasta and pizza, of course. For occasions that require large groups, this place would be an absolute delight. Ask to be seated on the second or third floor (private function areas) and call ahead to easily snag and secure your reservation.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
My stomach just growled. This food looks so amazing. And it’s really lovely inside. I need to eat here one day.
First of all I LOVE the decor there. It sounds like a cool restaurant to hang out with friends at.
What an exquisite place! The foods all look incredible and delicious. I loved your review and descriptions of the foods.
I love cheese but cheese doesn’t love me but I may still risk it to try this. The decor looks so nice and welcoming.
This looks like such a great place to eat. I love the look of the restaurant and the food looks amazing. That pasta dish is really making me hungry.
Looks like a very nice and clean restaurant to go and enjoy a meal. Not even close to your area but you can enjoy.
The interior is so beautiful! I know I’d be excited to bring some friends along and try the pizza!
Libis area is developing rapidly which is good sign. I love italian food definitely this restaurant is worth checking out . Not to mention that beautiful set up inside is it expensive to eat there?
I love the design and layout of this restaurant. It looks really welcoming, and the food looks amazing.
What a super stylish restaurant! And the food looks fabulous! I’d love to visit the area and stop in to eat there one day.
YES for girls night out! And all of that food looks super yummy!!
I love that it is not crowded. I hate crowds especially when I want to enjoy the food and enjoy a family meal. Their food looks amazing and so does their decor
Breakfast pizza looks good! My husband would be all over that Porchetta, it looks delicious!
This place looks very very nice! I will definitely visit it and try all the yummy food!
That place looks really nice. The decor looks elegant and cozy and the food looks amazing. I want to go there!
That’s a very posh place with really great food. Restaurants need to stay busy so tell all your friends about this place. If I was nearby I would be going!
What a nice place to go out to eat, and the food looks delicious! It’s nice to enjoy a good meal out with friends.
The food looks amazing! I would have never thought to have Breakfast Pizza!
I have never had Eggs on a Pizza! That is different! I would probably order the Tre Formaggi Pizza! Yummy
So dissapointed. We ordered for 2main dish only Chicken rosemary, Porkchop and a bowl
of soup . After 20minutes they served the soup then the chicken. My chicken was almost half ((i enjoyed it dahil masarap naman esp
the veggies) when my partner followed up for the porkchop. The girl said that we did not order for it and she said that she even repeated our order. We were amazed bec when she repeated our order she mentionred the porkchop. Dalawa lang order namin.. what if marami? She did not even apologize.. Hindi sana ako magagalit kung nag sorry na lang sya or kinausap kami ng maayos na paconsuelo na lang. Nag elevate ang bp ko trying to control my emotion. Ngayong lang ako nagalit sa server.
We experienced that before in Ricos restaurant because we ordered for more foods kaya nakalimutan. Very apolegetic ang waiter so hindi ka na magagalit.
Mabait ako sa mga servers pero this time nagalit talaga ako😞
Aww.. the management should hear about this.