Last week I heard from a friend that Francesco’s Italian Restaurant, near the airport in Oakland since 1968, will be closing its doors for good soon. The word is they will be open until March or April of 2016. I went back last weekend for a long-overdue return with friends and it won’t be the last time I go back before it closes. The East Bay will be losing perhaps the last family-owned old-style Italian restaurant in the area and that is a real shame. This is a place I was excited to check out about 10 years ago but now I wish I had visited more often. Here are some pics I took last Saturday night.
photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
Dewey Bargiacchi opened Francesco’s in 1968 after running the popular Chandelier in Jack London Square. His mother, known as Mama Bargiacchi, founded the North Pole Club and the Villa de la Paix in Oakland. Francesco’s is now owned by the third generation of the same family.
photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
the bar – photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
amazing grapes chandelier – photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
Our waitress Lisa preparing tableside Caesar salad – it was delicious! – photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
“Italian pot roast” with their homemade ravioli – YUM! – photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
Be sure to look at the memorabilia of the family’s restaurant history at the entrance to the bar and the old photos and articles on the Oakland airport over the years.
photo by Dean Curtis, 2015
Francesco’s
8520 Pardee Dr, Oakland, CA 94621
(510) 569-0653
Open Mon-Fri 11:00am – 9:45pm, Sat 4:00pm-9:45pm, closed Sunday
Francesco’s has all of the classic dining elements that we love…including tableside Caesar ! I’m very sad by it’s impending closure.
Have been patronizing the Bargiacci restaurants since high school. Villa de la Paix, Chandalier, and Franchesco’s. Sad times. Known the family since high school. Last of the good ones.