The Place
One of the newer dining establishments to open up on Xingsheng Lu, DaFrancesco has a nice and friendly vibe from the moment you step in. We arrive mid-afternoon on a Sunday looking for our Italian fix, and the establishment does not disappoint. At the front of the eatery sits a couple high-tops on the left and a long row of half-booth tables lining the right side of the restaurant. In the middle of the shop is a sizeable pizza oven visible throughout most of the eatery, and a cozy bar tucked away in the back.
Image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s
The Food
DaFrancesco serves both oil and tomato-based pizzas as well as a list of pastas and steaks. We decide on the truffle and ham oil-based pizza (RMB88-118), also ordering salmon with arugula (RMB108) and bruschetta (RMB32).
Image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s
To our surprise, the pizza comes out faster than the other two dishes (a first from our ex- perience). We tuck into the thin and crispy pie, which is topped with truffle sauce, ham and mushrooms. The mozzarella is oozing with flavor and a touch of truffle makes it a pizza worth ordering again.
Image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s
By the time the bruschetta arrives, we’ve put a decent dent in the pie, and are happy to slow the pace. But unlike DaFrancesco’s pizza, their bruschetta leaves us unimpressed, lacking any substantive flavor. The salmon, on the other hand, is a delight, with an abundance of fresh and tender chunks of fish to conclude a satisfying meal.
Image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s
The Vibe
DaFrancesco is a nice place to sneak away with a few friends for an evening of good eats (or in our case, an afternoon). Music plays overhead but never intrudes on the conversation, which, although tables are side by side, you still feel secluded enough to engage in freely. Would we go back? Just tell us a time.
Price: RMB200
Who’s going: Italian cuisine cravers, some guy named Tony
Good for: good food, date nights
Nearest metro: Liede (Exit D), 5 minutes’ walk
Open daily, 11-1am. See listing for DaFrancesco.
[Cover image by Ryan Gandolfo/That’s]
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