Francesca Italian Bakery & Delicatessen

Delicious Italian quick eats like arancini, various pasta and parmesan, meatballs etc that you can take out or eat in. Of course I should mention their fabulous selection of baked goods from bread to cakes to cookies and more! They sell out of their popular items quick so best to go early. Service is very friendly.

A friend purchased us a sfoglia cake for our housewarming with fresh fruit. Ever since I order all my cakes for any occasion from Francesca’s

Popped in here for a couple of things today.
I got 4 cream puffs and 4 meat arancini (rice balls). The rice balls are absolutely delicious. They’re tennis ball sized bites of delicious crispy breadcrumbs, soft rice and tasty meat with peas. I got tomato sauce on the side and I would go there just for this item alone. The cream puffs were for the kids, and they said they were lovely too. Can’t really go wrong with choux pastry and fresh whipped cream.
The bakery has lots of other baked goods, fresh bread and the extensive hot food display. Was looking at the home made lasagne too. Loads of sandwiches and pizza too. Would have given 5 stars but parking in this plaza is horrendous. There are very, very limited spaces, which puts me off returning. Service wasn’t very friendly either but after frequenting Asian places a lot, you can deal with it in exchange for good food!

Had a box of a bunch of different Italian cookies! Almond this and pistachio that… they even have while wheat options. All of then were delicious!!! I specifically like the pistachio topped almond u shape cookies! The cannoli was on point as well! They were so good I went back and got a second larger box after we devoured the first one.
The staff are really nice and friendly. So glad I was close by waiting for friends. If I’m ever back in the area I’ll be sure to try their hot table which looked like it’s been ransacked of all the goodies. Their menu looks good though and so does the fresh baked bread! Tables are pretty decent, enough to seat 34 ppl!

3.5!
What happened to their sign? Francesca bakery is still there. It just isn’t…obvious. I came to try it today, and couldn’t find the big, red sign that’s always been there. Weird. Anyhow, upon entering, I got the answer to the question I’ve been wondering for so many years: how can a bakery be that big? The answer is that although it’s called a bakery, it isn’t just baked goods. There’s a hot table, a coffee station, a gelato station, a deli, and tables for people to eat at.
Had:
Veal cutlet — breaded veal in tomato sauce. I’m not a fan of soggy, breaded things. This was a soggy, breaded thing. Taste-​wise, it was alright, but nothing special about it.
Rice — cooked with cream, and cheese, and probably some kind of chicken broth. Also some peas and carrots and stuff. Pretty tasty.
Roasted veggies ($ 4.50) — for $ 4.50, I’m expecting a whole lot more veggie than I got. The veggies (zucchini, green beans, broccoli, carrots) were also quite overcooked.
Rice ball ($ 2.50) — this thing is the size of my fist. It comes in either cheese or meat (we got the meat). It’s a giant arancini. When I saw this, I knew I had to buy it. They ask if you want sauce or not. What they don’t tell you is that sauce costs an extra $ 0.50. They also didn’t write it on their menu. Be careful of hidden costs here! Yeah. I got it with the sauce (tomato). When I bought it, the arancini was fresh. The filling (ground beef, peas, tomato sauce) was still hot and moist. The rice was lovely and savory and creamy and seasoned. The fried outside was nice and crunchy. Will definitely be back for this.
Empanada ($ 2.75) — I didn’t know empanadas were Italian. This looked like a triangular savory pie, sans pie shell. It was also about the same size as my fist. The empanada was filled with ground beef and onions, and also half a hard boiled egg (or perhaps a full one), and a singular black olive nestled in one of the corners. Taste-​wise, also worth the $ 2.75.
THE GELATO. Sampling is a yes. The pistachio actually tasted like pistachio. This was the first time I’ve had any pistachio gelato that actually tasted like pistachio! It was delightful. The mango was nice and fruity. The hazelnut tasted like a ferrero rocher. The coffee, while slightly more grainy than the others, packed a hardcore coffee taste. A small gelato costs $ 3.00, and comes with two flavors. Totally coming back for this one too.
Will be back. Definitely getting more rice balls, more empanadas, and more gelato. Will try their mini pastries… eventually. Dreaming of rice balls!

Secret gem in Scarborough. Great pastry at affordable prices. Stop by to pick some up before heading home.

Bought a small Sicilia cake for my brother’s birthday that was absolutely delicious! It also easily fed our family of five with plenty leftover to savour later.
The gelato here is to die for as well. My personal favourite is the pistachio one! Only $ 3 for a small cup and they pack it up real nice too.
I also had some mild salami, and though I probably shouldn’t have eaten that many slices in a day, I have no regrets whatsoever. So. Freaking. Good. One more thing to love my boyfriend for, for introducing me to such yummy salami.
The service was impeccable too! The worker that helped us honestly made my day with her humour and helpfulness. I’m definitely planning to return for more treats in the future and hopefully for a lunch or few!

We ordered a Tiramisu cake for a Birthday and it was a hit! The decoration on the cake was elegant and it was very enjoyable. It tasted very fresh and it had the right amount of cream and liquor. Everyone in the party enjoyed it and asked where it was from. We will be sure to try more cakes and pastries from Francesca.

Popped in here for an espresso and it was very strong. My friend enjoyed some of the gelato which she said was quite filling, and the medium cup holds a lot of gelato. Nice atmosphere and the food looks very fresh. I didn’t purchase any of the food, so I can’t comment on that. Staff where nice and the coffee was strong :)

Decent morning place to grab and go. Good for sitting down too. The foods like italian cafeteria. I ordered arancini which was bland, kebabs, which was ok nothing special. Donuts and cannoli were both delicious. Would come back for pastries.

Sweet little Italian bakery with courteous ladies, awesome ice cream, pastries and lunches!

OK, while I have used the Big Cannoli as my standard, I have to give these guys their just «desert». On par in terms of cannoli shells with The Big Cannoli, they too stuff theirs only when sold. You end up with the total «crunchatation» of the freshest possible cannoli imaginable. The ricotta filling is the smoothest I have had and their chocolate filling is just ah-​mazing!
What sets them apart is their selection of amazing pastries. From Créme Brûlée to Rhum Balls, the flavours are all so fresh. It does not stop there. The hot table looks pretty good too. I would have loved to try a hot veal sandwich but they were sold out of veal when we got there. This is always a good sign. There was also a large selection of various breads.
Definitely a keeper. Worth the drive from Richmond Hill. We are going back Often! Waistline, watch out LOL.

Recently the owner has decided they are too busy to bake their own baguettes. Once a staple upon which this bakery built its reputation, it is now outsourced and of far lesser quality. A shame, that the bakery believes its success can be sustained by reducing the quality of their product on account of being too busy. They’re pastries and catering must really be taking off… That or the profit margins are greater and they don’t mind losing a few loyal bread buying customers.
I am now reluctantly looking for a new bakery in the area :-(

In the sea of Timmy (welcome to Scarborough), this place offers excellent and authentic Italian coffee and dessert.
You will be surprised by the variety of desserts offered at the bakery. I have yet tried all of them, but everything I have tried so far are spectacular! From that cannoli filled with freshly whipped cream, to flaky, buttery croissants… Don’t be tricked by the sketchy outside, this place is a real gem!
They also offer a huge variety of deli, cheese, hot lunch and sandwich, which I have yet to try.

The service has improved over the years… I used to come to this place and be completely ignored by staff (at times I even thought it was because I was not Caucasian) but the cannolis kept me coming back.
Now fast forward a few years the place has renovated and the service staff has changed. This place is amazing, the cakes are very good prices are high but you get what you pay for and it is worth it to treat yourself once in a while.

Francesca bakery is right around the corner of Sheppard and McCowan, perfect for busing! The interior is clean with a friendly service. You can find more than just baked goods! If you’re hungry, you can definitely find yourself a great Italian style meal. I would definitely recommend the rice ball and the tortellini which isn’t too salty or bland! The bakery is divided into four main sections, deli, hot meals and a sitting area with a TV to sit, relax and enjoy a great meal. Walls are decorated with nice photos and washroom is located downstairs. I’m definitely coming back! :)

Big fan of this place!
Bests include Arancini (meat rice balls), the pre-​made muffaletta sandwich wedges with olive tapenade (get it grilled on the panini press) & any of the made-​to-​order italian cold cut sandwiches and breads.
I also like the canoli, mini cheesecakes, but the hot table food items and sheet pan pizza slices are mixed, some good, some okay, but none are mindblowing.
The biggie for me is the arancini, which are THE best I’ve found since the closure of Gus & Maria’s in south Scarborough more than a decade ago, SO GOOD!
Now that they have a nicer seating area, I need to dig a little deeper into their dessert case, and will try the amaretti cookies & espresso next visit :)
Cheers,
.James.

They have such a variety of desserts and gelato, if you’re ever in Scarborough, this is one of the bakeries to come too! The desserts are light and if you buy a bunch to share, you can taste pretty much all of them!
The Sicilia (Pistachio bavarois) is amazing! But the one that really hits home is the Passione mango mouse. I’m a huge mango lover, and this was one I didn’t want to share. The mini cheesecake was on par with any you would get at a restaurant, so kudos to that. Honestly, there wasn’t one dessert I didn’t like! My recommendation would be to have a group pitch in and get them all so you can try each and every one of them (it is a bit pricey. all adds up).
Apparently the gelato is awesome. I had a sample of the lemon, and it was mouthwatering.
I haven’t had any of their food but it seems to always be busy at this bakery. The only drawback is the price. It is a bit pricey but if you feel like spending and want dessert that looks like art… go for it!

In a hunt for savoury pastry and a café in Scarborough, I stumbled upon Francesca Bakery. The lunch rush was on, and I managed to snag a croissant coupled with a pasta combo.
Even though it looked decent, unfortunately everything was oily. The ‘special’ pasta was very dry. It was like the oil was added to compensate for the dryness and otherwise lack of sauce. The veggies on the side were insipid and also (surprisingly) oily!
They certainly do well here, as the place was consistently full over the lunch hour. My croissant was slightly dense and oily, but the outside was crisp despite it all.
The pastries and cakes looked amazing though. Didn’t try any today, but they were beautiful and enticing. This may have been a one off, so I won’t condemn Francesca Bakery just yet; I’ll return to try the sweets and gelato first!

Serving the Scarborough neighborhood for decades! I’ve passed by this place countless times but have never stepped foot into Francesca’s until this past Sunday!
Don’t let the outside fool you, though its exterior may look simple, once you’re inside its heaven on earth!!!
Well laid out, clean, and friendly like most Italian bakeries, all the delicatessan’s displayed can be overwhelming, like you’re at a candy store!!!
Everything is made in-​house and baked with love! the prices are reasonable and just pure quality!
Torrone was magnificent… and the quality I found was a TAD bit better than Novellos… in addition they have an extensive seating area and washroom facilities for its patrons. I will definitely be coming back Francesca! Arividerci!!!