Francesca's Dessert Cafe

This place has a very rude bald guy working there. He is very nasty and crude. I will never go back to this place because of him. The coffee is not that good and the desserts are very pricey and not that fresh. Not a good place to go, in my opinion. They need a worker/management colonic!!!!!! more

I've been going to Francesca's for years. I've gone there frequently to study or socialize with friends. Today for the first time I brought my own tea with me - yerba mate, in a traditional gourd, with an accompanying thermos of hot water. I planned on buying a snack to go with it. I was informed that absolutely no outside food or drink is allowed, even if I'm going to order something else. This is ridiculous, because if I'd bought a piece of cake, plus a cup of water, that would have been fine, but a piece of cake plus my own tea is not permissible. I told the person working that I've been coming to Francesca's for years, but I'd be happy to take my business somewhere else. Her response? ""Fine, go right ahead."" So I went down the street to Madhatter, and they had no problem with my tea. Guess I've found a new place to study. more

I've been there twice in as many weeks, and both times asked for apple cider - which is on the menu. Both times they were out of it. Either stock it or take it off the men, but don't keep offering a product and not having it. I don't foresee going back a third time. more

they don't offer much real food and staff have forbid having outside food so long-term cafe visits aren't great if you require nutrition. its also a pretty dark cafe except for two window tables. Service is usually nice but today's barrista was officious. Pros: location, slow pace, different seating Cons: no real food, dark, brewed coffee not the best more

There was really no other way to describe the woman the woman working there that was extremely rude.\r As a consequence of her rude behavior, I will no longer patronize this establishment. \r \r I had arrived there around noon, and placed an order. I guess it was before this particular ugly cow's shift because at around 2:00, as I was leaving, she asks if I was going to order something. She proceeds to tell me that I have been there for 'hours', and that she is going to have to ask me to leave. The hell? I have seen people there for the whole day, and haven't ordered anything. Not only that, I was telling her I was leaving anyway. \r \r I mean, I am sorry that she is not only fat and ugly, but there is no need to be a rude bitch on top of that. I know it must her to wake up and look at that face in the morning. Yes, you all will probably recognize her ass when you walk in there because she looks like an offspring of Shrek. Wait, let me take that back, because that is an insult ... to Shrek. Shrek looks way better than this bitch. She is tall (huge), has really frizzy hair, and looks like she has been hit with the ugly stick a couple of times. \r \r The only reason they have lasted this long is because of the location, and they can suck a lot of money out of Duke students. The food is overpriced, and the coffee isn't that great. I would suggest going to the place next door. Cons: SERVICE more

The coffee is good. The ice cream is bad. The service is worse! Pros: coffee Cons: ice cream, service more

They had several vegan options which are a huge plus - I ate vegan ice cream (chocolate and peanut butter which good in taste and OK in texture, but still amazing that they have it). They also had other vegan ""goodies"" - good cookies... but I have not tried their coffee or other foods. Pros: vegan options more

I love local coffee shops and as a former grad student at UNC I spent many days working or socializing at many of them in the triangle. Francesca's has a lot going for it: good coffee, great location, plenty of seating, diverse patrons. However, over the many times I've been there I've found the service to be lousy. After my most recent visit I've decided that Bean Trader's will be my 9th Street home away from home. The guy who served me called me ""Sir"" several times in a very condescending tone and was impatient. Because I felt he was discourteous, I signed the credit card receipt without leaving a tip which was greeted with a sarcastic ""appreciate it."" This was perhaps the worst service I've received there, but not far away from the average. more

I just moved down here from DC. I have been looking for an independent coffee shop in the area and was happy to find this place. I've been there a handful of times, but the other night I had the RUDEST woman wait on me. She made me feel guilty for ordering tea, or perhaps ordering tea in the way that I ordered it. The tea itself was wonderful, the atmosphere for a young professional was just fine, but having a rude wait person who seemed to be judging each choice I made and word I chose was not at all pleasant. Additionally, when my friend went to pay, and was aiming for exactly chance, the woman watched her counting out change and as she was getting closer to the correct amount the lady said with impatience, ""Getting close......""\r \r It would only have been more unpleasant if she had sp*t in my tea. more

Franny's expanded a few years ago, taking over its next door neighbor and adding some great casual seating. Taste the sorbets or the fabulous icecreams, grab a coffee or indulge in a great cider. Lust over the pastries. Bring your laptop and search out one of the handful of plugs--a good one is right by the window of the additional room--and enjoy the wifi. Feel uber cool flipping through the Independent while gazing at the often changing art work. If you must, sneak a cig on the nice, covered bench seating out front. Pros: ambience Cons: little pricey more

THIS IS A LOCAL HANG OUT, YOU SEE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE HERE. THE AFTER THEATER CROWD\r IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. IT'S A MIX OF COLLEGE KIDS AND LOCAL ALIKE. THE COFFEE AND THE\r GELATO GET SO MANY FAVE REVIEWS. NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY RTY TO SUPPORT LOCAL\r ARTISTS BY DISPLAYING THEIR ART WORK ON THE WALLS. IT'S THE HANG OUT ICECREAM SHOP\r FOR ADULTS. Pros: VERY FRIENDLY, AND YUMMY ICECREAM, AND GELATO Cons: SEATING IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED more

I'm a big fan of Francesca's. The atmosphere is great, the internet is free, and all of their food and drinks are great. I was especially impressed by the fact that their soup of the day was vegan--it can be tough to find vegetarian/vegan options in the area. Unfortunately it's hard to find an available outlet for plugging in the laptop on the weekends because the place is pretty busy. Pros: great ambience, good food, great music Cons: busy on the weekends, slow service when it's busy more

The desserts have been both good and not-so-good. But the ice cream, coffee and all the little cookie things are great.\r \r They have a brand of tea that's actually as good as loose leaf, but is sold in a bag. If you're a tea person, these may sound like heresey, but you have to try it (or at least see it) to understand why. \r \r The best thing about the place is the vibe, which is friendly, smart and casual. Try going on a wednesday night, when the Go-club is in, and ask someone to teach you Go! Pros: Cool vibe, great tea, coffee Cons: OK desserts. more

Poor service, high prices and mediocre to bad food. The ice cream is average at best, everything else is awful. Blue Coffee or the Cafe at the Regulator are much better choices. Pros: Decor more

I'm not sure why people are getting so negative about this place. It is very good at what it does: an interesting variety of nice, refreshing ice creams/sorbets in a low-key environment. It is not really a top-caliber bakery or anything (e.g., flavors aren't so subtle), but that's okay. Pros: Very nice ice cream, Not expensive, Low-key Cons: Mediocre baked goods more

This is my second time to this dessert cafe. The only reason I tried it again was because it changed ownership. And again I was disappointed. The cake tasted very stale and broke apart as I tried it. I took it back. The only reason I gave this cafe a 3 was because the service was nice. Pros: Service Cons: Taste more

I went into this place expecting memories of southern Europe and instead I got glorified Breyer's. It cost a lot of money just to be disappointed! Fortunately, a new gelateria just opened on Hillsborough St that IS Authentic (and cheaper... and still homemade on-site) and they'll be getting my money from now on!!! more

Great ice cream, and LOW FAT!!! Chocolate is really tastefull more

...as not everything is good here. They have many delicious and creative flavors of ice cream. The sugar cones are often stale and the sauces, including the hot fudge, are dreadful. The coffee is way overpriced and not very good. Their baked goods are mixed, but steer clear of the frosted layer cakes--attractive yet terrible. I often have trouble finding seating, but the ambiance is very pleasant and not too loud. Bottom line? Go there and eat the excellent ice cream and sorbet. Pros: nice interior, great ice cream, convienient location Cons: too crowded, expensive!, not open late enough more