In Dining Out, Reviews

Francine is a newer dining concept that opened up in the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square over the summer. They offer French Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful setting. For the past couple weeks I’ve seen picture of the gorgeous space and have been excited to plan a visit.

Then I discovered they just rolled out a new brunch menu and that excitement tripled. The offerings take brunch classics and elevate them to sublime.

I recently visited Francine and was blown away by the beauty of the interior. The space was bright and felt very open. Warm tones set the charming and refined vibe. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a gorgeous bar area, beautifully lit and welcoming.

They’re mixing up the usual brunch cocktails like mimosas and Bloody Marys and also a bevy of signature and classic cocktails.

During our visit we tried the Summer Cantaloupe and the Ah Oui Oui cocktails. Both were beautifully presented. The Summer Cantaloupe was light and refreshing, made with Pisco, St. George Basil, ginger, cantaloupe, lime and sparkling wine. It was lightly sweet and bubbly. A winner for sure. The Ah Oui Oui is made with Early Grey tea infused rum, St. George Pear, lustau amontillado passion fruit, pineapple and lemon. Both cocktails were as pretty as they were tasty, perfect to pair with brunch.

While we sipped our cocktails we noshed on the stunning Grilled Octopus appetizer. The octopus was perfection, expertly cooked and super tender. It was served with a savory spiced chorizo verde and bright romesco sauce. Our server said the Grilled Octopus was Francine’s most popular dish and it is no wonder why!

For our entree we opted for the Croque Madame, a sinfully decadent and rich French favorite. A sandwich made with a fried egg, ham, gruyere cheese, and creamy béchamel. At Francine you have the opportunity to add table side raclette to the already rich and filling sandwich; and while the option is truly gilding the lily, I highly recommend it! I don’t know of any other places in town that offer raclette and it’s a sublime experience to have your server scrape oozing, melty cheese onto your food, cheese makes everything better after all . YUM!!!

No brunch is complete without a sweet component and we satisfied that rule with the Lemon Ricotta Pancake. This pancake was HUGE and can easily be shared by a few people. Don’t miss it because it’s also wildly delicious. It’s more like a cake than a traditional pancake and it’s bright with the taste of lemon and sweetened with blueberry compote. It comes served with chantilly cream and maple syrup. It served as dessert and left us satisfied and happy.

As one of Scottsdale’s new premier eateries Francine offers something for everybody. It’s upscale but relaxed and comfortable. The brunch menu is perfect for a leisurely weekend morning spent with friends. It feels a little fancy and that’s what makes a dining experience there so special. Check it out and see for yourself, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Francine is located in the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square at 4710 N. Goldwater Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

Disclaimer: We enjoyed a complimentary meal at Francine in exchange for this write-up. All opinions are entirely my own.  

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