Francine has always offered a stellar selection of items on its French Mediterranean menu. This fall, guests are invited to try a collection of new dishes and enjoy the convenience of a prix fixe menu, all designed by Michelin-trained Executive Chef, Remy Lefebvre and the Founder of Francine, Laurent Halasz. 

Francine Musts:

• Try the Endive Salad with endives, pistachio, oranges and calamansi vinaigrette 
• Order the Duck Pithiviers — duck breast and foie gras complemented with eggplant, truffle, fig and basil gastrique, all tucked into a puff pastry
• Indulge in the shareable-size Belle Helene — a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sliced almonds, topped with a confit pear and dark chocolate 

“We are so excited to offer a vast new assortment of dishes on our fall menu,” says Lefebvre. “This is our ‘Cuisine of the Sun’ and these are the flavor profiles we are bringing to our Scottsdale diners direct from the French Riviera.”

Francine has visitors feeling right at home

Before diving into the new selections at Francine, one must first soak in the ambiance and enjoy the comfortable surroundings that permeate the restaurant. Now that the weather is cooler, it’s easy to choose the outside patio looking out to the serene waterfall feature adjacent to the entrance of the luxury wing at Scottsdale Fashion Square. 

If sitting inside, you’ll feel right at home. The interior dining room is designed to be reminiscent of Halasz’s childhood home on the French coast. The furnishings and decor reflect the nostalgia his mother incorporated into the family’s home, and the environment at Francine sets the culinary stage for an experience as beautiful as it is delicious.

Prix fixe menu provides French culinary “tour“

The beauty of ordering from the seasonal prix fixe menu at Francine is that it has been painstakingly orchestrated to provide a French fine dining experience. For only $65 per person, guests can try some of the finest dishes the restaurant has to offer.

Francine’s all prix fixe menu

 Course 1 (Choose one)

1. Whipped Goat Cheese with tomato, cucumber, pomegranate 
2. Endives with Pistachio, oranges, calamansi vinaigrette 
3. Bluefin Tuna Crudo with grapes, figs, lemon and chive 
4. Sunchoke Soup with chestnut and hazelnut praline 

Course 2 (Choose one)

1. Salmon Riviera with grapefruit, avocado and arugula salad 
2. Mushroom Rigatoni with truffle and parmesan
3. Steak Frites – A New York 10 oz. steak with herb butter, pepper sauce and frites (+$6 supplement)

Course Three – Dessert (Choose one)

1. Crème Brulee with lavender and vanilla 
2. Pear Belle Helene with confit pear, vanilla ice cream, chocolate and almond 

Our experience at Francine

Our meal started with an Endive Salad with crunchy pistachios, sweet orange segments and tangy calamansi vinaigrette. It was a taste sensation with a perfect flavor and texture profile — equal parts tangy, crunch, sweet, soft and savory. I would return to Francine for this salad alone! It’s tasty, refreshing and a perfect introduction to the meal. Or, a wonderful salad all by itself.

The Melon and Prosciutto Salad is cleverly served on a bowl of chunked ice. The excellent flavor combination of savory prosciutto and sweet cantaloupe, served on small curled skewers is as delicious as it is beautiful in presentation. This is also a selection easily shared by couples or a small group. 

We then dug into the Bluefin Tuna Crudo that included a sweet surprise…literally! This version of tuna crudo included grapes, figs, white soy, lemon and chives. The soft crunch of the fig with the punch of sweet from the sliced grapes truly gave the tuna crudo a wonderfully unique flavor. 

The Mushroom Rigatoni with truffle and parmesan was a wonderful dish highlighted with housemade pasta that incorporated a variety of mushroom varieties and a delicate incorporation of truffle and parmesan. 

Featured on the regular menu, we also tried the Duck Pithiviers, one of the most unique dishes served at Francine. This savory selection is created in a pastry style. It boasts duck breast and foie gras complemented with eggplant, truffle, fig and basil gastrique, all tucked into a puff pastry. The elegant presentation at the table is not to be missed!

No dinner at Francine would be complete without dessert. We had the pear Belle Helene, which is the perfect size to share. It incorporates a scoop of vanilla ice cream and sliced almonds, topped with a confit pear and dark chocolate. 

New fall menu

There are also some additional new menu items, available a la carte. New selections include a fabulous Flatbread Pizza with Smoked Mozzarella, chanterelles mushrooms and za’atar oil; Salmon Riviera with grapefruit, avocado and arugula salad; Mediterranean Octopus complemented with arrabbiata sauce; the Bluefin Tuna Tartar and the Duck Pithiviers. 

Francine has the distinction of being a restaurant where guests can enjoy fine dining for a romantic dinner, a fun night out with friends or a cool place to see and be seen. Francine is located at 4710 N. Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale, immediately outside the luxury wing of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Visit FrancineRestaurant.com for more information or reservations.