Welcome to Francisco's, Durango's oldest and most respected restaurant. Francisco's combines the traditions of the Garcia family's original recipes with new and varied menu items including fresh seafood, beef, pasta, and Southwestern specialties.
Francisco's is a family legacy that started from scratch. Francis and Claudine weren’t the only Garcias at Francisco’s. The couple’s two young sons, Skip and Ted, could often be found at the restaurant with their sleeves…
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Welcome to Francisco's, Durango's oldest and most respected restaurant. Francisco's combines the traditions of the Garcia family's original recipes with new and varied menu items including fresh seafood, beef, pasta, and Southwestern specialties.
Francisco's is a family legacy that started from scratch. Francis and Claudine weren’t the only Garcias at Francisco’s. The couple’s two young sons, Skip and Ted, could often be found at the restaurant with their sleeves rolled up, pitching in to help. After the day of school at Park Elementary, the boys would ride their bikes down to the restaurant where they would make extra money by bussing tables, washing dishes and helping keep the restaurant clean. Summers were also spent working at the restaurant so that by the time the boys graduated from Durango High School, the restaurant business was in their blood.
After serving time in the United States Navy, the boys returned to Durango where Skip found a niche working with his father in the front of the house. His knack for networking and business-sense made him a natural for the fast-paced position working with the public. Ted, on the other hand, decided to pursue a formal culinary education and enrolled at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont. Upon his completion, he returned to Durango where he assumed responsibilities as the Executive Chef. Under his mother’s watchful eye, Ted transformed the menu to include continental offerings ranging from fresh seafood, to aged Angus steaks, to tantalizing pasta dishes, while continuing to use the family recipes for traditional dishes that were the foundation of the original menu. Even with the diverse menu selections, the family continued to hold true to the principles upon which the business was founded: Use only the freshest ingredients, make everything from scratch and offer exceptional service to each and every guest. These principles are our foundation and are what folks have come to expect from Francisco’s Restaurant over the years.
Peruse the authentic western art. Francisco’s Restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Durango, one block from the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and walking distance down from the historical Strater Hotel. The iconic, Spanish fortress style building, though unique amongst it’s Victorian counterparts, encompasses nearly half a block and is an architectural credit to Durango’s richly diverse history. Once inside, you will be greeted by hundreds of unique works of art ranging from handpainted Mexican tile work to a museum-worthy collection of Western artifacts and artwork. Seating options range from cozy half-moon shaped booths, to large, family-style tables that can seat in excess of ten. Don’t miss the chance make a wish in our wishing fountain or forget to take a look at the one-of-a-kind beaded buckskin and other rare Native American artwork hanging in the back dining room.
There is always something going on at Francisco’s! Join us as we celebrate community events such as Snowdown or Cinco de Mayo and don’t forget to join us for football season in our Cantina where you can watch the game on any of our 6 viewing screens. Join us for our annual birthday celebration in October or for your own birthday party where our staff will treat you to a rousing rendition of the Happy Birthday Song done Francisco’s-style.
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