Francesca's is perfectly placed in the heart of Jesmond and is such a student staple that my parents often went while they were studying at university, it has also been the site of every birthday dinner for as long as I can remember.
The most expensive menu item is under £20 and you can definitely fill yourself for that price, the staff are so welcoming and friendly which is a key reason for there being so many returning customers. My personal menu highlights would be the half-pizza half-pasta for under £10 and the garlic king prawns. There are various gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options so there's always something for everyone. If you don't fancy anything particularly Italian but find yourself in this Italian restaurant then there are steak, fish and chicken options.
I would advise that you plan when you visit the restaurant as at peak times (12pm, 5pm and 7pm) the queues can become very long and you might lose hope. However, the staff ensure that, with quick and helpful service, the queues die down very quickly and you'll be seated and fed in no time.
...the queues die down very quickly and you'll be seated and fed in no time.
Francesca's has also made an appearance in Northern literature, in Jessica Andrews' Saltwater (2019) the main character Lucy works at Francesca's which you can tell by the menu details.
Francesca's is a great place to take your current or future flatmates, your parents when they visit or for a cheap date night. My dad says that its the beating heart of 'studentland' and I think he might be right.