Outstanding food and service reminds me of the good old days when people cared. I can not wait to come back again
(5)
Amanda N.
I ordered the chicken Alfredo and the chicken tasted like frozen grilled chicken strips you buy at Walmart. The Alfredo sauce was bland and mediocre at best. My stepfather ordered the grouper and he said it was excellent along with the house italian salad dressing. The French bread was great but overall I will not be back. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was casual and relaxed.
(2)
Chris H.
If you don't like this place I'm assuming you think Olive Garden is "real Italian food." I remember when it was previously Marchello's by NAS. The building isn't fancy but the food is amazing. (Most restaurants care more about the decor than the actual food quality these days.). The lasagna is to die for!
Very, very disappointed! Expensive, greasy, nothing like italian food..i lived in Italy for a decade..sad to say olive garden is better than this and I hate olive garden..the smell in the restaurant was disgusting! I am sorry I'm leaving this review, im not a hater,but this was absolutely terrible..
(1)
P W.
The food and service is great. I'm not into "atmosphere" and those that are, care about whats on the wall and not on the plate. You want "atmosphere" go eat some Chef-Boy-R-Dee at a furniture store.
(4)
Stella H.
Food is consistent, which is half the battle with most restaurants. The interior could use a bit of an update but the food is good. Franco, the owner is a very nice man who cares about his customers. We will be back.
(4)
Amy R.
I love Franco's! This my favorite Italian restaurant in the area. The owner is from Italy and everything is handmade by him! (With the exception of deserts) I have been to Italy myself and this place is definitely authentic Italian. Everything I have ever gotten here has been delicious. I also love the atmosphere and the service. If you want a good meal, go to Franco's!
(5)
Jason A.
Favorite Italian lunch spot. Not for all those national chain Olive Garden/McDonalds loving people. Inside could use a update but food is good, service is good, and they respect your time during lunch. I enjoy taking people there for a business lunch.
(4)
Judith G.
I was looking for real Italian food and this was the place to get it. The service was fast and attentive. I particularly enjoyed the spaghetti and meat balls. The sauce was homemade and I was glad it wasn't real spicey. The meatballs very tender. The pizzas arrived quickly and hot. They didn't last long at our table. Very friendly atmosphere. While we there, the host greeted lots of regular customers. If I lived near here, I would definitely be a regular customer. You should go there!
(5)
David B.
We went there for Mothers Day after Church. Only because everywhere else was packed out. It wasn't bad, but they definitely need some updating on the inside and outside of the building. The food was above decent, but the building is whats earning my low score
(2)
Kelsey M.
Definitely not a place to go for a great lunch experience . The place has a very grubby atmosphere and the meals you can heat up in the microwave taste better than what is served here . Plenty of other restaurants in the area that would be a better choice , for example McDonalds ...and I am certainly not a big fan of that place . However , our server was pleasant & the manager with the huge mustache did a good job of interacting with customers , asking how their meal was . The restrooms were decently clean , which was a huge surprise , and the Dt Pepsi was cold . Other than that , no real redeeming qualities . Would not return .
(1)
Erik L.
Good Italian food. Not alot of ambiance for an Italian restaurant. but worth a try for most people.
(3)
Richard C.
I don't understand all the bad reviews. I really like this place, great red sauce, and their salad is always fresh with a wonderful house dressing. The price is right!
(4)
Sean B.
Is there a way to give 0 stars? This (dog) food they served can't even be considered Italian food. It was absolute horse shit! It was disgusting and uneatable. I had the eggplant parm and my wife has the lasagna. The only reason we didn't send it back or demand a refund was because we were there as guests at a dinner party. We stopped eating after 3 bites, politely asked for a to-go box and threw the Rest away as soon as we left the restaurant. Both dishes were repulsive. They even managed to have their side dish of spaghetti taste worse than the main dish. How is that possible? Chef-Boy-ardee covered in dog poop probably would have tasted better. Stay away.
(1)
Tiff C.
All Italians should come from the motherland and burn this joint down.. They open up a can of Chef Boyardee, heat it up in the microwave, and then charge you $12 for it.. totally disgusting. I dont know how this place stays open.
(1)
Abi B.
My husband and I eat here on a fairly regular basis. I love the choices and the service. I also enjoy the fact they do not play American music in an Italian restaurant. This enhances the ethnic atmosphere. If we eat Italian, chances are we are going to Franco's!
(4)
Iam N.
9PM on 3 March 12. Food was very good. Service was also. Not many people in at this hour but place was fully staffed and attentive. This has the feel of a real family run restaurant. Unfortunately it sits right on Pensacola (food row) and may not enjoy the recognition of its close by competition. I have been dining in Pensacola for many years and I, too, missed this place. Its worth going to, especially if you are with your family. Roomy and hospitable. I will be back!!
(3)
Cassie M.
GROSS! The house salad dressing was good other than that, complete shit! The eggplant parmesan was a large bowl of mush! I dumped it out of the pan onto a plate to try to find the eggplant amidst the mountain of cheese and tomato paste. I sent it back requesting chicken parm...it arrived within 3 minutes of sending it back. Not fresh! The couple beside us did not enjoy their meals either alfredo and spaghetti. They requested the check and left after a few bites. I give this place a big fat ZERO.
(1)
James L.
This restaurant was a childhood favorite in its previous incarnation as Marchello's. Most of the pastas are the same, and even though the pizza is different it is interesting, and not a bad choice on a Sunday when many places are closed.
(4)
Dustin M.
This place was clean enough, and their house salad dressing is awesome. As for the food, not so much. The veal parmesan was So-so at best, and the accompanying spaghetti on the side was chewy. Their red sauce, which is the same on everything, is obviously from a can and not very good. Try olive garden for Italian.
(2)
Grant W.
We decided to stop here before a movie due to outback next door being slammed. Walked in the door and immediately thought we walked onto the set of kitchen nightmares. there were a few people sparsely distributed through the room, slightly outdated decor, along with the outside. but once we sat down, and actually got our food.....HOLY CRAP. this food is AMAZING. Hands down the best alfredo sauce i have ever tasted in my life. The Ziti was amazing as well. Service was top notch, out of this world. Entire staff was friendly, and we will most definitely go again. This is a great family owned appearing place, with the best food i have had in this area so far since we moved here. extremely glad we stopped!
(5)
Steven H.
This place does a really good chicken liver and spaghetti dish!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Daniel R.
Outstanding food and service reminds me of the good old days when people cared. I can not wait to come back again
(5)Amanda N.
I ordered the chicken Alfredo and the chicken tasted like frozen grilled chicken strips you buy at Walmart. The Alfredo sauce was bland and mediocre at best. My stepfather ordered the grouper and he said it was excellent along with the house italian salad dressing. The French bread was great but overall I will not be back. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was casual and relaxed.
(2)Chris H.
If you don't like this place I'm assuming you think Olive Garden is "real Italian food." I remember when it was previously Marchello's by NAS. The building isn't fancy but the food is amazing. (Most restaurants care more about the decor than the actual food quality these days.). The lasagna is to die for!
(5)Chris A.
So the atmosphere of this place isn't as fancy as I was expecting, but it was cozy for sure. The sweet tea was delectable, and the water didn't taste like butt. We had the fried calamari as an appetizer. It was plain and clean and had no frills. It was perfectly breaded, seasoned just right rings with some cocktail sauce to dip them in. We shared two main entrées. First we dug into the main sampler. There was lasagna, ravioli, spaghetti with a meatball, eggplant parmigiano, a couple manicotti, a link of sausage, and some other stuff that looks like penne stacked up in a square. It was a ton of stuff, that was on an arguably too small plate, but each thing had it's own unique flavor that was honestly some of the best I've ever had. The second thing we shared was a linguine of seafood. Shrimps, scallops, clams, and mussels with some lightly sauced noodle. Delish. Every tasted super fresh. Also, the garlic bread and the salad dressing was super on point. Go here.
(5)Angela G.
Very, very disappointed! Expensive, greasy, nothing like italian food..i lived in Italy for a decade..sad to say olive garden is better than this and I hate olive garden..the smell in the restaurant was disgusting! I am sorry I'm leaving this review, im not a hater,but this was absolutely terrible..
(1)P W.
The food and service is great. I'm not into "atmosphere" and those that are, care about whats on the wall and not on the plate. You want "atmosphere" go eat some Chef-Boy-R-Dee at a furniture store.
(4)Stella H.
Food is consistent, which is half the battle with most restaurants. The interior could use a bit of an update but the food is good. Franco, the owner is a very nice man who cares about his customers. We will be back.
(4)Amy R.
I love Franco's! This my favorite Italian restaurant in the area. The owner is from Italy and everything is handmade by him! (With the exception of deserts) I have been to Italy myself and this place is definitely authentic Italian. Everything I have ever gotten here has been delicious. I also love the atmosphere and the service. If you want a good meal, go to Franco's!
(5)Jason A.
Favorite Italian lunch spot. Not for all those national chain Olive Garden/McDonalds loving people. Inside could use a update but food is good, service is good, and they respect your time during lunch. I enjoy taking people there for a business lunch.
(4)Judith G.
I was looking for real Italian food and this was the place to get it. The service was fast and attentive. I particularly enjoyed the spaghetti and meat balls. The sauce was homemade and I was glad it wasn't real spicey. The meatballs very tender. The pizzas arrived quickly and hot. They didn't last long at our table. Very friendly atmosphere. While we there, the host greeted lots of regular customers. If I lived near here, I would definitely be a regular customer. You should go there!
(5)David B.
We went there for Mothers Day after Church. Only because everywhere else was packed out. It wasn't bad, but they definitely need some updating on the inside and outside of the building. The food was above decent, but the building is whats earning my low score
(2)Kelsey M.
Definitely not a place to go for a great lunch experience . The place has a very grubby atmosphere and the meals you can heat up in the microwave taste better than what is served here . Plenty of other restaurants in the area that would be a better choice , for example McDonalds ...and I am certainly not a big fan of that place . However , our server was pleasant & the manager with the huge mustache did a good job of interacting with customers , asking how their meal was . The restrooms were decently clean , which was a huge surprise , and the Dt Pepsi was cold . Other than that , no real redeeming qualities . Would not return .
(1)Erik L.
Good Italian food. Not alot of ambiance for an Italian restaurant. but worth a try for most people.
(3)Richard C.
I don't understand all the bad reviews. I really like this place, great red sauce, and their salad is always fresh with a wonderful house dressing. The price is right!
(4)Sean B.
Is there a way to give 0 stars? This (dog) food they served can't even be considered Italian food. It was absolute horse shit! It was disgusting and uneatable. I had the eggplant parm and my wife has the lasagna. The only reason we didn't send it back or demand a refund was because we were there as guests at a dinner party. We stopped eating after 3 bites, politely asked for a to-go box and threw the Rest away as soon as we left the restaurant. Both dishes were repulsive. They even managed to have their side dish of spaghetti taste worse than the main dish. How is that possible? Chef-Boy-ardee covered in dog poop probably would have tasted better. Stay away.
(1)Tiff C.
All Italians should come from the motherland and burn this joint down.. They open up a can of Chef Boyardee, heat it up in the microwave, and then charge you $12 for it.. totally disgusting. I dont know how this place stays open.
(1)Abi B.
My husband and I eat here on a fairly regular basis. I love the choices and the service. I also enjoy the fact they do not play American music in an Italian restaurant. This enhances the ethnic atmosphere. If we eat Italian, chances are we are going to Franco's!
(4)Iam N.
9PM on 3 March 12. Food was very good. Service was also. Not many people in at this hour but place was fully staffed and attentive. This has the feel of a real family run restaurant. Unfortunately it sits right on Pensacola (food row) and may not enjoy the recognition of its close by competition. I have been dining in Pensacola for many years and I, too, missed this place. Its worth going to, especially if you are with your family. Roomy and hospitable. I will be back!!
(3)Cassie M.
GROSS! The house salad dressing was good other than that, complete shit! The eggplant parmesan was a large bowl of mush! I dumped it out of the pan onto a plate to try to find the eggplant amidst the mountain of cheese and tomato paste. I sent it back requesting chicken parm...it arrived within 3 minutes of sending it back. Not fresh! The couple beside us did not enjoy their meals either alfredo and spaghetti. They requested the check and left after a few bites. I give this place a big fat ZERO.
(1)James L.
This restaurant was a childhood favorite in its previous incarnation as Marchello's. Most of the pastas are the same, and even though the pizza is different it is interesting, and not a bad choice on a Sunday when many places are closed.
(4)Dustin M.
This place was clean enough, and their house salad dressing is awesome. As for the food, not so much. The veal parmesan was So-so at best, and the accompanying spaghetti on the side was chewy. Their red sauce, which is the same on everything, is obviously from a can and not very good. Try olive garden for Italian.
(2)Grant W.
We decided to stop here before a movie due to outback next door being slammed. Walked in the door and immediately thought we walked onto the set of kitchen nightmares. there were a few people sparsely distributed through the room, slightly outdated decor, along with the outside. but once we sat down, and actually got our food.....HOLY CRAP. this food is AMAZING. Hands down the best alfredo sauce i have ever tasted in my life. The Ziti was amazing as well. Service was top notch, out of this world. Entire staff was friendly, and we will most definitely go again. This is a great family owned appearing place, with the best food i have had in this area so far since we moved here. extremely glad we stopped!
(5)Steven H.
This place does a really good chicken liver and spaghetti dish!
(3)