We love Franco's!! We have tried all of the other talked about pizzerias in town and, while they're good, Franco's tops them all! The pizzas are delicious and you can tell they are made with real, fresh ingredients! My daughter never liked pizza, until she had Franco's ;) Also, every time I've gone in, there's a friendly face and welcoming words as I picked up my food! Huge plus!! If you want GREAT pizza and friendly service, this is your place!!
(5)
Loren S.
This a great little Italian joint. Pizza and subs are great! The food is more costly than a chain pizza restaurant but it's easy to taste the difference. I definitely recommend them.
(4)
Jessica L.
Yummy pizza and subs! The pizza is soft and also crunchy at the same time- perfect combo! They have many cool combinations of stuff for subs. The restaurant is cute and homey and Franco was very pleasant and made sure we were happy with our meal!
(5)
Sue B.
Franco's uses awesome real fresh Italian ingredients which make there pizza a real heavenly treat. I usually can't help myself and order Italian ham and cheese sub and my husband gets a small pizza. . It is hot and big and wonderfully comforting. My husband and I get delivery at least every other week. We love it. Best in town by far.
(5)
Tom H.
Franco is a true to life Italian transplant who set this business up a long way from home many years ago. I think his food is great. You can get a pizza the size of a hub cap starting at about $20. Between thick and thin crust pizza I prefer the thin. Not so much because of the doe but more because you can get more of the taste of the delicious sauce in each bite. There are a number of sub sandwich choices. All that I've tried are pretty decent without a particular stand out though I seem to usually opt for the meatball sub. I dig the sauce. The turkey sub tends to be my "go to" in a lot of sub shops. This place is no exception. Taste wise it goes toe to toe with the competition. Turkey subs are a strong seller at most sandwich restaurants and it's tough to find a particular place that truly has a stand-out even in big cities. The front runners all use high quality meats with really good bread. Beyond that the ingredients don't vary much. In any case, Franco's always hits the spot with me. Franco is cordial and always happy to see his customers and makes a special effort to remember repeat customers. If you dine in he always makes it a point to say hello and chat or even sit down for a bit and talk about anything from pizza to soccer to the old country. The indoor seating area is quaint and a bit more homey and intimate than most sub shops around town. Franco has a couple of pictures of the home stomping grounds gracing the walls (the coliseum, etc.) My compliments to Franco and the crew on a job always well done.
(5)
Aly O.
Pros: Some of the best pizza in town! Their sauce is seriously amazing and they are pretty quick to make it! Fairly priced with good rotating specials. Franco is such a nice guy, he sure is italian! He was so great with our baby when we grabbed lunch there last week too. He works around the clock, almost ALWAYS there anytime you stop in. Cute little seating area to dine in if you want. Cons: Honestly, there isn't much I can say bad about the place, in fact I can't think of anything off the top of my head. I've never been disappointed and often gain Franco more fans soon as I bring people in with me! Good work!
(5)
Missy M.
Best pizza in Kalamazoo. Get it thin and extra crispy for a real authentic pizza experience. Franco, the owner, is friendly and makes many of his ingredients himself. Try his homemade sausage. Flavourful crust on pizza is worth the visit. Eat in and enjoy a hot pizza with no cardboard taste!
(5)
Bill W.
Awesome spot! They have this giant thin crust pizza. Sauce is not too tangy either. Ordered a 5 giant pizzas and they were delivered on time by a very pleasant driver. Priced right for a work lunch.
(5)
The D.
Kinda shocked and how gross the pizza was. Overpriced and okay for gas station pizza. Cheap sauce, doughy crust on the bottom, and cheap cheese. Kinda tasted like the cheese from little Caesars. We live down the street and heard it was a local favorite.... Not impressed. And at erbellis prices? Ick. (On a positive note the cheesy bread wasn't half bad). Would not go again.
(2)
Jeff G.
Superb pizza from this family run restaurant. If you want fresh New York style pizza without pretension, go to Franco's.
(5)
Steve R.
Great New York-style pizza! Family run. Been going here since I was a kid.
(5)
Ron W.
Love Franco's!! Been eating here sine I was in high school at Portage Central in 1985. Sandwiches are great but the pizza is my favorite. Service is excellent.
(5)
Ben B.
Incredible pizza. The crust is soft and chewy. The pepperoni is bold. The sauce is just spicy enough. I used to eat here frequently when I lived in Portage. Can't say enough about it. If the owner is there (which is almost every hour of the day), he's always very friendly. I almost felt bad moving away... like I was letting him down. But I trust Portage's pizza-loving elite will keep this place afloat in my absence.
(5)
Brandy H.
Love Franco's. I always get great service from whoever is at the counter. Franco himself works the counter, the ovens, the pizzas, which I think is awesome. He's a great guy if you get past his gruff exterior. We love their subs and calzones.
(5)
Matt B.
Well being a pizza regular I decided to try their sandwiches for lunch. Bad idea. We ordered five sandwiches and it came to around 35 bucks. Subs were good but nothing spectacular. I'd rather save the ten bucks and go to a chain like subway or Jimmy John's. Also I specifically asked for no lettuce and tomato but sure enough it was tossed on there. Bottom line the pizza is fantastic but it gets three stars because this is sub review.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No 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.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Hollie R.
We love Franco's!! We have tried all of the other talked about pizzerias in town and, while they're good, Franco's tops them all! The pizzas are delicious and you can tell they are made with real, fresh ingredients! My daughter never liked pizza, until she had Franco's ;) Also, every time I've gone in, there's a friendly face and welcoming words as I picked up my food! Huge plus!! If you want GREAT pizza and friendly service, this is your place!!
(5)Loren S.
This a great little Italian joint. Pizza and subs are great! The food is more costly than a chain pizza restaurant but it's easy to taste the difference. I definitely recommend them.
(4)Jessica L.
Yummy pizza and subs! The pizza is soft and also crunchy at the same time- perfect combo! They have many cool combinations of stuff for subs. The restaurant is cute and homey and Franco was very pleasant and made sure we were happy with our meal!
(5)Sue B.
Franco's uses awesome real fresh Italian ingredients which make there pizza a real heavenly treat. I usually can't help myself and order Italian ham and cheese sub and my husband gets a small pizza. . It is hot and big and wonderfully comforting. My husband and I get delivery at least every other week. We love it. Best in town by far.
(5)Tom H.
Franco is a true to life Italian transplant who set this business up a long way from home many years ago. I think his food is great. You can get a pizza the size of a hub cap starting at about $20. Between thick and thin crust pizza I prefer the thin. Not so much because of the doe but more because you can get more of the taste of the delicious sauce in each bite. There are a number of sub sandwich choices. All that I've tried are pretty decent without a particular stand out though I seem to usually opt for the meatball sub. I dig the sauce. The turkey sub tends to be my "go to" in a lot of sub shops. This place is no exception. Taste wise it goes toe to toe with the competition. Turkey subs are a strong seller at most sandwich restaurants and it's tough to find a particular place that truly has a stand-out even in big cities. The front runners all use high quality meats with really good bread. Beyond that the ingredients don't vary much. In any case, Franco's always hits the spot with me. Franco is cordial and always happy to see his customers and makes a special effort to remember repeat customers. If you dine in he always makes it a point to say hello and chat or even sit down for a bit and talk about anything from pizza to soccer to the old country. The indoor seating area is quaint and a bit more homey and intimate than most sub shops around town. Franco has a couple of pictures of the home stomping grounds gracing the walls (the coliseum, etc.) My compliments to Franco and the crew on a job always well done.
(5)Aly O.
Pros: Some of the best pizza in town! Their sauce is seriously amazing and they are pretty quick to make it! Fairly priced with good rotating specials. Franco is such a nice guy, he sure is italian! He was so great with our baby when we grabbed lunch there last week too. He works around the clock, almost ALWAYS there anytime you stop in. Cute little seating area to dine in if you want. Cons: Honestly, there isn't much I can say bad about the place, in fact I can't think of anything off the top of my head. I've never been disappointed and often gain Franco more fans soon as I bring people in with me! Good work!
(5)Missy M.
Best pizza in Kalamazoo. Get it thin and extra crispy for a real authentic pizza experience. Franco, the owner, is friendly and makes many of his ingredients himself. Try his homemade sausage. Flavourful crust on pizza is worth the visit. Eat in and enjoy a hot pizza with no cardboard taste!
(5)Bill W.
Awesome spot! They have this giant thin crust pizza. Sauce is not too tangy either. Ordered a 5 giant pizzas and they were delivered on time by a very pleasant driver. Priced right for a work lunch.
(5)The D.
Kinda shocked and how gross the pizza was. Overpriced and okay for gas station pizza. Cheap sauce, doughy crust on the bottom, and cheap cheese. Kinda tasted like the cheese from little Caesars. We live down the street and heard it was a local favorite.... Not impressed. And at erbellis prices? Ick. (On a positive note the cheesy bread wasn't half bad). Would not go again.
(2)Jeff G.
Superb pizza from this family run restaurant. If you want fresh New York style pizza without pretension, go to Franco's.
(5)Steve R.
Great New York-style pizza! Family run. Been going here since I was a kid.
(5)Ron W.
Love Franco's!! Been eating here sine I was in high school at Portage Central in 1985. Sandwiches are great but the pizza is my favorite. Service is excellent.
(5)Ben B.
Incredible pizza. The crust is soft and chewy. The pepperoni is bold. The sauce is just spicy enough. I used to eat here frequently when I lived in Portage. Can't say enough about it. If the owner is there (which is almost every hour of the day), he's always very friendly. I almost felt bad moving away... like I was letting him down. But I trust Portage's pizza-loving elite will keep this place afloat in my absence.
(5)Brandy H.
Love Franco's. I always get great service from whoever is at the counter. Franco himself works the counter, the ovens, the pizzas, which I think is awesome. He's a great guy if you get past his gruff exterior. We love their subs and calzones.
(5)Matt B.
Well being a pizza regular I decided to try their sandwiches for lunch. Bad idea. We ordered five sandwiches and it came to around 35 bucks. Subs were good but nothing spectacular. I'd rather save the ten bucks and go to a chain like subway or Jimmy John's. Also I specifically asked for no lettuce and tomato but sure enough it was tossed on there. Bottom line the pizza is fantastic but it gets three stars because this is sub review.
(3)