Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has opened a Hove site, joining their Regent Street branch in the city centre. We popped in to see the space and, obviously, get stuck in to some pizzas.
We’ve been fans since the long-ago days (well, 2008) when their only restaurant was the one in Brixton Market and we still love their short-but-sweet menu (no 20 options to wade through here), pillowy pizzas and great prices just as much as we did then.
The new Hove site has an Italian family kitchen-type of bustle to it with ample space and the pizza oven fired up in the corner. The menu doesn’t fall short on authenticity either. Each pizza stays true to Franco Manca’s roots of Neapolitan-inspired cuisine with locally sourced ingredients and freshly made dough each day (the OG sourdough starter dates back to the 18th century – no typo).
We kicked off with the aubergine parmigiana and the burrata, grilled artichokes and fried San Marzano tomatoes – burrata is king, always. It was a generous portion, but so silky and smooth, it left some room for the main event (pizza!).
Ah, the pizza. We tucked in to the veg special – there’s always a veggie, vegan and meat special on their specials board – but the new No. 3 created by Michelin-starred chef Nikos Karathanos was something else. Giving us all of the taste of the summer hols on a Greek island with halloumi, roasted courgettes, mozzarella and marinated baby plum tomatoes with mint on a light tomato base, it stole the show.
The homemade tiramisu came in a close second, though. As light as a cloud and with all the creamy sweetness, we finished it almost without realising. Heaven definitely has this dish on the menu. And because one pud is never enough, we also dived in to the nutty and light chocolate and hazelnut cake before ending with a flavourful shot of the requisite limoncello.
Go on, get a pizz-a the action!
128, Church Road, Hove BN3 2EA
francomanca.co.uk
By Jessie Brown
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