Franco Manca

We were wandering around Brixton and came across Franco Manca. Had heard lots of great things about this place, so decided to have lunch there. There were already people seated there from about 11:30am. We were seated around 11:45 am. We were initially the only table with a small child (3 year old).

I had issues with the service. Any manger with a grain of sense would move along a table with a small child a bit quicker. We waited and waited for someone to take our order (the menu isn't long, and parent with a toddler are always looking to order quickly as a hungry toddler is a ticking time bomb). All the other tables were brought their drinks and some even their pizza, while my husband tried in vain to flag down a server. I finally literally grabbed the sleeve of a waitress who brought our neighbouring table their pizzas and asked to order. Instead of taking our order, she said she would 'ask her manager' and left. We waited some more while our toddler got even more restless watching everyone else tucking into their meals. Finally someone took our order. The food did not take long to arrive, but unfortunately by that time our son was in full tantrum mode and after a few failed attempts to get him to eat something, I had to bodily haul him out of the restaurant kicking and screaming and take him to a random Brixton stairwell to calm down while my hubby got the pizzas packed up.

Back at home, reheated in the oven, the pizzas were very good, but I supposed they would have tasted better if we had been able to eat them fresher.
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4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Saturday, January 08, 2011

We went for lunch on a week day a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. Without a doubt, the best and most affordable pizza I have had in years! It came to £20 for two pizza, two glasses of wine and a tip.

The service was haphazard but the food was worth it. Would certainly return but only on a week day as I imagine it will be packed on the weekend
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D - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Friday, December 17, 2010

This place is no longer cheap and cheerful.

If you are a shabby chic new media person who thinks Brixton is great because it is culturally vibrant and your parents are from the home counties then anything under £50 is going to be cheap to you.

The wait to get in is long, the place is cold (its near the entrance of an 'indoor market')

But honestly this place was once for the locals and we are talking Brixton here so a pizza for less than a fiver and a glass of wine was an exciting prospect. But now the pizza cost nearly seven pounds, the wine nearly three and if your are reading this and going that's reasonable then you are not low income or on benefits and are forcing people who could once enjoy good food at reasonable prices to Dixie, Tennessee, PFC and the Cottage (they cant even afford the Colonel) as they sell 'inferior goods' at low prices.

Its a question of demand and supply, some yuppies 'discover' a place in a 'village' make it 'up and coming' and prices escalate accordingly, leaving the locals out priced and out numbered. Just look at house prices in these once low rent areas and you will understand. Okay a yuppie wont mug you, but how is any one who was born in the area able to survive on Tesco wages.

The lemonade is nothing special, it is made from Caramel, a bit of a burnt sweet taste within insufficient amounts of Lemon to add a tart acidity to offset the fat of the pizza. The wine is average but even the white is better than the lemonade as at least it can offset the taste of it.

The organic beer is not beer, it is LAGER, this makes a huge difference to its taste and quality, ideally a nice beer or ale would work superb with a pizza, lager is cold, fizzy and not bitter enough. but who said the 'Shabbies' know anything about beer, even with beards they are not from CAMRA,

The pizza, well honestly, I must say the bread is nice but everything else on top is not really that great. The toppings I get in Italy are really so much fresher and better. Some people leave the crusts on their plate anyway and really this proves they know nothing about what they are eating at all.

Thank god you can still get decent Pizza al Taglio at reasonable prices elsewhere and if you think I am going to tell you and have that ruined by crowds of hungry fashionistas you must be joking. I have already lost in addition two local pubs, a curry and kebab house in the process.
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4 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Monday, April 19, 2010

Being italian myself I must admit that the pizza is very good ,but is also true that there are many other places in central london serving the real Mc Coy.

The pizza is fairly priced but but......

Very long waiting time, very confused staff, complete lack of managment, lack of cleanliness, strong smell of fish from the market: add the fact that in winter you must eat your pizza freezed from the wind, that the cost of parking is a disgrace and probably a trip to London will cost you only few quid more.
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4 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 6
Friday, March 26, 2010

It's definitely worth a trip to Brixton to sample one of these authentic pizzas, like the popular 'No5' with tomato, cured chorizo and mozzerella. Toppings always taste super-fresh and vibrant and are the result of a thoughtful approach to sourcing. The real star of the show however is the sour dough base, which transforms in the wood fired oven into a superb crust. I'm also a big fan of the homemade lemonade which has a burnt sugar and orange colour and makes a good counterpoint to the pizza. Although the prices have crept up a little (the 'No5' is now £6.80), this place is still great value. Be ready for a bit of cue, the possibility of table sharing and the near certainty of manic service.
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8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Friday, February 12, 2010

unfortunately i have to agree with some of the other negative reviews here. i have been coming here since they opened and was initial a big fan raving to everyone i could about the pizzas. on my last visit however i left feeling really let down. the service was pretty non existent, the pizzas were good though not as good as they have been, but it the service really let the place down. the staff seemed to be more interested in talking to the various people who were floating around and passing by.

they need to focus a more on attentive service and the customers rather than their friends or former staff members...... and stop trying to be "cool"

please don't let this place be another flash in the pan. you have a great product so don't let the service bring it down...... come on Franco Manca!!!!
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joe
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Very good Pizza at reasonable prices however the place is chaotic (and not in a nice Neapolitan way) and badly managed with probably the worst waiters in London who seem to know every weirdo in Brixton who are allowed to wander about the place at will. Lack of the most basic hygene and cleanliness will be the undoing of this place which is such a shame.

The staff need basic training in customer service. The place needs a deep clean from top to bottom
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Sue king
3 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 5
Friday, November 06, 2009

Absolutely lovely pizza, the dough is so good and the whole place is really great value, so much better (and cheaper) than equivalent chain pizza restaurants. Will definitely go back....oh and the cloudy lemonade is a must.
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Picky - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, September 28, 2009

The best pizza in London without a doubt.

But a few quick things - it is only open from 12 too 5pm Monday to Saturday and it is not a restaurant. More like a crazy cafe in a not-so nice part of Brixton. You also typically have to queue for 20 minutes for a table.

Once you get past that you will enjoy the best pizza in London and probably outside of Italy. Only in Naples have I had pizza this good.

Don't even waste your time at other pizza joints and if you think Pizza Express (rubbish! expensive!) is real pizza you might want to come here and taste a real pizza.
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chris
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, August 13, 2009

This place is great, but very simple, and it's charm lies in it's pizzas. I live in the area and eat here regularly, but I wouldn't suggest a trip across town (unless you REALLY love Pizza!). Come prepared for a queue, and a pretty lengthy wait. When you are eventually seated (on a hard pew) you may well be in the market passage, which can be a bit cold and often smells of fish and/or dope! If this does not put you off you will be rewarded with a big plate of the most fantastic pizza I have ever tried. It really is amazing, and does live up to the hype. The homemade lemonade is also knockout, but the wine could strip the paint off a batteship and is to be avoided at all cost (but as its only about 7 pence a glass feel free to try for yourselves)!
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Shappo - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 03, 2009