Franco Manca, Kings Cross, London - Review • Foodie Explorers

We found Frank!

Franco Manca, which means ‘Frank’s Missing’ in Italian, opened their first Scottish restaurant in Edinburgh and their Glasgow restaurant will be opening soon at 93 Mitchell Street where Oddbins was. We had been recommended this chain of Neopolitan pizza restaurants by a friend and were in the area to see an exhibition, so off we went.

Insides the decor is a typical casual Italian restaurant with an industrial ceiling and hanging hipster filament lightbulbs.

Food

Mrs Foodie is a big fan of burrata and spied this on the menu: Burrata Pugliese. The outside is smooth with a creamy, milky, and soft heart. Well worth splashing out for.

Mr Foodie ordered a number one: organic tomato, garlic, basil & oregano for a mere £5.20, the price their pizzas start at.

Old Father Foodie picked tomato, chorizo, and mozzarella for £7.55.

Mrs Foodie picked a number 5: tomato, garlic, oregano, capers, olives, anchovies & mozzarella for £7.25.

We had to, of course, try the in-house beer which is called No Logo and seems to be brewed by Shepherd Neame as far as we can tell, who make a range of beers from bland and boring to very good. We tried both the Pale Ale and the Lager. Comprehensive notes from Mr Foodie as follows: The No Logo Pale Ale – no head when poured. Amber coloured, sweet and malty, and caused a few burps. The No Logo Lager again had no head, with more of a golden colour that was lively and fizzy with a sweet taste. Neither were astounding, to be honest.

Mr C picked one that isn’t on the menu anymore (sobbing) Dry San Marzano tomatoes, roasted potatoes and onions, mozzarella, Colston Bassett Stilton, and pesto (£8.15). Stilton on a pizza you say? Hmm…

Verdict

Superb pizza and excellent value for money, especially for London. Light and fluffy pizza with appetizing toppings. If you are in the Kings Cross area, step away from the fast-food chains and step into Franco Manca for a pizza before heading onto the train. There are also plenty of other Franco Mancas dotted around London.

It will be interesting to see how well they do in Glasgow given their close proximity to Peasano, Mozza, Pizza Punks, Project Pizza and even Shilling and Bier Halle.