Oh I do love a good pun... Anyway, the other week my sister and I were in the Covent Garden area and for lunch we popped into the local branch of Franco Manca, which is nestled away from the main piazza on Maiden Lane. Franco Manca has 15 restuarants dotted around London and all of which boast to make their pizza from slow-rising sourdough, baked in a wood burning 'Tufae' brick oven. After seeing a fair few snaps of these pizzas on Instagram, I was sold and knew I had to see what the mini-hype was about.
The restuarants don't take reservations, so it is first come first serve, but this wasn't a problem for us on a Tuesday lunchtime. The staff were really accomodating, asking if we had ever been to Franco Manca before and since we hadn't, our waitress explained the menu for us. There are six different options for pizzas, you can add toppings of your choice at a slight extra cost and there were two specials (one of which catering to vegetarians). I opted for Number 6, made of tomato, cured chorizo and mozerella (as I said in my last foodie post, I love chorizo, so this was an instant decision for me). My sister went with Number 1, the typical magarita with tomato, mozerella and basil. In using sourdough, the resturant chain claim the the slow levitation and blast-cooking process lock in the flour's natural aroma and moisture giving a soft, easily digestible crust - which was so yummy. We really noticed the difference in the base and crust from a regular pizza, it was soft and full of flavour. The rest of the pizza was also amazing.
The only slight disappointment was the Organic Lemonade. We both ordered this, and there was a certain ingredient in it that just made it taste sour. It was okay when watered down, but when I return (because *I will be back*) I definitely won't be ordering the lemonade.
All in all, the pizaa was delcious, the service was excellent and the food came quickly - so what more could you ask for in a restuarant? If you're ever in and around London, definitely check out the Franco Manca to see which is closest to you.
Has anyone else been to Franco Manca?
Charlotte x
Oh my goodness, those pizza look amazing!! I'm a massive fan of chorizo as well! I'm not far from Covent Garden, I need to try it out!xx
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They really were! Woo glad to see another chorizo lover out there, I think it may be my favourite food and its definitely my fave Domino's topping. Yeah I definitely recommend you visit :) x
DeleteThat pizza looks amazing and delicious!
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Thanks Maddie xx
It really was so delicious, I'd really recommend you try sourdough pizza! Thanks for reading and for leaving your link :) x
DeleteThat pizza looks super delicious i am starving right now! :)
ReplyDeletexoxo, rae
http://www.raellarina.net/
It was so so yummy Rae! That's the thing with food posts, I enjoy reading them and writing them, but I get so hungry in the process haha :) x
DeleteI do love a good pun too, hahaha. The pizza place sounds lovely, and ooh, I'd love to visit one day!
ReplyDeleteMay | THE MAYDEN
Haha glad you enjoyed this one, a good pun always makes me chuckle! It was such a lovely little place, if you're ever in London you should definitely give Franco Manca a visit :) x
DeleteThis sounds so nice - that pizza looks delicious oh my!
ReplyDeleteLucy | www.foreverseptemberr.blogspot.co.uk
It really was a lovely place, the food was so delicious and the staff were so nice! It's a shame about the lemonade but everything else made up for it :) x
DeleteThat pizza looks amazing! Looks exactly like the first pizza I ever had in Italy! Also I adoooore going to covent garden :-)
ReplyDeleteAbiee xx
http://www.abieelucas.com
It was so amazing! The restaurant was so Italian, even the staff were, so it was so nice to have a taste of Italy on a rainy day in London. Covent Garden is such a lovely place isn't it? :) xx
DeleteThat pizza looks like it 100% made up for the lemonade haha. I wish I could try this place!
ReplyDeletexx, Pia
http://gymbagsandjetlags.com
Haha it definitely did! And the staff were lovely and the food came so quickly, so the lemonade is literally the only disappointment I had there! If you are ever in London, I'd definitely recommend you try it Pia :) xx
DeleteThis looks amazing! I have to put this on my list of places to visit, love a good pizza!
ReplyDeleteCLOTHING CONSCIOUS// FASHION & LIFESTYLE BLOG
It was so delicious and I couldn't recommend the place more! I feel like I'm forever adding to my places to visit after reading foodie posts. Thanks for reading :) x
DeleteOh. My. Gosh. YUM. This looks so good! I'm so in love with the menu design.
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Haha the pizza was so yummy! Yeah the menu design is so cute isn't it? It just looks really homemade and unique. It's so lovely to read that you like my blog and that you want to follow it, it means a lot :) x
DeleteThanks for the review! Have never been here but it looks to die for, would love to try Franco Manca at some point -preferably ASAP!
ReplyDeleteFeel free to check out our latest post x
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You're most welcome - thanks for reading it! The pizza was delicious, I couldn't recommend it enough if you're ever in or around London :) x
DeleteI have leftover thin crust pizza at home but this made me want full on regular crust pizza :D
ReplyDeleteAyre
Hahaha the crust on this was so delicious and chewy, I'd maybe go as far as saying it was heavenly :) x
Deleteomg that pizza look so divine!
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www.insidein-insideout.net
It really was an amazing pizza! Thanks for reading about it :) x
DeletePIZZA <3
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I've felt like pizza for the past two weeks, so this post is just making me starving! Even though I live in Australia, I've always wanted to try Franco Manca's sourdough pizzas as I've just heard so much about them! My next trip to the UK, definitely eating there :)
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Haha, I do apologise for making you hungry but it was too good not to share! I do seem to see pictures of these pizzas around but I'm yet to read a review. The sourdough pizza really is good though, so you should definitely visit if you get the chance :) x
DeleteMan, that one looks delicious! Saved it on my London List :D
ReplyDeleteI know it's Monday but ... you're awesome! | Lisa | Joy Della Vita Travelblog
The pizza really was delicious so I couldn't recommend it more! It's definitely worth a visit. Aw thank you Lisa :) x
DeleteOh wow this looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteGreat read and blog lovely <3
Katie Loves ~ Fashion Blog | Bloglovin' | Instagram
It really was an amazing pizza!! Aw thank you Katie, that really means a lot to read :) love your blog too :) xx
DeleteThis looks incredible! I will have to hunt this place down next time I am around Covent Garden! xo
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The pizza was delicious, I could;t recommend it more! It's really worth the hunt down, its on Maiden Lane which is a lot quieter than the main piazza of Covent Garden :) x
DeleteShame about the lemonade but the pizza definitely sounds like it more than makes up for it. So tempted to visit one of the branches now, sounds so yummy!
ReplyDeleteThe Velvet Black | UK Style & Beauty Blog
It was a shame but everything else about the restaurant more than made up for it! I'd definitely say give into temptation and visit them. Sourdough is technically one of the healthier doughs/breads so I think that's an excise in itself if you're looking for one to go :) x
DeleteThis made me SO hungry, that pizza looks amazing!
ReplyDeletewww.saltandchic.com // UK Fashion Blog
Haha I apologise for making you hungry but the place and food was too good not to share! Thanks for reading Amy :) x
DeleteThis place looks really nice! I'm craving for pizza now..I need to pop into this shop when I go to Covent Garden. :D Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
It was such a lovely place to go for lunch! That always happens to me when I read food posts haha. I'd definitely recommend you do pop in and they do take-aways too. No problem, thank you for reading :) x
DeleteThat looks like a nice place! And the pizza does also look awesome. I have never heart of Franco Manca though, but I'll check it out if I ever go to London! hope you had fun there! With love,
ReplyDeleteVera
The Flash Window | Bloglovin
It really was a lovely place to stop for a pizza lunch, thanks! I'd definitely recommend it if you are ever in the area. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment on this post Vera :) x
DeleteI have never been here before but I love the look of this place and who doesn't like pizza? Next time I am in London I will have to pay a visit to Covent Garden and eat here.
ReplyDeleteBeth x
www.hellobeth.co.uk
I definitely recommend you give this place a visit, even if it isn't the Covent Garden branch! The pizza was so delicious and I could really tell the difference in the sourdough base :) x
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