Oh boy.. you are not ready for this one. (If you have never had a pizza from Franco Manca.. leave now, go on.. off you go. Shame on you).
After an unexpected, out of character and quite frankly rather spontaneous trip to visit the new site for Franco Manca's new restaurant in Richmond we hurried in after finding out they had opened the day before! The decor alone is gorgeous, I'll get onto the food shortly.. be patient. They've gone for the whole industrial, exposed lighting, caging vibe. Super bright with huge windows & a short walk from Richmond Station.. no excuses.
With a simple menu, organic ingredients & sourdough from the heavens above this pizzeria really have it down! One key feature I appreciated was on the reverse of the menu where they outline where their ingredients come from. A simple yet comforting addition. Dining with my lovely Mother, we shared the burrata while we eagerly awaited our pizza's. Burrata is a must, nothing more needs to be said. If it's on the menu, it will be on our table.
Sat pretty and perked next to a spread of parma ham, it was the perfect start to our meal. We then moved on and devoured our pizzas. Mum chose the mushroom, mozzarella & artichoke one (number 3 I think). Went down well, clearly shown by the silence we provided whilst eating. The unique sourdough base is delicious! The manager informed us that the sourdough is not meant to be crispy so don't be surprised if you've got a bit of a soggy bottom (on the pizza obviously).
I had the courgette, burrata and mozzarella (the number 4 I think). Let's just say this pizza didn't last long on my plate at all! If you find yourself browsing the outskirts of the city and stumble into Richmond, be sure to check it out. Amazing value, amazing quality & amazing service. What else do you need from a restaurant... Pop in for a quick work break lunch or for a romantic date night with the other half, any occasion, try it out. Be warned, you won't ever want to eat pizza from anywhere else again.. You're welcome.
