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Franco Manca

4.1 (99 reviews)
InexpensiveItalian, Pizza
Closed 9:00 am - 11:00 pm

Franco Manca Photos

FRANCO MANCA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Very loud
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Franco Manca

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Meat Special, so so good!!!
Tammy T.

It's not difficult to make good pizza, but I's difficult to make great pizza. Franco Manca makes great pizza.... at an affordable price! Yes, in London! It really doesn't get any better than that (and is precisely why it deserves 5 stars). We came here on a Monday night and it wasn't full but it was surprisingly buzzing for a late Monday evening. The actual restaurant was much larger than I expected, and stretches pretty far to the back. There's also a small outdoor seating area with a few tables. The service was quick and the pizza was fantastic. I had the meat special, which was certainly not a let-down! The sourdough base, in my opinion, is what gives Franco Manca pizza the edge on other pizzerias. The base is always thin and soft, but just firm enough. The chili oil is also fantastic. The heat is strong, but just right. For a casual evening out, I would highly recommend Franco Manca. I will definitely be back!

Omoraka O.

Dear Mr Manca One was delighted to finally eat here after all the rave reviews you have been getting. Your staff was superb in their service towards me and my friend and your restaurant was impeccable to touch, not a dirt in sight. I was caught in hypnotic trance as I saw those pleasant pizza other were enjoying, they looked marvellous. I couldn't wait to get stuck in. I ordered a mozzarella, tomato and ham pizza. Mr Manca I must say you haven't got much of a selection, you should consider expanding on that. Well I'am sad to say this but your pizza didn't blow my taste buds away. The pizza base was rather burnt on the sides, the ham....well the bits of it was just so-so. The tomato's and mozzarella I enjoyed... but the sourdough base did nothing for me, I suppose I like my normal pizza base (maybe you should give people that option of choice between the two). Well maybe I was expecting too much, I mean after all the reviews and even Time out, you can't blame me. I say your pizzas are cost effective though which is good. Mr Manca I will give you another go in the future, but for now Cheerio! Lady Raka

Phil G.

Simply magic sour-dough pizzas. They offer 6 on the menu and maybe a couple of specials, starting at £4.50 and going all the way up to £6.80. Franco Manca started in Brixton Market but have opened this branch in Chiswick, and is something of a legend. Their oven goes to 550°C and the pizzas stay in for under a minute. All the ingredients are specially sourced: tomatoes from Salerno, cured meats from Brindisa, Gloucester Old Spot pork. They even get their coffee beans from the best coffee in London: Monmouth. Honestly, I've never tasted pizza this good. I didn't know pizza *could be* this good.

Affogato
Caitlin S.

Apologies now for the long and boringly detailed review, it made me feel better! I had heard a lot of really great stuff about Franco Manca, but the higher you are in my expectations, the further you have to fall! There was only a small queue, which moved pretty quickly so that was fine. I had heard great things about the potato pizza, but unfortunately there wasn't on on the menu so I opted for the vegetarian spacial, with an extra potato topping (offered on the board). Our waiter said he would have to check this with the chef, who sent back the message that it was fine and so it was ordered, along with olives, garlic bread, burata, three other pizzas for my companions and a bottle of wine. The burata and the garlic bread came - no olives. By the time we asked about them we decided it was too late so just scrapped them - but not before our waiter had simultaneously looked confused about our question of the olives, whilst trying to blame the kitchen staff for not sending them over. The burata was absolutely DIVINE! And I am told that the garlic bread was tasty too. And the mild organic white wine was dangerously drinkable :) Time for our pizzas to be served, exciting! But our waiter came and said there was no potato left, even though the chef had okayed it earlier. So I was pressured into the garlic pesto (which was actually nice!), after saying no to the artichokes suggested by one of my dining companions (she had ordered extra for her pizza and was singing their praises! But I wasn't sure). We were promised free Limoncello for the table. Two of our pizzas arrived - all good. Mine arrived - no potato of course, but yes there was the garlic oil... and there were the artichokes I'd said no to. Oh well. And so we waited. And waited. And started eating at the insistence of the last remaining diner waiting on her pizza (coincidentally the one who was excited about artichokes). Eventually we managed to call our waiter over to ask whether the last pizza was coming. Again with the confusion and lack of recognition of the order (even though he had entered into discussion about it at the time), mixed with trying to blame the kitchen, saying they 'drive him crazy'. But, although she tried to say she wasn't even hungry anymore so not to bring the pizza, they brought it over. To their credit, they didn't charge us for it, which helped to rectify the situation. We ordered affogatos for dessert (they were great!), and the restaurant delivered on their promise of free Limoncello for the table. (This went further to rectify the farcical evening!) By the end of the night we had had another bottle of wine and to be honest found the whole thing quite funny. They took the artichokes from my pizza off the bill,so they really did rectify every mistake fully, and the food that we did have was all delicious and lived up to the high standards set by all my friends' previous rave reviews. I am sticking with a 3 for this review just because of the service but I will be returning and I have no doubt that my updated review will result in a higher score!

Pizza 5
Raquel R.

Wonderful place to hace a quick informal meal for an amazing value. The only serve 8 different types of pizza and 6 starters, but all good quality. Price of pizzas goes from 4.50 to 6.95. Definitely not a place for a romantic, relaxed or posh dinner, I'm afraid. Not a lot of ingredients to choose from and the quantity in the pizzas is a bit too little. All the meat is pork, so sorry for the Muslims!

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11 years ago

Great pizzas, friendly staff and has managed to maintain their local food feel! It can be very crowded certain times so make sure you book

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14 years ago

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14 years ago

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13 years ago

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11 years ago

I love the Franco Manca in Bloomsbury! If you want good pizza this is the place to go. Authentic Italian with lovely and fast service!

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

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13 years ago

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15 years ago

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15 years ago

Outstanding thin crust pizzas, friendly and speedy service, prices reasonable (for London). I will return.

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11 years ago

Friendly staff, delicious and very reasonably priced pizza, fast service - no complaints! A lovely meal!

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10 years ago

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13 years ago

Simply delicious! Went there with our 2 1/2 year old child. Friendly staff and VERY good prices.

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16 years ago

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15 years ago

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11 years ago

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Franco Manca Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Franco Manca

It goes to show that really good pizzas don't have to cost the earth (prices range from about £6.

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The Wishing Well

The Wishing Well

4.1(7 reviews)
0.8 miHammersmith, Ravenscourt Park
£

Situated right on King Street the Wishing Well does not look much from the outside but venture in…read moreand you will find a really interesting pub and restaurant uniquely decorated with things hanging off the ceiling and loads of character. This is a true find. The menu is varied with everything from pizza and pasta to a range of seafood dishes and some really nice looking fajitas (which can be had for less than £10 with any starter on the menu). Although the menu says it is Mediterranean I found it to be more Italian although they also have Risotto. Starters are all one price at 4.95. Try the Mussels Marnier they are delicious but very garlicky. I also had the pizza a la fungi 6.00, again really good. They were offering a special deal before 7pm where you can get any 3 course meal for only 7.95 on any day of the week! Shame we missed out as we arrived around 8.30pm. If you haven't tried the Wishing Well I recommend it for a cheap meal out especially before 7pm, you cannot go wrong.

Let's call a duck a duck. It is a cheap pretentious free…read moreatmosphere, Italian place who's name was why I became attracted to it n the first place. The food isn't the best I've had but then again if you have a choice of a three course menu for £8 (not a set menu, anything from the specials and their regular menu) then you cannot expect a lot. But, expect to leave with a smile for the bargain and the satisfied tummy. Go for a traditional spaghetti bolognese (£6.95), and a melon and parma ham (all starters at £4.95). To make the most out of your visit, definitely make it before 7pm for the special Jill A. mentions. The brick wall and the empty wine bottles add character to the venue, its haphazard deco makes it a very welcoming and a real family place. great to go with your partner, their is enough intimacy to go somewhere cheap and not feel bad about it, so not good for first dates.

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The Wishing Well
The Wishing Well

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Villagio

Villagio

3.1(9 reviews)
1.2 miHammersmith
££

I'm not going to dwell here too long…read more.. Italian restaurants in hotels are a bean counter's no brainer. That's why so many hotels around the world have them. The cuisine is widespread, recognised and inoffensive to everyone, easy to prepare and (if you scrimp on the ingredients and the time) easy to come out at a low bottom line cost. Unfortunately the difference between a good one and a poor one is all too evident, but not until the food lands in front of you. Villagio, unfortunately positioned on the Hammersmith roundabout opposite the bus station has that suicidal Hilton airport hotel vibe down to a tee. We went with guests, travellers thankfully too jetlagged to notice what the hell they were eating. The room has that large, cold, boomingly beige, parquet wood vibe known the world over to those who need to turn tables between breakfast, lunch and dinner with a minimum of fuss. From the glossy corporate menu to the service there's no love here. The food isn't even Hilton. It's Holiday Inn at best. My guests 'Italian' burger was a room service disaster. A lukewarm granite puck slapped between anaemic re-baked on the premises focaccia. The fries were alright, like underseasoned refugees from the nearby bus station MacDonalds. Chicken al Fungi was little more than underheated and cheap ricotta studded with gray lumps of protein masquerading as mushroom. No doubt someone counted the lumps to make sure I didn't get more than my allotted share. I was glad, I couldn't cope with any more than my allotted share. As well as Hammersmith, they also have branches Berkhamsted, Andover and Barnet... I may pass.

I'm not an Italian fan. If there is ANY other cuisine out there, I'll generally choose it over…read moreItalian (except Ethiopian, after a recent food poisoning incident!). However, this place is smack in the middle between my office and my friend's office in Baron's Court, so the convenience is perfect. I've gone back and forth between 3 and 4 stars for this one... It doesn't STAND out to me as anything special ...although, the prawn risotto is excellent. On a cold winter's day, it's perfect with a glass of red wine. The service can be so-so, the waiters aren't very personable and seem a bit irritated everytime we go in. Again, it doesn't overly impress me but decent food, it's clean and location is great.

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Villagio - Entrance

Entrance

Villagio
Villagio - Penne Pasta with Chicken and Portabello Mushrooms

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Penne Pasta with Chicken and Portabello Mushrooms

L'Amorosa

L'Amorosa

3.0(2 reviews)
0.6 miRavenscourt Park, Hammersmith
££

Listen. If this gaff was in NY and you were on holiday there…read moreand stumbled across it on some intrepid manoeuvre to Queens or Brooklyn, you'd be raving to all and sundry about this place you found in Brooklyn or Queens that nobody else had ever heard about and was one of the best kept secrets in NY. Well you're not on holiday in NY. But you live in London. And Hammersmith isn't intrepid like Plaistow or some Godforsaken place. It's fairly central and packed full of great places to eat. In fact, in this one 200m stretch of the wide pavemented bit of King St W6 I'd say there are five very good restaurants, plus a couple of more dodgy additions. And a Pizza Hut. So competition for the local Hammersmith groat is fierce. L'Amarosa is the place you rave about because you think you've discovered it. Seductively lit, all mahogany, mezzanine floor and wine glasses that ting. Even the typography is seductive. This is what you want a proper Italian to be. Flowers on every table. Art on the walls that isn't a blight on your evening. Friendly relaxed service that makes you feel like you're the only ones there when in fact they are often full and never mob handed when it comes to staff. Le Gavroche this ain't. But I defy the aforementioned to whip up a plate of pasta as moreish and satisfying. The owners cook and serve. And you feel the love with every plate. Excellent small local places like this can't exist without that love. It's too much hard work. But the chef loves his pasta, you can tell. And the maitre 'd loves serving it, you can tell. The true sign of a good Italian is one where have never heard of the pasta on offer. Fact. I suspect the good places make up the names just for people like me. Toofie. Pacceri. I ask just in case it's not pasta at all. It's all explained gleefully. The menu is small. Another good sign as far as I'm concerned. Three dishes in the pasta section, plus a few in the char grilled section and some nicely put together starters. Courgette with Romesco sauce was pretty and tasty. The aubergine and tomato tortelloni had punch. The white chocolate pannacotta a delightfully elegant way to finish. But by the time you go the menu will have changed. What won't have changed is the love. It's an 'order two bottles and settle in' kind of place from which, if you're in a window seat, you can plot future meals at Potli or Saigon Saigon directly opposite. But the night will always belong to L'Amarosa, a place Hammersmith people will want to keep secret but absolutely worth the trek if you're from the wrong side of the tracks. A seductive, elegant reward for your intrepidness.

Last week we were in London for a wedding and took our family to LAmorosa for dinner the evening…read morebefore the service. What a disappointment! The first clue was that there was only 1 other table occupied on a Friday night. The service was terrible. From getting no dishes for a table of 8 forolives and bread, we asked the server for plates. She brought 2. We then asked her to bring one for each person. She plunked bottles of water and wine on the table without serving them. She wanted our dinner order even before she asked about cocktails. The whole experience was abysmal, although itself was fine. We travel to London often and would never go back. I don't like to write a negative review. I always look for the positive, but this is an exception. How they were ever recommended by Michelin for an award, is beyond me. The following week we ate at a Michelin restaurant in Tuscany, and it was outstanding. Joseph DEVLIN

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L'Amorosa
L'Amorosa
L'Amorosa

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Franco Manca - italian - Updated May 2026

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