Shop Front: Franco Manca’s Pizza Restaurant

Published on: 22 May, 2016
Updated on: 24 May, 2016

A new pizza restaurant has opened in Guildford– Franco Manca’s.

Located in Friary Street in an area which is fast becoming a restaurant and take-away food hub, Franco Manca started serving pizzas in April to eat in or to take away.

Part of a chain mainly based in London but soon in Brighton and now in Guildford, its claim is to be “the home of sourdough pizza”.

Its recipe has been developed by Marco Parente and Giuseppe Mascoli whose pizzeria, Franco Manca, “sparked a food revolution in south London” according to The Telegraph in March 2013.

The Guildford restaurant is managed by Martin Barg and staffed by local waiters, the pizzas are “baked naturally in a wood fire oven with big love and organic where possible”.

Franco Manca’s in Friary Street, Guildford.

The pizzas are made from slow-rising sourdough baked in a wood-burning ‘tuff’ brick oven made in Naples by a specialised artisan.

This oven produces a heat of about 500°c (930°F). The slow levitation and blast cooking process “locks in the flour’s natural aroma and moisture giving a soft and easily digestible crust. As a result, the edge (cornicione) is excellent and shouldn’t be discarded”.

Franco Manca’s pizzas are made from slow-rising sourdough baked in a wood-burning ‘Tuff’ brick oven.

They don’t take bookings so you can just turn up when it’s good for you. It is first come, first served says the manager, Martin Barg. “But just one thing,” he added, “If you only eat one pizza this year, make sure it’s a Franco Manca.”

Opening times are Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 11pm, Saturdays, 11am to 11pm and Sundays 11.30am to 10pm.

For more details, go online at Franco Manca , or telephone 01483 904102 or just turn up at 24 Friary Street, GU1 4EH.