Pizza & Pasta

In A Place That Feels Like Family

“We have great food, friendly service, and a warm atmosphere at reasonable prices,” say Marcio Dos Santos and Elizabeth Siemon, owners of Franco’s Pizza & Pasta in Sand Hill Plaza. The menu for the 35-seat restaurant includes a number of pasta dishes and other entrees.

Marcio has been a chef for more than a dozen years and designed the menu. Most of the ideas come from his “Nonna Maria,” who taught him to cook as a child. Elizabeth also comes from a food service background: her mother has owned a bakery and restaurant since Elizabeth was 6 years old, and her college major was hotel and restaurant management.

Franco’s is a family-oriented eatery — children are given crayons and paper plates to draw on, with the resulting artwork then displayed on the end of the pizza counter and on the soda machine — but Marcio and Elizabeth recognize that when kids want pizza, their parents would often prefer a “real meal” and here both preferences can be accommodated. “Parents can get a night out and their kids can get pizza,” notes Elizabeth. Franco’s does not have a liquor license, but guests are welcome to bring their own beer or wine if desired.

Situated between Radio Shack and Olympia Sports, Franco’s is open seven days a week and serves New York-style thin crust pizza for eat-in or takeout; it also makes Sicilian style for those who prefer the thicker crust. Pizzas come in four sizes, 12-inch, 14-inch, 16-inch, and extra large, with the prices for cheese pizza $6, $8, $10.50, and $12.50, respectively; toppings are extra. Sicilian pizza comes only in the large (16-inch) size and is $12.50 for cheese.

Marcio’s pizza-making skills have achieved international recognition. In September, he competed in Orlando, Fla., where he won Second Place on the Largest Stretch Dough, and because of that Marcio and Elizabeth were invited to be judges at a pizza competition in Shanghai, China. The trip took place in early December and it was partially funded by the US Pizza Team.

In February, Marcio competed in New York City and got Third Place and was invited to go to Italy this year again with the US Pizza Team — he competed in April 2006 — but was unable to make that trip.

Eighteen specialty pizzas — such as Fra Diavolo (pepperoni, hot cherry tomatoes, and Italian sausage), Aloha (ham, pineapple, and bacon) chicken parmesan or veggie — come in three sizes, with the large ranging from $13 to $18.50.

For those looking for a quick bite or snack, pizza can also be purchased by the slice, $1.70 to $2.50 each, depending on toppings; plain Sicilian pizza is $1.85 per slice.

Diners can also choose from an assortment of soups — all made on the premises — salads, calzones, grinders, wraps, and panini, as well as full meals that include entrees, baked dishes, pasta specialties, and seafood. Everything on the menu is available for takeout as well. The full menu and other information about the restaurant can be seen on Franco’s website, www.francospizzanewtown.com.

Food delivery is available within a seven-mile radius every day between 11 am and 9:30 pm for a $2 delivery change.

The nine appetizers offered include ten Buffalo wings with blue cheese and celery, $4.50, mussels sautéed in a garlic brandy sauce and herbs, $7.95, and bruchetta, $4.50. The six soups, five standard and a soup of the day, are all $3.95 and served with bread. The seven salads come in two sizes, $3–$4.95 for small, $6–$7.95 for large, and can be turned into a meal with the addition of grilled ($1.50) or Cajun ($2) chicken.­

All grinders, choice of 13, are $5.70, as are the six wraps and five panini offered.

The chicken and veal entrees range from $9 to $13.95 and include a choice of pastas; a small salad can be added for $1.95. Selections include the traditional Marsala, Francese, and Parmigiana, as well as chicken Newtown (breast of chicken, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, asparagus, sherry wine in a brown sauce with a touch of cream).

The baked dishes, such as eggplant rollatini and spinach manicotti, are $8.95 and the dozen pasta specialties are $9.95. Among the selections are tortellini Franco (sautéed mushrooms, ham, cream, and parmesan sauce), linguini Pele (grilled chicken, garlic, onions, and spinach in a parmesan lemon sauce), and spaghetti Elizabeth (sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, and asparagus in a light cream sauce).

There are also a half-dozen seafood specialties, $11.95–$13.95, including filet of sole, shrimp scampi, and calamari Luciana.

Weekly specials are offered, usually soups, pastas and salads, but sometimes desserts.

Catering is available for all occasions, public and private.

Franco’s Pizza & Pasta, dine in or takeout, is at 228 South Main Street South in Sand Hill Plaza. Open seven days a week, Monday through Saturday 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday noon to 9 pm; phone 270-3548 or 270-3574; www.francospizzanewtown.com.