Franco’s Trattoria

Went for a Friday night dinner to see if the ambiguous comments (mine and yours) were justified.
They were.
Comatose hostess; fabulous waiter.
Drafty table (it was a a very windy day); immediate response to a request for more heat.
Very good food; a bit expensive.
Charming host; charming host.
We’ll be back.

I was a bit concerned after reading some of the reviews, I hadn’t been there in a while, but it was close, easy to park and I thought I wouldn’t order anything exotic. We ordered some apps. fried calimari & scallops on a bed of spinach, absolutey delicious! Salads were great and the pasta was perfect. I definitely recommend Franco’s

The food is good, some times better than others, but a lot better than most restaurants in the area. There is a nice outdoor dining area too.

I’m giving 3 stars, but our last visit only deserves 1.5 stars.
Have eaten here 3 times in the last year. The first 2 times the food and service was above average — we were impressed. Unfortunately, the last visit (in August) was not good for several reasons.
First of all, the calamari was way over cooked/​fried — so much so, that they just broke apart — they tasted like cardboard. Whoever was supervising the kitchen was not doing their job — the calamari were so overcooked, you could see that they weren’t right before even biting into them– completely unacceptable for a nice Italian restaurant, although we decided not to complain. Our entrees were better, although I don’t remember what we ordered.
The service was not as attentive as on previous visits. Our male server was not warm or pleasant — he seemed like he was just there to work his shift and get his paycheck — never smiled or seemed interested in making sure we were satisfied — he also seemed to disappear after meal was served. We has to ask other servers several times to have our water glasses refilled.
We arrived at 6pm on a Wednesday, and there was only 8 other patrons in the hour that we were there — so they were not busy.
We’ll probably give them another chance in the future, and hope that this was just an off night — but with that said, a truly fine establishment would never have let the overcooked calamari leave the kitchen. Also, a good restaurant trains their servers better than the one we had.

Although the location is not the nicest since it is right under Rt 1, the restaurant does a good job of distracting you from that because the outdoor seating area is fenced in, citronella candles are lit up around it, and they put nice tablecloths on the tables. The food was pretty good — nothing outstanding but I enjoyed my eggplant parmesan. The wait staff is very friendly.
Another time I hung out at the bar, which was cozy. The bartender was really nice too.

My girlfriends and I tried out this place recently. It was amazing! The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The waiter and bus boy were attentive. Our water was always full and our dishes came out at a good pace. The bread and pesto was amazing. I had to limit myself so that I could eat some of my meal! We shared the friend calamari appetizer which was good. Two of us got the pasta with seafood (scoglio I believe). I ate maybe half and took the rest home (which my boyfriend of course stole from me and ate!).
I don’t usually eat dessert, but when I saw the chocolate cake with a molten middle and ice cream on the side, I had to have it. I’m so glad I did! I was in heaven.
The parking lot is REALLY tight and oddly set-​up. Probably would be best to carpool.

I’ve driven by this building for years and never considered stopping in to check it out (wasn’t always Franco’s). Yesterday that finally changed when my girlfriend and I came in for lunch (and for me to apply for a job).
The interior was a surprise for me; instead of over the top Italy themed decorations and «Mob Hits» as the soundtrack, the décor was simple yet classy, and the muzac mellow and peaceful. Another strong plus was the kicking AC, as it was in the high 90s outside and quite comfortable indoors (may not mean much to most of you, but even mild heat makes me very drippy). Sat inside, naturally, but against the glass looking on the large deck so I noticed that, for you outside diners, this spot offers a great view of the Schuylkill and East River Drive.
Our server Tim was very attentive and well informed, handling our table, as well as the other four that were sat simultaneously, like a pro (I heard him explain to another table that the fish special would come out head to tail and then be filleted table side by him). I ordered the chicken parmigiana and Alexandra, at Tim’s suggestion, got the Adriatic salad. The major factor for me to enjoy a good parm is the sauce, and there was no issue here on that tip, so I added another notch to my clean-​plate-​club belt. Not a crumb of sea life was left on Al’s salad when she finished, but there were greens, though not for lack of tastiness; some people just stop eating when they’re full (not my style).
A few other things worth mentioning are that the bread basket (which comes with warm bread!) was never empty, and neither were our glasses of water. The bread also comes with tomato pesto and that stuff was damn good, so good that I considered spooning it into my mouth sans bread. Not that the pasta sauce wasn’t flavorful as well, but I will definitely try to have them sub the pesto for it on my next visit. Yes, that means I would return (but not to work since I don’t think that went so well).

We had the Fried Calamari appetizer as we do at all Italian restaurants. Although we tend to eat Calamari knowing that it is in reality Squid, we were disturbed by the actual little baby squids on our plate.
We had the Chicken Spoleto and the Gnocchi. Both dishes were very good. The traditional Italian music playing in the background was a good touch. Unfortunately we didn’t notice they had outdoor seating until after we were seated. It was perfect weather to sit outside.
Our waiter was nice but very distant. He never came by to clear our table unless we were done with the appetizer or meal. This left us with an empty bread basket, sauce plate and cups throughout our stay. We didn’t get our drinks refilled until right before our dessert.
The parking lot needs its own exit. It was difficult to turn the car around and head for the entrance since all the cars are parked on an angle.

With no Unilocal within an arm’s reach and after a test run on the Philly Triathlon’s bike course this place looked like a solid place to refuel. The restaurant is nice on the inside and offers outdoor seating right off Kelly Drive. Other than looks, there doesn’t seem to be too much left to offer. The food is NOT bad, just not enough to brag about. The menu consists of typical Italian dishes but nothing worth noting. The service was pleasant but unremarkable. There just isn’t enough for me to make a return.

I’ve seen their parking lot packed a few times and i’ve driven by who knows how many times so figured we’d give it a try…
What a horrible experience… We had to wait to be seated even though it wasn’t crowded. Our waiter was friendly and nice but service was slow. I ordered veal, which to me would usually be pounded thing and be moist. I mean it’s baby cow for a reason. It came out pounded thing alright but was dry and had the texture of a hockey puck. Barely choked that down. Ordered some seafood pasta to go for my mother and that reeked so bad. Seafood shouldn’t smell that way… seriously.
There was only 2 other tables in the whole restaurant and they only had 2 people each. We had only 2 people, but dinner took an hour and half and we weren’t dawdling and even asked for the check before they even cleared our entrees.
Not recommended.

This place genuinely surprised me. Mostly because of its location. It also Doesn’t look like much from the outside. But… once you walk in and dine, its a treat. I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and it was a homerun.
First of all, the service. Fantastic. The waitress was very helpful, patient and even threw a few little extras our way when she saw something we really enjoyed. She really knew the dishes and took the time to answer any questions we had. She even helped us pick put the perfect wine for the evening.
The atmosphere is just right. I wouldn’t say its perfectly romantic, but close. The lighting and noise level are just right and the place is cozy and clean.
And of course the food/​From appetizers, to entrees, to deserts to the breads and even the dipping sauces… delicious. Not one part of our meal disappointed. And as I mentioned already, the wine was perfect.
It is a little pricey, but not over the top. Especially if you consider the fact that the portions are very decent and the food is truly top notch. We are already planning a return trip. Highly recommend this place for a special night or a little romantic evening dining.

This is the third restaurant that I’ve been to in this location. It must be cursed. Because before I can usually even get a review up here, the place has closed down (from the mixture of an isolated location and other problems) and its on to the new.
Franco’s Trattoria is still open, although it was hard to tell yesterday morning, when we went for lunch. We got there around 1:30 and were seated around 1:45. There wasn’t a line, there was just no hostess at the front door and no waiter/​waitress to be seen around. Odd, since there were a few other tables eating. We were hungry and craving Italian so despite this meh welcome, we waited.
Red flags should not be ignored. Lunch was ok, inexpensive, but also lacking any inventiveness and any real flavor. The panini and pasta bologanese tasted homemade and pedestrian, in the bad way. The waitress wasn’t really around, which seemed odd since there were all of 3 occupied tables in the restaurant. Maybe dinner is where they break out of their mold and come alive, but with everything else working against them (location, cursed property, etc), that doesn’t feel good enough to me.

I went to Francos for dinner last night (Thursday) with my parents and grandparents. Having seen the new restaurant, nestled beside the twin bridges and the Schuylkill river in East Falls, the beautifully warm yellow exterior instantly caught my eye, so I was curious to try the place out.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
A little tricky to find in terms of the parking lot, I was surprised that the indoor area and lobby didn’t really match the exterior’s very convincing Italian identity. I dare say the décor reminded me a little more of Qdoba than an authentic Italian trattoria, the lighting, seating, and dining ware took away from the visual appeal of the dining room I was expecting. I’d imagine it’s a whole lot nicer to eat outside, where diners can enjoy the beautiful view of the river and Kelly drive.
THE FOOD:
Forgive me for not getting too adventurous, but the menu wasn’t exactly blazing new culinary trails, very typical for Italian restaurants. I had a caesar salad and veal parmesan, after our waitor confidently vouched for the chef’s ability to make even the most commonplace of American Italian dishes taste special. Well, to be honest, neither impressed me at all, sure it was tasty, nothing was wrong with it, but my expectations were a little higher. I think a lot of people are probably very bored with Italian food, and when they see the word «Trattoria,» or an inviting and authentic-​looking building façade, they think they might be in for a fresh, new experience. That just wasn’t the case here, the food was good, but not great. The tomato spread they bring out before the meal is pretty good, but I’ve had much better focaccia bread, they should fix that up.
THE SERVICE:
The service, I think, played a pretty big role in our dining experience, and aspects of it boost my review’s overall score, others drag it down. Our waitor, Anthony, was excellent– very personable, knowledgable, energetic, the kind of waiter that really adds to your dining experience. The rest of the staff, from the bussers to the bartenders and even the owner, well, let’s just say they didn’t do much to add to the service. A lot of folks that didn’t fit in with the atmosphere, much like the décor. The owner came up to us as one point, interrupting our conversation, only to move on to the next table before even saying anything to us… this rubbed me the wrong way for some reason, it seemed insincere.
THE PRICING:
Fortunately enough, the pricing here isn’t over the top, it’s very worthy of the quality of the food and the overall dining experience. Unfortunately, however, I feel like there are a dozen other places that offer the same menu and same prices, and Franco’s doesn’t really give you much of a reason to want to choose it over the others, aside from sheer convenience.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I guess much of this review may sound more like I’m complaining, but I must stress, there is appeal to this place, I know it, I’ve seen it, but I’ve only gotten a taste of some of it, the rest was denied by our choice of seating and my own choice of menu items. Fans of Italian eateries should like this place, but the more discerning tastes might find themselves disappointed by lofty promises made by exteriors and words on menus that just aren’t delivered on by the atmosphere and food.

Made a reservation here for 7:30 on a Friday and we were seated 5 minutes after arriving. The place was very full. The atmosphere was fine, although it did not have that romantic feel of many Italian restaurants.
I started with the fried calamari appetizer. The marinara sauce was good, but the calamari themselves were subpar, specifically they seemed very thin (possibly over cooked?). My entrée was the penne puttanesca, which was good. My only complaint is that the anchovies which should be a large part of that dish were hardly noticeable. My wife got the rack of lamb special. The lamb was quite tasty, although her sides were unimpressive.
The wine prices are all very good (at least by PA standards), and both wines are tried were enjoyable. Neither will knock your socks off, but I’d order them again. We sat close to the bar and noticed some homemade limoncello being served. I did not get a chance to try it, but I like the idea at least.
The service was kind of hit or miss. Our waiter was very friendly, he was just very hard to find, sometimes disappearing for long stretches.
Overall, everything about the place had some positive and also some negative aspects. I would not be against returning, but its not too high on my list.

Four adults and a baby walk into an Italian restaurant, and. .. What? Ok, the baby didn’t walk.
I went with a relative who lives in the area, and we did take a baby along. We had called ahead to make sure they’d be open for a late dinner. Not only were they open, but they took great care of us. Bread was on the table instantly (a must when dining with small children! they cannot wait for food!). We ordered soups, which were fresh, home-​made and delicious, as well as entrees. I had a delicious salad as well, and the spouse had the three-​course fixed price menu, which was a great choice. His entrée was a roast chicken, which was terrific. One of us had the pasta with cheese, which turned out both to pack a little punch and to delight the baby. Who would have guessed?
We could not have been more content.

This is a very good restaurant.
The meal began with bread served with a tomato spread that I can’t identify by name because the server didn’t tell me what it was. It was tough for me to stop gorging myself on this unique concoction in order to save room for the rest of the meal.
The calamari appetizer was above average.
The tomato/​mozzerela appetizer was average.
My entrée was a special flounder/​crabmeat/​capers dish. It had excellent texture and was prepared with discipline. Also, I’ve become a sucker for anything with capers lately.
The tiramisu easily compares with that served in other Philadelphia restaurants. This place is worth heading to for a good italian meal.

Nice place: good service, atmosphere and food. The outdoor patio, facing Kelly Drive and the river, is a wonderful place to enjoy a summer evening. However, I think the food is a little overpriced for what you get.

I’ve been here several times, and have a concern that what goes on behind the kitchen doors is a bit of a nightmare. The best stuff they serve is either out of a freezer or a jar. I wish it were better, because the area could really use a legit italian restaurant… but it isn’t.

Had lunch here with 2 other business associates. We all had the flounder special. It was breaded, to our surprise, and just okay. My minestrone soup was lukewarm. The waiter told us how the owner insisted they make their own bread, even though the area has plenty of bakeries around. So I was thinking the bread was going to be great! Not. Dry, not tasty and somewhat stale. The eggplant appetizer was good. The chocolate cake dessert was excellent. The tiramisu was average. Service was on the slow side, even though it was not busy.
Considering the price, which worked out to about $ 40 each (with tip) for lunch, I was expecting more.

Some friends took us to this spot last night, and it was pretty good. Service was fine, atmosphere was good (it has a little bit of a stuffy feel to it, but is no doubt pretty casual, with all types of clientele present — ranged from my hoodied ass to some older gents in suits, and everything in between.)
All the food was awesome. My meal consisted of some prosciutto and melon, fried calamari, some chicken stuffed with cheese (not sure what kind) and spinach, and cannoli. Special props to the cannolli, which rivaled my favorite ones from Varallo bakery, and the prosciutto and melon, which was delicious. Only down side — a little pricey.