Andrew Francis
One of the best meals I have ever had, absolutely fantastic,perfectly cooked food matched with a lovely wine, can't wait to go back. Service was excellent, very friendly and efficient.
basiru hamza Basiru
We found this place by accident and were so pleased with it! The staff are friendly, helpful and welcoming, the food is freshly cooked, tasty and original. The chef has a light touch with the food so the little plates (tapas) weren’t too solid or filling, the fish cakes - flaked fish with chopped courgette - were delicious. Would definitely recommend it for anyone in the Hove area.
jenny Purawal
When I booked and I was told no menu, they serve what's part of the deli that day, I was worried I had made a bad decision, especially that my husband wanted to carb load ready for Brighton marathon 🤦♀️
Complete opposite, what a diamond find, an absolute must try., fantastic food and service, we will return.
I've seen a few negative posts, they are not in context and unfair. If you are looking gor a fab Italian, this is the place for you 😀
luigi santoro
Had a very great evening, relaxed environment and we were well looked after. The food is freshly made and very authentic with some brave fusions. Reading some reviews in here complaining that is over priced; Perhaps it is as the final bill was a bit higher than expected but you get what you pay in here: excellent Aperitivo drinks (we had so many, amazing Martini drink!), fresh and tasty dishes (that Ragú it is just like mamma makes it!) serviced with courtesy without invading the guests chats (thank you the the girl she was amazing!) very accommodating too as we had a preliminary drink on the outside area... Highly recommended for special small gathering occasions, definetly will be back again!
Alison Payton
A unique dining experience - mixed unspecified antipasti ordered and followed by a choice of 2 or 3 verbally described pasta dishes. I think there may be a third meat/fish course available, but there was no printed menu or proper explanation from staff.
The dishes comes to the table in quick succession, again without explanation, served by the harrassed-looking owner (I'm guessing).
Everything was fresh and delicious, with flavours ranging from butternut squash in orange citrus sauce, to pumpkin ravioli in sage butter, and delicate pasta shells with rich Ragu sauce, all washed down with a perfectly decent house white, in a tiny intimate dining space.
Overall fantastic food, but I would've enjoyed the experience more if I'd had a clearer idea of what to expect. They could do with a calm, knowledgeable person to wait on the tables really, but even so, I'd definitely go again.
Alba Lewis
I’m so delighted this authentic (and I mean authentic) Italian restaurant made it through covid. Franco’s food is fresh, really the tastes from Bari, and, well my mum and aunt who are from Bari, love it. And let me tell you that is a very rare thing. It’s also a delicatessen with divine food.
Sarah Ross
The food was amazing. Best Italian meal I have had in years!! If you are wanting a massive bowl of mediocre pasta go to a chain, if you want loads of delicious dishes come here!! Also tiramisu and pistachio gelato were fabulous!!
Juliana Jacobowiski
Very authentic Italian restaurant with high quality food. Price is great as well! Highly recommended.
Ramesh Ramesh
Word has got round about Franco's on Hove seafront near the old King Alfred's Leisure Centre, so it's essential to book of an evening or you'll be turned away - it doesn't take many to fill the place,.which has a buzzy, funky, down-home vibe without the need for the usual overbearing pop music to attempt "atmosphere". Franco himself is in the thick of things and is dead serious about what he does - and some have found his attitude arrogant and dictatorial. That's possibly because he's proud of his standards, and the format is what it is - and he has little patience with those who don't "get it". It's an Osteria, not a restaurant... The format, then, is quite rigid: you have antipasti, pasta and mains (with a specials board) More than two people have to take a sharing menu - two sizes, two prices. The bigger option at £28.50 brings you all the antipasti on the board, a couple of pasta dishes and a main of either fish or meat, a delicious array of dishes arriving one after the other, whatever it is they're preparing that night.. In a sense, you put yourself in their hands - you'll probably have to ask if you want to know what the meat or the fish are, but unless you eat like a horse you won't go hungry. And the flavours! The produce is clearly of the highest quality and everything has a depth of flavour that is quite stunning, on top of which lovely notes of lemon, mint and herbs dance across the palate. On this recent occasion, with four of us opting for the meat, an odd note was struck by a plate containing four pieces of steak, four pieces of sausage, yet three lamb chops - so someone went short. The steak was rump, which if you don't mind chewy meat, was flavoursome, but I find it too much like hard work. .Another criticism would be that a bottle of Puglian red wine (a Primitivo - also known as Zinfandel elsewhere) was of distinctly average quality, and at £33, overpriced, when for example, there is an excellent Primitivio di Manduria at Waitrose, with balance, structure, complexity and length for about £11.They could buy something like this in and sell it on at £33 a bottle, for a better food pairing.and a handsome mark-up. Having said this, it was great evening, in what felt like an authentic atmosphere, the busy kitchen in plain view producing a cornucopia of wonderfully vibrant dishes of an altogether different standard than the usual high street Italian restaurants.
Energi A
The best and most authentic Italian restaurant in Brighton.
In the area you cannot find a place as friendly, as good quality and as rustic as this one, even if you spend more.
Normal priced, but the quality is far superior than all the ones with the same prices (I can guarantee after trying all of them) and it is the only one with the nice "osteria" feeling.
It has a SIMPLE menu, which means good quality, fresh products!
It is very pleasant to stay in, despite it is small and not luxurious, because everything is made of real WOOD, with stone walls. This gives a very good energy, and a rustic and natural feeling.
The music is very pleasant and quiet, which is a very good point for a restaurant, as most of them play annoying and quite loud music, it is very rare to find a quiet place where to sit and eat.
The kitchen is open so you can actually see how the food that you get is processed, which is another really good point, not common at all in restaurants.
I can feel the people working in the kitchen are very dedicated to what they do, this enhances the good energy of the place.
They make EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH, no readymade sauces, desserts or doughs, which is another thing I really appreciated, as I never found restaurants the area that make desserts from scratch, it was a big relief for me.
The tiramisù was very authentic (I can confirm, as Italian) and very light, I am really impressed that I didn't feel bad at all after eating it.
Also loved the terracotta dishes.
With love and sincerity,
Enrico
Laura Cooper
Best meal I’ve had in a long time!! We were visiting from London this weekend and absolutely loved our dinner here.
Unpretentious outstanding small plates and pasta, great house wine and the best tiramisu I’ve ever had, apparently made by a 73 year old local.
Great service, especially grateful for our waiter who ran after us after I left my hat. Much appreciated!
Helena Tsak
Not best Italian food but best food in Brighton! Also beautiful and cozy place that really travels you! Highly recommend
WINNIE MULERE
We had booked an Igloo during lockdown and this was the first time we could re-book. They were so flexible with booking. Friendly welcome. Excellent service. Igloo is very good idea even in the sun as so private. Also dog friendly. Drink menu outstanding and excellent choice. Food choice was average as doing too much on one menu. But in a positive note it suited a family on a Sunday. Would return just for the best Bloody Mary and excellent drink service.
Hannah Chapman
Excellent brunch, kind of English-italian fusion with baked eggs, grilled veggies and delicious tomato sauce, served with fresh focaccia. Amazing value - food and coffee for just £8. Main menu also excellent and extremely authentic - I lived in Italy for eight years and this place feels like home ;)
Claudia Piazza
The food was amazing! The dishes kept on coming and it was just pure heaven for each ones! The owner is super nice! Best Italian restaurant in the UK! Will definitely get back and tell my friends to go there too! I would recommend it over and over! You must try it! Thank you guys!
Al Nandez
Original Italian restaurant, everything fresh, different concept.. excepcional service.. I love it!!
I will back 100%
Stelios Makrymallakis
Very nice and cosy place, good home made pasta but very pricey for this type of food!
Lucy Grubb
A thoroughly lovely evening at Franco’s last night. He has changed the Osteria concept to a classic menu and you order small plates. Everything we ate was delicious, fresh and interesting accompanied by the house red which was also delicious. The ravioli with sage and butter and the nduja baby gem were exceptional.
Easily the best Italian food around.
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