Don’t know Carlisle at all but we ended up here for lunch in the midst of a jaunt on the Settle-Carlisle railway. Happened across Franco’s and we ended up with a great Italian lunch. I had a lovely lasagne and my mother (who eats out at Italian A LOT) had the ‘best Minestrone soup ever,’ praise indeed. We were there in the daytime but I’m sure in the evening it will be lovely and atmospheric in that old school, traditional Italian way.
Mrs M. Kolek
FANTASTIC FOOD AND GOOD SERVICE, BEST FOOD WE'VE HAD IN YEARS. VERY GOOD PRICES.
Ex High School Girl
Ate here in April 2008 and was very impressed by the friendly service, the lovely decor and the good Peroni beer. My risotto was good and my friends’ pizzas also looked very tasty.
Lucy J
Bank Holiday Monday 24th March we drove down to Carlisle for the day from Glasgow, Scotland.
Over 100miles.
Thought we could do some shopping and go somewhere for lunch.
From the outside Franco looks ok - we went in and got seated, Just.
It was so cramped, tables where so close to each other.
We ordered a garlic bread to start, followed by a Baked potato with savoury mince, and a cheese and tomato pizza.
The garlic bread was very greasy, it wasn't even bread or a pizza base for that matter. flat tortia wrap floating in a bed of oil.
The standard of the main courses didnt improve either.
My baked potato was squashed into a bowl with a side salad crushed in at the side.
It was very watery at the bottom of the bowl. Dunno if the BP was frozen or just served from a bowl of water. It was more like minestrone soup with a BP on top.
Improvements:
Bigger plate for baked pototoes - improve the presentation of the food so its not all crammed into a bowl.
Use the same 'set' of bowls - the couple sitting beside us each had a different style of bowl from me - looks better if they match.
No watery baked potatoes and get decent pizza bases.
