Many in the neighborhood were distressed when Francesco Pizzeria, on Columbus Avenue between 68th and 69th Streets, remained closed past its annual two-week August vacation. But manager Andrien Kastrati put their fears to rest as he stood behind the register of the popular restaurant, which reopened last Monday.
“We were closed from the end of August until this week to change the gas lines and do some renovations,” he explained. Francesco opens at 12 p.m. daily and closes at 12:30 a.m. Sunday – Tuesday; 1:30 a.m. Wednesday – Thursday; 2 a.m. Friday – Saturday.
Photographs by Sandi Kalish.
I wasn’t distressed. People don’t know what good pizza is, nevermind good service.
Wow, looks nice.
I like their pizza but it was kinda dingy there.
I just hope they don’t raise their prices too much.
So relieved and grateful. Best red sauce! Great food.
Great to see you back and operating! You are my “go to” pizza delivery place. Not only is your pizza really good, but so are your other dishes!
Great and may the “children” who were arguing about who makes the “best” pizza remember that everyone has different preferences and opinions.
All of the Pizza places mentioned were well above standard for a neighborhood Pizza place.
Francisco’s is good and also has a good kitchen.
The UWS needs reasonably priced restaurants with good food.
We got our first pizza tonight (eggplant pie) since the beginning of the great UWS pizza drought, when Francesco closed. The place looks the same, except for a new ceiling and probably some kitchen work. And the prices seem to be the same. In our opinion, Francesco still is the best we have tried on the UWS. During the “drought”, we tried other places, most recently La Traviata, at the recommendation of friends. It was the worst pie we have ever had, with a soft, floppy crust that resembled a wet dish rag, and with “funny tasting” sauce. It was the first time our lives that after a couple of bites, we tossed the whole pie in the garbage.
Francesco also makes excellent regular meals at reasonable prices, including a range of chicken dishes with choices of pasta. A word of warning. Don’t over-order. One serving is generous enough to feed 2 people.
Easssssy there Jerry V. Your comments are hyperbolic and alarmist, at best. La Traviata is some of the best pizza I have ever had; I’d go there when Francesos was open and still prefer their pies.
The prices on the new menu make it very clear
who is paying for all the renovations.
M. Kaye, I am looking at the old menu and the new one side by side and it is true, as you write, that there are increases in prices. For instance, slices are up a dime each, while specialty pastas and specialty meat dishes are up about $1 to $1.50 each (about 5% increases). I don’t know how long the old prices were in effect, so I can’t tell whether this is a normal increase after a long time or if it is a special increase to pay for the renovations, as you suggest.