Franco Manca’s Bermondsey location is situated in a beautiful grade II listed building, in the borough of Southwark, which dates back to 1828. The yellow, cornice, and parapet brick contrasts nicely with the stark white front of the pizzeria, just in front of leafy Tanner Street park. Surrounded by quaint shops and cafes, the pizzeria is very well located and easy to get to via Borough or London bridge underground stations.
The interior is a rustic dream with a lovely colourful mosaic tile wall complementing the warm wooden floorboards, and shelves lined with imported wines and foodstuffs. Another great feature is the stunning domed skylight, which brings in plenty of natural lighting – the perfect setting to appreciate the beauty of your food while still feeling intimate and cosy by the pizzaiolo station.
The famous Franco Manca sourdough is made on site every day using the best 100% Italian flour, from the Pivetti family farm in Bologna. The dough is not yeasted, using a centuries old sourdough starter from Italy and is fermented for over 20 hours to achieve a tangy, slightly sour flavour. The wood-fired bricks ovens are imported from artisans who built them in Naples tailored for each restaurant location.
The meats, cheese, and tomatoes are all well-sourced from Britain and Italy to complement and enhance the beautiful pizza bases. The impressive range of cheeses on offer include highlights such as silky mozzarella made from Apennines milk, Colston Basset stilton, and White Lake goat’s cheese. The tomatoes are organic – Dell’Agro Sarnes San Marzano and volcanic Vesuvio Red Piennolo DOP and yellow tomatoes.
The alcohol is similarly well-researched with red and white wines drawn from Piedmont, Abruzzo, and Sicilian vineyards. Beers and ciders pay homage to the location of Franco Manca restaurants, no logo bottles sourced from local London brewers.