Holding its ground amidst Little Italy staples like Taylor Made and Pompei, Franco's taps the UIC pie-vein with single-digit prices and monstrous sandwiches. And like most great grab-and-go joints, the place is devoid of class, taking on the operating-room vibe with no more than four plain white tables, although a new management partnership promises two LCD flat-screens in the near future.
Franco's pizzas walk the line between Neapolitan and New York; each slice is not quite a two-hander, but the flavors are far from the dinky exotics of upscale Italian joints. Slices go for $2, while individual pies (equivalent to about three slices) are dished out for $5. The restaurant offers some deep-dish and stuffed options, still at undergrad prices (a 16-inch stuffed is just $14). Expect some offbeat toppings, too, like zucchini and Genoa salami.
Non-pizza eaters will likely gravitate toward the Super Sandwiches, greasy and doughy stackers like an eggplant parm ($5) that do a hangover good. You'll find a little more diversity with some smoothie options and even fried chicken.
Centerstage Reviewer: Gavin Paul
