Londonist asks that most pressing of daily concerns: where to go on your lunch break.
Franco’s Take Away
67 Rivington Street EC2A 3AY
Nearest Tube: Old Street
0207 739 0231
6.30am-5pm (Monday-Saturday)
Expect to Pay: £5 or less for a substantial amount of food
Rating: 7 out of 10
Despite its seemingly hidden location (and Erol Alkan’s musing), this Italian (cum East Ender) sandwich bar is hardly any secret. Indeed, random queues can form here anytime of the day. The good news is that, the grub’s generally worth the wait and the wait ain’t ever too long anyway. Based upon our recent visit, we happily recommend the chicken, bacon and avocado sandwich but must admit to covetously ogling another diner’s plate of spaghetti. Solid sarnies and proper pastas (in a Shoreditch caff sort of way at least) sum up this humble joint. Cursory web searches reveal one Qype reviewer considering Franco’s to offer “the best sandwiches” in London, while a Gutter Eats review attests that Franco’s serves the “best Italian I have ever had in London … the pasta is absolutely great.” We like Franco’s but not nearly as avidly as those kids. Still, if you like your spoons slippery with grease, this is the place.Photography by Chris Osburn © 2007
