Francesco’s Brings Traditional Pizza
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com

A modern pizzeria with family traditions is exactly what you’ll get when you go to Francesco’s Pizzeria and Restaurant on Route 110. Family and friends can go for a bite to eat or just to pick up dinner, but either way they’ll be getting a delicious meal for a good price.

To start off, Francesco’s offers many appetizers, including Calamari Fra Diavolo ($9.95), Shrimp and Fresh Mozzarella with balsamic glaze ($8.95) and Garlic Bread Parmigiana ($2.95). If you’re not in the mood for a typical appetizer, you can spring for a salad, like the Cheese Lover’s Salad, which has lettuce, provolone, mozzarella and pimento ($6.25 small/$8.25 large) or Cranberry Salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, feta and cranberries.

The pizza pies ($13.15) have crisp slices with a crunchy bottom crust and the perfect thumbnail-sized end crust. And if you’re interested in a personal pizza, they have that, too. The Pizza Gaetano ($8.95) has garlic, onion and Romano cheese, although mozzarella is available upon request. The Pizza Antoinette ($12.95) has everything on it, and the Pizza Joseph ($10.95) has broccoli and/or spinach with garlic, oil, ricotta and mozzarella. They also have gluten-free pizza available ($12.95).

Penne alla Vodka ($9.95) is a great pasta to have from this restaurant, which has been around since 1962.

Affordable and tasty, how can you go wrong? Other pastas include the Pasta Ellito, which has thinly sliced egglplant with black olives, whole peeled tomatoes and garlic.
Entrees include Veal Cutlet Parmigiana ($14.95) and Chicken Francaise ($12.95), which has a crunchy layer of breadcrumbs submerged in a delicious white sauce. It has the tangy elements every francaise order should have and the tender chicken cutlets to pair with it. Dip the bread into the francaise sauce and you have a match made in heaven. If you don’t want to put the bread in the white sauce though, you can dip it into the artistic swirl of olive oil and balsamic that comes with each basket of bread.

Combo dishes are also available, which include Eggplant Rollatini and Chicken Parmigiana ($14.95) and Tortellini and Grilled Chicken Alfredo ($14.95). Combo dishes come with a side of pasta.

If you’re not stuffed by the end of the meal, they have desserts such as cheesecake ($2.95) and cannoli ($2.50).

Francesco’s offers catering and delivery. There’s also a lunch special between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., which is $6.95 for plates such as Chicken Parmigiana, Meatball Parmigiana and Mussels Marinara, with a choice of spaghetti or ziti and a medium soda. For $1 extra, you can get a house salad.

Between the friendly waitresses and the delicious food, Francesco’s is a definitely an Italian eatery worth trying out, with potential to become your regular.

Francesco’s
209 Walt Whitman Road
Huntington Station
631-271-3234
www.francescospizzaandpasta.com
Atmosphere: Casual, family friendly
Cuisine: Pizza and pasta
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.;
Fri & Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun noon-10:30 p.m.