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As you might imagine, I had some good meals while “away” from home on my vacation recently. Yes, I’m still writing about this trip because I keep thinking about it a lot. And there’s so much to tell. I always enjoy a good meal, especially when it’s Italian food. And my friend is very much a foodie. Loves cooking great food, and though you would never know it to look at her slim figure, she loves eating it too. So, yep, I’m going to tell you about an Italian restaurant I “discovered” on my trip. What makes this discovery so … well, sorta strange really, is that the restaurant has been right there all along. In fact, Franco & Vinny’s has been on Sunrise Boulevard, a block from the ocean in Fort Lauderdale, for 35 years.
But there’s a reason for that longevity. The food is really great! The exterior is so non-descript and hidden that I’ve driven by Franco & Vinny’s hundreds of times, literally, and hardly noticed. When I did catch a glimpse of an Italian joint there, I thought, “Eh, forget it! Looks like some place for tourists.” I dunno why I thought that exactly – just the location and modest appearance of the building or something. I was wrong. Actually, I now suspect more locals than tourists go to Franco & Vinny’s.
Ok, so what’s so special? Aficionados of Italian cuisine know it comes in many forms in South Florida – often good, rarely bad, but too often indifferent. A truly fine Italian place is a find. Franco & Vinny’s is such a place. They offer homemade pasta, for starters. That always impresses me if the pasta is firm and flavorful. It is at Franco & Vinny’s. On our first night there, I ordered classic spaghetti and meatballs. A large portion arrived – and I couldn’t keep myself from scarfing it all down. Loved it. Can’t wait to go back for more. She had the fish of the day, grouper as I recall, and it was excellent too.
A couple days later, we returned for takeout to bring to the room. We ordered a pizza, partly to give that Italian staple a try at Franco & Vinny’s – and yes, it was as good as the meal earlier in the week. The crust was cooked just right. The ingredients were fresh and generously distributed on the pie. Fine sauce, terrific cheese. As we ate, we both kept saying one thing over and over: “Mmmmm!”
We ate at some fancier-looking places on our vacation. And we sure ate at some much more expensive places. The meals at these upscale restaurants were very good. But Franco & Vinny’s was really memorable to me, the kind of quiet restaurant that attracts little attention and causes little stir. It does one thing only and does it well, for decades. It makes wonderful meals at affordable prices.
I plan on driving over for some takeout pasta one evening this week – a nice bachelor meal at home alone, enjoyed with a good wine or beer. Sounds delightful to me. If you’re up for it, you also might want to think about giving my “discovery” a try. But be warned. As their menu says, “Please be patient. All our food is cooked to order.” So call ahead for takeout: 954-564-9522. Franco & Vinny’s is located at 2884 East Sunrise Boulevard, across from Birch State Park, open daily from 4 to 11pm. Mmmmm!
But there’s a reason for that longevity. The food is really great! The exterior is so non-descript and hidden that I’ve driven by Franco & Vinny’s hundreds of times, literally, and hardly noticed. When I did catch a glimpse of an Italian joint there, I thought, “Eh, forget it! Looks like some place for tourists.” I dunno why I thought that exactly – just the location and modest appearance of the building or something. I was wrong. Actually, I now suspect more locals than tourists go to Franco & Vinny’s.
Ok, so what’s so special? Aficionados of Italian cuisine know it comes in many forms in South Florida – often good, rarely bad, but too often indifferent. A truly fine Italian place is a find. Franco & Vinny’s is such a place. They offer homemade pasta, for starters. That always impresses me if the pasta is firm and flavorful. It is at Franco & Vinny’s. On our first night there, I ordered classic spaghetti and meatballs. A large portion arrived – and I couldn’t keep myself from scarfing it all down. Loved it. Can’t wait to go back for more. She had the fish of the day, grouper as I recall, and it was excellent too.
A couple days later, we returned for takeout to bring to the room. We ordered a pizza, partly to give that Italian staple a try at Franco & Vinny’s – and yes, it was as good as the meal earlier in the week. The crust was cooked just right. The ingredients were fresh and generously distributed on the pie. Fine sauce, terrific cheese. As we ate, we both kept saying one thing over and over: “Mmmmm!”
We ate at some fancier-looking places on our vacation. And we sure ate at some much more expensive places. The meals at these upscale restaurants were very good. But Franco & Vinny’s was really memorable to me, the kind of quiet restaurant that attracts little attention and causes little stir. It does one thing only and does it well, for decades. It makes wonderful meals at affordable prices.
I plan on driving over for some takeout pasta one evening this week – a nice bachelor meal at home alone, enjoyed with a good wine or beer. Sounds delightful to me. If you’re up for it, you also might want to think about giving my “discovery” a try. But be warned. As their menu says, “Please be patient. All our food is cooked to order.” So call ahead for takeout: 954-564-9522. Franco & Vinny’s is located at 2884 East Sunrise Boulevard, across from Birch State Park, open daily from 4 to 11pm. Mmmmm!
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 10:50 AM
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