Franco’s Pizza & Deli

Their pizza is really good if you get it and bring it home. I’ve never had luck getting it delivered. For example, we ordered a pizza Thursday night. It took 70 minutes to arrive – 3 miles away – and it wasn’t even mildly warm. It cost $ 20. Guy had no delivery bag.

I’ve gone to Franco’s numerous times in the past couple of years and their food is pretty good. The only problem I have is with there system for pick ups. Last time I went there was the last time for good. My husband called around noon and ordered pizza and wings for 550 because my family was coming over for dinner at 6. I arrived at the pizzeria at 5:50 and gave her my name and she said it would be a few min. There were about 5 other ppl waiting. After 20 min she finally called me up to pay. I waited for ANOTHER 5 min! I ended up leaving at 6:25! So tell me what the point is of giving them a time to have it ready, if they don’t start it until you get there??? Not to MENTION they PRE cook your pizza and let it sit there, then put it back in the oven when you arrive. Gross!

I went back to Franco’s about a week ago to give them another shot. This place has changed a little bit. It seems like it has been renovated. Maybe new owners maybe not, I’m not sure. Their pizza and wings were very good. The only thing that bothered me was the girl who took my money (who calls everybody honey) rang up my order and then proceeded to go over and start working her hands in the dough with no gloves on after handling the money. We all know money is very filthy and to see her do that kind of surprised me.
I know they get busy there but I think a pair of gloves would come in handy. Not sure if I will be going back or not based on the lack of cleanliness in this place

This place is awful. We put in a huge order of over 16 items and it came with no napkins, no utensils. How are we supposed to eat on a bus trip which we communicated to them. We also asked for every meal to be labeled by name, and none came labeled. We had wings– three different heat levels all unlabeled. Owners need to take much more pride in their product and customer service. Last time we go here.

Great portion sizes. Very large. We got the cheese pizza and the meat lovers. Both were great choices. They tasted great and very nice quality. We also ordered a garlic bread. It wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was just a sub bun with garlic butter. However, it did taste great! The turkey sub was also very large and well put together. My only complaints are the wait time. We waited 30 minutes before getting our food. This could be because we got two large pizzas, garlic bread, and a sub though. I also noticed the place was a bit dirty. I could justify this since it is an older building but I still think some daily cleaning is being overlooked. The staff was a bit rude at first, I think that’s just the way they handle things though because as we was leaving they was very polite. They asked us how everything was and wished us a great night. My complaints definitely won’t stop me from coming back because the taste of the food is well worth it.

The word «rig» means many things in the USA. It could mean «big rigs» that you see all over the interstates of the countries, keeping our industry moving. It could mean «rigs» like the Oil that the country’s wealth is built on, that our wars in the Middle East are engineered to extract. Or it could mean «rig-​ht», as in right wing — which America is, very much so. Extremely so in some ways. Or as in rig-​hteous, as in the religious zealots that will tell you what you can and can’t do because it says so in their book. Or «rig-​ged», such as the 2000 Election or the entire system, to be honest.
But more importantly than any of that small-​time stuff, «rig» is for «Riggies.» It’s a dish invented in the world capital of the UTI:
Utica, NY.
What to get: Chicken Riggies, baby.
What else: Pizza.
The pizza here is good, it’s not amazing. It does the trick. It’s the second-​best pizza I’ve had in Utica, which isn’t saying much since I haven’t tried much. The one starting with the O and the apostrophe that serves upside down pizza is my fave, although their service sucks.
This place on the other hand just has good pizza, and also good service, but they have a hidden gem on the menu that not even the locals known about. And that Gem is known as:
(drum roll)
Chicken Riggies.
We’re talking heavy rigatoni pasta, strips of chicken, all sorts of goodies like peppers and mushrooms and onions and thick, delicious sauce, a sort of spicy tomato-​cream-​something-​sort-​of-​ish juice, that will blow your mind, blow your head off, and blow you… I mean blow you away.
Riggies. Utica invented them, and it’s a very good invention and one to be proud of. A lot of the local Italian restaurants serve a fancy expensive version of Chicken Riggies, while some pizzerias have a cheaper version, and in every single case, they’re inferior to the Chicken Riggies at Franco’s Pizza.
We’re talking about an enormous portion (almost as big as my thingy), steaming hot (like your thingy), very very wet and juicy (like your thingy), full of big delicious chunks of meat (like my pants, or your thingy), and very heavily spiced and flavoured (like your thingy). These are just the best tasting Chicken Riggies you’ll ever eat.
They may be microwaved — I don’t know. It’s possible. I did get that feeling. Usually I would never touch anything microwaved with a barge pole, but we’re talking about *the best Chicken Riggies in town* so I just don’t care. I love them with a passion. I’d drive all the way to Utica just to put them in my mouth. Well that could also be said about a few guys I know in Utica, but aside from that, if you are anywhere near the world capital of the UTI, then you must come here and put this hot, wet, delicious, spicy stuff in your mouth and swallow it.
Chicken Riggies… Utica’s greatest gift to the world, and the gift that keeps on giving, since the portion is so heavy and large.

This is almost certainly the worst «restaurant“in Utica, probably the state of New York and I’d even put them in the running for worst in the country. I even wrote Unilocal customer service an e-​mail making sure I’m not able to leave zero stars.
First, there is no point calling your order in, they will not make your food until you get there and pay. I’m guessing they’ve been cranking out disgusting food and service for so long they’re having trouble getting people to actually pay for it. This ridiculous method of order processing can only be called «Pizza Prison», as you are forced to deal with their wretchedness while your food and money is held hostage for hours, literally.
Having ordered here a half dozen times since I moved to Utica, I always thought it was strange my food was never ready when I arrived. This place is never busy and nobody ever looks happy. Sooo… I started ordering earlier and waiting longer to pick up, still never ready. The last time I ordered a couple dozen wings in the morning, waited an hour before even leaving my house and arrived to Francos in the afternoon. Sure enough, upon arrival, my order ticket (a post it note) was still sitting on the counter, untouched. I know some of you have to think I’m crazy, I’m not, this really is how this place expects to conduct business. And it’s not like I’m the one bad customer they shit on, they don’t even take your phone number when you call in your order.
Tell me, Mr. Franco, why do you even bother to take orders or have a phone for that matter? I mean It’s torture enough to deal with your rude and disinterested employees, but now knowing I do so completely in vain is beyond frustrated description. Honestly I really want to know what you are doing running a pizza place if, at this point, you have still not figured out the order/​take out system. Why are you even answering the phone?
Now the thing is, I truly enjoy restaurants, good and bad, and can usually find something to like about any place. This is no such place. I can say with absolute confidence the dining area has not been cleaned this century. There is such a substantial layer of dirt and grease that you literally cannot touch anything without being repulsed. Secondly, the entire time you’re waiting you have to deal with rude, vulgar and downright stupid chatter from the staff. I’m not talking about one time at closing or something, morning noon and night you are made to feel uncomfortable by the staff here. I have never had a friendly encounter with an employee here and after bringing my son here ONCE, I will never bring him back due to the behavior of the staff. Its as if you are victimizing them just by showing up.
The service is so downright awful, you are lucky to get out of here within an hour of arrival, that is if they don’t screw some portion of your order up, which they do at least 50% of the time. You can just imagine how wonderful they are in rectifying your order, like rubbing fiberglass in your eyes. Combine this minimum wait time with the fact that I’ve ordered 60 minutes in advance multiple times, you’re looking at 2 hours for 2 dozen wings, bravo.
On a side note, the food is eatable and probably won’t kill you. Just be sure all present have a strong immune system and can fight off the plethora of bacteria and germs you will inevitably encounter during the required minimum 45 minutes in pizza prison. It may even be wise to get a double tetanus shot the morning of your visit. If they had any type of conscience they’d hand out masks and gloves to elderly patrons. My best compliment to Francos is there food did not kill me, though you probably would have to threaten my life to ever get me to go back. Now that I mention it, Franco’s would be a great place to celebrate failure, perhaps after your kid gets expelled from grade school or your teenage daughter tell you shes pregnant. A couple hours in this joint will show them you mean business and are not scared of a little torture.
In closing, I’d rather pay double to eat microwave pizza off a bathroom floor and dip my wings in half melted urinal cake than eat anything at this place ever again. If you are an owner or manager of Francos… SHAME ON YOU.

Most importantly the food is great. It’s not as great as it used to be, but it’s convenient for me when we are in town. The service need improvement. They say your food will be ready in 20 minutes, and when you get there you have to wait another 20. Don’t order delivery, it will take longer. You will end up eating so late! 2 hr wait once and the house is up the street.

Fantastic Pizza

Wish I Could Give A Zero. Called and ordered two subs today, went to pick them up and was told they didn’t have my order. I must have called the wrong Franco’s he said. I recognized the guys voice, so I got my phone out, checked the recent calls log, and confirmed that I called the right place. After showing him the phone log, he made a goofy face, the other wise ass working with him made an «ewwwww», and he told me to have a nice day. I wonder if the management there knows these wise ass young guys they have minding the store, disregard orders and are rude to customers. That’s my last visit to Franco’s.

Unfriendly service. Unappealing establishment. Stick to the pizza and wings to go.

Five star wings. Seriously, they were delicious.
Negative five stars for the restaurant itself. The staff was fine, though not super friendly, but everything in there was sticky. The floor, the booths, the tables, probably the walls (I don’t know, I tried not to touch anything but the wings after I stuck to my seat). There were flies everywhere and it looked like it hadn’t seen a mop or sponge or even a half-​dirty paper towel since 1995. I’m tempted to give a better score because the food was damn good, but I really can’t bring myself to do it because this place was gross inside.
Get it to go.

Great food. Loved the pizza. But the service wasn’t so great. I ordered a ham and cheese calzone. When it was ready, the server says «We are out of ham. I gave you a sausage and peppers instead. I hope that’s okay.» Really?

Really tasty pizza, but I feel inclined to mention that the girl taking our order was incredibly rude. Could have been a much more pleasant experience had she been polite. If I am in the area again, I’ll check it out.

I’ve been going to Franco’s for probably 20 years. I have to say when I was a kid, I really didn’t like their pizza. But I have matured! I live in out of state now, but every time I visit Utica I must go to Franco’s at least once. The pizza is amazing. The crust is always cooked well and the sauce is well spiced. When you’re just grabbing a slice for lunch, they’re huge! Oh, and their home made salad dressing is awesome. Grab a antipasti and drizzle away.

Best pizza in the world. My wife and I live in NC and eat here every time we visit. I have dreams of someone making pizzas like this down in NC. I doubt it will ever happen. Until then, we make 14 hour trip to visit family and eat the best pizza in the world.

All right… let’s get into this. First of all, places like Franco’s don’t exist on the West Coast. They just don’t and before the backlash starts, let me just say that PLENTY of awesome places that exist on the West Coast have no chance oon the East Coast. There may be no more true fact of life… so deal with it.
Upstate NY pretty much annhilates all comers when it comes to wings and chicken parm sandwiches and other more specific local items (chicken riggies, greens, etc). As with the finest restaurants in major cities, atmosphere is always a key ingredient. While Franco’s chicken parm would most certainly sstand on its own regardless of atmosphere, I’ll start there just because there is not reason not to.
True Upstate NY place. Those rounded «bench» type seats that fit two people on each side with formica tables in between. The place smells like pizza a bit, but by far the most signiuficant scent is that of the fryer. The smell (which I did not have, but should have) of wings permeates this place to the point where you run a pretty good chance of walking out smelling like wings and the fryer for a few minutes. The staff is true pizza joint as well and you’re less likely to get a smile while ordering (and no, not in stupid Soup Nazi «hey it’s cool to be rude» way made popular in NYT articles and television sit-​coms) than you are a bottle of chappagne which is to say: you don’t really get them here. However, ask how Christmas was or how the weekend is going or just what’s up in generl and you’ll get just thye right amount of light exchange to make you feel like it is your 30^th time in there. Perfect no frills service not because of laziness, but because they are running an awesome pizza shop and have things to do.
On to the chicken parm… and look, I don’t know what others look for in a chicken parm sandwich, but I have to believe everyone is looking for pretty much the same thing: thick and toasted white bread sub roll, large cutlets of chicken breaded and fried with a legitimate amount of spice to the breading, loads of sauce and lots of cheese. Also, this sandwich should be toasted/​made in the oven. And the roll needs to toasted accordingly so that all the extra sauce does not seep into and through the bread. The chicken parm at Franco’s overdelivers in all of these categories. It toasted perfectly and comes out at just the right temperature. There is loads of sauce and the sauce is not sweet like waaay too many pizza joints are leaning towards these days. And the cheese is thick and they not skimp on it.
All of this comes out of the oven (likely on a pizza tray) and is transferred to some tin foil and a paper plate and the large is damn big. So on any level, you CANNOT go wrong getting this sandwich at Franco’s. It is top notch and represents Upstate exactly the way it should be.
Excellent work fellas… excellet work.

Good pizza, but the place has the best wings in town. Get the chargilled wings.
The service is great too.
I really can’t say enough about the wings, though.

a style all of its own.
Best Pizza in North Utica. Our families’ favorite since we moved to the north side. The pizza is halfway between thick and thin, a slightly sweet sauce, and lot of cheese. I give it 5 stars and I’ve eaten pizza all over NY.