Franco Manca Westfield Stratford — Restaurant in London

I’ve been a loyal customer of Franco Manca for years, always praising it to my Italian friends as the spot for truly authentic Neapolitan pizza in London. I’ve recommended it countless times and kept coming back because the quality was consistently superior.

But my recent visit to the Westfield Stratford location was such a disappointment - I honestly felt embarrassed for bringing my friends along to try what I once considered “the most authentic Neapolitan pizza in London.”

To start with, I was surprised to see two types of Margherita on the menu. I chose Franco’s OG Margherita Pizza, assuming it would reflect the original quality I remembered. This was the pricier option, supposedly made with buffalo mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. When the pizza arrived, not only was there no olive oil on it (I had to ask for it separately at the end), but the overall presentation and quality were shocking.

The pizza looked and tasted undercooked. The dough was completely soaked through, as if it hadn’t been cooked properly at all. The tomatoes were watery, turning the entire base into a soggy, unappetizing mess. I’ve eaten pizzas all over Italy, and this felt borderline criminal.

Sadly, it put me off returning anytime...

I've been visiting the startford branch for many years and always seen the same manager. I've asked him many times as you serve Halal lamb and I'm a Muslim would the pizza chef wash hands prior to making my pizza, always said yes that's not a issue. On my last visit this was not the case, I was told sorry unfortunately he can't do that as it's busy, baring in mind I'm the only customer there and nobody behind me.

It didn't feel very inclusive, felt like I wasn't treated as a valued customer as it was need for me, instead he turned away my custom.

So there's no point advertising you're serving Halal meat if you can't respect a customers need, a simple request mind you.

So they either said they had washed hands previously and I gave them the benefit of doubt. But certainty I'll be avoiding this establishment from now on, it's sad because it was a family favourite. It's more disappointing this came from teh store manager, it's probably time to retrain him or perhaps a change of management is needed (short guy with dark hair).

To all Muslim customer please be careful whilst choosing this place to dine. Absolutely horrible experience and thought others...

We tried the Franco Manca self service pizzeria in Westfield on the closing day of the Olympics: despite the obvious chaos coming from the thousands of people around, service was quick, and the quality of the pizza just as expected: very good. They served us a perfect pizza in less than 3 minutes, also arranging for an unorthodox request (we asked to have a half-and-half pizza). I loved the fact they also provide an uncommon pale ale as beer, as I think too many pizzerias in London just stupidly offer a couple of boring lagers (typically Peroni and Moretti), as opposed to offering more interesting and high quality varieties to fit the higher quality pizza. To me, pizza is all about perfect ingredients, good combinations and quick delivery, so this is the perfect solution: I hope more quick, good quality, fast pizzerias like this will popup in other places, I always wondered why for instance in London stations there are no self service pizzerias (whereas they're so...