
By Justin Williamson – Brews & Bites
Today’s subject is Franco’s Pizza and Subs. This establishment has become a Whiteville standard. They have been doing a great job for years serving oven-baked New York style pizza, pasta, and subs. Along with a salad and burger menu, they offer a very classic Italian-American cuisine at affordable prices that are available for carry out or dine in.
Walking in to the Whiteville location in the Southside Hills plaza, I was greeted by the folks and promptly asked about my order. They employ a walk-up style ordering service and although sometimes there is a line here, I was able to get right to the counter and ordered a small stromboli and a ready-made slice for our lunch. Add two drinks and our total was less than $18.

Talk about eating on a budget — you can’t get a combo for one person for much less than that at a fast food joint these days. I was impressed. Our order doesn’t seem like a huge amount of food, but we carried out half of a stromboli to finish later. We were full. The large slices plate up really well.
Our food was served from the oven hot and freshly made. I enjoy a stromboli when it’s crisp on top, not overly chewy and undercooked. This was definitely right on.
It was well-stuffed and all components made a contribution to the overall flavor, with good flavors and textures. The slice was also hot and wasn’t overly greasy, but moist and folded nicely. Topped with bacon, ham, pepperoni and sausage, it was a robust bite.

This visit didn’t include salads and I’ve never tried their burger options, so I’ll have to come back to try those at a later date, but with the past experiences their salads are a full plate of veggies. I have tried the Chef Salad before and it’s more than enough to take care of your lunch requirements.
I will say, I wish they offered table service at this location, but I understand why they don’t. With low prices and a predominant carry-out business, it’s hard to afford staff that may not be required full-time. I’m just mentioning it because I’m a spoiled American and used to having a server available. It’s no big deal as the seating area is not large and you’re never more than a few steps from the drinks bar. Seating was clean and tables were neat and easily accessible. No issues with staff or order accuracy. All good!
I give Franco’s a 4/5 as they are clearly “In the Zone” with outstanding food and pricing that’s more than fair in this economy.
I hate to throw out criticism to a business that’s doing great things already, but I would gladly rate Franco’s a 5/5 if they brought in table service and made some tweaks to the entrance area layout. It works, but it does bring a few hassles when times are busy.
All in all, you will get great food at a fair price.
I salute Franco’s for being a solid offering in the community for years now. Let’s do our part and keep our local business owners successful and in business.
Thanks for reading and as always, I am open to take your feedback or suggestions. Email me at Positiveflownc@gmail.com.
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