Franco's

Franco Forleo has been serving traditional homemade
dishes for many years. His culinary roots take him back
to his student years, working in a local pizzeria in
lower Rosebank then known as, 'La Pizzeria'. Working
as a dinning room assistant he took the opportunity of
learning the art of flipping pizza's whenever he could.
After completing his schooling in 1972, he did his one
year compulsory military training, starting at the
Valhalla Air Force Base in Pretoria. After basic
training, the remaining nine months was spent at the
SA Air Force College, serving 'top brass' functions.
His culinary career continued when he joined La Pizza
Restaurant in the then trendy CBD of Johannesburg.
As a part-time worker, he subsidised a meagre banker's
salary. When he was asked to join 'La Pizza' full time
he jumped at the opportunity of manning the busy
pizza oven. Years later, Franco was given the
opportunity of taking over this
establishment.Throwing caution to the wind and
plunging himself deep into debt,he took on this
challenge. In 1987, Franco sold 'La Pizza' and after a
few months of rest, found an insolvent, rundown
restaurant in Parkview. This establishment was
notorious for never having been successful, and
Franco was frowned upon by locals as being just
another who would come and go. A pizza oven was
built and Franco began trading at the beginning of
December of that year and has never looked back. With
the help of his nephew Massimo and his now grown up
sons, Franco jnr. and Ricky, Franco continues to serve
and please, having become affectionately known as
'the dining room of Parkview'.