La Nostra Storia
From Lucca to San Francisco
It started in a small tratoria outside Lucca, Tuscany. Nonna Maria believed that pasta should never be dried, only fresh. Every morning at 4 AM, she would knead the dough by hand, a tradition she passed down to her son, Franchino.
Franchino arrived in San Francisco with one suitcase and a handwritten recipe book. He fell in love with North Beach—the scents of roasting coffee and garlic reminded him of home. He opened "Franchino SF" on Columbus Avenue with just six tables.
Now run by his daughter, Sofia, Franchino SF remains true to its roots. We don't have a freezer. We don't use microwaves. We import our San Marzano tomatoes directly from Campania. Because to us, you aren't just a customer—you are family.
"There are no shortcuts in Italian cooking. Only time, heat, and love."- Franchino