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In carbs we trust – say hello to Coolangatta’s new favourite pizza slinger Franc Jrs
Pizza is, for the most part, comfort food at its finest. There’s just something undeniably satisfying about biting into a slice that has nailed the all-important topping-to-sauce ratio, with that perfectly crisp-yet-forgiving base. We’d go so far as to say it’s a divine experience. If you possess a penchant for the perfect pizza pie, it’s likely you were a little saddened by the unexpected closure of Francie’s in Coolangatta. After all, it wasn’t uncommon to be greeted by a line of pizza-hungry revelers down the street. Thankfully, it’s not goodbye, it’s just “see you later” as Francie’s will be moving to a brand-new location down the street. In its place, we were gifted Franc Jrs – a spirited younger sibling that’s here for a good time. Here’s everything you need to know …
If you frequented Francie’s, you’ll notice that Franc Jrs is not simply a rinse and repeat. In fact, as far as pizza goes, it’s at the opposite end of the spectrum. First and foremost, Franc Jrs is primarily geared towards takeaway. While Francie’s was an ode to neo-Neopolitan pizzas, the soft base combined with the steam-trapping box became somewhat of an issue for the takeaway crowd. As Tony famously calls it, “it’s a coffin for the pizza”. Franc Jrs has gone to great lengths to recalibrate the entire takeaway pizza experience, from the baker’s oven, which keeps the pies – as they’re called here – bubbling away for a little longer. The end result is a slightly crispier base that will travel better in a box so you can roll out a rug on the beach, in the park, or gorge sans pants from the comfort of your couch. If you’re more of a sit and savour kind of person, there are 40 or so seats you can park your keister on but there are no bookings, no table service nor any kind of crockery to speak of – it’s paper plates and serviettes. It’s a casual approach, sure, but one that makes perfect sense when you see it and experience it firsthand. There’s a captivating come-as-you-are approachability to Franc Jrs – no pretense, just some mates slinging some seriously drool-worthy pizza, potent frozen margaritas, its own house brew, and a couple of cheeky reds. A vision that was decided early on, when owners Tony and Claudia Pattinson alongside long-time pals Carlos Lara and Jimmy Young, from the band Bootleg Rascal, were brainstorming what their ideal venue would look and perhaps, more importantly, feel like, they settled on a New York-style pizzeria vibe with a hint of grit and plenty of nostalgic throwbacks. That’s precisely what you’ll find at Franc Jrs – ‘Pulp Fiction’ playing on repeat on the tiny television that conveniently faces the kitchen and a hip-hop-heavy playlist featuring the likes of Snoop, NWA, Dre and plenty of Beastie Boys.
In terms of the menu, there are a couple of familiar faves in the Francie’s Classics section (hello Jaloppy Poppy, old friend) alongside a super-sized 16-inch cheese pie that you can pimp with extra topping if you wish. The specialty, however, is their interpretation of Detroit-style pizza. If you’re not familiar with that particular style of slice, allow us – Detroit-style pizzas are a throwback to 1946 at a speakeasy called Buddy’s Rendezvous in Detroit, which was, at the time, a motoring city. They began using repurposed rectangular blue steel pans that were traditionally used as oil-drip trays, to cook the pizzas. The heavy, hard steel created a kind of caramelised crust around the bottom of the thick, focaccia-like dough while the cheese oozes all the way to the edges giving it an irresistibly chewy outer. Despite its dense appearance, it’s actually delightfully light and fluffy inside – a definite must-try. One other thing you probably should know, the crew makes a certain number of bases each day and once they’re gone, it’s game over, until tomorrow. If you have your heart set on Franc Jrs, you better get in early.
Franc Jrs is now open! Skip over to our Stumble Guide for opening times.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.