Franco Manca - Another slice of Brixton Market - Jan 2012

Occupying two shallow store spaces opposite each other on the pedestrian walk through Market Row, the chaotic crowds around Franco Manca get to you just before the smell does. luckily others are either busy keeping their new year's resolutions or have moved temporarily on to the gustatory delights elsewhere in Brixton Market and we slide (un)comfortably into the slim fit church pews outside ready to worship at the altar. On a cold January day we're slightly envious of the sweat slicked artisan operators slaving away at the dual wood fired ovens, one on either side.

Things are kept simple. You're only here for one thing after all. A choice of six pizzas on the menu plus a daily specials board. Paper menu, Ikea tumblers and cutlery in tins on the table.

Toppings are mainly meaty and our special, with soft creamy wild boar mortadella is no exception, the meat going well with roasted green peppers softened and sweet from the wood fired oven.
The pizza is a chewy sourdough, fresh from those ovens, served as it comes. Being picky, ours is slightly soggy in the centre from the tomato sauce (though possibly also my over generous application of chilli infused olive oil). The crust is superb, if you can then try to bring one of the naysayers who leaves it at the side of their plate, and steal theirs too.