Franca's Real Italian Restaurant

..... DINNER THEATRE.......

"SUITE SURRENDER"

Synopsis~ It's 1942, and two of Hollywood's biggest divas have descended upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel -- assistants, luggage, and legendary feud with one another in tow. Everything seems to be in order for their wartime performance...that is, until they are somehow assigned to the same suite. Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and a lap dog named Mr. Boodles round out this hilarious riot of a love note to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s.

DINNER THEATRE 1ST SHOW:

Suite Surrender by Michael McKeever -

Director Kathy Pero

Shows February 22, 23 and March 1, 2, 8, 9

Claudio Sereni playing pre show 6-8 During Dinner theatre shows

Live Music by Claudio Sereni.... Call for Reservations 281-488-2207

******Open Mic every Tuesday Night 6:30****************

******Wednesdays Claudio and Guest*************

******Thursdays - Saturdays Claudio Sereni performs at the Piano Bar***********

****ELVIS BY RAY***** March 16th ~ Call for Reservations! 281-488-2207 Great Entertainment by Ray Covey ~ Enjoy Dinner & Music Saturday Night with Ray!

******Valentines Day all week of February 14th!******** Come and Celebrate with us! Entertainment by Claudio! *****************

https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/pasadena/news/article/Veteran-South-H...in-bucket-list-role-12878161.php

CLAUDIO This Weekend! Check our Facebook Pg for future dates ~ Franca's Real Italian Restaurant http://ClearLakeLive.com/Claudio

Click on Dinner Theatre Menu ABOVE MENU for pricing......

Claudio Sereni will be Performing preshow for Dinner Theatre shows from 6 to 8 Fridays and Saturdays During Dinner Theatre Nights.....

******BUFFET*******

$35 PER PERSON plus tax/gratuity

DINNER AT 6:30 SHOW AT 8:00

281-488-2207/FOR RESERVATIONS

Check out our Dinner Theatre Photos & Albums on Facebook ~ Click on our page ~ Dinner Theatre at Franca's

COME AND SEE OUR NEW STAGE!!!!!!!!!!! WHO HAS A FOUNTAIN IN THERE STAGE? WE DO!!!!!! Click on the Houston Chronicle Article

https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/friendswood/news/article/Actresses-play-battling-divas-in-Bay-Area-farce-13595691.php?fbclid=IwAR3XN_1g9AV8bS9OUFZadYsAVfzBcPmEjLeK0-wrFhd-si8tyiScwOjQSMU#item-85307-tbla-4

Playwright to be in audience for farce at Franca's - Houston ... Past shows

www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/Playwright-to-be-in-audience-for-farce-at-Franca-s-11438309.

http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/friendswood/news/article/Friendswood-actor-doesn-t-pretend-to-tough-like-11020297.php

http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/Restaurant-wants-diners-to-giggle-in-their-pasta-9146120.php

Signature Dish Fillet Medallions, topped with Fresh Mushrooms in a creamy Brandy Sauce served with Fettuccine Alfredo, Mixed Vegetables, House Salad, and Homemade Garlic Bread!!!!

Real Italian

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Throughout the years, people from all over have come to visit Franco’s Real Italian Restaurant and many have become like family and close friends. Using the highest quality ingredients and professional care, our chef has prepared savory delicacies for the enjoyment of all.

When our doors first opened in 1971, Franco's was the only restaurant in the South Houston area and for miles around you could see the empty horizon of Clear Lake. Mr. Franco, “Papa” as he was affectionately called by all, designed and sculpted everything seen in the restaurant: from Italian mural and sculptures, to waterfalls and paintings, all created with his loving artistic touch. Eventually, Mr. Franco tried to retire, but to no avail; with much encouragement from family and friends, (and especially patrons starved for real Italian food!) the family decided to continue their legacy with daughter Franca serving as hostess.

The Pignataro's are a very close-knit family. With the passing of Mr. Franco (Papa) and Mrs. Domenica Emilia (Mama), their daughters Nuccia, Lina, and Franca, and Nuccia's twin boys, Domenico (Nico) and Francesco (Cesco), are extending their love of cuisine.

Franca, the youngest daughter, is surely honoring her parents' memory, following in her father's footsteps as she continues to run the business in the Italian way!

A must see historical landmark handmade by Papa himself.

The Franco's tradition continues.....

Dinner Theatre

"Suite Surrender"

By Michael Mckeever

Shows: February 22, 23

March 1, 2, 8, 9

Directed By kathy Pero

"Boeing, Boeing"

By Marc Camoletti

Auditions: March 5, 6

Shows: April 19, 20, 26, 27

May 3, 4

Directed By kathy Pero

"Love, Lies and the Drs. Dilemma"

By Michael Parker and Susan Parker

Auditions: April 30 May 1

Shows: June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29

Directed By Patti Meiners

"Rumors"

By Neil Simon

Auditions: June 25, 26

Shows: August 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24

Directed by Hunter Mehrens

"Arsenic and Old Lace"

By Joseph Kesselring

Auditions: August 20, 21

Shows: October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19

Directed By kathy Pero

"A Nice Family Christmas"

By Phil Olson

Auditions: October 15, 16

Shows: December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14

Directed By kathy Pero

Appetizers

Mozzarella Fritta........................................$6.95

Hand-breaded fried mozzarella cheese served with pomodoro sauce

Baked Homemade Meatballs........................$5.95

Topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese

Calamari Fritti..........................................$7.95

Fresh squid tossed in flour, fried and served with marinara sauce

Crostini Con Spinaci...................................$7.95

Sautéed fresh spinach served with breaded croutons, chopped tomato and feta cheese

Caprese..................................................$7.95

Fresh sliced mozzarella with fresh tomatoes seasoned with fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil

Soups and Salads

Soup of the Day......................................$6.95

Caesar Salad...........................................$6.95

Tossed hearts of romaine in a creamy Caesar dressing with croutons

Grilled Chicken Salad...............................$9.95

Grilled Chicken Caesar.............................$9.95

Grilled Salmon Caesar............................$11.95

Seafood and Pasta Dishes

All Pasta served with salad and homemade bread (substitute Caesar $2.95)

Gamberi Scampi.....................................$17.95

Sautéed seafood fresh gulf shrimp in a garlic butter sauce over a bed of angel hair pasta

Gamberi Fra Diavolo...............................$17.95

Sautéed fresh gulf shrimp with garlic, red pepper flakes, basil in a spicy marinara sauce

Linguini Pescatore..................................$18.95

Tossed with shrimp, scallops and calamari in a spicy tomato sauce

Tortellini Francesca................................$15.95

Sautéed with shrimp, bay scallops and calamari in a spicy tomato sauce

Linguini Vongole....................................$14.95

Red or white wine sauce with baby clams

Grilled Salmon Spinaci............................$17.95

Perfectly grilled with garlic butter served on a bed of sautéed spinach with grilled vegetables and garlic butter pasta

Italian Plate...........................................$15.95

Combination of lasagna, ravioli, pollo parmigana and fettuccine alfredo

Penne Arrabiata.....................................$14.95

Sautéed with fresh Roma tomatoes, hot pepper flakes, basil, garlic and tossed with grilled chicken

Capellini Siciliana...................................$11.95

Pasta tossed with eggplant, black olives, capers, olive oil and fresh diced tomatoes

Franco's Combination............................$13.95

Sautéed spaghetti with mushrooms, meatballs and Italian sausage in a marinara sauce

Tortellini Del Papa.................................$14.95

Rings of pasta filled with cheese, sautéed with chicken, wild mushrooms and basil in a cream sauce

Pasta Fiorentina....................................$14.95

Grilled chicken slices, fresh spinach, and artichoke hearts tossed with angel hair pasta in a creamy Alfredo sauce.

Traditional Italian Entrées

All entrées served with salad and homemade bread (substitute Caesar for $2.95)

Manicotti................................................$10.95

Cannelloni..............................................$11.95

Lasagna.................................................$11.95

Eggplant Parmigiana.................................$11.95

Spaghetti (with meat sauce or meatballs)....$10.95

Ravioli (pick your sauce)...........................$12.95

Fettuccine Alfredo....................................$11.95

Fettuccine Alfredo with Grilled Chicken.........$13.95

Classic Italian Entrées

All entrées served with salad and homemade garlic bread (substitute Caesar for $2.95)

(add a side of fettuccine Alfredo $3.50)

Pollo Con Vegitali.....................................$14.95

Breast of grilled chicken with sautéed vegetables

Pollo Con Gamberi...................................$17.95

Breast of chicken sautéed with shrimp, garlic butter and basil in a white wine sauce

Pollo Domenica.......................................$15.95

Breast of chicken sautéed with julienne vegetables, zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms and artichoke heart in a cream sauce

Pollo Balsamico.......................................$15.95

Breast of chicken sautéed with mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts in a balsamic vinegar sauce

Pollo Franca............................................$15.95

Breast of chicken topped with fresh spinach, mozzarella cheese and mushrooms in a marsala cream sauce

Pollo Carciofi..........................................$15.95

Breast of chicken topped with fresh artichoke hearts in lemon white wine butter sauce

Pollo Parmigiana.....................................$15.95

Pollo Marsala..........................................$15.95

Breast of chicken sautéed with fresh mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce

Vitello Parmigiana...................................$16.95

Veal cutlet hand-breaded and fried then baked with marinara sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese

Franca's Gourmet Pizza (12 inch)

Papa's Special.........................................$14.95

Cheese, pepperoni, sausage, ground beef, mushroom, onions and bell peppers

Franca's Special.......................................$14.95

Grilled chicken, mozzarella cheese and sautéed cheese in alfredo sauce

Pizza Margherita......................................$12.95

Mozzarella cheese, fresh tomato, garlic and basil

Create Your Own (one topping)...................$11.95

Additional toppings $1.00 each

Children's Menu

(For our favorite customers 12 years and younger)

Spaghetti with meatballs..................................$4.95

Fettuccine Alfredo......................................$4.95

Ravioli with marinara sauce................................$4.95

Desserts

All desserts are $6.95

Cheesecake	Caramel Cheesecake
Tiramisu	Cannoli

Frozen Ice Cream

Spumoni	Triple Chocolate
Key Lime Pie	Mississippi Mud
Espresso	Banana Split

Photo's

The Legend

In 1954, Franco Pignataro had the good fortune to meet and fall in love with a beautiful lady from Acitrezza, Sicily. This caused a wonderful series of events that led to the founding of Franco's Real Italian Restaurant. The beautiful lady, Domenica, decided that she preferred the dashing Carabinieri over her Royal suitors and declared he would be her husband. Franco and Domenica were married one month after meeting in one of Sicily's most famous churches. Shortly thereafter, the couple made the long journey to the United States in pursuit of the great American Dream.

Initially, Franco worked for Domenica's family in their shrimping business located in Galveston, TX. Sea sickness short circuited this career move by Franco and led to some serious decisions. Franco was challenged by his lack of experience with English and this helped him make his next career move. He decided to raise chickens and sell eggs, because chickens understood Italian! At least that is what Franco claimed. Starting with a small group of hens, Franco ultimately grew the business and owned over 500,000 laying hens, becoming one of the major providers of fresh eggs in the Houston Area. By the time he had accomplished this, he and Domenica had also grown their family. The addition of three beautiful daughters, Nuccia, Lina, and Franca to Domenica and the half million chickens made Franco the only "rooster" in the Pignataro family.

In another fortunate move, Franco read of a new restaurant on the north side of Houston serving a delicacy he remembered from Sicily, pizza pies. Franco loaded up his family and made the hour long drive to the new business only to be disappointed in finding the pizzas were frozen and nothing at all like he had hoped. It wasn't long before Franco decided that if Houstonians would flock to a restaurant serving frozen pizzas, that they would surely enjoy a restaurant serving the "real" thing. He found a small restaurant for sale near NASA, and in 1971, opened Franco's Real Italian Restaurant.

It was an instant hit in the area, Franco routinely baked, and served hundreds of pizzas daily. The restaurant grew from there and was followed by additional restaurants in Houston, Santa Fe, and Galveston.

Today, Franco's tradition lives on with his youngest daughter, Franca. The original restaurant was renamed Franca's in 1998, and is now run by Franca. Franca grew up at Franco's side, and has been a fixture of the restaurant since she was 3 years old. At the age of 5, Franca was featured on television flying pizzas. At the age of 7, she was trying to fire employees that didn't do things the way Franco wanted. Now, every night Franca is greeting customers, making sure all meals are just right, helping in the kitchen if needed, and in general, working to make everyone's experience at Franca's memorable.

Directions

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From Clear Lake

Take NASA Rd 1 past Space Center Houston just past the entrance to the NASA Bypass on the right hand side.

From I-45 South the Gulf Freeway

Take the NASA Bypass all the way to NASA Rd 1, make a U-Turn at the first light at Nassau Bay Drive. Go to the right hand side of the road just past the entrance to the NASA Bypass.

From Highway 3, Old Galveston Road

Take NASA Rd 1 and make a U-Turn at the first intersection starting at Kings Park Lane. Go to the right hand side of the road just past the entrance to the NASA Bypass.

..... DINNER THEATRE.......

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Dinner Theatre

Check out our Wine selection here

Directions

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