Franco & Co Balwyn North

Balwyn North Italian with woodfire pizza, lamb ragu pasta and an owner who greets tables personally.

Modern, warm and polished dining room with a semi-open kitchen, bar stools and a woodfire oven you can watch. Artificial lemon trees give it a Mediterranean feel; reviewers call it cosy and good for date nights and groups.

Visible woodfire pizza oven; truffle butter candle entree; Nutella pizza dessert; cocktail and espresso martini list; licensed but also BYO with corkage; sister venue to an established Eltham restaurant.

Reviewers describe the pasta sauces as rich and authentic and the pizza as woodfire with a smoky char, backed by an Italian-style menu from an Eltham sister venue.

Generous portions at reasonable prices, with a reported $25 per person Thursday night deal. One reviewer flagged a Saturday night surcharge and one thought a small pasta was not worth the wait.

Summary drafted with AI from public reviews.