When lunch time comes around in West Contra Costa County, you don’t have to go far to find a sandwich. In just about every neighborhood you’ll find a national chain sandwich shop, an oldfashioned deli, a supermarket prepared-food counter, or maybe a Vietnamese banh mi place, not to mention the ubiquitous hamburger joint, fast or slow. Now there’s a new destination to add to your list, and it belongs at or near the top. Jennifer and Marc Franco just opened Franco’s Mini Deli in October. It occupies a small storefront – “mini” you might say – in Bank of the West Plaza in El Cerrito, 34 MARKETPLACEcontracosta.com february 2016 across the street from the El Cerrito Post Office. The deli has a casual charm that shows the influence of Jennifer’s background in graphic design. Walls are paneled with smoothly-finished planks salvaged from wooden pallets, and feature hand-scrawled chalkboard menus. A cozy sit-down lunch bar seats four inside, and outside tables on the patio provide seating for an additional six. A personal touch characterizes not only the space, but also the food served. Franco’s is not the kind of place where you build your own sandwich. Jennifer, with Marc’s help, has done that for you, and the results are what makes the Mini Deli restaurant review 11100 SAN PABlO AVENuE, #105 IN El CErrITO | 510-552-8653 facebook.com/FrancosminiDeli Franco’s Mini Deli Not Your Average Neighborhood Sandwich Shop rIBEyE PhO By John Strohmeier
Contra Costa Marketplace - Feb 2016
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