Franca

Overview

One of Potts Point's beloved diners enters a new era, with Franca Brasserie evolving simply to Franca. With an abbreviated name and a renewed focus, Franca will move towards a more relaxed rhythm of hospitality, while maintaining its philosophy of generous cooking and convivial dining. 

"Our clientele has always guided our approach. The original concept was classical, individual courses. But somewhere along the way, almost every table became shared. We've been watching our guests for seven years, and this is us following their lead," says founder Andrew Becher.

The slight name change reflects a return to the original meaning, 'lingua franca', being the shared language that historically connected cultures across the Riviera. Under Becher's guidance, the next stage in Franca's offering is considered a refinement rather than a reinvention. 

Executive Chef José Saulog leads the kitchen with a menu that blends classic technique with coastal Euro influences. "The flavours and spirit of coastal Europe, crystallised through classical French technique — that was always the vision for Franca. We feel the time is right to rediscover this, and we have drawn in flavours from Spain, Italy, North Africa and beyond. The result is generous, confident food that we feel suits this city and suits this space," says Saulog. 

Diners will snack on the likes of crab toast and mushroom parfait, before sharing generous plates of duck lasagne with foie gras, béchamel and preserved tomato and Bonito with confit ratatouille. Group dining will become the focal point with two shared menus designed for parties of eight or more to sample the best the menu has to offer.  

Drinks are no afterthought in the Euro-inspired dining room. The wine program, curated by Waldeck Ray and Riley O'Doherty, moves confidently between Europe and Australia and is built around the table, rather than the individual, with a focus on bottles rather than glasses. The signature aperitif, an ice-cold mini martini with wakame vermouth, a fresh oyster and caviar, is the ultimate way to start a meal at Franca, setting the tone for an elegant yet relaxed evening out. 

Images: Supplied. 

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