Milford pizza eatery said to be ‘better than...

MILFORD — Hugs were as abundant as the pizza orders last week when Franco’s Pizza reopened in a new location after being closed for two months.

“It’s better than Pepe’s or Modern,” said regular Bill Copeland, of North Branford, who left a business trip in Boston a day early to be at Franco’s on its opening day.

Copeland ordered his favorite pizza topped with pineapple, peppers, artichokes and garlic on a white pie and ate a slice while waiting. He said they make a scrumptious tossed salad pizza topped with Angela’s homemade dressing.

Copeland said the only reason Franco’s isn’t as famous as the New Haven pizzerias and Zuppardi’s in West Haven is because they’re just a little place in Milford without a lot of publicity or cognition.

“I couldn’t wait for it to reopen,” he said.

The new spot at 11 Berwyn St., a partly residential street in the Devon section of Milford, is tiny, but cozy, with family pictures adorning the wall.

The kitchen is more spacious because that’s where owner Angelo Patrizi works his magic, as wife Angela Patrizi takes pickup and delivery orders over the telephone.

Franco’s Pizza was forced to move from 44-64 River St., where it had been located for 28 years, as the site is being turned into a parking garage, retail store and apartments.

“It’s very good,” to reopen, Angela Patrizi said. “All our regulars are excited.”

“I never thought I’d say I miss work, but if was a big transition,” and a big financial strain, she said.

Most of all, “We missed the customers, they’re like family.”

Regular customer Jay Reason, of Milford, said he’s waited for this day.

“You can taste the high quality of what he uses,” Reason said, referring to Franco Patrizi. “It’s better than Pepe’s — I bring my New Haven friends here.”

Years ago, Franco’s Pizza was open seven days a week, but now it’s closed on Sunday and Monday, because they want to spend more time with family, Angela Patrizi said.

Angela and Franco, who live in Milford, are from Italy. They met here and have five children between them. Angela, who doesn’t have an accent, came here as a youngster from the small town of Alife, Italy, and Franco left Frosinone, Italy, at 17 to go to culinary school in Bermuda and work there for a while, coming to United states in his early 20s.

Franco’s fans say aside from using high-quality ingredients and knowing how to combine his flavors, Franco makes art on the actual pizza, in that he spreads toppings uniformly.

“He’s always wanted to not send anything out less than he wants it to be,” said kitchen helper Jason Baker, a college student.

Resident Patty Funaro, who years ago frequented Franco’s Pizza when her family lived near downtown, said they switched pizza places after moving, but are thrilled to have Franco’s back in their neighborhood.

“I’m thrilled that they’re opening — I remembered how good they are,” Funaro said.