Franco’s Cucina serves strictly Italian fare.
Owner and general manager John Iaccino admits he can make some mean barbecued ribs, and he said people beg him to put them on the menu at the Streamwood Italian bakery and deli.
But he won’t. That’s just the point. Barbecued ribs, no matter how good they are, just wouldn’t fit in among the pizza, focaccia wedges and panzerotti.
And that’s just fine with Iaccino. The Arlington Heights resident started the bakery and deli 21 years ago with his parents and has stayed true to their vision of traditional Italian foods and baked goods.
“My mom was a great cook, and the three of us thought, ‘We might be able to make it,'” Iaccino said. “When I’m on vacation if I see something that looks good, I come back and say, ‘I bet we can make this.’ If customers ask for it, we can make it.”
Some of those include chicken marsala and rosemary focaccia bread. Popular dishes are chicken Parmesan, Italian subs and his mother’s specialty, a hot turkey sandwich with juices seasoned like Italian beef with cheese and peppers.
“We make all our own breads, and customers will come in to buy a loaf and sit in the car and eat the end and bring the rest home to the family,” Iaccino said.
Customer service is a cornerstone of Franco’s Cucina, Iaccino said, recalling lessons learned from his father. His parents, Francesco and Emily, retired from the business. His father died in October.
“My dad would give all the kids a cookie, and they grew up to remember it,” Iaccino said, adding that his store manager was one of those kids. “Now customers will come in and say, ‘I used to get a cookie from you when I was a kid!’ and they bring their kids in.”
His father also taught him to always buy and use the best ingredients, no matter what the cost. Along with that, Franco’s staff is trained to help customers before they ask. “Do they need help out to the car? Don’t wait for them to ask. Is it an older customer with a walker? A dad with a lot of packages and kids? A mom with an infant carrier? This was foremost in everything my dad taught us,” Iaccino said.
And he and his staff are very cognizant of a customer ordering too much for a catering order. “If they’re ordering too much food or if that cake is too big, we’ll tell them,” Iaccino said. “I don’t want them to be left with a bunch of food and say, ‘That darn John from Franco’s’ …”
More Top Picks Science Of Reading Vs Balanced Literacy What Parents Should Know
Pricing: Daily specials from $6.25 for farfalle & broccoli in marinara to $11.25 for chicken limone with side. Specialties available Monday-Saturday from $4.75 for Italian Sausage to $11.25 for chicken Parmigiana with side. Specialties available every day from $4.95 for grilled veggies to $6.95 for pepper and egg on ciambotta. Salads from $2.99 for pasta salad to $5.50 for seafood salad. Sides from $1.75 for meatball to $6.25 for homemade soup of the day with roll or crackers. Deli sandwiches from $3.25 for Italian sub to $10.25 for prosciutto & provolone. Bakery items from $1.25 for chocolate frosted cake doughnuts to $14.45 a pound for cheesesticks. Catering also available.
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
Franco’s Cucina is at 1550 Bourbon Parkway, Streamwood. Contact 630-372-6990 or go to www.francoscucina.com.
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance writer.