Franny’s

As summer slid into fall, we headed up Ocean Avenue drove north across the Navesink Bridge and took sharp right into Highlands for pizza at Franny’s. The neighborhood pizzeria has a 45-year history in the Bayshore community; you can even order takeout on select Seastreak fast passenger ferries to NYC.

Walk through the spartan takeout area, and past the bulletin board where the owner Mya has set up a community-driven pre-paid tabs for meals, to the adjacent dining room and outside patio.

As we were meeting friends with a kid, we sat outside at a picnic table where he happily colored a picture of a dancing slice of pizza with his complimentary crayons. Baby onesies, T-shirts, hats, and other ephemera featuring this dancing slice or his blue-haired progenitor, Franny’s Granny, are available via Franny’s gift shop.

We opened our BYO wine and perused a menu filled with innovative pizzas, pastas, and salads. They also have soups, wraps, and sandwiches suited for lunchtime fare. The no-nonsense waitress came by and took our order for two appetizers and salads.

While we chatted with our friends, a cook came out to the patio to snip cuttings from brimming pots of herbs like basil and oregano, releasing a botanical aroma into the air. It was nice to see such locally sourced farm-to-table action happening in real time

The waitress dropped off a crispy platter of calamari, a perfectly dressed Caesar salad, and a special beet and fennel salad that we all loved. Little Jonas summarily demolished the entire order of mozzarella sticks. I presume they were as delicious as they appeared.

Consulting both the regular menu and daily specials list, we chose a trusty Margarita pie topped with basil, thin-sliced fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, and a special Fig and Prosciutto pie, generous with figs picked from a tree around the corner, dollops of ricotta, and a tantalizing drizzle of honey.

We also ordered two pastas: trusty meatballs and spaghetti, and a huge portion of eggplant lasagna, the tasty nightshades sliced thin horizontally rather than in traditional rounds, breadcrumbed and friend, then layered in lieu of lasagna noodles. This dish was the clear winner, ordered by Yaya and poached by all.

The six of us tucked into the two apps, two salads, two pastas, and two pies, and it was just about the perfect amount, with four slices left for lunch the next day. While I loved some dishes more than others, all the food was excellently prepared and very tasty. I will absolutely be back for dinner at Franny’s again again.

We all laughed when a guy picking up his pizza walked out the gate and accidentally decapitated the restaurant’s 20-foot skeleton. Since we had a kid, we agreed to indulge in dessert, and it was a great decision. For Franny’s had Nasto’s Pumpkin Tartufo—balls of pumpkin ice cream wrapped around a hazelnut center, then coated in a hard chocolate shell. It was amazingly spiced, capturing the flavor of fall in a few bites

We joyfully headed back down Ocean Avenue for artist Kimberly Callas’ special outdoor projection exhibition, “Monmouth Beach Rising, a Climate Resilience Art Installation at the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center. As we walked along the sea wall and watched unexpected fireworks signaling the end of summer, the approaching autumn seemed almost celebratory.

Franny’s Pizzeria & Restaurant
279 Bay Ave.
Highlands, NJ 07732
732-872-0080
https://frannyshighlands.com
Open 11 am-10 pm
Closed Tuesdays

Save a Few Clams

Franny’s is a BYOB establishment, so save on what’s usually the priciest part of any dinner out, and bring along your own wine or beer to enjoy with your pizza and pasta.