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Business & Tech

Americana Nostalgia at Franklin Roadhouse

The burger and pizza bar, open since the spring, hopes to make its mark as a "comfortable and casual" spot in the neighborhood.

When Marcello Pascalino, 41, set out to open his ideal bar and restaurant at 688 Franklin Ave., his only requirements were that it be “not too fancy, but not too cheap, comfortable and casual.” That dream was finally realized in April when he officially opened the doors of his newest venture, Franklin Roadhouse.

Part bar, part pizza and burger joint, part live music venue, Pascalino wanted to open a place that evoked the spirit of Americana in the 1950s and 60s. While he’s helmed other restaurants and bars on Long Island and elsewhere in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Pizza Factory and Carmela’s Eatery), Franklin Roadhouse is his proudest.

“This is my ultimate place, a place I really feel good about,” said Pascalino.

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The burgers at Franklin Roadhouse are half pound angus beef, dressed up with options like blue cheese, bacon, swiss cheese and mushrooms. The pizza features toppings like sun dried tomatoes and baby arugula.

“It’s the stuff that I grew up on, I just wanted to make it a little different,” explained Pascalino, a Brooklyn native who was raised in Red Hook and Bensonhurst.

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While burgers and beer are an easy combination, Pascalino decided to do pizza because, “I’ve worked in pizza shops my whole life.”

“I’m known as The Pizza Man to my friends,” he said.

There’s a small bar at Franklin Roadhouse, serving beer and wine only (no hard liquor). In addition to Stella, Pork Slap, Modelo and Pabst Blue Ribbon, they also serve their own draft beer, Roadhouse Red. Happy Hour runs from 5-8 p.m. with $3 drafts. And if you feel like staying in, the restaurant will deliver within a six-block radius, for a $12 order minimum.

“You can come in for a burger and a beer, or a pizza and a beer without spending a lot of money,” said Pascalino.

Inside, the décor is intentionally laid-back, with exposed brick walls and dark-stained wood tables. Tour posters and license plates from around the country decorate the walls. But what stands out most are the gas pump and jukebox from the 1950s, and the antique Coke machine from the 60s. Pascalino said he designed the restaurant to harken back to “an era of America.” A back patio outside fits five tables.

Franklin Roadhouse also hosts live music two to three times per week, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Recently, the Roadhouse has hosted The Heyday and Andrew Mancilla, with possible plans for an Open Mic Night in the future.

“The community makes this place, the artists and musicians,” said Pascalino, who calls the corner between Prospect and Crown Heights “one of the best neighborhoods.”

Though located on Franklin Ave., Pascalino believes Franklin Roadhouse is a Prospect Heights bar, and doesn’t agree with the branding of the neighborhood as “ProCro.”

“I don’t think this neighborhood should be called [ProCro],” he said. “If it’s Crown Heights, it should be called Crown Heights.”

No matter the name, Pascalino believes he made the right decision in choosing to move in: “I stood here and looked at a crowd and thought, this is the right place. Trains are nearby, and it’s an easy commute into Manhattan.”

“I just wanted the feel of a great neighborhood place,” Pascalino said. “When people come in they feel comfortable coming in.”

 

Amy Sara Clark contributed to this story.

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