'Back Bigger And Better': Italian Chef Opens Doylestown Eatery

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Smoking a cigarette and drinking espresso on the front patio of his newly opened Italian restaurant, Franco Federico is reflecting on the 40 years he spent in the restaurant industry.

At 59 years old, the Italian immigrant has run 24 restaurants in his lifetime, mainly specializing in the Italian and Mediterranean cuisine he grew up eating in Calabria.

While he has no plans to retire, Federico believes his newest restaurant, La Dolce Vita Da Franco, is his swan song.

In March of last year, Federico suffered a heart attack that put him out of work for two months. Then, in November, he was involved in a car accident that left him feeling chronically fatigued. After a doctor's visit, his physician recommended open heart surgery. Facing rising medical costs, he was forced to close his Doylestown restaurant, Boccadito Fine Cuisine, which had been open for four years.

"Now I'm back, bigger and better, I would say," Federico said.

Franco's life story reads like a storybook tale. While working in Italy as an industrial chemist, he met a woman from Doylestown who was visiting her Italian grandparents. He fell in love and moved to Bucks County, where he landed a job in his field. Laid off less than a year later and struggling to find steady work, he began to contemplate a different career path.

"My father always said, 'Learn something and put it in your back pocket. You never know when you're going to use it.'"

For Federico, that "something" was cooking.

Today, he owns and operates three restaurants, including Ariana's Ristorante Italiano in Montgomeryville and Fountain Side Seafood & Grille in Horsham.

His newest creation, La Dolce Vita Da Franco, will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, Oct. 17, with live music from local band All Winter Long.

Menu offerings include wood-fired pizza, seafood, steaks, gourmet sandwiches and fresh pasta. In addition to the restaurant, customers can purchase Italian pastries, cakes and homemade gelato from the in-store pasticceria.

The restaurant is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. and is located at 24 N. Main St.