We now have official word and details on what is opening in the former Frankie’s Bohemian Café space on Divis: It will be PRESIDIO PIZZA COMPANY, opening in early December. I caught up with chef-partner Frank Bumbalo, who is opening the place with the neighboring Fishbowl owners, Kevin Kynoch and John Miles.
Bumbalo, a Brooklyn native, says there will be three kinds of pizza: thin-crust New York (Neapolitan round) style, Sicilian style, and grandma pizza, which is like a hybrid of a thin-crust pizza but square like a Sicilian (and not as thick), with origins in Long Island. Funny, my Italian cousin Anna made some pizza at home that was very similar to what the article describes a few months ago. Anyway, I’m excited to try it. Working with Bumbalo is Chris Norton, who was previously a line cook at A16—the owners are also talking to some other folks for the kitchen crew.
The new look is actually about returning the restaurant space to its origin decades ago: After taking off some Sheetrock, they exposed a couple of layers of wood, one of which was composed of beautiful redwood planks. Designer Dante Diego (who also did Blue Barn Gourmet) is adding in some dark colors, and concrete too, creating a modern and clean look. There will be two entrances: the one off Divis is if you want to sit at a table and enjoy some table service, while an entrance on Pine will be for the slice side, where you can sit on some bar stools or stand at a ledge while you hork your slice. (Or slices. I’m not here to judge.)
I will update you with a look at the space (and the pies!) in coming weeks. Hours will be Sun-Wed 11am-11pm, Thu 11am-12am, and Fri-Sat 11am-2:30am. Yes! 1862 Divisadero St. at Pine.
Frankie’s, in brighter days. Yelp photo by Kent W.
