Fav’s Italian Cucina marks 20 years of serving pizza and more in downtown Bradenton
Twenty years ago, the brother-and-sister team of Michael and Maria Favasuli opened Fav’s Italian Cucina on Bradenton’s Old Main Street.
Fav’s arrival was seen as a very encouraging sign for Bradenton’s budding downtown revitalization efforts.
The Favasulis were happy to lend a hand.
“We were having lunch at Robin’s and noticed there was no pizzeria on the street. ‘This would be a good place for a pizza restaurant,’’’Mike remembers saying to his sister.
Maria agreed, and the rest is history.
Authentic Italian cuisine is the draw at Fav’s, served in an atmosphere of warm, friendly hospitality.
“We were one of the first businesses in this location,” Mike recalled of opening on Old Main at 419 12th St. W. “The menu was small, and the print was large. You could read it without glasses.”
Fav’s built a following with its hand-made pizza, baked in the 575-degree brick oven, as well as subs, spaghetti and ravioli. It has never strayed far from that menu.
Year in, year out, Bradenton Herald readers have rated Fav’s pizza among the best in town.
Today, the menu features antipasta like bruschetta, ravioli and garlic cheese bread, salads, pizza, stromboli, subs, and wraps. Among the dinner entrees are sausage and peppers served on a bed of fettuccine with ricotta cheese. Also available: lasagna and more.
Pizza prices start at $10, subs start at $6.25, and dinner entrees at $11.99. Spaghetti with Fav’s homemade red sauce lists for $10.99. Garlic herb wraps start at $7.95. Beer and wine are available.
“The menu is not that much bigger now than it was in 2000,” Mike said.
Their keys to success include love of food, and love of cooking. Add to that recipe another ingredient: determination.
“We didn’t start it to fail but it was hard the first few years,” Mike said.
All the food is all made to order. “It’s all about the meal,” Maria said.
Family is an essential part of the Fav’s story. Maria and Mike started the business with their uncle and aunt, Lamont and Marie Wilson. A photo of the siblings’ parents graces their dining-in menu, while a photograph of their grandparents is featured on their takeout menu.
The family feel is important to waitress Lenya Allen.
“They (the Favasulis) are so friendly, it’s like being at home,” Allen said.
Fav’s has seating for 52, including sidewalk tables.
The business is open 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday. Fav’s is closed Sundays.
Takeout and catering are also available.
For more information, visit https://www.favsitaliancucina.com/ or call 941-708-3287.
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 9:52 AM.
