An Ontario town's favourite gas station pizza shop is opening a location in Toronto

An unassuming pizza restaurant that's made a huge splash outside of the city will soon open a location in downtown Toronto.

Some of the best things in life show up unexpectedly: an unforecasted break of sun on a rainy day or running into a friend on the subway. In Mount Albert, Ontario, one of the best surprises in town is Frano Pizza and Panini.

Situated in a plaza off Highway 48, the pizza restaurant is all too easy to overlook, sharing its footprint with a Shell gas station, a Subway and a Country Style, but those who know know better than to pass it by.

Owned and operated by a family that's been in the pizza business for nearly 60 years, Frano itself has been in operation since the spring of 2020. Despite opening at a decidedly difficult time in history, the pizza shop has been steadily cementing itself as a local go-to ever since.

And while the drive from the city to Mount Albert isn't too terribly long, it's about to get easier than ever for Toronto residents to pick up a slice for themselves as Frano Pizza prepares to open a new location in the heart of downtown.

The restaurant is making its Toronto debut at 1024 Queen St. W., sharing the space with the first Toronto location of L.A.-based coffee business Kafe. The partnership will be fully integrated, with Kafe and Frano working hand-in-hand on the food program and experience.

At Frano, you can expect thin-crusted pies topped with house-made tomato sauce and droolworthy toppings, from classic margherita to BBQ chicken, alongside hefty panini and baked goods like bombe and croissants.

There's no word yet as to when Frano Pizza and Panini will be opening, but here's hoping it's sooner rather than later. With the news of Badiali's second location opening in May, it's already shaping up to be a great spring for pizza lovers in Toronto.