In an industry as uncertain as the restaurant business, longevity is hardly a guarantee. But for those eateries that stand the test of time, it’s a testament to not only their quality of food, but also their connection to the community.
Perhaps no one understands this better than Franco Coppola and his brother Anthony, who have made Femmina Italian Grill in Medford a dining destination for discerning food lovers from near and far. Known for its oversized portions of authentic Neapolitan dishes, overwhelmingly friendly service and a warm, inviting décor, the restaurant rivals some of the best fine dining experiences you’ll find in South Jersey or elsewhere.
In the midst of marking Femmina’s 25th anniversary, Anthony is grateful to see so many familiar faces while also getting to know new ones regularly filling the dining room.
“We have customers who have been coming here since day one, and we also see a lot of new customers, so it’s been great,” Anthony says. “We’ve seen kids who used to come in with their parents and now they are coming in and bringing their kids to eat here.”
While Anthony manages the front of house, Franco is the mastermind in the kitchen with years of culinary expertise, including time spent in Italy learning the finer points of the cuisine. With a menu full of highlights ranging from varying plates of seafood (brought in fresh to the restaurant six days a week) to the mouthwatering pasta dishes and everything in between, Franco’s culinary creations aren’t just well received: They are actively sought.
“The food and the consistency of the food comes first. If the food is not good, things aren’t going to work,” says Anthony. “My brother brings his expertise and the culinary background he learned in Italy and combines that with a lot of passion.”
That passion extends to staying atop the latest culinary advancements to ensure that Femmina is always bringing something new to the table and building upon the reputation it has solidified over the past 25 years.
“Every year, we go to Italy and seek out new recipes. We go to different restaurants to see what the trends are because you always want to find new inspirations,” Franco says.
Beyond the food, Femmina is also well-known for its warm, inviting décor, as well as its extremely attentive and friendly servers, most of whom have been working in the restaurant for nearly as long as the doors have been opened and help to create a familial atmosphere.
“We have two people on the staff who have been here since day one, and the rest came maybe a year or so after,” Anthony says. “And they are friendly and make people feel comfortable. They don’t just take an order, they get to know the customer and familiarize themselves. They remember names and people remember them.”
That feeling of family is one of the reasons why Femmina was able to successfully manage the challenges brought on by the pandemic.
“COVID was a really challenging period for everyone,” says Anthony. “We relied on takeout orders for about two-to-three hours a day. This community is unbelievable because they took turns ordering food from all the local eateries to keep them afloat.”
With the pandemic firmly in the rearview, Femmina remains not only a great place for lunch or dinner, it’s also a wonderful place to host an event.
“We do family-style parties, and really no one else does that around here and I thrive on that,” says Anthony, adding that guests of a party many times wind up becoming repeat visitors, joining the restaurant’s loyal customer base.
Having grown up in the shadows of the restaurant industry as their father ran his own businesses in Brooklyn before making his way to New Jersey, the Coppola brothers are heavily vested in continuing the family’s legacy for bringing people together over quality food.
“We’ve evolved over time, but the focus has always been on the dining experience,” Franco affirms. “We have generational customers, and thanks to word of mouth, we see new faces all the time. The key here has always been consistency.
“Many restaurants start strong and then there’s a decline. But to keep from declining, you always have to renew yourself. So that’s why we look at updating the menu, the interior—little touches here and there—to keep things fresh.”
As Anthony and Franco keep an eye toward the future, they are fully aware of how special it is to be celebrating 25 years. When asked to reflect back on what it’s been like to see Femmina grow from its infancy to where it is today, Franco has a succinct response.
“It’s been incredible.”
Femmina Italian Grill
Medford
(609) 714-8800
FemminaItalianRestaurant.com
