I sat down with Franck Sammut, the quietly charismatic force behind Upper Middle in South Melbourne, a new baguette and pizza spot that already feels like a neighbourhood favourite. Franck has spent his whole life in hospitality, from working in his dad’s restaurant as a teenager to decades on the floor in some of Melbourne’s most iconic venues. Now he’s finally opened a place of his own, built on warmth, good bread, and the kind of genuine service people are craving right now. We talked about the joy and chaos of starting a business, the art of keeping things simple, the personalities that make a great team, and what it means to create a space where people feel looked after. It’s a conversation that gives a clear sense of who Franck is and what he’s trying to build and I loved it.
