Lil’ Frankies
19 1st Ave., East Village, NY
Big Groups • First/Early in the Game Dates • Hipsters • Late Night Eats • Neighborhood Hang • Outdoor/Patio Situation • People Watching • Scoping Hot Girls/Guys
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This one has been a long time coming. Show of hands. Who out there has not been to Lil’ Frankies? No one. That’s what I thought. If you’re a resident of downtown Manhattan, you’ve most likely enjoyed a meal at Frankies at some point over the last decade. The youngest child of the Frank restaurant family, which also includes East Village institutions Frank and Supper, Frankies is routinely packed with a mix of hungry hipsters and aspiring adults. We’re not 100% sure what the relationship is between Frankies and East Village Radio, the great online radio station whose studios are attached to Frankies, but whatever it is, we like seeing food and music co-exist together in sweet harmony.
Initially, pizza was what Frankies was known for, but like any of the Frank joints, it’s the always rotating pasta specials, friendly service and good vibes that keep people coming back. The word on the street is that Frankies has slipped a little bit of late, but we don’t buy it. It’s a solid standby and one of the ultimate Neighborhood Hangs. The bar’s got some great beer on tap, including Frankies own custom brand of Sixpoint Pale Ale, the only restaurant that has an exclusive beer from the well know craft brewer. While other restaurants are hot for a minute and then disappear, Frankies has withstood the test of time. When in doubt, Lil’ Frankies is still there for you. Even at 3am.
Photo Credit: Youngna Park/NY Mag
Food Rundown:
Fried Fresh Calamari
We have friends who claim this to be the best calamari ever. We won’t go that far, but it’s definitely good and the spicy tomato sauce it comes with is awesome.
Whole Roasted Eggplant
Simple, tasty and good for sharing. The eggplant comes out of the oven pipping hot and the waiter takes the foil off at your table and asks if you want regular or spicy olive oil to drizzle on top.
Lil’ Frankies Salad
A nice sized salad of arugula, roasted beets, tomatoes, green beans, new potatoes broccoli, red onions, zucchini & fresh fennel. Style it up with fontina cheese and cured tuna and you’ve got yourself a solid dinner.
Pasta
Make sure you pay attention to the rotating specials, which always feature gnocchi and ravioli of the days and sometimes a dope tagliatelle with some kind of slow cooked meat. Just like at Frank, the spaghetti with garlic is a fan favorite and the rigatoni al ragu gets the job done too.
Pizza
It’s certainly not Lucali or even Motorino or Keste, but you can’t be mad at the dough coming out of the Lil Frankies oven. The Pizza Salame Piccante with spicy salami is solid as is the Pizza Polpettine with baby meatballs.
Wood Roasted Chicken
Roast chicken dishes are a signature at all the Frank restaurants and Lil’ Frankies chicken with lemon, capers, sage, and mashed potatoes is a safe order that’ll make your belly happy.
