Franny’s

295 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

8.3

map & more

Neighborhood
Brooklyn
Prospect Heights

Cuisine
Italian
Pizza

718-230-0221

Official Website

By Chris Stang
April 28, 2011

We finally made our way out to Franny’s, partly because we had heard so much about it from awesome people (Mike D), and partly because we need a new favorite spot out here now that we’re afraid to go to Lucali.

What we found was one crowded, but amazing restaurant that is as good or better than any of these other Brooklyn pie slingers, and has a full menu of other delicious things that will make you happy. It’s a pleasant place to eat a meal (once you actually get a table), is highly kid and vegetarian friendly, but also manages to please meat eaters and people who secretly hate kids as well. It’s all about when you come and what you order.

For us, we love just about everything we’ve eaten at Franny’s. The wood burning oven turns out incredible pizzas, (get the clam pie), and we also really like the pastas and anything green we managed to consume on the side. But it’s important that we mention again that you are going to wait for a table. For a while. Even the bar seats are handled by the hostess and they don’t like it when you just take one and try to act like you have been there the whole time (trust us). Regardless, this place is absolutely worth the wait.

Photo Credit: Robert K. Chin/NY Mag

Food Rundown:

Spring Onion Zeppole
Just like the ones that you find at those terrible street fairs, except these are tasty and you can’t buy cheap socks nearby. These savory balls of fried dough are interspersed with spring onions (also known as ramps), and are something you should have on the table.

Crostino of Artichoke, Green Garlic and Calabrese Olives
A decent two bite crostini with artichokes, but you can do better on this menu.

Bucatini alla Puttanesca
A delicious bowl of pasta in a traditional puttanesca sauce with olives, capers and anchovies. Don’t be afraid of the little fishies – they’re nearly undetectable and add a little bit of needed salt to the bowl.

Maccheroni with Pork Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, Chilies and Ricotta Salata
I love any and all pasta with sausage and broccoli rabe, but this one might be my all-time favorite. This is comfort food at its best. Order it.

Mushroom, Mozzarella and Grana Padano Pizza
This is one earthy pizza, in the best possible way. Grana Padano is some kind of delicious cheese, and the mushrooms and wood fiery crust play nicely together. Vegetarians take note.

Tomato, Mozzarella and Meatballs Pizza
We loved the meatballs on this guy, and the tomato sauce is pretty much perfect.

Clams, Chilies and Parsley Pizza
If you count yourself among those who have yet to eat a clam pie, you should probably change that. And you should do so here. It’s really simple – clams on pizza are delicious, and you want it. Even though you might not know it yet.