Came here for Brunch for the first time and WOW everything was spectacular. I ordered the pancakes and they were absolutely delicious and fluffy with extremely crispy edges which was my favorite part. My boyfriend ordered steak and crispy eggs which were also incredible. The steak had a rub which made it extremely flavorful and the eggs were fried to perfection, crispy on the bottom with runny yolks. They also have 3-4-1 drinks which is an unheard of special. They had great service and had heaters all through out. Love this place, will definitely go back. read more

My go-to place in NYC for good Italian. We always, always get the Spaghetti Garlic & E.V. olive oil - Delicious! The pasta is cooked perfectly al dente and just the right amount of garlic to have a strong taste but not make your breath smell bad. This last time I also tried the special: Spaghetti with meatballs and sausages. Fantastic! And I don't use such bold words lightly (unless you read my other 5-star posts - ha). Not sheisty on the meatballs and sausage and nice spicy kick. Prosciutto and Melone also really good and fresh. Cash only. Waiters are always nice. Usually there's a long wait but if you can get in without waiting, it's a fun BFF date spot -- not a regular date though because the tables are really close to each other and it can get pretty loud. read more

Everything about this place is great! The service was on point, the wine was amazing, the food was delicious.

Cozy, authentic pasta joint owned by the same team as Lil Frankies pizza and Supper. I really can't complain about anything... the pasta is fresh and generously portioned, the service is attentive and the atmosphere feels intimate & authentic. The food is more comfort-food than gourmet, but it certainly hits the spot if you're ready to load up on carbs, and options change regularly. I'm a bit partial to the ambiance of Supper for some reason... but either option is great and Frank is certainly a closer walk to Astor Place subway. I am a big fan of all three of their restaurants. Enjoy! read more

I don't think ever in my life have I been so infuriated by a plate of food. 100% worst dinner I have ever eaten in a restaurant. Walking in I was really expecting a nice meal from such a charming interior design (I wont say ambiance because they were blasting some sort of Drake Pandora radio) and judging by the prices of everything (the prices being pretty high) I was expecting the quality to be on par with what I was paying. As soon as our 18 dollar "burrata" came out I knew we were in trouble. Absolutely awful quality and tasteless. But it was truly nothing compared to the entrée. I had ordered a 24 dollar ragù and what I got instead of a ragù was a chopped up hotdog on rigatoni. The food was so upsetting I really felt like I needed to say something to the kitchen (even though I didn't to this day I still feel like I should have). I'm not a picky person at all but the insulting quality of the food paired with the amount of money spent on it- this has left me as the worst and most aggravating dining experience of my life read more

I really really wanted to love Frank. On the surface, it had everything I looked for in a restaurant -- cozy decor, daily specials written on chalkboard, friendly staff, reasonable prices, wine by consumption (seriously, what an awesome idea), and a general hole-in-the-wall feel without the ickiness. But I walked out of Frank disappointed. Was it awful? Absolutely not. It just wasn't all that special. First off, it was crowded. I had expected it to be crowded, but they seriously pack it in. It was uncomfortably crowded, the kind where you have to get up every time the girl at the table next to you gets up to pee. The food was fine, but nothing to write home - or yelp - about. I wasn't feeling particularly adventurous that day, so I ordered a good old fashion bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. The tomato sauce was decent, and the meatball had good flavor ... but they were also entirely forgettable. I will give Frank another shot. So, I'll be back with another review soon enough. Like I said, I really really wanted to love Frank. read more

AJFAJJJJJJJA. That was the sound of me inhaling a bowl of Frank's gnocchi and thinking about how it tastes just like my mom's hugs---mushy and perfect. It's where I want my birthday dinner, so don't come on September 20: there are no reservations and I want that large wooden booth in the back corner, kthanxgrlz. read more

Loud and cramped (this place is NOT for the super claustrophobic!) but it has great food and atmosphere! I sat at the bar in the back room and enjoyed my view of the chefs preparing all the food. To start I had the butternut squash ravioli with a glass of white wine. The ravioli had this butter sauce on it and it was to die for! I literally just drooled thinking about it. Then I followed my meal with a cup of coffee and homemade vanilla ice cream, while my partner in crime and roommate Kevin had the tiramisu. Together we ended up spending $111 (including tax and tip) on our dinners, but boy was it worth every penny! read more

OK disclaimer... I would actually give this place 4 stars except for 1 thing. During dinner there was a HUGE cockroach on the wall behind me :( The owners were extremely nice and killed it. They even comp'ed a bottle of wine and desserts for us since I freaked out. And my friends from NY tell me that's normal to see them everywhere, but being from LA I'm not used to seeing cockroaches in a restaurant. It sort of made me lose my appetite. However, I did manage to eat and actually really liked the food. This place is traditional Italian... no crazy frills. But it's GOOD traditional so it didn't bore me. I would recommend: 1. Mussels 2. Burrata Mozzarella 3. Pappardelle with veal ragu 4. Rigatoni read more

This place is a joke. It was rated #1 on a recent list of restos in the east Village so we tried it. SO disappointing. It felt like a tourist trap and the food was completely uninspired and lacking flavor. The best thing about our experience was the waitress who was very sweet. Everything else was less than mediocre. read more

They have this huge meatball...one giant meatball with their amazing sauce and it's just awesome. Their specials are always a solid choice but it took me years to veer away from the meatball to find that out. Since I've strayed I've found that everything you eat there becomes a favorite. One downfall..long waits and cramped seating but the meatball is all the apology I need. read more

Another great little Italian restaurant in the EV. Frank has a few sister restaurants in the area (Lil Frankie's, Max, Supper) but that still doesn't keep away the crowds - I felt lucky to get a table for two at 8PM. The menu is similar to Lil Frankie's - large specials menu, emphasis on pastas. Biggest difference from Lil Frankie's is no pizza. The arugula salad and mozzarella di bufala starters are both good but not great. Really liked the pappardelle w/ veal ragout and the black linguini w/ calimari. Nice portions and good value (~ $12). Agreed with Ted's take on the wine list. Nice selections by the glass but the bottles seemed a little pricy. If you're looking for a romantic spot, this isn't it. This is a small space and they've crammed tables in wherever they can. Push comes to shove, I'd probably return to Lil Frankie's over Frank b/c of the pizza. But for a good pasta and wine dinner that won't have you thinking "Could I do this at home for much cheaper?", Frank is a great choice... read more

Delicious north Italian food. Super intimate setting - you will be close to other tables - and the service is great. Low key no fuss. You feel like you're at home at your uncle/granddad's house for family dinner. They have a full bar or a lengthy wine selection. Food was off the charts good. A good place to check out but be sure to bring cash - that's all they take. Enjoy! read more

Frank - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Frank is overrated. Maybe all the frank restaurants are overrated? But if you are going to visit a Frank restaurant, I would not put Frank at the top of the list. Maybe consider trying Supper or Lil Frankies before spending the same amount of money on less good food. Don't get me wrong, you'll think you're meal is good, but you wont be rushing back here. read more

I don't get it. This super crowded rustic Italian restaurant didn't strike me as a particurally fun dining experience. First of all the service was off, which is expected when there's a crowd- so it doesn't bother me. However, I was slightly disturbed that the food was NOT GOOD. Booo... I don't mind suffering through hipster chic dining neighbors but I do mind bland gnocci and not so yummy ink pasta with calamari. I was so disapointed. Great ambience, if you want to be squished, and I would have LOVED this place if the food had been better. Head to Max's for equally as hipster fun dining conditions but infinitely better food. Don't waste your carb loving, no calorie counting, dining out night at this teeny tiny restaurant. read more

I'm not really sure about the negativity for Frank. Yeah you have to wait for a table and when you sit down it is small and a bit cramped, but if you go in knowing that there's no problem. The food was all delicious and makes the wait and table size worth it We had the special mozzarella and tomatoes appetizer... wow. The cheese was so fresh and delicious, if you go and it is on the specials board you have to get it. Everyone had a pasta dish and they were all yummy (gnocchi, rigatoni, pappardelle, penne) We got a bottle of the house wine which made choosing easy and it was yummy. Go with a wine snob if you can, they'll enjoy the book like list. All in all a great experience. Even the harried waiters were on top of their game and never let us know how busy you could tell they were. And to top it all off, wow it was a reasonable meal. We'll definitely be back. read more

The first word that comes to mind when I think of my experience at Frank is...crowded. Let me further explain my review. Frank is not the easiest restaurant to find...but when you find it....you must push through an alley of people to get to the host and then to get to your table. At your table you will sit uncomfortably close to your neighbor. I had a friend that saw the Olsen twins eating here...if they are your thing maybe you will want to be close to your neighbor. Regardless, it gets rather loud and you will over hear other people's conversations and if you're on a date that is going rather slow this can become a good conversation starter, "Did you hear what she said?" I ordered the ragu and the mussel appetizer. Both were tasty, but I wasen't impressed. The interior is nicely decorated. I feel that this spot would be better for lunch (possibly less people). I heard a lot of good things about Frank before going and it was good food and had its charms, but it's a bit over hyped. read more

I had only one dish, and i'm sold. well, that and the entire keg's worth of beer. Yeah, it was a late night. We shared the Burrata. Its an awesome cheese; I never even had that cheese before (and trust me, i love me my cheese) because its apparently a very rare cheese to get! the outer shell made of solid mozzarella while the inside is comprised of both mozzarella and cream, to give it a soft, creamy, melty texture. A giant heap was served on top of sliced tomatoes, whole leaf fresh basil, balsamic vinegar and some salt and pepper. plain, simple, fresh, delicious. This dish was the epitome of simple fresh youth. Everyone loves youth in prime shape and form, and I had the pleasure of ordering one up. The burrata cheese, a big messy mass, rested on top of beautifully presented, sliced and plated cuts of tomato with soft, fresh leaves of basil. The cheese mess made it even more exciting, more earthy. The cleanly cut tomato slices juxtaposed against that sloppy, messy creamy cheese was visually very titillating. These flavors are a classic combo, no one is reinventing the wheel here. However, its the smoothest, most delicious, and overwhelmingly just great wheel i've had in a while. I wanted to lick my fork, knife and plate clean. however, I tried to keep it classy, and kept it to just the fork. and to spoil a rave review.... cash only, folks. bummer. read more

My friend and I saddled up to the little Vera bar, I had a delicious Manhattan and my friend's drink was a home made creation from our friendly grungy, tattooed, and friendly bartender. Ordered a few of the antipastas that are featured in the glass case that is part of the bar and then a couple specials. Very filling and freshly delicious. It is a great pop in type of place. No frills but everything was nicely done. read more

One of my favorite Italian places in the city! It is cash only and you'll need a reservation for a party larger than 2-people. I visited when I had family in town and we had a great meal filled with so much cheese and carbs (no regrets)! We started with the burrata and then moved onto our own pasta dishes (the lemon one, Rigatoni al Ragu, and the Penne). Everything has so great! I need to make an effort to go again! read more

Yum... Frank is one of my all time favorites in the city. They have a great wine selection and fresh Burrata Mozzarella delivered to the restaurant every day. and for those of us who adore cheese, you know how wonderfully creamy and delicious freshly made burrata mozzarella is! Many travel long distances to Frank just for the burrata (which is served with freshly sliced tomatoes, basil leaves and a sweet balsamic vinegar drizzled on top). Frank also has the best Gnocchi I've had in my life... so soft and delectable, makes you melt with each bite. I tried ordering something else once but quickly longed for the velvety warm potato dumplings in my mouth... their black linguine with clam sauce is actually a pretty close second though. and their baby octopus appetizer is surprisingly tasty and filling! (a bit on the salty side, but helps whet your appetite) the space itself is rather small, and the tables are placed really close together so that you often feel as though you're piled on top of a roomful of strangers. after a glass of wine or two though, the place will feel cozy and intimate. and if you find that you've accidentally left your wallet or left overs at the restaurant, a bus boy will run out after you often before you've even realized that you're missing your wallet! read more

All the whiney complaints are true... the place is small, the service is rushed, and it's always crowded. GET OVER IT. The food is consistently good. Stick with the specials, they are usually the best of what they have. And if it's your first time going you very much owe it to yourself to splurge on the burrata muzzarella, it's an experience I cannot describe in words. read more

Love Frank! Just simple Italian, great wine, unpretentious service and lovely decor. Best to sit at the bar, chat up with the bartender and possibly with all the regulars... the melon and prosciutto, bruschetta, watermelon salad, fennel and orange salad, burrata, grilled octopus, and most of the pastas... delicious. Home away from home type of place. read more

lil cozy spot on second ave w excellent pasta, full bar, dim lighting and a bomb soundtrack. every night of the week theres a different magical pasta special. fyi - wednesday night is spaghetti and meatballs! had the salmons w spinach (medium rare bc its "good salmon") and was super into it. fennel salad is extra fennely. its simple in composition but the flavorings are hella complex. since its a tiny place, it fills up quickly and ppl tend to linger, so you might have to wait a minute for a seat. if youre homeless come here for the great heating. ca$h only!!! read more

If you do nothing else with your life, you HAVE TO go to Frank and get the burrata app that is always on special. I think it's somewhere in the $20 range (which, admittedly is crazy expensive for an app), but it's worth it. Hands down best burrata I've ever had... and I've tried it many times over elsewhere thinking I'd get the same deliciousness. NOPE, only Frank delivers. Outside of that, the regular food is stellar also. You really can't go wrong with any selection. They do the traditional italian dishes to exception. I typically stick with a pasta since they are to die for, but the other entrees are pretty great too. I sort of love the meatloaf - which comes in the form of a giant meatball :] PS - the place is TEEEEENY. The wait staff tries their best to be attentive but they are usually running around like a chicken with their head cut off. Cut them a break, have a glass of wine, & enjoy the burrata that is now your new drug. read more

great casual authentic italian brunch with 3-4-1 mimosas bellinis bloody mary and prosecco read more

Frank - baked eggs ragu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Frank made me break my vegetarianism. The squid ink pasta with calamari and marinara sauce sitting on my friend's place taunted me throughout dinner, even as I ate my delicious mushroom ravioli in lemon cream sauce and sipped my reasonably priced prosecco. And finally, my friend stopped eating. Then she noticed my side glances at her plate. "Do you want to finish it?" she asked, mischievously. I didn't say anything, I just handed her my side plate. It was worth it. read more

The restaurant is overpriced for the quality of food yet the ambience is unpleasing. There was a rat that ran under the table while we had dinner it was no fun. Please for your own sake do not get the garlic bread, it's very bad and will give lil (big) stomach issues. The penne tomato sauce is eh. Not great not bad. My child could've made the same dish. Do not recommend. There is way better restaurants in the city. Ohhh and also they didn't tell us it was cash only so I had pay 25 dollars extra to get cash at that time. read more

3.5, but I'm rounding up because my dish involved truffle oil, which is my own personal (bias) crack. My companion and I zipped by here before a meeting, so the fact that service was speedy without being rude or brusque was actually a good thing. Yes, it's crowded - get over it. There was complimentary rustic bread with some of the most delicious, sweet olive oil I've ever had waiting for me to attack when we sat down, which was excellent, because I was starving. Our server recommended two of the Monday night specials - the tortolloni ragu with sausage and meatballs, and the ravioli with porcini mushrooms. My companion's meatballs were pretty amazing (I usually think meatballs are worthless and repulsive, so that's saying a lot), and my ravioli was perfectly stuff, seasoned, and sauced. And, oh yeah, there was truffle oil, so I was pretty happy by the time we left. Good portions for (as far as I know) a good price. Next time, I want to try the burrata appetizer - I saw it on the chalkboard outside after we left, and by the time we hit 6th, I was starting to kick myself (metaphorically, at least). THEY DO NOT TAKE CASH, but there is an ATM next door. read more

Oh hey delicious restaurant, I like you. Ate here last week and loved it! The risotto was DELICIOUS and the gnocchi was prettyyyy delightful. Our waiter was amazing, super helpful and awesome. Overall, def recommend. Tip: It's cash only! read more

Frank is always packed, for a good reason. Service is good, but not spectacular, which is why it only gets four stars. The ambiance is its own, it's nice but it's a bit too crowded even for my tastes. I'd often order take out, despite living on the other side of the island and later in Brooklyn. However, sometimes when foreigners came to visit I would take them here as to me it's a very authentically NYC experience. Otherwise the food is wonderful. I love the homemade black squid ink pasta with sautéed calamari. I've never had better black pasta outside of Italy. The tagliata toscana is also to die for, routinely it's nearly melt in your mouth tender. read more

One of the worst meals I've had the displeasure of eating. This culinary mishap started when I ordered a glass of wine for $10 and it came in a grape juice cup. I didn't want to judge a book by its cover so I took a sip and quickly realized it tasted like it was freshly squeezed out of a cardboard box. Not to be outdone by the spirits, we ordered the "Avocado Salad" Special for $12 that was a pile of lettuce with three tomato slices, four avocado slices, and some can corn sprinkled on top. The dressing tasted like a combination of leftover olive oil from the bread with some water and lemons sprinkled in. My guess is a produce truck drove buy and some avocados fell out the back which Frank then scooped up and stuck on the "specials menu," since this dish was uninspired at best, especially the random sprinkle of canned corn. I was getting apprehensive that this might go down as my worst meal of the week at this point, but I gathered myself, put on my game face and ordered their house special pasta, a Ragu Rigatoni. What came out of the kitchen next, I couldn't believe. In a small bowl that appeared to come straight out of my elementary school cafeteria was my pasta covered in a soupy red sauce. I'm not Italian, and don't profess to have an Italian grandmother, but I've eaten various iterations of Ragu and this was literally the first made with Ragu pasta sauce. Now for the worst part. Instead of a meat sauce, I was treated to a bowl of mini meatballs. I kid you not. The last time I saw mini meatballs in anything I was twelve and eating spaghetti and meatballs out of a tin can. I half expected to look down at the menu and see Executive Chef: Boyardee in big black letters. Please save yourself the trouble, stop at Pathmark and get a couple cans of Chef Boyardee on the way home. It'll be cheaper and you won't be ripping off his mini meatballs recipe. read more

Came on a Saturday night - the wait looked atrocious so we opted to sit outside. Service was a bit slow - they probably forgot about us...we had to go in a few times to get their attention. However, once we ordered, the food came quickly. I love the food here. It's homey and unpretentious. Sometimes you just want good Italian comfort food and this place really hits the spot. The Rigatoni al Ragu was a little on the salty side, but the sauce was flavorful and the meatballs and sausages were tasty. I would come back...but probably not on another weekend evening. read more

People love this place. I like it. It's very cute and the bartender is very cute and the dishes are very cute. My friend called it 'soul' food, and I laughed at her, saying, yo, that shit's italian, not soul! and she said, do italians not have souls? I won't repeat my response here (I have two ex-boyfriends named Antonio). I find the appetizers to be nicer than the entrees... the asparagus and avocado salad, especially. The pasta dishes are nice, but they didn't bring me to foodgasm (believe me, it's not hard to do, either). A nice place for a chill gathering, but not a large one. And one thing that kind of bugged, we made reservations, and they acted like we should be SO privileged that they let us, "you're lucky, we don't do reservations" and we still had to wait for about 30 minutes. 3 stars. read more

Chef Boyardee? Are you cooking at Frank now? I've been here a few times and it's usually a cheap, standard delicious bowl of pasta. Went this weekend and was jerked around by the host (always told it would be 5 more minutes) then the food was truly gross. It was over-cooked, bland and awful. My lamb ragu tasted suspiciously like Chef Boyardee's spaghetti and meatballs. Also, they charged $20/plate for the specials. The menu says $7. Maybe it was joke night in the kitchen. Plus, it was freezing cold in there. Disappointment all around for what used to be a standard. read more

My date was hot. Otherwise, yuck. Here are some reasons why Frank is rank: 1. The table was too small even by NY standards. Petite as I am, I was hard-pressed to cram myself into the chair against the wall and find a spot for any of my belongings. 2. The lighting. Darkness does not equal romance. Give me candlelight. 3. I ordered spaghetti with anchovies, so obviously I'm down with salt, but this was outrageously salty. Like they dumped a can of Parmesan and sea salt over the pasta before they even added the fishies. Whoa. 4. The amount of garlic they used on the broccoli was UNGODLY and it was swimming in oil. Pools and pools. 5. Our waiter hardly looked at us but glanced all around the room while he was taking our order. Hellooooo! over heeeere! 6. I tried my date's rigatoni bolognese. The pasta and sauce were pretty good but dry meatballs?That's just wrong. My date told me this is some of the best Italian food in Manhattan. Tragic. Lucky for him he looks pretty. read more

My husband got rigatoni ragu from the regular menu and I ordered tagliatelle bolognese from the specials board, he got a beer, I had iced tea, and we shared one piece of garlic bread. I actually really liked the atmosphere as well as the menu, plus their iced tea has a little sugar, lemon, and mint in it and is really pleasant. The restaurant was not busy when we were there, and service was friendly though not very attentive. My tagliatelle was kind of limp and the bolognese was bland. I preferred my husband's rigatoni, which had a basic marinara that definitely had some more salt in it and felt more satisfying. The meatballs in the rigatoni were kind of dense and hard but ok. The garlic bread was tasty, but a single piece costs $4, so it's also might the most expensive garlic bread I've ever had. All of the deserts were the same price - $8.95, I think - and we decided that was too expensive and skipped it. I'm totally ok with some mediocre comfort food, but when we got the check I was really disappointed that my not-so-stellar tagliatelle cost us $20-something. Considering the cost, I just feel like this was a really poor value. The East Village and LES neighborhoods have other cozy restaurants that offer both better Italian food and superior deals, so this just felt like a let down. read more

This is a little gem literally around the corner. While the food is not amazing, it is definitely consistent and won't let you down at all... The staff is really nice and it adds food with an italian feel and an awesome rock and roll soundtrack. I mean, I like coming here when I leave home hungry and I don't want to walk longer than 5 minutes. It's not worth a commute but if you're in the Village without a reservation, it is certainly one of your best options! Try the bruschetta (tomatoes are seasoned perfectly) and the chicken cacciatore. Awesome! read more

What better way to end a devastatingly long hiatus than to write about a most recent affair in NYC? I first met Frank in 2005 on a cold winter's evening where he spoon fed me fresh mussels and tasty eggplant rigatoni all night long. I was but a naive face covered in chunky tomato sauce and a heart yearning for far more than my carb loaded belly could handle. I savored our time together but sadly accepted the terms governing our 6 year separation. Fast forward to August 2011 and pouf, a return to the village with SmoothC and 2 good friends was necessary. With luck and timing, we proceeded past throngs of escapees from the hipster zoo and seated ourselves at the bar. Acid jazz beats and hot Italian permeated the air and I, giddy as ever, was reunited with my dear Frank. We ordered the burata to start. Fresh. Overpriced. Well worth it. I then devoured my rigatoni ragu and appreciated its rich smoky flavor, al dente texture, and generous servings of pork. I can't remember what the others had but I don't really care. Savory and delicious mouthfuls rocked my world that night! Sure the food was pricey, the place loud, and only greens were accepted as payment, but despite these shortcomings Frank yet again has wooed and won me over. read more

Frank would've garnered 5 stars, had it been as amazing as it was when I first started going. The food is still great! I still love the menu (and menu prices are still pretty good, despite slow increases over the past few years). I love the crostini (really hardy, with chicken liver pate), and the olive oil (with orange zest, peppers, and real olives) served with rustic, crusty bread. I've had just about everything on the menu, and it's all pretty good, but I still love Wednesdays (spaghetti and meatballs special), and the rigatoni al ragu (the ragu has sausage and meatballs). Desserts never seem to fail me either. The music here differs completely depending on who's picking, but still, I can listen to headbanger rock when I'm eating, no problem. Wine list is extensive, and their by-the-glass (or pay as you go) selections are solid, as well (if not slightly pricey now). My problems come with the spotty service (hit or miss - some servers are really nice and accomodating, and others... aren't). Others are due to the fact that their specials board, full of delicious-sounding pasta dishes, are usually 40% more than menu dishes (sometimes even more). That's fine, when ingredients come into play, but there really needs more of a balance. I still love you, Frank, you've just let me down a little too much. read more