How come I always forget this.... $20 for gnocchi? Too expensive for what it is. I miss the original Frank. My regular place on E. Houston is closed on Mondays, so I stumbled in to try it again. Good but not $20 great. For that it should come with a side salad at least. read more

One of the biggest disappointments I've had from a restaurant in NYC! The expectations were so high and the food so "NOT GOOD". I brought my family of 8 people on fathers day for brunch. We had an early seating and were the first group seated outside. The service was terrible. We watched staff stand around outside chatting while we waited for service. Worse than the service though was the food! Two of our meals were so salty they were inedible ( and we like salt). Three of the other meals were lukewarm at best and mediocre in taste. I realize brunch is not a meal that will necessarily wow you (though I have been wowed by some), but it is hard to mess it up this poorly. Unless this was an off day, I'd say Frank is all hype. read more

I'm giving this place 2 stars for the food; however, what is up with the ATTITUDE of the people who work here? The first time I went here, the host (who ALWAYS has a baseball cap on, so classy) seated some other couple ahead of us, even though we were there first) and the last time we ate there, the bartender stopped me as I was leaving to complain that the person I was with didn't tip him even though I saw that he did. So rude. I mean, the food is good, but it isn't any better than Paprika or any of the other million Italian restos in the East Village. read more

Generous portions, cozy place, really tasty sauteed calamari appetizer.

OK I admit. I am biased about Frank. Ive been coming to Frank for years, and if you dont know the place, it can seem a bit intimidating at first, with its tight bar seating and cash only policy. That aside, the food is consistently spot on, and I love the daily specials like black squid ink pasta with seafood. The menu is italian comfort food but there are plenty of fresh ingredients and dishes to choose from . read more

Its been years some I've been here. It looked packed but we persevered and was seated not too long after arriving. We had the Sicilian salad, grilled octopus, and ppaghetti with broccoli. All the dishes were great and I was reminded about how solid the Italian food here is. read more

Stopped in here for HH before heading to where we really wanted to go. Cash only and I had to it on the drink board wish the bartender had of said something when we sat down. read more

Yum! My friend and I decided to try this spot a few weeks ago and I am fan. We were seated at the tiny tables by the bar and though it was packed and a bit irritating when people walk by and brush up aganist you - it is NYC after all and the food was great! I ordered the black linguini with calamari. It's called black linguini since the pasta is marinated in black squid ink - don't be fooled it was tasty, but I only recommend this dish to those who like seafood as it has that seafood taste to it. Did that make sense? Haha (maybe not..). My friend ordered the veal toscana upon recommendation from our server. I never had veal and that night I tried it for the first time and it was tasty. The food came out fairly quick and our server was very helpful. The prices weren't too bad Our pastas cost about $18 each and the portions were a good size. I'll definitely come back here! read more

Food: Great. Service: Good. Space: What space? It's cramped and crowded. Don't go there if you are a) hungry right now (there's always a long wait); b) want to have a private conversation (not much personal space in this joint) or c) are a credit card junkie. (This place is strictly cash only.) If you do go, the beef carpaccio is terrific as are the Chicken dish and the Strip Steak. Great wines round out the meal. read more

I liked Franks. I'll go back but won't rush back. High points -the pasta was awesome (I finished every last bite!) -the tiramisu was incredible, one of my favorites -great wines A few drawbacks -the steamed mussels had mainly empty shells in there (don't order when hungry) -cash only (YIKES) -very crowded seating (but this could turn to a positive if you are single and want to eat dinner with someone else...) read more

Have lived less than a block away from this place for 1.5 years and finally stopped in for dinner when my mom and brother were in town after Thanksgiving. We came early so didn't have to wait, but normally there is a line (they don't take reservations.) It reminds me of my grandparents house with the old wallpaper and classic black and white wedding photos. The service was great, they offer lots of specials and pretty cheap wine! Here's what we ordered: - black kale caesar salad (shared) - black linguini with calamari (mom) - tagliata toscana (brother) - fish special (me) *Bring cash because it's the only method of payment they accept! read more

The vibe and food here is just right. I was lucky enough to get a table right away on a Saturday night at 6:30. We were seated outdoor. Two highlights for me: (1) their Rigatoni al Ragu was absolutely delicious, (2) the olive oil dip for bread had chili flakes sprinkled in them - it gave the oil a nice kick and I totally bought it. Service was timely. This restaurant was absolutely buzzing at night - will be coming back. read more

This place is one of my favorite brunch spots in the city, and yes pasta can count as brunch at this place! Cash only so come prepared but their bruschetta is phenomenal, everything here is so fresh and a lot is made from scratch. Everyone must try the crispy egg it's a game changer! read more

Oh boy the pasta is delicious here. Perfectly al dente and tasty red sauce. The gnocchi was soo yummy. Homemade pasta makes such a difference. One downside, I wish the waiters wouldn't hover over you while waiting for your order. Makes me nervous. Granted the place is busy and they want quick turnaround. But seriously, gimme a second, since I like to have a look around the menu before committing my palate to something. Cramped seats with some crickety tables makes for cozy dining. read more

After a performance around 11:30 PM, I was starving and looking for food. We stumbled into Frank by chance and realized that the kitchen is open until 2 AM! Wow...a rarity for a restaurant! We sat by the bar, and the bartender was nice and attentive (perhaps because there wasn't anyone at the bar?). I ordered the black linguine infused with squid ink and calamari and tomatoes. It was one delicious bowl of pasta! With a nice glass of Montepulciano, I left Frank one happy gal. It was a bit more expensive than I'd have liked but given the late food hours and decent pasta, I'd go back there again. read more

So bomb. Went here in a Sunday and Aziz ansari was right next to us. Great authentic Italian. Bartender was awesome and made great negronis. All specials were so good. Cash only so keep that in mind. EV go to read more

I've been to Lil' Frankies a couple of times and have always enjoyed my experience, so I thought I'd check out Frank with a few friends. I was a little hesitant given they don't take reservations (for my party size), but we were seated promptly once everyone had arrived. Note that Franks is cozy. We sat at a long communal table that was a bit too close to the wall, which forced the already seated occupants into standing up and vacating the table while we squeezed by. More than one of us were tempted to just dive across the table at one point or another. We started with a mozzarella special, suggested by our waiter as this particular mozzarella was very creamy and delicious. It proved to be quite tasty and the mozzarella just dissolved in one's mouth. We also shared a fennel salad. I don't know exactly what fennel is, but for some reason I've run across it a few times in recent weeks and it is/was delicious. For the main, my friends went with the Sole Oreganata special and Ravioli with Asiago cheese special, while I opted for the hand made gnocchi. The tight quarters at Franks are good for something at least, and that is sharing. Aside from it being an Italian restaurant, the atmosphere just makes you want to eat family style, which I love as it affords me the opportunity to try out a number of different dishes. The sole was nice and flakey and the ravioli asiago was creamy. My gnocchi was delicious, hand made and topped with tomatoes, basil and parmigiano. And besides, who doesn't love it when Uncle Tony makes it? Overall, Frank was a great spot for some Italian food. Drinks were moderately priced and the food was filling. They do only take cash, some come prepared. And if you feel like hopping over the Atlantic to indulge in a little tequila after your Italian food (like we did), Mayahuel is just up the street. read more

I've been to Frank a couple of times now, and I've only had positive experiences. It's tiny and cozy, yes, but that's not unique to Frank, and it doesn't really bother me. They have a broad enough selection of dishes, and they are priced very reasonably (although the specials get do get a bit more expensive). I've had pasta dishes in addition to the roasted chicken and, maybe I'm easy to impress, but I really enjoyed them. Very delicious. The service was a bit brisk, but I can't really complain. It's a busy restaurant. Maybe sometime I'll stay for dessert. :) Definitely note that it's *cash only*. read more

I had never been to or heard of Frank, but headed there to meet some friends for a double date on a recent Saturday night. My first impression was the huge crowd of people waiting outside. I HATE lines. I'm very impatient and they just upset me. Besides the obvious annoyance of waiting part, the other problem with lines is the expectation they create. Once you hear that a restaurant has a one hour+ wait, well, it better be freakin' amazing! So AT LEAST they are the type of place that take your phone number and let you go get a drink somewhere else while you wait. Which we did. At the total dive next door. Which actually turned out to be pretty fun. We finally get the call about half an hour late and unfortunately I have to say that the wait probably wasn't worth it. Everyone's food was just ok. And it was SO loud. I don't get easily annoyed by acoustics, but us four young people could barely hear each other. Maybe at 29 I'm too old for Frank?? I did like the prices. I would perhaps give Frank another try on a quieter weeknight when I didn't have to wait. I would not, however, recommend it for a weekend night. The feeling I was left with as we exited was confusion over why so many people were waiting for that type of un-notable experience. read more

You know, it was a mixed bag for me. Food: good - I really enjoyed it. Portions: generous Prices: high Service: good? - On the one hand, we were constantly attended to (but the evening was coming to an end, the restaurant was more or less empty when we left) - We were given a salad that wasn't ours (but not charged for it) - The salad we did get (and look I'm not complaining that I got 2 salad for the price of one) was off the specials list that day, but $15 - and I don't know how the conversation about the wine went, but while the wine was good, $44 good? Not really... Awkward moment: that the communal table is really probably too large for the space and we were sharing it so not only were my friends on the other side of the table pretty far from us that we had to yell when the restaurant was full and when the other group had to leave or use the restroom, everyone had to get up. It's cute and quaint and if you can snag seats at the bar that's one thing, but I probably wouldn't go here again for the sheer fact that it's far too packed, and while the food is good for ambiance sake, I like other Italian places in the village more. read more

I was here with a group of 5 for dinner with an 8PM reservation. We were about 10 minutes late, so we were seated closer to 8:30. I found the service to be totally fine even if it was a little bit rushed - the place was packed! I am huge fan of burrata mozzarella and Frank did NOT disappoint - it was amazing! The prosciutto and melon was also delicious. The garlic bread was a little bit too heavy for my taste. For an entree I got the homemade gnocchi and, although the sauce was tasty and I did like the dish, it was a bit mushy for my taste. I think if it was cooked just a little less, so the the gnocchi keeps its form, it would be excellent. The butternut squash ravioli were to DIE for in a sage cream sauce. We were given a complimentary piece of tiramisu which was an awesome surprise! It was super yummy and completed a really nice meal. The restaurant is cramped, but the food is well worth it. I will definitely go back. read more

This place is such a gem. Polenta, calamari, pasta, seafood!!! It is just so savory!! I can barely tell you what I liked the most since I was F-U-L-L after wards! I came here with my cousin and her then boyfriend, who was a chef himself, when I went to visit NYC for the first time. And this was their favorite place to go sit down, have a great bottle of wine and just hang out. It's a little tiny so expect a wait if you go at dinner. The ambiance is loud: kitchen is right there, tables so close in proximity that you can hear what the next table is saying and of course the music. They have a pretty good selection of wine and beer. NOTE: check out if they have any specials. read more

This place makes seriously good pasta. I mean, seriously good. I had the squid-ink linguini with calamari. The sauce was so delicate. In my experience, a common problem with this dish is sauce that overpowers the pasta. Not here. The sauce was a perfect complement. I didn't eat much more, but from this single dish, I'm convinced this place has a lot going for it. The service was pretty good, and on a Saturday night, I was able to talk up and grab a table without a wait (outside)! I'd go back here, for sure. Beware, it's cash-only! read more

This place is legit. A New York institution Had the black linguine with calamari, wifey had the rigatoni al rage. Both were phenomenal!! Really fun atmosphere too with top 40 rap music playing and the old school Italian restaurant decor. Also... Very cheap!! read more

3.5 Gotta give them that .5 because food was actually decent - linguini with calamari - liver spread 3 drinks for $8 - score! Bathroom was gross Dirty, no paper towel, soap or running water Service was good for a big group. If you can ignore all that and just come for some good Italian food, why not? Cash only read more

The wine and food deserved 6 stars. Our server was attentive and helpful on this very busy night so 5 stars to her. But the noise and uncomfortable seating will definitely offend some so if this matters, be cautious. Part of the scene I guess... read more

Very satisfying lunch. Asparagus soup with chicken parmesan sandwich was a perfect combo for lunch.

The good: The food was absolutely delicious. The Lamb Pappardelle was amazing as was the Mozzarella di Buffalo. The gnocchi was some of the best I've ever had, even after living in Italy. The bad: We had a reservation for 15 (Yes, it was a large party and a small restaurant) but we waited for 25 minutes to be placed at two different tables and have our party split up with no apology. The seating arrangements from the make-shift table we were sat at were so tight we had to crawl under the table to get to the bathroom. It would have been nice to at least apologize and comp us one of the 11 bottles of wine we ordered for messing up the reservations. Moral: Amazing food, with a great selection of wines but Don't go here with a large party. read more

Seriously, this place is so great! Their food is, always delicious, reasonably priced and their frequently changing specials menu is stellar. There is usually a 30 min or so wait, it's a tiny place in the East Village- really, what do you expect. It's dark in a romantic, authentic style. I would suggest those who are looking for a more cookie cutter aka boring an generic experience (certain people who recently went on a date @ Franks below), stick to Gemma or another fast food style Italian restaurant. Frank is amazing and anyone who I have taken there shares these sentiments. read more

I currently live in LA which is not necessarily known for its authentic Italian restaurants so I was craving some great italian food when I headed back to NYC. At one point I lived only blocks from this restaurant and never ate there so I made it a priority to finally eat at this little but well known eatery. When my friend and I arrived we decided to sit inside although I'm sure on a sunny day the patio is where it's at. My only concern was that the tables were sooo close together and very squished. But if you don't mind sharing a convo and meeting new people then it shouldn't bother you at all. I ordered the gnocchi and it was hands down the best I have ever had!! The prices were reasonable, and the wine was all italian and you can definitely find a glass in your price range. Overall I had a great experience :) I would go at night, I'm sure that the atmosphere is totally different. read more

I almost feel guilty writing this review because I want to keep Frank a secret. But I really can't help it, this is the perfect late Thursday night dinner local in the East Village. Divine italian cooking that tastes like it was just prepared by someone's grandmother pours out of the kitchen as hipsters mingle in the front. Sure you are crowded in and sometimes you have to wait for a table, but the wait is worth it. This is the place you guy when you want to crowd in with friends, drink a few bottles of basic good red wine, and nosh on some delicious fresh italian. It is loud and it is wonderful! read more

We came here after some early drinks and were lucky to get seated right away at the bar by the chefs. The place was packed. I had the special, ravioli with beets, carrots and ricotta - delicious. My friends had the penne and black linguini. We sampled each other's meals and all were very good. I was surprised to hear The Misfits playing, awesome. I will return. read more

[3.5 Stars] Pros: Value, Atmosphere felt warm Cons: Size of restaurant Rigatoni and ragu was good. The bruschetta was large. Service was a little lacking. read more

Minus one star for being cash only and for being so cramped. I suppose it was a good choice for a date because you're seated so close to the person. Definitely not good for groups. We sat at the bar by the kitchen, which was a good choice. I started with the arugula salad that was quite delicious. The portions are quite plentiful here, especially for the prices. Salads are often times overdressed, but this was done quite well. I had the black linguine frutti de mare, which was pretty good although not fabulous. The homemade linguine itself was al dente and the squid ink was delicious. However, the frutti de mare sauce was mediocre. The seafood was fresh and delicious, but the sauce itself was just ok...maybe even a little sweet. The service here was good, especially considering how packed it was. The waitress kept a good eye on our drink glasses. Overall, the quality of food and service was a thumbs up...but something was missing the spark. read more

Love Frank's! I've been coming here for years and my fail-safes are the Shaved Fennel Salad and the Spaghetti with Imported Anchovies. I've also found the Rigatoni Al Ragu (friends' favorite) and the Polpetonne (meatloaf) pretty tasty albeit hearty and "P" loved the Roasted Rosemary Giannone Chicken (came with mashed potatoes & gravy, olives & slow cooked tomatoes). We finished our meal with the molten chocolate cake. It was nice to see it came with whipped cream, a scoop of ice cream and a selection of fruits, but the cake was more molten than anything else (no substance). Keep in mind that Frank's doesn't take reservations and is a favorite of the EV/LES crowd. We were lucky and got two seats at the bar pretty quickly. I liked the bartender as he was pretty attentive - and I heart their wine. --K read more

Basta! Hearty food (me and date both got rosemary half chickens which melted in our mouths), and cozy atmosphere (dark, with classic Southern Italian schlocky decor to underscore credibility). But the heavy metal music was so jarring, it's hard to want to run back....when I requested that the ongoing Metallica mix be swapped for something a little more conducive to a dinner that lets you UNwind, they gratuitiously played John Denver, and then kicked right back in with (was that Megadeath?), I had to make a concerted effort to calm my stomach so the great food digested properly. read more

Met a former co-worker here for dinner and it was one of my worst decisions in my life. Seating: Totally cramped. Some reviewers have stated that this was a cozy setting. This is absolutely not true in my point-of-view. I was sitting shoulder to shoulder with the next tables. The girl next to me even turned to ask me about my order when she saw it. Talk about invasion of space. Service: Waiting service was nice and friendly. That is definitely a five star booster. Food: I had the Papardelle Lamb Ragu. The lamb was cooked pretty well. It was cut into small chunks and the greatest thing was that it didn't contain the stewiness of the lamb. However, the homemade pasta did not seem to meet my expectations. The pasta looked like it was just thrown into the bowl and was all mushed, instead of being al dente. read more

They have really tasty food. Everything I've tried was tasty. We had to wait 20 minutes for a table outside, which was so narrow you can't imagine. We took the huge mozzarella ball. it costs $24 which is a lot for an appetizer but it's so big and so tasty, I'd take it again. And it's made to be shared. For one person it's anyway much too big. Then we took 2 pasta dishes that were delicious and had a bottle of white wine ($38 a bottle). So all in all it's very recommended. It's not cheap, but it's definitely worth it. read more

This was the most lovely, homey, little Italian restaurant ever. I came with some friends visiting from out of town and we sat at the bar and had drinks and our dinner and the waiters were all so friendly. I had the black squid ink pasta and it was delicious. The only other time I'd had this dish before was in Italy and I must say, the one from Frank was just as good! The mozzarella was also very fresh and they only make a certain amount daily and serve it until it runs out. Overall, great food, friendly service - my only complaint is that the place is very small so not great for a large group and you will likely have to wait a while in cramped quarters to get seated or even use the restroom. read more

If you grew up with an Italian Nonna, this place will bring you back to Sunday dinners. Rigatoni al Ragu is a classic, simple dish done perfectly al dente with meatballs that reminds me of my Nonna's Barese sauce. They bring you fresh bread and olives to start. The owner must be from Puglia because many of the dishes are native to that part of Italy, particularly Fava e Cicoria, which I've never seen on a menu. Other notable dishes: lasagna, ravioli, shaved fennel salad, and burrata. read more

Frank - Rigatoni al Ragu and a special dish with asparagus! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York