Frank has been around forever, and for good reason—it’s one of those East Village staples that always delivers. The whole family of restaurants feels like walking into your grandma’s kitchen (if your grandma also had a killer HVAC system and three guys working an 8×8 kitchen nonstop). The vibe is simple, chill, and always reliable.
I first stumbled into Frank years ago by accident after a sushi “influencer” event that promised unlimited rolls but really gave you one of each and shoved you out in 30 minutes. Total scam. Luckily, I had cash on me (a miracle in itself), wandered into Frank’s, and got hooked. Sat down, ordered a martini (because the last place was dry—rude), and went with antipasti, lasagna, and tiramisu. Everything hit: the bread and olive oil, the hot and bubbling lasagna that felt like it came straight out of grandma’s oven, and tiramisu so fresh you could see the layers scooped right in front of you.
The Meal
This time, with Peaches in town, we went back for a complete red-sauce feast. Apps were antipasti and a black kale Caesar salad (yes, that’s two salads in three days—I think my body was shocked). For mains, we ordered pappardelle with veal bolognese, calamari with squid ink gnocchi, and a chicken parm over spaghetti. The pappardelle was silky with a rich, meaty sauce. The calamari dish brought a little more heat than expected, but was still tender and fresh. The chicken parm was solid—though Peaches thought it had a little too much sauce, which to me is never a problem. Bread is made for dipping.
No dessert this time since we were heading out after, but usually the tiramisu is a must-order. Frank and its sister spots (Little Frank, Supper, etc.) are always consistent, always worth the visit, and always feel like home.
Follow the full adventure:
Part 1: Minetta Tavern
Part 2: Dear Strangers & The Spaniard
Part 3: Frank
Part 4: Bar Snack, Lost Paradise, Don Chicken Manhattan & il laboratorio del gelato
Look, I’m just a Fat Guy from Brooklyn giving you my two cents. If you want more Top 10s—steakhouses, burgers, restaurants, you name it—click the words and keep going.