Important Notice:We have made the tough decision to say goodbye to the Foursquare City Guide mobile app, effective December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Visit our FAQ for more information or to download our Swarm app.Lil' Frankie's
Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria$$$$
East Village, New York
"Spaghetti Limone and the eggplant as apetizer!! AMAZING"(23 Tips)
"Get the eggplant and lemon pasta!"(10 Tips)
"wrong with the baby meatballs"(5 Tips)
"Also if they have it (thurs-sun) the burrata is amazing."(11 Tips)
255 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- good for dates
- good for groups
- casual
- eggplant
- trendy
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Ms HeleneJune 30, 2016Homestyle Italian food, rustic and under seasoned but tasty and pastas loaded with cheese. Best part was dessert-flourless choc cake and tiramisu with berry coulis but skip pannacotta
Kayleigh HarringtonOctober 24, 2016Whatever you do, get the burrata. The spaghetti limone, and the rigatoni were also unbelievable. Even the olives and olive oil for the table are amazing. Come hungry.
Sarah SpagnoloFebruary 21, 2015Busy, cash only, they'll only seat you when your entire party arrives, and hold your table for 15 minutes max. Order the roasted eggplant; they carve it up at the table.
MarieOctober 8, 2014I love it here! Everything is tasty and fresh. The rigatoni with baby meatballs is awesome as is the margherita pizza. Dishes are perfect for sharing. The Sixpoint Lil' Frankie's pale ale is a winner.
Karen CooperJune 27, 2017Wow, all the stars! I lived in Italian Switzerland for 4 years and must say, the pasta here was perfection, as was the Panna Cotta (and I'm a total panna cotta snob). I will be back. Like every day.
KarimaFebruary 6, 2016Cozy vibes, the pizza is fantastic and reasonable, the nutella calzone/focaccia is amazing and they have an unbeatable 3 for 1 brunch drink situation on the weekends.
Theophilus LondonOctober 21, 2011Oh man. You gotta talk to the owner Frank. Say ‘listen, Frank, I got a little hot date here, you gotta open up the back room for us.’ There’s a private room in the back with a private menu.
KEAugust 11, 2016Burrata pizza was out of this world. It's always lively and packed when I've been around 9:30-10pm. The back gets loud but the bar is perfect for sharing din and drinks. Cocktails are strong 💪
Yaseen RoccaNovember 6, 2014Outstanding pizza that oozes simplicity & genius. Burrata starter: ditto. Best tiramisu we ever had; probably the most authentically home-made dessert you can ever eat outside home; must try.
DonnaMarch 19, 2015Beyond great pasta and pizzas they're very inventive with their veggie sides: blackened eggplant and portobello arugula salad are both awesome ways to balance a heavy delicious ragu or gnocchi
Loriah PopeSeptember 9, 2018We took advantage of the 3-4-1 (3 for 1 brunch drinks) and also got the steak and eggs and the eggs polpette. Delicious! Will definitely be coming back for pizza too!
Rachel PortSeptember 30, 2016Spaghetti limone, all of the pizza, the eggplant appetizer... you can't go wrong here!!
Keren AtzlanJune 26, 2021Wonderful for a birthday party or big group. The salads were garbage but everything else was fire. Mushroom and artichoke definite. Great veggies all around. Goat cheese pizza dipped in red sauce mm
Dina A.March 7, 2019Consistently amazing. Spaghetti limone and the margherita pizza are my go tos. Wish their wine list was a bit better but they’ve been switching it up recently which I appreciate!
ᴡ YoungJuly 8, 2017One of the best authentic Italian food I've tried in the city. Be sure to try spaghetti with clams- it's always on the special menu. And the pizza here, amazing!
Susan S.June 25, 2018Cash only but such tasty food! The truffle pizza is insanely delicious. The roasted eggplant appetizer was my absolute favorite and the gnocchi was excellent as well.
Alyssa A.January 18, 2013Roasted eggplant appetizer is so yummy! If you can handle a bit of a kick, make sure to get it drizzled with the spicy olive oil.
- First note: Don't ever sit in the back by the kitchen. Second note: The truffle shavings aren't worth the $18. Third note: Do come here, it's an awesome spot, good food, cozy atmosphere.
Rob ForgioneDecember 3, 2017The rigatoni with ricotta is amazing. The antipasto is great, but very large (too much food as an appetizer for two people, even at the smallest size). Good chianti.
Sara 🌈⚔🍾January 12, 2015Amazing! Real brick oven pizza and authentic Italian dishes. I had the salame piccante pizza, which was great. I will definitely go back to try the others!
Mike McMasterSeptember 23, 2013Ask the waiters what is good here, they're eager to make recommendations. We had the tomato and cheese appetizer that our waiter paired with wine. The grilled eggplant was also awesome!
Gianna NebbiaOctober 20, 2019I felt most of our entrees were eh, including my chicken parm sandwich. Just not as delicious as they look/sound. Same with the pizzas and “mushroom polenta” which was really just eggs Benedict.
Ben MackeyNovember 15, 2014The Green Eggs and Ham is a solid alternative to the Eggs Polpettini for brunch.
Phil GrossMay 4, 2016My favorite of Frank Prisinzano's E. Villy Italian hotspots - also the only one that serves pizza - you can't go wrong with any za or one of the homemade pastas!
Diego JiménezJuly 22, 2017A hole in the wall with solid rock music, al dente pasta, attentive service and delicious bread.
Ina LiMay 30, 2015Lemon pasta is so refreshing and chewy. Perfect for summer! Also love their juicy pizza with crispy crust. Wait gets long after 7
- Can't go wrong with the baby meatballs, at dinner or with baked eggs at brunch. Also, the pizza Bianca with mushrooms.. Guaranteed to leave fat and happy.
Try picking 1 or 2 appetizers from their specials menu. They've always turned out to be exceptional. (I've tried the burrata, stracciatella, grilled octopus...)
Marco GomesJuly 4, 2017The best margherita pizza I had in NYC, comparing with Motorino, Eataly and some other places.
Lee HoffmanDecember 29, 2017The rigatoni and meatballs is one of the best I’ve had. The chicken parm is awesome!
Eric FernándezOctober 17, 2021The egg plant as an entry and the napoletana pizza 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 awesome 5/5.
I love this place! though I'm on my second lambrusco reggiano, but yeah..the staff is super friendly, the food is great and the spirits get you there. what more can you ask???
Jonathan YehJune 15, 2012A sunny Friday evening with 1st ave full of people on the street in this trendy downtown neighborhood. I enjoyed fresh salad (nothing canned) and a sausage pizza. Simply fantastic!
Everything! Personal faves: pizza margherita, spaghetti limone and brick oven chicken. Gets the mussels if they’re on special.
Leah GeogheganFebruary 1, 2015Pizza Bianca was delicious...white pizza with truffle oil. Great place for big parties...they have a semi-private back room that's super cozy
Joe KileyNovember 22, 2016Go for truffle week in November if you can. Otherwise the Gnocci and Buratta are awesome choices
StayNYC RentalsOctober 17, 2018Bring a crew and coat your stomach with very good pizza and spaghetti, without spending too much money. They’ll even let you book a table online for your group of 20. Lil’ Frankies never fails.
Bond StreetOctober 7, 2016"I mean, Frankie is a character - he’s been around forever, and of course the food is fucking amazing." - Colin Tunstall and Morgan Collett, co-founders - Saturdays Read more
Jack GashiMarch 12, 2014Had the b-day here. Deal was really good for all you could eat and drink, love the food, but had to wait 40 mins to get seated. 20+ ppl in middle of the place awkwardly sweating. Beware when reserving
markus gerdemannJune 17, 2016Great pizza, fabulous pasta and good wine! All you need! The seasonal lobster ravioli are something else
Lucie PustovaOctober 30, 2016Wine selection will impress everyone, including your wine-snob friend. Try the daily pasta and handmade gnocchi.
Love, love, love, everything about this place. Quaint and crowded but the food and service is worth the wait.
Polina WeitzDecember 24, 2019Fun casual spot. Great pizza, for the thin crust lovers. Pasta portions are huge. Service is a bit slow.
Jarel HillApril 13, 2019Spaghetti limone was great. Split the pizza into spicy pepperoni and meatballs. A top manhattan spot
Do. Not. Sleep. On the spaghetti limone. So simple but so delicious. And the polpettine pizza doesn't suck either. Trappolini $38 bottle of montepulciano/Sangiovese blend is a perfect compliment.
Bastian BeyerApril 22, 2012Cool place which is bigger than you think. Food is really tasty, service is so nice. The spinach al forno was the best spinach I ever had
Noël PaaschMarch 24, 2013The burrata is unbelievable and the Tagliatelle Funghi is out of this world. The servers are great. One of the best spots in NYC.
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Closed until Noon (Show more)
- Mon–Thu
- 4:00 PM–2:00 AM
- Fri
- Noon–4:00 AM
- Sat
- 10:30 AM–4:00 AM
- Sun
- 10:30 AM–2:00 AM
(212) 420-4900
Features
Credit Cards
No
Wi-Fi
Yes
Outdoor Seating
No
Food & Drink
Menus
Dinner, Happy Hour
Drinks
Beer, Wine, Full Bar, Cocktails
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- 8.5
"Really good food. The burrata serves at least 2, but the delicious house bread with oil and beans is almost enough as a starter by itself"
Tom Joseph - 8.6
"Incredible pastas with incredible wines to match! Use Tipsi to find the perfect Italian pairing."
TIPSI - 7.8
"My fav, the halibut and extra virgin salad.. Definitely fresh!"
Edris Nicholls
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