Lil Frankie's

Absolutely spectacular spot in the East Village! The restaurant looks small from the street but was actually quite spacious on entry! The restaurant extended quite far back and had two levels. It felt like a great place for large groups but still intimate enough for couples or smaller parties. I met family here and found a pleasant ambiance perfect for conversation. No loud music and the tables were spaced apart nicely.We had a variety of dishes on the table. I shared the calamari plate with a member of my group and the portion was sizable. Definitely enough for four people. We had leftovers. And it was a perfectly executed calamari. While there were several different pastas ordered around our table, I am CERTAIN that I ordered best. I had the spaghetti limone and advise you do the same. It was hands down one of the best pastas I've ever had. So bright in citrus flavor but also very creamy thanks to the generous amounts of fresh parm cheese. I ate nearly the entire bowl. Again, great portions here. For dessert, we all shared a panna cotta and thought it was a great ending to a meal. The desserts do seem on the smaller side though so if your group is large, take note. There were four of us and each had about a bite. But due to being so full on that amazing pasta, it was the perfect portion for us. If you are in the mood for Italian, Lil Frankie's is a nice choice. The service was very friendly and attentive. However, come with cash! They don't take credit cards so minus one on them! It's 2025 so I find it wildly inconvenient if I cannot use a card. We had to visit their atm.

Great birthday dinner experience! Attentive server, delicious food, good ambiance - busy but not loud (could hear everyone at our table of 7 perfectly). For starters, I loved the garlic bread, bruschetta was fresh, fried zucchini was crisp and delicious, and eggplant was nice and creamy.We got 2 pizzas - the Bianca (white pizza w truffle oil - divine), and the Diavola (spicier, didn't try this one but my whole party enjoyed).We got 3 pastas - the spaghetti limone (my favorite & what I've most often heard about here), the penne pomodoro, and the tagliatelle bolognese on the nightly specials menu (the pasta itself was incredible, and I never usually get bolognese but really enjoyed this one).Drink-wise, the Radberry Lemonade was perfect!They charge a cake fee for outside cakes, but only $2 per person (less than other places I've seen). Will for sure be back!I've had it delivered a few times in the past, but found that it was much better IRL (way less greasy/oily).

Lil Frankie's is a highly popular spot, often praised and recommended by many--and for good reason. Here's my take on everything I tried:- Fried Zucchini: Perfectly battered and fried, these were crispy without being greasy. Paired with a spicy tomato sauce, they were an excellent starter.- Whole Fire-Roasted Eggplant: The texture was fantastic--soft and melt-in-your-mouth. However, the flavor was on the bland side. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't order it again.- Mezzi Rigatoni Polpettini Ragu: Cooked al dente, this pasta came with mini meatballs and a rich, flavorful sauce. The combination was absolutely delicious!- Pizza Margherita: Easily one of the best Margherita pizzas I've had. The dough was perfectly soft and chewy, with a crispy crust that gave a nice crunch. Topped with fresh mozzarella, it was simple yet outstanding.- Nutella Focaccino: Recommended by the server, this dessert is perfect for Nutella lovers. While it was good, it's definitely a heavy and filling dessert--something to share if you're already feeling full.I'd definitely return to try more of their pizzas, which seem to be their specialty. The only downside is that the restaurant is cash only! :( Be sure to plan ahead!

Very mediocre food. Lemon pasta tasted like butter noodles with hint of lemon juice. The spaghetti quality also wasn't up to par. Pizza was alright, but sauce could have been better. Have had way better at other places in the city.

I have been wanting to visit Lil' Frankie's for over a year and finally was able to today. I guess with all the hype I saw on social media etc I was expecting amazing things. We ordered - Roasted eggplant - good but had a kind of tobacco taste to it. I wouldn't have it again Margarita pizza - again good but the sauce wasn't the greatestChicken Parm - very good but again lacking in the sauce Pasta limone - great but for 23.95 I could buy a $1 box of pasta and throw lemon on it for a lot less. Move the bread and olive oil at the beginning I've had waaaay better. It was good but didn't meet the hype I had expected. Ambiance is hole in a wall meets Italian eatery Waitress service and hostess was lovely

I truly felt like I was getting an authentic Italian meal here. Transports you to a small little restaurant in like Naples -- such great vibes. And food is fantastic. Pasta limone is a must! And I had the ravioli which was incredible -- the red sauce is so delicious. Just remember it's cash only.

Super cute Italian restaurant on the edge of the East village. Affordable pricing for great quality food. Between two people we shared 2 apps, a pasta dish and a dessert. While I loved the zucchini fries and pasta with broccoli, garlic and olive oil, I would have gotten something different than the eggplant. Next time I go I definitely want to try more of their homemade pastas and their chicken parmesan. Removing 1 star as I had hoped the pasta dish would be bigger after seeing the size of the appetizers. Make sure to bring cash as they don't accept credit cards

My first time visiting the city and this place did not disappoint. Our waitress was very knowledgeable of the menu and gave great recommendations. They had fun music playing so the vibe was great! The portions sizes were pretty big so we ordered a salad, calamari and 2 of the entrees and it was more than enough food! Some of the best calamari I've ever had.

My husband surprised me with dinner reservations at Lil' Frankie's and the experience was amazing from start to finish! Upon entering, we were greeted by the waitress and quickly seated in a tight wall of small side by side tables which makes you feel like you're having dinner with your neighbors. We were quickly given a bigger table by the hostess however, without even asking. We ordered a bottle of cab and were given garlic bread while we studied the menu. We ordered the eggplant which was the best imo! Then the steamed mussels, kale caesar, lemon pasta and arugula prosciutto pizza. The staff was very attentive and pleasant to dine! Definitely would come back to try more !!

This is a lovely Italian gem of a restaurant. You're going to be packed in with slightly more room than sardines, but the food is going to be mostly delightful. The pastas and pizzas are outstanding. Fire roasted lasagna (basically crockery baked lasagna in a fire oven), the rigatoni and the pizzas are everything you want from Italian family style food. The let downs are the tasteless chicken parm, the fairly bland fire-roasted eggplant starter and the bread (from yesterday?).The staff is quick to help, and with such standout entrees and relatively low prices for a wide selection of Italian wine (in exchange for cash only payment), you'll easily have an enjoyable evening out.