Restaurants: Frankies Right at Home in Carroll G
The Village Voice, which seems to be paying more and more attention to Brooklyn recently, is giving lots of love to Frankies 457 Spuntino in Carroll Gardens this week: A spuntino is a snack shop—an appropriate description of Frankies if you also add “restaurant” and “wine bar.” The menu encompasses such diverse offerings as roasted…
The Village Voice, which seems to be paying more and more attention to Brooklyn recently, is giving lots of love to Frankies 457 Spuntino in Carroll Gardens this week:
A spuntino is a snack shop—an appropriate description of Frankies if you also add “restaurant” and “wine bar.” The menu encompasses such diverse offerings as roasted veggies like parsnips and Jerusalem artichokes, pine-nutted polenta, a tart salad of bitter chicory spears called puntarelle, a half-dozen crostini, plates of cheese and cured meats, soups, raisin-dotted meatballs, and a few true entrées, including pastas and a stray braise or two. Among the braises find braciola, a pork steak rolled around a filling of garlic, parsley, provolone, and pecorino romano. It comes deposited in a thick marinara, and Mama couldn’t have done better. The wine list is exemplary, and a comparative bargain.
As much as the reviewer loves the food, though, the highest praise, in his opinion, is that the restaurant feels like it belongs in the neighborhood.
Review: Frankies 457 Spuntino [Village Voice]
Chris Robinson is one of the owners, which explains why he’s always there ; )
great place
This place is fun for star gazing. In one night I saw Kate Hudson, her hubby Chris Robinson and the rest of the Black Crows, and Tim Robbins. Kinda like Hollywood in the ‘hood.
Frankies is one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. The Franks have done everything right. I love the food, the service, and the atmosphere. I’ve been coming since before they started even serving food, then they started with brunch, and then eventually dinner. I love it all. Best french toast I’ve ever had, and the best bloody mary I’ve had in NY. Best ever was in New Orleans. And the Franks make you feel like you’re part of the family. They deserve all the praise they’ve gotten. Only downside to that, IMO, is that more and more it’s gotten almost impossible to get in for dinner. Brunch is fine if you go on the later side.
I agree w/ 12:08 poster about brunch … the best way to appreciate this restaurant is a quieter midday lunch or weeknight dinner w/ friends. Preferably in the warmer months, to take advantage of the fab outdoor patio. It’s a great neighborhood place.
W/e brunch suffers from a less exciting menu and a level of business the waitstaff and kitchen seem to struggle to handle but come here on a weekday — yeh, call in sick for once — for a leisurely lunch and you’ll find the pace is mellow, the food fabulous.
What a breath of fresh air! Finally, a restaurant review that is appreciative and respectful of Italian home cooking! I definitely plan to visit to see how it compares to mine! Good article, thanks for posting it.