Frankies (570) Spuntino Review - West Village - New York - The Infatuation

"We’re huge fans of the Franks. Not just because they have sweet beards and excellent taste in classic rock, but because they were the gateway drug that helped us open our eyes and discover all that Brooklyn had to offer. I distinctly remember my first meal at Frankies 457 in Carroll Gardens back in the day. It was an eye opening experience. That was the moment I realized that there is more to Brooklyn dining than Peter Luger, and that living in some parts of Brooklyn didn’t mean moving in with the Hasidim. But thankfully, I don’t need to move to Brooklyn. The Franks are moving Brooklyn to me. Although it’s not as cozy as 457, Frankies 570 is a huge pickup for the West Village. We’ve been a couple of times now, and are happy to report that the food quality hasn’t slipped a bit. The prices still reflect Brooklyn, and the menu is still stacked with all your Frankies family favorites. But 570 has got nothing on its predecessors. That’s how it seems to go when great restaurants reproduce - the offspring don’t retain the charm and authenticity of the original. While this isn’t a must visit, Frankies 570 is a reliable option that will be consistently packed with carb seeking humanity who might just appreciate the fact that Grateful Dead’s American Beauty is playing in full. Antipasta Two cured meats, two cheeses, some veggies, and some olives. Done deal.Crostini Definitely order a couple to share. Last time through we thoroughly enjoyed both the ricotta and aged provolone, and the sicilian white anchovy.Sweet Potato & Sage Ravioli in Parmesan Broth A fantastic light ravioli, this is the perfect mix of sweet and savory. A fan favorite for sure.Sandwiches Served on a warm panini, our go-to’s are: Mozzarella, Tomato & Red Peppers, Roast Beef with Pepperoncini & Red Onion and, of course, the Meatball Parmigiana. Don’t order this as your main course, but definitely get one to share as a starter. Food Rundown Fennel, Celery Root & Parsley with Sliced Red Onion, Lemon & Pecorino A citrusy fennel salad that benefits from the celery root. Really nice. Meatballs A must order. Frankie’s big, juicy balls are incredible. Stop playing with them and put them in your mouth already. No, but seriously. You can’t go wrong here. Frankies’ Greens with Cipollini Onion Cider Vinaigrette We’ve hit the salads pretty hard at Frankies, and this one is amazing, mostly because of it’s simplicity and that sweet cider vinaigrette. House-Made Cavatelli with Faccio’s Hot Sausage & Browned Sage Butter A Frankies classic, and the best dish on the menu. It’s so simple, yet so ridiculously good. Sweet Sausage, Roasted Red Pepper & Onions Over Creamy Polenta On paper, this looked incredible, but we were actually quite underwhelmed with this dish. The polenta was good, but the rest of it almost felt like a big sloppy plate of shepherd’s pie. Not exactly what we were expecting. Get a side of polenta instead and order something else." - Andrew Steinthal