Frank

"Frank is a classic East Village establishment. This place has been serving fresh, simple Italian food to people on 2nd Avenue since 1998, and anyone who pays attention to such a thing will tell you that this is one of the "essential" restaurants of the neighborhood. We're not here today to argue any of that. Nor are we here to tell you that the food at Frank isn't just as good now as it was when we first reviewed it in 2009. It is. What we are here to say is that we officially can't deal with how uncomfortable a restaurant this is to eat in. Maybe it's because we're getting old, or maybe it's because we're just not cool enough to pretend we like things we really don't anymore. Or, maybe I just don't want to eat dinner with some stranger's hot breath on my neck and a leg that's completely numb from having to fold it into a trapezoid to fit it under the tiny table in front of me. The point is, primetime meal hours at Frank are now off limits. They just pack this place with way too many bodies, and too many other restaurants in the East Village have a good rigatoni bolognese. All of that said, there are still a few situations in which we can emphatically recommend a visit to Frank, and they all have to do with how much of a job you have. If you enjoy the kind of work freedom to hit this place in the middle of the afternoon for some pasta and a glass of wine, you absolutely should, and congratulations on that. The patio out front is also a solid move on a quiet sunny weekday. And if you're really into Italian wine, Frank has one of the best lists around. Just make sure to bring some cash - some for the Barolo and some to bribe the guy next to you for a little room to move your elbows around. You're gonna need it. Food Rundown Mozzarella di Bufala Fresh mozzarella. You should eat some. Black Spaghetti with Frutti di Mare Homemade black squid ink spaghetti served with tomato sauce, herbs, and fresh shellfish - usually calamari. A fan favorite, and for good reason. Order with confidence. Uncle Tony's Handmade Gnocchi This gnocchi has always been a bit too dense for our taste. We usually err on the side of a different pasta. Rigatoni al Ragu Our favorite pasta here, by a long shot. It's simple, it's meaty, and it's everything you want it to be. Spaghetti Garlic If you feel like having garlic for dinner and want a bowl of spaghetti to compliment it, you're in luck. That's pretty much what this dish is. Just bring a toothbrush. Handmade Ravioli of the Day Always a solid move, especially if mushrooms are involved. Chocolate Cake This is how you finish a meal here. Full stop." - Chris Stang

"Delivery and takeout available from this staple Italian spot." - hannah albertine, nikko duren, bryan kim, arden shore, matt tervooren

"Asking people their name and the date is one way to get a baseline for a lie detector test. Another is to ask if they’re a fan of great pasta and Italian wine. Anything besides a “yes” and a flat line would show that they’re clearly hiding something, and anything besides those results when asked specifically about Frank would be as good as a confession of guilt. Not only does this East Village spot serve fantastic orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, but they also have a wine program that allows you to choose any bottle on the list, and only pay for what you drink, whether it’s a half-glass or 90% of the bottle." - matt tervooren

"Frank is from the same people as Lil Frankies, and this East Village spot also offers delivery until midnight or later every day. But rather than pizzas, the focus here is on pastas, like orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, or squid ink linguini with seafood." - matt tervooren

"Frank is from the same people as Lil Frankies, and this East Village spot also offers delivery until late every day. But, rather than pizzas, the focus here is on pastas, like handmade ravioli and rigatoni al ragu. You should also keep this place in mind for weekend brunch, when they deliver dishes like baked eggs pomodoro with bacon and hash browns." - team infatuation