Lil' Frankies Pizza

The East Village has some of the most interesting eating places in town. I loved the atmosphere and food at this lovely little Italian pizzeria called Lil' Frankies.

The name indicated that it might be a bit of a hole in the wall but the restaurant was actually quite charming given its shabby chic decor including mismatched plates at dinner. The cozy dining area, the flaming wood-oven and the antique wine racks exuded a casual yet elegant vibe.

The menu was surprisingly diverse for a mid-priced pizzeria and included an impressive array of salads, appetizers, pasta and sides in addition to the pizza. Lil' Frankies also has an impressive wine list - all Italian, of course.

The antipasto plate we ordered came with roasted peppers, eggplant and potatoes, fontina cheese and a few cured meats. It was perfect to chase down all the wine we were consuming. My arugula salad was topped with a few sheets of a delicious parmigiano reggiano. Main course was Pizza Funghi which came with fresh mushrooms, tomato, mozzarella and parsley. The crust was super thin and super yummy.

Lil' Frankies is now my new favourite pizza place in Manhattan. I noticed it was right next to The Tasting Room, a tiny wine bar that I've been wanting to check out for ages. All the more reason to head back to First and First very soon!

212.420.4900]