"Opened by restauranteur Frank Prisinzano in 1999, Lil' Frankie's pays homage to Prisinzano's childhood summers spent with family in southern Italy. The menu comprises unpretentious, rustic Italian dishes meant to be shared family-style, including fan-favorites like spaghetti limone and whole fire-roasted eggplant. "Well, I grew up with a lot of people that loved to feed people and I fed off that energy. I saw the joy that they felt when I told them that I loved what they made me," Prisinzano explains in a video posted on TikTok."
"Today, the clientele has expanded beyond neighborhood regulars to include guests from all across the city. On weekends, the restaurant stays open until 4 a.m., so Lil' Frankie's sees more than just the regular dinner crowd. They serve everyone from bar-hoppers and club-goers to restaurant-industry folks looking for a late-night place to eat after finishing their own shifts."
""We have people that love coming here every day. They sit at the bar, they know what they're getting and they leave and we're a part of their day-to-day. I feel like they're like sort of the family here so they kind of are our staples. And they love it here. And we love them," says host Athina."
Lil' Frankie's opened in New York City's East Village in 1999 and maintains an ethos of authentic, unpretentious Italian cooking and impeccable service. The restaurant operates late into the night, often until 4 a.m. on weekends, attracting neighborhood regulars as well as citywide guests, bar-hoppers, club-goers, and restaurant-industry workers. The menu reflects southern Italian family traditions with rustic, shareable dishes like spaghetti limone and fire-roasted eggplant. Owner Frank Prisinzano emphasizes feeding people and the joy it brings. Many staff members have worked there over 15 years, and regular patrons function as an extended family and staples of the restaurant.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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