Frank

After almost a decade, Frank Restaurant is still true to it's original vision. Modeled after Italy's trattorias and osterias, Frank Restaurant is “a place to eat” - an honest place, serving food prepared with care in a comfortable atmosphere and at a reasonable price.

Frank Prisinzano's inspiration to build Frank Restaurant came largely because he realized there was a huge gap in the restaurant community - between ego-driven pricey restaurants and cheap fast food dumps. He conceived a restaurant using his wealth of professional experience but based on his family's time-honored traditions.

In June of 1998, Frank Restaurant opened with just 29 seats and a menu of classic Italian pastas and Frank's own family recipes. Within the first month, the restaurant was a huge success - with 2 hour waits for a table and exemplary reviews in many New York City publications.

Five months later, the first wine cellar was installed and our now infamous wine list began to grow. To the relief of our customers, Vera Bar opened in March of 2000, adding a massive wood table that seats up to 20 people, a custom designed marble bar, and an outdoor patio - reducing wait time significantly.

After 10 years, our wine list boasts over 750 Italian wine labels. We believe that complicated wine is best enjoyed and understood when paired with simple food. So, come enjoy one of Italy's most spectacular wines with a simple bowl of spaghetti!

Much of Frank Prisinzano's love and respect for food comes from his childhood experiences. Born into a proud Italian American family of great cooks with strong family traditions, Frank became fascinated with the process of cooking. At an early age, he began traveling to Italy and assisting both of his grandmothers in the kitchen. After graduating high school, Frank attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. and graduated at the top of his class.

Frank's early experiences show his dedication to learning about every position in a restaurant - washing dishes at a pizzeria for $2.50 an hour, working as one of Long Island's best young chefs, bartending and waiting tables in Miami, in New York City at The Park Avenue Café (under David Burke and Brad Steelman) and in Miami at Amano (under Chef Norman van Aiken). All these experiences have helped Frank form the visions of his own restaurants.

Frank Prisinzano is now the Owner and Executive Chef of 3 East Village Italian Restaurants - Frank Restaurant, 88 2nd Avenue (5th -6th St.), Supper Restaurant, 156 E. 2nd St. (Avenue A-B) and Lil' Frankie's Pizza (1st-2nd St.), all of which Wine Spectator has recognized with an Award of Excellence. Frank's newest business, Frank Catering, serves the production industry and all of Frank's continued loyal customers.

Through all of Frank's successes, his interest in creativity and giving back to the community hasn't waned. In June 2003, he launched East Village Radio, a community radio station that streams live from its storefront, street level studio on 1st Avenue. Additionally, he and best friend Rui Docouto formed a furniture and interior design company called Site Specific Design (SSD) which was born out of their very first effort together - building Frank Restaurant in 1998.