The two Franks (co-owners Falcinelli and Castronovo) have been gradually turning their modest Court Street Italian restaurant into a mini-empire ever since it opened in 2004: Now, besides this original Frankies location, there’s also Frankies 17 on Clinton Street in Manhattan, the retro-German Prime Meats, and two Cafe Pedlar coffee shops, one on each side of the river. But this, their first foray, still does what it’s always done consistently and well: happiness-inducing Sicilian (from red-sauce pastas like gnocchi marinara with fresh ricotta to seasonal dishes like linguini with fava beans, garlic, and tomato), all in the kind of warm, clamorous room you never want to leave.
Frankies 457 Spuntino: 457 Court St. between Luquer St. and 4th Pl., Carroll Gardens; (718) 403-0033. Frankies 17: 17 Clinton St. between Houston and Stanton Sts; (212) 253-2303.
Prices/Features: MOD, VGT (See Welcome to Salmaland for key to letter abbreviations.)