This morning’s Lower East Side food news:
- FloFab learns Frankies Sputino at 17 Clinton Street is about to undergo a transition. The cozy pasta-centric Italian favorite will be renamed “Francesca” and reimagined as a “Basque-style bar and restaurant serving pintxos, the popular tapas-style snacks from northeastern Spain.” The restaurant will be closed on March 21st and reopened on March 23rd. The chef will be Ryan Bartlow, who “spent two years cooking at the Michelin three-star Akelarre in San Sebastian, Spain.” Maybe they’ll bring back lunch-time hours?
- The Voice learns that the much-loved Bistro Truck is opening up a brick-and-mortar spot at 124 Ridge Street. The place will be called “Rustic” and it will serve a “hearty Moroccan-inspired menu.” Some menu examples: tripe stew, grilled lamb liver wrapped in crepinette, roasted whole lamb and sweetbreads. There will be backyard seating in warmer months. Opening is scheduled for April 20th.
- The Bowery Diner is now delivering if you live west of Essex and above Canal.
- Cheesemonger Anne Saxelby shares some of her favorite Lower East Side spots with Edible Manhattan. One place she mentions, Kinski, is no more but it’s still a good read.
- The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory debuts the Jeremy Lin Sundae!
Dang Frankie’s what a disappointment. Our favorite restaurant in the hood. This is a place that we would pop in on a thursday night for a quick date night. Hopefully the new place will be a sufficient replacement
NOOOOOOOO how can Frankies be going away?!?!?!? My favorite place in the hood and it’s always packed. How can this happen? I demand a re-vote. Basque-style tapas . . . . booooooo! There are already too many tapas places on that street. I’m just outraged!