Frankie's Kitchen & Cocktail Bar

Chris McNeil _{on Google}

Apr 11th, 2024

Old Town Alexandria has a new gathering place. Located a few blocks south of King Street on S. Washington Street, Frankie's Kitchen has a bar where conversations are easily heard and a vibe among its clientele that's straight out of Old Town. Tara has been a guiding force in Old Town for at least the ten years that I've lived at Hunting Point, and it was great to see her orchestrate the bar and the dining room. Frankie's Kitchen has reinvigorated the space previously occupied by Faccia Luna, and as far as I can tell has brought a welcome aura of authentic Italian cooking to the block shared with Southside 815 (another Old Town stalwart).
The Kitchen is a very welcome addition, with a menu that covers small bites as well as traditional Italian dishes - including the Old Towner wood-fired pizza (tomato base, mozzarella, sausage, mushroom, and roasted pepper, $18 for the 10-inch and $24 for the very ample 14-inch); a Fontina burger (double patty, onion bacon jam, fontina (a semi-soft cow's milk cheese), and a secret sauce on a brioche bun, $17); and their basil pesto agnolotti (fresh pasta stuffed with fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomato, pine nuts in a basil pesto cream sauce) - all of which the patrons at the bar when I was there earlier today spoke of very highly. I had the eggplant parma ($13 as an appetizer) - perfectly seasoned, appropriately sized, and zero leftovers.
I think clientele who sought out Faccia Luna pizzas will be very pleased with what Frankie's has to offer. For D.C. and the DMV, the prices are reasonable; there's a great happy hour menu, and there's space in the main dining area that should lend itself to intimate dinners, group gatherings, and everything in between. So far, the food and the ambience have been outstanding.
Vegetarian options: For vegetarians (not vegans): the sauteed eggplant, shishito peppers with whipped feta and baguette, and bruschetta appetizers; for entrees the agnolotti and a number of vegetarian and gluten free pizza selections.
Parking: Parking is free - it's directly behind the restaurant in a safe and enclosed parking facility that you can access by way of the alley immediately behind (west of) the Kitchen, from either the north or south side of South Washington Street. Just don't park on southbound South Washington Street during weekday rush hours from 4 to 6 pm.
Kid-friendliness: The menu includes kid-friendly entrees (like buttered or marinara pasta)
Wheelchair accessibility: All of the tables and the bar are on the same level, with wheelchair access throughout the restaurant.

Susan Reinertson _{on Google}

Apr 7th, 2024

Great that it rebranded into Frankies!

angela harlan _{on Google}

Apr 7th, 2024

Ill give this experience as an opening week, growing curb but good grief! Its a Monday when there were literally 8 patrons at the time at 6pm. A cocktail bar where the drink was wrong $ 15 a pop and was told sorry their training those 2 drinks also came out 15 min after the appetizer arrived. The main courses was a plain cheese pizza and steak
salad that came out 15 minutes apart. The waitress came to the table 1 time after waiting and didnt even offer another cocktail/drink well after they were finished. We wouldnt have ordered another one even if we were asked. I never write reviews on anything but this experience was terrible and I hope this business navigates these issues and wish them well. I will not be back.

Corinne Coutinho _{on Google}

Apr 10th, 2024

We got together for lunch at Frankie's today. It's a nice restaurant. I had been for dinner when it was Facia Luna, but the decor etc has changed completely. It's brighter and has more tables and chairs.
So we ordered appetizers to share (Ahi Tuna Wontons). We were 4 friends and there were 4 Wontons in each dish, so we got 2 orders. That was perfect for us. The wontons were delicious and we cleaned out the plates!!
For our mains, I ordered the Spicy Pasta Alla Vodka with sausage, 2 friends ordered the Basil Pesto Agnolotti and one ordered the Garlic Shrimp Pasta.
The agnolotti was a bit hit. They said the pesto was delicate and flavorful and the stuffed pasta was really tasty.
My spicy pasta was alright. It could have done with a little more sausage.
The garlic shrimp was okay too. Nothing special.
Next time, I would just get some wine and have the Ahi Tuna Wontons and perhaps the Steak Crostini (sounds good). Or get a pizza.
The staff are very pleasant and helpful, always smiling and responding to our requests.