What's in a name?
In this case, the name says it all. Frankie Primo's +39. This restaurant is about family, Frankie Primo's, my children, +39, the country code if one was to phone Italy, and our love for Italian food. Growing up in WNY you get the pleasure of being around a melting pot of ethnic backgrounds, and of course a lot of Italians. My paternal grandparents were Sicilian (grandfather) and Neapolitan (grandmother). Culturally I grew up Italian. Sauce on Sundays, manicotti on Christmas, ravioli on Easter, steak and spaghetti on family birthdays (my grandfather was a butcher). Much like my grandfather, I could eat "macaroni" 7 days a week, and sometimes did. Our family has a tradition of eating quite a bit of "antibast" (Antipasto). I have great memories of calling my grandmother right before my lunch break and asking "got any sauce". Most often the answer was "yes" or the occasional "I only have marinara". Worst case scenario I was coming over for prosciutto with bread and butter, or a pepper and egg sandwich. More often than not I was bringing a few more mouths.
I have always gravitated to Italian food. In my travels over the years, I tend to eat at least one meal if not more at a trattoria, Italian deli, ristorante, or the like. I spent my teenage years in Ft. Wayne, Indiana working every position in my friend's family restaurant. Long and short of it, it's always been around. Fast forward to present day, I've been working in the industry on Chippewa for the past 20 plus years, 16 at Soho Bar/Soho Burger Bar, through it's and downtown's evolution. I've admired the building at 51 W. Chippewa at Franklin St for years. It's old world looks, exposed brick and great wood work, and of course, beautiful patio. Opportunity knocked and I couldn't resist a place that had the look and feel of so many "little Italy" type restaurants that I've enjoyed. We took our favorite pieces from other Italian concepts we've enjoyed over the years and tried to incorporate them into one venue. When you walk in the door, we want you to think this place looks like they've been serving "macaroni" for a hundred years. The patio screams al fresco dining whether it be pizza, pasta, a sandwich, or just bread and butter with a slice of prosciutto and a nice bottle of Italian wine. Let our friendly service, fresh quality ingredients, and "modern rustic" atmosphere take you back to the old country, "little Italy", or just my grandmother's kitchen table. Whether it be lunch, a bite before or after the game or show, or just a night on the always lively Chippewa strip, let us make you a part of our family, if only for a couple hours.
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