By Hannah Iqbal, Assistant Features Editor
Frankie Primo’s +39 is an appetizing Italian restaurant located in Buffalo, NY at 51 W Chippewa St. If it wasn’t obvious already, the owner of Frankie Primo’s +39, Jay Manno, has Italian roots himself. He decided to go with this name as it is very representative of his love for Italian cuisine. The “+39” in the name is the country code that one would dial to call someone in Italy. He wants customers to walk in the door and feel as though they have stepped out of Buffalo and into Italy: Manno truly values the authentic Italian aesthetic he has worked so hard to instill into his restaurant. This local hotspot is known for its pizza and pasta, as well as a variety of specials customers can choose from.
Frankie Primo’s +39 is open from Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The busiest times range typically between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m. on Saturdays, 6-8 p.m. on Sundays and 5-7 p.m. on weekdays. Even though it can get busy — especially on weekends — wait time is rarely an issue. Customers can call ahead and speak to a friendly staff member if they want to verify the availability of seats on a particular night. Staff members are always more than happy to answer any questions customers may have.
This is an excellent choice for a night out with friends and family. It has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which is a rarity in most public settings (especially nowadays). As soon as a customer walks into Frankie Primo’s +39, they feel a sense of togetherness, just one of the benefits a local eatery has to offer. It's always a pleasure for customers to see familiar faces whenever they visit; because of this, there is a strong sense of community among fellow Buffalonians who come to this restaurant for a good meal.
In addition to a great atmosphere, Frankie Primo’s +39 has an unbeatable selection of food options from brunch all the way to dinner. I ordered the scampi, which consists of a delicious combination of linguine pasta and shrimp, topped with some garlic lemon sauce. It can be purchased for $18 on the lunch/dinner menu. Additionally, Frankie Primo’s +39 always has a menu filled with specials for customers to look at. Currently, their list of specials includes a variety of tasty dishes including Insalata di Barbabietole, which includes roasted beets, arugula, goat cheese, roasted walnuts and lemon vinaigrette. For the full special list, be sure to check out their Facebook page!
One of the perks of growing up in Buffalo is being able to meet people of all different backgrounds and cultures. There are so many places within Buffalo that are available for people to explore in order to expand their horizons. Frankie Primo’s +39 is a perfect example, as it offers a wide range of authentic Italian food. It is truly a wonderful way to locally experience the true flavors that Buffalo has to offer.