Frankie Primo's +39

Opened in December 2015, Frankie Primo's is another milepost in Chippewa's evolution from one-dimensional strip of thumping dance clubs to multifaceted fine dining and entertainment destination. After 16 years as owner of '''Soho Burger Bar''' just down the block, Jay Manno jumped at the chance to open a second Chippewa Street eatery that would serve up some of the Italian food he grew up with — simple yet creatively conceived and well-executed specialties from his ancestral homelands of [[Sicily]] and [[Campania]] — in the former home of '''City Tavern''', whose old-school interior, with its exposed brick, warm-toned woodwork, and original tin ceiling, was a perfect match for the "Little Italy-type restaurant" he envisioned. Even the "+39" suffix in the restaurant's name is a subtle nod to his roots, being Italy's telephone calling code. The backbone of Frankie Primo's is a deceptively straightforward-seeming yet wide-ranging slate of pizzas (fired in a brick oven; not too greasy, with a thin, crispy crust), pasta dishes (including the Roman specialty ''cacio di pepe'', the only place in Buffalo where you can find it), panini sandwiches (served on fresh, crusty ciabatta bread baked in-house), and main-course salads (the ''cavolo toscano'' is especially interesting; a heaping mound of kale topped with currants, toasted pine nuts, pecorino romano cheese, and lemon vinaigrette), which come in ample portions and at prices that aren't half bad for what you get. About a dozen specialty cocktails are served up at the homey bar — classics like Negronis and Manhattans, plus more newfangled creations that still betray a strong classicist influence — and if you prefer your drinks at the table with dinner, the wine selection is encyclopedic.