Frankies is over 20 years old, which means their olive oil is at your grocery store, their red sauce recipe is online (13 cloves of garlic), and someone you know has likely hosted a birthday or an engagement in the private room out back. A lot has changed since two guys named Frank decided to open a restaurant in Carroll Gardens in 2004. Lilia opened, and so did I Sodi—both Italian restaurants you’ve likely heard of more often, especially in terms of their tough tables. But Frankies has held its own all along, a no-brainer option for special occasion dinners that are a little more fun than fancy. Frankies’ windows are fogged up every night, and there’s always someone on their third martini celebrating a birthday inside. The brick walls trap everything in, so you can hear the chatter of the family next to you as they eat meatballs studded with raisins and pine nuts, and rolling in that brilliant, 13-clove sauce. The sizzle of brown butter from an open kitchen provides a backing track, and the signature scent is fried sage. Both are elements of Frankies’ cult-famous cavatelli. People would probably start picketing out front if that pasta ever came off the menu. But just one bite of salad dressed in a bright, slightly sweet cipollini onion vinaigrette is all it really takes to become a lifelong Frankies convert. If you don't already know, go see what the fuss is about.