Tanya Prifitera is well-versed in the restaurant industry; long before opening Frankie’s Pizza & Grill in Spring Hill thirteen years ago, the Connecticut native was immersed in the business by working at her parents’ pizza shop, Naples. Located in New Haven on Yale University’s campus, the joint had seen some of Hollywood's biggest stars - some of which even took part in carving their names into the wooden tables. The Naples Pizza Corporation was established by her family over forty years ago, and was best known for their famous New Haven-style pizza - thin-crust and coal-fired with a Neapolitan twist. In the late nineties, her family relocated from Connecticut to the hill country of Texas, where Tanya helped grow her family’s legacy by operating the eatery on her own. After managing the restaurant and residing in The Lonestar State for twelve years, Tanya and her husband, Dinho, decided to take the leap and establish roots in Spring Hill. Tennessee has always been a favorite place for her family to visit, so they couldn't wait to bring the Naples concept along on their new journey!
“I had been visiting Tennessee from Connecticut since high school… I just loved the area — and I have horses — so [Spring Hill] was perfect for me,” Tanya shares on her decision to move. “We decided to go for it… we got the lease on the restaurant, moved all my animals and restaurant equipment up here, and opened the restaurant two weeks later.”
In August of 2013, Prifitera established a division of her family’s corporation in their new concept, Frankie’s Pizza & Grill — marking the start of her own chapter. With the dream to start something of her own, she honored and expanded what her family had built by creating Frankie’s, a restaurant featuring traditional Italian dishes, hand tossed, thin crust pizza, fresh grilled entrees and burgers, popular salads and unique appetizers. Named after both her father and late brother, Frankie’s values quality over quantity, ensuring each bite is as fresh as it is delicious.
“A lot of the recipes are family recipes from my dad,” Tanya shares. “He's from Sicily and so is my grandmother. They started with their family recipes, and I've incorporated some of those into Frankie’s as well, but I've also expanded on them. We absolutely have a focus on fresh and all natural and hormone, antibiotic-free products. When I buy, I am so conscious of where things are coming from and what's in them.”
With an array of offerings on their menu, Frankie’s Pizza & Grill has become a go-to spot in town — not just for great food, but for the sense of community it creates. In addition to their regular menu, Frankie’s offers daily specials curated to the season — such as lobster tails, filet mignon, risotto, and beyond. From wine dinners to food drives, local fundraisers, and events, Tanya wanted to build a place that felt like home while still curating a menu that is ever-changing for foodies. Offering options that saves you a trip into Nashville, along with live music and craft cocktails, Frankie’s brings small-town comfort with a twist of variety that keeps people coming back.
“I'd like to modernize the trends that are in the food industry,” she shares. “You see different things — mostly in big cities like Nashville — that people are doing, but we want to be able to also feature that down here in Spring Hill. I love to source fresh food and see what's going on locally and create new dishes that maybe people haven't seen. I have a chef that's from Rome and he goes back to Italy twice a year and brings us new ideas.”
When it comes to catering, the team at Frankie’s works intentionally with each customer to customize menus for their event — whether it’s a graduation, wedding, party, corporate gathering, or anything in between. In addition, it is important to Tanya to not only serve her customers, but to get to know them. Spending most of her time connecting with guests, brainstorming with staff, and constantly dreaming up ways to evolve, Tanya and Dinho have poured their hearts and souls into creating a space for the community to unwind and enjoy.
“I'm most thankful for the community support,” Tanya shares, reflecting on her journey thus far. “They have been absolutely amazing and a lot of them have been with us since day one. They have been behind us and so supportive of the restaurant and what we've been trying to do for years… without them, we wouldn’t be here today.”
From family favorites to elevated tastes, Frankie’s serves up a weekly menu that has something for everyone. For more information on Frankie’s Pizza & Grill, visit www.frankiespizzaandgrill.com or visit their socials @frankiespizzaandgrill.
"I'm most thankful for the community support... without them, we wouldn’t be here today.”