Frank Kabatas

Frank Kabatas is the Owner and Operator of East Village Pizza, the popular New York-based pizzeria where tradition meets innovation. Frank’s journey in the pizza industry started in 1997 when he immigrated to the United States and got a job working as a delivery driver at East Village Pizza. It was here that Frank tried his first ever slice of pizza. ​Frank was let go from East Village Pizza after just 6 months of working. Frank remained passionate about the pizza industry, and took up various roles at different pizzerias, including a pizzeria on Macdougal Street and managing a Domino’s Pizza on Long Island.

Frank saw East Village Pizza was for sale, and seized the opportunity to purchase the pizzeria in 2003 with his brother and business partner–he turned his dream into a reality. Frank’s journey from delivery driver to becoming Owner and Operator of East Village Pizza stands as a testament to his belief in the power of hard work and determination, embodying the essence of the American Dream. About East Village Pizza: ​East Village Pizza is the popular New York-based pizzeria where tradition meets innovation. ​Located in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, it has garnered a reputation for serving delicious, no-frills pizza to locals and visitors alike.

Owned and operated by Frank Kabatas, East Village Pizza is synonymous with authentic New York-style pizza and is celebrated for its unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and inventive flavors. The restaurant is the birthplace of several signature dishes, including the double-stacked pizza and cheesy garlic knots. In showcasing these dishes, East Village Pizza has earned over 1.7 million followers on Instagram and over 1.5 million likes on TikTok. Just last year, East Village Pizza was voted Best Pizza in Manhattan by Good Day New York’s Best of the Boroughs competition. East Village Pizza recently participated in Dave Portnoy’s One Bite Pizza Festival, joining a lineup of +40 NYC pizzerias and giving attendees a taste of the pizzeria’s impressive 8.0 One Bite Review ranking from Dave Portnoy, and the 2025 NYC Food + Wine Festival, selling out of +1,000 slices of pizza. Social Media Presence ​Frank showcases East Village Pizza’s quality products, signature dishes, and famous cheese pulls through video content on Instagram and TikTok. ​He fosters a sense of community and connection with customers, establishing East Village Pizza as a beloved NYC food destination for locals and tourists alike. Since 2012, Frank has been passionate about harnessing the power of social media to share his story, and showcase East Village Pizza’s unique menu items. Since then, he has amassed over 1.7 million followers on the East Village Pizza Instagram account, with an additional 130k followers on his personal account. Frank has cultivated over 99k followers on East Village Pizza’s TikTok account, and has amassed an impressive 1.5M total likes on the platform.