The brunch at Fausto is great! They have this huge French toast topped with seasonal compote and mascarpone. It’s so big you wonder how you’ll finish it, but it’s so good that in the blink of an eye the dish is empty!
The Lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote were delicious as well. Two big, thick pancakes – spongy and moist – covered with a compote made of real blueberries.
We’ve been to Fausto several times – brunch and dinner – and each time the dishes were excellent. As we say: consistency is the key to success! Especially when the consistency is in good work.
Fausto opened in December 2017. Joe Campanale, a restaurateur and sommelier, with Erin Shambura, former chef at l’Artusi, took over Franny’s space in Brooklyn, a neighborhood restaurant famous for its pizza and wine list.
There are no pizzas at Fausto, but a modern Italian cuisine serving homemade pasta and an attractive wine selection.
We also ordered the poached egg with braised duck, polenta, and pea greens. The polenta was creamy and particularly smooth; the combination with the juicy duck was perfect.
The baked eggs, oven-roasted tomatoes, and ricotta were tasty and originally prepared with eggplants.
Dinner has another vibe, it feels less like a family restaurant and attracts a younger and hipper crowd. We went there with my husband for a spontaneous early dinner without a reservation; we had the last two seats at the bar, my favorite place when it’s just the two of us. The restaurant was not very busy but it filled up quite fast.
The bar, with 12 seats, is located to the left of the restaurant. On the right, there are square tables and in the middle a low wall with a little shelf. At the beginning, I thought it was a waste of space, but I changed my mind when the restaurant started to get full. It encourages standing patrons to have a drink while waiting for a table without being in the servers’ feet or annoying seated customers.
An open kitchen at the back: I love it because it brings dynamism to the atmosphere and it obliges the cooks to keep the kitchen clean. There is another room in the back left of the restaurant, a bright room during the day, and probably a quieter one if quiet is a term we can use in New York restaurants.
We ordered octopus for antipasti and zucchini Carpaccio with yellow squash and ricotta.
The chef played with the textures, it was interesting and surprising.
Fusilli tomato ragu, blistered basil with Parmesan; knowing the level of the restaurant I couldn’t go wrong with this classic dish. The pasta was perfectly prepared and cooked.
Orecchiette: fennel braised pork with wilted greens and Parmesan. It’s a more special dish than the Fusilli: spicy and tasty!
The wine list at Fausto is interesting, but the choices by the glass are quite limited. I had a Pinot Noir 2016 Domaine Migot, France. It was a pleasant wine – nothing really special – and went well with the dishes.
Next time I go for dinner to Fausto I’ll try their Sardines with pine nuts and the cauliflower with anchovy caper vinaigrette dishes. Sounds attractive!
Fausto
348 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
📞(917) 909-1427
Price: $$$
Monday – Tuesday: 5:30 – 10 pm
Wednesday – Friday: 5:30 – 11pm
Saturday: 11 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 – 11 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 – 10 pm
Subway:
Grand Army Plaza, lines 2, 3, and 4
7 avenue: lines B and Q
