Ferdinando's Focacceria
"Near the BQE, where Carroll Gardens meets Red Hook, sits a jewel of disappearing Brooklyn, a century-old restaurant specializing in authentic Sicilian dishes. This is the real old-fashioned deal: faded photos of Palermo and scenes of the owner with family and the famous, statues of St. Francis and the Virgin Mary, and a plastic prosciutto hanging above the kitchen door," writes Jack Robertiello for New York magazine.
Our favorite lunch in the neighborhood is the $4.60 panelle special with a little marinara sauce. Eating in Translation explains this Sicilian sandwich: "Think of panelle as little panels of deep-fried chickpea flour, a popular snack all by themselves at this old-timey café-restaurant. Put 'em on a bun and lay on the ricotta, and you've got the panelle deluxe ($4.60) for a little crunch, a little chew." Blogger Goodies First opts for the "vastedda, the peculiar and lauded spleen sandwich... the organ is thinly sliced, nakedly gray-brown and wispy like the gills of a mushroom. There was something vaguely portabella-ish about it. The offal is served on a roll with a healthy dollop of ricotta, grated parmesan and baked."
Not For Tourists recommends the "rice balls or arancini that sit alluringly on the counter giving off steam. The fragile balls of lightly fried rice coated in bread crumbs are stuffed with a delicious combination of ground beef, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and peas at its core." And Time Out New York notes that "[owner] Francesco Buffa (Ferdinando was his father-in-law) takes a hands-on approach, canning the sardines that are used in the house specialty, pasta con sarde." Before you check out this spot, keep in mind that Ferdinando's closes by 8 on Mondays through Thursdays, by 10 on Fridays and Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays. If you've been there before, how would you rate it?
Reviews (17)
buttermilk channel wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:10 PM
It's the real deal. We've been going there for 25 years. Favorite is the panelle special,
a side of broccoli rabe. Espresso and Sambuca to finish. Friends who moved to LA always make this their first stop when they visit. Frank is always a welcoming host.
bianca wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:12 PM
I love the place. Everybody should try the spleen sandwich, or if you are too scared, the panelle (chickpea fritters of Arabic origin) which used to be my school lunch in Palermo (served from the back of a three wheel Vespa (called an "Ape) equipped with a large vat of frying oil they were made to order on the street!. If you fear the carbohydrates, you can order them without the bread as an appetizer. Very outstanding spaghetti with vongole too, and pasta con le sarde is also a must. Cheap it is not, but worth the money!
Susan Elkins wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:27 PM
I want to like it, but each time I go I realize once again that it's pretty awful. What can I say.
Nomi wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:37 PM
This is literally one of my favorite restaurants.
SJ wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:43 PM
I love this place as well. The panelle is superb and the entrees are as well.
GeorgeAppo wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:45 PM
Delicious. Panelle is oh so good.
Boerum Hill wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:45 PM
I went to Ferdinando's several times when I first moved to Carroll Gardens in 1992. Always liked the food, but not once was I treated nicely. That surprised me, since this is such a small neighborhood spot. They'd be better off if they put the same amount of care into their customer's as they obviously put into their food.
Brenda from Flatbush wrote a review on February 20, 2009 12:46 PM
Haven't been in 2 years, but we loved it on several visits, esp. the really Sicilian stuff (but no, haven't tried the spleens). It was cash-only last time, btw. Service always was lovely (I recall a really sweet Polish waitress). The place has been there absolutely forever, yet doesn't have the self-mythologizing quality that a lot of surviving oldies have, and prices are very gentle. Something about its cut-off location after the BQE went in seems to have preserved it in a very natural, modest state instead of in restaurant amber.
president clinton wrote a review on February 20, 2009 3:29 PM
The panelle special is the best value in the neighborhood, and I've always found the service exceptionally friendly.
mshook wrote a review on February 20, 2009 4:08 PM
We went in and the waitress (we thought she might be the owner) was extremely nice. When she learned we are vegetarian she insisted on making us something "really special". It was truly the most vile pasta dish I have ever tasted. We worked really hard to make some of it disappear so we woudn't appear rude or ungrateful... I guess we should have stuck with the panelle!
Combustiblegirl2 wrote a review on February 20, 2009 4:23 PM
This is the real deal. Home style Italian cooking that reminds me of my mother's. Over the several years we've been eating there, I've never been treated rudely nor had a bad meal (and my b.f. is a vegetarian who loves this place even more than I do). The panelle special is one of the most wonderfully decadent things I've ever eaten. We can't go there without ordering it as a starter. It's worth the trip for those who love real rustic Italian food. Whenever we have out of town visitors who want to go to Little Italy, I take them here instead.
mopar wrote a review on February 20, 2009 6:12 PM
This is a trip of a restaurant. Probably everything there is exactly as it was in 1901, except modern tomatoes are not worth making into a salad. I highly recommend the sardine pasta. I also prefer their tiramisu to anyone else's. It seems to be just bread, which I like better than store-bought ladyfingers, the usual (cream, cocoa, etc.) and tons of alcohol. Mmm. Also they were real nice to me. Not cheap. And very inconvenient hours, so I only went twice (and I lived half a block away and was a freelancer).
Eat It Brooklyn wrote a review on February 20, 2009 6:49 PM
Love this place. Didn't want the secret to get out! I went here the day I got my braces (9th grade) and the waitress was so sweet. She brought me the most delicious rice ball smothered with tomato sauce and ricotta because it was soft enough for me to eat. She said it was what she gave her son when HE got braces. Now, that was 20 years ago, but it's still a great place!
jfss wrote a review on February 20, 2009 7:14 PM
Has been there long before the current owners father-in-law. My parents remember it in the '40s (and maybe 30s) as a lunch place for the longshoremen. When I moved here in the 80s it was only open during the week, during the day - no dinners. My family all moved away after WWII but I remember my uncle bringing home take-out panelle and vestedde specials from there when I was a kid in the 50s - 60s.
salvpar wrote a review on February 21, 2009 6:18 PM
I have been going to this place for 15 years. Members of my family visiting from Sicily have marveled at the authenticity. Absolutely delicious. Frank is a great guy and very friendly. It should be noted that the restaurant appeared (along with Frank) in the Scorcese film, The Departed.
janelle wrote a review on February 23, 2009 1:16 PM
a favorite. always delicious and great service. nice neighborhood feel - a real gem.
jludvik wrote a review on May 17, 2009 3:11 PM
This place is one of Brooklyn's best. It is totally authentic and has been run by the same family for over 100 years. It's Sicilian and definitely not for the fettucine alfredo types, but the red sauce is unbelievable. The stuffed green peppers are the best there is and the potato croquettes are to die for. Stick to the red sauces with the pasta -- the spaghetti marinara & puttanesca are great (the white sauce can be a little boring). Try a cannoli for dessert -- to die for -- they don't get any better. The service is also great -- the staff is friendly and makes everyone feel right at home.
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