TLDR
A historic Carroll Gardens landmark reimagined as an all-day Italian bar and cafe, serving up iconic Sicilian street food and craft cocktails.
Reddit Sentiment for FERDINANDO'S RESTAURANT(based on 26 Reddit opinions)
Sal Lamboglia is reviving the spirit of a beloved neighborhood institution by opening Bar Ferdinando in the former Ferdinando’s Focacceria space, offering a new take on Italian bar culture.
Sal Lamboglia revives the historic Ferdinando's Focacceria space with Bar Ferdinando, an Italian bar and cafe offering classic Sicilian dishes like arancini and pane e panelle, alongside amari-based cocktails. Opens April 15.
Willa Moore reviews Bar Ferdinando, a Carroll Gardens neighborhood gem that revitalized NYC's oldest Sicilian restaurant, Ferdinando's Focacceria, offering classic dishes like arancini and pane e panelle.
Details
Located in the historic 121-year-old space of a former neighborhood staple, this revitalized Italian bar and cafe offers a refreshed dining experience in Carroll Gardens [2], [4]. Helmed by the team behind Cafe Spaghetti, the establishment celebrates Sicilian roots with a menu featuring both classic and updated culinary offerings [3], [4]. Guests can enjoy an all-day menu ranging from house-made baked goods to signature Sicilian specialties [2], [4].
Food Overview
The menu focuses on Sicilian-inspired fare, with standout items including arancini with mozzarella and pane e panelle, which consists of chickpea fritters on a homemade roll with ricotta and caciocavallo cheese [3], [4]. Other offerings include seafood salad, prosciutto sandwiches, and a variety of baked goods [2], [17]. While the previous iteration of the restaurant faced criticism for inconsistent quality, the current menu has received high marks, with one reviewer rating the panelle a 10/10 [7], [10], [17].
Highlights / Recommended
"The pane e panelle is widely celebrated as a must-try Sicilian specialty, often praised for its perfect texture and fresh ingredients [4], [17]. The arancini with oozing mozzarella is also highly recommended [4]."
Mentioned Dishes:
- •panelle(5)
- •pane e panelle(3)
- •manhattan special(2)
- •prosciutto sandwich(2)
Caveats
The restaurant maintains a walk-in only policy for groups under five, which may result in waits during peak hours [4].
Reddit Opinions & Reviews
Top Reddit Posts About FERDINANDO'S RESTAURANT
Recent Reddit Mentions
From post: Fugazzeta Pizza With Chickpea Faina Pancake
"Included in a list of places the user is interested in trying for farinata."
NeutralFrom post: Best Affordable Italian Restaurant Nyc
"This user questioned if Bar Ferdinando's had changed to just a bar with limited food options."
NeutralFrom post: Best Affordable Italian Restaurant Nyc
"This user recommended Bar Ferdinando's as an affordable, classic red sauce Italian place where a good-sized entree is around $25."
PositiveFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The user tried the panelle for the first time and found it fantastic. They also enjoyed the vongole alla patatine."
PositiveFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The commenter found the idea of Bar Ferdinando appealing, specifically mentioning the panelle with lemon juice and a prosciutto sandwich as reasons to try it."
PositiveFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The commenter regretted not trying the original Bar Ferdinando, expressing interest in the current offerings."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The commenter agrees that the food at the previous iteration of Bar Ferdinando was not good, but is glad to see the improvement."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The user had the panelle at the old Bar Ferdinando, stating it wasn't memorable, but the current version was."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The commenter expressed a strong desire to visit Bar Ferdinando soon."
PositiveFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The commenter had a negative experience with the previous iteration of the restaurant, citing tasteless panelle, low-quality cheese, rubbery calamari, and overcooked pastas. They are happy to see the apparent upgrade and credit Sal Lamboglia for knowing his stuff."
NegativeFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The user thanked the previous commenter for the information about busyness and confirmed they would try the restaurant."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"In response to a question about busyness, the user stated there were open tables at 1 PM and expected it to be okay at 5 PM. They also mentioned ordering takeout to eat in a nearby garden."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The user inquired about busyness during lunch/happy hour and planned to visit around 5 PM. They received a response indicating that there were open tables at 1 PM and suggested visiting at 5 PM would likely be fine."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The user confirmed that Bar Ferdinando reopened this past week and that the menu is smaller but other items looked good. They also provided an Instagram link for the restaurant."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The commenter was not aware that Bar Ferdinando had reopened and expressed interest in returning."
NeutralFrom post: Pan E Panelle At Bar Ferdinando
"The original poster rated the panelle at Bar Ferdinando 10/10, praising its texture, light cheese, and the addition of lemon juice, even stating it was better than panelle had in Sicily. They also enjoyed the prosciutto sandwich and expressed happiness about the restaurant's reopening."
PositiveFrom post: First Taste Of Panelle At Visit Sicily Nyc East
"The author shared that they found Ferdinando's Focacceria to be mediocre when they visited, despite liking the idea of the place."
NegativeFrom post: First Taste Of Panelle At Visit Sicily Nyc East
"Following a discussion about Ferdinando's Focacceria closing, the author clarified that while it is reopening, it is not with the same owner or concept, though the original owner has given his approval."
NeutralFrom post: First Taste Of Panelle At Visit Sicily Nyc East
"In response to a question about Ferdinando's Focacceria, the author stated that it has permanently closed."
NeutralFrom post: First Taste Of Panelle At Visit Sicily Nyc East
"The author asked if the original poster had tried Ferdinando's Focacceria on Union St and expressed curiosity about it."
Neutral