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FERDINANDO'S RESTAURANT

Updated

Phone: (718) 855-1545

Address: 151 UNION STREET 11231

TLDR

Historic Brooklyn space reimagined as an all-day Italian bar; famous for its revitalized Sicilian specialties and excellent aperitivi.

Reddit Sentiment for FERDINANDO'S RESTAURANT(based on 28 Reddit opinions)

39% Positive54% Neutral7% Negative

Tags

italian 16sicilian 11italian-american 2panelle 6arancini 5clams 5View All

Neighborhoods

Columbia St

Instagram Posts References

Bar Ferdinando offers Vongole alla Patatine, a dish combining clams and fries, suggesting a creative approach to bar food.

Bar Ferdinando is a newly opened Italian bar and cafe in Carroll Gardens, taking over the historic space of Ferdinando's Focacceria. It serves as an ideal spot for a quick aperitivo, offering vermouth service and Negronis, or for a longer stay to savor delicious Sicilian dishes. The beverage menu includes unique twists on classics like the strawberry basil-infused Campari and Soda, while the food features standout items such as fries topped with garlicky clams.

Featured Articles

Dedicated reviews and comprehensive features focusing directly on this restaurant.

Bar Ferdinando Will Open in the Old Ferdinando’s Focacceria Space
lean positive

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.

The Infatuation • Date unknown
Read More →
Grubstreet
This Is Eater’s Guide to All the New Restaurants, Bars, and Cafes That Have Opened This Week in April 2026
lean positive

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.

Eater • Date unknown
Bar Ferdinando
neutral

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.

Willa Moore • Date unknown
Read More →
Infatuation

Other Article Mentions

Lists, round-ups, and guides where this restaurant is mentioned alongside others.

Mentioned In
The Best Dishes We Ate This Month
positive

Sonal Shah revisits Ferdinando’s Focacceria, now under new ownership, and praises their pane e panelle as a "delightfully dense combination" of chickpea fritters, ricotta, and caciocavallo cheese.

Bryan Kim • Apr 30, 2026
Read More →
Infatuation
Mentioned In
Cafe Spaghetti
neutral

Ferdinando's Focacceria is mentioned as a charming, 118-year-old Italian restaurant located across Union Street from Cafe Spaghetti.

Amber Sutherland-Namako • Aug 5, 2022

Details

Located in the historic Carroll Gardens space formerly occupied by a 121-year-old local staple, this revitalized Italian bar and cafe offers a modern take on Sicilian classics [2], [3]. Restaurateur Sal Lamboglia has breathed new life into the location, earning praise for significant culinary improvements over the previous iteration [4], [7]. Guests can enjoy everything from all-day cafe offerings to an elevated bar program featuring unique aperitivi and cocktails [2], [3].

Food Overview

The menu focuses on elevated Sicilian and Italian fare, with standout dishes like pane e panelle, arancini with mozzarella, and creative bar snacks like clams over fries [2], [3], [4]. While the panelle was previously criticized for being tasteless, the current version is widely considered fantastic and even superior to versions found in Sicily [4], [7], [18].

Highlights / Recommended

Mentioned Dishes:

  • •panelle(5)
  • •pane e panelle(3)
  • •vongole alla patatine(3)
  • •manhattan special(2)
  • •arancini(2)
  • •prosciutto sandwich(2)

Customer Sentiment

Patrons are highly enthusiastic about the restaurant's return, noting that current management has successfully addressed past issues with ingredient quality and cooking consistency [4], [7]. The general consensus is that the new iteration is a significant upgrade that offers a fantastic, authentic dining experience [4], [9], [18].

Reddit Opinions & Reviews

Top Reddit Posts About FERDINANDO'S RESTAURANT

The original poster rates the panelle 10/10, praising the texture and lemon juice, while other users celebrate the clear improvement in quality compared to the restaurant's previous iteration.
Regulars discuss the reopening, noting that while the menu is smaller, the quality of items like the panelle and vongole alla patatine has significantly improved.

Recent Reddit Mentions

From post: Need A Good Italian Pasta Restaurant For This

"Suggested as a place for dining."

Neutral
Aug 7, 2026View Comment →

From post: Your Favorite Clam Dishes In Manhattan Or Brooklyn

"Recommended for a specific dish of clams served on top of fries."

Positive
Aug 2, 2026View Comment →

From post: Is There Any Arancini In Nyc Similar To Whats In

"Clarifies the preparation involves a cheese-filled saffron rice ball, which they found delicious despite the unconventional sauce-and-cheese topping."

Positive
Jul 28, 2026View Comment →

From post: Is There Any Arancini In Nyc Similar To Whats In

"Mentions they serve 'special' arancina with sauce and cheese, which differs from traditional Sicilian preparation."

Positive
Jul 28, 2026View Comment →

From post: Is There Any Arancini In Nyc Similar To Whats In

"Claims the two varieties of arancini offered are incredible."

Positive
Jul 28, 2026View Comment →

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