Ferdinando’s Focacceria
“The arancini with ricotta are some of the best I've ever had, and the chick-pea panelle sandwich is out of this world.”
“Pasta con sarde is a house favorite made with sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts, raisins, and a saffron sauce.”
“It's got that old-school, local vibe that makes it a nice chill place to have dinner.”
Ferdinando’s Focacceria
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
The meatball hero was okay. There is an organ-y flavor to it, perhaps they use liver in their mix. The bread really killed it for me too. Hard, cut the roof of my mouth kind of bread. Not a lot of sauce. Lackluster.
I have had the bolognese here, along with various other dishes – eggplant, stuffed artichoke, roasted peppers…It's fine. Nothing spesh, just fine.
Also – things seem to come a la carte – like the rice ball (which really is delish BTW) but if you want sauce it's an extra $1.50, fresh ricotta, $1.50 – same with the chick pea fritter – with all the fixins it quickly becomes spendy italian. if authentic italian is really really what you're after (for when your jersey/midwest or upstate family is in town) it could be worth hitting it up for the novelty of old long standing establishment in the nabe. coffee soda on tap.
No delivery, pick up only.
I really like Ferdinando's Focacceria – an old-school (since 1904!), warm, homey Brooklyn Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed, with the walls covered in pictures of celebrities and articles singing its praises. The service here is fast, the menu is extensive and VERY reasonably priced considering this is homemade delicious Italian fare. We started with the arancina special, a lightly fried rice ball filled with beef and peas, then doused in tomato sauce and ricotta. DELICIOUS! It was also not too huge, so it made for a good appetizer.
The entrees were all solid, but my favorite was the parppadelle with zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, and onions. There was the ideal amount of olive oil, and the pasta was cooked just right, which is tricky for parppadelle. Tasty, refreshing, but filling. My friends ordered the Calamari Ripieni, linguini with calamari stuffed with bread crumbs, cheese, and egg, and the vastedda, a spleen and ricotta sandwich. The former was very good, albeit a little dry, and while the sandwiches bread and ricotta were EXCELLENT, the spleen felt a little flavorless. Maybe that's how spleen is supposed to taste, but not my cup of tea.
Overall, this place is legendary for a reason – delicious Italian food for great prices. Will go back, and yet another reason why I love Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill!
Being as I come from a Sicilian background this focacceria is near and dear to my heart. I was out with a friend (who is also of Sicilian decent) last night when we happened to see an open parking spot and jumped on the opportunity to go in for a bite. The last time before yesterday (11/20/15) that I was there had to be 10+ years ago when I would go regularly with my dad. Enough about my backstory – let's get into why you should go here. This is the real deal – this is not an Italian restaurant that happens to serve Sicilian specialties. No, this is an authentic Sicilian focacceria – trinacria and all! We were in a bit of a hurry so we got two sandwiches, one to go, and split. The vastedda (veal spleen) here is a work of art – I don't usually enjoy this because of the texture but I had some of my friend's and it was excellent. I on the other hand had the panelle (smashed and fried chickpeas) special. You're damn right putting ricotta and cheese on top of an item makes it special. I wish I realized sooner that they had Manhattan Special on tap – completely forgot. Next time! Do yourself a flavor favor and check this place out – you won't regret it. Take a bite of the Sicilian culture – food, family, and friendship
This is what my nonna's cooking would taste like if I had an Italian grandmother. I don't, but my friend Tony does, and he said it was JUST LIKE eating at his nonna's house! It is super old school, and everything we were served was DELICIOUS.
We originally came here for the Vastedda – spleen sandwiches (from Best Thing I Ever Ate), and we were advised that they can be an acquired taste. Whatevs, I eat everything from an animal, so I was down.
We ordered:
Burrata – YUM, with eggplant and tomato, it was the PERFECT juxtaposition of creamy, sweet, and slightly salty
Caponatina – eggplant salad – Tony said he used to eat this when he would come home from school! It's cold served with a tomato-y sauce/dressing. Delicious and so flavorful
Tony and I split a Vestadda while our not-as-adventurous spouses ordered bolognese, and Arancina special. I also ordered the Panelle special.
The Vestadda – MMMMMMMMMMMMMM – it was AMAZING. Minerally like blood sausage but SO MUCH MORE than that. I could eat that all day. And it's done with beautiful ricotta on some homemade bread. The bolognese and arancina was also RIDICULOUSLY good!!!
I would be here every week if possible! SO GOOD.
A hidden neighborhood gem. My husband and I have been here several times since we live a block over and it never disappoints. There's a nostalgic old school vibe with all the wooden furniture and picture frames that makes me feel right at home. So far we've tried:
– Aracina (rice ball): it comes in the shape of a huge meatball sitting in tomato sauce and sprinkled with cheese; very good
– Buratta: mozzarella, tomato and grilled eggplant – super refreshing. i'm not a big fan of eggplant but everything complimented each other and was a good healthy alternative to a salad
– Pappardella alla Boscaiola: Veggie dish with hand-cut pasta, tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms and zucchini. I've ordered this twice and portions are huge so I've had leftovers every time. The only downside is that the sauce is a little too oily for me.
– Meatball & chicken parm hero: large portions, we liked the meatball more than the parm.
Everyone talks about the panelle sandwich so we'll have to try that next time. Service is great; personable and attentive. So lucky to have this authentic Italian spot so close to home!
The vastedda was not worth getting because of the weird texture. The bread was amazing though.
The rice ball is excellent! We got it as an appetizer and shared it which was great
The parppadelle with zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, and onions was the best dish we got. Absolutely delicious, definitely get it
The calamari ripieni is good, but not as good as the parppadelle.
Overall this place is a great deal, has been open for 100 years, great food and is a nice place to go out with friends in Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill
Old school. Wonderful. Lots of personality. Servers will get in your face with attitude if you deserve it, and otherwise treat you with utter respect for the customer. Came here with friends on one of their last nights in Brooklyn after living here for some 7 years. This place was one of the places they had to say goodbye to, and I can see why.
Had the pasta con sarne, a panelle sandwich, and shared a bottle of red. Amazing. I hope to come back here, often, too. The price ain't bad for what you're getting here, either.
Ferdinando's is everything you would expect from a Sicilian restaurant that's been a neighborhood fixture in Caroll Gardens, Brooklyn for over 100 years. Now that's impressive! You know this place is doing something very right if they have lasted that long.
I came here for the first time about 10 years ago and although I live on the other side of the borough, I return from time to time because the food is amazing and it is so worth the subway ride or drive.
One of my favorite dishes is the Panelle Special, which seems to be very popular among others too. The Panelle Special consists of fried chickpea fritters, fresh ricotta cheese, sharp cheese, on a warm sesame bun. The sandwich isn't huge, but don't let that fool you because it is very filling. I recently brought my husband here and he loved it too!
When you eat at Ferdinando's, it is like home. It's casual and laid-back, adorned with vintage decor like their pressed tin roof, white tiled floors and family photos. It seems this place hasn't changed much over the years, which is a rare quality with restaurants.
Absolutely delicious food with an old-fashioned, friendly atmosphere. I would come here more often if I lived closer.