Franny’s Replacement Fausto Is Here and Keeping Things Italian

Park Slope-Prospect heights favorite Franny’s may have closed its doors four months ago, but its 348 Flatbush Avenue space remains Italian as wine-focused newcomer Fausto opens this Saturday, December 9.

The restaurant comes from previously West Village-oriented restaurateur Joe Campanale (formerly of L’Artusi, Dell’anima, Anfora), alongside chef Erin Shambura, who served as executive chef at L’Artusi. As Campanale previously has said, Fausto walks a line between sophisticated and casual — no tablecloths here, and it’s the sort of space that can cover a glass of wine and a small bite just as well as a full meal.

Shambura’s opening menu looks to regional Italian dishes with seasonal ingredients, ranging from small bites (arancini, cured sardines) up to grilled lamb loin chops with salsa verde. In the middle is a host of pasta options, from a classic linguine with neck clams and pork sausage to sweet potato-parsnip tortelloni. There’s also a decent seafood presence on the menu, from ceviche through to a whole roasted porgy. See the full menu below.

For drinks, wine features prominently — Campanale has honed in on small producers from Abruzzo, Campania and Sicily; cocktails lean into bitters and Italian liquors.

The space itself is warm and woody: the design from Brooklyn’s HOME Studios aims to evoke old world Italy, yet still has a modern feel that steers clear of the antiquity zone. The bar — which has 12 seats and an adjacent standing bar area — comes with a “handsome” slab of marble. There’s also a downstairs wine cellar that functions as a private dining room for up to 25 people, and in spring Fausto will add a sidewalk patio to the mix.

Fausto, at 348 Flatbush Avenue, between Sterling Place and 8th Avenue, opens Saturday and is open from 5:30 to 11 p.m., seven days. Take a look:

Amber-Lynn Taber

• Fausto [Official]
• Franny’s in Brooklyn Will Close This August [ENY]
• Franny’s Replacement Will Also Be Italian and Full of Wine [ENY]