For All Things Good Is Opening an Italian Restaurant

For All Things Good, a popular Mexican all-day cafe, first opened in July 2020, garnering a loyal fanbase. A year later, Matt Diaz and Carlos Macías expanded with a second location in Williamsburg. Now, Diaz is trying something new: he’s opening Bar Birba, an Italian aperitivi bar and restaurant, that’s located across from the original For All Things Good. Bar Birba is aiming for a mid-November opening at 340 Franklin Avenue, near Greene Avenue.

At For All Things Good, Eater critic Ryan Sutton commended the restaurant’s emphasis on quality — the cafe acts as a molino, where they nixtamalize their own corn. Diaz and his co-owners for Bar Birba, which includes Bob Edinger, who worked in wine sales, and Guadalupe Candia, a kitchen manager at For All Things Good, are bringing a similar mindset to their new venture.

Here, the kitchen will be led by opening chef Aminu Tedla, who has worked at pizza spots around Brooklyn, including Lucali, Baby Luc’s, and nearby Speedy Romeo.

The menu at Bar Birba will focus on natural wines from Italy, “slow food and a small pizza program along with other bites,” says Diaz. Ingredients will be sourced from produce suppliers like Natoora, local farms, and specialty ingredients from Italy, “where necessary.”

The restaurant will start out with nightly service, and eventually add brunch. The small space seats 22 plus standing room.