Ferdinando's Focacceria

The food simply isn’t good at all. It’s actually kinda bad. It wasn’t fresh and heated in chef mike. That doesn’t work well for fried food (the chick peas) which should be freshly made. That’s kinda the whole point of going to a restaurant, to get decent food. The rice ball was badly made, oldish, and not heated up evenly/properly. It’s pretty clear that this place has been ruined. After 130 years it doesn’t deserve to stay in business with all the great alternatives out there. We were joking about how if desperate, we still wouldn’t eat this food and use it as bait instead. The reviewers have clearly been deprived of decent food. Also FYI it’s cash only and while I found out from reviews they really should make that clearer.

Brooklyn Staple Carroll Gardens Bring CASH we Ol’School ova here. Walking into this establishment brings you back in time. It’s simple and delicious. Order everything on the menu you wont be disappointed. I’ve been coming here for what feels like a lifetime and ordering the same thing. And it’s just as good as when i ordered it 30 years ago. When you make something good you just continue todo so no reason to change it. Also if you never had a Manhattan special ( espresso drink) they have it on tap. It’s the only spot i know that has it.MUST TRY. I hope they never change. Thanks as always

Super nice waiter, patient with our group- we had an elderly indecisive relative with us who is not the easiest. My dad and I loved our food- we all shared the panelle special, he got the seafood salad and I got the spaghetti with clams and white sauce. It was all great! Very cool to visit such an old part of the borough we are from.

Their food is literally so good. We cannot let this old school gem die!!

If you are looking for some true Sicilian food this is the place. The food is amazing. It is cash only.

Because of the Google ratings, I had high expectations for this old-school joint. Once Joe’s of Avenue U was bought by Russians, the food went downhill; although, I hear it’s back in Sicilian hands. So pickings are slim for Sicilian food in this city. I guess because we can probably make it better ourselves. The only good thing about this meal was the cannoli—the shell was crisp and the cream was delectable. However, the panelles were inedible. In general, nothing looked or tasted fresh, just warmed up in the microwave, but these had the most horrible flavor. I asked for a little sauce to see if that would help, and it tasted like they opened a can of plain tomato sauce, dumped it in a bowl, and then watered it down. Then they charged me $3 for that!! The caponata and rice ball were good but nothing special. I could make them both better myself or find them better at any Italian deli or butcher. It was very expensive and so disappointing. I would never come here again. If you ever had a panelle from Joe’s of Avenue U, that is the best. Give them a try if you want Sicilian. Not this place.

Really good, authentic Italian restaurant. The special aracini riceball was flavorful and got nice texture. Also recommend the sardine pasta which had an interesting flavor that I never tried before. would order the pasta again when I’m back. Service was friendly too.

Hidden gem alert. Staff is amazing. Atmosphere is fun and transportive. Food is right on for some NY Sicilian Italian. Very spot on and a super fun name to say. Ferdinando’s Focacceria. Ferdinando’s Focacceria. Ferdinando’s Focacceria! Best cannoli ever too. Best I’ve ever had! Truly.

This is one of the best places I have been to. The food is fantastic we started with a rice ball special. I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture. The eggplant and meatballs were out of this world. The tiramisu was to die for. Their sauce was so good The service was fantastic. They do not rich you. And very friendly The place is so adorable love the brick wall.

We came all the way here from the Bronx for the Vastedda sandwich... thank goodness this didn't disappoint! My coworker had these growing up as a kid in Long Island and had find memories with his grandparents. We looked up this restaurant and were so excited they still served them. Open since 1904 and has all of the charm you expect and want from a neighborhood Sicilian gem! We tried quite a few things and everything was delicious! We are already looking forward to coming back. The owner said hello and our server was so lovely. Cash only!

My friend wanted to go here for her birthday since it was a restaurant her father once frequented. The ambiance brings on a strong nostalgic sense of comfort and the food was equally satisfying. They even have an espresso style soda on tap! The owner was on site and remembered my friend's father quite fondly. The whole experience felt like having dinner at my best friend's grandparents home. Great food, great service, and a romantically nostalgic vibe. Highly recommend for small groups and date night!

Had this restaurant on my list to check out for a while. Great restaurant, option to sit in doors with lots of old photos of Sicily or outside in the garden. It was relatively quiet on the weekday afternoon we went. The menu is extensive with so many great options. Chose to try out a couple of their specialties. The panelle special was outstanding as was the arancini. The cheese was very fresh on all the dishes. These dishes were more than sufficient for 2 people. Will have to return to try the pasta dishes. FYI cash only (atm available in back)

The best thing I can say about Ferdinandos is it has amazing old world charm. Like stepping into a Time Machine and going back 100 yrs. Lots and lots of history. Mosaic tile floors, lots of intricate wood and several pics of famous ppl adorn the walls. We've worked in the area for many years and never gave a try. Until a coworker and I began talking about it a few weeks back, yesterday was the day we decided to order lunch. We called, ordered and picked up 20 min later. I got the Sicilian eggplant w/ ricotta, coworker got the panelle sandwich. I walked in to pick up or order. I chatted w an older gentleman about Sicily. When we got the food back to the office to eat we both unwrapped our little packages like children on Christmas morning. Upon first glance the sandwiches were small, about the size of a hamburger bun. First bite, good not great. My eggplant was a bit bitter and chewy. Coworkers panelle was a bit dry. That's really it. For $11 sandwiches I can't say we will be back for the food although I'd like to go back for the history.

This spot has a very old school bk vibe and look. Fyi this is cash only bu they do have an ATM inside. The service was good and quick. After we ordered a loaf of very dry hard bread was placed at the table. If that was EVOO it wasnt good. More like vegetable oil with seasonings. We also tried the potatoe croquettes which tasted a bit of oil. It would have been better if served with marinara. I got the Meatball Parmigian which came with 4 small balls, pasta and side salad. The meatballs where a little dry but the sauce was tasty. The pasta and salad both ok no complaints. The glass of cabaret wasn't bad either. If your interested in no fuss basic Italian food this is the spot.

Came here on a gloomy, cloudy day and it was the perfect dose of comfort food. This place has been around since 1904 & doles out classic Sicilian dishes. My friend whose colleague recommended we come here suggested the squid salad, octopus salad & sardine pasta. These were all excellent dishes and a the sardine pasta has a unique, balanced flavor that I somehow crave now even though I don't like sardines usually. We also added classic spaghetti bolognese + pork chops to satiate ourselves. Definitely suggest doing this family style sharing because how can you not want to sample the abundant menu. P.S. shoutout to Pedro who took great photos of our grp

Honestly, life-changing. Everything was genuinely delicious. Words do not suffice. Creamy, saucy, delicious. The table over kept saying everything was perfect and we agree. I'll be back. Perfect for an intimate date or any occasion. A BK gem.

The Panelle Special was creamy, crunchy, a little tangy in a fresh, grainy homemade roll. The hot broccoli rabe was the best I've had, buttery (maybe its olive oil) with lots of garlic and seasoned just right. It's very homey and comfortable. Good and personable service. I just ate there yesterday and was moved to write a review because I saw they cut their days. I want them to last! I enjoyed Cafe Spaghetti recently across the street, but it is more modern American trying to replicate old-world Italian. Ferdinando's IS old-world Sicialian, very similar to the restaurants I knew growing up in Brooklyn.

Like a trip back to Sicily! Very rustic and old school, I highly recommend you give this spot a try!

Best food in NY. Small, cash only eatery with a garden in the back . Dependable , consistent Sicilian panelles (chick pea fried) and veal parmigiana with a side of pasta and a starter salad. Manhattan (coffee soda) on tap. In the same location since 1904.

Being born and raised in the neighborhood, I am a decades old customer. Sadly, in the last few years, I've stayed away. Prices got too high and portions too small. I can recall when it all started, too. When the owner started making his own rolls instead of getting them from the local bakery. At one pint, he was using polish cheese on the Pannelle special. The potato croquettes are small finger size these days. Ive been satisfying my appetite at Joe's If Avenue U for some time now. The pannelle special sandwich is HUGE and overloaded by comparison. Even the potato croquettes are much bigger. I miss going to Ferdinando's, but it is just not satisfying in any way at all. I leave it to all the newcomers who think they're discovering something special not knowing what they're really missing.

Calamari was chewy and bland and the parnel sandwich had 2 small chickpea patties in it. I expected better and was disappointed.

Solid Sicilian cafe/restaurant with some unique dishes. Overall had an enjoyable meal here. Appetizers were excellent. Got the eggplant as well as some burrata. Eggplant preparation was unlike anything I have ever had before -- not fried, and was almost ashy (I know this sounds odd) and marinated in vinegar. I thought it was incredibly tasty and will order that app again. Entree was good but nothing incredible. Got the seafood pasta which was a good portion and overall delicious but a little on the watery side. I was with some coworkers and noticed portion size was kind of light for their 2 entrees (pork special, and chicken park entree). This place was more expensive that I thought it would be for this type of family-run small eatery, but the food was good. Will likely give it another try next time I'm in the area for lunch or an early dinner.

My grandparents started their family in this neighborhood and came here a lot before they moved. My mom talked about how good the food was and brought me and siblings here when I was a kid and I fell in love with the panelle special! It was as delicious as my mom said it was! Great family business with a delicious menu, great staff, and cozy atmosphere. Never had anything I didn't like. Always a 5 out of 5!

Excellent excellent excellent! We had the riceball special, linguine with squid ink and scuttle fish, and linguine with clams. All sauces were amazing. Dishes were fresh and served hot! No frills, service was great. Will definitely go back to try other dishes! PS. The items, photos and articles within the restaurant were also very intriguing / entertaining.

Interesting for the experience of trying a cuisine of Italy that is rather poorly represented in NYC, at least nowadays. The panelle sandwich is not one I need to have again; it's rather mild-tasting yet heavy, but it certainly sparks one's curiosities on its origins. Perhaps some relation to the Garantita sandwich across the Mediterranean in Algeria? And if you couldn't tell this was an old-school joint, the inclusion of an elusive coffee soda on tap really drives that point home.

This is an historic landmark that is still serving the best Sicilian food. My father brought me here for the vasteda I only ate the pannelli special. It's been over 30 years since I built the Mill on President street. My brother and I frequented Ferdinand's for lunch. Never a bad meal. I'll be back. This year.

Not what it use to be. Went there for lunch with my son. Baked clams weren't fresh. Reheated. The Vastedda was dry as a bone. The Panelle sandwich I could have rung out the grease! Joe's of Ave U so much better.

Ferdinando's is a Brooklyn institutio with a solid menu. Warm atmosphere and even warmer staff

Very good food, Had veal parm with a salad &pasta. Very good deserts& cannolis. Nice waiter who works very hard. Please support this local business!Old Time Italian cafe charming decor!

This is a Sicilian place with certain character, mostly it's facade. I guess it is a survivor of the past. The interiors are different; and definitively rare in an area where many beautifully decorated restaurants have been opened in the last years. This interior is kind of ugly, in an uncommon way. I hate to say this, but the food is not great. At the end of the day, it seems to be a bit overpriced for not such a terrific meal.

Started going there when I was 7yrs old with my dad Now I'm in my 70s and I bring my friends there.from Long island Love this place

Stopped in here on a Sat afternoon. Originally saw this place on 9.99 nyc with Dave Evans. My wife loves panelle, so figured we would try it. Very original, nostalgic place. Seated quickly, very good service. I had the special, we also had potato croquettes and tomato and mozzarella salad. Everything is great, fresh, made with love...you can tell. Great area to explore in Carrol gardens/red hook(yes parking is a bi$%!)If your looking for panelle or just a great small feel family oriented spot...this is it. The owner and the staff are inviting and friendly and care about what they serve. Can't wait to go back

Always great food , was craving the eggplant Siciliana and as always they delivered.Potato Croquettes

I'm puzzled how I overlooked writing a review of Ferdinando's Focaccaria!!! 5 stars alone for the memories of eating their delicious Sicilian food since childhood. I am half Sicilian and although I enjoy Italian food from all regions, I'm quite partial to Sicilian. This review is pre-Covid---indoor dining or takeaway. Ferdinando's has been in place on Union Street since 1904--yup, many generations have enjoyed their food. The place is unpretentious and quaint--you are made to feel at home. Some of their specialties are their sandwiches: the Vastedda special (boiled, then pan fried (veal) spleen layered on a roll with ricotta cheese and grated Locatelli). I no longer eat red meat, but I had my share of this sandwich through the years and in my opinion, delicious but a bit heavy. Truth be told, the idea of eating spleen might not be too appealing to most so there are other options. Delicious sandwich number 2--the Panelle special. My mouth is watering as I write this. It is made of chickpeas, seasoned, thin, cut in squares and deep fried. Again, layered with ricotta and grated cheese. Delicious sandwich number 3 (my favorite as a child)--the potato croquette special. Mashed potatoes seasoned with salt, pepper and parsley deep fried and layered in a sandwich same as vastedda and panelle. What's fun is that you can combine panelle and croquettes in the same sandwich if you're feeling extra hungry. Just don't step on the bathroom scale the next day hehe. Note, you may have the above as side orders if you're not in the mood for a sandwich or plan to order other food. Their Arancini special is to die for. A huge riceball split open to accommodate creamy ricotta cheese then topped with grated cheese served piping hot. Their menu has a good amount of selections of which some are visible in their counter. I really like their Fried Calamari and Caponata (eggplant appetizer). And when in Rome, the Pasta con Sarde (sardine and fennel sauce) is a must try. One of the highlights visiting this place as a kid was to eat my special sandwiches and wash it down with a Manhattan Special served on draft and in a plastic red cup. Priceless. For those familiar, I am sure you are smiling. I am not aware if Ferdinando's constructed outdoor dining area during the pandemic. What I do know is that their food is pretty authentic (take it from a Sicilian gal) and very good. I must pay them a visit soon. You should too.

We recently dined at this restaurant. It was very disappointing. The fried calamari was frozen and then fried. It tasted like tough rubber. My husband's spaghetti was limp and tasteless. My pasta tasted overcooked and stale. The food reminded me of cafeteria food. No one else was in the restaurant. I do not recommend this place. The price for a dinner was $36. Overpriced and diner food.

Well established and authentic sicilian restaurant between cobble hill and carrol gardens. Some friends and I walked into Ferdinando's on a rainy Saturday afternoon. We were immediately greeted and seated in a very cute outdoor space in the backyard. The food was delicious. I highly recommend the panelle and any variation of the riceball. The sauce is to die for. Also had a very pleasant conversation over a vintage map of Sicily with (I assume) the owner who seemed to know all the little towns and cities. Just note - Ferdinandos is not on seamless or any online food ordering platforms. Do yourself a favor, call in and place your order with this true Brooklyn establishment. If anything, you'll get a kick out of the authentic NY BK accents.

My family has been coming to Ferdinando's for over 70 years. I come in from California every year and we get panelle specials when we visit the family. Wow, so disappointed There were only 2 panelle's on the sandwich when there are usually 4 and it was dry because there was barely any ricotta on it. So so sad, what happened? Covid? I'm unsure if I will come again.

This may be the last Sicilian focacceria. Please prove me wrong. Everything was very good. An old school setting. Quick service. Good food. But I was there for the vastedda. While I wanted to like the vastedda It was not good. I know what your thinking, "You're eating a spleen sandwich. What do you expect?" As a kid we went to the La Focacceria in the East Village, where vastedda was the special of the house at the counter. Also, not good,. I wanted to relive the taste of the vastedda I had in Palermo. This was not it.

Old school Sicilian Restaurant. Place has been here since 1904. Food was very good. Atmosphere made you feel like you went back in time. Neighborhood is beautiful . Given all that entries were very high priced . One thing we ordered was pork chop pizzaioli. Small piece of meat and scoop of pasta $36.00 . It was a nice experience. But I had better food and better prices other places.

Cute little Sicilian restaurant serving up tasty foods! We came for Mother's Day with my Sicilian grandmother. We ordered the stuffed artichoke, broccoli rab, rice ball, panelle sandwich to start. The broccoli rab and rice ball were my favorites. For entree, there was a mix of pastas and sandwiches. I sampled the puttanesca which was tasty and not too fishy. I ordered the eggplant Siciliana sandwich which was great... melted in my mouth. We finished off the meal with cappuccinos. Friendly staff, attentive, frequent water refills.. great option for traditional Sicilian fare

I've been looking at the Fernando's Focacceria bookmark for over a year. I went out to dinner with friends last week and my buddy tells me he tried the best Vastedda (Sicilian Spleen Sandwich) at Fernando's Focacceria. Done and done, I'm there. Ferdinando's Focaccia is a 100 year old+ Sicilian Specialty store in Brooklyn. They have plenty of simple items for lunch like huge rice balls and The panelle?? All my years of life, this was never made in my grandparents home growing up, it was never discussed. If my other grandfather said to my Greek Granny, I want panelle, get started on that project. My grandmother would have bopped him on the head. What is it?? Enquiring minds want to know. I walk into a old school Brooklyn joint. Wooden floors and small tables, this place screams old school Brooklyn. I'm asked if I want a table. I don't want to get the food to go, I want to experience a Vastedda & Panelle. I'm asked what I want to drink, I want a glass of MANHATTAN SPECIAL ON TAP! OMG, someone pinch me. Manhattan special is COFFEE SODA! On tap no less?? krazy Both the Vastedda & Panelle come out. The bread is homemade and is slathered with spleen, ricotta and parmesan shavings. I take a bite. It's kinda like chopped liver! No big deal, it has a unique taste. The panelle? What the heck are these things? Its like a flavorless thin flap jack. Yeah.. I should have ordered a rice ball. Oh well, another opportunity to come back. The table next to me ordered huge pasta dishes, they looked a-maze-ing! This place is a gem, if you want authentic and old school Italian food, I recommend Ferdinando's Focacceria.

Old school sicilian style dishes. This place has been around a looooooong time. Everything I've tried on the menu has been excellent. The sausage parm hero, rice ball special and the panelle special sandwich are standouts. The panelle sandwich is thin ground chickpea patties served on a fresh roll topped with ricotta and fresh grated parmigiano cheese, and I always ask for a little tomato sauce on the side for dunking. Just a note : They accept credit cards, but for some strange reason, only on Friday Saturdays and Sundays.

Love the atmosphere .. took me back to my youth and all the wonderful things I enjoyed with my father .. with it's traditional Sicilian entrées and authentic feel .. everything was delectable .. staff was on point and the owner was friendly !

My husband grew up in this neighborhood, and had been eating here for most of his life. We started going as a family when my son was born in 1999. Although we live in New Jersey, we make the trip a few times per year. We always have the Panelle Special, and the Rice Ball Special. My son Loves the Meatball Parm, and the Chicken Parm. The broccoli rabe is delicious, as well as the potato croquettes. There's something for everyone. The pastas are great with a nice variety of entrees. You can't go wrong with this restaurant. It's small, so get there early!

I hate to give this place such a low rating, but I had such high expectations and was so underwhelmed by the food and service. The ambiance is cool...definitely feels old school and would be a cool spot for a date. We walked in without reservations on a Saturday night and were seated with no problem. My father asked about a wine list, which they did not have because "it's always changing." You had to get up and go and look at the wall and see what bottles they had and pick one you wanted. I thought that was laziness on the part of the business...no one said you have to have a fancy wine list but if it's changing so much, you could at least just print out something on Microsoft Word daily with the changes. Not a big deal but whatever. During this time of searching for wine, I noticed many things (appetizers, stuffed artichokes etc) being reheated in the microwave behind the counter. Reheating in the microwave? At a restaurant? Okay... When speaking to our server, we were told that they do not have any appetizers with meat on them. So if you're looking for an antipasto with meats, or any other type of traditional Italian appetizer with meat, you won't find it here. My father asked what kind of clams are served with the Linguine Vongole - big or small. Our server told us she didn't know...it was whatever was in the kitchen that day - it could be big or it could be small it's always different. Well here's a suggestion...how about you go look and find out?? Whatever. My father ended up ordering that because she said it was a very popular dish and very flavorful. Mom ordered veal parm on a hero. For my meal, I ordered the "three course meal" which was a salad, veal parm and a side of pasta. I say "three course" because salad and pasta is usually part of the meal in most Italian restaurants, but I guess not here. When I got my salad, it was pulled from the counter up front and served on a bread plate. The lettuce was obviously old or was kept too cold because I could see the reddish-brown lines all over it. No choice of dressing other than oil and vinegar on the salad, which was about 8 pieces of lettuce and a slice of a carrot. My meal looked good, but was disappointing. The veal, although nice and thin, was pretty mushy and didn't have much flavor. The pasta on the side however was really good. My father was underwhelmed by his Vongole...he was only given 7 small clams and there was no clam flavor to the sauce. Not worth the price he thought. My mom enjoyed her sandwich, but thats kind of hard to mess up. If it sounds like I'm being too picky, maybe I am. My father is from Italy and cooks at home every night so we have high expectations when we go out to Italian restaurants, especially if we are getting something that can be cooked at home. The service combined with the food just wasn't anything special. I might return since I live nearby and try something else. It's so highly rated maybe it was just an off night?

Got to try this place. Like eating in an old time Italian restaurant hidden from the big city. Food is delicious. Got to try the panelle and rice balls.

Went here with high hopes for this Brooklyn staple serving traditional Sicilian dishes. I feel a little let down because the food was so so, and the service was really incredibly slow; although I would say the server was nice. I ordered the following to share with my wife and two kids: Arancina special, Penelle (regular), Vastedda sandwich, Potato croquettes, and the Spaghetti alla Marinara. The arancina special was spot on delicious. The panelle was a big let down; it was very greasy and generally didn't have any taste to it. Potato croquettes were nothing to write home about. The spaghetti marinara was pretty good; the pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was good. Never had Vastedda before (which is pigs spleen). This is truly a required taste, and you either love it or hate it. I was not a fan of it, but that's what you can expect with this dish. I would have to give this place another shot to see if I would ever go there again. I would say overall, the food was average, and the prices are pretty decent. Not a big restaurant.

I remember when I was 13 years old coming here with my older brother and his girlfriend to eat and the waitress was so mean and racist. She looked at us with such disgust and told us why use people doing here. Born and raised in that neighborhood being Puerto Rican it was one of the first time I faced racism in my neighborhood. I sworn myself to never eat in this place.

Like most people, when I dislike a food item, it tends be either due to sucky ingredients and / or prep, or the simple fact that it just isn't my thing. In this case, am going with the latter: Stopped in here on impulse and ordered a Panelle Special, aka flat, fried Ground Chickpea Fritters, topped with Fresh Ricotta, and served on a Roll. Waited forever while the guy at the register, who looked like he'd been manning the counter since this place opened over a century ago (jk) chit-chatted with a customer. As they reminisced about the "good old days" and aforementioned register guy asked after this customer's family, I couldn't decide whether to be enchanted or annoyed. Because you see, exchanges like this feel all-too-rare in this new incarnation of BK, but dang it, I was hungry. Or is it hangry? Anyway, wish I could say I was into my Sandwich when it *finally* arrived, but it just didn't do it for me. While the Roll (Semolina?) was soft and fresh, and the Panelle was fried to a grease-less crisp, the whole thing tasted really bland and boring. The Ricotta didn't do a whole lot to help in terms of flavor, though at least it acted as a condiment so it wasn't totally dry. I also, in what I'd hoped was a flash of culinary brilliance, requested the addition of a bit of marinara. Alas, that sauce turned out to be surprisingly dull; a bummer since I'd thought Sicilians prided themselves on their generous use of garlic and spice. I recall coming here years ago, but can't seem to summon up much about what I ate. But it was neither memorably bad or good, so for all I know, it was the Panelle... I have a feeling I'd've remembered if I'd tried the Vastedda (Beef Spleen) Sandwich.:) Am going for that next time. And some Rice Balls.

Arancina special is great but... microwaved? Come on! You should be better than that. Friday's does that.

This is an excellent old school Carroll Gardens Italian restaurant. The Manhattan Special (coffee soda) is addictive as is the Panelle Special, a fried chickpea and ricotta sandwich. My linguine con vongole (white) was perfect, one of the best I've ever had. Be forewarned they only take cash during the week but accept cards on the weekends?! Go figure.

My family has been going for years! Grandma grew up in this area so we always come back, and every time they consistently produce. Service and food was fantastic! Def recommend to anyone looking for authenticity.

So I would have never heard of this place if it wasn't for the show on The Travel Channel called Sausage Paradise.(Yes, I giggled in my head too) So the atmosphere is fantastic, it's very old world Italian that's been around for over 109 years, the floors and the ceiling are all original. Also, the celeb wall is a nice touch. The plates they serve desserts on kinda feels like it belongs to an old Italian grandmother. Also, I guess the front doors are 100 years old as well because these suckers were tiny. I felt like I was supposed to squeeze through sideways one butt check at a time. LOL Also, the waitress that has been there 7 years, she said she started a week after Pierce Brosnan visited, was such a sweetheart. She really made the experience better. The food: Table Bread- I know it so weird that I am commenting on the table bread but it really was exceptional. The bread is homemade and the flavored olive oil with herb and the chili flakes were fantastic. Antipasto Rustico- it's grilled eggplant, caponata, and sun dried tomatoes. This with the table bread was an excellent starter. The caponta was fantastic, I could eat that all day. The grilled eggplant and sun dried tomatoes were good, not great. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=81hy2bwwCKGF6Qe_7qLsgw&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Arancina Special- This sucker is a huge rice ball. I got the special version that was the rice ball with chopped meat inside with ricotta and tomato sauce on top. The ricotta and tomato sauce are both excellent, they are both homemade and a must addition. This dish kinda has to be eaten hot, once it sits, it loses it's umph. It's a nice dish for the first few bites but it gets repetitive. It's still a good dish to order. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xeOkVdiQAwU8cpu_qU-vKQ&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Sausage Parm- this is what was featured on Sausage Paradise, it's homemade sausage on a homemade roll. The flavor was excellent and the tomato sauce was very good. The dish was nice but too one note. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=yRdYppfFrCLO7EP8mZX_hA&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Panelle Special- chick pea squares with ricotta and grated cheese. The chick peas were a little oily but the ricotta and grated cheese made this dish from a good dish to a very good dish. It's very straight forward flavors, nothing too explosive with flavor but I would recommend. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=V3avrDvAcevRV9yH-rvWGg&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Vastedda- Sicilian specialty of spleen, ricotta and grated cheese. So I heard of this through various outlets and it's considered a must try, it was featured by Scott Conant on Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate. So, for me and me only, I couldn't get through it. First mistake I made was smelling it, and it smells exactly how it taste. It has a very strong smell and taste of I guess, spleen. I gave it two bites because that's how Andrew Zimmern dictates, if you don't like it give it a second bite. On the second bite I realized I couldn't eat it, the taste was too strong for me. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0bA9RMdZjjrf3_skvoAJ-Q&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA Cannoli- granted it was an excellent Cannoli with a great crunch from the shell and a fantastic cream center but for $7 I think it was over priced. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=bk41QRL8rQIlmV-_LN9aqQ&userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA

I stumbled upon this gem looking for a nice cup of espresso and ended up ordering Insalada de Pulpo. I love this place!

I love Ferdinando's for no other reason than that it introduced me to one of my favorite things in the world: rice balls. Their rice ball is huge, cheap, has a great flavor, and is topped with delicious ricotta and sauce. Their panelle are good, although mine were a little soggy last time and were kinda overpowered by the ricotta...I'm not a huge fan anyway. The meatball sandwiches they have are great as well, as the meatballs have at least beef and pork in them and are very well spiced. Service is good in an old-Brooklyn way, casual and sometimes irritable. Place looks like nobodys touched it since they opened, which is a nice change compared the new ultra modern decored restaurants people open nowadays. All in all, definitely worth a trip for the rice ball alone. Plus they have Manhattan Special on tap; if that doesn't make this a great place, idk what does!

Greeting- yes Vibe- old school Parking- street meters Price- nice BR- one for all Food Panzella roll $6.50 very good Sausage hero $10 ordinary. Roll is too white Canolli -good shell. Filling has lots if chips WIGB? No This place is priced right. It is nostalgic. Old school charm. But BS this is the best sausage in town. Get the panzanella sandwich fir a true old school taste

This place is authentic. It's been there my whole life and I grew up in the neighborhood. For anyone looking for good panelles and a great new favorite, try it.