Le Fanfare

Le Fanfare Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: The trio of restaurateurs who conceived of NoLIta-based mainstay Epistrophy Café has taken their Italian menu crafted with regionally and locally sourced ingredients to Greenpoint. White tablecloth-covered communal tables bordered on one side by benches and on the other by marble-top dining settings for two come together with filament light bulbs and grape trellises to create a warm and rustically romantic atmosphere that blends seamlessly with the seasonal fare.

Likes: The warm and rustic atmosphere, a theme that is carried over in the artful but unpretentious presentation of the food.
Dislikes: The communal seating was convivial but a little too closely spaced.

Food & Drinks: Beet and frisée salad, tossed with almonds and smoked ricotta and drizzled with red wine vinaigrette, is light and refreshing and makes for a good summertime beginning. A classic Mediterranean small plate of grilled octopus with potatoes, olives and celery is accented with a paprika vinaigrette for a hint of zesty spice. Handmade pillowy potato gnocchi with kale pesto, walnuts and Parmesan are subtly earthy and savory, while a squid ink pasta, served with mussels, green chile and bottarga, is full of balanced seafood flavors. Creekstone Farms hanger steak is a tender and meaty entrée, with its rosemary-infused fingerling potatoes, cipolline agrodolce and black garlic jus. A similarly substantial myrtle-scented pork ribs with organic polenta, sautéed spigarello and braised prunes is characterized by sweet and fragrant spices. For dessert, house-made ricotta-stuffed cannoli is a must, as is a chocolate Grenache tart finished with sea salt. An Italian wine list with biodynamic and organic selections provides an array of menu pairing possibilities.