Restaurant in New York City, United States
Brooklyn Italian that earns its difficult reservation.
Fausto is one of Brooklyn's harder tables to get at the $$$ price point, and it earns the demand. The Michelin Plate-recognised kitchen runs strong on house-made pasta and open-hearth cooking, with a sommelier-led wine program that adds real value. Book three weeks out for a weekend table; mid-week is more achievable. Best for date nights and small groups in Park Slope or Prospect Heights.
Fausto is the right call for a date night or a small group dinner in Brooklyn when you want cooking that takes Italian-influenced food seriously without the $$$$ price tag or the Manhattan commute. The open-hearth room on Flatbush Ave runs warm and dim, the pasta is the reason to come back, and a Michelin Plate recognition in 2024 confirms what the 4.5 Google rating (591 reviews) already suggests: this place delivers consistently. Book it for a Thursday or Friday evening when the room is at its leading, and plan at least three weeks ahead — it is genuinely hard to get into.
If you have already been once and left thinking about the tagliatelle with lamb ragu and saffron, come back with a group of four and work through more of the menu. The format rewards repeat visits: pasta is the anchor, but the kitchen's take on Southern regional fare gives the menu more range than a standard Italian room. Roasted chicken and steelhead trout sit alongside braised pork shank on Tuscan beans — a combination of Italian technique and American regional cooking that is specific enough to feel intentional rather than confused. Chef and owner Erin Shambura runs the kitchen, while restaurateur and sommelier Joe Campanale shapes the overall program, which means the wine list gets the same attention as the food.
For a special occasion dinner where the room matters as much as the plate, this is a stronger choice than most of what Brooklyn offers at the $$$ price point. The open hearth and low light make it comfortable for a long meal. If you are coming from Manhattan, factor in the travel , but for Park Slope or Prospect Heights locals, the location on the border of both neighbourhoods is a genuine advantage.
The database does not confirm a dedicated private dining room at Fausto, so if a fully private space is non-negotiable for your group, confirm directly before booking. What the room does offer for groups is a format that works well at four to six covers: the menu's range across snacks, pasta, and mains gives a table something to share and discuss, and the sommelier-led wine program means the drinks side of a group dinner gets handled with real knowledge rather than an afterthought list. For parties wanting a semi-private feel in a warmly lit room with serious food, Fausto competes well against Brooklyn alternatives in the same price band. If you specifically need a private room with full buyout options, venues like Babbo in the West Village have more established private dining infrastructure, but you will pay for it.
Groups planning a celebratory dinner at the $$$ tier should think of Fausto as a better value than most Manhattan Italian options at the same price. The food quality is there, the room sets the right mood, and the wine program adds depth without requiring you to spend up to $$$$ to get a thoughtful pairing. Compare that to Ai Fiori, which offers a more formal group setting but at a price point and dress expectation that changes the dynamic of the evening.
Thursday through Saturday evenings are when Fausto operates at full energy, but that is also when the room is hardest to book. If flexibility is available, a Wednesday dinner gets you the same kitchen at a slightly easier booking difficulty. The open hearth makes winter and early spring visits particularly well-suited to the room's atmosphere , the warmth and low light land differently when it is cold outside. Summer evenings can make the hearth-heavy room feel less comfortable, so if you are visiting between June and August, an earlier seating is worth requesting.
Pasta is the reason to come to Fausto. Tagliatelle with lamb ragu and saffron is the dish most referenced by returning guests. Roasted and raw cauliflower with Romanesco and an anchovy caper vinaigrette works well as a snack before moving to pasta. For mains, steelhead trout and roasted chicken are the reliable calls. Braised pork shank on Tuscan beans is the more substantial option , rich and slow-cooked in a way that suits a longer, colder-weather meal. Finish with gelato or sorbet rather than something heavier; the kitchen's strengths are in the savoury courses and the dessert list reflects that.
Booking difficulty is moderate-to-high. Plan for at least three weeks of lead time for a weekend reservation. Fausto is one of the harder tables to secure in Brooklyn at this price point, which is part of what the Michelin recognition reflects. If you are flexible on day of week, mid-week bookings are more achievable. The restaurant is at 348 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238, on the Park Slope and Prospect Heights border.
| Detail | Fausto | Via Carota | Altro Paradiso |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price range | $$$ | $$$ | $$$ |
| Cuisine | Italian / hearth | Italian / rustic | Italian |
| Booking difficulty | Moderate-high | High (walk-in heavy) | Moderate |
| Location | Brooklyn (Flatbush Ave) | West Village, Manhattan | Hudson Square, Manhattan |
| Leading for | Date night, small groups | Casual Italian, solo | Date night, neighbourhood |
| Michelin recognition | Plate (2024) | Plate | Plate |
For more Brooklyn and New York City dining options, see our full New York City restaurants guide. If you are building a full trip itinerary, our New York City hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide are useful starting points. For Italian cooking at a similar standard elsewhere in the city, Ammazzacaffè and Altro Paradiso are worth considering. If you are travelling and want to benchmark Fausto against Italian cooking at the highest international level, 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and cenci in Kyoto show what the format can do at its ceiling. For other serious American dining rooms in the same conversation, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Alinea in Chicago, and The French Laundry in Napa represent a different price tier but a useful comparison for special-occasion planning.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fausto | On the border of Park Slope and Prospect heights is the ever difficult to get into, Fausto. Erin Shambura’s menu is full of incredible house made pastas, but I can never resist the chicken and the ara...; This sleek and upscale restaurant serves consistently delicious Italian-influenced food courtesy of Chef/owner Erin Shambura, but its overall ethos is guided by restaurateur (and sommelier), Joe Campanale. The dimly lit space and open hearth lend a warmth to the space that is perfect for date night or an evening out with friends. Meanwhile, the kitchen showcases a distinctive take on Southern regional fare. Pasta is a showstopper, as in tagliatelle with lamb ragu and saffron. Snack on a bowl of roasted and raw cauliflower with Romanesco and an anchovy caper vinaigrette, then forge ahead with main dishes like steelhead trout and roasted chicken. Braised pork shank atop Tuscan beans is a rich and savory dish that melts in your mouth. To finish, gelato or sorbet are the ideal conclusion to a hearty meal.; Michelin Plate (2024) | $$$ | — |
| Le Bernardin | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | $$$$ | — |
| Atomix | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | $$$$ | — |
| Eleven Madison Park | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | $$$$ | — |
| Masa | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | $$$$ | — |
| Per Se | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | $$$$ | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Book at least three weeks out — this is one of the harder reservations in Brooklyn at the $$$ price point. Chef Erin Shambura's kitchen leans Italian-influenced with a Southern regional thread, and the pasta is the clear reason to come. The dimly lit room with an open hearth makes it well-suited to a date or a small group dinner, not a loud celebratory blowout.
Fausto does not operate as a tasting menu format — the kitchen runs an a la carte structure built around pasta, snacks, and mains. At $$$, you are paying for precisely cooked, Italian-influenced food in a considered room, not a multi-course progression. If a set tasting format is what you want, Atomix or Per Se are the places to look instead.
The venue data does not confirm bar seating details, so call ahead or check availability when booking. Given the room's open hearth and compact setup, walk-in bar spots are possible, but this is not a venue to count on without a reservation — especially Thursday through Saturday.
Pasta first: the tagliatelle with lamb ragu and saffron is the dish most cited by returning guests and the clearest expression of what the kitchen does well. Roasted and raw cauliflower with Romanesco and an anchovy caper vinaigrette works as a snack to open. Roasted chicken and steelhead trout are the mains that hold up alongside the pasta, and braised pork shank with Tuscan beans is the richer, slower option worth considering in cooler months.
At $$$, Fausto earns it if Italian-influenced cooking with serious pasta is what you are after — the Michelin Plate recognition in 2024 reflects consistent kitchen quality, not a flash-in-the-pan moment. For that price in Brooklyn, the combination of Erin Shambura's cooking and Joe Campanale's wine-forward approach gives the meal more depth than most comparable neighbourhood spots. If you want more formal Italian at a similar spend, Le Bernardin or Per Se operate in a different league and at a higher price altogether.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
