Fradei Bistro

"A Fine Dining Spot Doing Something Different If you’re looking for a restaurant that nails fine dining food without making their diners feel like they’re either in a country club or a post-apocalyptic Bezos spaceship, I’d recommend checking out Fradei in Fort Greene. It opened in 2020, and many people still don’t know this $90 tasting-menu restaurant exists yet. You won’t know what’s on the menu until the dishes arrive at your table (although the food generally skews French and Italian, with an emphasis on seasonal produce). Eating here feels as unpredictable as a surprise party or an Escape Room without the elevated heart rate and couples fighting. You might get steak tartare with togarashi or broiled cucumbers blanketed in a delicate sheet of lard, or neither of those things. For anyone trying to get someone to fall in love with them in a tiny, candlelit room in Fort Greene, Fradei will work wonders." - hannah albertine

"Since opening in 2018 Fradei has gone through several incarnations. Formerly a tasting menu spot reviewed by Pete Wells at the New York Times, Fradei is now a la carte. It’s in the hands of a one-to-watch chef, Nico Villasenor, who was previously a sous at Four Horsemen, and similar touches are attained on this loosely French-inflected Fort Greene menu. You’ll have to see it for yourself, though, as Fradei doesn’t post its menus online." - Luke Fortney, Emma Orlow

"At this tiny, subterranean restaurant, you’ll eat something seasonal, drink something natural, and wonder how a space so underground can be so full of light. The tables are mostly occupied by dates, or groups of two who don’t date but are here to talk about who they date. But we also like coming here alone, snagging one of the coveted bar seats reserved for walk-ins, and ordering a solo steak tartare. With dishes like crab toast, and stinging nettle and ricotta dumplings, the menu feels like once upon a time it was French, and then things sort of spiraled, but not in a bad way." - Willa Moore, Bryan Kim

"Lafayette Ave C Not only do you not want to be outside for very long, but you're not really in the mood to make any decisions either. Fradei in Fort Greene is the perfect spot for you. They won't tell you what's going to be on the menu on any given night, but you can expect a vegetable-forward five-course tasting and French and Italian wines. In case you haven't guessed, this isn't the type of place you can just walk into—so make a reservation." - Neha Talreja, Kenny Yang, Carina Finn Koeppicus

"If you peered through the window of this little neighborhood nook, you might think it's just a simple wine bar. But much to the surprise of walk-ins trying to score a glass or two after work, reservations are absolutely required here. And, instead of simple charcuterie plates or standard cheese boards, the kitchen team offers a concise tasting menu that is seasonally driven, and changes every month or so. A first bite might feature house-made potato chips dusted with green onion powder and served with sour cream. Bolder items include asparagus with pistachio purée and egg yolk, or monkfish with a buttery Grenada-pepper sauce.The wine list leans heavily on small producers—many of them organic or biodynamic from Italy and France." - Michelin Inspector