2 Park Slope Spots Named Among Best Italian Restaurants In NYC

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — There's no better borough to get great Italian food than Brooklyn, according to a new ranking.

Brooklyn won 14 spots on Eater NY's recently-published list of the 23 best Italian restaurants in New York City, by far the most of any borough.

Of those, Park Slope scored two shout-outs.

"This list captures the best of the best Italian restaurants, new and old, in New York City — serving up all the pasta, pizza, and seafood any New Yorker (or tourist) could want," wrote the Eater staff.

Park Slope's Fausto on Flatbush Avenue and Al Di La Trattoria on Fifth Avenue both made the list.

Here's what the foodies had to say about the neighborhood spots:

Fausto — 348 Flatbush Ave.

"The warm, orange-hued space of Fausto features a tight menu from chef Erin Shambura that rotates regularly based on the nearby Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket — though the crowd-favorite pasta, a housemade orecchiette with pork and wilted greens, is usually available. Many of the dishes lean simple, like a little gem salad or a pork chop with charred apricot mostarda. Definitely get wine, which is natural and culled by sommelier (and co-owner) Joe Campanale, and after dinner, try a vintage amaro; the staff is friendly and ready to educate. Fausto is good both for eating solo at the bar with pasta and a glass of wine and for dinner or brunch when family’s in town."

Al Di La Trattoria — 248 5th Ave.

"The dark, cozy space of Al Di La has been a Park Slope favorite since 1998 — both a date-night destination for Anna Klinger’s northern Italian pastas and a go-to for locals at dinner and brunch (breakfast and lunch are slated to come back in September). Go for the spaghetti neri all chitarra (black spaghetti with octopus confit, basil, and hot chile peppers), tagliatelle, and an order of mussels if it’s a first-time visit, but there’s plenty to explore, too. Listen for the specials, and prepare to wait at primetime, though it won’t be as ridiculous as more high-profile places in Manhattan."