fabbrica

fabbrica

in their own words, fabbrica's concept is, 'embodied in a cuisine that combines the creativity of contemporary culinary sensibilities with the powerful draw of classic italian dishes. what i loved was the modern menu and industrial ambiance. a common theme we've seen lately are restaurateurs throwing back to the 20's and 30's and creating a vintage vibe. owner alberto baudo has gone in the complete opposite direction though. he maintained the high, loft like ceilings and raw flooring to evoke the feeling of a factory, (paying homage to williamburg's historical context) and he made it sexy and modern. large scale artwork covers the walls, aluminum wired light fixtures hang from the ceiling and hip indie tunes flutter through the air.

the space is divided by a grand floor to ceiling wine storage piece and a large, u-shaped bar with seating for 20 or so. plenty of room to gather with friends or grab a quick drink after hopping off the ferry. you'll also notice standing height tables between the bar and dining room.  they serve as a great place to chat with friends or say hello to fellow neighbors. the bar and community tables are casual, comfortable and have a great view of the open kitchen.

now to the food (after perusing the menu with a glass of sparkly prosseco in hand). we started with fabbrica's version of fresh burrata and their parmesan creme brulee. the burrata was served with seasoned crostini and savory roasted eggplant. the burrata was delicious but the parmesan creme brulee was like nothing i've had before. it was incredibly rich and creamy and was served on toasted flatbreads. next, we did a salmon dish and pasta with prosciutto. the salmon had that crispy texture around the edges and tender center. the pasta was the essence of italian comfort food to me. it was cheesy and full of flavor. if that weren't enough, we finished with a luscious tiramisu, topped with chocolate ganache.

we absolutely loved our first meal here and are looking forward to checking it out for early morning coffee and house-made pastries. stroll over and check it out, the guys at fabbrica have created a truly unique experience on the waterfront.