5 items to know about Fado, a new Portuguese restaurant in St. Petersburg

Fado, a new restaurant specializing in common Portuguese cuisine, not long ago opened inside of the former Sake 23 space at 435 Fifth Ave. N in St. Petersburg. Here’s every little thing to know about the ‘burg’s most recent cafe, and what you are going to want to order when you go.

The proprietors

Partner-and-spouse staff Rui Borges and Sandra Andrade decided to open up the St. Petersburg offshoot of their Orlando-dependent restaurant Lisbon right after noticing an desire from Tampa Bay citizens, who were being touring to Orlando in lookup of Portuguese delicacies. Both equally Borges and Andrade are of Portuguese descent. (Borges was born in Sao Miguel, an island in Portugal’s Azores archipelago, and Andrade grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts, with Portuguese mothers and fathers.)

The couple opened their very first cafe in 2015, after noticing a deficiency of Portuguese possibilities in the location, and lacking the foodstuff they grew up ingesting. They now operate their new St. Petersburg restaurant with the assistance of Borges’ son, Bruno, although Rui divides his time in between Orlando and listed here.

The vibe

The identify, Fado, is an homage to the regular design and style of Portuguese singing and people tunes, often connected with cafe or restaurant performances. Nods to the concept are uncovered in the course of the restaurant, which includes artwork referencing the musical genre and a guitar utilised especially for fado.

The eating place is outfitted with classic blue and white ceramic Portuguese azulejo tiles, and the area capabilities brilliant azure and white accents all over. A prolonged wraparound bar is backlit by blown-up images of Portugal, and the eating place features seating for about 130 persons, in addition an further 30 within a non-public dining area in the back again.

What’s on the menu

The menu is similar to Lisbon in Orlando, and functions a classic Portuguese lineup that highlights a number of of the country’s most well known and beloved dishes. Bacalhau, or salted codfish, turned aspect of the country’s culinary canon following Portuguese sailors fishing for cod in Norway discovered that salting the fish aided preserve it for the very long journey property. Listed here, the quintessential dish is featured prominently, from the fried pasteis de bacalhua (golden-fried codfish fritters, $11) to the bacalhau com natas (designed with layers of codfish onions, fried potatoes and product, $28).

Owing to Portugal’s expansive coastline, fish and seafood function prominently, and the restaurant’s biggest seller is the polvo a lagareiro (industry price tag), a broiled octopus coated with onions, tomatoes and peppers and served with red potatoes drizzled in Portuguese olive oil. Other highlights incorporate the chourico a bombeiro (a Portuguese sausage served charred and flambeed desk-facet, $12), the fried sardines (aka petinga frita, $16) and the Bifana (a traditional edition of the Portuguese pork loin sandwich, $11).

For dessert, the kitchen area imports Portuguese egg custard tarts (aka pasteis de belem, $7), but also serves a several desserts built in-household, which includes flan ($6) and chocolate mousse ($6).

What you are going to be consuming

The cafe is possibly a person of the couple (if not only) sites in the Tampa Bay area to activity a menu fully committed to the wines of Portugal, which include a number of from the Alentejo and Dão regions. Vinho Verde, perhaps the country’s most perfectly-recognised wine stateside, is available by the glass, as is the property sangria (which also will come by the pitcher for $23). For beer lovers, there is Portuguese Tremendous Bock. Andrade reported they are performing on procuring a entire bar and cocktail software in the coming weeks.

When you can go

Like other restaurant entrepreneurs in the marketplace, Andrade claimed she and her partner are acquiring a challenging time staffing their organization. In the meantime, they are operating on a delicate-opening program, and are inquiring that diners get in touch with the restaurant ahead for reservations. In the coming weeks and months, the restaurant will incorporate expanded hours, but for now, Fado is open from 5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 12-10 p.m. Friday via Sunday.

435 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-346-5389. fadofl.com.