Fratello's Restaurant

Greetings!

Lovely weather we’re having, don’t you think? I am sure some of my readers who are south already for the season will miss this gorgeous, rain/slush, 34 degree but seems colder, beauty of a day. Makes you want something warm inside, like a satisfying meal, with a nice beverage, as with wine, perhaps, non? We cannot do much about what happens outside, but inside, as in Fratello’s, we can help you deal with this lovely weather. Like this weekend, when we will be featuring Beef Funghetto, made with Certified Angus Beef Petit Filet Mignon, Hog Snapper from Panama, and Halibut from Norway. Join us inside Fratello’s, I’ll have the heat on, ovens too…we’d love to see ya’!

I have added a Malbec to our wine board for you to enjoy, the 2017 Mendoza Malbec from Aqua de Piedra. Medium bodied, this is tasty and value orientated Malbec, which works well this time of year. It joins the Syrah from Les Jamelles from the south of France. Medium to slightly fuller bodied, this Syrah offers fruit, body and structure, and also works well with our menu. I also want to remind you of the two single vineyard Pinot Noir from Ken Wright Cellars that we also have available, one from the Carter Vineyard and the other from the Canary Vineyard. Both wines hail from the Willamette Valley southwest of Portland, each is slightly different from one another, and both are excellent. Not inexpensive, but often one gets what one pays for in the wine world, and this is a perfect example of this. Ken Wright is a respected winery, and we also have his entry level Willamette Valley Pinot on our list. I urge you to give these wines a try…hey, it’s the time of year to treat yourselves!

Our New Year’s Eve plans are progressing, and the early seating at 5:30 is nearly sold out, although as you know we have a waiting list, as appropriate. The other seatings are at 7:30 and 9:30, we serve our regular menu with specials, and we take reservations for all size parties, unlike our normal policy of reservations only for parties of 5 or larger. Please call - (440) 871-3054 or (440) 933-3380 in Lorain, do not email - for a reservation if you would like to join us. In the past - as in the past 25 years - I think it is fair to say that all have had a good time, so consider joining us. Call if you are interested, we would like you to join us as we celebrate another New Year.

Greetings!

No doubt about it, Fall is here, and rumor has it that we might even have a taste of Winter soon, complete with that white stuff. Speaking for myself, I am not quite ready for that, if true, which is another story, but as with most everything there is always another side to things. You know where I’m going with this, but when it is damp and chilly there is not much better than a satisfying meal, and beverage, to ward off the cold. Which is what - surprise! - we aim to do at Fratello’s, which is to offer you a respite, however temporary, from the mess outside our doors. Like this weekend, when we will be featuring Wagyu/Kobe Strip Steaks, #1 Tuna and Monk Fish, along with some Veal & Chicken & Shrimp & Clams & Mussels & Pasta & Eggplant & Calamari &….you get the idea. Consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

On our wine board we have transitioned from the Nebbiolo from the Barbaresco producer to the Nebbiolo from the Barolo producer, but the quality is consistent. Nebbiolo, as I have shared with you before, is the major grape from Piedmont and one of the signature grapes from Italy, and in my experience I have never tasted Nebbiolo from anywhere else in the world that can match a Nebbiolo from Italy. Medium to fuller bodied, this grape has an elegance and matches well with our menu. I have also added again to the board a Syrah from the south of France that was well received in the past, and which offers both quality and especially value. As you know, I am a big fan of Syrah, and I will continue to seek examples of Syrah for you to enjoy. This grape ranges from medium to full bodied, with ample fruit and style, and in my view should be on your wine radar. Just a thought.

As you know we have started taking reservations for this coming New Year’s Eve celebration. As always, we have seatings at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30, we serve our regular menu with specials, and we take reservations for all size parties, unlike our normal policy of reservations only for parties of 5 or larger. Please call (440) 871-3054 or (440) 933-3380 (in Lorain) - do not email - for a reservation if you would like to join us. In the past - as in the past 25 years - I think it is fair to say that all have had a good time, so consider joining us. There is plenty of time, but we have sold out every year, especially the earlier seatings, and there has been a lot of interest so far in our early 5:30 seating. Call if you are interested, we would like you to join us as we celebrate another New Year.

I hope you are well and prepared for what surely has to come, hopefully just not this weekend. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you soon. Take care.

Ciao

Greetings!

As they say, it’s great outside, that is if you’re a duck. I get it that it helps with our water supply, great for the plants & trees, etc….but enough with the rain already! One of the good things, however, about this onslaught of wet weather is that it happens to a good time to be in a nice restaurant, get warm & cozy and enjoy some fine food & wine. Trust me on this, and I urge you to give it a try. Like, for instance, at Fratello’s this weekend, when we will be featuring Certified Angus Beef Delmonico Steak, Halibut from Norway and Swordfish, all for your dining pleasure. The heat will be on, the roof does not leak to my knowledge, the corkscrews will be ready to go, the ovens will be firing…..so consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

I have tasted some new wines, at least to me, recently that will make their way slowly into our program, including wines from France and Italy, that I think you will enjoy. We are still featuring the Nebbiolo from Massimo Rivetti, who also make a very good Barbaresco which is on our wine list. Medium bodied, this Nebbiolo has fruit, balance and structure, and introduces you, perhaps, to Nebbiolo and how nice a wine it makes. Nebbiolo is the wine behind Barbaresco and Barolo, some of the best wines in all of Italy, and we have a number of each of these wines on our wine list. I have also added several new single vineyard Pinot Noir wines from Oregon to our program, although they are not yet on our wine list. They are both made by Ken Wright Cellars, a well respected winery from Carlton, Oregon. We have the Ken Wright Willamette Valley Pinot on our list already, but these wines offer a bit more structure and elegance. The Canary Hill and Carter vineyards each offer a different take on Oregon Pinot Noir, both with fruit and structure, but each unique in their own way. If you are not familiar with Pinot Noir from Oregon I suggest you give them a taste. Very different than wines from California, and also from Burgundy from France, these wines have their very own style, and we have a number of wines from Oregon for you to enjoy. Just a thought.

This Friday we will also be featuring a new and unique cocktail from a local distillery, Duck Island Cocktails, which is located in the Ohio City/Tremont area. We are friends with the principals, one of whom used to work with us, and they have a new and very different take on cocktails. The one we will be featuring is called a Kringle Cocktail, a nod to the upcoming season that is fast approaching, which is a sparkling cranberry/cinnamon cocktail. A bit sweet yet not cloying so, response from the public that they have tested it on has been very positive. Be a bit festive early, you might like it.

Speaking of this upcoming season, as I have mentioned recently, in response to many requests I have started taking reservations for this coming New Year’s Eve celebration. As always, we have seatings at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30, we serve our regular menu with specials, and we take reservations for all size parties, unlike our normal policy of reservations only for parties of 5 or larger. Please call - do not email - for a reservation if you would like to join us. In the past - as in the past 25 years - I think it is fair to say that all have had a good time, so consider joining us. There is plenty of time, but we have sold out every year, especially the earlier seatings, and there has been a lot of interest so far in our early seating. Call if you are interested, we would like you to join us as we celebrate another New Year.

Thank you for your continued support & friendship. Stay warm & dry, be well, and hopefully come visit. We look forward to seeing you. Take care.
Ciao

Greetings!

No doubt about it, Fall has arrived. The temps and calendar say it is so, although the colors do not quite yet, but if one heads out & about it looks like many stores have decided to bypass Fall altogether and jump right in that holiday that comes in December. Way too early for me, I miss the warmth and longer days of our previous season, but there is something about the coolness and coziness of Fall that work for me. And it happens to be a great time for good food & wine, like we try to provide you with at Fratello’s. Take this weekend, for instance, when we will be featuring Prestige Pork Chops, Mahi-mahi and King Klip Fish. The lights will be on, as will the heat if necessary, so consider joining us. We’d love to see ya’!

On our wine board we continue to run with the Priorat from Vega Escal from Spain and the Cabernet blend from Washington, Subplot 33. As I mentioned last week, this Washington wine is from J. Bookwalter, a Washington vineyard I respect and which we have their big brother wine to Subplot available. This wine is not on our list and we have only a few bottles, and at a moderately higher price than the Subplot one tastes more body and elegance. Both are good, however, as I have tasted them both. In the wings I have several wines from Italy for you to enjoy, so stay tuned. These wines come from different vineyards but both are 100% Nebbiolo, perhaps the signature varietal from Piedmont. One comes from a Barolo producer, and the other from a Barbaresco producer, and it is interesting to taste the slight difference in the two wines. Just a thought.

Speaking of Piedmont, I want to thank all of you who joined us last Sunday for our Italian Wine Dinner featuring the wines of Tenuta Carretta from Piedmont. Enzo from the winery, as always, was entertaining and informative, and the wines were very good. And in my view Craig paired the wines very well with his menu, which was exceptional. Thank you for attending, it was great fun, and come the New Year I may consider another dinner if there is sufficient interest.

My comments above notwithstanding, as I mentioned last week, in response to many requests I have started taking reservations for this coming New Year’s Eve celebration. As always, we have seatings at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30, we serve our regular menu with specials, and we take reservations for all size parties, unlike our normal policy of reservations only for parties of 5 or larger. Please call - do not email - for a reservation if you would like to join us. In the past - as in the past 25 years - I think it is fair to say that all have had a good time, so consider joining us. There is plenty of time, but we have sold out every year, especially the earlier seatings, so call if you are interested. We would like you to join us as we celebrate another New Year.

Thank you for your continued support & friendship. Stay warm in this coolness, perhaps keep rooting for the Browns, and hopefully come visit, we look forward to seeing you.

Ciao

Greetings!

You know I heard the “S” word mentioned recently, as in possibly this coming Saturday? Way too early for me, my clubs are still in the trunk, and although a bit chilly, a nice glass of wine still tastes good sitting on my deck, especially when the sun is out. But chilly weather does make a satisfying meal & wine seem to taste so much better sometimes, like what we try to provide you with at Fratello’s. This weekend, for instance, we will be featuring a Filet Mignon & Lobster Tail combo, Wild King Salmon and Halibut, fresh from the Atlantic. It promises to be a Sweet weekend - pun very much intended - so consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

On the wine front, the Cabernet blend from Chile has left the building, and I have replaced it with a Merlot blend from Washington that I tasted recently, the 2015 Subplot No. 32 from J. Bookwalter Winery. This Columbia Valley red is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Cabernet Franc, and it offers abundant fruit, yet also balance. Simply a nice tasting wine that will work on its own or with our menu. I have tasted J. Bookwalter wines before, and they are impressive at many price points. I also have a few bottles of their more prestigious and single vineyard wine called Conflict, which is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Similar in makeup to the Subplot, Conflict offers more body & structure, more depth & elegance, and is representative of the many fine wines coming out of Washington today. We have on our list a number of excellent wines from Washington - the wines from Revelry come to mind - that I urge you to consider. As I have said before, there is a lot of fruit out there, and Washington should be on your list.

I know it is early, but in response to many requests I have started taking reservations for this coming New Year’s Eve celebration. As always, we have seatings at 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30, we serve our regular menu with specials, and we take reservations for all size parties, unlike our normal policy of reservations only for parties of 5 or larger. Please call - do not email - for a reservation if you would like to join us. In the past - as in the past 25 years - I think it is fair to say that all have had a good time, so consider joining us. There is plenty of time, but we have sold out every year, especially the earlier seatings, so call if you are interested. We would like you to join us as we celebrate another New Year.

Thank you for your continued support & friendship. I hope you are well and adjusting somewhat to the changes afoot outdoors, and we hope to see you soon.
Ciao

Greetings!
Okay, it feels like fall now. Kind of snuck up on us, non - I mean summer again this past Monday - Wednesday, today no doubt that it is fall. It is sort of cozy now, though, and I know that you will be surprised to read this from me (kidding) but this time of year and these temps are perfect to enjoy good food & wine, and if I may say so, especially Italian food. Which we happen to be in a position to help you with. We will be featuring this weekend Certified Angus Beef Delmonico Steak, Swordfish and Red Grouper. I hope you can join us, we’ll be here for you!

A few changes are afoot with our wine program. On the wine board we still are running with the Cabernet blend from Chile, and assuming a delivery makes it we will still have the Priorat from Spain available. In the wings, I have a Nebbiolo from Silvio Grasso that we will feature, which is a quality Nebbiolo, perhaps the signature red grape from the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The vineyard, Silvio Grasso, also makes a Barolo, which we have on our wine list, but this Nebbiolo Langhe gives you a taste of this grape at value pricing. Piedmont makes some of the best wines in Italy, the major red wines being Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco and Barolo, which has been called “the King of Italian wines”. I urge you to dip your toes into the wines of Piedmont (not literary, but you know what I mean), you just might like them.

I hope you stay warm & cozy & remember what I said about Italian food and this time of year. Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao

P.S. Not to go crazy, but the Browns are suddenly fun again. Go Browns - who knows?

Greetings!
Nice little warm front recently, non? I wish we were heading into summer rather than recently leaving it, but this is not a bad time of year. Days are still pretty warm, a little too humid for my liking but not too bad, nights are cool, great for sleeping & great because no need for AC or heat on. It is also a good time to enjoy good food & wine - Italian food is perfect for the slight chill in the evenings. Like this weekend, for instance, when we will be featuring domestic Jumbo Sea Scallops, Certified Angus Beef Flat Iron Steaks, and Triple Tail fish. Of course Veal & Shrimp & Chicken & Pasta & Clams & Mussels & Calamari & Bolognese & Eggplant & Calamari & ….will also be available for the asking. Come join us, we’d love to see ya’!

I have added a new wine to our wine board, replacing the Nebbiolo from Italy that is gone. The 2015 Calicanto from Vina El Principal is a red blend from Chile, combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This vineyard has its roots in Bordeaux, France, and this is a typical Left Bank Bordeaux blend, with the exception of the Carmenere grape, which has French background but not in Bordeaux. This is more French than Californian in style and has earned good ratings from the wine press. Medium bodied, this gives you an idea of the excellent wines that come from Chile. Chile is one of those regions in the world which are largely overlooked in our country, as are the wines from Portugal, and both offer quality and value. As I have often said, there is a lot of juice out there to enjoy, and I think it is good to leave one’s comfort zone from time to time, especially as it relates to wine. Just a thought.

Thank you as always for your continued support for all of us at Fratello’s, it is truly appreciated. I hope you are well, and hope to see you soon. Take care.

Ciao

Greetings!
I know it has just started but it sure feels like fall out there. Chilly, a bit overcast, thankfully not many leaves yet, although they’re coming soon. But it does feel kind of cozy, which isn’t all bad, plus it is a great season for Italian food & wine (along with a few others, but I digress). It just so happens that what we do at Fratello’s is provide you with quality Italian food & wine. Like this weekend, when we will be featuring Certified Angus Beef Delmonico Steak, Wild King Salmon from Alaska, and Monchong Fish from Hawaii. The place will be warm, the lights turned down slightly, the ovens will be on and the corkscrews at the ready - come join us, we’d love to see ya’!

A few changes are afoot on our wine board, with the addition of a Priorat from Spain, which is a Garnacha blended red wine, and a Nebbiolo from Italy for you to enjoy. This Nebbiolo comes not from Piedmont, its traditional home, but from Lombardi, to my understanding the only other locale in Italy that makes Nebbiolo. Nebbiolo is a medium to fuller bodied red wine, and is the source of the more expensive and very good Barbaresco and Barolo wines, which we also have on our wine list. This grape makes some of the best wines in Italy, and this feature gives you a taste of its potential at a good price point. Just a thought.

I hope you are adjusting in stride to our weather changes, and that you are well. Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!
It seems that we are at the crossroads of seasons. Summer today, fall this weekend, which is somewhat ironic in that I believe this weekend does mark the beginning of fall. For my part I will miss the summer, love the warmth and especially the long days. But fall is not too bad, at least until it gets too bad out there and that white stuff starts to fall. A little chill in the air can work sometimes, plus it is perfect to enjoy nice Italian food & wine with. Like what we offer here at Fratello’s. This weekend, for instance, we will be featuring Certified Angus Beef Strip Steak, Black Grouper and Queen Snapper. Consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

On our wine board the Syrah from France is gone, and I plan to add another wine from Europe for you to enjoy. The 2014 Priorat from Vegal Escal from Spain is a blend of mostly Garnacha, known as Grenache in most of the world, and this is a medium bodied red wine with a nice balance of spice and acidity, making it a good food wine. Priorat is from a region to the southwest of Barcelona and is among the more significant wine regions of Spain. You might recall that I am a fond of Spanish wines, both from a value and a quality perspective, and hence we have several wines from Spain on our list. In the wings waiting for their turn on the board are a Cabernet from Chile and another red blend from Treasure Hunter. As I have often said, there is a lot of juice out there, and I am confident that we have some of it here that you will enjoy.

As I mentioned last week, we are forging ahead with our plans for the Italian Wine Dinner on Sunday, October 21st, and I want to thank those of you who have signed up for it already. We have chosen the wines, all of which come from the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, and we will be serving two white wines, four red and a dessert wine. Enzo from Tenuta Carretta will be here to explain the wines, and he is an engaging spokesman for the winery. The dinner starts at 6:00, and costs will be $85/person, with tax and gratuity not included. Consider joining us, we are working on it being a good time for all.

We hope you are well and want to thank you again for your continued support for us. Take care, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!
Well, except for the loss of daylight it’s not too bad out. It is still nice & warm, the evenings are getting cooler, the rain comes & goes - you know, par for the course around here. Speaking of par, it is still golf season, and time remains to enjoy the lake and your boat, if you have one, or simply the nice days we have before the start of fall. It also happens to be a good time to enjoy fine food & wine, as we try to do for you at Fratello’s. Take this weekend, for instance, when we will be featuring Certified Angus Beef Top Sirloin, Wild King Salmon and Halibut. Consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

On our wine board I have added a Syrah from the south of France for you to also enjoy. I am often asked what is my favorite wine to drink, and my response is usually that it depends on what I am eating at the time. This being said, I do have a fondness for the Syrah grape. It is a very versatile varietal, grown around the world, and it works with many types of food, including our dishes at Fratello’s. This wine is tasty yet simple, meaning it is designed to be a drinkable, enjoyable wine, not earth shattering, and I have enjoyed it with a Fratello lunch recently. We have other Syrah wines on our list, either stand alone or as blends, from many parts of the world, and I urge you to try them.

You just might like it as much as I do.

As I mentioned last week, we are forging ahead with our plans for the Italian Wine Dinner on Sunday, October 21st, and I want to thank those of you who have signed up for it already. We have chosen the wines, and at this point we will be serving two white wines, four red and a dessert wine, all of which come from the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The dinner starts at 6:00, and costs will be $85/person, with tax and gratuity not included. Consider joining us, we are working on it being a good time for all.

We hope you are well and want to thank you again for your continued support for us. Take care, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao