Fratello's Restaurant

Greetings!
 I know the saying about Spring showers leading to Summer flowers. etc., but enough with the rain already! I wonder what the saying is about Spring monsoons. It will probably create havoc with our Summer produce this year, but for now all is good. We are pretty much dry inside, and we have some nice features to hopefully entice you to join us this weekend. We will have Certified Angus Beef Texas Sirloin, Red Grouper and Lane Snapper, the latter two from off the coast of Mexico. I hope you have a chance between raindrops to join us, we’d love to see ya’!

We continue to feature on our wine board the Aglianico from southern Italy and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Treasure Hunter, as well as the Rhone varietal based blend rose wine from Elizabeth Rose, which comes from Napa. I know with all this rain it has hardly seems like Summer yet, but trust me on this - Rose wines, wherever they come from, are among the best wines to enjoy in the Summer. This Rose from Elizabeth Rose has both a deeper color and a bit more body than many other Rose wines, and I think you will enjoy it. Several new wines have also joined us this week. I have added a Rose Prosecco to our program which is made by the vineyard already on our list, de Faveri. I had the opportunity to meet and enjoy wines with the owner of the vineyard, and I am impressed with the quality of their Prosecco. We have their Brut, which is a dry wine, and we offer it in both a 750ml and smaller individual bottle. The more I taste sparkling wines the more I enjoy the Rose variety, and on our list are Rose sparkling wines from both France and Italy. Another wine joining us is the new vintage of Esporao Red, which is a wine from Portugal that until recently was not available. This blend includes Cabernet Sauvignon, but most of the grapes are more indigenous to Portugal. Medium to fuller bodied, this inexpensive 2015 Reserva offers fruit, body and structure, and proves that there is more to wine in Portugal than simply Port wines, as good as they are (and which we also enjoy). Just another wine to enlarge your wine world. 

As with last week, I am compelled to wish you another dry week, hoping that the rains give us a break. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you soon. Take care.

Ciao

Greetings!
 It seems like Mother Nature cannot make up its mind what season it wants to be, although she sure seems to be focused on rain this year. Kind of seems like Seattle to me, a city and area I am fond of, but enough with the rain already! The calendar suggests that Summer will arrive soon, and unofficially it should be here now, although it hardly seems like it. But regardless, rain or shine, we at Fratello’s are here for you, whether it is simply to escape the rain or to enjoy a fine meal & wine. Like this weekend, when we will be featuring Certified Angus Beef Strip Steaks, Mahi-mahi, and Copper River Sockeye Salmon, which has just arrived. I hope you consider joining us - it is dry inside, the AC checks out, and the ovens & corkscrews are ready. Hope to see ya’!

Our wine board continues to feature the Aglianico and the Treasure Hunter Cabernet that I mentioned last week, although supplies are getting low. No need to worry though, I have some wines awaiting their turn to shine. We also have the Napa Rose from Elizabeth Rose, which is a blend of grapes from the Rhone area of France. This Rose offers more color and body than many other Rose wines, and I urge you to try it. This week we also received a wine that used to be on our list but was lost while they changed distributors, the 2015 Clos de Los Siete from Mendoza, Argentina. I have been a fan of this wine ever since I tasted it many years ago, and I am pleased to see its return. Inexpensive, this wine is a blend of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot, and offers fruit, body and structure. I have seen it many times since it left us a few years ago in the wine mags, and I am glad it is back. Give it a try!

I hope you have stayed dry, you and your basements, and that you are well & smiling. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you soon. Take care.

Ciao

Greetings!
 As is obvious, I am no weatherman. But let me share with you my forecast for today - rain. And for tomorrow, and Saturday, probably even Sunday - rain. No offense to our fine weather folks & pundits, but things have been a bit simpler around here recently - just mention the “R” word and you’re probably good. Remember that when you are here at Fratello’s you can enjoy fine food & wine and pretend it is whatever season you want it to be - once inside it looks the same in May & June as in November & December.  Such as, this weekend, you can escape the rain and enjoy with us Certified Angus Beef Top Sirloin Steak, fresh Haddock and/or Jumbo Sea Scallops. It’ll be dry in here, so consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

Our wine board continues to feature the Washington Cabernet from the Columbia Valley by Treasure Hunter and the Aglianico from the south of Italy, which join our long standbys Joel Gott Cabernet and the Sangiovese blend from Ferrari-Carano, Siena. I continue with this Aglianico because the wine is very fruit forward and friendly, and it is one of the many neglected wines from Italy, especially those from the south of the country. As much as I love Sangiovese from Tuscany and Umbria, and Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Italy has many other wonderful wines to offer, such as Aglianico. Another one is Primitivo, which comes from the Puglia region in the heel of the country and which we have on our list. One other wine that I have also added to our board is a Rose from Napa from Elizabeth Rose, which is a blend of mostly Syrah along with some Grenache and Cinsault, all wines more associated with the southern Rhone area of France. This Rose has a deeper color, flavor, and body than many Rose wines, really delicious. I plan to offer different Rose wines for you to enjoy this summer from time to time, which is the perfect season for these wines, although I love Rose all year. Rose wines are the quintessential summer wine in my view, so consider adding them to your repertoire, I think you will be surprised.

I hope you are well and dry, and your plans this coming summer include joining us from time to time. Thank you for your continued support, we are very grateful. Take care, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!
 Looks like spring might have come and gone already, seems like I missed it. Oh well, summer works for me (watch - now it’ll be 40 & rain next week). It is a good time to head out for some fun, and maybe some fine food & wine. For our contribution to your evening, this weekend we will be featuring Certified Angus Beef Delmonico Steak, John Dory Fish from outside of Boston, and Uku Gray Snapper, #1 in fact. Hope you’re in a mood to join us, because we’d love to see ya’!

On our wine board the Smoked wine from Argentina has left the building, but it has been replaced by the Washington state Cabernet from Treasure Hunter, Last Word. I have mentioned Treasure Hunter to you before and what their concept is, which is they bottle wine already made that otherwise would be discarded and put a new name and label on it. Bottom line their wines deliver and drink at many times their price point. We still have the Aglianico from the south of Italy, and the wines mentioned last week from Paso Robles and New Zealand will join the party soon. I have also added a few bottles of a Rose from Argentina that are available by the glass or by the bottle. This is Rose season, and I urge you to consider trying one this summer. This year I am focusing on our list with Rose wines from Italy, which typically are a bit bolder and deeper colored than other Rose wines. They work very well this time of year, and are typically very inexpensive. Just a thought.

I want to thank all of you who joined us at our recent wine dinner, the wines and pairings all worked very well. As I mentioned the Pinot Noir from White Oak is currently on our wine list, and I plan to bring some Mighty Oak to the wine board soon. Thanks again.

I hope you are well and enjoying the sunshine. Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!
 Wonder if our Spring has already come and gone? Sure feels like Summer out, non? This warmth is a bit early, perhaps, at least for those of us not lucky enough to spend some time down south recently. But no real complaint here - heck, this time of year is just great to come enjoy some fine food & wine. Like, just saying, maybe with us this weekend, when we will be featuring Atlantic Halibut, Swordfish, and Tomahawk Pork Chop (Go Tribe - no insult intended!). We hope you are free to mosey over to see us, we’d love to see ya’!

The wine from Argentina that I mentioned last week has made its debut on our wine board, and it has gone so well that we will probably have to move on to our next candidate in a few days. This wine is called Smoked, a red blend from Mendoza that is primarily Malbec. It is so named because they use barrels that are toasted over an open fire to age the wine, much like that of a traditional Argentinean BBQ. This wine is smooth and well balanced, and not smokey despite its name. It joins the Aglianico from the south of Italy that I have been featuring recently, along with our standbys of Joel Gott Cab and the Sangiovese blend from Ferrari-Carano, Siena. These are all good wines, with or without our meals. I have a few other wines ready to join the board soon, including wines from New Zealand and Paso Robles. Paso Robles is an interesting spot for wine in CA, and you should consider their wines. It can be very warm in Paso Robles, rendering very ripe fruit so the wines are very friendly. Just a thought.

I hope you are enjoying our nice temps & weather as much as I do, and I trust you are well. Thank you for your continued support and friendship, it is very much appreciated. Take, care, and we hope to see you soon.
Ciao

Greetings!
 Well, at least it’s warm out. Look at it this way, all this wet stuff has to lead to a most excellent summer, non? But there are moments between the drops to enjoy yourselves, and hopefully it won’t hinder you enjoying some fine food & wine. Like, just saying, at Fratello’s, when this weekend we will be featuring Lamb Chops, #1Tuna (only the best for you, of course!) and Pacific Halibut.Hope you are free to join us, we’d love to see ya’!

A few developments in our wine world which I plan to bring to you soon. I have tasted recently fruit forward, well made wines from Paso Robles and Argentina which will be available soon, and I plan to add to our wine list three wines from Washington state that I liked. In my view Washington has really improved their wines in the past several decades, and although primarily known for their Merlot wines, which are still very good, they have had great success with many other varietals, including Syrah and Grenache, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. These new wines are all made by J. Bookwalter from the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, and they are all blends of these different varietals. They are all well made, showing fruit, body and structure. Consider trying one on your next visit, or one of the other excellent wines from Washington on our list, I think you will enjoy them.

I hope you are well and have remained somewhat dry recently, at least from a moisture context. Thank you for your continued support and friendship, we are very grateful. Take care, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!
 Short Spring again? Kind of feels like Summer already, non? I probably should not even mention this, given how things tend to flow around these parts, but if we just jump into Summer, so be it. After all, Summer is a great time of year to enjoy so many things, such as …..get ready…..why, going out to a nice restaurant for some fine food & wine. To help you in this regard we will be featuring this weekend Certified Angus Beef Strip Steak, Black Grouper from the South Atlantic, and Wahoo Fish (Go Tribe!). We hope you consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

On our wine board I have added the Malbec from Argentina by Chakana, and we also have the Aglianico from Cantin from the south of Italy. Both of these wines will work with our menu, or simply by themselves. I like the Chakana because it is a good representative of Malbec from Mendoza, one of if not the premier Malbec region in Argentina, which is not always true of lower end Malbecs. I have mentioned the Aglianico to you before, which comes the Basilicata region at the very south of Italy and which offers a nice alternative to the more familiar wines of the country. Not that any of those are not good, and as you know I love Chianti, Brunello, Amarone and Barolo, among other wines, but it is good to enlarge one’s tent sometimes, wine wise, and enjoy other types of wines. To this point, in the near future I will be offering you an inexpensive yet tasty Pinot Noir from New Zealand, and a Washington Merlot from the Treasure Hunter people. Lots of juice out there for you to enjoy, and I am sure that we have something here that will work for you.  

The wine dinner that we are sponsoring this Spring is fast approaching on Sunday, May 19th, featuring wines from White Oak Winery from Sonoma, California. We are tasting their wines and developing a menu, which I will advise you of, but the plan is to have several white wines, several more red and then a dessert wine to conclude one’s meal. I have had the opportunity to visit and taste wines at White Oak, and I really like this vineyard. Located in Alexander Valley, they do well from both a quality and a value basis. I will keep you posted as to wines, menu and pricing, but consider joining us. We typically start around 6 in the evening, so it does not run too late, and we will have a rep from White Oak with us to explain the wines. Our wine dinners have proven to be popular, so consider joining us. Call (440) 871-3054 or (440) 933-3380 in Lorain - do not email - for a reservation, and we take reservations for all size parties. Hope you can make it.

I hope you are well and enjoying our good fortune, at least weather wise. Thank you for your support, and we hope to see you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!

Pretty short Spring, non? Just kidding - well, sort of - but today sure feels like Summer. Of course, tomorrow we head back to Spring, but hopefully no further back if you know what I mean.

But as I have suggested before, we are all on the right path to nicer temps, which has all sorts of benefits. You know, things to do outside, and more than simply mowing the lawn, plus it is perfect time of year to head out for some fine food & wine. We can help you in this regard, as this very weekend we will be featuring Filet Mignon, Salmon from the Bay of Fundy, and Swordfish (touche!). I know it can be a bust weekend, especially this weekend, so consider joining us and let us prepare a meal for you, we’d love to see ya’!

On our wine board you will find a Barbera D’Alba from Ruvei and I have brought back the Aglianico, L’Atto from Cantin, which we featured before. Both of these wines work well with our menu, or simply on their own. Barbera is perhaps better known, and this wine from the Piedmont region of northern Italy is among the best wines to match with food, all kinds of food. The Aglianico comes from the south of Italy, which is largely overlooked in many wine programs but are deserving of your attention. This wine is more medium in body, yet packs flavor, and should you be interested we have another Aglianico not yet ion our list which offers more body and complexity. This wine is more dear in cost, but is one of my favorite wines I have tasted recently. In the wings await more of the Malbec from Chakana that we featured recently, and also a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, which has had success with this grape recently. Lots of wine out there for you to enjoy.

I want to bring to your attention again that we are planning a wine dinner this Spring on Sunday, May 19th, featuring wines from White Oak Winery from Sonoma, California. We are tasting their wines and developing a menu, which I will advise you of, but the plan is to have several white wines, several more red and then a dessert wine to conclude one’s meal. I have had the opportunity to visit and taste wines at White Oak, and I really like this vineyard. Located in Alexander Valley, they do well from both a quality and a value basis. I will keep you posted as to wines, menu and pricing, but consider joining us.

We typically start around 6 in the evening, so it does not run too late, and we will have a rep from White Oak with us to explain the wines. Our wine dinners have proven to be popular, so consider joining us. Call - do not email - for a reservation, and we take reservations for all size parties. Hope you can make it.

(440) 871-3054
(440) 933-3380 in Lorain

Hopeful this weekend will be kind to us, at least from a temperature standpoint, as it is a special time of year on many counts, for many people, of many faiths. I hope you find peace and comfort this weekend, and are well and smiling. Thanks for your support, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!
 Today seems like one of those “at least it is not raining” kind of days. You know, not cold but surely not warm enough, not raining but surely not sunny enough. So it goes around here, but one thing is that it surely should not discourage you from possibly joining us this weekend. To help in this regard, we will be featuring this weekend Certified Angus Beef Texas Sirloin, Black Grouper and American Red Snapper. Hope you are free and of a mind to join us, we’d love to see ya’!

New this past week to our wine board is a Malbec from Chakana from Mendoza, Argentina, and a Barbera d’Alba from Italy, available by the bottle or by the glass. The Malbec is 100% Malbec and although inexpensive shows some depth and power, even some spice. Barbera d’Alba is a medium bodied wine that is perhaps the most food friendly wine from Italy, which is saying something as Italy has many food friendly wines. Medium bodied, this wine also shows nice fruit and balance, a wine that works either solo or with your meal, and it can work with all kinds of food. We are also running with an Inventory Reduction Sale, with wines from Italy, California and France at reduced pricing. These wines all have their place and were on our list, but I need to make room for new wines. Either way I am confident that we have a wine that will work for you.

I want to bring to your attention again that we are planning a wine dinner this Spring on Sunday, May 19th, featuring wines from White Oak Winery from Sonoma, California. We are tasting their wines and developing a menu, which I will advise you of, but the plan is to have several white wines, several more red and then a dessert wine to conclude one’s meal. I have had the opportunity to visit and taste wines at White Oak, and I really like this vineyard. Located in Alexander Valley, they do well from both a quality and a value basis. I will keep you posted as to wines, menu and pricing, but consider joining us. We typically start around 6 in the evening, so it does not run too late, and we will have a rep from White Oak with us to explain the wines. Our wine dinners have proven to be popular, so consider joining us. Call-

(440) 871-3054
(440) 933-3380 in Lorain

- do not email - for a reservation, and we take reservations for all size parties. Hope you can make it.

Take care of your selves, and remember that Spring is here, and soon it may even feel like it.  Thank you again for your continued support for what we are trying to do here in Avon Lake all these many years.  Hope to see you soon.

Ciao

Greetings!
 Welcome to Spring, northeast Ohio fashion. You know, we have a good day, followed by a not-so-good day, to “are we heading back to winter” kind of day. So it goes, not really much consistency, but we are heading in the right direction. Consistency has its place, though, which we try to do at Fratello’s. Like this weekend, when we plan on offering you consistent fine meals. We will be featuring #! Tuna, Filet Mignon Steaks, and the ever so popular Jumbo Sea Scallops. And there will be some other fine meals available, such as Veal & Shrimp & Pasta & Clams & Mussels & Chicken & Calamari &….you get the idea, consider joining us, we’d love to see ya’!

I have changed things slightly on our wine board. Joining the Cab from Joel Gott and the Sangiovese blend, Siena, from Ferrari-Carona, is Disruption, a Cabernet/Merlot blend from Washington and a 100% Malbec from Chakana from Argentina. This Malbec is inexpensive yet indicative of Mendoza, from whence it comes, offering both quality and value, two metrics important to us at Fratello’s. This week I also picked up a Syrah from B Wise Vineyards from Sonoma which you might also want to consider. B Wise is the winery behind Trios, a Cabernet blend from Sonoma on our list, and this Syrah offers abundant forward fruit in a medium to full body. Mid-priced, this is what Syrah in California is all about. Syrah has increasingly become one of my favorite grape varietals, and we have several on our list for you to choose from, from Italy to France to California to Washington. All these wines are similar yet also very different, and each is very good in their own way. Just a thought.

I want to bring to your attention that we are planning a wine dinner this Spring on Sunday, May 19th, featuring wines from White Oak Winery from Sonoma, California. We are tasting their wines and developing a menu, which I will advise you of, but the plan is to have several white wines, several more red and then a dessert wine to conclude one’s meal. I have had the opportunity to visit and taste wines at White Oak, and I really like this vineyard. Located in Alexander Valley, they do well from both a quality and a value basis. I will keep you posted as to wines, menu and pricing, but consider joining us. We typically start around 6 in the evening, so it does not run too late, and we will have a rep from White Oak with us to explain the wines. Our wine dinners have proven to be popular, so consider joining us. Call - do not email - for a reservation, and we take reservations for all size parties. Hope you can make it.

(440) 871-3054
(440) 933-3380 in Lorain

Take care of yourselves, and I want to thank you again for your continued support for what we are trying to do here in Avon Lake. Hope to see you soon.

Ciao