Fornino Pizzeria Will Open At 849 Manhattan Avenue In Greenpoint Next Month
By Billy Gray March 19, 2013 7:45 am
reprintsThe Italian restaurant Fornino will be opening a new location at 849 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint as early as next month.
Chef and partner Michael Ayoub opened Fornino at 187 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg in 2004. The Neapolitan pies and pastas were enough of a hit to spawn an offshoot in Park Slope, where Mr. Ayoub made his name at Cucina in the early 1990s. His fortunes in the Brownstone neighborhood changed, and Mr. Ayoub abruptly left the restaurant. Fornino Park Slop closed last month.
Now, Mr. Ayoub is looking farther north in Brooklyn’s younger, trendier precincts. A spokeswoman for Fornino confirmed that a Greenpoint outpost is under construction, and could be open by mid-April. Grub Street reported yesterday that a source had tipped them off to the development. Mr. Ayoub will also operate a concession stand at Brooklyn Bridge Park this summer.
The four-story, 6,571-square-foot 849 Manhattan Avenue was built in 1931. The 1,643-square-foot ground floor retail space was previously leased by Seven Hills Cafe, whose phone number is disconnected, and Mediterranean Shwarma, a self-explanatory fast food joint.
Greenpoint, for decades a Polish stronghold, has recently begun to catch up with neighboring Williamsburg when it comes to hyped restaurant and bar openings. Recent and imminent arrivals include Torst, River Styx and Achilles Heel, from Williamsburg ur restaurateur Andrew Tarlow, the man behind Diner, Marlow & Sons and Reynards.
