It’s raining ravioli and so much more at
the new Fratelli Ravioli Shop and Cafe in Carroll Gardens, which
opened on Jan. 5.
The latest addition to the Fratelli Ravioli franchise offers
an array of soups, sandwiches and baked goods as well as Italian
specialties such as fresh mozzarella, focaccia and "Grandma’s
soup" – a lentil-based soup with broccoli rabe and little
meatballs. On top of the cafe treats, the shop sells Fratelli’s
15 kinds of homemade ravioli and eight varieties of linguini,
fettuccini and angel hair pasta. Currently, this is an indoor
shop and cafe, but once the weather warms up, a 20-seat outdoor
eating area will be added.
"It’s the perfect spot for someone to pop in for lunch,"
says Fratelli spokesman John Rarick.
In 1978, Ray Vivola opened Fratelli Ravioli, a traditional Italian,
homemade pasta shop at this very location. In 2001, his two sons,
Larry and Christian opened a pasta factory in Red Hook to facilitate
the production and demand of Fratelli’s made-fresh-daily goods.
"[Fratelli Ravioli] is all about using the freshest and
best ingredients you can find to create traditional Italian food,"
Rarick said.
As part of an ongoing vision, the Vivolas decided to convert
the Carroll Gardens shop into a retail store and cafe akin to
the three others they had previously opened in Connecticut and
New Jersey. They had the product; all they needed was an owner.
Enter Ysabel Suarez. At 16, Suarez began working for Ray Vivola
during the summer and never left. Today, 12 years later, she
and her brother, Carlos (pictured at left), own and operate the
Carroll Gardens franchise. Two more franchises are scheduled
to open soon in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Says Rarick, "When you walk into Fratelli Ravioli Shop and
Cafe, you become part of the family."
Fratelli Ravioli Shop and Cafe, 347 Court St. at Union Street
in Carroll Gardens, accepts American Express, MasterCard and
Visa. Soups: $4; sandwiches: $6-$8.50; salads: $6-$7.50. Open
daily to 10 pm. For more information, call (718) 625-7952.
