Opening in 1990, Fausto’s Bistro is celebrating their 24^th Anniversary this year.  Aimee and I went there for our own anniversary dinner this January.  We are always excited to try one of the many great restaurants in the area together for the first time.  With well over 1,300 open locally, we will likely not run out of options anytime soon.

We made a reservation for dinner on a Monday night at 7.  The cozy dining room was not at all crowded when we arrived.  I imagine it could get a little tight when the place is full.  The décor looks exactly like you would expect a family run Italian restaurant to look.

We started off with a drink, naturally, Italian prosecco.  Our fabulous appetizer was one I never had before, Arancini.  While its name derives from the Italian for orange, this baby would be a mighty big one, about the size of a softball.  It is a rice ball filled also with ground meat, peas, Italian seasoning and mozzarella.  It is then coated with breadcrumbs, fried and served on a bed of marinara sauce.  It reminded me of a Louisiana-Italian Shepherd’s Pie.

We both went local seafood with entrees.  Aimee had a special featuring fried soft shell crab over seafood ravioli.  The seafood was fresh and tasty and the pasta was topped with a yummy cream sauce.  She thought the crab or the ravioli could have each been a meal by themselves.  My Fettuccine Carciofo oozed healthy Mediterranean flavors.  In it shrimp, artichoke hearts, black olives, fresh Italian herbs, plenty of garlic, and extra virgin olive oil are sautéed and simmered then tossed with pasta.  While going heavy on the fresh Louisiana seafood, there was no doubt our dishes were prepared Italiano style.  While pretty full at this point, we still managed to find room to top off our wonderful meal with a shared Tiramisu.

Our server, Jennifer, was great.  I have only one suggestion for what could have made a positive experience even more fabulous.  They knew when I made the reservation that it was our anniversary, yet there was no special… something.  Nitpicky, sure; but a complimentary glass of cheap bubbly or a small dessert is worth so much more in exceeding guest expectations and encouraging them to return that the minute expense involved.

This intimate bistro is run by two Sicilian brothers, Fausto and Roland di Pietro.  They have been in the restaurant business for decades, and many of the featured recipes have been handed down from their mother.

We had a bottle of simple prosecco, shared a crazy delicious appetizer, each had an entrée – and leftovers, tiramisu and a coffee and had an after-tax check total of $95.32; well worth it.  A special evening spent in a delightful New Orleans Italian bistro with my very special wife.  It would be very easy to get me to return to Fausto’s.

Fausto’s Bistro: 530 Veterans Boulavard Metairie, LA 70005.  Lunch is served Monday thru Friday 11:00 – 2:30.  Dinner time Monday thru Thursday is 5:00 – 9:00, Friday and Saturday 5:00 – 10:00.  Reservations are accepted.

Contact Fausto’s:

Phone: 504-833-7121
Fax:504-833-7632
E-mail: Faustobistro@att.net
Website: WWW.Faustosbistro.com