Another new restaurant is arriving in the heart of Fort Greene. Fradei, an Italian bistro located at 99 South Portland Avenue, will have its “soft opening” on Thursday, December 20. A new sign for the restaurant recently went up on the awning, after weeks of interior work. The name is a play on an Italian slang word for the word brothers.

The space was formerly occupied by French-Moroccan restaurant Cafe Lafayette, which closed in 2017 after more than a decade in business. Federico Armagni, one of the owners, told Brownstoner they noticed that a restaurant that reflects the “experience of a real Italian trattoria” was missing in the neighborhood. The spot will serve regional Italian food, he added, accompanied by a diverse selection of wines that will rotate weekly. Both dinner and brunch will be served.