Image credit: Fausto’s
A Metairie favorite for homestyle Italian food, Fausto’s Bistro, 530 Veterans Memorial Blvd., has a rich history that is now being carried forward by new owners. The restaurant was opened by brothers Fausto and Roland DiPietro in 1990, and last year, ownership was passed on to Michael Vicari and his cousin, Stephen Gambino, upon the brothers’ retirement.
Vicari and Gambino have a history in the restaurant industry and jumped at the opportunity to own the beloved Italian eatery that locals have enjoyed for decades. They wanted to stay true to Fausto’s original vision of offering a menu full of family recipes, and the menu remained largely unchanged following the ownership switch.
“One of the main reasons I was interested in Fausto’s is because I knew it wasn’t broken,” Vicari explains. “It’s a successful restaurant that everyone loves. We made some small changes to the menu and we’ve interested a few new specials and desserts. Most of the menu is the original menu, which comes from the Fausto’s mother.”
The menu includes a wide selection of pasta, seafood, chicken, and veal dishes. Menu favorites are Spaghetti and Meatballs, Eggplant Parmigiana, Veal Marsala, Chicken Sorrentino, Shrimp Marinara, and Pesce Siciliana.
Currently, Fausto’s is offering unique dishes like soft-shell crab pasta and Parmesan-crusted fish, which have quickly become popular with customers.
Image credit: Fausto’s
Vicari says, “We have a lot of veal dishes, which you don’t see on a lot of menus because it takes time to prep. When people come to us, they’ll see a lot of items that you don’t see on other menus.”
When Vicari and Gambino bought Fausto’s, they renovated and updated the restaurant space. The six-week renovation included updates to the kitchen and dining room, which was enlarged with additional seating.
Recently, Fausto’s has introduced live music on Thursdays, a feature that Vicari believes perfectly complements the cozy Italian restaurant ambiance.
“Every month we have The Glowworms and we also have a piano player who comes in,” Vicari says. “It’s not loud rock music; it’s music you can listen to while having a conversation with people at your table.”
December is one of the busiest times of year for Fausto’s, so reservations are recommended and can be made through the website.
Fausto’s Bistro is open for lunch on Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and for dinner on Monday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 pm. and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m
Dining and Cooking