Dining Review: Casual And Sun-Splashed, Fiat Café Sports Comfy Italian Menu

Perhaps it was a coincidence. When I stopped into the newly opened Fiat Café (80 6th Avenue at St. Marks Avenue), the sun was washing the front tables and dozens of the eponymous Italian cars were neatly framed and arranged on the walls throughout the restaurant.

You can tell someone took some time hanging those Fiat car illustrations — evenly spaced out and spic and span.

Even though Fiat just opened on April 7, the atmosphere felt confident, as if it had existed in this space for a longer period of time. But that’s not the case. The bistro takes the place of Cubana Cafe, which shut down in January — although it’s fuzzy as to when or why it exactly happened.

Perhaps the confidence comes from the fact that owner Stephan Iacovelli’s first Fiat Café is alive and well after doing swift business on Mott Street in Manhattan (203 Mott Street at Spring Street) for almost six years.

The tidy comfortable restaurant boasts a large menu that spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner — as well as a small bar area to stop by for a glass of wine or cocktail. And this is the type of atmosphere where it’d be perfectly fine to stop in for a nice espresso on your way to the next hustle-bustle of your day.

Antipasto, pastas, and paninis make up a lot of the selections, however folks looking for a full-fledged meal can order veal ($16) or eggplant ($14) parmagiana with a side of spaghetti, or even get your steamed mussels ($13) fix.

I was eyeing the panini grilled sandwiches and salads since it was lunchtime, with both meat and veggie options to choose from. The Italian Tuna with black olive paste served with red onions and sliced tomatoes ($8) was the victor — and I’m glad it beat out the others (at least during this visit).

The sandwich differs from the pressed sandwich you may be more familiar with when it comes to the term “panini.” The bread is fresh, full, and crusty. Olive tapenade fans should seek this one out — the spread makes the panini work really well. There’s a generous side salad that goes with it. The $8 goes a long way — so long that I took half of it home.

The service is friendly and swift. Iacovelli has hired a staff as well-oiled as his 1969 Fiat.

This is somewhat of an incomplete review because the breakfast and brunch menu is so extensive. But with one meal at Fiat Café, you get a sense that this is a place that knows what they’re doing, does it gently, and charges a very fair price for it.

Even though nearby Flatbush Avenue is bustling away, Fiat runs at a more casual and breezy rhythm.

As I finished up my meal and prepared to bustle off for the afternoon, I paused for moment, and relaxed back into my chair. Time to order an espresso and sit back for awhile.

Really, in the grand scheme of things, what’s the rush?

The Dining Rundown: Fiat Café
Where: 80 6th Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue)
Phone: 929-397-0071
Hours: 8am-11pm, everyday
Extra Notes: Fiat is cash only.