Fado, an authentic Portuguese restaurant owned by Chef Rui Borges, will open this spring at 435 5th Avenue N St. Petersburg. The owners announced that the concept will soft open on May 12 by reservation only. To book your spot, call Rui at 407-398-3809 or George at 321-443-4098.
Diners may recognize some menu offerings from Fado’s sister concept Lisbon in Orlando, Florida.
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“We are bringing Portugal’s authentic flavors to St. Petersburg Florida!” writes owner Rui Borges on the Fado website. “Experience a gastronomic and cultural experience without the plane flight. Stay tuned for our opening soon!”
Fado will open inside the former Sake 23 space on 5th Avenue North. The giant venue features two floors of seating plus outdoor dining areas.
Chef Rui Borges was born in Sao Miguel, Azores. He immigrated to New Bedford, MA in the early 80s and in 2004 moved to Florida where he was able to realize his culinary dream by opening Lisbon restaurant in Orlando.
What’s in a name?
Fado is a popular genre of music in Portugal that’s known for its melancholic theme and follows a distinct song structure, often accompanied by mandolins or guitars. The music genre itself can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon, Portugal and probably originated long before that.
The menu is described as simple but elegant, and the food will be complemented by the restaurant’s Azulejo décor, a form of Portuguese and Spanish painted tin-glazed ceramic tile work.
“We serve fresh fish and seafood alongside a vast selection of Bacalhau (salted cod) and meat dishes,” writes Borges. “Our Adega (wine cellar) offers a selection of some of the best Portuguese wines.”
Fado will also offer its own rendition of the famous “Pastel de Nata.” The dish is made daily at Lisbon. Pastel de nata is a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry dusted with cinnamon.
Follow Fado on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
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