PARK SLOPE — There's no fettuccine Alfredo or other Olive Garden-style classics on the menu at Flora, the new cafe on Eighth Avenue and 11th Street that's aiming to give customers a true taste of Italy.
The owners want to offer an authentic Italian experience by serving traditional recipes from their native Campania region of Italy.
Current menu items include a ricotta tart, a breakfast dish of toast, parmacotto ham and Asiago cheese served with peaches in syrup, and several panini. One sandwich has gorgonzola cheese, salami and white fig jam and is served with a salad of sliced orange, fresh fennel and dried olives.
The cafe, which opened in early November after a lengthy renovation (the space was previously a bodega), is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will serve breakfast, lunch and coffee drinks to start.
Most of the ingredients are imported from Italy and many are certified "DOP," or locally grown. There are a few pantry products for sale, including the Italian lemon soda La Nostra Gazzosa and marinated artichoke hearts from the owners' family farm in Italy.
All of the breads, cakes and pastries are baked on the premises. Flora will eventually serve pasta and dinner entrees, and wine and Campari drinks too, after the cafe gets its liquor license.
Other Openings & Closings in the neighborhood include:
► A small burger and fries shop called Gnarly Eats opened at 447 Seventh Ave. between 15th and 16th streets. Menu items include a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, coffee and doughnuts.
► The Italian restaurant Scalino, at 347 Seventh Ave. and 10th Street, closed in late October after nine years in business. The restaurant's Greenpoint location (659 Manhattan Ave.) remains open.
► The Tex-Mex restaurant and tequila bar Lobo will close Nov. 20 after 12 years in business at 188 Fifth Ave. and Sackett Street, the owners announced on Twitter. Lobo's Cobble Hill location at 218 Court St. is still open.
► Backyard, which served "Southern meets New England comfort food" at 388 Fifth Ave. and Sixth Street, closed in late October after six years in business, Bklyner reported.
► Enzo's Brickoven at 217 Prospect Park West (between 16th Street and Windsor Place) in Windsor Terrace recently emerged from a lengthy renovation as Oggi Pizza Bar. It's run by the same owners.
► 12th Street Bar & Grill on Eighth Avenue and 12th Street has reworked its menu to be seafood-focused and is now called Hooked on 12th.
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