Sal Lamboglia - Cafe Spaghetti
WHO: Sal Lamboglia is chef-owner of Cafe Spaghetti, Swoony's, and Bar Ferdinando — all in Brooklyn, NY.
ABOUT: Cafe Spaghetti is Chef Sal Lamboglia’s ode to the classic neighborhood Italian restaurant, nestled in the heart of Carroll Gardens. The cozy home-style eatery situated in his beloved hometown of Brooklyn, New York, is his first solo project. In addition to the intimate dining room with a wraparound cafe bar, there’s more seating available in the enclosed outdoor space with 25 seats located on Union Street, and 40 seats in the backyard garden. Guests will find family recipes throughout the menu, including tiramisu from Lamboglia’s Naples-born father. Other menu highlights include spaghetti Pomodoro, Patrizia's Eggplant Parmigiana, and their famous Cacio e Pepe Riceballs.
Swoony’s is a reflection of the type of restaurants Sal seeks out on his own personal time — with a menu built around classic proteins and hearty sides. The menu features bistro-style cuisine, spotlighting steakhouse dishes, classic bar fare, and seafood staples.
Ferdinando's Focacceria has fed Brooklyn since 1904. It is New York City's oldest Sicilian restaurant, founded to serve the longshoremen working the nearby waterfront. For over a century, this corner of Carroll Gardens has been a place where neighbors pulled up a chair and generations of families made their way back, year after year, for the panelle, the arancini, and the feeling that some things in this city never have to change.
In 2025, after 52 years of giving everything he had to this place, owner Frank Buffa hand-picked Sal Lamboglia, a Brooklyn native and neighbor, to carry it forward. It wasn't a transaction; it was a handoff made with love. Sal has reimagined Ferdinando's classics with care and intention, holding close everything that made this place so dear, while making sure it's still here for the next generation to call their own.
WHAT: Brooklyn’s own Sal Lamboglia has created a dining destination for his popular eateries in South Brooklyn. Join us for an evening featuring signature dishes that have made each restaurant a neighborhood favorite.
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct 7, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EST
WHERE: De Gustibus Culinary Studio