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The owners of Fernando’s Mexican & Brazilian Cuisine will more than triple the size of their Broad Ripple restaurant by moving two blocks southwest to a building recently occupied by a Lou Malnati’s pizzeria.
Cristiano Rodrigues, who owns two Fernando’s locations with his wife, Elizabeth Fernandez, said a 5,145-square-foot building at 6320 Ferguson St. offers a larger kitchen, larger indoor dining room and a larger patio than the restaurant’s present site, 834 E. 64th St.
“It will be the same great food and service, but people can expect a little more creativity and a little more flair,” Rodrigues said. “We will have more room to actually do a couple of nice presentations that I want to do.”
The Mexican and Brazilian components of Fernando’s menu originate with Fernandez, who grew up in Mexico, and Rodrigues, who grew up in Brazil. The restaurant’s Brazilian specialties include caipirinha cocktails and feijoada stew.
Fernando’s, established in 2023, is expected to make its Broad Ripple migration before Christmas, Rodrigues told IBJ.
In addition to more space to operate the restaurant, Rodrigues said Fernando’s is moving because he and Fernandez had the opportunity to buy the building. According to property records, Fernandos Holdings 1 LLC purchased the structure from The Malnati Organization LLC.
“Since I moved from Brazil in 1999, Broad Ripple is where I basically have lived most of my life in the United States,” Rodrigues said. “It was important for me to secure my little spot here and make sure Broad Ripple stays the great little village and neighborhood that it’s always been.”
The Ferguson Street building is just north of Central Canal and about a block northeast of the Fresh Thyme grocery store at 6301 N. College Ave.
Although the building isn’t found on a high-profile neighborhood street such as Westfield, Guilford, College or Broad Ripple, Rodrigues said he’s optimistic about the location.
“I think having the brand already in existence 2-1/2 years helps quite a bit,” he said. “If this were my first one, I would have been a bit more hesitant going there.”
The move will punctuate a year that included Fernando’s Mexican & Brazilian Cuisine opening a Mass Ave location. The restaurant at 888 Massachusetts Ave. debuted in June and occupies a 3,800-square-foot space previously occupied by Rooster’s Kitchen and Mass & Belle Taphouse.
Rodrigues and Fernandez plan to remain active at the 64th Street building, where an event space will follow the restaurant after its departure.
Lou Malnati’s, one of the top brands of Chicago deep-dish pizza, closed its four central Indiana locations in February, less than five years after entering the market. The company’s restaurant and bar on Ferguson Street opened in November 2021.
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Bravo to Cristiano and Elisabeth! They have done a great job with their current BR location and I look forward to enjoying their new spot early and often.
Fantastic news!
Good to see something that might actually be good, and new cuisine to the area, go in that space.
Tough location, but not a terribly different than where they have had success at their current location, so I hope they can swing it. Food and service has always been great. I’m glad to see local businesses growing.
Fernando’s has quickly become our guilty pleasure each week! This is great news.