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move into their space on Astoria’s Pier 12.
“I think it’s getting hard now in Astoria to
get into a place, it seems a lot of people are
looking,” Davenport said, “we got really
lucky.”
Fede means “faith” in Italian. “It’s com-
mon in Italy to name a place after the lady
of the house,” Davenport said. The epon-
ymous ring that encircles the restaurant’s
name in the logo is a Roman era wedding
ring.
Mere days into Fede’s journey as a
restaurant, the place bustles, with a wait list
for one of a dozen tables on popular nights.
Reservations are possible only for parties of
six or more.
“It’s been an organic, small-town thing,
it just kind of happened and we’ve got-
ten a positive response and we’re grateful,”
Hammond said. He credits the duo’s enthu-
siasm and the ensuing word of mouth for its
success. “Our focus is on the local commu-
nity, where everyone can come and enjoy
some good, accessible, simple Italian food,”
he added.
The ideal dining experience unfolds
over four courses, from antipasti to one of a
dozen pastas, to soup or salad and meat, fish
or vegetable entrees, plus desserts. Every-
thing at the restaurant is handmade, sourced
from local purveyors or imported. Italian
cocktails, spirits and wines as well as home-
made lemonades comprise the beverage list.
“We’re not going to carry anything
that doesn’t go with Italian food,” Daven-
port said, “so we’re not going to get tequila
unless I get 500 requests for margaritas ...
but even then probably not,” she added.
Fede’s menus are printed on paper,
enabling frequent dish changes based on
what’s in season, all while sticking with
traditional fare. “It’s more Italy than Lit-
tle Italy,” Hammond said of the menu. Dav-
enport notes that there are no specials,
because “everything is a special,” given
how frequently the menu turns over.
“I wanted to make the menu big enough
that people wouldn’t get bored,” Hammond
said. “There’s room for everybody.”
Fede Trattoria sits
on Pier 12 along the
Astoria Riverwalk.
Photos by Peter Korchnak
ABOVE: Tables look out at views of the
Columbia River and Astoria Riverwalk.
ABOVE LEFT: A bright, comfortable setting
awaits in Astoria’s newest Italian eatery.
The Franklin
Apartments
Providing Elegance & Efficiency to
Downtown Astoria for Over 100 Years
1432 Franklin Avenue
Community Property Management
503-325-5678
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022 // 9