By Jennifer Farnsworth<\/p>\n
Patty Novo, owner of the new Taverna Novo in Saratoga Springs, is certain that her cozy restaurant in the Saratoga Arts district is the perfect place to bring a bit of Italy to the Spa City.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The response so far is proof to Novo and her husband that opening Taverna Novo, 62 Beekman St., was not only a good decision for them as a couple, but for those looking for an authentic Italian meal that is not too far from home.<\/p>\n \u201cOur vision for the restaurant is a warm, inviting place to have true Italian food, and I think we accomplished that. Overall everything is running smoothly. We have a great team,\u201d said Novo.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She said one of the things that sets her restaurant apart from others is her commitment to keeping true to authentic Italian food, so much so that when her friends told her to put Guinness beer on tap, she refused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Novo said she puts a great deal of thought into each ingredient, ensuring that it is authentic, fresh and of the highest quality<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the menu to the bar, I wanted to focused on Italian food and spirit, and we have done that,\u201d said Novo.<\/p>\n She said the best sellers so far have been their signature meatballs, ensalata, porchetta, Bolognese, and her personal favorite, cacio e pepe.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople love the cacio e pepe, which is\u00a0 <\/span>simply pasta with pecorino and black pepper. It\u2019s a huge hit,\u201d said Novo.<\/p>\n She said they didn\u2019t have to make updates to the kitchen area when they moved in, but they added a wood-fired pizza oven. They also moved the bar to the front of the space, using re-purposed wood that aligns with the warm rustic feel atmosphere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She said they will be able to accommodate a bigger crowd during what they anticipate to be a busy summer season by utilizing available outdoor space.<\/p>\n \u201cThe outdoor seating will almost double our space. I am cautiously optimistic we will able to use it,\u201d said Novo.<\/p>\n Novo has owned and operated several businesses, but this is her first restaurant. She said trying to accommodate people who come to the restaurant has been somewhat of a challenge due to the intimate space.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been so hard for me to turn anyone away,\u201d said Novo.<\/p>\n Novo is a certified wine specialist by the Society of Wine Educators and a member of the Guild of Sommeliers. She is on the advisory board of Schenectady County Community College\u2019s School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism and is an adjunct wine professor at the college.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The bar at Taverna Novo houses over 60 wine choices, all hand-picked by Novo.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have had people from Saratoga, Albany, Skidmore College students and they have all been so supportive. We truly are so grateful to our friends and to the Saratoga community. It has been wonderful,\u201d said Novo.<\/p>\n A complete menu is available online at www.tavernanovo.com. Reservations can be made for parties of six or more by calling 518- 886-1680. It is open Wednesday through Friday 4-10 p.m., and\u00a0 <\/span>Saturday and Sunday noon to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Jennifer Farnsworth Patty Novo, owner of the new Taverna Novo in Saratoga Springs, is certain that her cozy restaurant in the Saratoga Arts district is the perfect place to bring a bit of Italy to the Spa City.\u00a0 The response so far is proof to Novo and her husband that opening Taverna Novo, 62 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news","category-new-businesses"],"yoast_head":"\r\n