A report by Dana Eastland. Back in November we reported that the Noe Valley location of Pasta Pomodoro was closing, and it looked like the landlord of the building was making some major changes to the space. It turns out that the building’s owners, John and Vi Gianaras, have bigger plans for the space.
According to this story from 1997 in The Noe Valley Voice, the Gianarases have owned the building since the 1970s and operated a Greek restaurant there called Panos. They closed Panos in 1997, and Pasta Pomodoro moved in. But now John and Vi’s daughters, Kristen and Kathryn, are taking over the space and opening NOVY this spring. I had a chance to catch up with Kristen Gianaras on the family’s plans for the new project.
The new restaurant won’t be exactly Greek, but there will be some Greek inspiration on the menu. They’ve been working on it with Vi, who ran the kitchen at Panos, and Kristen says the food will be firmly rooted in seasonal California cuisine, with a Mediterranean influence. One section of the menu is devoted to burgers (including a Greek one), while another is all about big salads (including, yes, a Greek one). They’ve also been developing some pita bread wraps with souvlaki-style grilled skewers, a selection of seasonal pasta dishes, and quesadillas with Mediterranean flavors. In addition, there is a small plates section of the menu, with fried almonds and olives, grilled calamari, grilled halloumi cheese, and Greek-inspired spreads. The aim is for the food to be fun and inviting, and they want the many families of Noe Valley to feel welcomed.
In addition, Novy has a beer and wine license. To keep waste and prices reasonably low, they’ve decided to only offer beer and wine on tap (with the exception of sparkling wines). There are eight wines on tap, available by the glass or carafe (four reds and four whites), though they haven’t yet finalized the list. As for beer, they want to start with local favorites, so you’ll find choices like Anchor Steam, Drake’s hefeweizen, and Lagunitas IPA, as well as a hard cider for gluten-free drinkers.
As for the space, it’s been completely gutted and is receiving a major overhaul. They want it to feel inviting and casual, but also modern and chic. There is a poured concrete floor, lots of warm wood slats (but nothing too rustic or reclaimed looking), and big windows to take full advantage of the corner building’s light. The bar area has been designed to feel more relaxed than other spaces in the restaurant, with high, bistro-style tables at the windows and seating for four at the bar itself. They will also be keeping the corner spot’s popular outdoor seating.
Novy is currently scheduled to open on Tuesday March 10th, barring any delays in construction. When they do open, hours will be Mon-Fri 11am-9:30pm for lunch and dinner, Sat-Sun 9am-9:30pm for brunch and dinner. They may change the hours and add a happy hour in the coming months. 4000 24th St. at Noe, 415-829-8383.
The future home of Novy, on the corner of 24th Street and Noe. Photo from Instagram.
