©2018 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Phila Street in Saratoga Springs will soon be home to an authentic Italian eatery that is promising to offer an atmosphere that takes its customers to the heart of Italy.
Owners, and siblings, Giovannina and Ronnie Solevo will open the doors to Solevo Kitchen + Social in September, fulfilling a long-time dream of opening a restaurant in Saratoga.
The restaurant is at 55 Phila Street, part of the Bonacio Construction project that created Spencer Condominiums and the renovation of Caffe Lena. The restaurant is in the ground floor.
The restaurant will feature an open kitchen, a 14-seat bar and an intimate dining room. The decor will be a throwback cocktail club atmosphere.
Ronnie Solevo, the chef, said his family, natives of Connecticut, spent their summers in Saratoga. His parents eventually settled in the Spa City.
The family has years of experience in the restaurant business.
“We grew up in restaurants and have worked in the industry our entire lives,” said Solevo. “After many years working in the industry in New York City, we returned to our roots of Branford, Conn., and purchased our parents’ restaurant in 2013. They retired to this area, and after five years we were ready to sell in Connecticut and join them up here. Opening in Saratoga has always been a goal for us. The culinary scene and opportunity here is unmatched in the region. We love this town,”
Solevo said he and Giovannina immediately felt a connection to the location on Phila Street.
“Being in such a historic place adds to the authenticity that we strive for in our cooking. Also, we are happy to be off of Broadway by two blocks, hopefully adding to the neighborhood feel we are striving for,” said Solevo.
Having the opportunity to design and build out a space was part of the dream for the Solevo family. They worked with Bonacio Construction to create a space that meets their needs.
The concept of the restaurant is to pay homage to the recipes passed down through the family’s generations of southern Italian chefs and restaurant owners. The menu will feature old world authentic cooking, red sauce dishes, house-made pastas, prime steaks and fresh seafood. The food will be primarily cooked from scratch, using local and organic ingredients that are available and in season in upstate New York. Solevo said everything from baking to butchery will be done on site, with specials revolving around seasonal items.
The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week from noon to 10 p.m., and reservations are accepted.
Its website is www.solevokitchenandsocial.com.