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By Jennifer Farnsworth
After years of working in the restaurant industry, Kyle Geniti is now living his dream as owner and chef of Trattoria Fortunata, and Italian-American restaurant at 21 Phila St. in Saratoga Springs.
Geniti described his restaurant as small, cozy, rustic and simple. The maximum capacity is 36 people, including staff, so reservations are highly recommended.
“We like to think our space is a quiet and intimate setting just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Broadway,” he said.
Specialities include fresh seafood, pasta and steak, however Geniti said they have had to limit what they can offer on the current menu due to product shortages and price increases.
“I look forward to being able to incorporate some more of the foods that I enjoy the most. I’ve recently become more interested in cooking vegan and vegetarian dishes, and have developed a passion for sourcing ingredients from responsible, sustainable sources, and local whenever possible,” said Geniti.
“I also plan to expand the menu and add more vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, and seafood options, as well as to add desserts made in-house as soon as we can find the right staff to allow us to do so,” he said.
The inside decor features artwork of three local artists; watercolor paintings by Amanda Engels, landscape photography from the Adirondack mountains by Adam Desorbo, and chalkboard art by Anna Hunter.
He is also working to include menu options that can meet the dietary needs of certain patrons.
The Fonda native said he spent a lot of time in Saratoga as a child and grew to love the city.
Geniti’s started working in restaurants at age 16, continuing through college and into adulthood. He also attended SUNY Binghamton where he studied to become an orthopedic surgeon. He worked as a bartender at Galaxy Brewing Co. in Binghamton for close to two years, learning along the way how to brew craft beer. He said it was there that he started to think about the business on a different level.
“Brewing gave me a newfound appreciation for the human palette and helped me realize my passion for the culinary arts,” said Geniti.
It was in 2016 when he started working in the kitchen at 15 Church St. in Saratoga Springs while also bartending at Aperitivo Bistro in Schenectady, part of Mazzone Hospitality.
His professional path included sous chef at Harvey’s Restaurant, kitchen manager at Druthers and executive chef at Taverna Novo, all in Saratoga Springs. Then he decided to open his own restaurant in the space formerly occupied by the restaurant Ravenous.
Learn more about Trattoria Fortunata at www.facebook.com/trattoriafortunata and on Instagram at @trattoriafortunata. The restaurant’s website, trattoriafortunata.com, is coming soon. Online ordering is currently available at app.upserve.com/s/trattoria-fortunata-saratoga-springs, and delivery is available through DoorDash. The can also be reached at 518-886-8672.