Something old, something new

Italian restaurant Antica Nova has opened in Troy with Chef Anthony Giannola at the helm. The restaurant occupies the building directly behind the San Marino Club where since-closed restaurants Cantoro Italian Trattoria and Tre Monti also served Italian fare. Giannola is quick to point out that Antica Nova is not your average Italian restaurant. It blends classic dishes with modern touches, using fresh, seasonal ingredients, handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas showcasing familiar flavors with a contemporary twist, like the aged arborio risotto with limoncello, smoked provolone and raspberry caviar. The name Antica Nova translates to ‘new antique.’ “The reason we named the restaurant Antica Nova, or new antique, is that we didn’t want to recreate the wheel of Italian food, and we wanted to give it a modern twist,” said Giannola. So far, the most popular dishes have been the tagliatelle Bolognese with veal and beef ragu Bolognese sauce and homemade egg pasta; and the linguine alle vongole made with verce clams, red garlic, white wine, grape tomatoes and a parsley pesto. The bar features crafted cocktails and a curated wine list, featuring Gran Cru Champagnes and top-rated Emilia Romagna wines. Antiqua Nova also has a happy hour with drink specials and a menu which includes house favorites such as Nova lamb sliders, an Italian French dip sandwich and the San Mario sub. The restaurant has plans to renovate the expansive outdoor terrace, adding a new outdoor bar to accommodate a large happy hour crowd in the warmer weather. 1695 E. Big Beaver Road Troy. anticanova.com