Reviews

Noe Valley Knows Novy

Noe Valley is a vibrant, quaint and fascinating neighborhood in San Francisco. A nickname for it is NOVY.

Noe Valley Knows Novy
Noe Valley Knows Novy

That also happens to be the name of a fabulous Greek/Californian fusion restaurant right on the corner of 24th and Noe St. Allow me to tell you some back story: in 1970 the Gianaras, a Greek-American couple, opened a Greek restaurant named Panos at this very location. It was loved by the neighborhood for twenty years and now their daughters have reimagined the space and created an eatery all their own, but with a knowing nod to their Greek ancestry. The decor is sleek and contemporary but with personal touches such as a mural of the owner's grandpa, Panos, on an exterior wall. The space allows for ample outside seating with heat lamps that chase away the very chilly December weather. I arrived a little before 5:00 PM and was surprised to see people waiting for the doors to open. Once seated the tables all quickly filled, both inside and out, with families, couples and friends, many appearing to be locals who walked over for dinner. It was fun to people watch as locals walked by and one lady stopped under our heat lamp for a chat and to warm up on this chilly evening. Clearly, the locals feel very comfortable with their neighborhood restaurant, the present incarnation delighting them for nearly eight years! Our charming server JP brought us sparkling water and guided us through the limited, but diverse menu. We started with Grilled Halloumi cheese that came with a warm pita and artichoke and date tapenade. The tapenade was a surprise, sweet and flavorful. We also got Kolokithokeftedes which are Greek zucchini fritters that were served with exquisitely fresh tzatziki. My dining partner has a degree in nutrition (and knows her food) and repeatedly commented on the quality and the freshness of the ingredients. I then chose to enjoy a bowl of Avgolemono soup, which is a Greek lemon-egg rice soup with bits of tasty chicken. This is Greek comfort food (and dairy and gluten-free) that elevates rice porridge to fine art. Perfect for a winter's night! I ordered a glass of their lovely sangria, and it was time for the mains. We ordered Moussaka and Horiatiki with ribbons of lamb Gyro on the top. The Moussaka I am familiar with was made with mutton and strong tasting, but this Moussaka was made with lamb and eggplant and bechamel and was smooth, mild and rich. Delicious! The Horiatiki included perfectly ripe heirloom tomatoes and Kalamata olives and the ribbons of gyro were a perfect counterpoint to all the fresh veggies. The portions were generous so I was happy to box up the leftovers for lunch the next day. Dessert cannot be missed at an outstanding restaurant such as this so we happily ordered the Baklava and a Galaktoboureko which is a semolina custard wrapped in phyllo pastry topped with huckleberry compote and almonds and yes it was as delicious as it sounds! The baklava was large and nutty, drenched with honey and just sublime. My dining partner repeatedly exclaimed; "this food is just fantastic! I am definitely coming back!". It is easy to see why the neighbors fill this restaurant seven days a week and why even the server JP was so enthusiastic about working here. The vibe is unpretentious, yet classy, the food deliciously creative, yet somehow familiar and the neighborhood diverse and hip yet welcoming and friendly. Noe Valley knows a good thing and NOVY is definitely a good thing...

Noe Valley Knows Novy
Noe Valley Knows Novy

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