The Italian restaurant is the latest to open on the lake, which saw some culinary additions this summer, including Ugly Ice Cream and the rebranded Lago by Druthers. Located in the former Nostalgia Ale House and Wine Bar on the south end of the lake, BuonaSera is owned by Jimmy and Danielle Hartwyk. The couple has previously owned several other establishments, most notably Biscotti Brothers Cafe and Saluti in Lake George.
At BuonaSera, the menu offers a mix of Italian-American standards, including veal ravioli, pan-seared scallops, and short ribs. The Hartwyks noted that BuonaSera is a scratch kitchen, everything from the bread to the mozzarella is made in-house. They also use specialty ravioli from Mangiamo in Saratoga Springs.
A former dive bar, the restaurant has been renovated, with updated bathrooms and a retiled kitchen. The Gazette recently caught up with the Hartwyks about their plans for BuonaSera. Q: What got you into the restaurant business? Jimmy: I was always drawn to hard work and satisfaction.
Every plate is an instant gratification. Sometimes it works for you, sometimes it works against you. Q: What attracted you to this location? Danielle: We were looking all over the Capital Region.
Lake George is very seasonal. So we were looking outside of Lake George, because it’s hard to get once you leave Lake George, money-wise, it’s hard to get back in. This opportunity presented itself and it just seemed there’s always been a restaurant here since maybe before .