The soft opening may have been in July 2024, but owners Jimmy Hartwyk and his wife Danielle took over the operation months prior and spent countless hours renovating the charming space to make it all happen.

The Adirondack feel welcomes you as you enter the restaurant, and Chris, Susan, and I loved it! From the warm, wood floors and paneled walls to the bar area with shelves chock-full of spirits, the wide-open spaces (with seating up to 165) and picturesque views of Saratoga Lake create a feeling of being in a dreamy watercolor landscape! We were all impressed by the spacious yet cozy feeling, we felt like we were the only ones there, yet when we left we realized it was a full house – on a Tuesday no less!

“When it came to the location,” Danielle states when I ask what made them decide to open a restaurant on Saratoga Lake, after having others in Lake George, she goes on to say… “We loved the fact it was on the water and realized it was a fantastic opportunity to enter the market here, filling the void left behind by Panza’s and Mangino’s exit.”

We wander around for a few minutes, and I’m instantly drawn to the original artwork throughout the rooms. Danielle, a petite woman with bright eyes and a cheerful smile, laughs. She knows what I’m going to ask and answers the question I haven’t yet voiced. She tells us, “I’ve always collected art and antiques, I began to concentrate on artwork when I realized I had no more room for furniture! Besides that, art is so much easier to move around.” We all grin over that statement. The pieces are joyful and make the place feel very homey. Danielle shares that she’s happy to see them daily and hopes others enjoy them, too.

We sit at a table near the bank of windows and settle in for what proves to be an excellent meal. We start with a few appetizers and refreshing drinks that usher in springtime. The Carm is a drink made with Stoli Orange Vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice. It’s a light and citrusy singsong to warmer weather. The Kiss is presented in a fluted glass, made with Prosecco, Peach Schnapps, and cranberry juice, and the Rose Sangria has the expected stone fruits, juices, wine, and liqueurs, but here on the lake, it tastes even better. Our personalities gravitate to one in particular; we claim it and are good to go!

Their Pan-Seared U-10 Scallops are to die for, seriously! I’ve never heard the term before, but I’m impressed to learn it means there are no more than 10 scallops per pound. Talk about colossal! These are set atop grilled bread and cooked with roasted red peppers, pancetta, and red onions in a light cream sauce. Not only did the scallops have a perfect balance of sweet and briny flavors, but they were also tender and clung to the smooth, creamy sauce they’d been smothered in.

When the second appetizer arrives, our eyes grow wide. Pan-fried Homemade Mozzarella served over fresh, in-house marinara. Yes, you read that correctly, HOMEMADE Mozzarella! We learn that Jimmy has been making this since he lived in Savannah, Georgia. He was 23 at the time and worked in an Italian restaurant, and we are so happy this continues today.

“The marinara sauce is also homemade – as are all the other sauces served here at Buona Sera,” Jimmy tells us when he arrives at our table to say hello and listens to us go on and on about the cheese. “My dad is Irish, and my mom is Italian,” he tells us. “I’ve always wanted to be a chef and started cooking when I was 18. I spent time working with French, modern American, and Italian cuisines, Italian being my favorite.”

He returns to the kitchen; the tables are now filled with families, couples, girlfriends, and co-workers – a nice mixture of clientele, of all ages! Before he walks away, Jimmy invites us to look up and watch a short video about the mozzarella he makes that’s posted on their Instagram account. Oh, don’t you worry, Jimmy, we’ll check it out!

For our salad, we share their Beef Carpaccio, which is comprised of thin slices of beef topped with arugula, pine nuts, yummy fried goat cheese, and roasted tomatoes, with a healthy drizzle of sherry vinaigrette. The mix of warm and cold ingredients offer a subtle flavor, and the dressing didn’t need to work hard to draw them all together.

The Roasted Half Chicken looks like a work of art arranged on a plate with fresh asparagus and roasted potatoes. The demi glaze, made of roasted tomatoes and herbs, is a perfect blast of savory flavor for this tender and super-moist entree. When we wonder about their favorite dishes, Danielle tells us this is hers. Jimmy prefers the Chicken Francese.

The Bolognese is a hearty dish, and you taste all three meats in every bite; tender veal, the freshest pork, and ground beef mingling in a splash of heavy cream. It’s served with Pappardelle pasta – which I hadn’t tried before. They’re long, flat, broad ribbons of egg pasta originating in Tuscany. It’s the perfect noodle, as its large surface area and rough texture complements heavier ragus.

My favorite dish had to be their Shrimp Scampi. Not only were the shrimp perfectly cooked, but they came over a bed of roasted garlic and basil risotto and fresh grilled asparagus. The flavorful sauce was thick and creamy, and there was more than enough to dip the shrimp in and have with a forkful of the risotto. Oh, my, gosh, I’ll be sure to order this on a return visit!    

Between courses, we catch up on life and things that have happened in our orbits since our last visit. I love times like these; they are slow and drawn out over a few hours. We get to talk, listen, and laugh over a great cocktail and plenty of gastro delights. It’s the best way to share our friendship, that’s for sure!