NoCo Pastaria is a new Italian restaurant located next to the Stop & Shop on State Road in North Adams.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It's the size of a small suitcase, and it's tucked away in a basement.
But that doesn't mean the $8,000 imported Italian pasta machine is anything less than critical to the newest restaurant to hit the North Adams dining scene.
"It's the heart and soul of NoCo," said Robert Beuth, who along with Jane Patton has opened NoCo Pastaria (think "pizzeria," only "pastaria") at 896 State Road. The restaurant, located next to the Stop & Shop plaza, housed the La Veranda restaurant for many years then Isabella's and Espana restaurants more recently.
Beuth and Patton are no strangers to the North County restaurant scene: The two also own Hops & Vines on Water Street in Williamstown. But NoCo (short for "North County," concocted by accident by Beuth) is anything but a copy of Hops & Vines — from the authentic Italian food it serves to the more family — and budget-friendly atmosphere it strives to achieve.
"Because Italian food is such a void, and we know it could work, we felt like if we could bring our own stamp and in some ways model what La Veranda did ... good food, good value, then we thought that was something we could do," Patton said.
The menu includes traditional Italian appetizers like bruschetta and steamed mussels and entrees ranging from creating your own pasta dish by picking the pasta, sauce and protein to chicken parmesan and lasagna to more sophisticated dishes like bucatini carbonara. Desserts are made on premises by Beuth's wife, Megan, who also helps with the operation of both restaurants. The pasta, of course, is made in the Italian machine fresh every day then cooked to order.
In addition, Beth and Patton said they are committed to using local ingredients when possible, something they already are doing with Hops & Vines.
"Here we do a lot with local farmers," Beuth said during a break from the kitchen at the Williamstown restaurant last week. "Now we are using them in both restaurants."
NoCo Pastaria opened for dinner from 4 to 10 p.m. the third weekend of May and is adding weekend lunches on Memorial Day weekend. The timing was deliberate in that they wanted time to "work out the kinks" before the summer tourist season heats up.
"We're really committed to the quality of the food and the quality of the service," Patton said.
Patton, who handles the marketing end of the restaurant while Beuth heads up the kitchen, said they have received a lot of good feedback so far. And this Tuesday, May 26, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., the restaurant will host the monthly networking event for the North Adams Chamber of Commerce — a chance to show off the business to the chamber community.
"The response has just been overwhelmingly positive," Patton said. "The fact that it's been so busy on non-traditional busy nights, it bears out the theory that this is a niche aching to be filled."
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Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath
By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.
North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.
The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members.
After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.
"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."
She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.
"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."
Northern Berkshire United Way entered the 1990s with big goals — and met almost all of them. It ended the decade with the largest campaign in its history.
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NoCo Pastaria is a new Italian restaurant located next to the Stop & Shop on State Road in North Adams.
