Novo, a Latin American and Mediterranean fusion restaurant and lounge in Jackson Heights, opened its doors five years ago and soon after established itself as the spot for great happy hours and great food.
A favorite of local professionals who begin to gather for $5 cocktails and half priced appetizers at 4 p.m. Sundays through Fridays, Novo specializes in Mojitos of all flavors. Though you’ll only see the pomegranate kind on the menu, the bartenders will gladly make coconut, orange, blackberry flavored and, of course, the classic lime Mojito. Other innovative drinks include the blackberry margarita and the Chocolate Martini made with Godiva liqueur, vodka and chocolate shaving.
To accompany the libations, Novo’s appetizers, which they call “tapas” to go with their Mediterranean theme, are a great match. Codfish fritters with smoked citrus paprika aioli, crispy coconut shrimp served with ginger mango sauce, or choice of empanadas – $2 during happy hours – filled with spinach and cheese, chicken or beef are great starters.
But the real surprise is the chorizo stuffed meatballs baked in tamarind chipotle sauce. At first you think it’s just a meatball until the spicy and sweet taste of the Spanish chorizo hits the palate. The distinct flavors of the beef and pork are not lost; instead the combination is smart and delicious. The tamarind chipotle sauce adds a second surprisingly complex, and welcomed, layer of tangy and sweet.
And if you are a fan of French fries, beware! At Novo, the paprika dusted fries fried in chili oil are as exciting as the rest of the menu.
The most popular entrees at Novo are the grilled skirt steak marinated in rosemary thyme olive oil, the Brazilian Moqueca – a plate of jumbo shrimp, calamari, mussels and fish fillet cooked in a coconut cilantro lobster broth and chile oil – and broiled salmon fillet served with sautéed vegetable in white wine and butter.
The plating on the skirt steak was colorful, and the meat appetizing. It was accompanied by a chimichurri garnish. All of the seafood in the Moqueca was excellent, soft, tender and not chewy. The broiled salmon was nicely bronzed.
According to patron Rosemary Smith, the Chilean pork loin was “absolutely excellent.” The pork loin is marinated in garlic paprika oil served with Chilean tamale, papaya avocado salsa and cowboy style black bean puree.
The desserts range from peach and dulce de leche filled crepes, strawberry and blueberry flans, and poached pear in red wine and caramel. Novo’s chef experiments with different pastries and his three layer flan – vanilla, mango and chocolate with homemade whip cream and a side of passion fruit sorbet – tempt you to break your diet.
Novo, which was opened by two friends that worked in the restaurant industry and wanted to have a place of their own, has experienced a slow down in patrons due to the recession. But Edwin Martinez, one of the co-owners and a resident of Queens Village, said they are “okay.”
“We want to see what happens,” said Martinez, who is optimistic because they have a lot of regulars. He boasted that if something is not on the menu and they can make it, they will. “We have had a lot of impact because there are not many restaurants like ours in this neighborhood.”
Another part of what makes Novo a neighborhood spot is the live jazz music on Mondays and Thursdays, and the House and Latin music on Friday and Saturday nights. Some nights they have hookahs too.
Because of the inviting atmosphere, and the great food and drinks, once you discover Novo, this neighborhood spot in Jackson Heights will become your spot too.
Novo
78-23 37th Avenue
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Telephone: 718- 426-7272
Web site: https://www.novonewyork.com/
Hours:
Monday to Thursdays: Noon to Midnight
Fridays and Saturdays: Noon to 4 a.m.
Sundays: Noon to 10:30 p.m.
Credit: MasterCard and Visa accepted, but not American Express or Discover card.
Transportation: No. 7 or E and F trains to 74th Street-Roosevelt Avenue; or No. Q32 bus to Roosevelt Avenue and 78th Street.
78-23 37th Avenue
Jackson Heights, NY
