Villa Nuova translates to "New House" and it's as close to Italy as you can get in Cos Cob without jetting across the ocean. Located on E. Putnam Avenue, Villa Nuova stands out with its bright red and white awning. It's billed as a 'deli', but to anyone who's been there, it serves way more than standard deli fare. Villa Nuova is a complete Italian experience from soup to nuts, a large variety of homemade sauces, fresh pastas, (even gluten free), an old-school stainless olive oil decanter where you can decant your own bottle, hot entrees made to order, and of course cannolis.
Owner, Orlando Fernandes, has been in the food business since he was 10 years old, when his father gave him the age-appropriate job of buttering the rolls at the family's eatery. Orlando grew up in a culinary family. He learned at his father and mother's apron strings, but he was eager to discover even more about everything Italian, so he headed to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx where he immersed himself in all there was to know about preparing and serving Italian food...the Arthur Avenue way. One trip to Villa Nuova and you will see - and taste - just how true an Arthur Avenue experience this place is.
Just about everyone in town has a favorite Villa Nuova sandwhich, and if it's topped with Mozzarella Cheese it's made fresh daily on the premises to the tune of 300 pounds a week. There's a signature sandwhich, The Cos Cob Crusher, named after the Crushers, the town's youth football team. My favorite is the Michelangelo, with imported prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, broccoli rabe and roasted peppers. Make sure you bring your Sandwhich Card, so they can stamp it and keep track for your reward. Like cannolis? Ok dumb question ... Villa Nuova makes their own homemade filling that's heaped inside crispy cannoli shells, oh and those shells are delivered from, where else...Arthur Avenue!
"We love Cos Cob," says Orlando. "It's a friendly, small community. We see many of our customers daily, and they've become our friends."
In November, Villa Nuova celebrates their 8th year in Cos Cob. Stop in and have a cup of cappuccino. Chances are the gentleman who will be steaming the milk for your cappuccino is none other than ... Orlando's dad, John.
www.villanuovact.com - 551 East Putman Avenue, Cos Cob, 203-422-0174