Restaurant review: Novo in Ridgewood
January 30, 2015 Last updated: Friday, January 30, 2015, 5:45 PM
By Elisa Ung
The Record
With its gentle lighting and soothing tones of blue and cream, the modern dining room of Ridgewood’s Novo lulled me into a false sense of calm. Then the food began arriving, and I spent the rest of the evening on the edge of my seat.
Piles of tiny handmade couscous, the lightest I have ever had, cushioned impeccable sautéed mussels, shrimp, squid and fish, putting other seafood pasta dishes to shame ($32). Slices of rich house-made lamb bacon gave heft to a flatbread appetizer ($14) and character to steak-like Colorado lamb chops layered over a musky date-eggplant purée ($38). And the only dish I ate that didn’t look like it belonged on a magazine cover — a powdered-sugar-dusted duck confit pie called duck bisteeya — made up for its plain appearance with an exhilarating sweet-spicy-tangy flavor ($33).
We visited last night and enjoyed absolutely incredible Middle Eastern food in an intimate and astonishingly beautiful atmosphere. The food and presentation was outstanding and the service was very professional. This is a first rate restaurant that is well worth visiting. The prices are somewhat on the high side but the quality and value are there..