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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North Adams Panel Advises Traffic Sign Removal, Debates Animal Control Ordinance
By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police officers stuck at Center Street and Holden won't have to flash their lights to get through soon.
Public Safety Committee last week recommended the City Council follow the Traffic Commission's lead to remove the "No Turn on Right" sign next to Public Eat and Drink.
"Most of the officers are saying you're stuck at that intersection," interim Chief Mark Bailey told the committee. "If you have an emergency, but it's not really emergency, you're trying to get to somebody, a call, a citizen or something, and you're not required to turn the blue lights on, you're stuck at that intersection light for a long time."
The police station was relocated to the Berkshire Plaza in 2023, in what had been the juvenile court. That offered plenty of more space for officers and better access for citizens, but also put the cruisers on one-way Center Street.
Cruisers turning left have to put their lights on to make it through the dense crossing but vehicles turning right have to sit through the long light — even if there is no traffic.
Bailey explained that this change will allow police officers more flexibility when responding to non-emergency calls, reducing wait times at the traffic light and reducing potential traffic congestion when emergency vehicles need to pass through.
"If you have other civilians that are stuck at that traffic light waiting for it to turn red to turn right, we have to turn blue lights to move them out of the way in order to get through the intersection, because it's very narrow," he said. "It's not like we can just sneak by."
Bailey explained that this change will allow police officers more flexibility when responding to non-emergency calls, reducing wait times at the traffic light and reducing potential traffic congestion when emergency vehicles need to pass through.
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First Congregational Church of North Adams' fourth annual "Share the Love" campaign concluded with over $9,000 raised to support local organizations serving individuals in need. click for more
The School Building Committee's update on Tuesday included that a public records request for the detailed design documents is requiring redaction and review, including by public safety. click for more
Town officials say they are taking residents' concerns seriously regarding the dust and particulates coating bordering neighborhoods from Berkshire Concrete's unauthorized dig site, which is allegedly causing health issues. click for more
The annual outdoor festival celebrating the historic Thunderbolt Trail and Race returns bringing live music, food from local vendors, local craft, retail, and recreational vendors, a campfire and marshmallows, local craft beer and wine, and more.
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NoCo Pastaria is a new Italian restaurant located next to the Stop & Shop on State Road in North Adams.
