A new authentic Italian restaurant has opened at 14 Washington St., bringing traditional flavors and a taste of Naples to Ellicottville’s dining scene. Trattoria Partenope opened just before Christmas and is already receiving top-notch reviews from customers! Owner Giovanni Sismondi said, “I think we opened in the busiest week of the year, but we get better and better. If people love us now, they’ll love us even more in a few months!”

While Trattoria Partenope might be brand new, the restaurant draws upon cooking traditions that go back centuries. Even the name of the restaurant reflects Naples’ vibrant history! Sismondi grew up in Naples, one of the oldest cities in the world famous for being the birthplace of pizza. “Trattoria is a very common name for a restaurant in Italy,” Sismondi explained. “It means a cozy place, house-made recipe. And Partenope is the first name of the city, and then the Greeks changed it to Neapolis, which then became Napoli (Naples).”

Sismondi went on to explain that Partenope comes from an ancient story about the beautiful mermaid Parthenope singing on the cost of Napoli, with whom many fishermen fell madly in love. When she died, the sea washed her body on the coast of Napoli, thus inspiring the Greeks’ name for the city. Sismondi noted that elements of this history are intentionally incorporated in the aesthetics of the restaurant: “You can find on some of my tables inside the restaurant some mermaids; that’s one of the reasons why.”

Expect a true taste of Italy at Trattoria Partenope, said Sismondi. “Our recipes are the authentic ones,” he noted. “…At our place, you’ll find the carbonara the way they do it in Italy, the pasta like they do in Italy, the clams – our recipes are authentic…I can assure you that whatever we make, that is the way they do in Italy.” The talent behind the recipes includes Sismondi’s business partner and close childhood friend, who brings extensive restaurant ownership and culinary experience to Ellicottville, and Sismondi’s mother, Monica Orlando, whose homemade pasta is often visible in the restaurant’s front window. “It’s more like a family business,” Sismondi said. “You see me stopping by to every single table, and then it’s my mom in the kitchen. It’s a good environment.”

The right bottle of wine is the perfect complement to a meal, and Trattoria Partenope does not disappoint. “We mainly have Italian wines, but we also have some California wines…We have a lot of Tuscan wine. We have a lot of white wine from Napoli, too. We have Prosecco, we have our sparkling rose, and there is Lambrusco from Italy. We have so many, many wines. If you want pasta, you go with Chianti. It all depends on what you are eating!”

Trattoria Partenope’s current hours are 4 to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. For the latest news, photos, and the menu, be sure to follow the restaurant on social media. Sismondi hopes to open for lunchtime later this year. The restaurant is currently hiring for the kitchen and front of house. Those who are interested can contact Sismondi by email at trattoriapartenope1926@gmail.com.