The confidence Mario Fava brings to his new million-dollar-plus Scarsdale restaurant is underpinned by the knowledge he has done this before ”“ three times ”“ and knows how to fill seats.
Top-tier consistency has been the building block of his three restaurants: Lusardi”™s in Larchmont, Moscato in Scarsdale and Chat 19 in Larchmont.
Fava”™s newest restaurant, an American grill called Chat is scheduled to open this September down the block from Moscato at the Christie Place luxury town home community in Scarsdale.
The son of an Italian immigrant who taught him to “put in 110 percent or not to do it at all,” Fava first learned of the passion needed to make it in a competitive industry by witnessing his father waiting tables.
He then applied his father”™s ethic at the age of 15 by clearing tables and doing the dishes.
His only departure from the world he loved involved a two-year stint in professional soccer after college.
Some years passed and in a return to the restaurant business in 1994, Fava opened Lusardi”™s in Larchmont with his father and business partners Mauro and Luigi Lusardi.
Moscato in Scarsdale followed in 2001; Chat 19 in Larchmont, about six years ago.
Following in the footsteps of its Larchmont counterpart, the concept for Chat began two years ago when developer Martin Ginsburg, founder and principal of Ginsburg Development Cos. in Valhalla, approached Fava to open a restaurant at Christie Place, a new 42-condominium development for residents age 55 and older.
“It offers a whole new choice for long-time Westchester empty nesters who no longer need their big homes with big headaches but don”™t want to trade-down,” said Ginsburg in a statement prior to the grand opening last year. “It fills a real void in the marketplace and offers people an alternative to more urban high-rise living.”
Adjacent to Christie Place, Fava said Chat will join a Bank of America and two to three other spaces “that will be occupied by little boutiques.” The retail component of Christie Place is 80 percent occupied between the restaurant and bank.
The 4,000-square-foot eatery will feature a full bar, outdoor patio seating and a private party area, which could also serve as a meeting place for businesses.
Of the fare, Fava said to expect grilled meats, salads and sandwiches.
Of construction costs, Fava said “it”™s probably been one of the biggest projects I”™ve ever been involved in.”
Costs are “at least $1 million.”
In an industry hard hit by belt-tightening and budget-balancing, the Eastchester resident remained confident.
“We”™ve been in this business for many years,” Fava said. “We saw this coming. I think we provide a special service and quality food. And we have great customers who are very loyal to us and that keep coming back to us. We are hands on. Any given night or day, I”™m in all of the restaurants.”
Under his watchful eye, all three restaurants have made it through the worst of the recession, and Fava predicted the industry should do an about-face.
“I think right now we”™re leveling off,” he said. “You prepare yourself for days like today, not only as restaurateurs, but as businessmen. You don”™t make it today and spend it tomorrow. We are very conservative.”
And, it”™s that conservative nature that kept Fava from accepting offers to develop in more urbanized locations characterized by a hotbed of commercial activity.
He said he likes a small town feel ”“ one in which a stroll down the center of the village leads him right to his next enterprise.
