Latham, NY Italian Restaurant

Client: Milano

Location: Latham, NY

Milano has been a staple in Latham, NY since 1991. The team, lead by chef and restaurateur Daniel Darves-Bornoz, focuses on serving fresh takes on Italian classics using high-quality ingredients. The restaurant was recently redesigned by Lee Owens and with it came a new menu. You’ll find fresh oysters, a classic bolognese, and melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon. The stand out, though, is the wood fired pizza oven that gets fired up around 10 AM each day, ready for a steady rotation of delicious pies.

All of this was a pleasure to photograph! One of the things I enjoy most about restaurant shoots is finding ways to utilize the entire space, especially when it’s just been recently redone. This shoot was as much about the food as it was about the ambiance and environment Milano has carefully crafted. Warm, cozy lighting, modern banquets, and a glowing barback are all integral to making guests feel welcome.

The highlights for me were the round tables and mustard yellow banquets. The round tables were incredibly fun to incorporate into compositions with repeating patterns and shapes. They were the perfect frame for a round plate with a round pizza on top. I also couldn’t help myself from placing a cocktail or two and a bowl of pasta on the banquets. They were the perfect pop of color and texture!