Marco Stevenson admits it himself. He likes to keep under the radar. No fuss, no bother.
But his new venture is making that mantra increasingly difficult to follow.
It may be that Nostrana has been so many years in the planning, and that the anticipation has been building for an age.
But in recent weeks, the clear evidence is that Nostrana is going to be a very special place indeed.
The build and fit-out of the former shop units that Marco has owned for many years on Hyndland Road - that once had Hyndland Station nextdoor before that building was demolished - is a stunning makeover.
'Transformed'
The space has been transformed and one of the most desirable locations in the West End opened up.
And then there is the food offering, which includes authentic Italian pizzas made by an award-winning pizza chef (Marco), and delicious home-made pastas.
Nostrana wants to be a ‘place for everyone’ at any time of the day or evening, where people can relax, enjoy a fresh coffee or beer, or indulge themselves from the menu.
It’s been a long time coming, but Marco believes the wait has been worth it. “It hasn’t been plain-sailing, not by a long shot. We have had our problems and hold-ups, but I am putting all that behind me now.
“Things are not going to run smoothly from the off, and we are going to have teething issues with systems and the way we do things.
'Excited'
"We are bound to make mistakes, this is all new to me and to everyone in the team. We are starting a new business from scratch.
“But I am sure we will get it right in the end, and people will come to love what we are doing here.
"I am genuinely excited about what we have created. It’s better than I could have imagined it in my wildest dreams.”
Community and the importance of 'local' - hence the name - are fundamental principles for Marco and his team.
“Hyndland and the West End have given me so much over the years and I feel privileged to be part of the neighbourhood,” he says.
"I have never lived here but I consider it my home because of the friendliness and warmth of my friends and the local community."
I am genuinely excited about what we have created. It’s better than I could have imagined it in my wildest dreams.
Marco Stevenson
Marco said: "We are really excited about what we have here. I have struggled to define Nostrana as just a restaurant serving good food - we want it to be a place where people can come for anything; drinks, a coffee, a meal, as a couple, as a group, or by themselves.
“However people experience Nostrana, they can be assured of a warm neighbourly welcome, a friendly smile, and quality food and drinks at reasonable prices.”
He adds: "My wife Angela has been a huge motivation and has encouraged me all the way.
“She should take all the credit for the look and feel of Nostrana. Neither of us have done anything like this before and it has taken a tremendous amount of work by a lot of people to get to this stage."
