Viva Empanadas to Open New Saratoga Springs Location in Congress Plaza
By Saratoga Report Publisher Daniel DeFedericis (with AI assistance)
A new Latin-inspired dining option is set to join the Saratoga Springs restaurant scene, as Viva Empanada prepares to open a location in Congress Plaza, taking over the former Moby Rick’s Seafood space that closed in January.
Owner Veronica Agama, who currently operates two Viva Empanada locations in the greater Albany area, is expanding north with the new venture. Her first location opened in 2022 at the Galleria Seven Market in Latham, an upscale food hall featuring a variety of vendors, while her downtown Albany restaurant offers a more traditional dining experience, with counter service at lunch and table service in the evening.
Agama told Saratoga Report that her culinary background was shaped in her native country of Ecuador as well as New York City, where she emigrated to at nearly 18 and worked long hours in a variety of restaurants. “I wanted to learn a lot and work a lot,” she said. Her experience included time in Argentine kitchens, where “we grilled a lot,” as well as Cuban restaurants that introduced her to Caribbean cooking techniques and flavors. Prior to moving upstate, she also operated a food truck in Brooklyn, and when the pandemic hit, she adapted by walking through parks selling empanadas from a basket.
She said the decision to expand into Saratoga Springs was driven in part by customer demand, noting that many patrons at her Latham and Albany locations told her they lived in or near Saratoga and were traveling specifically to try her food because there were few comparable options in the area.
The Saratoga Springs site is currently being fully renovated, with the former seafood market space gutted and currently being rebuilt to match Agama’s vision. She said the design will mirror the vibrant aesthetic of her Albany location. Times Union dining critic Susie Davidson Powell described that space’s transformation from a former bar as “a vibrant cafe in pinks, yellows and tropical fabrics with daylight pouring through… its transformation into a Latin restaurant, complete with mosaic tiles and the trumpets of Buena Vista Social Club, is a remarkable shift.”
In that same review, Davidson Powell praised the restaurant’s menu, writing that “her excellent, flaky, wheat-crust empanadas came in both gluten and gluten-free flavors like Chilean pino with beef, olives and egg and cheese and scallion d’verde, but her menu also included Ecuadorean arepas, Cuban beef tostones, Spanish paella and Peruvian rotisserie chicken.” She also highlighted the dessert offerings noting the Spanish flan was amongst the best in the area.
The menu reflects a broader Latin American influence, featuring items such as empanadas, arepas, tamales and rice dishes, along with a variety of house-made sauces ranging from chimichurri to avocado cilantro.
One of the most common complaints about ethnic food options in Saratoga Springs is the relative lack of variety, with a large number of Italian and Asian restaurants and comparatively few options representing other cuisines. Agama said she hopes Viva Empanada will help broaden that landscape, while also clarifying common misconceptions about South American food.
“We don’t cook with hot peppers or hot spices,” she said. “We use sweet peppers, garlic and some paprika. We combine the food of Spain with South American produce like green peppers, yucas and coconut.” She added that a range of sauces at varying heat levels will be available for customers who prefer spicier options.
Agama said her approach to food is guided by three Spanish words — “bueno, bonito, barato,” meaning good, beautiful and affordable — and by a commitment to accommodating customers. “I hate saying no. If we run out of empanadas I will run to the supermarket to make something similar,” she said. Encouraging new customers, she added, “Look at my restaurants and look at my menu,” expressing confidence that strong community response will translate into steady demand. She seems energized by her many customers who appreciate her gluten-free options. “The feedback from the community is so good,” she said enthusiastically.
The Saratoga location is expected to offer a full menu similar to her Albany restaurant, including Cuban sandwiches, entrees and desserts. Agama said she is targeting a soft opening in June, ideally in time for the Belmont Stakes, with a liquor license currently pending.
Agama said she plans to bring that same atmosphere and menu to Saratoga Springs, blending bold flavors and Latin influences with a lively dining experience as Viva Empanada prepares to make its debut in Congress Plaza. To many foodies in Saratoga County, Viva Empanadas’ arrival will be wonderful news.
Viva Empanadas website can be found here and the restaurant’s facebook page can be found here.
Saratoga Report learned of Viva Empanadas plans to open in the Spa City from this recap of the March 25 Saratoga Springs Design Review Board meeting in Saratoga Civic Pulse. You can subscribe to Saratoga Civic Pulse by Clicking Here.
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