Maya Gui is a petite, energetic lady who is the owner-manager of La Taverna, an elegant Italian, bistro-style restaurant. La Taverna is a family affair — both of her sons and her daughters-in-law are involved. Son Greg Herman is the chef, Brian Herman handles the money and works the floor, and daughters-in-law Randi and Clara work the floor when needed.

It’s a happy, smoothly run family business, a long-term success in its 11 years of serving delicious Italian dishes. Chef Greg learned to cook the old-fashioned way, as an apprentice to various chefs at fine establishments. He loves food and says, “I love to eat!”

Maya has turned her clientele into a big, friendly family. She loves to see them enjoying themselves.

Creating the menu was also a family affair. “We chose things we liked and items we thought our clientele would like. Over time, our most popular specials became permanent fixtures on the menu.” Menu items range from standard, comfort food (such as lasagna) to some highly creative entrees. The filet of sole in a creamy sauce with capers is a triumph!

Fresh pasta dishes give diners lots of choices, and even the classic dishes have special touches. For example, the rigatoni alla vodka has big, juicy shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes adding interest and layers of flavor. Paglia et fieno is available in tomato sauce with shrimp and “alla crema” in a creamy, Alfredo sauce with prosciutto and peas. Chicken scarapiello is Chef Greg’s personal favorite and a big seller. It’s a spicy sauce surrounding a tender chicken breast.

Fish entrees, aside from the fabulous filet of sole, include sautéed red snapper in a garden-fresh tomato sauce with capers for a Mediterranean touch; clam sauce, red or white, over linguine is another spicy seafood specialty.

Veal dishes are another runaway success. Six delightful versions of scaloppini are deliciously different from one another. The vitello al spinacci is a luscious contrast of veal in a marsala sauce and fresh spinach.

Greg says that their hands-down favorite dessert is the grandmother’s lemon tart. However, there are other excellent choices. It’s always fun to share several flavors with friends at table.

The takeout menu is extensive! If you are giving a small and intimate dinner party, or a real bash, and don’t want to hire a chef, you can get the same effect with their delicious salads, entrees and desserts, prepared and ready to serve. Just give them a few days’ alert and fill your SUV.

A new promotion is the business lunch: $18 for three-course lunch for business people who wish to entertain clients or find a quiet refuge from their daily hassle.

A few minutes with Maya Gui and her sons provide the reason why entrepreneurs first go into this risky and fragile business. It’s love! They love the food, they love their clientele, they love to make people happy.

Maya says, “We stay together, we may have our little disagreements — every family does! However we help each other and that’s satisfying, it feels good.”

Maya Gui worked her way up in the restaurant business, starting as a waitress some years ago; she became the manager of Maria’s Trattoria. And when the family got together on this venture, everyone had something special and important to bring to the table. Brian loves the financials. Chef Greg wouldn’t want to do the bookkeeping. Maya knows restaurant management, making everything run smoothly. Daughters-in-law Randi and Clara are happy to work the floor as cheerful and efficient waitresses.