What struck me most at Novanta was the warm welcome. The guy who served me (Marco?) is very energetic and friendly. I was there for a couple of hours in the middle of the week. Many of the customers were regulars there and the owner knew them by name and made their regular drinks. Some of them stayed for a short chat (more than talking about the weather). I also liked the pop playlist quite a bit.
They have a nice collection of pastries. They serve pizza, panini and breakfast as well, though I haven't tried them yet. The ambience is cool, with several tables throughout the place and high chairs by the large windows up front. The prices are reasonable.
There are shelves on one of the walls, lined with small Italian goodies of various sorts. It adds to the character of the place.
Overall, it is a tasteful neighbourhood cafe and a good place to catch up with a friend or work a bit.