Pasta Della Nonna opens in old Hacienda location

Pasta Della Nonna is officially open for business following a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Aug. 20. Representatives from the Goshen and Orange County chambers of commerce were in attendance alongside State Senator James Skoufis and Pasta Della Nonna owner Gilberto Gonzalez.

“It was always on my mind, opening my own business,” said Gonzalez, who has worked in the restaurant industry since 2004.

Gonzalez, 42, moved to Orange County from Manhattan in 2010, and spent much of his career at Limoncello in Goshen, where he eventually oversaw the re-opening of the restaurant after extensive renovations in 2022 as general manager.

In between stints at Limoncello, Gonzalez also spent a couple of years waiting tables at Haceinda in the original location at 1753 NY-17M.

Now, he’s running his own restaurant in the same bulding.

“On behalf of the over 300,000 people I’m privlidged to represent: congratulations, Gilberto, your family, and everyone involved in this endeavor,” said Senator James Skoufis following the ribbon cutting. “It sounds like everyone in the community loves your food here. We also appreciate that you’ve brought life back to this building.”

The location has been mostly dormant since Spanish restaurant El Meson de Barajas closed in 2020.

“The thing that I always tell owners at these ribbon cuttings is...I appreciate, we all appreciate, that you have the courage to take the risk on opening up this restaurant and business and bringing it to the community,” added Skoufis.

Gonzalez’ journey to opening Pasta Della Nonna started last fall. Since then, the building was re-painted, every lightbulb in was replaced, a new music system was put in, the bar was renovated with new backsplash, and chandeliers were installed.

“It just needed a little bit of care,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said he is relieved to finally have the restaurant up and running, serving Italian classics with a modern twist. A couple of Gonzalez’ favorite menu items include a plum ume-margarita and cod alla carciofi, a dish featuring flaky white fish, lemon, capers and artichokes.

For more information, visit pastadellanonnagoshen.com.