Heading into the space that last housed Rustic Meatballs in San Diego's East Village is Monzù Fresh Pasta, an Italian eatery and marketplace set to debut in Spring 2018.
Aiming to combine Italian tradition with contemporary flavors, Monzù Fresh Pasta aims to open in March 2018 at 455 Tenth Avenue in San Diego’s East Village. The concept will serve authentic Italian fresh pastas and sauces crafted in-house using regional ingredients, plus offer a retail section featuring a rich assortment of raw fresh pasta to cook at home, as well as Italian delicatessen products.
Monzù is the family-owned creation of Aldo de Dominicis Rotondi and Serena Romano, who share family ties to Italy’s wine industry and a strong belief in the slow food movement. Having trained with Italy’s master pasta makers, de Dominicis Rotondi and Romano will lead the kitchen in creating Monzù’s all-day menu, which will follow centuries-old pasta making techniques and feature flavors inspired by distinct Italian regions including Sicily, Campania and Puglia.
Guests can expect a wide range of pasta - like ravioli, tonnarelli, tagliatelle, and lasagna - personalized with customer’s choice of house sauces such as Bolognese and basil and pine nut pesto. Monzù will offer daily specials and weekly-changing regional recipes, and several dishes will cater to dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan diets. Pastas will be sold as over-the-counter grab-and-go food but may also be enjoyed within the dining room while sipping on Italian wines and local craft beers.
For those hoping to bring the experience home, Monzù will offer a retail section wherein guests will find "cotto" (cooked) and "crudo" (raw) fresh pastas for home preparation alongside imported delicatessen items like extra virgin olive oil, cured meats, Italian cheeses, panettone, and taralli. Monzù will also offer wholesale pasta sales to local restaurants and food service businesses.
Monzù is the family-owned creation of Aldo de Dominicis Rotondi and Serena Romano, who share family ties to Italy’s wine industry and a strong belief in the slow food movement. Having trained with Italy’s master pasta makers, de Dominicis Rotondi and Romano will lead the kitchen in creating Monzù’s all-day menu, which will follow centuries-old pasta making techniques and feature flavors inspired by distinct Italian regions including Sicily, Campania and Puglia.
Guests can expect a wide range of pasta - like ravioli, tonnarelli, tagliatelle, and lasagna - personalized with customer’s choice of house sauces such as Bolognese and basil and pine nut pesto. Monzù will offer daily specials and weekly-changing regional recipes, and several dishes will cater to dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan diets. Pastas will be sold as over-the-counter grab-and-go food but may also be enjoyed within the dining room while sipping on Italian wines and local craft beers.
For those hoping to bring the experience home, Monzù will offer a retail section wherein guests will find "cotto" (cooked) and "crudo" (raw) fresh pastas for home preparation alongside imported delicatessen items like extra virgin olive oil, cured meats, Italian cheeses, panettone, and taralli. Monzù will also offer wholesale pasta sales to local restaurants and food service businesses.
"Fresh pasta is the quintessential comfort food in Italy," said co-founder Aldo De Dominicis Rotondi. We are really excited to bring this authentic, affordable Italian staple to San Diego."
Monzù's interior space will include a bright white and yellow color scheme set around a cozy and casual dining room with Mediterranean décor details. Upon entering, guests will find the day's menu displayed on a large board above the ordering counter, and to the right Monzù’s retail section. A possible garage-door-style window may open vertically to additional sidewalk seating along Tenth Avenue.
"We love the food scene in San Diego and are looking forward to getting in touch with the local community," commented co-founder Serena Romano. "San Diegans are extremely self-aware of their food choices yet are open to new concepts, and we hope they will embrace what Monzu Fresh Pasta has to offer."
