Italian food gets a distinctly New Mexico twist at Pazzi Ristorante Italiano, where handmade pasta, wood-fired-style pizzas and familiar comfort dishes share the menu with flavors such as green chile.
Located at 10721 Montgomery Blvd. NE in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, Pazzi has become one of the area’s newer Italian dining options after reopening in 2026 with a substantially refreshed concept and menu. The restaurant is part of Cantina Hospitality Group and operates as an Italian restaurant, pizzeria and wine bar.
The restaurant’s current approach is built around scratch-made food and a setting designed for both casual meals and longer dinners. Its menu includes housemade pasta, pizza, seafood, steaks and other Italian-inspired dishes, giving diners plenty of choices beyond the usual pasta-and-pizza combination.
A New Chapter For A Familiar Albuquerque Location
Pazzi isn’t entirely new to the neighborhood.
The restaurant took over the former Farina Alto space and returned after renovations with a new name, redesigned interior and a significantly updated menu. Albuquerque Journal reported in February that the owners described the restaurant as a substantially different experience from its predecessor, with the renovation adding new lighting, bathrooms, a bar area and seating.
The menu changed considerably as well. The restaurant introduced dishes including aged steaks, seared scallops with green chile risotto, custom pastas and new pizzas.
That combination gives Pazzi a broader identity than a traditional neighborhood Italian restaurant. Guests can stop in for something relatively casual, while the menu and wine selection also support a longer dinner or special occasion.
Handmade Pasta Is One Of The Main Draws
Pasta takes a prominent place on the menu, and the restaurant emphasizes making its pasta in-house.
That scratch-made approach is part of what separates the current Pazzi concept from a typical Italian restaurant built around familiar packaged dishes. The menu includes several housemade pasta preparations, with options changing as the restaurant develops its offerings.
The kitchen’s pasta program also fits with the restaurant’s larger emphasis on making dishes from scratch. That includes sauces and desserts, according to the restaurant’s own description of its current concept.
For diners who like seeing some of the work behind their meal, the pasta-making area adds another interesting element to the experience.
Green Chile Gives The Menu A New Mexico Identity
One of the more distinctive combinations on the menu brings Italian technique together with a flavor closely associated with New Mexico.
The seared scallops with green chile risotto pair seafood with creamy risotto and local chile. The dish was highlighted when the restaurant’s revamped menu was introduced earlier this year.
It is an approach that makes sense for Albuquerque. Rather than trying to reproduce an Italian menu without any local influence, Pazzi incorporates regional ingredients into dishes that still fit its Italian focus.
That same balance carries through the broader menu, where traditional Italian-style preparations sit alongside more contemporary choices.
Pizza Still Has A Place At The Table
Pazzi also keeps pizza at the center of the dining experience.
The restaurant describes itself as a pizzeria as well as an Italian restaurant and wine bar, making pizza a practical choice for a casual lunch or dinner as well as something to share with a group.
The current menu also includes options for diners looking beyond pasta. Depending on what they are in the mood for, guests can build a meal around pizza, antipasti, salads, pasta, seafood or meat.
That range is useful for groups with different preferences, especially when one person wants a classic Italian comfort dish while another is looking for something more substantial.
The Restaurant Has More Than Pasta And Pizza
Pazzi’s dinner menu reaches well beyond the two dishes most people associate with Italian restaurants.
Current descriptions of the restaurant include aged steaks, lamb shank, seafood and chicken alongside its pasta and pizza selections. The restaurant also maintains a wine program designed to pair with its Italian dishes.
The broader menu helps explain why Pazzi positions itself for more than a quick meal. A table can start with smaller plates, move into pasta or a larger entree, and finish with dessert and wine.
That flexibility also makes the restaurant suitable for different occasions, from an ordinary weeknight dinner to a birthday or other gathering.
The Setting Is Designed For A Longer Meal
The restaurant’s renovation was a major part of its return to Albuquerque’s dining scene.
The owners invested in updating the interior, including the lighting, bathrooms, bar and seating areas. The result is intended to feel more polished while remaining approachable enough for everyday dining.
Pazzi also has several dining areas, including east and west wings, a central area, lounge and bar spaces. Outdoor seating is available as well.
The restaurant’s current description emphasizes a lively atmosphere and meals meant to be shared, which fits the variety of spaces available inside.
September Is A Good Time To Plan Ahead
Pazzi is currently open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with Monday listed as its regular closed day. The restaurant’s September reservation activity also shows that diners are booking tables during the month.
For anyone planning a weekend dinner, making a reservation is the safer option, particularly for larger groups.
The restaurant’s location in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights also makes it a convenient choice for diners looking for an Italian meal on the east side of the city without heading downtown.
A Fresh Take On Italian Dining In Albuquerque
Pazzi’s appeal comes less from trying to reinvent Italian food completely and more from combining familiar dishes with a distinctly Albuquerque point of view.
Handmade pasta, pizza, wine and classic comfort food give the restaurant a familiar foundation. Green chile, updated entrees and a modernized dining room give it a local personality.
For Albuquerque diners who want Italian food with a little more variety, Pazzi offers plenty to explore. Whether the plan is a plate of housemade pasta, a pizza shared with friends or a longer dinner built around seafood or steak, the restaurant’s expanded menu gives guests several reasons to come back and try something different.
