Pazzi Ristorante Italiano Opens in Albuquerque, Hiring Now

Published May 4, 2026 | LocalJobPage Team

Albuquerque's dining scene got a significant new addition at the start of 2026. Pazzi Ristorante Italiano, the latest concept from local restaurant powerhouse Cantina Hospitality Group, opened at 10721 Montgomery Blvd NE in the Northeast Heights in mid-January, bringing a scratch-made Italian menu, a renovated 5,000-square-foot dining room, and a fresh wave of hospitality hiring to the metro. If you are looking for restaurant jobs in Albuquerque, this opening is one of the strongest hiring opportunities of the year.

The group invested several million dollars transforming the former Farina Alto Pizzeria space into a modern Italian destination, adding booth seating, an updated bar, and a fully revamped interior. Pazzi, which means "crazy" in Italian, is already drawing strong reviews and steady lunch and dinner crowds from Tuesday through Sunday. A growing guest count means the team needs skilled and motivated workers across every station and shift.

About Pazzi Ristorante Italiano

Pazzi is the flagship concept of Cantina Hospitality Group, which owns and operates more than seven restaurant brands across Albuquerque and employs nearly 300 team members in total. The group's portfolio includes Brekki Brekki, Poki Poki Cevicheria, Tamashi, The Sweet Cup, Thai Boran, and Sushi King. Pazzi represents the group's move into upscale full-service Italian dining, built around handmade pastas, elevated Southwestern-influenced Italian dishes, a curated wine program, and craft beers from Cantina Craftworks, the group's own local brewery.

The restaurant seats guests for both lunch and dinner and features an open, modern dining room with a lively bar. The kitchen operates entirely from scratch, with a dedicated pasta chef producing fresh pasta in-house daily. The concept is designed to serve both weeknight regulars and special-occasion diners, which means front-of-house staff must be comfortable moving between relaxed and elevated service styles in the same shift.

Job Opportunities at Pazzi Ristorante Italiano

Cantina Hospitality Group is actively recruiting across front-of-house, back-of-house, and support roles for Pazzi. The group explicitly welcomes both experienced hospitality professionals and people new to the industry who are eager to learn. Open roles include:

• Server — Full-time and part-time shifts available, Tuesday through Sunday. Servers must obtain New Mexico alcohol and food handler certifications.
• Line Cook — All stations in an upscale scratch kitchen. Prior full-service restaurant experience strongly preferred.
• Pasta Chef / Prep Cook — Works directly with fresh pasta production and Italian mise en place. Culinary training or equivalent experience preferred.
• Host / Hostess — First point of guest contact in a high-energy dining room. Entry-level friendly; warm hospitality instincts required.
• Bartender — Cocktail, wine, and local craft beer service. Experience with full-service bar programs preferred.
• Dishwasher / Kitchen Support — Entry-level role with immediate openings. No prior experience required; on-the-job training provided.
• Shift Leader — For candidates with prior supervisor or key-holder experience in food service. Responsible for guest experience and team coordination during service.

Cantina Hospitality Group positions itself as a place where employees can grow across multiple concepts. A team member who starts at Pazzi can move into roles at any of the group's other Albuquerque locations, giving workers a genuine career ladder within a locally owned company rather than a single-restaurant dead end.

Location and Hours

Address: 10721 Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
Neighborhood: Northeast Heights
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Opened: Mid-January 2026

The location sits in the heart of the Northeast Heights commercial corridor, easily accessible from I-40 and the Tramway interchange. Street and surface lot parking are available on-site. The surrounding area includes dense residential neighborhoods, making this a high-traffic lunch and dinner location with consistent weekday and weekend covers.

How to Apply

Cantina Hospitality Group accepts applications through its careers portal at cantinahg.com/careers. The group reviews applications on a rolling basis and moves quickly for strong candidates, particularly for kitchen and front-of-house roles. Applicants can also walk in during off-peak hours (after the lunch rush, before 5 p.m.) and ask for a manager to introduce themselves. Bringing a resume is encouraged but not required for entry-level positions.

New Mexico food handler and alcohol service certifications are required for servers and bartenders. The group will work with new hires on obtaining certification if not already in hand, but candidates who already hold a ServSafe card or TABC equivalent move faster through the hiring process. For kitchen roles, be prepared to discuss your experience with scratch cooking and station management.

Search all open Pazzi Ristorante Italiano jobs in Albuquerque or browse the full range of hospitality jobs across the metro on LocalJobPage.com. Albuquerque's restaurant sector is actively hiring right now, with openings at every level from entry-level kitchen support to general management.

Employers: Reaching Albuquerque's hospitality workforce starts here. Post your open positions on LocalJobPage.com and connect with job seekers across the metro today.