Getting a slice of pizza to-go on the streets of New York is easy enough, but getting pasta at the same speed and price point is almost unheard of. That was until Gnocchi on 9th opened back in April.
Already a hit in the East Village, Gnocchi on 9th is expanding. The second location of Gnocchi on 9th is set to open in the Lower East Side at 158 Orchard Street.
Gnocchi on 9th is co-owned by Ariel Strizower and Mike Salzano. Strizower developed an appreciation for the food and beverage industries while working in a restaurant during college. He loved how the industry gave rise to close-knit teams. He has worked in fine dining restaurants as well as grab-and-go concepts over the years.
Salzano was working with Strizower as a real estate broker when the two struck-up a conversation about opening an affordable Italian restaurant. The duo realized they could go into business together, and the idea for Gnocchi on 9th was born.
What Now NY connected with Strizower over the phone.
“Our mission is to bring something fun, delicious, affordable and approachable to New York,” said Strizower. “It’s really hard to find a lunch or meal that is at this price point. Ordinarily you will pay $20 to $25 for a serving of pasta, but we keep the price at $10 while serving the same portion sizes. All of our sauces are made in-house from tomatoes sourced from California or Italy based on the season. Gnocchi has a laid-back vibe in an elegant but welcoming space.”
Gnocchi on 9th is a fast-casual, exclusively take-out concept. While there will be no seating inside, guests find ways to form community outside of the restaurant. Many people eat their meals on stoops along the street or sit on the curb in front of the restaurant on 9th Street.
Gnocchi offers vegan and vegetarian friendly dishes. The menu includes gnocchi al Pomodoro, gnocchi alla vodka, a salad, drinks and tiramisu. For the Lower East Side location, there will be a new pesto-based menu item. The sauce is still being perfected, but it will be exclusive to this location.
Strizower and Salzano are doing the construction on the 158 Orchard Street location themselves and plan to get their doors open within a few weeks of signing their lease. No structural changes are being made to the space.
As Strizower explained it, Gnocchi on 9th’s concept does not require any additional ventilation or extensive remodeling as the kitchen space only needs to boil water and there is no seating inside. They are giving the space a new coat of paint, adding some tile and bringing in new equipment.
The new Gnocchi on 9th location will look almost identical to the original location. While this storefront in the Lower East Side is slightly larger, all of the additional space will be used as storage.
“There’s hungry people everywhere, and we want to bring Gnocchi on 9th to every neighborhood that does not yet have one,” said Strizower. “The Lower East Side will be our second of hopefully many future locations.”
Strizower confirmed Gnocchi on 9th’s plans to open in early June.
