Emma Brugna
| Special to The Sun
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DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go opened its first location near a college campus in Gainesville, Florida.The fast-casual restaurant serves customizable pasta dishes, sandwiches, and tiramisu in to-go boxes.This new location is part of the brand’s expansion strategy to open near college campuses across the United States.
DalMoros Fresh Pasta To Go brought a taste of Italy to Alachua County with its grand opening Feb. 19.
DalMoros offers a wide selection of pastas and house-made sauces prepared from scratch, with each dish served in the restaurant’s signature to-go boxes. Customers can customize their meals with a variety of toppings, protein options and garlic breadsticks. The menu also features Italian sandwiches, tiramisu and gluten-free choices.
Ordering at DalMoros is different from the traditional experience at other pasta restaurants in town. Customers start by choosing their pasta shape — fusilli, rigatoni, fettuccine or bigoli — before selecting from 10 homemade sauces, including a rotating monthly special. Guests can also watch the restaurant’s pasta machine produce fresh pasta throughout the day.
Jackson Zheng, 26, general manager of the Gainesville DalMoros location, said he recommends the restaurant’s best-selling dishes, Bolognese and Mama Rosa, to first-time customers.
The fast-casual pasta restaurant’s opening at 16 NW 18th St. marks the brand’s first location next to a college campus. DalMoros also operates locations across Florida in Tampa, Delray Beach and Orlando, as well as in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“We’re trying to expand our company into all the different states in America, and we’re trying to get into college campuses,” Zheng said. “The Caruso family, who owns us, vacation here in Gainesville. They really liked it, and that’s how Gainesville was chosen to be the first college location.”
Abigail Buckley, 18, a freshman at the University of Florida studying health education and behavior on the pre-physical therapy track, said she first learned about DalMoros through a friend.
Buckley said her friend Brooke, who is from Tampa and was already familiar with the restaurant, sent her a TikTok after finding out it had opened in Gainesville. The two decided to visit together, excited to try it out.
“The fact that it’s on-the-go pasta but still fresh is really nice, and I definitely think it’s convenient, especially being in a college town,” Buckley said.
She ordered rigatoni with Mama Rosa sauce and chicken.
Prices and hours vary by location. At the Gainesville restaurant, Zheng said meals typically cost between $10 and $20 per person. DalMoros is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to cater to the city’s late-night crowd.
“Originally we were just going to do 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. across the board,” Zheng said. “But with Gainesville being a college town, we decided to stay open late on Friday and Saturday.”
Victoria Riccobono, 20, a UF junior majoring in sports journalism, said she is often craving pasta but has few walkable options near campus. DalMoros appeals to her not only because of its location, but also because it offers a filling, flavorful meal that’s quick and easy to take on the go.
“I could just walk and eat my pasta in a little box, and I’ve never seen that before,” Riccobono said. “In general, I don’t think there are that many pasta places around campus. And the ones that are, you usually have to wait at least 20 minutes.”
Riccobono ordered the bigoli with pesto sauce and said the fresh pasta was “really good,” noting that it was cooked al dente.
Zheng said the potential for growth in a college town is what excites him most about entering the Gainesville market.
“I could see us becoming one of the busiest locations in the company,” he said.
He hopes customers leave with a positive impression.
“Hopefully they realize we’re one of the best pasta brands in the country and come to us in the future whenever they’re craving pasta.”
Dining and Cooking