WASSAIC — From the moment the fork reaches their mouths, it’s love at first bite for customers dining at Bella Noche in Wassaic. In the two months since Lucy Abad opened Bella Noche for business, the restaurant has received nothing but positive reviews from diners, many of whom have come back hungry for more.
Though she’s been owner of Ritchie’s Deli, located at 8 Old North Road in Amenia, next to the Freshtown Plaza, since 2018, Bella Noche is Abad’s debut restaurant.
Her parents originally started the deli back in 2006 and Abad took over more than a decade later. As she expands her expertise into the restaurant business, Abad plans to continue running the deli along with Bella Noche.
Asked what inspired her to open Bella Noche, Abad simply replied that the opportunity just came along. Someone asked her if it was something she’d be interested in doing, and she said it was.
Located at 3997 Route 22 in the building adjacent to Chesnut Market (the old Cousin’s Market), the road to Bella Noche began this February with help from Nico Ruffino, from the construction company, Bella Vista.
A friend of Abad’s, Ruffino took on the task of renovating the building’s entire interior, plus the outside patio. Renovations were completed by the end of May, and Bella Noche opened at the beginning of June.
Serving lunch and dinner, Bella Noche features an appetizing menu of dishes guaranteed to appeal to all appetites, whether customers are looking for something light for lunch or something special for dinner.
To date, Abad said the salmon is the most popular item on the menu: listed as “Terra E Mare” on the dinner menu, this dish features grilled Australian salmon served with black risotto and farm fresh vegetables. The lunch menu offers a refreshing selection of salads — such as the BLT salad, the Mediterranean salad and the Berries and Chicken salad — and a tasty listing of burgers and paninis for customers to satisfy their afternoon hunger.
Other dinner items include Fritti Di Párate (a dish made of potato, eggs, carmelized onions and pepperoni), an antipasto platter, P.E.I. mussels and Gamberi Fritti (fried prawns breaded with panko and crispy proscuitto) for appetizers, among others.
Key to the restaurant’s culinary brilliance, Abad said she was having a hard time finding a chef around the area, which led her to outsource executive chef Guillermo Maczotta from Argentina to help start up the restaurant and design its menu. At a closer glance, customers might pick up on Maczotta’s distinct presentation and appreciate his use of color and method in making every dish pop on the plate.
“There’s a certain kind of satisfaction — it’s just different from the deli,” said Abad. “I enjoy seeing people enjoying themselves, enjoying their evening, enjoying the food, enjoying the atmosphere.”
In addition to acquiring a liquor license, Abad said she’d like to eventually open the extra space in the back of the restaurant to use as an additional dining room.
Business hours
Hours of operation are Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and closed on Mondays.
Along with dialing the restaurant at 845-789-1215, customers can learn more about Bella Noche and scope out its menu online, at www.bellanocheny.com.
Pay Bill for Robin Starr’s service in the Continental Army.Courtesy the Alex Breanne Corporation
John Mills speaking at Quinnipiac University.Courtesy the Alex Breanne Corporation
Stephanie Saetta,with her rescue dog George and Blue (left), a shepherd mix awaiting his forever home.Madi Long
