Renee Lee hosted a private dinner for about 100 people this evening at her new restaurant, Pasta Paradiso at 1315 Trinity Dr., which opens to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 16.

“Pasta Paradiso is a pasta buffet style restaurant with four to five fresh pasta sauces, meatballs, ravioli, weekly specials such as lasagna, and a fresh salad bar,” Lee told the Los Alamos Daily Post. “I want to make it quick and convenient for Laboratory employees to come in and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner, and at the same time be able to return to work in a timely manner.”

Most of the food is made from scratch, Lee said, and she intends to include gluten free and whole wheat pasta, “really good breads” and a nice selection of beer and wine, which will be on the menu beginning Tuesday.

“My new restaurant will have a family atmosphere … I love children and we’ll have a children’s menu with really good children’s pricing,” she said.

The restaurant has undergone major renovations by James Chrobocinski’s Zia Maintenance Company.

The name Pasta Paradiso came from Lee’s husband Dennis Lee who said good pasta is like heaven and heaven in Italian is paradiso. The couple has been married for seven years and she said her husband, an accountant in Santa Fe, will keep the books for the new restaurant.

They reside in Santa Fe but Lee said that will soon change.

“I fell in love with Los Alamos and that’s why I’m opening this restaurant here,” she said. “We plan to move her soon.”

Pasta Paradiso will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, and 4-9:30 p.m. for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, and 11 to 2:30 p.m., for Sunday Brunch, which includes prime rib sliced at the bar as well as the typical brunch fare. The restaurant will be closed Sunday evening and all day Monday.

“We are excited to have everyone come and join us for lunch and dinner tomorrow and bruch on Sunday … our goal is to provide an enjoyable experience to everyone who walks through our door,” Lee said.

During a private party this evening at the new restaurant opening to the public at 11 a.m., Saturday, from left, Angelynn Casados and her husband Chef Ron Marquez, Sharon Stover and Pasta Paradiso co-owners Renee Lee and her husband Dennis Lee. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

The Chrobocinski family at this evening’s party at Pasta Paradiso, from left, JJ, Cameron, Jacqueline and James Chrobocinski. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Marcus Hall, left, and his father Jim Hall attend this evening’s private party at Pasta Paradiso. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Abe Dispennette preparing to dine on the patio during this evening’s private party at Pasta Paradiso with his wife Kirsta, daughter Zoë Grace and sons Chase and Bryce. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From left, Anna Dillane and Renee Barrera. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Maya Dillane and her 6-month-old daughter Savannah Whitt. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Former classmates James Chrobocinski, left, and Marcus Hall reminisce at this evening’s event about the year they spent in Ms. Graves 5th grade class at Aspen Elementary School. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From left, Sharon Stover, Kristin Henderson and Steven Girrens sample the soup and pasta at this evening’s private event at the restauarant opening at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Dan Lavacy and his wife Lori Musil traveled from Madrid to attend this evening’s private event. Musil owns Art & Antiques and designed the sighn for the new Pasta Paradiso restauarnt opening at 11 a.m., Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

About 100 people attended this evening’s private event at Pasta Paradiso. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a,m, Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Owner Renee Lee giving a tour to the Los Alamos Daily Post of her new retaurant, Pasta Paradiso, Monday afternoon at 1315 Trinity Dr. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso, opening to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene from Monday’s sneak peek inside Pasta Paradiso owner Renee Lee stopped by the Los Alamos Daily Post Monday to invite the news team to tour her newly renovated restaurant at 1315 Trinity Dr., the site of the former Hill Diner. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com