Rotelli Pizza & Pasta

Located in a corner of the Plaza del Paraiso mall, Rotelli is a nice addition to the Italian scene in West Kendall. The restaurant has a wide variety of dishes, including classics like lasagna and baked ziti, and more interesting sea bass al pesto and chicken quattro stagione. The chicken marsala is pleasantly sweet and not too heavy. Penne alla vodka is a wonderful blend of cream, vodka, and tomatoes with fresh garlic. Soups of the day tend to be excellent and usually have a unique flavor even when they sound plain, like a pea soup with just a bit more spice than expected. Order the bruschetta Italianna to start. It has just the right mix of balsamic, garlic, and tomato. Gourmet pizzas are also good. Skip dessert, though: The tiramisu tastes more like whipped cream with cream cheese than mascarpone with espresso, and the crème brûlée is sometimes baked to a loose, flanlike consistency rather than being torched or broiled.