Isabella's Pizza and Pasta | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Isabella's shows off its kitchen skills with a menu range from pizzas, calzones and paninis to fettuccine Alfredo and eggplant rollatini.

Ambience: 9 tables, smartly decorated in soothing grays. Pretty table coverings and fresh orchids on every table complete the look. There's also a TV broadcasting the sports event du jour.
If you can stop yourself from devouring every last glorious crusty garlic roll slicked with herb and garlic-infused olive oil, you'll have room for a big bowl of hearty pasta fagioli ($2.95). With firm beans, pasta and delicious pancetta-seasoned broth. Delicately battered, fried calamari with warm chunky marinara ($7.45) and garden fresh bruschetta with vine-ripened tomatoes, onions, garlic and fresh basil, paired with slices of rustic house made bread ($5.95).

A generous portion of chicken marsala in a sauce rich with wine and mushrooms is $9.95 with a side pasta (your choice of pasta shapes). The frutti di mare, at a remarkable $10.95, arrives in a large deep bowl filled with plump shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari and linguine doused in red sauce pleasantly flavored by the sea; even ordering it fra diavolo delivers a nicely spiced dish that doesn't overpower the delicacy of the seafood. Carefully executed pasta carbonara ($7.95) is specked with nuggets of crisp pancetta for a welcome burst of saltiness and is just one in a lineup of commendably al dente pastas. Looking for a massive 18-inch pizza to feed the family? Buy one popped fresh from the ovens for just $11.95. The thin-crusted New York style pies are gooey good, especially the chicken pesto gourmet pie ($15.95) topped with grilled chicken, a winning walnut based pesto, romano and mozzarella.