Many would argue that the last thing Baton Rouge needs is another Italian restaurant. After all, the city is home to great eateries like DeAngelo’s, Pinetta’s and Gino’s, so why open another place that would serve the same cuisine? It’s that mindset that makes a visit to the newly opened Romacelli such a wonderful experience. Romacelli isn’t simply a copy of the above restaurants – it boasts an atmosphere and food selection that are entirely its own. Upon entering the restaurant, which replaced the spot in the Southdowns Village Shopping Center vacated by Marcello’s earlier this year, I was immediately struck by its non-formal atmosphere. The restaurant prides itself on Italian food and fine wine, which typically means white linen tablecloths and an implied dress code. Contrarily, a fully stocked bar is positioned in the middle of the restaurant, immediately separating it from its counterparts. Flat-screen TVs line the walls, adding to the restaurant’s bar atmosphere. The best part is the versatile quality. It’s easy to envision Romacelli as a place to gather for a Saturday night football game, but also as a pleasant spot for a Sunday family lunch. The food stands out, too. Some menu items, such as the fettuccine alfredo and chicken marsala, can be found on almost every Italian menu in town. However, the restaurant’s sandwiches and original twists on old classics, such as the Cajun crawfish pasta, set Romacelli apart from other eateries. Before selecting my entrée, I ordered one of the restaurant’s most popular appetizers, the Mediterranean hummus, priced at $8.95. It was topped with tomatoes, olives, garlic, cucumbers and most importantly, feta cheese. The dish came with fresh focaccia, which was simply a tastier version of typical breadsticks. The hummus was heavy, but the chopped veggies and feta lightened the dish considerably, making for a delicious appetizer that still kept me hungry for my entrée. Being a fan of spicy food, I settled on the Cajun chicken pasta, priced at $13.50, as my entrée. When it arrived, I was happy to see the restaurant didn’t skimp on the amount of chicken in the dish. I enjoyed the presence of jalapeños in the pasta. It gave the dish a distinctive kick that stopped just short of being overbearing. The garlic cream sauce, which I was told is made fresh daily, added great flavor. The chicken in the dish was seasoned well, but lacked the wonderful flavor typically associated with grilled chicken. Oddly, the grilled flavor was present in the small bit of the pesto chicken sandwich I tried. After being completely stuffed with pasta, I opted for vanilla panna cotta, priced at $4.95, for dessert. While topped with a tasty whipped cream, the dessert didn’t have a discernible vanilla taste. Still, its light sugariness was a good end to an otherwise fulfilling meal. With prices much lower and an atmosphere more relaxed than other Italian restaurants, Romacelli seems primed to set itself apart from the competition and capable of bringing something new to the Baton Rouge food scene. ____ Contact Joey Groner at [email protected]