With so many neighborhood Italian restaurants a new
one opening has to either have a special 'gimmick' such as all home cooking made
from scratch and/or exceptional food. Showing that advertising does pay we went
to Isabella's, on Federal Highway just north of the 17th street
causeway, because they had a 15% off coupon. I recognized the store front
immediately having eaten there, with Gino, years ago when we went for an 'all
you can eat' wings night!

The decor is more or less
a hodge podge, nothing indicating an Isabella, a
pizza or a pasta place. They would have done better had they followed through
with the dominant square fixtures on the counter front.

Like the decor the food
was what one would expect when care isn't taken in presentation let alone
preparation. At first glance the prices looked reasonable but, as a comparison,
the portions at Big Louie's are almost twice the size plus they include ( much
better) garlic rolls and a salad whereas atIsabella's you just get garlic rolls
and have to pay $3.95 for a dinner salad.

Allen had Garlic Broccoli & Olive Oil Penne
($6.95), a side of  (2 small) meatballs and diet soda ($2.99) though the
'waiter' (couldn't figure out who he was--son of Isabella? Kitchen help? Owner?
Partner?) gave him regular soda the first time.

I had Sausage and Peppers
mixed in Linguine ($6.95) and coffee ($2.99) which was obviously freshly brewed
since I was the only one drinking coffee in the restaurant. (I didn't notice an
espresso machine anywhere.) My food was, at best, mediocre with too few peppers
and too much oil.

The check, after the 15% discount, came to $18 and
change plus the tip. There is nothing compelling about Isabella's Pizza &
Pasta restaurant to make us want to come back and even if we did I don't think
it will be there too long.

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After Italian food and a
lot of garlic left as an after taste the best solution is to have ice cream so
Allen and I went to Basket Robbins. Allen had a double scoop of Butter Pecan and
Mint Chocolate chip and I had Pistachio with Almonds and Rocky Road. Yes, I had
a 'buy 1, get 1 free' coupon so both only cost a total of $3.19--a lot less than
the coffee and soda!!