Dining Out:

I haven’t been thrilled with most Italian restaurants I’ve eaten at lately, which is unfortunate since I love Italian food. I just feel that good Italian cooking is becoming a lost art, and it’s all beginning to taste the same to me. That is until I found Burbank Pizzeria & Pasta, located on North Glenoaks Boulevard in Burbank. I had a good feeling about this little pizzeria from the moment I walked in and smelled the fresh-baked dough emanating from the kitchen.

I was greeted and given a menu immediately as I stepped up to the bar-styled counter. I noticed the dining area was small but cozy, but heard that they will be expanding the space sometime in the future. I came for takeout, but the restaurant also delivers all over Burbank, and to my surprise, they also deliver to Glendale for $3 extra, which for the value is well worth it.

The restaurant has been under new ownership since January, by George Rossi and the Rossi family. They have been in the Italian restaurant business for more than 20 years.

The menu offers many Italian staples, such as baked mostaccioli ($10.99), risotto Italian rice ($14.99), chicken piccata ($13.99), calzones ($8.99), and linguini with lobster ($16.99), as well as popular sandwiches such as pastrami ($7.50), prosciutto ($8.50), and meatballs ($7.50). The entrees are served with soup or salad and garlic bread. You may also order wheat pasta instead of the regular. The sandwiches are served with French fries or salad. All of their sauces and dressing are house made. Of course they also serve pizza.

Along with the standard pizza fare, Burbank Pizzeria & Pasta serves many specialty pizzas, including white pizza, which has a creamy garlic sauce, chicken cilantro pizza and Caprese pizza, but you are welcome to create your own combinations, incorporating the many toppings they offer. The pizzas range from the small, 12 inches, to the huge 28-inch sizes, and vary in price from $7.99 to $31.99.

For takeout I ordered penne al pesto ($12.95), fettuccine alfredo chicken and broccoli ($12.99), gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce ($13.99), and a small pepperoni pizza ($9.15). The penne with pesto was very good. The roasted pine nuts added a nice accent to the flavor of the pesto sauce.