Extensive menu at quaint, rural restaurant near Springfield offers well over 100 items

Name: Bella Roma Italian Restaurant

Address: 113 W. Washington St., Edinburg

Phone: (217) 230-0887

Website/Facebook: facebook.com/people/Bella-Roma-Italian-Restaurant

Credit/debit cards accepted: Yes.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday

Entrée price range: $13.95-24.95

Children’s menu: Yes.

My order: This quaint, rural restaurant just outside Springfield offers quite an extensive menu with well over 100 items with a variety of appetizers, salads, pizza, pasta dishes, and even vegan and gluten free options. We were told nearly everything is scratch made, an exception being the gluten-free pasta. I chose the Eggplant Rollatini, a breaded eggplant stuffed with ricotta cheese, rolled and topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese ($13.95). My friend ordered gluten-free pasta with meat sauce ($13.95). Our meals came with hot, garlic butter rolls fresh out of the oven.

Likes: The rolls had that delightful, yeasty sweet taste with a chewy texture. The sauce had a good flavor with plenty of meat. I was impressed with so many menu offerings.

Dislikes: My friend thought her pasta was overdone, which is a drawback with some gluten-free pasta because it can break down quicker than regular pasta. She suggested next time the pasta be a bit underdone and let the sauce further cook it. I could not find a menu online, which is a drawback if I would like to order take out. The website listed on their Facebook page has a broken link.

What would I order next time? It’s hard to know where to start there are so many choices. I might try a Stromboli or Calzone ($13.95) or perhaps the Lobster and Shrimp Ravioli ($21.95).

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Bella Roma Italian Restaurant near Springfield has extensive menu