Restaurant offers Italian villa feel
John Muzika has no problem saying that Rotelli Restaurant in Uniontown is the hottest restaurant in the area.
Even though Muzika is the manager of the Italian restaurant and it only has been open for less than two months, he said he believes his statement to be true. He said he's seen customers returning to the restaurant more than 10 times.
Rotelli offers a variety of appetizers like bruschetta Italiana and crispy calamari, salads with some served in bread bowls, soups, gourmet pastas like penne alla vodka and eggplant rollatine, calzones, stromboli, subs like Italian sausage and grilled spa chicken breast, wraps made in a tomato basil shell, side dishes like gorgonzola cheese and meatballs, desserts like cannoli or a brownie sundae, and entrees that include chicken, veal and seafood.
Muzika said he was impressed how the community responded to the variety of selections on the menu and embraced the restaurant.
"This is a meat-and-potatoes town," said Muzika, who is from Uniontown.
He added that he was surprised such items as eggplant were ordered so much that he ran out within the first week.
"They're experimenting with different signature dishes I thought they wouldn't try," Muzika said.
Even though Rotelli offers pizzas and gourmet pizza pies, he said he doesn't want people to confuse the restaurant with a pizza place.
"Rotelli is a family-oriented restaurant that offers great food, five-star service with the servers dressed in black and white, and we have a wonderful atmosphere," Muzika said.
Muzika said he's particularly proud of the restaurant's atmosphere. The location of the restaurant is at the old Uniontown train station where the trains were stored.
"There was black soot everywhere," Muzika said about what they saw in January. They had to scrub, sandblast and pressure wash everything and ended up with 3,000 square feet of fine dining space.
The restaurant, Muzika said, could easily fit 200, but he decided to keep the seating under 100 to provide more comfortable space for patrons.
The restaurant's look combines the outdoor feel of an Italian villa, where grapevines hang along the walls, with the modern industrial look, where rafters are displayed by the open ceiling.
"I'm impressed with the beauty and ambiance of this place," said Muzika, who has had 14 years experience managing fine-dining establishments in Morgantown, W.Va.
The future for Rotelli Restaurant includes obtaining a liquor license. A wine list, bottled beer and other mixed drinks will be available, but Muzika said selling liquor won't take away the family image.
"The bar will close when the restaurant closes," he said. "The advertisements for alcoholic drinks will be at the bar side of the restaurant."
Muzika said plans also include a take-out menu, where they will deliver within a four- to five-mile radius, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rotelli is located at 90 Pittsburgh St., along Route 51. Hours of operation are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. The restaurant seats half an hour before closing time.
For more information on the Uniontown location, call 724-438-4891. For more information on Rotelli, visit www.rotellipizzapasta.com.
