La Rondinella Delivers 'Passion' on a Plate; Crispelli's Serves Well-Executed Casual Italian

—€” Molly Abraham finds smartly designed and executed fast-casual Italian at Crispelli's: "It's quick and efficient, and the informal market setting has an attractive European feel," Abraham writes. The mini chain is successful "thanks to a management style that realizes the importance of not just the quality of the fare, but the quality of the staff members who prepare and serve it. Add the accessible menu that relies on classic dishes rather than fleeting trends, and it's easy to see why it has caught the attention of a broad range of diners." The critic counts the clam chowder, minestrone, Mediterranean salad, and "the pizzas topped with fresh mozzarella and an array of add-ons from shrimp and chorizo to Italian sausage and roasted garlic" among Crispelli's "stand-out dishes." Three stars. [Detroit News]

— Serena Maria Daniels gives La Rondinella a glowing review: La Rondinella delivers "passion on each and every plate." Daniels particularly enjoyed the rabbit gnocchi, which "lacks that familiar, dense doughy consistency we tend to associate with gnocchi. Instead, his are light, almost airy, allowing for the richness of the rabbit to come through. The manicotti has little resemblance to those ricotta-filled and marinara-topped tubes of pasta one might be accustomed to. Instead, he takes rich, earthy roasted mushrooms and wraps them tightly in crepes, a pleasantly surprising take on an otherwise played out entree." [Metro Times]