By Jack E. George via Baja.com

No need to dash off to Italy when you have an overwhelming craving for Italian food. Instead, visit Nuevo Amore, located on the main street in Rosarito across from Quinta del Mar. The restaurant has been in operation since 2005 although it was previously named That's Amore. When new owners Jose Sanchez and Rich von Langen took over ownership a year ago, they changed the name and made some significant improvements to the restaurant.

Aside from the new name, the restaurant has gone through an extensive renovation. According to Rich, "We completely repainted the interior of the restaurant, added some different lighting, and recovered the chairs. This was all done to create a cozier, more inviting atmosphere. Small touches are everywhere; some new artwork and the addition of swinging kitchen doors that form a heart at the top when closed." The kitchen was also remodeled in order to make it more efficient.

Along with the other changes, the food and beverage menus were revised and simplified. Rich explained that a number of the popular dishes were kept while a few new ones were added. He said, "The good news is after looking at our food costs we were able to reduce many of the prices to encourage guests to come for the first time and to offer our returning guests a little more for their money." Nuevo Amore has also made some staff changes in order to improve and expand their service. For example, the entire staff is now bilingual.

Rich and Jose are proud of the fact that they make their own bread, dough, soups and sauces, along with 'custom-made' raviolis, sausage and mouth-watering deserts from scratch. Their goal is to provide each guest a memorable dining experience and fresh and delicious food.

Many diners begin their experience by choosing antipasto. Selections such as steamed clams and Bruschetta offer a great introduction to your Italian meal, and are typically followed by a soup and salad. The menu always features a homemade soup of the day, along with a variety of salads, including traditional favorites like Caesar salad and Waldorf salad with chicken.

Diners may also choose from a number of Nuevo Amore pasta dishes and secondi plates, from spaghetti and lasagna to linguini with clams and cheese ravioli. It's also hard to go wrong with pizza, especially since the customer chooses all of the ingredients. For dessert, try the decadent chocolate amore, or sample a digestif from the bar. A nice selection of wines are also offered.

The restaurant has been mentioned as one of the best Italian restaurants in all of Baja California. That's quite a reputation to live up to, but given the renovation, new menu, dedicated staff, delicious food, and determined owners, it appears Nuevo Amore will continue to receive high marks.

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