The story behind one of Denham Springs' most personal restaurants starts on a vacation in Rome. That's where Kyla met Antonio in 2002, even though he didn't speak English and she didn't speak Italian.

The two married in Rome on Oct. 8, 2004. After their first son, Emilio, was born, they moved to Virginia to start a new life in the United States. Along the way, Antonio began experimenting with his mother's recipes and cooking for his American family, and that passion eventually became Randazzo's Italian Market at 240 Capitol St. in Denham Springs.

Three businesses under one roof

Randazzo's is more than a market. The couple turned an old house into a restaurant with a full deli and wine market, so you can sit down for lunch, pick up imported deli meats or grab something for dinner later.

The kitchen makes its egg pasta in-house daily, including linguine, spaghetti, lasagna sheets and ravioli. Take-and-bake dishes are ready to go straight into your oven or the freezer, which is handy as the holidays fill up the calendar.

What to order

Start with a cheese and meat board of imported prosciutto, mortadella and salami with house ciabatta, or the meatball appetizer in fresh marinara. Pasta lovers have plenty of choices, from five-layer lasagna with bechamel and gnocchi alla Bolognese to lobster ravioli in the house pink vodka sauce. Pizza dough is kneaded per order and grilled before it goes in the oven.

Sandwiches carry family names, like the Emilio with salami, spicy capocollo and mortadella, and the Papi with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and pesto. Weekday lunch specials run 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Plan your visit

Randazzo's is open 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. It's closed Sunday and Monday. The market also offers catering plus wine and charcuterie classes. Call 225-667-4557 for details.

Come hungry, and leave with a bag of fresh pasta for later.

Photo courtesy of Randazzo's Italian Market.