Rosa's Pasta Express delivers made-to-order pasta dishes straight from Scarborough.

Located at the corner of Military Trail and Old Kingston Road, Rosa's is known throughout the area for its tender noodles and savoury sauces.

At first glance, this Italian restaurant resembles many others of its kind, complete with the requisite red, white and green colour palette. Only its slogan — "Pasta your way, right away!" — hints at its true nature.

Rosa's was founded in 2018, with its current owners, Ashish and Mary Kadam, taking over the following year.

Previously working in hospitality, Ashish completed his studies at Hotel Institute Montreux in Switzerland and spent several years working at the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel.

His decision to become a restaurateur was motivated by a desire to "own something for himself."

Since acquiring the restaurant, the Kadams have left their distinct mark on the menu. Mary describes their style as "sort of a fusion cuisine," with many of their new additions taking inspiration from other culinary traditions.

"It's something that sets us apart from other restaurants in the area," Mary says proudly.

Rosa's Pasta Express has no set menu. Instead, the restaurant offers a wide variety of noodles, sauces and toppings, allowing you to create a meal that suits your particular tastes.

For $9.50, you get a base pasta, a sauce of your choice and a slice of freshly baked garlic bread. Additional toppings vary in price and include everything from chicken and capers to marinara and mushrooms (gluten-free noodles, halal meats and vegan options are also available).

In order to give us the full Rosa's experience, Ashish helped us assemble our pastas.

Our first dish was made with twisty multi-coloured fusilli and bright red Arrabiata sauce. Ashish added black olives, chopped onions and hot peppers to the mix, giving the meal a deliciously spicy flavour. Pasta #2 blended elements from Indian and Italian cuisines, pairing spinach and ricotta-stuffed ravioli with butter chicken sauce, spinach, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes to create a fun, full-bodied dish.

I was surprised at just how well the creamy tomato sauce worked with the filled pasta.

Our final creation was a riff on a classic seafood pasta: linguini noodles smothered in Alfredo sauce and topped with shrimp, spinach and mushrooms. This meal was milder than the others, but definitely didn't lack for taste.

Though I would highly recommend the pastas we put together, these are by no means the only options. If you've got an idea for a dish, give it a shot. The Kadams encourage experimentation and love watching their customers try new combinations. "It's amazing to see what people come up with," Mary tells blogTO. "Some people mix different sauces and at least one person has tried to cover his pasta with meat."

With so many toppings to choose from, the possibilities are near endless. Rosa's Pasta Express also offers sandwiches ($10.50), each served on a warm kaiser and garnished with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella.

You can choose from meatballs, veal, or chicken, the latter of which makes the meal taste like a saucy chicken Parmesan. Veggie toppings can be added for $1.25 each. Salads can be ordered as a side or main course. The Greek salad ($8/small, $12.25/large) is a fairly traditional pick, with olives, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and feta cheese doused in tangy Greek dressing.

Though the small restaurant only offers takeout, it also gives discounts to local college students and has deals for families and couples.Rosa's Pasta Express is located at 271 Old Kingston Rd.