Description:

In English “Bella Italia” means “beautiful Italy”, and this lovely restaurant is reminiscent of a Tuscan trattoria, complete with gold stucco walls and a mural of villas set on the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Family-owned for nearly 20 years, the whole gang works in the restaurant; our waitress, Maria, the youngest of the clan was very knowledgeable about how each dish was prepared, and her service delivery struck just the right note of attentive without being intrusive.

Bella Italia may be considered casual dining, in that you don’t have to get dressed up, but there’s nothing casual about the menu. Each dish was executed to perfection. My crab cake and shrimp scampi served over homemade spinach linguini had just the right blending of flavors. Each entree includes hot, crusty Italian bread and a salad. The salad, while nothing exotic, contained the crispest of vegetables.

We were too full for dessert, but they featured a lovely dessert menu with all the Italian favorites, such as cannoli and tiramisu. There’s no need to bring your own wine. The restaurant also has a full bar with an exquisite wine menu.

This hidden gem has been touted by the locals as the best of the best. In fact, one local told me that the next best place to eat Italian food is home, and he’s right.

Hours:
Monday-Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.