Bella...On The RiverGem on the RiverwalkThis hidden gem is a delightful alternative to the mass seatings that populate the Riverwalk. The food, service, ambiance and most notably the wine list, make this place a treat. The spinach salad is the best i'v eaten anywhere on the planet. Reservations highly recommended.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMHidden GemWe've been to Bella a few times for different occasions. It's delightful and delicious every time. It's got a "locals only" charm that other Riverwalk restaurants lack. Will return; will bring friends.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMserious food on the RiverwalkMany Riverwalk restaurants are commercial, unimaginative, and touristy. Both the food and service at Bella were excellent--imaginative, carefully prepared, conscientious. This rather small restaurant was crowded and a bit noisy on a Friday night, but that's just to be expected. We recommend it .5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMA great intimate eateryGetting reservations isn't the easiest thing, because of the limited seating area. But with that convenience factor aside, everything else about the experience was great. The staff, owner, and pianist are very friendly and personable. I have been to the restaurant twice, and had an equally pleasant experience both times. The wine list is not excessive, but contains a great cross section of modestly priced varietals and vintages. The menu rotates periodically and keeps things fresh and interesting. We had an appetizer of fresh heirloom tomatoes, capers, and mozzarella. I had seafood and pasta in alfredo as an entree, and shared my companion's cappuccino ice cream for dessert. We washed our dinner down with a crisp Texas Viognier.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWelcoming feelingWe picked this restaurant to go to while visiting San Antonio mostly based on other reviews. We were welcomed by the owner right off the bat and thanked for making the reservation. Our server was top notch and food was very, very good. It is not a large restaurant and it can get quite noisy at times. We enjoyed it so much that we went back two nights later for dinner again and had the same experience. Good food, good wine and good service. If you are in San Antonio for a holiday you should not pass this place up for a special occasion meal.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat date night experience!My husband and I loved Bella! The food, atmosphere, and staff were all amazing! We would definitely come back!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingWe booked only from reviews & location on the SA Riverwalk. Bella was a great surprise. Look as though it was carved out a of cave with great old world feel. This was a small intimate place that filled up quickly. Great knowledge service. Food was spectacular.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMLast night in San AntonioThe service was excellent. We did not want to rush and the waiter respected our wishes. The wine was great, the food very well prepared and presented. I would recommend this restaurant again! We were seated outside, so the noise level was not applicable. It did seem noisy inside when I used the ladies room.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMBeautiful Bella...This place is cozy so it can get packed real fast. We had reserved a table for 2 outside facing the river. Chris, who attended to us, was great. We started off w the carpaccio. We also had the eggplant josephine! This is a must have at Bella! Each bite of the josephine "takes you to a different world"!
For the main course, my wife ordered the seafood pasta bella (i think thats what it was called) and I ordered the TX red fish. Both were excellent choices. The portion on the red fishwas smallish (or maybe I was just too hungry) but the pasta was a lot. All in all, great ambiance, fun live music, great food, great service and a very resilient and majestic fig tree. A must eat in San Antonio.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat findWhat a great experience. First time there since it became Bella. Food was so good, that we were all still talking about it the next day. Thank you! I'll be telling all my friends about this hidden gem.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent all around. CouldExcellent all around. Could use a larger selection of wines but nobody is perfect.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the piano player,We enjoyed the piano player, the service was superb and the food was presented nicely with a good variety to choose from. From appetizer to desert everything was delicious!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderfully quaint, cozy atmosphereWonderfully quaint, cozy atmosphere. The chef is highly gifted and his creations are delicious. I had the Divers scallops that melt in your mouth!
And the famous Pistachio cake is a must have.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Best on the RiverGreat time! Thanks David, Allison, Christopher, Patrick and Nathan for taking care of us and our guests!4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMProbably the smallest restaurantProbably the smallest restaurant I have been to but definitely worth it. Outstanding service, romantic but lively ambiance, excellent food. The eggplant josephine and polenta (side dish) are noteworthy.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a treat!Rare to find such a sophisticated restaurant on the Riverwalk. Great food; friendly owner and staff. Highly recommended.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice spot. Lots of cahracterVery nice spot. Lots of cahracter and charm. Great wine and food. Originality is hard to find in the Riverwalk, but Bellas has it. Just be sure to make reservations if you do not want to wait. Well worth a visit. Enjoy.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic hidden gem on RiverwalkBella on the River is a wonderful hidden gem on the San Antonio Riverwalk. The food, service, and ambiance are all very memorable. Make a reservation on weekends!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent service from Patrick!Excellent service from Patrick! Food was very good (better than expected on Riverwalk). Thanks for a great night!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe totally enjoyed our dinnerWe totally enjoyed our dinner there. I had the halibut special and it was delicious. Nice people, owner is there to greet you.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall, intimate restaurant.Small, intimate restaurant. The Pasta Bella was very good and the wine list excellent. The service is what made the difference at this restaurant. Reservations are strongly recommended.
This restaurant will be on our list to visit the next time we are in San Antonio.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect for a dinner on riverwalk.Perfect for a dinner on riverwalk. Very few tables outside. Call & reserve4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique dining experience.Unique dining experience. Small, but comfortable. Inateresting menu. 4 diners enjoyed their dinner very much. Nice wine list with affordable and good wines. Will return for more adventures.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best dining experienceThe best dining experience I have had in the city of San Antonio. We celebrated a beautiful night with a romantic meal of a unique flare. You will find no other restaurant like Bella on the river walk.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe really enjoyed the eggplant,We really enjoyed the eggplant, shrimp and hollandaise appetizer. I had a very good pizza as an entree. I tasted my husbands pasta (with shrimp) and thought it was a little "fishy" for my taste, but he enjoyed it. The lemon and olive oil cake was very tasty for dessert.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always the food and serviceAs always the food and service were great. Staff is warm and friendly and knows the food very well. The dining area is smaller, cozy and contains the buildings historical structural components and feel. Only criticism is that the piano player can overwhelm the restaurant at times making it hard to hold a conversation.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant with great serviceWonderful food and great service, will definitely go again! !3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMBarge Parking UnsightlyLovely to sit on the sidewalk...the barges, however, parked right along side the sidewalk and ruined the scene.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFrom the monument we walkedFrom the monument we walked in to when we left we had the best service. Appetizers salads, diner, and dessert were fantastic. Well done! We would recommend to anyone. This was a nice location that felt tucked away and provided a wonderful experience for our party of six.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat meal and atmosphereMy 4 girlfriends (40-60 age range) had a wonderful dinner here during our 4-day vacation in San Antonio. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming and we all enjoyed our meals. It was a nice change from the lively Riverwalk where we ate some of our other meals. I appreciated that the restaurant and OpenTable contacted me to confirm the reservation - it made me feel confident that they were expecting us. The live music was nice, added to the ambiance, and was not too overwhelming sound-wise.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMBella's, although on the river,Bella's, although on the river, does not have a view of the river from the dining area. There are some patio tables however. But the interior is a bit like being in Europe so we did not miss the riverwalk view at all. The service was great, the food terrific. Best part was the wonderful music performed by Henry Lee. He made the evening truly special for our party. Definitely make reservations 'cause the tables do fill up fast.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had stopped in on accidentWe had stopped in on accident over a year ago and fell in love with this place. We live about two hundred miles away so we do not get to go much. The second we booked our hotel in San Antonio we made reservations at bella. Patrick was great and made the perfect wine pairing with the food. We will be back. Thank you for a wonderful evening.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMA San Antonio Must!My husband and I were visiting San Antonio for the first time when we dined at Bella.
I had read about it in my Fodor's Guide and made my reservation through Open Table. The description of the food and the fact that live music was performed sparked my interest.
We we not disappointed!
The ambience of the restaurant was charming, the food was beautifully presented and delicious and the service was wonderful.
If we are fortunate enough to return to San Antonio, we will also be returning to Bella!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant I have experiencedBest restaurant I have experienced on the Riverwalk!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMNoisy great restaurant.....We can early around 6:30 before the crowd began. Our waitress was very attentive and knew the menu well. The food was delightful and the wine great. They do not have a full bar, only wine and beer. As the meal progressed the jazz pianist arrived and started playing and as the patrons arrived they started talking over the sound of the piano. Now this alone may not be bad but the restaurant is in a stone building much like a cave. The ambience is nice but the acoustics are awful. Summary, food and wine great, service great, very noisy. I would come back again but earlier in the day or evening.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM