Bella's RestaurantUVA STUDENTS NIGHT OUT WITH PROFESSI TOOK MY 6 TOP STUDENTS IN MY CLASS TO BELLA'S. IT REMINDED ME OF MY TRIP TO ROMA ITALY LAST YEAR. I LOVED THE FAMILY STYLE DINNERS, SO WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE! THE FOOD WAS GREAT, SERVICE FANTASTIC (ANDRE), AND PRICE VERY REASONABLE!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWhen you gotta have italian...Previous reviews got me scared I'd face a mountain of food and spotty service, but we wanted italian so took a chance, and had a perfectly nice time. Splitting the small salad/ spaghetti & meatballs (he had 2/3rds of that) was just right, and we're not huge eaters. The waiter's chianti reco was very good. He checked in after each course, and brought seasonings we requested without delay. We arrived 45 minutes early and they welcomed us as if they had had our table just waiting for us. The only thing I don't understand is why the entire menu requires splitting...if my husband and I hadn't wanted the same thing, that would have nixed the whole dining experience. Why can't people just have their own portions and call it good?5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA special reminder of ItalyBella's is a gem! Food is like "grandma used to make"-old Italy-style. Served family style with menu stating portions for 2 or 4. They are large portions and, with the waiter's careful guidance, you can order many things so you can taste a lot, share it all, walk out satisfied and smiling, have few or no leftovers and be amazed at the reasonable cost of the meal. Ambiance is small, wood and brick and walls are covered in pictures of the family in Italy. It's wonderful!! DO NOT MISS THE GRILLED ROMAINE; IT'S TO DIE FOR!!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food! Huge Portions!The dining experience at Bella's is incredible! Family style dining is the concept here which they do not shy from. All portions feed a minimum of 2 (according to the menu, but could feed 3-4) and larger portions to feed 4. Prices average about $10-15 per person when you divide it up. The interior, though small, has an intimate dining feel that is perfect for family meals or date nights. Although simple, I highly recommend the Chicken Parmesan served over fettuccine. I have only been twice, but this has become my go to spot for entertaining guests that come in town and for a nice evening out. I would highly recommend a reservation, particularly on peak nights of the week/weekend as they can get very busy.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat family style ItalianGreat family style Italian food at reasonable price. Fabulous waiter!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall, was a great experience,Overall, was a great experience, but the service was a little disappointing.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMBig portions! Special orderBig portions! Special order salad very good and balsamic dressing was delicious. Pasta and house red sauce were also good. Outstanding service and will recommend Bella's to others!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThe restaurant food was wonderful.The restaurant food was wonderful. I was with older folks and it was hard for them to hear all the conversation as it was very noisy. I would not recommend it if you want a quiet-semi quiet place.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service, great priceGreat service, great price and great food. Highly recommend the Gorgonzola grilled salad and the Carbonara. Our waiter gave us a great tip. If you're getting the carbonara, order off the "make your own pasta" with the same ingredients that make up the carbonara and you get to add a protein for just $1 more. It was an awesome suggestion and made for great leftovers!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding dining experience!Outstanding dining experience! One of the best in C-ville!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spot -- fantastic food MetGreat spot -- fantastic food
Met the owner -- great guy
You will not find better Italian food in C-Ville than at Bella's4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMJersey BoyExcellent experience - service excellent, server knowledgeable, wine list very good, food was very good, HUGE PORTIONS - even bigger than I had thought. I'm from Jersey with its many, many Italian restaurants - this compared well. The big difference between Jersey and C-Ville was that the sauce ("gravy" to New York-Jersey inhabitants) was sweeter than I found up North but I liked it4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe very-much enjoy Bella's,We very-much enjoy Bella's, and it has become one of our "go-to" restaurants in Charlottesville. We were a little disappointed with the Porchetta (one of our favorites), this time, as it was overdone and dried out -- but everything else was so good that it balanced out the overall experience. Also, the service (Johnny was our waiter/server) was absolutely outstanding.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMNew FavoriteShame on me. Shame on me for living in Charlottesville the past 7 years and not having eaten here yet. I've eaten at almost every restaurant towards downtown and on the mall but for whatever reason skipped this place. No longer will I make that mistake. In brief, I could not have been happier with finding this place last Friday. The food was wonderful (get the gorgonzola grilled salad), and the service and ambience were just as we would have preferred.
With Fossett's, Bella's is now in my top 2 favorite restaurants in Charlottesville. Combining price into the equation Bella's may very well be my favorite restaurant in Charlottesville4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMA very very good restaurantThe portions are quite large here, with the smaller size serving two people. Three of us had two dishes - the zuppa di pesce and the carbonara. Both were excellent. The service was just right, not too obtrusive. The main problem is finding parking.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent in all areas. ExceptionaExcellent in all areas. Exceptional food, service and portions of food!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMI really appreciated the personalI really appreciated the personal touch of Douglas, the owner, who cut open our Porchetta entree and showed us how to get the best taste from the meat and flavorings.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it! Nice little authenticLoved it! Nice little authentic Italian place with family sized portions.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat restaurant with terrificGreat restaurant with terrific food and an exceptionally friendly staff - including the owner who took time to chat with our table at length. When you go, bring an appetite and be ready to take home dinner for the following evening...the portions are beyond generous. A "must" for everyone!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful dinnerBest food I have had in Charlottesville!!! Excellent prices, as well- a rarity in Charlottesville.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat food and nice evening.great food and nice evening. Our Ladies night out group went and we had a nice time. most of us had been there but a few had not. All really enjoyed.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMI love this restaurant. veryI love this restaurant. very welcoming, great service, fabulous food, fun atmosphere3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGoing to Bella's is like travelGoing to Bella's is like travel to Italy inside of Charlottesville. The romantic atmosphere, the authentic Italian taste,the friendly staff and besides all of these qualities, everyone was suprised about the prices and the amount of food you can get. They really make you feel very special.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is wonderful!This restaurant is wonderful! Great food with very large servings and very good, attentive service.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMService is family style withService is family style with huge plates of pasta in the middle of the table. Service is great, and they are eager to give you left overs if you order too much. Food is great - best Italian I have had in Cville.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMLove this restaurant! TheLove this restaurant! The food is fabulous, the price is outstanding, the service is personal and friendly! You'll want a reservation as they are always hopping!3/1/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat an excellent choice forWhat an excellent choice for dinner. We arrived an hour early, through my fault thinking the reservation was at six not at seven, and the owner found us a table right away even though they were busy. It just got better as the night went on. The waiter was excellent and the food was great. Only wish we had a place to put the leftovers, since we were staying in a B and B. Recommend that if you want a wonderful meal, this is the place to be.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM