Ciao BellaGreat ExperienceThe food was fantastic! Genuinely Italian. Amazing dessert. Service was exceptional. Just a bit noisy. Great for a fancy night out with prices that ate reasonable.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time dining experienceOverall this was a great pic compared to the other tired restaurant standby in Bloomington - Kincaid's - that we'd been going to for 20+ years. Most notable was the fact that this place has a "scratch kitchen." All you foodies will know what that means. Everything is made fresh each day and tossed out at end of each night. Even the croutons! The Halibut we had was prepared blackened (and a bit overcooked) - something we missed in the audible description given to us due to the very loud dining room. Tough to carry a conversation. Grade #1 Ahi tuna had a band of gristle running through it. Personally, I would have trimmed that out. So many good choices on menu. We will be back to try more. Big portions so plan to take home leftovers.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMCiao Bella a FavoriteWe go back to Ciao Bella time and time again because the food is always good, the ambiance and decor are warm and lovely, and the wait staff are among the best in the Twin Cities. Always an excellent dining experience!5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Special OccasionWe took my mother to Ciao Bella for Mother's Day dinner, and everything was lovely. Attentive staff, great food, nice atmosphere. I would definitely go again.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWe eat out every weekend,We eat out every weekend, but haven't been to Ciao Bella in 2 years. Lately I had heard friends talking they had been there and liked the food. Everything we had and mind you we were with another couple was excellent, from Steak, Chicken Parmesan Chops and Sea Bass we all loved our pics. The tomato soup and brussel sprouts, excellent. Was surprised though that the salads were more expensive then Bacio!! Great evening!!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently WonderfulOnce again Ciao Bella doesn't disappoint. Our server, David was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the food. We decided to split their grain salad and special of the day , which was a porcini rubbed halibut. The fish was flavorful and cooked perfectly. Halibut is easily overcooked but this was not. We were not in a hurry and it was so nice to not be rushed!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMA GREAT startI have always wanted to dine at an organic restaurant that supported local suppliers. The ciabatta bread served before the meal was a perfect start. I decided to go with the filet mignon sandwich with the house cut fries because I thought that if it was good, I knew I would be back later for an entree. It was FENOMENAL!!!!! The flavor of the sandwich was explosive and amazingly rewarding. I slightly expected the filet to be less tender than I would have gotten if I ordered it as an entree. I was able to bite right through it as if it was a burger. The fries were also great - I LOVE it when they're fresh cut. The lemon dessert was also wonderful. I will definitely be back!!!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMoustanding serviceThe wait staff is always amazing. Denise was our server on our last visit. Attentive and personable. She made it an even more enjoyable experience. We always enjoy ourselves at Ciao.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed a delicious lunchEnjoyed a delicious lunch but found it difficult to converse over the noise.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall good Italian FoodGood Food, Good Service, Gormet Italian, a little noisy5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Perfect NightThe food is fabulous. The waiter manhandled our raucous crowd. He was masterful and made the night perfect. We were never rushed, we were pampered and the food was wonderful. There were 8 of us and it was great.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always, another wonderfulAs always, another wonderful meal at Ciao Bella. The food was fabulous,the ambience great and the service-awesome! The hospitality at Ciao Bella from the moment you walk in the door-is perfect. Seth is the best waiter we have ever had, anywhere. Thank you Ciao Bella for another delightful experience.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOne f our FavoritesAlways great service, and awesome food selections. I'm a guy, and I selected the smaller portions of a pasta dish. I was completely satisfied! This is one of our favorites. A little pricey, but well worth it!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Service - TOO NOISY!Love the restaurant food and the service is the best in TC - but the noise level - come on you have to shout to hear not great for a business lunch given the noise5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service, delicious foodOur server, Megan, was wonderful and our food was delicious!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMReally outstanding food!Hadn't been here for a long time, but was very pleased with our dining experience. Service was excellent and prompt. Server was very helpful in making selections. The calamari was exceptional for Minnesota-very fresh with light and crispy breading. I had the salmon that was prepared to perfection. Very mild taste with an outstanding sauce of butter infused (lightly) with maple. It came with mashed butternut squash and sauted spinach. Molten chocolate lava cake capped the meal!4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMCiao Bella ReviewAlways good atmosphere. Food is great and reasonably priced. Service is very good.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always, a great experienceAs always, a great experience at Ciao Bella. They never dissapoint.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWow, what a great waiterWow, what a great waiter we had! Kudos to Ciao Bella.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMSeth is the best serverWe LOVE Ciao Bella and are frequent customers. My husband and I invited two friends from Woodbury to go with us last Friday, as they have heard us talk about it for years but have never been. I asked for table one and/or for Seth to be our server, and both my requests were granted, despite the fact that Seth's section did not include table 1. Still, he was very attentive and is amazing service, which is why we love having him and always ask for him. The food was great and so was the atmosphere. We cannot wait to come again soon. Thank you for another wonderful evening.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMI had the sea bass and itI had the sea bass and it was excellent. The salad had quiona in it and I don't recall the name but it was also very good. Warm bread was served right away. I arrived a little early because I wasn't sure how long it would take to get there from southeast of the cities. The hostess let me take a booth right away since they were not busy yet. I had a very good glass of white wine but rather expensive. I would go here again on a special occasion. Our waiter was very polite and helpful.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMReliable Cuisine and EnergeticCiao Bella is, as the staff will call it, "Lively!" (Meaning noisy!) If conversation is important, this may not be the place for you. There are heavy draperies in the porch, between the main dining rooms and the porch, but they are never drawn. If they could be closed, the porch space would be a lovely alternative space within this beautiful restaurant.
The wait staff is always attentive and friendly. The food is delicious. The entrées are on the expensive side. There may be a wait for a table, even with reservations.
We like Ciao Bella in the summer, for patio dining.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMVery loud restaurant, anotherVery loud restaurant, another option should be included in Noise level Check off. Great selection of wines by the glass.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing Salmon special & serviceAfter having seafood last week at another restaurant with national locations and similar prices, I was pretty disappointed. I ordered the Salmon & Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes with buerre blanc sauce, I couldn't believe the disparity. Where the other restaurant was bland, improperly cooked and generally lacked flavor, Ciao Bella was an abundance of flavor in every bite.
The disparity between the two experiences couldn't have been more abundant. All for about the same price...
I know where I'll be coming next time4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMCiao Bella Rocks!I had the pork chops and they were delicious. Great service, great food!4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOur dinning experience wasOur dinning experience was excellent as it has been every time we have visited. The service has been excellent and the food delicious. We will be back and we will continue to bring our friends. Thank you for a wonderful dinning experience.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMA warm, friendly, fun placeA warm, friendly, fun place topped off with excellent food.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMet a friend for dinner toMet a friend for dinner to catch up, service was great, food was delicious, atmosphere was perfect for our get together4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWOrked out great for a SaturdayWOrked out great for a Saturday night last-minute plans, bar was not full, we scored space for 5 easily @ 8pm.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe only downside is evenThe only downside is even with our Friday, 7:15 pm open table reservation, my wife and I were not seated until nearly 8:00pm. There were large groups who were taking alot of tables. The food was great and our server, Jessika was outstanding. She took very good care of us. We didn't wait long for our appetizer or dinner.We will dine there again.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had to wait awhile to beWe had to wait awhile to be acknowledged when we came in. Then it took probably about 20 min before we were seated even though we had a reservation. The good news is they totally made up for it. The manager came to our table and apologized and offered us drinks and appetizers or desserts. The server also apologized and was fabulous. We'll definitely go back!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a late dinner lastWe had a late dinner last Friday night and we were given a cozy booth seat. It was ideal for good conversation and the dinner/service were excellent. I am a big fan of the heirloom grain salad and my husband really likes the pasta rossa.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently good food andConsistently good food and service, with warm and inviting ambiance.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMYou can't go wrong with seafoodYou can't go wrong with seafood at Ciao Bella. The special - Mediterranean Salmon - was spectacular. I always enjoy dinner at Ciao Bella.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Meal on the South SideEverything was really great. The Sea Bass and Halibut were outstanding. All in all a great meal.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our first time diningThis was our first time dining at Ciao Bella, and we'll be back! We chose an assortment of appetizers as starters, and each was unique and delicious. I recommend the olives, the caramelized brussels sprouts, and the calamari! Our waitress was very attentive and helpful with meal and wine choices. We dined on a Sunday night, and when our entrees were served too soon for us to enjoy the appetizers, the manager provided complimentary desserts!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my first visit toThis was my first visit to Ciao Bella and I was pleasantly impressed with the warmth of the decor and the fact that tables aren't set really close together as happens in so many places. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful with the menu. The food was excellent and I was grateful to be able to order smaller portions for lunch. I look forward to returning.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistent excellence in foodConsistent excellence in food and service. Ciao Bella never disappoints.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of our favorite placesOne of our favorite places for Italian food. Brought my parents here for the first time. Made a reservation on line for 6:30pm. Had requested a booth which initially they were going to seat us at a table but then were able to accommodate us. Our waiter David was very friendly and attentive. The food was delicious. The restaurant was busy on Saturday night so it was a little loud and hard to hear the conversation of the people sitting across from us but all and all a very enjoyable evening.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was wonderful!!!!! myFood was wonderful!!!!! my new favorite place. so good and always great service.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother terrific dining experience.Another terrific dining experience. As usual, the service was great and the food was too.
With reservations you are always promptly seated.
The outdoor patio isn't open yet (March 30) but will be soon and it is terrific.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good, althoughFood was very good, although my portion was a little small. Moderately priced.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMMy new birthday placeThe food is amazing - so full of flavors. The service is wonderful and the ambiance can't be beat. I will be back.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe just loved it. Will comeWe just loved it. Will come back when we visit Minneapolis again.. Will recommend to our friends in Winnipeg...3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMReady to ImpressSit back and relax...no rush. Our party was rekindling friendships from 30 years past. We did not want to rush our evening and David, our server, was very attentive to this. From the appetizers through the after dinner cocktails all met the expectations I have grown accustom to from Ciao Bella. Explosive flavoring combinations from, warm olives, paprika crusted sea bass, and cauliflower puree mashed potatoes. You can expect attentive, professional service from the door to the table.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA new fan of Ciao BellaI have never had a bad meal or service at Ciao Bella, it is one of my favorite places to dine. On Saturday I dined with a friend that was unfamiliar with the restaurant, he too was very impressed and is now looking forward to dining on the Ciao Bella patio this summer. Seth was our waiter for the evening and the service he provided was fabulous.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGREAT food ... excellent serviceGREAT food ... excellent service ... beautiful decor .... but WAY too loud to converse with the people I was dining with. I don't understand why they can't figure out some way to improve the acoustics in this fine restaurant --- but until they do, we will be choosing other restaurants to give our business to. It's a shame, as there are many good qualities about Ciao Bella, but when I wake up with a sore throat the next day from trying to talk with my guests, it's not worth it. I guess my suggestion would be --- go here with someone you don't really want to carry on a conversation with!3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFrom start to finish it wasFrom start to finish it was a wonderful evening. Very professional staff and classy service.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThey never fail! The staffThey never fail! The staff is exceptional and go above and beyond to give you the service you would get downtown. Very friendly and the food was worth the price.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFor that special occasion...Wonderful date night restaurant. Their pesto sea bass (sustainably fished) was prepared impeccably, buttery and perfectly straddling the line between light and meaty. It's a special occasion restaurant we'll absolutely seek out again in the future.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AM