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Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Pacific BeachMon-Sun. 4:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"This pizza is excellent, and it's right down the street from me. They sell by the slice which is great for sad single people such as…" read more »
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This is a nice, little Italian restaurant that may be hard to miss because it's squished between Kragen and some other shop. Not a lot of parking in the back, about 3-4 spaces in the alley. My friends and I were excited when we entered the restaurant because there were palm trees and torches in the front, and our waiter walked out to the front to open the door for us when he saw us getting out of our cars. What friendly service! I made reservations for 8 people one week ahead thinking it'd be busy on a Friday night but it's not that busy at all.
They have an outdoor seating with heaters, so it doesn't get too cold. The lighting inside is dim, sort of romantic and exotic. Our waiters were very nice and attentive and he spent his time explaining the menu to us when we had questions. I ordered pasta with angel hair spaghetti. It's good, but I can't say it's the best. If I had to compare tastes, I'd say it tastes like the pasta from Olive Garden (which is nothing bad at all). It wasn't too tomatoey nor greasy, just perfect. The pricing is fair for the portion, they offer a variety of wine and foods. Most plates were below 20 dollars.
Caffe Bella Italia offers a solid performance worthy of the exclamation "bravo!" The atmosphere is casual and warm, and there is a nice buzz when you walk in the front door. Service is prompt, friendly and knowledgeable, and they brought out a nice basket of freshly baked breads.
Good selection of wines. We had the calamari fritti which came out hot, crisp and tender as you would expect it. We also had a seafood and penne pasta dish with a spicy (diavolo) marinara and some capellini dish. Both were excellent.
We capped off the night with a delicious tiramisu and hazelnut gelato. They had the best seafood of our entire trip to San Diego.
I got a yelp account just to write a review for this place. I loved the atmosphere- but that was about it. Where do I start?
The waiter was inattentive, and the food was shockingly overpriced for the quality. I am a vegetarian, and in my experience decent chefs can whip up a GOOD veggie pasta dish with the vegetables they have available. The waiter made it sound like no problem, in fact he even offered a "mixed veggie with white wine/ garlic sauce" that sounded delicious, but when I got the dish it had zero sauce and the few vegetables on the plate looked like they were canned. My horrendous pasta was a whopping $15.00, even though other items with that price on the menu had much more to offer.
My boyfriend got a pesto pasta with potatoes and asparagus, and when it arrived the potatoes were non existent, they had been cubed up in minuscule pieces. The asparagus? Two small aspargus laying on top of the dish.
They didn't bring bread or water, we had to hunt our waiter down to ask for it. We left pissed off that we had dropped so much loot and spent our weekly date night at such an anti climactic and overpriced place. Skip- much BETTER italian out there!
My new favorite restaurant in PB. I went with a group of 4 for my birthday. We sat outside. I'm telling you, when you are at this restaurant, you completely forget where you are. It's like you've suddenly arrived on a secluded island filled with yumminess and white-light wrapped palm trees.
Our service was outstanding. The waiters are all seriously Italian. Like I can't understand what they're saying most of the time. But I wouldn't have it any other way :) They are gracious and welcoming. When our bread came out and we asked for 3 additional kinds of toppings BESIDES the dipping sauce they brought, they all came out no problem. When our wine glasses got too close to being empty, we were asked if we wanted more. Seriously? Dining heaven on a beautiful October night.
I had the bowtie pasta with pesto (SO FREAKIN GOOD), my friend had the lobster ravioli, another the butternut squash ravioli... Now, I know better than to get lobster in San Diego, as it sure wasn't Boston lobster ravioli.. but the butternut? TO DIEEEEEEE for. Another friend got a pizza, which delayed our entrees a little due to the pizza oven being backed up (a private party had ordered a few pizzas, I guess), but we were warned ahead of time, and gladly accepted.
Altho we didn't go inside, you could see the adorable, completely NOT overdone, decor. This is definitely one of the romantic spots in PB, if not the onnnnnlyyy one :)
On top of our great experience, we received a free appetizer of Bruschetta from the kitchen, and a free Tiramisu in honor of my birthday. Yes, Yes, Yes. So good.
My favorite is the Ravioli di Magro!
Mmm...cheesy, buttery, sage perfection!
I went here for a wedding rehearsal dinner on Friday and thought the food was delicious. It's funny, as I used to live in San Diego, and I never noticed this place. Then again, I never came to PB looking for good Italian.
The salad we had was pretty gross, in my opinion, but the bruschetta and the house bread were delicious. For our main course, we had a sampling of chicken (good), a spicy pasta (better), and lasagna (best). I was super full after trying all 3, but I wanted to eat more of the lasagna, and I'm not a pasta guy. For desert, we had tiramisu and an Italian cookie, which were both amazing. Possibly the best tiramisu I've ever had.
Last Saturday was the first (and hopefully last) time I've had a bad experience at this place. I've been bringing friends and family to Caffe Bella for years now because I love the atmosphere, the homemade noodles, and the extensive wine list. Usually my entree is very rich in flavor, and I have to take some home because of how filling it is.
During my most recent visit, I tasted a bland ravioli dish, got bad bread (which my date actually had to spit out into a napkin), and had to ask the busser to take our check because our waiter took forever. Cafe Bella has consistently been a great place in every aspect, and for a long time, so I'm still giving 4 stars.
I'd just like to say that I worked in restaurants for a long time, and if I ever had a customer say they didn't like their dish, the manager would usually comp it, discount it, or simply apologize... especially at a venue like Cafe Bella that normally sets the bar high when it comes to service.
I'll still be back to give it another shot though!
Very nice place in Pacific Beach ... good food, attentive service, romantic atmosphere and I give an extra star because they are environmentally sustainable. Check it out yourself, you won't regret it!
Never would you expect a restaurant like this in Pacific Beach. The atmosphere inside was very calming. The food was delicious and the staff was very nice and accommodating. I had a banquet here with about 30 other individuals, but this place is perfect for dates. You have to get the chicken pesto.
On July 11th my beautiful wife Marie and I got married and we were lucky enough to have our reception at Bella Italia!!
It could not have been any more magical or delicious.
First, I should tell you that Marie and I have been going there for a long time and we have always said how nice it would be to have a reception on the outside patio in the back.
We also have a complete addiction to their Ravioli di Magro which is single handedly one of Chef Stephano's most inspired dishes. I mean come on, fresh ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta and then laid comfortably in a browned butter and sage sauce, this is absolute decadence! Well done Chef, Well done!
When it came time to make the final decision for our reception, we immediately decided on Bella Italia, and let me tell you, the process could not have been easier.
With the help of the owners Roberta, Chef Stephano, Francessca, and the awesomeness that is their catering and in-house wedding manager Maria Shepard, we were treated like royalty. They were informative, selfless, and completely committed to making our experience go the way WE wanted.
Without boring you with the details of how absolutely amazing the Vitello alla Parmigiana was or how succulent each piece of the Calamari appetizer was or how "ON IT" the entire staff was that night, I will tell you this, for all that we paid for this dinner (most expensive dinner of my life) it was worth EVERY PENNY.
I want to YELP my thanks to Maria, Francessca, Roberta, and Chef Stephano for helping to make one of the most important and memorable days/nights of my 37 years on this planet.
SALUDE!!!!!
To celebrate the official end of my two job days, Man and I decided it was about time I hit up Bella Italia. The price point is a little higher than our typical night out, but it's good to splurge every once in a while.
We ordered a bottle of wine, but they were out of it so the waiter suggested a different bottle, allowed me to taste it, and then charged us for the bottle they were out of despite it being a couple of dollars less than the bottle we had. Neither one of us expected that, so it was a pleasant surprise on the bill.
I had this month's special ravioli - butternut squash. It was good, but the Italian sausage detracted from the delicate flavor of the squash. Man had veal parmagian because they have removed the chicken parm from the menu. A special request from him to the owner, if they're reading this: please, do whatever you can to find "green" chicken and bring back the chicken parm.
One of the very nice things about this restaurant is that it's green. It's always nice to see that owners, chefs, etc. care about the earth as much as the regular joe dining at their establishment. In PB, stuff like that is often hard to find.
One negative about our visit was the flies, there seemed to be a lot of them inside, though I know that isn't entirely the fault of the restaurant. The weather of late has had something to do with it, I think. It wasn't a terrible problem or anything, though one did opt for a very pleasant death in my glass of wine. Our waiter quickly brought out a different glass for me, and all was right with the world.
The owners also own Solare in Liberty Station, though Bella Italia came first. See my review of Solare and you'll understand that their first hit was magical and their second left something to be desired. If you're deciding between the two, Bella Italia wins hands down.
Every time I drove down Garnet, I'd see this classy yellow awning providing peace to a restaurant tucked away beneath the "old beach town" character of PB. This restaurant is a hidden gem in PB, and the inside is more beautiful than the outside. I loved the bright colors, and the super cute back patio brightly and warmly decorated. I was in love before I even opened the menu.
I haven't eaten here since last summer, but I noticed the more recent reviews have stated dissatisfaction with the quality of the food so it may have gone down recently. I loved the bread here and I ordered a pesto dish, which I enjoyed. I agree that the portions are a little small, and the prices a little high, but it was all a part of the experience for me. Kind of made my believe that the food was exquisite. Not many complaints about the service here, which I personally thought was excellent. I wanted to make reservations for a large dinner one night and I was disappointed that the whole restaurant had already been reserved for that night, but the owners were both very kind and accommodating. I think I was too distracted by the ambiance of this place to notice any imperfections. Maybe next time I go back I will actually try to taste the food!
I've eaten here twice now, most recently last night. Our friends like it here, they say 'it's good with the kids' which should give you some idea about the place.
It's fine, but it's not great.
Last night (Sunday) was 1/2 price wine night which made me pretty happy! We got a fine bottle of Pinot Noir for about $20.
I ordered the 'meat' lasagna...ahhhh - not so good. It was like baby food, all mushy in my mouth without any real meaty substance. I didn't really have to chew it, it just kinda melted away once I put it in my mouth. blah. My friend had the Carpacchio which looked really good. I should have ordered that.
Each time I've been here the service has always been courteous and prompt. Nothing to complain about there.
Caffe Bella Italia is a fine place to dine when it's half-price-wine-night and you're with the kids. Other than that, eh - I can find better places to eat.
I agreed to go here for my birthday with my family. Of course I checked Yelp reviews first and liked that it was Group/Kid friendly and so many positive reviews about the food. Score for a large group with a couple rugrats and my mother who has an experienced palate.
Unfortunately, the only palate that was struck with disappointment was my own. I had the Risotto alla Genovese, a recommendation by the waiter. I've only tried Risotto made with Arborio, but this dish used Carnaroli and I was excited about the potential difference.
It is said that you first experience food with your eyes, and when my dish came out, I had to blink a couple times. I knew there was pesto involved, but I guess I never expected a green glob with a charred prawn protruding from the top. Presentation was extremely lacking.
As for the taste, I closed my eyes and prayed it would be delicious. I know what "al dente" should feel like, and this dish was undercooked - almost crunchy. Understanding the rice is pre-cooked for the dinner service, I opted not to ask for a "fresh" batch.
I don't want to go on about the other dishes in the party. On a positive note, the restaurant is pleasing to the eye. The patio seating was perfect and our waiter was very pleasant.
I don't think I would ever come back to salvage my rating. Which I'm giving 1 star for the atmosphere, and an additional for the waiter.
This is my favorite Italian food by far!!
The staff is friendly and the food is amazing!!! The pesto pasta is my favorite, and the dessert menu is so good.
This place is legit!!!
I'm a food critic, and Food connosseir, I have been in the Hospitality business for over 30 years and also I'm an Italian born. I went all around San Diego in search of a good Italian Restaurant, I was very dissapointed of the result until I meet the Owners of Caffe Bella Italia, I'm a regular now and ''''Guys I'm in paradise whenever I eat there"' the best italian food since I left Italy, there receipies are authentic, and the taste of the food is divine, I recomended there pastas and pizzas...just superbe. Of course I pair my food with wines, there Wine list is always updated with the best wines availaible on the Market,
Service is great and the crew is always happy to assist you in any of your need. I recomended indeed to make reservations especially in the Summer Time as they are always fully booked.
I heard great things about this restaurant and I was not impressed. The waitstaff was very attentive and the wine we chose was excellent, but thats about it. My date didn't like her raviolis. The veal scallopini dish that I ordered came with a steak knife(!?!). Of the four scallopinis in my dish, on one the cheese was not melted. I looked like they just peeled the plastic off and placed it on top. For the price they're asking, I would never recommend caffe bella. If you like wine, go on tuesday for half bottle night and just get apps. The decor was ok. It looked kind of thrown together at the last minute, if that makes sense.
The espresso was excellent! I gave an extra star for that (1 + 1 = 2)
My husband and I have always considered Bella Italia "our place". So, when he suggested that maybe we do our wedding reception there it seemed the perfect idea!
When I initially called to inquire I talked to Maria Shepard (on the catering end). She was so helpful and had so many ideas for me not even related to the restaurant, that we ended up using. We eventually hired her on a few weeks before the wedding to oversee the coordination of both the ceremony and reception. She is so personable and makes you feel like family. I would HIGHLY recommend her if you're looking for a wedding coordinator.
After many calls, emails and visits and by the time the wedding reception came to fruition we had gotten to know everyone at Bella Italia very well. Maria, Roberta, Stefano, Francesca and the entire staff worked to make our vision a reality.
The food was amazing and kept coming all night! I couldn't stop eating the Calamari appetizer and I am still dreaming about the Polenta e Salsiccia. The sausage just pops in your mouth, perfect saltiness against creaminess. We also served the Viletto alla Parmigiana and the Ravioli de Magro for the main courses. They were just as wonderful as when we order it for just the two or us.
Bella Italia also worked with us to make sure we were able to serve an AWESOME meal to our guests AND stay within our budget.
The best compliment of the night was when one of our guests said to the staff "I've lived in San Diego for over 8 years and didn't know this was here. I'll be back!"
Thank you again to Maria, Stefano, Roberta, Francesca and the Bella Italia family for making our wedding one of the most memorable nights ever!
My boyfriend and decided to come here on one of our first dates based on a drive by that had us immediately intrigued by the beautiful atmosphere and rustic settings. Because I am an Italian girl that grew up making homemade pastas (most famously our carbanara) and desserts, I have certain standards when it comes to "italian" restaurants and am usually unimpressed, unsatisfied, and unpleased. After a romantic dinner that truly felt like we were in Italy, I give this place 5 stars. I ordered the carbanara and it truly tasted like mom used to make. I believe all of the workers are italian which adds that special touch and authentic feel. My boyfriend and I call this "our place" and have been eating there regularly for the past three years.
MANGIARE!
First time I ate here, my wine was hot. Yes, hot. I complained and the manager said she would send me a gift certificate, which I have not received to date (this was approximately three years ago).
Second time around, I ordered ravioli, which was served swimming in 2 cups of olive oil, as if it were supposed to be a soup dish. I promise I wasn't angry/biased about my first experience. I'm over it, I won't go back.
Beautiful decor, good service, great music, good ravioli. Rich pasta, Excellent Calamari, the best I have ever had. Their spaghetti carbonara was a bit too eggy for me but the pasta was really nice.
We ate here our first night in town. It was so delicious we went back for our last night in town too. Both nights, for a total of 15 entrees and 6 appetizers and everything was amazing, absolutely delicious. We loved our efficient, soft spoken waiter Kai on the first night. We'd give Caffe Bella Italia 5 stars, but we had a few communication issues with the staff on the second night. Nonetheless, dine there. It's delectable.
Abmiance was lovely although the seats are horribly uncomfortable. I'm not even tall and my knees were hitting the bottom of the table. The unfastened seat cushions had me sliding all over the place in the beginning. The waiters were authentically Italian and just like in Italy, they are very attentive to refilling your wine glasses if you purchased a bottle (half off on Tues and Sun) but they don't overly harass you. You also have to ask for the bill and they don't slap in down in front of you prematurely. We told the waiter it was our one year anniversary and he gave us a free dessert, a tiramisu, that was very good. It was not too heavy and not too sweet.
I ordered the Ravioli of the day which was Butternut Squash. I wasn't impressed with it at all. The sauce was only a simple oily mixture of EVOO, pepper, and some other very simple spice. I wanted to add more flavor to it but couldn't figure out how. Portions are very small which is okay by me since I'm on a diet and Italian food is a big no-no anyway. My boyfriend got the Chicken Marsala and loooooved it. You gotta love mushrooms though to enjoy this dish. A small meal, again, so if you have a bigger appetite, you may want to order an appetizer first.
We had a Primivera salad which I did not like. I was suggested by the waiter as the best one on the menu. It was made of bitter arugula lettuce and had sour grapefruit and a sour tasting dressing on it. All other ingredients were so sparse I could hardly taste anything else.
I would go again and try a red sauce pasta dish. It's a little pricer than most places in PB but it's a nice change up if you want decent Italian and not leave the beach.
I was going to give 3.5 stars, but then I remembered that CBI is a certified GREEN restaurant by the Green Restaurant Assoc (http://dinegreen.com), so 4 stars it is! I really do admire the effort they are making, and given the quality of food, they seem to absorb the extra costs of being green well and don't pass much onto customers.
The ambiance of the restaurant (at night at least) is great. It's a bit Middle Eastern in influence, which is a bit odd for an Italian joint, but I dug it. CBI would be great for a date. They have a cute patio with lights everywhere, and the inside is just as nice. Watch out for the seat cushions though, they are definitely NOT attached to the chair, and if you are clumsy like me, this can present a problem.
The service was good, attentive but not intrusive. The menu has a wide variety of options, including something like 32 different types of pizza to choose from. I don't like reading, so I just went with the first pasta dish on the list...kidding. Well, half kidding. I had the fetteccine fradiavolo, which was basically pasta with a slightly spicy tomato/ garlic sauce with shrimp. The shrimp was fresh and plentiful and there was even a HUGE prawn (or maybe a baby lobster?) in addition to the regular shrimp in the pasta. It was yummy. Other people got pizza and gnocchi, which were good, however my friend did not enjoy his lasagna.
Overall it's a solid little Italian place, which deserves your patronage for trying to be a part of the solution.
Great Italian food, easily one of my favorites in the city. I have been here several times and have ordered many things on the robust menu because I was sure that each item would be good, and wouldn't you know it...I was right. I recently had the Gnocci in a Gorgonzola cream sauce and it was just right, the Gnocci were plump and delectable as the Gorgonzola was not overwhelming and added a perfect little warmth of flavor. Yeah, I said warmth of flavor...when you think of warm you know it is in between hot and mild...just like the flavor of the Gnocci!
The setting is very nice as well, never too loud and they always have some lounge music playing in the background, maybe some Zero 7 or Theivery Corporation, I dig it. The lighting is soft, a lot of dull yellows and some orange color with a zen like feel and decor to it. We eat outside when it is warm enough because it provides an open aura and you still cannot hear the busy traffic only 50 feet nearby on nasty Garnet.
The food and setting really make me happy, you know what tops it off? The bread, it is excellent! You know what makes this place even more legit??? The servers are Italian! Yes, I am serious, all but one time I have had an Italian server and they are always fun to listen to! I just smile and nod and usually don't have a clue what they say but I reply with "mmm, that sounds good...." But you know what, it is usually pork and I am Jewish so I should stop doing that.
This place is over rated.
Is hard enough for me to give this a 2 star but let me explain... The food here is by far dull, oh did I mention also tasteless? The portions are tiny and the prices are up the roof. The average dish here is between $18 and $23. Dont get me wrong I dont mind paying $23 for a nice tasty meal or even $50 but for cry out loud serve me some good food.
We ordered fettucini a Bologne and I swear it tasted just like can food straight out of the microwave. Actually I take that back, the can food actually had more flavor. We also order their special of the day which was gnocci with pancetta... and thank god for the pancetta cuz that is the only thing that saved the dish. Do they even believe in seasoning their food?? And to cap it off we got a basket of bread at the beginning and I swear it taste like those cheap bread you fight at Vons. (at least the dipping was half descent). Now to the wine we ordered a glass of wine white (cant remember the name) it was very very good except it had a small fly in it. Are you kidding me?? Sure they gave us another one but still are you freaking kidding me??????????
Now as far as the service it was good and that is the only reason I am giving it a 2. The waiters were very graceful and friendly but that is about it.
I will totally recommend this place ... NOOOOOOOOT if you are in the area you might as well walk 30 yards and go to Marino around the block now that is some fine italian food.
Lovely place for a date. Dim and cozy without being dark and crowded. I had the homemade ravioli of the day and it was divine. We were seated quickly, and all of the staff was courteous and warm.
The coffee was good and strong, and although the service wasn't 100% perfect (wrong drinks brought, we had to wait a long time for our check), I'd definitely visit again.
The food was OK - I liked everything I had but didn't think it was anything special. My husband had the homemade raviolis and I had the eggplant. Both were pretty tasty, but nothing I would rave about.
I might go back, but just because the atmosphere is very nice and I like the outdoor patio. If I did try it again, I would try the pizza...
Arrived shortly after opening the day after Valentines. Seat cushions slip so warn the other diners in your group. We dined inside and thought the decor was very cozy. It took a while for our waiter to arrive for our drink order. When he arrived, he brought waters which was a nice touch. Sunday is 1/2 price wine night. We took advantage of a Sicilian wine that was excellent. Wine list is primarily Italian and pricepoints were good.
My wife had the Primavera salad. Arugula, Oranges, Almonds and Gorgonzola. Very good. I had the vegetable appetizer, Verdure alla Griglia. The vegetables were perfectly cooked with a very light olive oil sprinkle. Again, excellent.
Fettuccine alla Bolognese for my wife. The Fettuccine was perfectly cooked and it had very good flavors. I had the Ravioli special which had porcini mushrooms and an excellent earthy flavor.
Considering the waiter told us they did well over 250 people the night before, no one had taken a day of rest or put on the second team in the kitchen. The service was polite and we were not rushed in the least. The food quality, ingredients and taste is equal to many La Jolla restaurants. The price was higher than your average PB fare but appropriate given the excellent execution.
You know what they say about seeing asian people eating in asian restaurants? It must be good and authentic. The same goes for Italian. All of my Italian friends love Bella Italia.....specifically their pizza.
The ambience at Bella Italia is very warm and comforting. The service has always been good. They have $8.50 lunch specials Mon-Sat. and 50% off wine bottles Sun and Tues.
Things I love on the menu. All the pizzas--you can't miss with these. Farfalle al Pesto, Pappardelle al gorgonzola e Noci, Carbonara, Rissoto al Genovese, Cotoletta alla Milanese.....who am I kidding. I've never had anything bad here.
The desserts are fantastic but my favorite are their profiterols!
This is a great place for any special occasion or first date!
I gotta say, I'm left scratching my head about the recent negative reviews on this joint. I grew up on the East Coast, in North Jersey where people take their Italian food seriously. I had lived in San Diego for years and accepted the fact that I probably wasn't going to find Italian food that was gonna get the job done. Then I stumbled across Bella Italia while walking down Garnet one day. I wasn't expecting much since I've never heard the place hyped anywhere and I've lived in PB for years. My first meal there - a thin and crispy pizza with tangy tomato sauce, creamy islands of melted mascarpone cheese and salty, meaty Parma proscuitto - won me over. I heart the Buongustaio pizza; I heart 1/2 wine on Sundays and Tuesdays; and, I heart Bella Italia.
Before you go out with your college friends and new man for a night of some serious karaoke, you have to make sure your stomach is full. Especially if the karaoke bar has cheap stiff double Vanilla Rum & Cokes.
We gathered here before our night of liquor and lyrics.
Pretty romantic place but thankfully they sat our loud asses outside on the patio. Romance is for punks anyway. (I kid by the way, I love romance!)
Nothing says romance like some Corona with your Italian dinner. NO liquor, only beer and wine. Sure, I could have had a glass of wine but I'm not that classy of a gal. Thankfully my man and my friends are Corona kind of peeps too.
I had the Farfalle al Pesto Genovese because I was craving something pesto-y and this sounded delicious. Cheese, pinenuts, potatoes, and green beans. Turns out pasta and beer go great together!
And a great jump start to a fun night of karaoke. =)
You would never know you were still in PB once you enter this place. Even though we sat on the patio outside and it was raining, we didn't get a drop of water on us, nor did we ever feel cold or even hear the traffic on Garnet!
Service was good, and the food was great. It was recommended by a friend's Italian friend from La Strada so I took his word for it and wasn't disappointed. We had a plate of calamari, the carpaccio, Risotto alla milanese (ie. with sausage), the pollo al marsala, and a pizza, all of which came out perfectly. We ate our food with a few bottles of the Chianti wine which was a wonderful pairing for what we had ordered. All in all it was good food and a great place to "get away from the usually PB scene".
If you try this place, then definitely get a seat on the back patio. It has a really nice feeling and like someone else said, you pretty much forget you're in PB (which can sometimes be a good thing).
1/2 price bottles of wine on Monday nights...always a nice bonus.
I ordered the pollo marsala, my date ordered the filet and asked for a gorgonzola cream sauce to go with it. The entrees both came with some perfectly cooked veggies, thinly sliced/slightly crunchy potatoes, and his had creamy polenta.
I rarely ever finish my plate because I'm pretty small, but I ate every last bite. He ate his whole entree as well although his steak was a bit more rare than he expected it to be. So in the end- both dishes were great, the service was really good, ambiance was nice, and dinner wasn't too pricey (because the wine was like $20 off). I highly recommend this place and will definitely be going back.
I LOVE Caffe Bella Italia. The food is awesome and the ambiance is very calm and relaxing...romantic if you are on a date. The servers have all been very nice. I highly recommend the caprese salad...the gnocchi...and all the desserts! hehe...the food is a bit pricey but you get your money's worth. I highly recommend this restaurant...it makes you forget you are in PB and transports you to a little Venician restaurant. Hidden gem in PB =)
The service was good and our various waiters / waitresses were very attentive, and the ambiance inside was beautiful, but overall I was not a fan of this place and won't go back. I ordered a dish with mussels and shrimp tossed over pasta and I'm not sure they really got anything right; my pasta was overcooked and the mussels were puny and rubbery. The shrimp were pretty good, but for $21, I will definitely go elsewhere for a good dish next time. See my review of Sambuca in Hillcrest for an example of great Italian food.
This eatery is a true diamond in rough. Somewhere in between the smoke shops and liquor stores of PB , there is Caffe Bella Italia. It is a lovely and romantic Italian restaurant located on Garnet.
There is a cozy outside patio that has sparkling lights where diners can sit and eat an authentic Italian meal. The interior is equally charming and the food is delicious. I haven't had a Pizza Margarita as good as the one I tasted at Caffe Bella Italia since I was in New York and it went great with a glass of Chianti. I sampled a some of the seafood pizza and the balsamic chicken dinner and I can say it was all very delectable. This is one of the best restaurants in PB.
I had the risotto ai porcini. I don't know if they didn't clean the mushrooms enough or if they did not cook the rice enough, but there was grit in every bite. The taste was not bad though, just the gritty texture.
I had a good appetizer, scallop wrapped in bacon with saffron sauce. The free bread was good with the oil and vinegar dipping. And of course my red moretti was fine.
The service was just ok. The waitress seemed a bit rushed and my friend was not even given time to pick a glass of wine or asked what she would like to drink. The waitress had to bring back the wine menu that she had rushed off with.
The atmosphere is nice and romantic though. I think if I would've had something other than that gritty risotto, the evening would've been much better. I would give them another chance, but probably for lunch because they are a bit pricey.
One of my fav Italian restaurants. Everything is good. They have a 1/2 price bottle of wine night. (wednesday i think). The pasta dishes are excelent. The eggplant must be excelent (wife keeps ordering it)
The staff are friendly, and mostly fluent in english, much better than my italian that is for sure.
My mom grew up in Federal Hill in Rhode Island so when she came out here to visit she insisted on seeing what San Diego had to offer in terms of Italian food. I turned to my italian coworker for advice since I figured he'd be more knowledgable on this subject and after a long winded speech on the differences in regional Italian cuisine and how he'd never had spaghetti and meatballs until he came to America, he finally recommended this place.
The interior was very warm and inviting and while the service was a bit slow at times, I felt like the food more than made up for it. Ma Dukes also approved saying "a good measure of an italian restaurant is by their bruschetta." Whatever that means, but my ravioli was good. Two thumbs up from this guy
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