Bella Vista
288 Hanover St, Boston, MA, 02113
Bella Vista Menu
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Appetizers
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Soup
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Pasta
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From The Grill
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Chicken
Diabetics at Taco Bell
The biggest concern for diabetics is to find healthy food with less sugar at restaurants. The hunt for the right food becomes even more challenging for diabetics when dining at a fast food restaurant. Well, Taco Bell changes that with Fresco style. Simply ask or order an item from the Taco Bell menu in Fresco Style.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Taco Bell:
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Fresco Steak Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 4g Fat (1.5g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 17g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 10g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco – Shredded Chicken
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco Beef
Nutrition Fact: 160 calories, 6g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 480mg sodium, 18g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Bean Burrito
Nutrition Fact: 380 calories, 11g Fat (4g Sat. Fat), 1060mg sodium, 55g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 9g Fiber, 14g Protein
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for Diabetics:
You must avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes at Taco Bell if you have diabetes. Almost every beverage offered at Taco Bell contains high sugar content.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Healthy Meal suggestions for Bella Vista
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Appetizers
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Soup
-
Pasta
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From The Grill
-
Chicken
High Blood Pressure at Taco Bell
People with high blood pressure must avoid food with high sodium levels. You can either ask the people at Taco Bell to add less salt in your food or choose the food items with less sodium content or customize your order using Taco Bell's own nutrition calculator.
Food Suggestions to Control Blood Pressure at Taco Bell:
Fresco Chicken Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Grilled Breakfast Burrito - Sausage
Nutrition Fact: 340 calories, 17g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 730mg sodium, 36g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 11g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Blood Pressure:
Taco Bell offers a wide range of Grande Scrambler Burritos, Crunch wraps, and Quesadillas which are high in sodium. It is important to limit the sodium intake at Taco Bell and avoid any meal with over 750-800mg sodium.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a haven for Mexican delicacies such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and other specialty items. Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. Taco Bell is one of the fastest growing American chains of fast food restaurants. The restaurant operates from 7,072 different locations which are mostly run by independent franchisees and licensees.
The background story of Taco Bell is interesting and inspiring for budding entrepreneurs. The fast-food brand is the brainchild of Glen Bell, who started his first food venture as a hot dog seller in San Bernardino, California. The year was 1948. After witnessing long queues outside a Mexican restaurant called Mitla Café across the street, Bell saw the opportunity and demand for hard-shelled Tacos. He reverse-engineered the recipe and later started selling Tacos and called the venture Taco-Tia.
Later, the name changed from Taco-Tia to El Taco. Eventually, Glen Bell sold the company to his partner and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey in 1962. By 1964, the restaurant also got its first franchise in Torrance. The 100th Taco Bell restaurant was opened by 1965. PepsiCo acquired Taco Bell from Glen Bell in 1978 and the restaurant brand is currently a subsidiary of Yum! Brands which looks after the restaurant business of PepsiCo.
Healthy Food Options at Taco Bell
You may believe that a healthy lifestyle doesn't go well at a fast food restaurant. Well, that's not the case with Taco Bell. Surprisingly Taco Bell offers a variety of healthy options, thanks to the in-house registered dietician who monitors the whole menu. The dietician ensures that each item on the menu is free from additives and preservatives, colors, and artificial flavors. The dietician also ensures that the food served at Taco Bell doesn't contain high-fructose corn syrup, low sodium levels, and reduced use of partially hydrogenated oil.
More than 75% of food items served at Taco Bell falls under 500 calories. Taco Bell also features the Fresco Style option which helps the customers to maintain healthy diet plan without missing out on taste. In Fresco style option, Taco Bell switches pico de gallo with cheese, sour cream, guac, and mayo-based sauce. Taco Bell takes care of almost every health preference of its customers.
Tips for Dining at Taco Bell
Diabetics can also try other Fresco styled Taco items such as Fresco Crunchy Taco, Fresco Grilled Steak, and Fresco Soft Taco Beef. These are other healthy alternatives of Tacos for diabetics which contains an adequate amount of starch and minimum or no fat content. Switch the regular sauce or cheese with pico de gallo and you can easily reduce the sodium intake and fat content for your body. It will help maintain blood pressure levels and control high cholesterol.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
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Address :
288 Hanover St
Boston, MA, 02113 - Phone (617) 367-4999
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Roni E.
I don't venture out to the North End often, but boy am I glad I did last week! That's because I ended up at Bella Vista for dinner which was completely spur of the moment 'cause we were standing outside. Personally, I felt the staff here were actually rather friendly, unlike what a lot of other reviews are saying. The food was excellent. I had the chicken carrozza which was not only delicious, but was also affordable and plentiful that I had enough for lunch the next day. It was even better the next day with all the sauces soaked in!
(4)Tennessee V.
Wow. It is not even busy but we have been waiting for 20 minutes now for someone to take our order. The rest are being taken care of but us. I had to wave twice to get someone's attention. We have been waiting too long, the husband went next door to buy chips from the liquor store, we are this hungry. If we plan on coming back? Absolutely not.
(1)Michael Z.
Unfortunate ending to a great day in Boston. So I am baffled at an experience that my wife and I just had at Bella Vista. We stopped in at 10:00 to order a plate of pasta and a couple of potential drinks and desserts. We had a long fantastic day visiting (first time to Boston) and had eaten dinner earlier at Parish Cafe Boston(fantastic food and service!). We stopped in to Bella Vista after our journey to the North End because we were hungry for a late bite. Bella Vista was very dark when we walked in. We ordered a plate of pasta to split and have a couple glasses of wine. However everything was cut short. Before the last word of our order came out of my wife's mouth, our server quickly grabbed the menu's out of of our hands and said that us being there was a waste of her time (she used the F word) and that we had to order an entree each - and then abruptly left. Needless to say we have never been treated this way before in a restaurant, and were left there at the table baffled and embarrassed as if we had done something wrong. My wife had the manners to go up to her and explain that we would order two entrees and take one home, but the server was extremely rude and told us to go to a competitor's establishment (which will go unnamed) which would "serve us late." The server was an older woman with short black hair and an Italian accent. I'm appalled and extremely offended at how we were treated in terms of a customer-restaurant experience. It should be noted that this establishment condoned this conduct and its your choice to support it or not.
(1)Michael C.
Molto bene! Terrific Italian, family restaurant. Very cozy and romantic decor. Food was very good!
(4)Deb S.
Bella Vista is a small restaurant on Hanover St in Boston's North End. It's our go to place for a nice meal in the North End. This time we ordered Chicken Cacciatore and veal parm. the meal came with fresh warm rolls as well. Great service and food
(4)Brittney D.
As an aspiring chef myself, there is one thing I can't stand more than a plate covered in oil. The first thing I do is eat with my eyes, so a plate covered in oil is not very appetizing. But the ambiance is cozy family feel. The food was over salted. But the waiters were very nice.
(2)Dave M.
prices were a little cheaper than the others in the area ($15-18) and portions were big. everything tasted good except the lasagna, which tasted spoiled. the steak was pretty plain looking. service was rude as if we interrupted their hanging out time. this was the only real downside for me. they don't have training at all.
(3)Beth K.
I've eaten at other places on Hanover Street which were good, and my friend and I picked this place pretty much at random. We were the only people there on a snowy Thursday evening--it was early, but there were no other patrons even when we left at 6:30. Huge portions (tortellini alfredo was so good--creamy and cheesy and tangy--and I wish I could have finished it). Service was fine--no problems with rudeness as other people have mentioned. One table near us was set up as an office, with stacks of paperwork, etc., and it's where the owner sat down to eat her own dinner. That whole corner was a bit disheveled and not very decorative to look at--a simple fix would be to get a folding screen to close it off from view! Other than that the place was festively Italian and the food was awesome. You can't go wrong here.
(4)Jin C.
I'm surprised by the overwhelmingly negative reviews on this place. Perhaps I place a little less emphasis on service; or I simply didn't feel like I was treated badly enough to warrant knocking off a couple of stars. The prices at Bella Vista were very affordable, and especially so considering that it is in the heart of a touristy neighborhood. The bread that was served to us might have been regular white dinner rolls, but having them served hot really made a world of a difference. My lasagna was top-notch. The sauce was tomatoey and sort of soupy - which I actually prefer to thick gloopy pasta sauce. The mozarella and beef in the lasagna really went well together. My boyfriend's veal saltimbocca was delicious too. They served a half-portion of pasta alongside it too, which was a nice touch since that wasn't indicated on the menu. The sauce was very complex and very tasty. This place was a nice find that shouldn't disappoint.
(5)Eileen M.
Highly recommend the lobster fra diavolo - it comes in the shell, so if you're not up to it get the shrimp & scallops fra diavolo which is every bit as good! Don't expect anything fancy or a wine list. If you order Chianti - you'll get the house Chianti. It's a cozy family run restaurant. I've read the reviews complaining about the service and/or owner - it's the same service you would expect to receive in most restaurants in Italy. You're not at The Bristol Lounge, so just get over it!
(4)Cheng Bin Z.
Gosh being in this restaurant was like hugging a cactus. The server was some soprano reject that SNEERED at my Italian pronunciation! I mean, how did you graduate waiting school? Why doesn't yelp allow negative stars?? The place was also super tiny..... I was so close to the guy next to me, I could've easily caught an STD from him.... either him or the asshole waiter. Gosh,,, I would much rather have AIDS than eat at this restaurant again.
(1)Liana K.
Friday lunch around 1pm, 5 people walk into an empty place, and first thing asked is do we have a reservation. We stare at the empty place and say no. Waiter leaves us hanging there, makes a face and finally sits us at one of the 10 empty tables. He continues to be just full of "personality" for the whole time we're there. I am however giving it four stars because while most of the menu was nothing new and exciting, their pasta looked handcrafted and the eggplant pram that I got was amazing with minimum breading unlike other places. Yums.
(4)Victoria R.
Okay food. Horrible service. Never asked how the meal was had to beg for the check and then force them to take our credit card. Not worth it
(1)Olivia R.
Excellent value for lunch. Got an enormous and delicious eggplant parmesan for $7 and a perfectly al dente pasta e fagioli soup bowl for $6. Quaint restaurant with a friendly manager and nice rustic Italian vibe.
(4)Aaron K.
Grab Lunch Here! On a first trip to Boston, I had no idea where to go or lunch and I'm so glad we came here. The Lunch Menu is delicious, low priced and the portions are enormous. I ate the Fried Calamari Lunch for $7.99 and it was some of the best I've had, and it had to be 5 lbs. Thank you Bella Vista, you won't leave here hungry "Eat to beat the Heat."
(5)Leimalani F.
Affordable North End Italian food? Did I fall into the rabbit hole? Stumbled upon this cute family run eatery b/c we were too hungry to walk any further and boy did it turn out to be a good choice. Their marinara sauce is DELISH!!! Everyone who ordered a pasta served with marinara in our party raved about the taste and the portions. House salad. Big enough to share. Eggplant Parmesan. Do you like cheese and sauce? Our companion (Italian from Brooklyn no less) raved about this dish. And the portion was so large she almost got sick walking back home :) Mushroom and Broccoli pasta in more red sauce. Tiny woman ate whole plate of pasta. Similarly, she couldn't breathe for lack of internal space. Lobster fra diavalo. $17.95! Tuck your napkin in your shirt and prepare for a messy love affair. A whole lobster smothered in more of that delicious marinara. The sauce was perfectly spiced (more herby than spicy, which was great!) Pic posted. I would definitely eat here again. Everyone in our group gave it the two thumbs up. Cute romantic interior (see photo of interior murals I posted). Service was prompt and not over the top (they're bringing you food people, not kissing your beep). Food was hot. Bread was crispy. Eat here. Get something with marinara. Don't wear white.
(5)Tammy D.
The food was great! The service was fast but kind of unwelcoming. If they had someone to welcome customers they would have so much more business. We watched at least 12-15 people look in and receive no help so they didn't know what to do and left.
(3)Jimmy S.
Favorite Italian place in the North End. A must stop. But don't stop by when I plan to go there because the place is pretty small. So stay away.
(5)Jessica F.
In an area chock full of Italian joints this places makes decent plate of spaghetti and the prices are decent comparitively. Don't expect stellar service unfortunately. They were not chatty and did not feel any need for a whole lot of follow up. If you are looking for a good price and a quick seat (and massive dinner "rolls") I would recommend it.
(2)Aaron K.
This was a very standard italian restaurant. The prices were relatively low, and the decor and music were very traditional and on par with many other destinations in the north end. The service was decent, but did not go above and beyond, and the food left me feeling full. Don't expect it to revolutionize the way you think about fine italian dining, but for the price, you will be satisfied that you had a good meal.
(3)Hiro T.
The Linguini with Seafood and the Ravioli are delicious! The sauces made of the restaurant are absolutely amazing. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and the service is average. A plus about the service is that you don't feel rushed at all. The price is also a little cheaper than other places in the area, but the food is still good.
(4)Christina C.
I really wish I could put ZERO stars for my experience at Bella Vista. Tonight was my first time dining in the North End. I was with my friend Hannah and her younger brother. Given that it's a Saturday night, there were lines going out of every restaurant...except this one. We waited inside for 5-10 mins and no host to seat us, so we assumed that it was a seat-your-self type deal. There were 2 empty tables and no lines, so after 5-10 mins, we sat down. The owner of the restaurant came over, fuming mad, yelled at us, said "This is no McDonalds! You can't just come over here and SIT down. Don't you know this is a RESERVATIONS ONLY RESATURANT?!" We were shocked and apologized profusely and got up with our jackets, prepared to leave. She took one look at me after I apologized to her again and again, and said in a VERY NASTY tone, "It's not like I go to any restaurant in Chinatown and sit down wherever I like" (I am Asian-American) I was shocked at their unprofessionalism and will never dine here again.
(1)Foom T.
This is truly a great place amidst some of the best Italian restaurants in the North East. But... don't expect to be catered on like at a 5 star. The true charm of this place is that it is rustic in the tradition of backwater places you might find in Florence or Naples. The staff/service is nothing special, but the food is great homey Italian, and you can get house wine in a little pot (1/2 carafe) like in the old world. My wife had Chicken Verdicchio, which was very good. I had Veal Saltimbocca, which was amazing. In the rustic tradition, all meals come with vegetable, roasted potatoes, and pasta. If you are looking to be pampered, this place is not for you, and you will probably give it 2 stars. If you are looking for a nice relaxing Italian experience, this is the way to go!
(4)Natalie G.
The food was delicious but the attitude from the waiter was so bad it actually made it uncomfortable being there. When asked if we could split our bill, we got told that it was against their policy and we would have to figure it out ourselves when a simple no would have sufficed.Fortunately there was only two of us so it wasn't a big deal but the response was irritating. When our food came I pushed my napkin aside to make way for the plate to which he shoved my napkin at me and said "Don't you use hese where you're from?" We were treated so poorly that we couldn't even enjoy our meal.
(1)Mike B.
Excellent italian restaurant nestled in Bostons North End, The food was excellent i got the shrimp and scallop fra diavolo in a spicy tomatoe sauce, great service and excellent pricing, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
(5)Sara C.
Yes, the staff and owner is standoffish but not to the point of being rude or ruining a meal. The meals I've had here have been outstanding. I got the Chicken Saltimbocca twice. Each time the chicken was tender and tasty. It is served with sides my favorite being the roasted potatoes - thick cut and slowly roasted until tender but not mushy. The place itself is adorable. It is small and I don't recommend bringing small children here unless it's for lunch.
(5)Sophia A.
Relatively cheap. Delicious. Not crowded and the food came out right away. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for some quick homestyle Italian in the north end.
(4)Jennifer L.
Solidly middle-of-the-road Italian-American fare. A bit disappointing for a North End place, but relatively inexpensive with a very cute atmosphere. I went here on a Sunday night around 6:30 with several people. There were three other groups there. Service was fine. We started with the calamari, which were very good, and the accompanying marinara sauce was very tasty. Between the four of us, we had chicken parmesan, chicken piccata, and spaghetti puttanesca. The tomato sauce used on the pasta dishes was the same as the calamari, and again, very tomatoey and good. Not very complex, though. The one who got the chicken parm cleaned her plate. I got the puttanesca, which was a bit overpowering with the acidity of it. I was disappointed that the olives seemed to be those sliced black olives from a can. Everyone loved the chicken and potatoes, though the broccoli was overdone. In summary, the meal was fine, nothing to write home about though. If I had out-of-town visitors who didn't insist on going there, I would have taken them somewhere else.
(3)Laura M.
This place is delicious. Yes, the food may not be as fancy as some of the restaurants on Hanover but it is fantastic and when I go to the North End, what I want is simplicity and delicious food! If I want fancy I go to L'Espalier or No 9 Park, not the North End. Let's be serious, I want big portions and delicious food and the little family run Italian restaurants. You are in the wrong place if you are looking for fancy schmancy places. (sorry for the rant) As for the hostess, she was pretty nice both times I have come in to eat in this place and even allowed us to move tables when we were unhappy about our first seating location. The wine list is pretty good and the prices are phenomenal! My boyfriend has gotten the veal both times and I don't usually eat veal but I tried it and it was really good! I usually get a pasta dish and all have been very good. I will definitely be back! I recommend this place to a ton of people looking for a place to eat in the North End.
(4)Tracy W.
I basically agree with everyone else - good food, hit-or-miss service. Don't waste your calories on the table-side bread. I ordered the chicken piccata, which was served with broccoli, potatoes, and a side of ziti with marinara sauce. The chicken wasn't as tender as it could be but it certainly wasn't dry or anything like that, but the piccata sauce was to die for! It was so good that I was dunking my broccoli and potato slices in it just to get every last bit. The marinara on the ziti was fabulous. The ziti itself tasted like it was from dry but was still nicely al dente. I'd considered getting the tortellini with bolognese sauce instead. Given my take on what I did have, if the bolognese sauce is as good as the marinara and if the tortellini is actually fresh, then I think that would be the way to go for next time. The service was very hit or miss. The guy who seated me seemed to sneer when I said I wanted a table for 1 (but maybe that's just how he is). It was hard to get attentive service at first (had to wait on a menu?) but then a waitress took over instead and I had no complaints with her at all. The prices are very reasonable for the North End.
(4)Clo B.
Small Italian restaurant with OK menu options. I wasn't impressed with the bread at all. How can an Italian restaurant mess this up? - Portions sizes are huge - Pasta sauce is less than mediocre - Wait staff/owners are kinda standoffish, prickly My biggest complaint: The atmosphere was fine but if you take a look around you'll notice a whole table that is used as an "office", piled with papers, books, and random crap. If I wanted to see this I would have stayed home for dinner. Really, they should clean it up--it looks unprofessional, sloppy & takes away from the ambience of the quaint, Italian feel.
(3)Anthony G.
This cozy gem is one of my favorite places to eat in the North End. Not only are the prices reasonable but the food is delish! On most nights you should be able to get in without a reservation too!
(4)Kurt R.
Affordable and decent, but not great. Go here if you are hungry and all of the other restaurants have a huge wait. Veal Marsala- veal tasted great but the "chipped" ham that is included in the meal seemed very low quality. Like most places the side of pasta w/sauce was watery. Rolls-were just sub rolls toasted and cut in half. We were not offered olive oil or balsamic vinegar to go w/our bread.
(2)Bruno A.
I go out to have good food. As in, better than I could cook myself or at least really good. I don't like fancy restaurants where waiters are always nagging you but I also like to feel welcomed. Food was ok, nothing to rave about. Average at the best But, I never felt at this restaurant welcomed. In fact, it's as if I was doing them a favor to eat there. We didn't get the bald scary guy apparently (sat day off?) but we got the owner's daughter I believe. Very rude and non elegant. I will never go back there again and next time there's a huge line at Giaccomo's or other better places I will just go home...
(1)Toni D.
I was pretty disappointed with this place. It wasn't the worst place I've been to but I was expecting GREAT for the north end. My dad and I walked up and down Hanover looking for a place to try. We stopped in here because it was pretty crowded. We also asked a couple coming out how their dinner was. They both said "Great!". So, I was willing to give it a try. I ordered Spaghetti bolognese, which was just OK. The serving size was fairly small for an Italian restaurant. My dad ordered chicken cacciatore. He didn't like his dinner at all. He said the chicken wasn't fresh. That maybe they used a frozen piece of chicken. My dad is very picky about his food but has good taste buds. Overall, this place was just OK. The waiter wasn't very friendly. The prices are pretty reasonable. I probably won't be back anytime soon.
(3)Erica B.
A seriously good italian restaurant - good food, great portions, excellent wine, quiet family atmosphere. It seemed like a family-run place, so the servers weren't pros, they were cousins/nieces/nephews of the owners. I didn't find them rude, just young and used to running the show in their family's joint. The bread was hot from the oven, and we passed our plates around to share bite of ravioli, tortellini, and chicken saltambucca, which were all really delicious, and raised our glasses to toast our luck in stumbling across such a hidden gem. A word of warning: Bella Vista only takes cash and American Express.
(4)Jessica G.
This restaurant appears too cute for words - which is why we decided to have out lunch here. It was all done up beautifully for Christmas and it oozed charm. Now, we are no strangers to the Italian way of doing things, we're from Philadelphia (lived 2 blocks from the Italian Market) and my boyfriend's family is pretty much off the boat from Abruzzo. That being said, we expected the familial "this is the way I cook it, if you don't like it, tough" mentality, and we expected the semi-rude family staff. That's all a part of the authentic charm. Once we were seated, the busboys were very quick to fill our water glasses and bring us hot rolls. However, the waiter was not quick to take our order. We sat there with menus on our laps for a good 20 minutes (the restaurant has maybe 15 tables - and less than half were filled) before our order was taken. We placed our order. We order from the lunch menu - we don't expect gourmet, we expect mama's Italian cooking. Good homemade Italian food is not fancy, it is made few ingredients, of high quality. That's what we were expecting. What we got was not so good. My boyfriend ordered the calamari marinara - calamari was chewier than bubblegum and the sauce was bright red and flavorless. I had the fusilli with broccoli and sausage. It was literally a bowl of fusilli (very nicely al dente, I will say) with broccoli spears and slivers of sausage in butter. I expected some sort of light cream sauce - which normally compliments sausage quite well. Since my dish was on in butter, I decided to add some salt and parm to make it edible. Big mistake. The salt shaker was cracked, and when I went to sprinkle some salt on my dish, about half of the contents of the shaker flowed out. I am not a complainer, so I did not want to send my food back to the kitchen. I ate around the Dead Sea of butter created by their faulty salt shaker and still was displeased. The sausage was greasy and flavorless. I am from Philadelphia. I know Italian sausage - this was garbage and cheap, but I'll come back to that. After we were finished our meals, I did as I do in every restaurant. I put my silverware on my plate and put my napkin on top - to make things easier for the busboy when we clears the plates. The Tony Soprano of a waiter had the audacity to come over, take my napkin off of my plate, shake it out, make a big to-do folding it up, and placed it back on the table next to me, whispering in my ear "napkin always goes on the right, honey," so as not to embarrass me I'm sure. He seriously paid more attention to my napkin and his displeasure with what I did with it than he did to my dining satisfaction. This infuriated me. What the hell difference does it make? Don't you bleach all of your napkins, anyway? Was this a no-no in Italian culture? I asked my Abruzzi boyfriend - nope, guy was just a dick. Now back to how I know the sausage was cheap - I have a SLIGHT sulphite allergy - I get migraines from red wine, ect. Half an hour after eating just a few pieces of their bland, greasy sausage my forehead and chin starts itching. My boyfriend pushed my bangs aside and found hives on my forehead. When I get back to the hotel, I find hives COVERING my chest. Sulphites are used as preservatives in sausage. I wouldn't feed preservative filled meats to my cat. YUK. Questo non è fresco. Questo non è buono. Questo è vergognoso.
(1)Jason K.
The lasagna was soggy, the minestrone was bland, and the waitress was extremely impatient. Of all the great Italian places I could have eaten at while I was on the Beast Coast, I choose this one. Way to go Jason.
(2)Kim R.
This restaurant isn't the greatest in the North End. As an Italian this is very disappointing, but it is Hanover street where all the yuppies eat. The food is so-so nothing worth a wait or the money, but the service was horrible! At first our waiter seemed ok, but was a little slower than I like. Maybe he saw two younger girls and thought I'm not getting a tip who knows. The worst part was at the end my friend and I only had credit cards, and needed separate checks. Most restaurants can easily separate a check, but the jerk turns around and says "I already made this check so I can't". I've worked in a restaurant, and its not hard(a little inconvienant), but wtf. I'm shocked I even left somewhat of a decent tip! Never going back again!!!! If you are going to go, don't expect great service but food is ok. Look for restaurants that are on the side streets since some of them are true Italian food!
(2)Tarah H.
I'm thoroughly impressed, especially considering the prime real estate Bella Vista holds on Hanover Street. The prices are more than fair. The food is basic, well flavored and very good. The portions are large, but not two-meals-, roll home- or skip dessert-large. The wine list is fairly impressive considering both price and selection. Even the house wine is pretty respectable. It's a small restaurant, but there's an okay number of tables. Dinner this past Friday was at 7:30. No reservations. No wait. I was shocked to find anywhere in the North End like that, never mind our place of choice. It's cash and Amex only. We thought that Amex was an odd card to select if you were only going to accept one. But a reasonable number of people have them and from what I understand, they're the most reliable credit card company. (which is probably why their charge to businesses is the highest) Fewer credit card companies to pay off means lower meal cost to me. That's fine with me. The only draw back I saw was the hostess. She's a small, gruff Italian woman, who is apparently there every night. She won't seat you if your entire party isn't there. And she won't have you wait in the vestibule, even if there's a blizzard outside. The same woman took our orders. An after-thought antipasto was never ordered due to the business-like round the table style in which she took our orders before briskly walking away. In the end, we didn't end up missing the salad, our entrees satisfied us so completely. But that was it. That was the only hitch to the entire meal. I figure she's like the mean gate keeper or dragon you have to get past before being granted access to Princess Pasta. And really, if that's the biggest hurdle I have to jump to have dinner here, I'm okay with that.
(4)WorkingMom I.
My family and I found this cozy Italian restaurant by accident, as we headed to the North End on a Saturday night unknowing that every restaurant recommended to us had long lines. With two hungry pre-teens, we needed something much quicker. When we walked in, we were greeted by the owner and even though we didn't have a reservation, he took us in like family and we were quickly seated. Menus, drinks and food came fairly fast as well. His wife was our server and it feels like a family-run place. While most of us had standard parmesan fare (in which the sauce was a little salty), my daughter had the lobster fra diavolo that was extraordinary. This is a place to try seafood or less mainstream dishes. The house wine was also decent.
(4)Hailey T.
A few things, the food here is really good. The salad was incredibly fresh, the manicottie was delicious, and the chicken margherita was phenomenal. When they pour you a glass of wine, you get a full glass. And the prices are very good in comparison to a lot of the restaurants in that area. It's a very small restaurant, no outdoor seating. The staff was not as nice as one would expect. We were there on a very busy Saturday right befor marathon Monday and they were turning people away. For some reason we hit the lottery and they seated us, but turned people away after that because they didn't have reservations. They weren't very graceful about it, actually rude. It wasn't service with a smile, but our glasses weren't empty and they take good care of you. Despite my curiousity at the attitude, I'd still recommend this, it felt more like a genuine Italian restaurant than others I've been to.
(4)Glenn G.
Stay away. When you notice that this is the only place around that has tables available...take that as all you need to know. This place should be in some strip mall in Anytown MidAmerica, not the North End. Go down the street, across the street, over to the next block, or most any other option...just not here.
(1)Shauna R.
I did not love this place. I had pasta with marinara sauce. It had a lot of garlic in it. We also had fried calamari which was only o.kay. The service was VERY slow. I would choose another restaurant given the neighborhood.
(3)David M.
I found this place completely by accident a few years ago, when my mom was in town to visit and said she wanted to go to the North End. While walking by, we liked the menu and they had room to seat us. I've been back several times since, and honestly think it's one of the better values in the North End. Is this place fancy? Absolutely not, but it doesn't try to be either. My favorite dish here is the Veal Cacciatore. I've seen people complain about the service. I've never been treated poorly here. I'm from Staten Island originally, so I may just be more accustomed to the no-nonsense attitude of the employees. I come here to eat, and they deliver on the food aspect.
(4)Lorraine F.
Came in for lunch, and it was pretty comfortable. Large portion, not expensive, and more like comfort food. Server was fairly attentive too.
(3)Bootz B.
the staff definitely looks like they just crawled out of a horror movie. even my 70 year old father commented on them looking like the adams family. their attitudes match their appearances - very unfriendly & stern. there was some sort of old woman gnome walking around, and when my father made it a point to thank her before we departed, she twisted her puckered up mouth into a scowl and said "okay." really? seriously, people. keep that lady in the back. the prices are super cheap which is rare for the north end and basically the only reason we went here. they served us heated up sub rolls for a starter which is klassy with a k, if you know what i mean. still, the eggplant parm i had was pretty good, & i left feeling full & happy with the $40 bill for 3 people. worth checking out if you don't feel like paying $25 for a plate of pasta (which is par for the course at the other restaurants on hancock) - but be aware that the staff is super cold & the atmosphere is lacking because of this.
(3)Bora K.
Haha... it seems that everyone who's reviewed this place agrees on the quality of the service.. or the lack thereof that is. We were in line down the street to have dinner at Giacomo's but the wait was over 3 hours long and everyone was way too hungry. We decided to stake out a restaurant with a shorter line and spied Bella Vista. We ended up waiting almost an hour though because the restaurant only has 2 tables that seat up to 6 people. If you have more than 6 people in your group, forget about sitting together because there is no way in hell the people here will push tables together or anything because apparently it's way too much effort. The food is good although I didn't like my veal Cacciatore. It's probably just personal preference because half the dish was green bell peppers and I just don't happen to like them that much. The veal was incredibly tender although I felt like it could have been seasoned a little more. The Chicken Margherita was delicious though.. the chicken tender, the potatoes crisp... The Arriabiata was spicy and good. But the best part of the meal had to be the antipasti salad. The chunks or Parmigiano Reggiano in that dish make you feel like crying.. the prosciutto and salami are delicious as well. The service left a lot to be desired. It was slow.. and they were so rude! For me, the food isn't worth being treated like crap at a place where you're paying for something. For you parents out there, this place doesn't have a high chair so bringing a baby along to eat might be somewhat of a hassle.
(3)Melissa P.
The food is very good. The pasta is particularly good. The prices very affordable. The wait staff is remarkably rude. To the point of being funny and worth a visit just to experience it.
(4)Erik P.
Great food. Try and make lunch to save loads.
(5)Emily D.
If you're coming to the North End to have good Italian food.. DO NOT COME HERE. Yes the menu is affordable.. but you will be getting just that. Cheap food. It's sad to say that I've had better at the Olive Garden.. and I don't like the food at the Olive Garden. You will get big portions..if you're looking for that...but I didn't even want to take my leftovers home. I feel like I'm sounding a bit harsh in this review but the service is what ticked me off the most. The waiter we had was a very friendly young man...but the hostess.. some lady who looked just like the wicked octopus witch from the Little Mermaid. She seated us very rudely and while we were in the middle of our conversation and eating dinner.. tried to rush us to finish. We told her we were still working on our food.. NO LIE.. 5 min later she sent the friendly but nervous waiter to ask if we were ready to wrap anything up. We told him nicely No. This is really bothered me.. especially when the restaurant was not very busy. -- I gave this place a second chance and once again.. the evil lady was there with her rude face.The food was just so so but thank God we had a friendly waiter. I don't think I'll be returning to Bella Vista. Sorry.. but there are much better restaurants to try in the North End!
(1)Michael D.
The food is very good basic Italian fare, not as fancy as some of the other Hanover Street venues but MUCH less expensive. Try the Lobster fra diavolo, that's the best dish and worth the trip. Waitstaff is mostly family and the local flavor comes right through.
(5)eric n.
There are some AMAZING restaurants on this street. Bella Vista is not one of them. It is, however, very decent and has some great portion sizes (I haven't been able to finish a meal). One item that might concern some - American Express is the only credit card they accept.
(4)Emily F.
I go to restaurants because I want someone else to cook good food for me. I want to feel warm and loved and all gooey inside. I want to leave in a better mood then when I arrived. I do not go out to eat to have someone challenge the validity of a food allergy, to belittle me through my lack of knowledge on proper bread plate placement, or to generally feel like shit about yourself/life. Like River R. I too had the oh so lovely privilege of being served by the weird/scary bald waiter man. I couldn't help but think "mobster" the entire time (Cash and American Express only? Somethings fishy). Where did he go wrong... (in chronological order) 1. My mom wanted to share one of the lunch specials with my sister after confirming that the ginormous plate of pasta a man at the next table over had was the lunch portion. The waiter almost refused, declaring "Boston looks down on sharing" but lucky for us he decided he'd forgive us and allow it. Thanks for helping you cut down on wasted food? 2. I asked if I could order the eggplant parm without cheese. Reply: Absolutely not. I told him that I am allergic to milk. Matter of factly he stated, "you're lactose intolerant." "No, I'm allergic." Even more strongly, "You're lactose intolerant." "No, it's different." I gave him a brief explanation, to which he came back with a skeptical "Huh. That's a new one." It was horrible, and I nearly cried. He was a very scary man. 3. When he brought out our entrees, I pushed my bread plate higher up in front of me to make room for the enormous slop that was about to be given to me. Weird mean waiter man grabbed my bread plate and slammed it down in the correct spot, muttering "BREAD GOES ON THE RIGHT" in that yelling-whisper voice. 4. Since he refused to give me a piece of eggplant without cheese on it, I defaulted to the totally blah choice of pasta with marinara. It's hard to get that wrong. When the 1lb. serving came, I noticed what looked like cheese bits in the sauce. I couldn't specifically taste cheese, but my sister agreed that it looked like the type of parmesan sits out on the table. The horrendous upset stomach I got a half hour later agreed. I almost wish I had eaten more of it and had a stronger reaction so I could have thrown up on him in the restaurant. 5. Towards the end he tried to make small talk with my dad. Somewhere along the way it was made-known that my parents were visiting from California. Mobster man made some blanket statement that I'm 99% sure cannot possible be true about how "ALL the greeks and italians in california came from boston" and when my dad politely responded "you're probably right," the waiter shot back "i know i'm right." He then proceeded to give a whole (unwelcomed) talk on the history of Greeks/Italians in California. I liked the cute, cozy atmosphere including all the entire wall of wine and the glass purses in the front window. But seriously, worst. dining. ever. I'm still all panicky and anxiety-riden even in recounting such trauma for this review. **Absolutely DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY FOOD ALLERGIES!!! (seriously, someday I fear they are actually going to kill someone due to their arrogance). Do not go here if you are vegan! Do not go here if you like friendliness! They were NOT there to provide a service to you, rather you were there to eat their food by their rules. No no no no no no no.
(1)Ben K.
This place looks very unprofessional. Yes, perhaps the portions are sizable, but let's be honest. It's hard to screw up Chicken Parm. They do a fine job at American-Italian fare, but it's nothing special, and it's nothing that I wouldn't make at home. The owners were not very nice to our group, and we had to sit right near the kitchen and listen to the manager harangue the waiters and the cooks. Not so great. I would not come back unless it were the only place with no line (which it was when we went).
(3)Nate K.
This is the best kept secret on Hanover Street. Boston's North End is famous for great Italian food, however this small spot is the prize jewel in the group. The place serves good old fashion food and not the latest trendy italian dish. There is only one wine - the house wine and the pasta tastes like it should - hearty, flavorful, and big. I recommend the Chicken Margritia (lemon chicken in white wine sauce). Sure there are trendier spots on Hanover - but let's be honest you're there to eat and this is the best place. Insiders note: check out the basement, but be descrete.
(5)L C.
Bella Vista serves up a simple menu of standard Italian favorites-- done right. My tortellini alfredo was creamy and not too heavy, and L's fettucini bolognese was hearty and flavorful. The servings are huge, and at $11.95 each (the seafood and dishes are a little more), sure to fill your tummy for more than one meal. The service was prompt and efficient, and we were charmed by the red roses on the tables. I was really pleased to find that even though tourists (like me!) run amok in this Italian section of Boston, a great Italian meal is still to be found.
(3)Francis W.
The lobster fra diavolo was amazing! The price was so reasonable--under $20. I highly recommend the food. The staff was cold and a little rude, but they warmed up after we complimented their food.
(4)Sara S.
Bella Vista isn't the best restaurant in the North End, but the atmosphere is charming, has AMAZING bread (that matters a lot to me), and good entrees. I especially like the Chicken, Zitti, and Broccoli and appetizers. If you're looking for basic, good, and reasonable Italian meal, Bella Vista is a great option.
(4)Nicole B.
the food here is great. really solid. nothing to fancy on the menu (not even lobster ravioli). but the food they do have is very well priced. seafood especially! the best prices for lobster i've seen in a while! however, the good food at good prices is brought down by the service. unlike what shiva k. says, i'm going with downright rude. my friend who had brought me here warned us before entering and she was right. however, if you're willing to put up with the rude servers, go for it.
(3)Joe M.
There are some reviews on here that are so ridiculously harsh, I must speak up! We did not have reservations on the Friday we attendended but the hostess (mom), did tell us we could wait for a table. It wasn't long. We did feel the service could have been quicker from our server (probably the daughter), but we also did not feel rushed. She warmed up to us by the end of the evening. The pasta was tasty but probably not homemade like Giacomo's, the sauce made up for it...complately delish! Menu was simple, potatoes excellent, chicken dishes flavorful. The tiramisu...impressive and worth every penny. We felt there was an excellent value here, since two dinners, house wine, and split dessert still put us under $50.00. Some reviewers did not feel comfortable in this small, family-run style restaurant, but that's what made it most memorable and comforting for us. Perhaps it's because I'm Italian I have more respect for this. This is a good option for the value-minded tourister. We will remember Bella Vista fondly and visit again!!!
(4)Jenna H.
This is definitely an affordable place, right on Hanover, with delicious food. Nothing fancy, just your basic Italian classic dishes (which I love), but everything was fresh. The calamari appetizer was huge and cooked to perfection and for dinner I had homemade pasta with bolognese sauce - very light! We did dessert elsewhere, but it looked amazing as well. The atmostphere is charming - we had wonderful service last time I went with my family - they made us feel very welcome. It also has very romantic decor (as do most of the restaurants in this area), although no open front if that is what you are looking for. On Fridays and Saturdays I would make a reservation, just because it is prime location for people who are just roaming and the price is definitely right for the masses. .
(4)Katia M.
I've only been here twice, but both times I had a great meal, quickly, with fine service. The house wine is affordable, which is nice, and they have several other options for reasonable wines. I came here for New Year's and was floored by the attentiveness of our waiter. Anytime our champagne was even a third full, he came back for another pour. I'm not really used to that, so it was nice. I got the ziti arrabiata both times, which was just fantastic. Plus, no cheese to ruin it for me! Yay to that, because so often there is random cheese on everything at Italian places. Cheers for spicy sauce, cheers for cheap, tasty house red, and cheers for that waiter. Jean-Luc!
(4)Paul H.
Excellent Italian restaurant. Huge portions, so think twice about ordering a soup or salad which are a meal in themselves. Great rolls. Melt in your mouth pasta. I had the chicken penne with broccoli. It came with a very light very tasty sauce. Very good espresso. Service was a bit slow, but still attentive. We had a relaxing enjoyable great meal.
(4)Michelle R.
A friend of ours took us here while we were on vacation. Walking in the first thing I noticed was how small it was. The woman who seated us had this thick brow and lippy pout on. She seemed ice cold and made me uncomfortable. I said we had four people coming but it was just my five year old and me at the time. This irritated her? But things changed quickly when we got our food. I ordered from that Italian woman and when it was my sons turn he wanted capers. Yes, capers. Like from a jar. He is mad about capers in the puttanesca but likes to just eat them alone. I asked her if we could get a small side and she grimaced at me and stormed away with our order in hand. I was embarrassed. But then!! She came back with bowl full of capers and a half way smile on her face. Dare I say there was warmth coming through the cracks of her hard facade. I was so impressed and my son was so happy munching on these through dinner. He didn't bother us at all and was so well behaved because of it. Well played hostess. I noticed that she was talking with another woman at the table behind us. When we left I thanked her. Our food was delicious and very reasonably priced. She smiled at me and asked my husband why he didn't have a warm coat sounding sort of worried. This made me laugh and was charming. I would go back and do recommend.
(4)Ed S.
A good choice for relatively inexpensive food in a quiet venue in the North End. The service and the food are both good, but not exceptional. The restaurant seemed to be notably less busy than others nearby, which is a big plus. This made for an above average atmosphere, even though the decor wasn't outstanding.
(4)Tony P.
Now, perhaps I am being over-critical with giving it only three stars. I think it is because when you go out to a dinner as an event perhaps you expect more. Their bread is very average-- again, maybe its my expectations, as I wanted something thicker, more Italian-o and with a nice chewy crust-- the bread was fresh and good for what it was, but it certainly was a disappointment. The egg-plant parm was very very good--unusual that a place can make one better than I can :-)-the Lobster Diablo was great, sauce not creamy enough, though--but only eighteen bucks?? Seriously, how can you beat that? The pasta was okay, the red sauce was tomatoey, with a little basil, but not that great. In the long run, if I hadn't been expecting better they might have gotten four stars with my main criticism being the bread. The house wine was good--I can't remember what bottle we got in addition to the house wine (sick that I remember the price, though :-) but that was very good. As it should have been. I will try others and not be surprised that I end up back there. mbb
(3)Jason H.
This place is a good idea for a dinner on the North End that is away from the heavier tourist crowds. Get bread and pasta, ok service. Love the clams in white sauce and the meat sauce was amazing! Easier to get a table on a busy Saturday, but don't let that fool you the food is good.
(5)Dawn B.
My friend and I visit Bella Vista for lunch specifically for some of the things that turn people off. # 1 reason to go to Bella Vista: SCARY, BALD WAITER MAN. My favorite sociopath EVER! I would leave if he wasn't there. He is priceless. He is larger than life - just ask him. If you are having a boring week, go there just to collect quotes from him to use for Facebook status updates. You will intrigue and horrify your friends. My last gem from him that I posted was "Your humiliation is my salvation." No shit. Don't explain where it came from, just wait for the comments. Oh, and do NOT call him a waiter. He made it clear to us that he is the "maitre d'...do you know what that means? That means that I am the MASTER of the restaurant. If you don't like the table I pick for you to sit at - you can get out." That was his response when we gently questioned him about the party of four that left on their way to being seated. Apparently they had the colossal nerve to request a different table. He then said, "My apologies. I don't think we can accommodate your party. We are expecting a business booking that I forgot about." There were only two tables being used. Well, three, if you include the table covered with everything "from Lubriderm to bananas" ...an apt description by one of our friends upon trying to describe the mystery table in the corner. And for christ's sake people, do not accidentally order a wine that isn't Italian. He will suggest that you go change your oil with it. I shit you not. How can you not love this? This guy is his own motion picture. He likens himself to the Transporter guy. He thinks he's a Renaissance Man. Just ask him. Oh yes, food. First time I had Chicken Marsala which made me want to lick the bowl. Fork tender chicken, sauce that was just damn erotic, a two day portion, and so affordable. Spaghetti Carbonera...do it. Pasta Fagioli...do that, too. By reading previous reviews, I think I might not be missing anything by not having tried anything with red sauce yet. #2 reason for going there: the bread. Ultra-generic looking, disappointingly served with butter and not oil, but it still works. I highly recommend Bella Vista to anyone with writer's block, comedians running low on material, folks with no lives who really do need to find interesting status updates or Tweets, and larger balder people. Fantastic.
(4)Julie B.
3 star food, 1 star service, which averages out to 2 stars, and i think i'm being nice. it is a very rare occasion when i find myself completely dumbfounded at how rude people can be (i am from boston, after all), but the waitstaff at bella vista astounded me. from the moment we walked in the door, i should have guessed how my dinner was going to go, as no one greeted us for approximately 5 minutes, and then gave us a hard time for not having a reservation over labor day weekend (there were 2-3 open tables). we eventually got seated like 3 seconds later (i guess not having a reservation wasn't that big of a deal), but then the waitress seemed annoyed by our very presence the entire time, and was even downright bitchy to us, ESPECIALLY when we got the bill - what a clusterf@ck that was. long story short, it took us like 20 minutes to sort out the bill for reasons i'm still unsure of, and the whole experience left me feeling extremely uncomfortable and awkward. if i had one tip for bella vista, it would be to get an attitude adjustment. with so many other italian restaurants in the north end that would be glad to have your business, i'd say skip this one for sure .
(2)Michael S.
A very cute, quaint place with decent Italian food. Maybe a bit touristy and the service is meh (the Italian waiter/manager was a little stuck up) but I enjoyed the experience. The bread they brought wasn't that fresh but it was warmed up nicely. The lunch menu was cheap and pretty good. One could choose from lasagna, chicken parm, eggplant parm, chicken ziti and broccoli, and others for $7. The chicken parm was alright. The breading was a bit soggy and didn't stay on the chicken well. The chicken was also not of the best quality. But damn the tomato sauce and spaghetti were good. The tomato sauce was amazing, with the right amount of salt and sweet. The ravioli was also saved by the tomato sauce. I just want the sauce to take home.
(3)Joan M.
Food was O K. Not your best Italian food. Felt like the waiter was doing you a favor. OVERCHARGED on beer - cost more than the cruise ship (including the 18% tip).
(1)Matt D.
The food was fantastic. The problem with this place is the customer service. I went to dinner with a three single friends and as such we all asked to pay for our own checks. The woman who was ringing us up refused to split the check, I thought the way she said no was pretty rude, but I thought we could figure it out ourselves. When she came back to pick up our check, we had it divided for her according to what we owed. She then told us that "the machine takes too long" to split our checks and that she wouldn't do it. This is extremely unprofessional and rude. Finally after we explained that is all we could do, she took our payment. Go here for good food. Bring cash. Don't expect a warm hello.
(1)James E.
Great find when we were just walking down the street. The portions are big and the prices aren't too bad. Bread and olive oil before the meal was nice. 5 of us had the carbonara and loved it. Was the best I've ever had. And another had the eggplant parm and she loved it. Was a ton of food. They have a lunch menu with cheaper prices and still big portions.
(4)Kemi A.
We were in the North End looking for something to eat when we found this place. It was lunch time so we had the lasagna and the chicken broccoli ziti, all for $7! The food was delicious and plenty so we didn't have to worry about dinner later lol. It is a small place but felt intimate and never got too crowded, which is a plus. All around excellent!
(5)Nhi P.
Saturday night at the North End -- lines and crowds as far as the eye can see, bumper to bumper traffic, a festival at the end of the street. All in all, a fairly typical weekend in this little Italian neighborhood. My boyfriend and I meant to grab a bite to eat at the Madonna Della Cava Feast, but weren't too impressed with the food vendors at this particular festival (it was a lot smaller and didn't have too much of a variety). So, at 7pm on a Saturday night, we decided to take our chances on the streets of the North End until we could find something that appealed to our appetites and wallets. It was a grueling quest -- from Hanover St. to Salem St. to North St., we walked until we came to a full circle. Every place we looked at, the line was at least an hour long or the prices were extremely extravagant. We honestly almost called it quits (especially since I needed a restroom at this point) when we found Bella Vista. This tucked-away little restaurant shone like a beacon (or maybe it was just my bladder rejoicing) in the night. Their menu looked delicious (if traditional) and their prices weren't half bad. Better yet, there was practically no line at all -- we were only behind one group of three. The hostess was an older Italian lady who was a little brusque, but pleasant overall, and we were seated in no time at all. I don't actually remember what my boyfriend ate, but I had the Linguine w/ Seafood and it was delicious; it was definitely comparable to the Spaghetti alle Vongole that I had in Italy this summer. If I remember correctly, he enjoyed his entree too (I think it was something with meat). The portions were generous and there was enough to take home. The interior can be described as intimate, if a little cramped. They managed to fit a decent amount of tables and seats in the space, but you do end up sitting elbow to elbow with other tables. If you have personal space issues, this may not be the restaurant for you. We sat next to a group of ten, so they can definitely accommodate slightly larger groups if necessary. I really liked the decor inside. The walls were covered in murals that aged the room and made it seem like we were in an Italian cafe. The large windows also helped displace any claustrophobic tendencies I had because they were so large and open. The lighting was a little low, but there wasn't any real visual difficulty. Service was pleasant. Like I said, the hostess was a little brusque, but she seated us and was perfectly pleasant throughout the evening. She felt more like a grandmother bustling about rather than a restaurant hostess though. The other waiters were very nice and polite. All in all, I'd definitely come back again and I do recommend Bella Vista for some good, traditional Italian cooking.
(4)Debbie K.
Prompt service and the fra diavlo was excellent. Wine by the was $10 which seemed high for house wine
(4)Shazam L.
Weird, borderline rude-ish , eerie...service. Edna E Mode like character from " The Incredibles" troll greeted? Or GROWLED and served with attitude. Our true experience: SIT! MENU! ORDER! EAT! OUT! Honestly, the food wasn't good enough for us to be treated like this. Steer clear. Unless you like abuse. Looking back, I'd go to Panera Bread chain to be treated nicer and pay 1/8 of the price.
(2)Brennan B.
I would like to give this place two stars for the canned tortellini and a one star for the poor service by the Italian waitress. Should have stuck with Subway! The water was good though!
(2)Lola A.
Husband and I both had an enjoyable experience at Bella Vista tonight. I had the linguini with white clam sauce and my husband had the fried calamari with a side of penne. Food came out in decent time, it was hot, and it was delicious. The staff were pleasant. The prices were fair. I'd go back if I lived in Boston :)
(4)Anna H.
As with most of these other reviews, these two stars are for the poor service. Because this restaurant is on Hanover Street, they're dealing with some heavy competition, but they don't seem to put any effort into actually being better, whether it be their food or their service. It's like they know they'll always have business from people who don't want to wait in the long lines at every other establishment on this street, so why try to make this place special? And for that, they just don't deserve more than two stars on Yelp. We came here because we were hungry and didn't want to wait three hours at another place. The mean bald guy "greeted" us with a scowl. We entered, no one approached us, so we figured we could seat ourselves. We chose a table next to the window that looks out onto the street. He looked at us, didn't say anything, and pointed to a table in the back. Food was ok. Nothing to rave about, but I only had a simple spaghetti dish. When the check came, we wanted to split it equally with three credit cards (since there were three of us) - something that has been done for me at every other restaurant that cares about its customers. The same mean bald guy gives us the scowl again and tells us he can only do two cards. Pu-lease. Bottom line - it's acceptable if you want a we-won't-bother-you-if-you-don't-bother-us average dining experience. If you're looking for a place that works to make your dining experience fun and memorable, do not come here.
(2)Ian S.
Well, the food here was okay but my friend and I had a really uncomfortable experience. When our waiter (who I think is probably the same bald guy that other reviewers have mentioned) came to collect our plates, he remarked that we had left some of our food uneaten, and then proceeded to joke about my female friend's "bikini body" and how good she would look in a "red bikini" (presumably because she has red hair?). While he said this he went behind her chair and proceeded to touch her bare shoulders and (in her words) press his stomach into her back. Creepy, right? Maybe he thought he was being friendly, but it's not cool to touch your customers! My friend and I just gave each other a look of horror and dashed out as quickly as possible. Our meals were decent (and very reasonably priced) but not good enough to go back and risk another awkward encounter with that waiter.
(2)Ryan C.
Bella vista. If you are looking for decent food and service that could care less that you're there, then id recommend bella vista. The service wasn't bad, but I never felt like they cared that we were there. The older lady sat there with a scole on her face the entire time while her and our waiter watched netflix (which was super loud) the whole time on the table next to us. The bald server never asked us Youngers what we wanted to drink, just ignored us and talked to our parents. The food wasnt bad it was just the service. Our friend even saw a rat run through the kitchen.
(2)S. S.
The most vile, awful experience of my life happened when I tried to eat here with my friends. I went with a group of friends and when I approached the hostess (manager/owner) of the restaurant to put our names down for a table, she started to physically PUSH me out of the restaurant and then proceeded to tell me "We don't have room for you Ch*nks here tonight, go to f*cking CHINATOWN!" and then in my complete shock, proceeded to follow us out of the restaurant into the street and screamed at us in the street "These places next door to me are all owned by me and there's NO place for you here tonight!" I literally could not believe my ears, and we left in a complete state of shock (with my group of friends who happened to be of different races - not that that should matter or make a difference in any way, but clearly she was blind as well). I only regret not calling the police and filing a complaint against this awful, sad, pathetic woman who thought she could get away with vocalizing herself, but I realized there was no point in trying to play fair with someone who is so completely low on the totem pole. Don't support hate, don't support this restaurant, this woman is the reflection of everything that is wrong with humanity.
(1)Michele A.
Very tasty home made style italian food, big sizes, good prices ($15-20) and great service! I only would complain about the price of the wine (all over $36, including the house wines).
(4)Brian T.
I'm not a big fan of Italian food but this place is changing my mind. Excellent foods! The $8 lunch specials are out of this world.
(5)Chuck K.
Small but nice. The sauces are on the sweet side vs other spices. The type of Italian food that kids would like too. While the food prices are a bit cheaper than the other Italian sit down restaurants on Hanover, the wine is more expensive so the price of a meal comes out about the same. The eggplant was very good, layers of thin slices instead on one thick slab, highly recommended
(4)Melissa F.
The food was very good but we had the pleasure of dining with a MOUSE running around the dinning room. When we told one of the servers, her response was "Oh, it's that time of the year, it happens. There's nothing we can do." The second woman (heavier with dark hair) we mentioned it to said, " Well, I didn't see it." I'm in complete shock that not one person apologized. Since they didn't seem surprised by it, I'm assuming they usually have mice in the dining room. I'm sorry, but that is unacceptable and disgusting. I will absolutely never go back to Bella Vista.
(1)E D.
Best spaghetti Bolognese ever, and we got a table for 4 easily on Saturday night for dinner! Excellent service and great intimate atmosphere, always an old favorite.
(4)Aracely T.
This place was much less crowded than the rest on the street. I was nervous at first, and when we got bread rolls I was even more nervous. I was expecting a nice crusty bread... The bread came with butter but since my son loves olive oil and vinegar I asked for some. And that's when it all changed. The mixture came out with a pepperochini (spelling??) an olive, oregano some chopped parsley, well it was delicious!!!! We all loved it! Then the food came: big portions and tasty! The prices were great too! We had the chicken parmigiana, lasagna and manicotti. Not bad at all.
(4)Alisha V.
We spent the day walking around Boston and decided that we had wanted to go to the North End for a light lunch - we ordered the fried calamari and the fuchelli pasta with broccoli and sausage. It was the perfect amount and cooked to perfection! Calamari can be so easily over cooked and have too much breading on it but was not the case at all, my boyfriend who doesn't like Calamari for that reason was eating all of the dish :) The pasta was really good and can tell the broccoli was fresh - nothing worse than over cooked, frozen broccoli. Would highly recommend!
(4)Jared F.
Came here for pasta with a coworker. We both left feeling rather disappointed. The food is just 'ok'. There are far too many options in Boston's Northend to waste a meal here. Alfredo sauce was rather bland. Just cream sauce and fettuccine without any flavor. The chicken parmigiana was fairly dry served with a side of spaghetti. Service was just ok as well. The waiter seemed friendly however spent all of his time with a table of 4. Barely even came over to check on our meals. Honestly, the best part of the experience was the delicious warm crusty rolls served as we sat down. Try other options in the Northend.
(2)Emily P.
We chose to go here for dinner last week due to the fact that there was no line out front - generally a red flag for the North End, but we were starving and wanted to eat as quickly as possible. There were a few questionable elements of the meal experience: - No line, no wait at peak hours - My boyfriend's soda was delivered in a can, and he had to ask for a glass - The bread, while hot, really lacked a "made from scratch" taste. It was like the restaurant version of Wonderbread, probably made from a frozen roll. We both ordered the chicken saltimbocca (an all-time Italian favorite of mine) and were pleasantly surprised. It arrived in more of a butter sauce than a white wine sauce as advertised on the menu, but it was still delicious. There was enough in the portion for two meals. Sadly, our box of leftovers wasn't sealed completely and we had a bit of a pasta explosion on the T ride back home. It's worth a shot, but if you're looking for more of a dining experience rather than just having food unceremoniously delivered to you, it may be worth it to wait in line elsewhere.
(3)Tim L.
Solid place great lunch menu with great prices. Brought the family, and we all enjoyed it. Great food, great service.
(4)Doug R.
The spaghetti with meat sauce and meat balls was a dream come true. Excellent. Fettuccine Alfredo very good. Chianti bottle, finished it off and very good. Prices reasonable
(5)Frank P.
Good Italian, not amazing. Service was what I'd call "local", meaning simple, barely friendly. Kind of like walking into a local bar staffed with people who thought they had better things to do. LOL! Stop in, and check them out.
(3)Ted K.
The Bella Vista is our favorite restaurant in Boston's north end. Good small family-run restaurant with great value and great food. Tony may not appear to be a smiling, genial host but he is very friendly, passionate about his Italian ancestry, and caring, especially after you've been there 2 or 3 times and he knows you. I actually feel like I'm in a restaurant in Italy when I'm there! Can't wait to go back!
(4)Johnny A.
Fantastic! They were very accommodating when we walked in with a large group. The food was fantastic and the service was equally great. Love the homey feel and great wine.
(4)Stan Y.
had the lunch special, chicken cacciatore for $7.99. it was nice and hot when served and very tasty! the spaghetti was done just right and the portion is big. saw salads being served on the other table and it was a nice sized serving. the bread is also heated warm and light. other lunch specials were also in the same price range.
(5)April H.
Saturday late lunch here proved tasty, large portions, lunch entrees all under $10, nice atmosphere. No parking, but that goes without saying in the North End. Yum!
(4)Mitchell F.
The Food was decent (3 stars). But something killed it. Also the same thing that kills all the customers. (Hence, there are no recursive customers). The owner stands in the rather small dining room scowling at you while you eat. He stays on his phone when he isn't doing the aforementioned scowl/yell. His wife/bathtub of a woman will also sit scowling at you. She almost kicked us out when we asked for bread. These people do not get service.
(1)Jing C.
Very Unfriendly old man and old lady, even the waitors are not kind. bad experience! We were one of the first customs arrived at the restaurant, but were served later than most other tables arrived after us. and got a seems reasonable answer ''It takes about 20 min. We don't RUSH.'' after 45 min waiting, we got our food, which is not even warm! Ridiculous service! won't come again!
(1)Jason M.
I hesitate to review Bella Vista... not because I'm concerned with giving it a bad review, but rather because I don't want buckets of tourists to invade this hidden little gem on a street full of cookie-cutter plates of carb. Seeing as every North End restaurant is the basically the same, I'm glad to have found a tasty place that isn't crawling with tourists. You're always going to have a decent time... service is always friendly and the food is always quality. You'll see lots of cheesy paintings on the wall, a traditional and non-offensive menu and an inexpensive glass of wine. This doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, I know... but the food is tasty enough to have me come back multiple times and when we're talking about the North End, that's a good thing.
(4)Evan G.
We went here after walking around and not wanting to wait in line for a few hours and not want to spend over $30 per dish. We got in, were seated quickly and at this point everything seemed fine. The only reason this place gets 2 stars is the fact that everyone really enjoyed their dishes. The food came out relatively quickly and was good quality for the $13-$20 price. HOWEVER, the meal was completely ruined based on the older bald man waiter. As other reviews have said about him, he was terrible for all forms of service. He was very short with everyone and was constantly reaching in front of you, leaning his body against you and spilling water all over the table. At one point he came up to the table and sighed so one of us said, "oh rough night?" He then went on lecturing us about how our generation has no social skills and he grew up in a different generation. Never to trust our generation and how we are going to screw up the future of the country. From then on out the meal was ruined. No one wanted to enjoy themselves considering the man who I believe is an owner would lecture us again about something. We sat the rest of the meal quietly as the whole atmosphere of a great meal with friends was ruined by the rude waiter Lastly, when we wanted to split the meal into 3 separate bills he just said "No, I can only do one" and walked away. I don't know what restaurant is not willing to help their customers in an age where cash is rarely carried, but apparently Bella Vista is one of them. I never have complaints rise to the level of effecting me returning to a restaurant, but the rude service and terrible atmosphere because of their rudeness has guaranteed I will never return to Bella Vista, but judging by my experience there, they don't really care.
(2)Nataliya A.
Goal : Find yummy seafood in Boston : Goal accomplished :) Menu: 7 : it had a pretty good variety but I wish there were most variations in how seafood was prepared. I felt like the menu was pretty standard. Food: 9 : the shrimp, scallops, clams and calamari in my alfredo sauce was soooo good. There were too many noodles though, but still good. The portions are giant! Service: 7 : ok so here is the thing, we had I think one of the owners as a server, and she was incredibly nice to us, however, her and I assume her husband had a full blown argument in the middle of the restaurant while we were eating! I understand we all have a disagreement with a significant other once in a while, but go duke it up in the back, this isn't dinner entrtainment Atmosphere/music/decor/cleanliness: 10 It wasnt the best dining experience I've ever had, but I left happy. All in all I came for some good Boston seafood, I left satisfied.
(4)Joe D.
Awesome. I ordered the Lobster...really small...especially for the price. I had Chicken and Broccoli Ziti. There was a group of ass hats behind us giving the waitress a hard time. They put cash for the tip with the initial bill and it confused her...who the hell puts the cash for the tip right off the bat. It was a some kid from NYC and his girlfriend and 4 other old people talking about how they like to travel and other bullshit. Like our Waitress said "If you can't have cheese why the hell would you come in here. It's an Italian place for god sakes" They have this awesome room downstairs as well...they should open that up to people. Would be cool to sit down there.
(4)Sarah V.
First-- I don't write reviews, I just felt I had to say something because this place is so shockingly awful. I almost feel like stopping people and warning them before they go in-- to not waste their money. My boyfriend and I went to Bella Vista for a date friday night, and it was mostly empty. The wine gave us a headache, the food was so bland it was difficult to eat, and worst of all-- our "waitress" had fallen asleep at the table behind us, so it was pretty hard to get her attention. I'm a little shocked it's still in business. There are so many other places, I would not advise you to go here! I would however, go to restaurant.com and pick a place from there, since the meals are really pricy in the North End (many justifiably so!)and everyone likes a discount! :) Enjoy!
(1)Leslie G.
My family enjoyed a delicious meal at Bella Vista. The service was exceptional and we had a very nice visit with one of the owners. After we left and made the walk back to our hotel, my husband realized that he had left our expensive camera under the table. We immediately called and they assured us that they had the camera. My son and husband took a cab back to the restaurant and they were waiting for him after closing time with our camera! Besides the wonderful meal, their honesty gave me another reason to rate Bella Vista a 5.
(5)Rachael P.
Food is amazing! Service was quality! lunch specials are greatly priced and the capppucinos are huge.
(5)Cobra K.
This place had way too many problems. Too small to start off with. Don't come here if you have large parties. Service was good enough...however, just took forever to get the food out! Ordered the grilled lobster...I swear...they must have given me the smallest lobster they could find. Not worth the 19 bucks for it. Go somewhere else.
(2)Nate H.
Cute small restaurant. Pasta was good, veal was good, but the sauce was a bit mediocre. You do get potatoes and vegetable with the meal, and it isn't that bad... and the whole plate is very affordable - most veal/meat entrees are about $16, which is half the price of everywhere else in the North End. ...and most other places are a la carte. So for price and ambiance, come here - for out of this world Italian dishes, try a different place on Hanover street. You could make this your everyday place without breaking a budget. It seems many other North End restaurants are appealing to the special night out budgets. I must say I had a wonderful capaccino here - just enough froth on top to hold the sweetened cinnamon. Mmmmm.
(3)Ginger C.
Stopped in here this weekend for a cheap lunch with BF and his family. Cheap, huge portions but totally generic Americanized Italian food. I had the calamari marinara. The sauce was watery and the calamari was rubbery and tasted too fishy. The rest had eggplant parm and lasagna which they liked. The best part of the meal were the hot rolls which were perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside.
(2)Mariam M.
My meal was good and the owner is wonderful. He came over several times to make sure everything was good. I plan on taking my dad there next week!
(4)Holly S.
I love their food!
(5)Lauren E.
I went here with my bf today for a late lunch/early dinner. The prices here are slightly lower than most other places in the North End (and it was right next to Mike's Pastry), so we decided to give it a try. I've been to Bella Vista before, but this was my first time in a couple of years. This place is small and doesn't have much seating. There are not many employees, and we weren't greeted upon entering. The lady who (I think) owns the place does most of the seating didn't seem to be in a pleasant mood, although she wasn't outright nasty to us. She did not come over once during our meal to ask how anything was. The decor makes you feel as if you are sitting in the middle of a rustic Italian villa, with a wine wall and painted stone on the walls; however, the area near the cash register was a mess and deteriorated the ambiance. There was a table stacked with tons of papers and bags of random purchases made by restaurant employees. The dinner rolls were big and warm with a slight crisp. This was a plus, because I hate when restaurants bring out cold rolls. We all waited what felt like a LONG time for our food. I ordered the Tortellini alla Bolognese. The bolognese sauce was hot and delicious, and I would recommend. From a food standpoint, I'd come here again. The owner lady, however, doesn't seem happy to be there at all.
(3)Abir H.
I personally love the north end....Italian food is my favorite cuisine and I love everything about Italy!!!! It's a small place but everyone that works there is Italian, I Ioved that. When they brought out the bread we asked for a spicy tomato sauce as a dip and that sauce alone was to die for! Their portions are very generous. We started with friend calamari and along came more of that delicious tomato sauce. I ordered the lasagne, it tasted like homemade, it was so rich and full of flavor. The pasta with cream sauce must have been freshly made and their mussels were very fresh.
(4)Maria R.
Great place, great food, quaint atmosphere. Had the eggplant parm, was soooo delicious. The bread was warm and fresh out of the oven.
(5)Gail S.
We found this gem in the pouring down rain when everything else had a 30-45 min wait on a Friday night at 8pm. The staff was gracious and very attentive. The menu was simple yet delicious. And best of all affordable! We were all inclined to order a glass of house wine and relax after seeing that our meal would not break the bank.
(4)L C.
I been coming here since I was a child. Brought my little girl in the food is still amazing! She actually sat down and ate. We went for lunch if you want amazing food at a great cost. Specials are around $6.99 best time to go. Broc, chicken and pasta the sauce is so creamy and good! The eggplant parm my fav!!! The red sauce is yummmmm is all I can say. This place is a must visit stop if going to the north end or Boston for that matter.
(5)Iron F.
A wonderful homemade Italian meal. Good wine, honest food, and decent service. Totally recommended. For people who like their servings large, and rich in taste! Um jantar italiano maravilhoso. Bom vinho, comida honesta e serviço decente. Totalmente recomendado. Para pessoas que gostam de suas porções grandes e com muito sabor!
(4)Corali F.
We really enjoyed our lunch here. Out two young daughters ordered lasagna and eggplant and liked it a lot. The warm bread is really good. I had past fasule soup and and antipasto salad. The clams casino were very good as well. My husband ordered the eggplant and pasta dish and liked it a lot. The staff is a little bit on dry side with not much sense of humor but the overall service was great. They were very respectful and attentive toward us. BTW, the house red wine was very good!
(5)Michelle S.
Went tonight (Saturday around 8:30pm) for dinner. It's a small place, we were immediately sat at a table in the back, but still feel a chill when people open the door to enter or leave. The house wine is pretty good. $10 per glass, but they fill it up high. Beer selection is small and served in their bottles. You're given a basket of warm fresh bread to start. It's really good! Everything is cooked to order, so come hungry, but be prepared to wait for your food. We started with the clams casino. They were a little oily, but good flavor. I ordered the linguini and seafood dish. Way too much calamari that was chewy. Boyfriend ordered veal stuffed with cheese and prosciutto. He said it was great. Overall, worth the price and definitely a yummy meal.
(3)Chase C.
Delicious and affordable compared to the other restaurants in the area. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because the hostess was rude in seating us. The rest of the staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. It's a great place overall.
(4)JoAnne F.
The spaghetti marinara tasted wonderfully traditional. The tortellini with Alfredo sauce was super good and not too heavy. The service was fast and the portions were pretty big...I enjoyed the left overs.
(5)Stacie R.
This place was less crowded than others so we were hesitant, but it was delicious!! The best red sauce I have ever had, prices were reasonable and warm bread was scrumptious!
(4)Miles M.
Food was fine but staff was lazy, rude and stuck up. It was a cheep ambiance. The chicken piccata was good but the clams casino was primarily bread crumbs (would not recommend). Bella Vista isn't a bad place to eat but there are restaurants that are much better, walking distance from the restaurant.
(2)Abby A.
Wonderful authentic Italian food with reasonable prices!! With so much to choose from on Hanover Street this place definitely stands out from the rest.
(5)Abby R.
I used to love coming to this place in college, partially because the prices were actually cheap enough for me to afford, especially for the North End. There are a few dishes they do really well and a few that are the definition of mediocre. Lasagna, eggplant parm: Delish. Ravioli, fettucini alfredo: pretty bland and unremarkable. The alfredo sauce in particular just tasted like cream rather than cheese sauce. Everything I've gotten here has come out nice and hot though, and they've improved their bread from the former sub rolls they used to serve. I always found the service by the younger waitstaff to be nice and friendly. I have experienced some grouchiness by the owners but I always thought their crustiness was kind of charming in a way, (plus it keeps the place from getting too touristy) but after reading some of the horror stories of the service by other people I feel a little less tolerant of their rudeness.
(3)Danae K.
Get the house wine, any pasta (you can't go wrong) and enjoy your night! The bread however was cold.. and didn't taste too good... I wish they could improve that.
(4)Tara D.
Amazing lunch! Portions were huge, prices were cheap and the taste was AWESOME! May be my new favorite hidden gem in Boston
(5)Skye A.
Been to alot of places at the North End, finally stopped in here to shake off the chill last week. The location is great, in the middle of everything, the establishment is small to medium, so you do sit closely to others just like the rest of the restaurants. Service is fine, it's attended by 2 experienced middle age women, perhaps the owners, they do a good job. Food quality is was satisfactory, altough it can improve. Bread is nothing great, just a toasted french bread, did not get the feeling that it was freshly baked. Pasta, again, nothing that blew me off the water, seemed very bland, very soupy like, not a thick sauce by any means. Wine was good, prices are reasonable. Over all, I give it 3 stars, seems like it can improve,perhaps much more fresh pasta and not using chipped wine glasses.
(4)Maya S.
The only reason I'm wasting my precious time to write this review is to tell other innocent folks to go elsewhere! Huge portions but tasteless food. I cook pasta way better than what they serve here (Mind you, I hate bragging but I just have to, in this case!) They seem to have used the same sauce for all the 4 different dishes we ordered when it specifically said otherwise. Did they really think we couldn't tell?!! Avoid. Please.
(2)Carol T.
It's disheartening to read some of the reviews about the staff here, but the reviews were only seen after our first experince at Bella Vista. We did not experinece any mistreatment or rude behavior. We arrived for an early dinner on a Thursday night, right at 5PM. We entered just as the owner was arriving. We were treated respectfully, table of 6 with no reservation. Our meals were brought out quickly, all were delicious and portions were quite adequate. We had two veal dishes, a shrimp fra diavalo, ravioli, and a pasta fagiole (as an entree). I thought the wine prices were a bit high...lowest priced bottle of house wine was $37 and it was mediocre ($10 per glass). The food prices, however, were very reasonable, with most entrees between $16 - $20. We were offered extra bread with our meal. Did not have dessert there, so can't comment on that. Our service by the female owner was nice enough - no problems whatsoever. I would go again, but I sure hope I'll never meet the mean bald waiter!
(4)M K.
Good food. Great prices on lunch specials. Amazing bread served with your meal. The owner is nice and friendly. The ambience has a feel like a traditional Italian restaurant in Italy ...you won't be rushed, nice relaxing atmosphere. We loved it!
(4)Brennon H.
Greeted at the door by an older Italian woman who wasn't necessarily polite but made me feel like she was my grandma treating me to a home cooked meal. The portion size assured me that they were made by Italians and I could not believe how low the bill was. She even comped my final glass of wine because she enjoyed our conversation.
(5)Jessica Z.
boyfriend and I went here for Memorial Day, it was absolutely disgusting. I got tortellini Alfredo with broccoli and I make it better at home. my boyfriends was discussing I don't even know what it was. it looked like a boiled dinner and it tasted floral. like old lady perfume. I don't even know how to describe it. the salad dressing was good, and the sub rolls that are supposed to be bread were fresh. however I don't want a sub roll I want a crusty rustic bread with oil. the people who were working were on their cell phones and eating snacks. they sit at a table that's crowded with papers and shit. - a place like the macaroni grill has better food, service and atmosphere. - if you go to the north end skip skip skip it! - some people have given this place good reviews but I don't think they understand what italian food it supposed to be like.
(1)Bren K.
I'm not exactly sure why people want to give it so so reviews. The quality of the food is fantastic and the atmosphere is great. You can tell its a small family owned place. The lasagna is out of this world. And the tiramisu is a must!!!!!
(5)John L.
Good place with good food! It's small and nothing fancy, but they do have good food. Bread is fresh and the chicken parm is legit. Pasta could be better but I'd definitely eat there again
(4)Christina R.
My friends and I were visiting Boston for the weekend and we were STARVING. We happened to see Bella Vista and saw the chalkboard with the lunch specials for a good price. I am Italian so I am really picky about my food, so I was a little nervous. But they really impressed me. I ordered the fusilli, broccoli and sausage. It was light, but really, really good. And the portion size was excellent. My friends also enjoyed their dishes as well.The cappuccinos were really great too. I would definitely go back here the next time I visit Boston. All the comments about the bald waiter- I could understand how he can be considered a little crass, but he was really very nice to us. Also remember that Italians are just kinda crass in general. Sometimes anyway. LOL.
(5)Alisa K.
I'm torn with this review. The hostess/owner(?) was very rude but the food is delicious and ambiance is nice. We were seated at a table right by the door, and asked the hostess/owner if we could close the exterior door to prevent the freezing wind from blowing in every time a guest entered. She said no. So we asked to move tables, but she said no again even though there were other tables open! We considered leaving but decided to give it a shot since it was a busy Saturday night and everywhere else had a long wait. Throughout the meal, she was very short and never made eye contact. All in all, happy with the food but disappointed in the experience. On a street with a lot of competition, one would think they'd have better costumer service.
(3)Bob W.
Fanfriging tastic lunch specials Dropped in for lunch, not expecting much but was very impressed and satisfied by everything;friendly service, great food,great prices.... Defiantly going to be back. I've been to a few North End restaurants... Some great some not so much.... This was the best....
(5)