Betta’s Italian Oven
3764 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45212
Betta’s Italian Oven Menu
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Address :
3764 Montgomery Rd
Cincinnati, OH, 45212 - Phone (513) 631-6836
- Website https://bettasitalianoven.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
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 : Yes
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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Angela H.
Betta's is a favorite of Xavier University students, alum, and residents of the Norwood/Oakley/Hyde Park area alike. The restaurant is cheap, which is what makes college students frequent, but has quality food, which keeps the alum coming back. Betta's is one of those rare Cincinnati restaurants that does not currently have a liquor license, so the establishment is strictly BYOB (Betta's is currently in talks with Xavier University to obtain the liquor license from the recently closed Norwood Cafe, which Xavier purchased). Pizzas are great, pasta is classic. The parking situation, as mentioned by the previous reviewer, is a pain because Betta's does not have a parking lot. Diners best bet is to attempt to park on Cleneay Ave, which runs perpendicular to Montgomery Road. Betta's gets crowded on most weekend nights and on any day that Xavier men's basketball plays at home...alum tend to camp out at the restaurant for a few hours before the games begin. Get there early if you want to find a parking spot on game days!
(4)Diana H.
If you come here, you NEED to get the wood oven pizza. And food from the salad bar. Otherwise, food isn't bad, just not spectacular, LIKE THE PIZZA. The restaurant is super small, and can get slammed on a weekend night. Right across form Xavier, its a hot spot for local basketball both fans XU and UC alike. Great family atmosphere. The owners/cooks two small son's were running around when I was there, they were fun to watch (they didn't get in the patrons way, you could just see them playing in the exposed kitchen and trying to help cook).
(3)Sam T.
Betta's is some of the best Italian we have found in Cincinnati. We have been several times now and I keep craving their lasagna- IT IS AMAZING!!! Aside from lasagna we have also had the margarita pizza and the white fish which Betta's is known for. Of the three, I probably like the fish the least. It was very different than I expected having a thick coating of breading on it. It was a little bland in taste except for the chili flakes on top. The spaghetti that accompanies it on the side is delicious, however. Their tiramisu is our favorite for desert and they have a great wine and drink selection including blood orange soda! The casual atmosphere makes it a nice family restaurant. However, there seems to be a lack of control in that there are often children running around wildly both inside the restaurant and out in the parking lot, which seemed a bit unsafe. The wild beasts running around the table keep the restaurant from getting 5 stars because, honestly, where are all the parents keeping these kids in line?
(4)Heather J.
Much better than the closed location in Mt. Lookout. The wood fire grill is great... always get the pizza sticks - delish! I had a blanco pizza with mushrooms and goat cheese - it was very very good and really affordable!!!
(4)Ludwig T.
I visited Betta's for the first time and had a very good experience. We arrived about 11:30 am before the lunch crowd hit and had no trouble getting a parking place or a table. The special was a super sub with antipasto and a drink. The sub was made of all my favorite Italian meats (mortadella, pepperoni, and capicola), which I had baked, meaning it came out warm and toasty. The room was clean and sunny, and even when more people started coming in it didn't feel crowded. My coke was a little watered down, but that was my only food complaint. The parking lot entrance/exit is tight, so you have to be careful getting in and out. I'm looking forward to going back and trying the pizza!
(4)Hillery M.
For our first visit in order to decide if Betta's was good, we ordered a good ole fashioned pepperoni pizza. An (American)-Italian restaurant should have a great pizza in order to be considered good. The 10 inch pizza is wood fired. The crust is thin and crisp, however the bubbles formed during the cooking made the end crust big and left little room for them to fully dress the pizza. The pizza was light on sauce; the tomato sauce had a hint of seasoning that provided a very mild taste but strong enough not to taste like plain tomato. The cheese was thin and solid, (I prefer pizza with gooey cheese). The pepperonis were nickel size (diameter and thickness) and a tad over cooked (dried out). Overall the pizza was fair (not Cincinnati Magazine Best of the City good), but good enough that we will go back to try other menu items. (The bruschetta at the other table looked yummy.) The service was good and on a busy Friday night, the pizza was served very quickly. The place was full but people were quickly seated. There are 2 flat screens on the wall, which luckily they were not on.Having the TVs on would certainly distract from the dining experience (would be okay during a high profile sporting event - such an XU game).
(3)Deb L.
This was our third visit in the last few months. The first two were before the Cincinnati Magazine pizza issue. We also tried to go once a few weeks ago, right after the article came out and the line was huge so we went elsewhere. The food has been consistently good, not outstanding but solid. My one complaint (OK two complaints, but the parking situation is not likely to change) is the service could use some improvement. It was not crowded the night of our visit, there were at least 4 empty tables, similar to our other visits. The server was not particularly concerned with taking our order and then the food took almost 40 minutes to come out (a pizza to share and a couple orders of chicken parm). We came from the zoo and were cold and hungry so a 40 minute wait was torture! Don't know why it took so long, especially since we asked for the pizza first. A woman who had placed a takeout order left in a huff, apparently due to the long wait as well. Perhaps adding a pizza cook or two is in order? It's been like this before, although this was the longest wait yet. I would think twice about going back, even when it doesn't look crowded through the front window. The food is good but not worth that kind of wait.
(3)Christoffer M.
I was skeptical about a place that is said to be frequented by Xavier students. Now, I have nothing against Musketeers, I just question the quality of a joint that's widely popular among college students. I mean, I knew what sort of places were heavily patronized around my campus. They were either really cheap, really close, or really lax about IDing. And they were all pretty bad. But apparently XU folks have standards for taste. This place wasn't fine Italian by any means (as the mediocre antipasto platter attested), but the pizza was hot and crisp and loaded with good toppings (I had the ultraspicy Diavolo). The eggplant parmigiano was rich and thick and saucy. The check was, of course, relatively small, though the portions were plenteous.
(4)J M.
My wife and I went today for lunch. The restaurant was freezing! I would say it was about 60 degrees tops, and every time the door opened as customers were entering or exiting, it got appreciably colder. Waitress greeted us within 5 minutes. Food came about 20 minutes after ordering. Food was good, calzone and pizza. Wait staff attentive and efficient. Weird that they have no web presence. And, try to find out that they close each day for 3 hours without calling!? Stupid business. Overall though, I would come back.
(3)Ron B.
I am not sure how this was ever voted the "Best Pizza" but it is better than the rest of their food. Pasta is overcooked and tasteless. Overall the food is spotty. I love wood fired pizza and sometimes acceptable, others not. Order "Out of Order", which if you read the menu is extra cheese and you might be able to see it on the pizza. Tossed salad is chopped iceberg lettuce and not much else. Owner is rude and not interested in his customers. I have been back several times and I really want it to be good but...
(1)Niamh O.
Oh, Betta's. You are so lovely and convenient. Right on the corner of Cleanay and Montgomery, it's a hop, skip, and a jump from my campus office at Xavier. While it can get busy, it's never too busy at lunch for me to find a seat and get my food quickly. I wouldn't risk it on Xavier basketball nights, though... I've only ever eaten the pizza here, and it is superb. Brick oven, thin, crispy crunchy, and hot out of the oven. Absolutely fabulous. And the prices really are quite reasonable--a great spot to split a pie with a friend and rehash the morning's meetings or the previous night's activities. I plan to return again and again and again.
(4)Carlee T.
Even after trying all the new pizza places that have popped up in the past couple of years, Betta's remains our favorite. Great place to pick up takeout if you don't have time to sit down. And very reasonably priced where a $12 pizza feeds two of us and a small child.
(5)KC K.
Lots of fuss, lots of press, lots of fanfare. I wanted to buy in, but frankly, I just couldn't. Being named the best pizza in Cincy is like being the nicest criminal in Sing Sing. Good: lots of topping choices, amazing crust...and I mean amazing, affordable prices, large menu, nice looking bar, family owned. Bad: worst salad ever (bagged mixed greens and dressing) under cheesed pizza, weak alcohol selection, small parking lot, poor service on a very slow night, decor was very unimaginative and generic. The pizza alone deserves a mention on the Cincy Top 10 list, but I'm not sure it's a top 3 or 4.
(3)Dan H.
Spent more than appropriate for an average lunch. My guest told me that the pizza was good; the cheese ravioli for me was average and served in an odd bowl with nothing else. Some have commented on the owner's(?) son - nice boy, but somewhat distracting when he has the run of the place. Time to get serious or get out.
(2)Kari W.
The staff (including the owner) is terminally unfriendly, inattentive and sometimes just rude. The last time we were there we stood staring at 3 empty tables for about 15 minutes before anyone came to talk to us. By that time there were at least 15 people waiting. Service is slow. But the wood fired pizzas are very good and reasonably priced. The pastas are pretty good as well. Need improvement in the salad area. Expensive bowl of Iceberg lettuce. Enoteca Emilia has MUCH better pizza but its too expensive to take our family. Same with M.
(3)Katherine B.
The management is horrible. The owner was mocking customers and my friends meal came out after my table of 6 was all done with their meals. We went to pay since they make you pay at the register and they continued to be rude. I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(1)Adam B.
#1 in Cincinnati mag 2011. You can see the chef make your pizza from your table and see the wood burning stove glow away. This place has the biggest butcher table i have ever seen that is used to cut and serve pizza. I ordered the Pizza Quattro Staggioni. The crust has an unbelievable light and airy crunch with a faint hint of smoke favor and char. The pizza oven is heated 24/7 to prevent cracking and uses a select cord of oak and sometimes apple wood.
(4)Patty C.
I'm always up for delicious (wood-fired!) pizza - Larosa's just isn't cutting it. Stopped into Betta's on a Saturday (early) evening - it was quaint and loved that the brick oven was up front and center. Because we had a few people with us, we ordered lots of things. ;) Calamari, Cheesy Garlic Bread, 3 pizzas (mine had goat cheese, olives and pepperoni!), meatball hoagie and an italian sausage hoagie. Pizza was awesome - super crispy and thin crust. I love the taste of the "fire" too. Lots of crunchy layers once you got to the end of the toppings. I took ONE bite of the meatball hoagie - it was okay. The big winner there was the bread - crunchy and chewy and soft, all at the same time. I'm not a fan of chips, as a side. I think that's cheating. My only real complaint was the marinara sauce with the garlic bread and calamari - HUGE chunks of tomatoes. Like, taking up the whole dish big. I need dainty chunks - I'm a lady. ;) All in all, a great meal - and I'm excited to find a new place to dive into some delicious, tasty pizza!
(4)Lindsay T.
We had this pizza catered for lunch at work today, and I was kind of disappointed. Which is sad, because I LOVE just about all pizza.. I think it was the crust, it looked like it should have been thick and chewy, but it was dry and crunchy and thin.. Once i ate the pizza and had the crust left, it just kind of crumbles into pieces so I gave up trying to eat that part. It had good flavor, but it wasn't anything extraordinary.
(3)Jason M.
Betta's is a small restaurant tucked away behind Xavier university off of Montgomery road. Parking can accommodate maybe 20 people or so. The restaurant itself has a bar that is separated from the restaurant. The actual restaurant part has about 15 tables or so, and is centered around a wood burning oven where they make their pizzas and calzones. They have a few nice tables by a big window that makes for a good ambiance. Unfortunately for me the ambiance is all this restaurant had for me. The service was excellent, but the food wasn't really up to par. We ordered bruschetta and it was just cut up tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella, and basil leaves laid on top of a baked piece of bread. There was no olive oil, or any sauce mixed in, or on top of the mix. It was really dry, and just didn't taste good. Next we had the pasta with meat sauce, and pasta with sausage and peppers, and onions. The sauce on my pasta was really watery, and the pasta itself was noticeably overcooked. There was one piece of sausage and it tasted ok, but the whole dish just didn't come together. My girlfriend had the pasta with meat sauce, and honestly we have had better meat sauce from a Kroger shelf. Not to be so harsh, but her pasta was $10, and mine was $12, and we literally didn't finish our plates because that's how bad it tasted. If a pasta is $12 it better be delicious!! We ended up getting desert to go, which was tiramisu. We ate that in the car, and it was pretty good actually. I noticed that most people there were getting pizzas, and maybe we should've gotten that, but what we had wasn't good at all. If I'm passing by, I might stop by for a pizza, but I won't go out of my way to make another trip here.
(2)Sandra F.
My husband and I just got finished bowling and wanted to check this place out since it's the closest restaurant in the area. Betta's Italian Oven is located near the I-71 South exit on a busy Montgomery Road. Parking hard to find. When we dined in, we went to the bar area. It's a cute little joint. Feels cozy and laid back. The bartender gave us waters right away and was very friendly. I wanted an appetizer before we got dinner. Started off with the Bruschetta $6.95 which you get 4 pieces of toasted italian bread topped with mozzarella, fresh basil, tomatoes with garlic and olive oil. When we got the bruschetta, it was missing the garlic and olive oil. So the appetizer tasted really dry and bland. The toasted italian bread was extra crunchy and overcooked. Since that was bad, I didn't even want to attempt to order dinner. I was afraid that I would overspend on another bad meal. When the bartender came back, I smiled and asked for the check. I felt bad and thought I would give their pizza margherita a try, but my gut told me not to. We ended up going to Gordo's Pub and Grill. Maybe another day we'll come back and try the pizza, but after the bad appetizer, I don't know.....
(3)Ben S.
Xavier grad here. Went there a total of 3 times my entire 4 years in school. Decent, but I mean...not too crazy. Its good for a lunch stop because the prices are good, its definitely a destination if you can't drive to Oakley or Rookwood commons, but I never went out of my way to go there.
(3)Dan L.
Bettas is a great option for Pizza in the Cincinnati area. Location - easy it get to off 71. Parking in the rear is nice given the local area can be hit or miss. Food - pizza is awesome! Haven't been disappointed once with pizza. The salad leaves something to be desired as other have written in other reviews. Beverages - great options on draft! Wine list as well. Price - pretty standard for a pizza joint. Around 12 bucks per pizza depending on toppings but can get expensive depending on what you like. Beverages are normal. If you don't split and get an appetizer, or salads, all in for a couple with tip will be around 50 bucks. Service - in visits over the past 10 years very hit or miss. Sometimes very friendly and attentive, other times the opposite. One thing I don't like is on multiple occasions in large groups we have all been out in one ticket which makes checking out not timely or enjoyable. Ambiance - typical restaurant feel, lighting a bit dark. Restaurant was clean including bathroom. Overall definitely recommend as an option for a good pizza place.
(4)Jake W.
I literally just had the worst chicken parm of my life. The chicken was bone dry and nearly burnt to a crisp. It also had a strange rubbery feel to it, definitely frozen. Stick to the pizza or calzone and spare yourself the disappointment.
(1)Scott M.
To be fair, I have yet to try the wood-fired pizza that drove me to Betta's in the first place. Outside the signs claim "Best Pizza in Cincinnati", which, again, is not much of a claim, but it remains to be tested, which could greatly alter this review. Atmosphere is pretty cute. A single room Italian restaurant with a big wood-fire stove near the back center, behind the counter. The people that waited on me were friendly, welcoming, and prompt with their service. I decided, in my on-going quest for decent Italian in Cincinnati, to test the sauce, since this is largely how I judge an Italian restaurant. I ordered the spaghetti with marinara, which is easily the simplest thing on an Italian menu. If you can't get this right, what are the chances the more complicated stuff is any good? And that's where I felt a little let down. The spaghetti in marinara came out, cooked al dente. I imagine the sauce ingredients list began with tomato paste, which is correct, but it would seem that the ingredient list ended right there. The sauce was tart, and honestly, it just tastes like tomato paste. It's not savory or robust or any other adjective you'd want when describing marinara. It was much closer to a Margherita sauce, which is a pizza sauce that I'm not a huge fan of either. I found myself adding gobs of Parmesan in hopes of improving the flavor, but that just gave it more of a stinky feet flavor than anything. Don't get me wrong, the sauce wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good either. That said, I would totally go back to give the pizza a whirl. The place was lovely, warm, friendly, and the food wasn't bad either. I just think we can do better on the sauce.
(3)Cyndi P.
My husband and I found this place by accident but we're really glad to find a family owned and run restaurant. We love to support the little guy especially when the food is good. Pizza cooked in a fire oven rules!
(4)H. David R.
We decided to try Betta's after several people told us the pizza was good, it was a weeknight and we arrived around 6:30 PM. The smallish restaurant was crowded but several tables were available, we ordered drinks and after getting them we were informed that the wait for pizza was 25-30 minutes as everyone had ordered pizza. We were hungry and decided to just split an appetizer and an entree, we were then informed it would be an extra $2.50 fee for splitting? We've been splitting entree's for quite awhile in much nicer places than this and have NEVER been charged do do so. We decided to finish our drinks and go somewhere else and when my wife went to the register to pay, "Waffle House" style and she mentioned something about the wait the guy who was cooking the pizzas rudely informed her that "quality takes time" and if she's in a hurry she should just go to Little Caesars!!! He then told the cashier to give her $5.00 so she could do that. Good food goes hand in hand with good service so this place should be avoided like the plague and if the owner reads this I suggest you put that rude fat cook somewhere in the back of the restaurant away from customers. BTW we used that 5 bucks at Frisch's for burgers and we were served in a timely courteous manner.............. Still relevant!
(1)Jennifer B.
I'm from Norwood and consider myself quit the little foodie! I've heard mixed reviews about this place and last night was finally my chance to try her out! I thought the place would be packed with XU peeps - but we were the youngest in the place. Love the decor/pizza oven and parking in back made it easy to sneak in the back door (damn it's cold out)! What I ordered: Side Salad: For 2 bucks it was a steal. I asked for croutons - "sorry, we don't have croutons", WHO THE HELL DOESN'T"T HAVE CROUTONS?? :) Chicken Filo: Holy crap is this good! So not healthy for you (the menu didn't say it was covered in alfredo) but I will definitely order this again when I'm having a chubby day. Took forever for us to get our bill - we finally did and went up front to pay the bill. Too bad the waitress didn't tell us they had all kinds of desserts (hello Baklava) - mamma would have gone home with some sweets!
(4)Morgan C.
Betta's is a cute little family owned restaurant. The staff were all very friendly and the food was outstanding! I'm normally very picky when it comes to Italian food because of my own family's cooking, but Betta's is full of flavor unlike other Italian restaurants in the area. We will definitely be back again soon!
(4)Hyatt G.
My wife and I heard about this place before and took the advice to stick to the pizza. Having just had A Tavola a few nights prior, Betta's had a lot of ground to cover. First, we were happy with the price. Lunch for two for $13.Service was just OK, a little too much chit-chat behind the counter. Pizza was great. Near the top of the list in Cincinnati, but not as good as A Tavola. Kind of like yesterday's italian food vs tomorrow's italian food. Although the pie was good, I will not make a special trip to Betta's. But we'd definitely go back if we were in the area.
(4)Ameet C.
We went to Betta's last month and it was my first time there. We went there on a Friday night late after work. The restaurant is in the heart of Norwood just off Montgomery road, and it's easy to find. The interior is very "Italian". We sat a table by the window and it was fun watching the world go by outside. I ordered some Fettucine Alfredo, and sadly, I was disappointed by it. The pasta was cooked perfectly, but the sauce was just ok... I don't want to sound harsh, but the sauce tasted just like it was out of a jar. My dish came with a slice of garlic bread, which was also nothing special to comment on. I really hate giving a negative review to an independently owned business, but again, I have to be honest in my reviews and write frankly on what I have experienced during my visit. The plus side was that the prices were reasonable and parking is easy to find. My coworkers then told me that their pizzas are good, so I guess I will be making another trip there to try the pizza. I hope my opinion changes in my subsequent visit.
(2)Ben D.
Love the pizza here...very traditional thin, wood oven baked pizza with minimal sauce/cheese/topings. If you like spicy go for the pizza diavolo! Sandwiches are great too!
(5)Paige M.
Authentic Italian food meets Mom & Pop diner. Inside Betta's you'll find a large, simple dining room with a deli counter with all the homemade cakes on display. Alongside them, I spotted an eggplant wearing a smiley face made out of vegetables. Somehow I knew our food would be fantastic too. Our server helped us rearrange the tables to comfortably seat our party of five. She was very kind, attentive, and loved to call us "sweetie." We could watch the cook hard at work behind the counter, sliding pizzas into the giant wood fire oven. Meanwhile, his two young sons helped out around the dining room. I enjoy that charm of family owned restaurants. I ordered: - Eggplant Appetizer - Ranch Pizza (loaded with veggies and chicken) - Sweet Red wine The eggplant were three fried slices topped with marinara and melted mozzarella. The cheese and sauce complimented the eggplant, but the slices were a bit small. I prefer eggplant that are the size of coasters. My pizza was excellent, a imperfect round circle of dough that guarantees the crust was hand-tossed. The wood fire oven made the dough soft and crispy and held in the flavors of all the ingredients. One pizza had about eight slices, and was slightly too much for just one person, meaning leftovers! The Sweet Red wine was perfect as I prefer fruity drinks. One of my friends commented that it tasted similar to sangria. They had a glass of the Will's Red, which was good, but slightly heavier than the Sweet Red. I also sampled Kara C.'s fettuccine with goat cheese -YUM! I'll definitely be back to order an entire bowl for myself!
(4)Katherine M.
Betta's is what I consider the place for my mom and I to go. Right down the street from her work, we started going here when it opened when I was in high school, and have gone ever since. The location is on a little corner in Norwood near Xavier and Dana Avenue. There is a big chef statue outside - look for that, then there is a parking lot. The restaurant is small and cute, you can see them make the pizza and get it in the oven. The tables are nice and spread out and it's comfortable inside. Service is always good as well - the people who work here and nice and considerate. The food is good - I'm a huge fan of the garlic bread sticks but no one else (in my family) is. They take their pizza dough and form them into crunch breadsticks - dip them in the marinara - OH SO GOOD! I love them. My mom and I always got their margherita pizza back in the day - that is the best thing in my opinion. Delicious hand formed crust with that great oven baked flavor, fresh mozzarella, delicious tomatoes, and basil. Really good. Their pasta is okay - nothing too special - the tortellini tastes like the stuff I can get at home just with their sauce (which their sauce is so good). We also have had the italian beef sandwich - which I wasn't a fan of. The beef was kind of bland and the bread was undercooked - not soggy - but uncooked dough. Weird?! Overall, go here and get the pizza. Get it. go.
(4)Michael N.
/I really hate to be writing this but i feel i must. A group of my friends and i decided that we were going to tour the city and visit the top 5 pizza joints in the area as rated by Cincinnati Magazine. Which rated Betta's number one on the list. I must say that it doesn't deserve the spot in any way, shape, fashion, or form. The pizza was "meh" at best. No where near the status of Via Vite (number 3) or Enoteca Emilia (number 2). The toppings were good, the cheese was very bland, and the only good thing about the sauce was the bright red color. The dough on the other hand was top notch. Cooked to perfection. My wife said her Italian Sub was "good but nothing special". The very sad part of the evening was this. My wife called today around 3pm to let them know that we would arrive at 5pm with a party of 14 people, no one answered and left a message. According to the recording the store would be open from 5pm-11pm. When we arrived at 4:45pm there were several parties already seated and eating. And we never got a return call...so when we showed up with 14 people a look of shock over came the staff. Why do you have a recording, stating you'll return phone calls, if you have no intention of doing so. Then to top it off.... We went there with a party for 14, when the waitress was going around and taking our orders we told her who was in what party. Since there were 6 separate checks. She motioned as if she was writing down our orders in a "party format". At the end of our meal we were presented with a 177 dollar check. When we asked, what seemed to be the manager/owner, the person working the register if they could separate the orders his reply was extremely short, and cold. And i quote his words "no we cannot, we don't do that, it's not our policy". Which makes it troublesome for the end customer to figure what they owe, when i asked to be split into various checks. At that point we as a group decided that we will not return, and personally i mean it. Nor would i recommend anyone to this place. The only reason i gave it 2 stars instead of one, was the food was suitable for human consumption. But if you want a good pizza, please visit one of the two places i mentioned above.
(2)Kara C.
This is one of those places that always sounds great to eat. The staff are friendly and know their menu well, not to mention the fact that the wine is very reasonably priced. I was very happy when Betta's finally got their liquor license and rarely dine there without at least a glass of wine. Being a creature of habit, I have the tendency to order the same thing each time I go (fettucine alfredo + goat cheese). It has never disappointed me! I mean, how could a restaurant NOT be great if they have goat cheese?!?! My fiance tends to get something different with each visit and has always enjoyed his food also. I know several reviewers have mentioned their pizzas and they are quite delicious. If you're looking for a satisfying Italian meal that won't bankrupt you, check out Betta's. Make sure to say hi to the owner...he's super nice!!!
(5)Ben N.
A sad and humiliating commentary on the state of pizza in Cincinnati: Betta's, one of the few restaurants in town (Norwood, actually) serving wood-fired pizzas, feels compelled to include on its menu a disclaimer explaining that its pizza is not "burnt" and that dough fired at more than 600 degrees naturally will leave some light black char marks and bubbles on the crust. It's difficult to believe that these features, which can so enhance the flavor and texture of pizza, could be a source for diners' complaints, but then, this is LaRosa's-ville.... Betta's wood-fired pizzas aren't the best you've ever had, assuming you've been to Italy or NY or any of a bunch of other places, but they're the best I've had in this town (including one mediocre one at the otherwise fine Via Vite), and they're certainly good enough to warrant regular visits. And from that standpoint alone, Betta's deserves your recognition and business. The traditional pies, like the margherita and "Four Seasons," seem to be the best. Betta's also has a fairly large menu of standard casual Italian fare: antipasti platters and bruschetta as appetizers, chicken cacciatore, red-sauce pastas, and so on. While none of this stuff is particularly great, it's not bad, and what's really impressive about all of it is the low prices. It's easy for two to absolutely stuff themselves here--and even order a bottle of grocery-store-level wine (think Robert Mondavi "Private Selection") with a very modest markup--for about 35 or 40 bucks. The decor is kind of bland and already feels a little 1990s-ish. The background music of Italian pop standards (e.g. Louie Prima, Dean Martin) all sounds familiar, but it's pretty fun. Except when Betta's is really crowded, service is solid for a restaurant in this price range. Order up a wood-fired pizza or two and a bottle of wine and you've got a recipe for a enjoyable evening on the cheap.
(4)Brandy V.
I am so torn. I enjoyed my food, it was so yummy..but when our check came it was added up wrong, $2 difference. Not a huge amount but enough for me to wonder..Reese Peanut Butter pie was yummy, but not worth $4.50 for a tiny, tiny slice. Would possibly get carryout since I live close, but probably wont dine there again.
(2)Rachel B.
I got a take out order of Lasagna shortly after I moved to Cincinnati. It was delicious, creamy & meaty..it reminded me of my mom's, the funny thing is my mom hardly ever made lasagna..too much work. After the take out I sort of forgot about this place. I moved to Norwood last August & am now less than a 5 minute drive to Betta's..that is dangerous. I took my folks here when they came down for my birthday. The sign out front reads "The Best Pizza in Cincy" it didn't live that title down. I ordered a bowl of pasta that I must admit..tasted a bit like feet. My folks both ordered pizzas that looked & smelled amazing. Since that night I have gotten take out from Betta's several times & each time it does not disappoint. I will be returning to Betta's. if is was so good why only 4 stars...alas, they do not deliver.
(4)Ann R.
Betta's is the only decent restaurant withing walking distance of Xavier's campus. They are known for their pizza and it is pretty good--some people will disagree, but I actually like the dryness of the wood-fired crust, although the tomato sauce tastes too much like canned tomatoes taken out of the can and placed immediately on the pizza. Each pie is about $12 (depending on toppings), but they are smallish in size and one hungry college boy will easily devour a whole pizza by himself. The beer selection is excellent, featuring many of the brews from the Listerman cooperative. Betta's is a great option for a small dinner for 2-4 people. However, I don't recommend it for large gatherings. I brought my students to Betta's for an end-of-the-semester celebration. We sat in the new bar area because my students had to come and go and the Betta's staff was hesitant to seat our group of 15 when they knew people would be coming and going (which is fine). In hindsight, this was probably not the best idea because the bar area is very narrow and it was difficult to talk to everyone. All in all, it was fine, especially considering our local options. There was just one problem--a kid in the bar. The owners' (owners' families'? someone's?) five year old was free-range in the bar area and decided to befriend us. He is a cute kid and it is a family establishment; I know. The kid crawled under our chairs, butted into every conversation, climbed on my students, and told one of my students he looked like "a Chinese guy" (the student is a Chinese guy--so that's not offensive, and the student laughed about it). In other words, the little boy acted like a five year old. I have a good sense of humor; kids will be kids; etc. However, when I go out, I don't want to babysit. My students, likewise, did not want to play jungle gym, assist a young child with his dinner, or blow into a saliva-filled toy whistle. The kid made me and my students uncomfortable, and the proprietors of the establishment didn't seem to notice. Eventually, our group had to leave because we reached the limit of free babysitting tolerance. I am not sure if the kid is around every night or if it was a special occasion, but our enjoyment of the evening was diminished by our pint-sized "guest". I don't mean to sound like a jerk--I just don't think it is fair to force kids onto unwilling customers. I will probably go back to Betta's because I like the food and the beer. However, because of the space constraints and the possibility of conscripted babysitting, I won't hold any more group events there.
(3)Sarah B.
Oh, Betta's. I wanted to love you! Cincinnati magazine said you had the best pizza in town, and specifically mentioned the margherita as one that would "make (me) a believer." So I had high hopes. But I'm sad to report that you let me down. The wood-fired crust is indeed great (though not any better than others I've had), but the toppings were bland and flavorless, especially the basil on my beloved margherita. My date had the pizza tricolore (white sauce, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes) and was similarly unimpressed. The garlic breadsticks are an interesting concept, but they took too long to arrive, and as with the pizza toppings, we couldn't even taste the garlic. Combined with the mediocre service - the extremely tiny two-tops, the fact that our pizzas took half an hour to arrive because "everyone in this large group ordered a pizza!" (really? that never happens? you don't have a regular contingency plan for it?), the screaming children, the blast of cold air every time the door opened - I doubt I'll be back. For better pizza and better service, I highly recommend Pomodori or Dewey's.
(2)Jason B.
Before we begin I need to tell you something. I'm an Army Brat. My dad served 20 years in the United States Army and that was my world until I graduated and headed off to college. Growing up I spent thirteen years of my childhood overseas. For three of those years (ages 10 - 12) I lived in Italy. Three years in Italy. Dad was stationed at Camp Darby. We lived in downtown Livorno, just thirty minutes from Pisa and the Tower (which I've seen 32 times). Rome, Venice, Naples, Florence, Milan, Genoa, Verona, Parma, Vicenza, Lucca, Trani, Siena, Capri, I got to see it all. But more importantly, I got to taste it all. Every restaurant was an authentic Italian restaurant. There were no Olive Gardens. No Fazzolis. No Carrabas. No Buca di Bepos. No Spaghetti Factories. No Pizza Huts, Papa Johns or Dominos. Just real Italian restaurants, with real Italian food served by real Italians. I got to experience Italian cuisine the way it's supposed to be. In other words, when it comes to Italian food, I'm a bit of a snob. I'm not a big fan of the types of Americanized versions of Italian cooking (the Olive Gardens and delivery pizza joints I mentioned earlier) that are prevalent back in the good, old US of A. Given what I was lucky enough to experience as a kid, as an adult when I'm looking for an Italian restaurant I want as close to being back in Italy as I can get. This usually means limiting myself to smaller, family-owned eateries where the recipes are family secrets that have been passed down through generations and have their origins straight from the old country. So I was real excited when I learned about Betta's. Located just down the street from where I used to work, my co-workers would sing this place's praises. They told me of the history...opened years ago by Italian immigrants who kept it in the family and it was now being run by the adult children of the original owners. The food was nothing like what you find in other Italian restaurants. This was real, authentic Italian food. I became even more excited when I learned of the old-fashioned oven where the pizzas where cooked according to tradition. I knew this place was going to be a favorite of mine for years to come. I was so wrong. Stepping through the door I immediately realized that I had walked into yet another American stereotype of an Italian restaurant. Cheap wallpaper depicting a generic Italian landscape. Cheap prints of Italian landmarks in cheap frames. Cheesy Italian-flavored music piping through the sound system. I could not help but let out an audible moan of despair. Since it was just down the street from the job and since my co-workers didn't know any better, I often found myself having to swallow my pride and accompany my friends as this was a popular place to go out for lunch. Oh, if only they knew what I knew. If only. Everything on the menu is made on the cheap. Be it the lasagna, the tortellini, the spaghetti, even the salad...the ingredients are spotty at best. If you go within a couple of days of the delivery truck's arrival, the food is tolerable. Other than that, nope. Freshness, not a priority. And every dish I've tried has been saturated in grease which has led to a serious lack of flavor. If you're thinking whether or not you should hold out hope for the pizza, especially as it's made old-style...don't. Making pizza over a wood-fire is an art. The cooks at Betta's are no artists. The crust is dry, the sauce bland, the toppings are hit-or-miss freshness-wise (again, depending on the delivery truck), and more often than not the thing comes out burnt. With the exception of some family members, the staff is almost exclusively college students from nearby Xavier. Which means sometimes they're great, and sometimes it's just poor. I've had servers who were tremendous and others who were just this side of mentally deficient. And I haven't even mentioned the worst part. That would be the owner. I have had the unfortunate pleasure of having to address this man directly on a number of occasions. I have spent the last twenty minutes, looking at this review, trying to figure out a way to describe him. This is all I can come up with. The guy's a world-class prick. He's yelling at his servers. He's yelling at his kitchen staff. He's yelling at his relatives. I've even seen this guy yell at customers. I had to confront him more than once on our bill when either I or our whole table was overcharged (another habit of this establishment) and the guy has never failed to raise his voice with me, almost as if my questioning his integrity was an affront . Not only is Betta's bad Italian. It's just an all-around bad restaurant. Mahalo, and avoid.
(1)Julia C.
The food is very good (I had spaghetti and meatballs, and an order of bruschetta). Their prices are reasonable, and the staff is friendly. My only complaint is that it seems a little under-staffed. Granted, I was there on a Wednesday evening, so it wasn't very busy - but there was only one server working, so service took a little while. She was very nice, and we got our food fairly quickly; it just took a while for the check to get to us. That's not a deal-breaker for me, though, as I don't usually go to a non-fast-food restaurant if I don't have the time to stay for a while. I would definitely go back.
(3)Jennifer B.
the food is very good. it is always cold in the joint. I guess because the owner is cooking over a 600 degree oven. not my problem. I dont want to be cold. They are often understaffed which annoys me...plus the owners son who is about four is always in the restaurant (not fair to him). Open the other side already, it has been two years. I always go back for some reason, but i always have the same compaints.
(3)Carolyn G.
Salad did not contain romaine as stated on menu but rather iceberg lettuce and spring mix. So much for the "Mediterranean" salad. Tasted my companion's pizza and was not really impressed. I don't understand all the raves for this place. There's much better Italian food to be had in Cincinnati. I guess if you work nearby or go to Xavier it would be adequate from time to time.
(2)Roy P.
Used to be good. But now the dumb Dago owner doesn't come in to make pizzas. I guess it went from great to garbage.
(1)G V.
They close at 2:00pm. Pizza good but would not have come if we knew we would not be served after 2:00. Very nice gentleman let us stay and talk after store closed in the afternoon. Pizza was tasty. We had the Tricolor one. Would have bought more and ordered some wine had it been open for business. Verify hours before driving there. Would come again if I knew they were open. Ample parking in rear.
(3)Sarah T.
Oh, Betta's. It's the #1 pick on some list for best pizzas in the city, so I must taste. And you delivered. All pizzas are on a thin crust (so good thing I like thin crust?). It makes for a crispy crust. The server was wonderful and the cheesesticks were delectable. The decor is homey. The oven is actually facing the dining room with a warm stone finish, so you can watch your pizzas being topped and baked. You can see the fire log simply burning in there! Very well designed. At first, I was skeptical because the menu is huge! But I stuck with cheesesticks, pizza, and yeungling. Fantastic.
(5)Sanjeet G.
A great family run italian place near Xavier! Pros: 1) The service is always great 2) The Pizza is delicious and cooked in a wood oven, you can't go wrong with the calzones or pasta either 3) Very reasonably priced Cons: 1) Not a place to go if you are in a rush and want a quick lunch
(4)Greer B.
This place has THE most bland sauce I've ever had. The spaghetti was over cooked and we took the suggestion to order the special - bad move. It was a special stuffed eggplant dish. It was stuffed with some sort of ricotta mixture which was incredibly bland as well. I usually love Mom and Pop joints but I would not recommend this one.
(1)Tara N.
YUM! I came here for lunch, and I was really impressed! The prices were low, the food was good, and the portions were huge. Service was great, and we were able to dawdle over drinks that never ran empty. Will definitely return!
(4)Brian C.
I often have cravings for Italian food. This is unfortunate for someone living in Cincinnati where the heritage is almost entirely German. Thanks to Yelp! I stumbled upon this little gem in Norwood, no more than five minutes away and yet I seldom venture there. I'm glad I did. The wood fired pizzas were just what I was looking for and rival even the excellent fare at Pomodori's and with a decent wine selection and near perfect desserts you can bet I'll be visiting Betta's again soon.
(4)Jonathan S.
We've been a few times. The service has always been good, and the food has always been very good.
(4)