Ciao Bella Ristorante Menu

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  • Sue X.

    Monday night House wine is decent and $2!! The food is well prepared and consistent. Wait staff and owners are on hand and attentive.

    (4)
  • Chera S.

    I was given a gift certificate to use at Ciao Bella, so on a Sunday afternoon my daughter and I decided to check it out. First of all, I think there was only one waiter in the entire place. We were seated and given menus, and then didn't see the waiter until about ten minutes later. He finally came over and we ordered our drinks. Another ten minutes goes by when we finally receive them. The place had only a few other customers, so being busy was obviously not the reason for the delay. When he brings our drinks, we decided to take the opportunity to place our order while he was in front of us. The bad service was only the start of this horrible dining experience! My daughter ordered the ravioli, she received four on a plate for over $8.00. She did, however, say they were good. We were just taken aback that she only received four! I ordered the steak poor boy sandwich. It was horrendous! I ordered it medium well, it came to me medium rare with blood soaking into the bread! In addition, it was the most bland & tough piece of meat I have ever eaten. It literally had no flavor & I could hardly chew it because it was so tough. It was served plain, nothing on top like onions or sauce, and no dipping sauce either. No steak sauce was offered. I was so disgusted I left three-fourths of the sandwich on the plate, left hungry! The waiter comes to give me the check and I present him with my gift certificate. He says they won't accept it because it's only good for the special of the day! I was like, excuse me?!? So, I asked to speak to the manager. She comes over and I proceed to explain our dissatisfaction with the food and the amount of ravioli we received for the price & then tell her about the gift certificate dilemma. She makes no apology for the quality & quantity of the food and then proceeds to inform me that the certificate is only good for the special, and that I will have to use it on another visit! Now I am rather irate at her lack of concern & her unwillingness to compensate us for any part of the order AND her unwillingness to accept the certificate. I inform her that I will not be returning to use it and could she AT LEAST take off the price of the daily special (which was $6). She SNATCHES the certificate off the table and storms off, then sends the waiter to give me a new bill. He is profusely apologetic at this point (probably because he realizes it's going to affect his tip), but it's too little too late. I did end up tipping him for the entire price of the bill because I realize he has no control over the quality/quantity of food or his manager's self-righteous & unapologetic attitude. His service, however, still sucked! I did not take the remainder of the sandwich home with me because quite honestly, it was disgusting. I'd rather they just throw it out. I will NEVER be returning to this restaurant again!!

    (1)
  • Kara B.

    This is a great local restaurant. The food and wine selection include a variety of choices. There's never been a meal here that my family hasn't liked. I would say it's small and charming with a very friendly atmosphere. Seriously, this is one of my faves when I'm in town. Btw, the chicken rustica is amazing. It has the perfect amount of seasoning (not too salty like other restaurants) and the meat melts in your mouth. The potatoes as a side are wonderful too. You must try their desserts. If you like Baileys as much as I do there's a dessert drink you have to order!

    (5)
  • savi o.

    I love this restaurant. definitely a first choice when my family wants to go out to eat. as soon as we walk in it smells great! the greeter is very nice and lets us sneak a booth if there's any left! the waiters/waitresses are always so nice and helpful. and the food is of course the best part! the eggplant parmigiana special is to die for. i recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone!

    (5)
  • Leann N.

    We had amazing food and service! Steak was just incredible and I was not surprised when I learned that these folks bought the broiler from Maria's. Just outstanding!

    (5)
  • Margaret M.

    Five of us plus a baby enjoyed a very pleasant evening there. Even though it took two of the party a little extra time to get there, we had service that was good enough without being impatient. The Italian bread had maybe been sliced too early-was a little too dry--but the rest of the food was very good. I had the flat iron steak marsala, and it was excellent. Wine specials make a pleasant glass of wine with dinner very affordable. And in the true Italian spirit, the baby was welcome, made much of (I saw the same thing in Italy on a regular basis), and given some gelato on the house. Our desserts were also delicious, and everything was plated beautifully. Thanks to all for an evening with friends that couldn't have been better.

    (4)
  • Lindsey G.

    Had a flatbread for lunch. Hubby had spaghetti and meatballs. Thought it was odd that restaurant was empty but now I know why... Food was very forgettable. Flatbread was ok if you ask them to make it well done, otherwise they are softer than I like. Spaghetti tasted just like I made it at home, nothing special.

    (2)
  • Brian C.

    I am giving Ciao Bella 2 stars because the owner greeted us at our table and was just so nice. The food was below average, the service was average and the wine seemed overpriced. I had steak and my friend had chicken. The chicken was decent but my steak was very poor. The table next to me also had a steak order and they sent theirs back! I would have but had a show to be at afterwards and didn't have time to wait for a replacement. There are a lot of average to below average Italian restaurants in Rockford and this is one of them. Pass.

    (2)
  • Natasha P.

    I am giving Ciao Bella one star due to their poor customer service. I bought a restaurant.com gift card for the restaurant 2 weeks ago,so my boyfriend and I went to dinner there for our anniversary. Our server was good and the food was okay, but when we went to pay the server had no idea about the giftcard. She got the owner's son, who told me they were " no longer honoring" the giftcard that I purchased!!! I asked for a manager but there were none working?? So we just paid the tab ( THEY DID NOT COMP ANYTHING.. despite my situation) and I called the manager this morning, who was once again not there. Finally, I get a call back and he left a message telling me they aren't affiliated with that website and my gift card was not valid. I have been a loyal customer and I will NOT be returning to this restaurant after the terrible customer service.

    (1)
  • D B.

    The food was good could use more flavor. The risotto was actually very good, had nice flavor. Atmosphere was busy and very crowded.

    (3)
  • Al J.

    Crowded, loud and the food was mediocre. Tilapia was bland. It was Valentines Day and we had early reservations and I thought they would have their "A" game on. They didn't and we haven't been back since.

    (2)
  • Terri N.

    Met friends here for dinner Friday night. I had the chicken picaata. It was excellent, The tiramisu was great but I think I tasted a bit of freezer burn. My husband had a steak. He said it was good, but not great. My friend who has been there a few other times raved about it. We will visit again. We were there at 7:00 and it was kind of loud.

    (4)
  • Janet L.

    Love the attention to providing authentic Sicilian style food. Cozy, warm, friendly bar area. Ciao tends to be our "go to" place at least once a week.

    (4)
  • Jennifer K.

    Just enjoyed a brilliant lunch with my love. Claire was an exceptional server with much attention to detail. The food was fantastic.

    (5)
  • Chera S.

    I was given a gift certificate to use at Ciao Bella, so on a Sunday afternoon my daughter and I decided to check it out. First of all, I think there was only one waiter in the entire place. We were seated and given menus, and then didn't see the waiter until about ten minutes later. He finally came over and we ordered our drinks. Another ten minutes goes by when we finally receive them. The place had only a few other customers, so being busy was obviously not the reason for the delay. When he brings our drinks, we decided to take the opportunity to place our order while he was in front of us. The bad service was only the start of this horrible dining experience! My daughter ordered the ravioli, she received four on a plate for over $8.00. She did, however, say they were good. We were just taken aback that she only received four! I ordered the steak poor boy sandwich. It was horrendous! I ordered it medium well, it came to me medium rare with blood soaking into the bread! In addition, it was the most bland & tough piece of meat I have ever eaten. It literally had no flavor & I could hardly chew it because it was so tough. It was served plain, nothing on top like onions or sauce, and no dipping sauce either. No steak sauce was offered. I was so disgusted I left three-fourths of the sandwich on the plate, left hungry! The waiter comes to give me the check and I present him with my gift certificate. He says they won't accept it because it's only good for the special of the day! I was like, excuse me?!? So, I asked to speak to the manager. She comes over and I proceed to explain our dissatisfaction with the food and the amount of ravioli we received for the price & then tell her about the gift certificate dilemma. She makes no apology for the quality & quantity of the food and then proceeds to inform me that the certificate is only good for the special, and that I will have to use it on another visit! Now I am rather irate at her lack of concern & her unwillingness to compensate us for any part of the order AND her unwillingness to accept the certificate. I inform her that I will not be returning to use it and could she AT LEAST take off the price of the daily special (which was $6). She SNATCHES the certificate off the table and storms off, then sends the waiter to give me a new bill. He is profusely apologetic at this point (probably because he realizes it's going to affect his tip), but it's too little too late. I did end up tipping him for the entire price of the bill because I realize he has no control over the quality/quantity of food or his manager's self-righteous & unapologetic attitude. His service, however, still sucked! I did not take the remainder of the sandwich home with me because quite honestly, it was disgusting. I'd rather they just throw it out. I will NEVER be returning to this restaurant again!!

    (1)
  • Kara B.

    This is a great local restaurant. The food and wine selection include a variety of choices. There's never been a meal here that my family hasn't liked. I would say it's small and charming with a very friendly atmosphere. Seriously, this is one of my faves when I'm in town. Btw, the chicken rustica is amazing. It has the perfect amount of seasoning (not too salty like other restaurants) and the meat melts in your mouth. The potatoes as a side are wonderful too. You must try their desserts. If you like Baileys as much as I do there's a dessert drink you have to order!

    (5)
  • savi o.

    I love this restaurant. definitely a first choice when my family wants to go out to eat. as soon as we walk in it smells great! the greeter is very nice and lets us sneak a booth if there's any left! the waiters/waitresses are always so nice and helpful. and the food is of course the best part! the eggplant parmigiana special is to die for. i recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone!

    (5)
  • Kaustubh S.

    We went in a group of 6.... One of us had the wrong order show up. .. which got replaced by another order. .. The replaced order lacked flavor....2 other people didn't like their food either. .. The management is nice. .courteous. .. servers are nice. .... but the food is very over priced for its flavor. ..

    (2)
  • Candice W.

    First time there. Lunch for two of us and we were quite pleased and content. We both had the Mango Salmon wrap and sautéed veggies on the side. It was perfect. Wrapped in lettuce with the mango....scrumptious! Our waitress was attentive and pleasant. I'd go back and also have recommended it to others.

    (5)
  • Leann N.

    We had amazing food and service! Steak was just incredible and I was not surprised when I learned that these folks bought the broiler from Maria's. Just outstanding!

    (5)
  • Melissa R.

    I was given a gift card and was looking forward to trying it... My first visit in was met with a rude staff that would not serve me because the closed at 9. I was in looking for dinner at 8:40. The restaurant was about 30 percent full of eating diners. The staff said the "kitchen is closed" and they "couldn't even boil water" so I called to speak to the manager or owner the next day. He apologized, invited me in again to allow him to make it up to us, he was nice enough when I arrived. The food wasn't amazing, and I expected him to offer a glass of wine or a dessert on him... He did not! Over all unsatisfied. Would not return. Not even with a gift card

    (1)
  • Kristy A.

    What has happened to my wonderful place? We come here every couple of months. The last few visits have been bad. I ordered the chicken piccata and I couldn't cut through it and was starved so I ate the very bland pasta. Our server was young and inexperienced. So we flagged down the hostess. But by this time we had paid and wanted to just go. She was very nice but did nothing. Mr. C the owner was busy so we filled out a comment card. Never did we get an email, call or anything. Sad. This place needs a little help. Menu prices are high, food not great and service is failing. I hope they can turn it around. Way too many Italian restaurants that have them beat ! I had bought a friend a gift card to use a few months back. Hope they don't have the same experience. :-(

    (2)
  • Jane D.

    There were 3 people in our party. The first entree was the lasagna, which was extremely bland and had absolutely no flavor. The second entree was the bay scallops. The bay scallops are very tiny and are served on a bed of penne with marinara. The bay scallops were good but the pasta/sauce was extremely bland with no flavor. The third entree was a breaded chicken (which was good) on a bed of pasta that was mixed in OLIVE OIL ONLY!! Yes, we were utterly shocked at how bland that was also. The 3 of us collectively agreed that we would not be back. Side note, they got rid of their best dish-the Baked Rigatoni. Please note, that the side salads are of the same quality that you would expect from a roadside diner. Very disappointed in the food. I did give this restaurant 1 star because the service was good.

    (1)
  • Kathleen W.

    Outstanding staff. Work well with groups. Private room for groups makes for excellent conversation & socializing. We have already booked for next year. We love how accommodating staff & restaurant are.

    (5)
  • John S.

    Have dined here on several occasions and really enjoy it. Staff is very knowledgeable, and attentive, and the service is always superb. We always get seated quickly, with a minimal wait. Bar area is a little small, and can get quite crowded on a Saturday night. Wine selection is fantastic, and the daily selection is always a sure winner!!! Food is probably my favorite Italian in the Rockford area. Dare I say the Buccatini is better than mine. My wife liked the enjoyed the Chicken Rustica, but thinks its better at another Italian place in the area. I marked it only four stars, because the bartenders could have been a little more attentive. The last time we dined, we waited so long for a bartender to acknowledge us that we actually got seated before being approached for a drink. To me that needs improvement !!!! Other than that, we love this place, when we decide on Italian.. Ciao Bella is where we dine !!!

    (4)
  • Dawn G.

    Excellent food, great Service, quiet atmosphere, Bread was yummy and great choice of wines.

    (4)
  • ken i.

    Average food, average service, average atmosphere, nothing great. Too pricy for average.

    (3)
  • Shauna L.

    Finally tried this restaurant after hearing great things, it lived up to the hype! Went on a Saturday night and it was packed, make reservations! Had the eggplant parmigiana with whole wheat noodles. It was delicious! Finished off with a scrumptious pistachio gelato. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

    (5)
  • Patrick H.

    Meh. Dark and relaxing atmosphere paired with well prepared but archetypal Italian food and a decent wine selection. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, it's just been done before. Not too mention it's in a strip mall, which is odd. Definitely worth a try though.

    (3)
  • Sue X.

    Monday night House wine is decent and $2!! The food is well prepared and consistent. Wait staff and owners are on hand and attentive.

    (4)
  • Kaustubh S.

    We went in a group of 6.... One of us had the wrong order show up. .. which got replaced by another order. .. The replaced order lacked flavor....2 other people didn't like their food either. .. The management is nice. .courteous. .. servers are nice. .... but the food is very over priced for its flavor. ..

    (2)
  • Candice W.

    First time there. Lunch for two of us and we were quite pleased and content. We both had the Mango Salmon wrap and sautéed veggies on the side. It was perfect. Wrapped in lettuce with the mango....scrumptious! Our waitress was attentive and pleasant. I'd go back and also have recommended it to others.

    (5)
  • Jennifer K.

    Just enjoyed a brilliant lunch with my love. Claire was an exceptional server with much attention to detail. The food was fantastic.

    (5)
  • Margaret M.

    Five of us plus a baby enjoyed a very pleasant evening there. Even though it took two of the party a little extra time to get there, we had service that was good enough without being impatient. The Italian bread had maybe been sliced too early-was a little too dry--but the rest of the food was very good. I had the flat iron steak marsala, and it was excellent. Wine specials make a pleasant glass of wine with dinner very affordable. And in the true Italian spirit, the baby was welcome, made much of (I saw the same thing in Italy on a regular basis), and given some gelato on the house. Our desserts were also delicious, and everything was plated beautifully. Thanks to all for an evening with friends that couldn't have been better.

    (4)
  • Lindsey G.

    Had a flatbread for lunch. Hubby had spaghetti and meatballs. Thought it was odd that restaurant was empty but now I know why... Food was very forgettable. Flatbread was ok if you ask them to make it well done, otherwise they are softer than I like. Spaghetti tasted just like I made it at home, nothing special.

    (2)
  • Brian C.

    I am giving Ciao Bella 2 stars because the owner greeted us at our table and was just so nice. The food was below average, the service was average and the wine seemed overpriced. I had steak and my friend had chicken. The chicken was decent but my steak was very poor. The table next to me also had a steak order and they sent theirs back! I would have but had a show to be at afterwards and didn't have time to wait for a replacement. There are a lot of average to below average Italian restaurants in Rockford and this is one of them. Pass.

    (2)
  • Melissa R.

    I was given a gift card and was looking forward to trying it... My first visit in was met with a rude staff that would not serve me because the closed at 9. I was in looking for dinner at 8:40. The restaurant was about 30 percent full of eating diners. The staff said the "kitchen is closed" and they "couldn't even boil water" so I called to speak to the manager or owner the next day. He apologized, invited me in again to allow him to make it up to us, he was nice enough when I arrived. The food wasn't amazing, and I expected him to offer a glass of wine or a dessert on him... He did not! Over all unsatisfied. Would not return. Not even with a gift card

    (1)
  • Kristy A.

    What has happened to my wonderful place? We come here every couple of months. The last few visits have been bad. I ordered the chicken piccata and I couldn't cut through it and was starved so I ate the very bland pasta. Our server was young and inexperienced. So we flagged down the hostess. But by this time we had paid and wanted to just go. She was very nice but did nothing. Mr. C the owner was busy so we filled out a comment card. Never did we get an email, call or anything. Sad. This place needs a little help. Menu prices are high, food not great and service is failing. I hope they can turn it around. Way too many Italian restaurants that have them beat ! I had bought a friend a gift card to use a few months back. Hope they don't have the same experience. :-(

    (2)
  • Natasha P.

    I am giving Ciao Bella one star due to their poor customer service. I bought a restaurant.com gift card for the restaurant 2 weeks ago,so my boyfriend and I went to dinner there for our anniversary. Our server was good and the food was okay, but when we went to pay the server had no idea about the giftcard. She got the owner's son, who told me they were " no longer honoring" the giftcard that I purchased!!! I asked for a manager but there were none working?? So we just paid the tab ( THEY DID NOT COMP ANYTHING.. despite my situation) and I called the manager this morning, who was once again not there. Finally, I get a call back and he left a message telling me they aren't affiliated with that website and my gift card was not valid. I have been a loyal customer and I will NOT be returning to this restaurant after the terrible customer service.

    (1)
  • D B.

    The food was good could use more flavor. The risotto was actually very good, had nice flavor. Atmosphere was busy and very crowded.

    (3)
  • Al J.

    Crowded, loud and the food was mediocre. Tilapia was bland. It was Valentines Day and we had early reservations and I thought they would have their "A" game on. They didn't and we haven't been back since.

    (2)
  • Terri N.

    Met friends here for dinner Friday night. I had the chicken picaata. It was excellent, The tiramisu was great but I think I tasted a bit of freezer burn. My husband had a steak. He said it was good, but not great. My friend who has been there a few other times raved about it. We will visit again. We were there at 7:00 and it was kind of loud.

    (4)
  • Janet L.

    Love the attention to providing authentic Sicilian style food. Cozy, warm, friendly bar area. Ciao tends to be our "go to" place at least once a week.

    (4)
  • Jane D.

    There were 3 people in our party. The first entree was the lasagna, which was extremely bland and had absolutely no flavor. The second entree was the bay scallops. The bay scallops are very tiny and are served on a bed of penne with marinara. The bay scallops were good but the pasta/sauce was extremely bland with no flavor. The third entree was a breaded chicken (which was good) on a bed of pasta that was mixed in OLIVE OIL ONLY!! Yes, we were utterly shocked at how bland that was also. The 3 of us collectively agreed that we would not be back. Side note, they got rid of their best dish-the Baked Rigatoni. Please note, that the side salads are of the same quality that you would expect from a roadside diner. Very disappointed in the food. I did give this restaurant 1 star because the service was good.

    (1)
  • Kathleen W.

    Outstanding staff. Work well with groups. Private room for groups makes for excellent conversation & socializing. We have already booked for next year. We love how accommodating staff & restaurant are.

    (5)
  • John S.

    Have dined here on several occasions and really enjoy it. Staff is very knowledgeable, and attentive, and the service is always superb. We always get seated quickly, with a minimal wait. Bar area is a little small, and can get quite crowded on a Saturday night. Wine selection is fantastic, and the daily selection is always a sure winner!!! Food is probably my favorite Italian in the Rockford area. Dare I say the Buccatini is better than mine. My wife liked the enjoyed the Chicken Rustica, but thinks its better at another Italian place in the area. I marked it only four stars, because the bartenders could have been a little more attentive. The last time we dined, we waited so long for a bartender to acknowledge us that we actually got seated before being approached for a drink. To me that needs improvement !!!! Other than that, we love this place, when we decide on Italian.. Ciao Bella is where we dine !!!

    (4)
  • Dawn G.

    Excellent food, great Service, quiet atmosphere, Bread was yummy and great choice of wines.

    (4)
  • ken i.

    Average food, average service, average atmosphere, nothing great. Too pricy for average.

    (3)
  • Shauna L.

    Finally tried this restaurant after hearing great things, it lived up to the hype! Went on a Saturday night and it was packed, make reservations! Had the eggplant parmigiana with whole wheat noodles. It was delicious! Finished off with a scrumptious pistachio gelato. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

    (5)
  • Patrick H.

    Meh. Dark and relaxing atmosphere paired with well prepared but archetypal Italian food and a decent wine selection. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, it's just been done before. Not too mention it's in a strip mall, which is odd. Definitely worth a try though.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes

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.

Pizza

Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.

Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.

Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.

Ciao Bella Ristorante

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