Bella Ciao Pasta and Bar Ristorante

An Unforgettable Date Night at Bella Ciao ​My wife and I had one night out, and we couldn’t have picked a better spot than Bella Ciao Ristorante. From start to finish, the experience was spectacular. The service was attentive and seamless, setting the perfect tone for our evening. ​We started with the mussels and bruschetta, followed by the Chicken Marsala—every dish was absolutely outstanding and rank among the best meals I’ve ever had. Even the wine selection was top-tier. While it is a bit of a splurge, it is by no means extreme; for the quality of food and atmosphere provided, it is well worth every penny. Thank you for making our night so special!

This was a delicious meal! Loved the gnocchi and sausage. It was a little spicy, cheesy, and exactly what I was looking for that day. The breadsticks with the meal and the garlic cheese bread to snack on before the meal was also a nice touch. We also got dessert - we had the cannoli and salted caramel cheesecake. Both were excellent. Especially loved the crust on the cheesecake. Service was good and our waiter attentive and kind. Was my second time visiting and I’ll definitely be back

Came here because of the reviews and they lived up to the hype. The food was great, it all came out hot and the service was good. Portions were plenty big. It's tucked in the end of a strip mall but they had plenty of seating and we were able to be sat down almost right away despite the dinner rush.

Overall very good experience! Good food with good service even on Valentine's Day. The Mussels, Linguine Frutti di Mare, and Lobster Ravioli were particularly flavorful. The one thing I would improve would be to serve crusty bread rather than bread sticks to soak up the sauce in those dishes.

The wife and myself very much enjoy Bella Ciao, we have been multiple times. The atmosphere is very nice and cozy. The food is amazing, best Pasta we've found some far. The sandwich was great. We sure can't wait to visit again.

What a hidden gem! This Italian restaurant is small, cozy, and spotless, the kind of place that makes you feel right at home the moment you walk in. We started with the calamari, which was perfectly crisp and tender. I had the lingui with clam sauce, and it was absolutely amazing — rich, flavorful, and beautifully presented. My husband had the chicken parm, and it was cooked to perfection with just the right balance of sauce and cheese. The service was outstanding — attentive without being intrusive — and the atmosphere was relaxed and quiet, perfect for a date night or an intimate dinner. Everything was served with care and style, and you can tell they take real pride in what they do. We’ll definitely be back!

Pasta was fine. Breadsticks taste like the great value freezer option you see at Walmart. Called ahead and asked them to set it up as romantic as possible with the heart shaped cheesecake. Well, we got to the table and there was nothing. Not only this, but they charged my card twice! And I just now noticed the next day. They did not even offer it, or ask if we wanted the cheesecake. We had to ask to see if they had any drink options other than hose water. The atmosphere was unwelcoming to say the least. I won’t be coming here again, for $10 more you can get steak and salmon at Osaka and have it cooked right in front of you. For two, it cost $70.

I celebrated my son‘s wedding at this restaurant in their private room because we had a small party. Shannon was absolutely fantastic in putting it all together for us and even came in on her day off to make sure everything went well. The food, service and atmosphere were absolutely wonderful and I can’t say enough good about the evening that we spent there. Nobody in our party had been there before and we will all be going back. Thanks to them, they made our special night unforgettable and we very much appreciate how hard they worked to make it perfect. I highly recommend and suggest you try it out.

What a find in a strip mall. While it's strip mall Italian cousin up the street may be more famous, this place holds it own and then some. The menu was well positioned for all tastes, but even a picky eater like me they made exceptions for. And the sausage!!! Wow. Just fill me a doggy bag and send me home happy. My only regret was being so full from dinner that dessert was but a few small bites for me; not that Danielle complained. Her smile told me what I needed to know about the quality of the desserts!

Great Italian spot! Lots of options in terms of pastas. Great portion sizes. You get bread at the beginning as well, which is always appreciated. The carbonara was our favorite, but it's easy to get a variety and share. We had three pastas between the two of us and definitely had plenty to take home for later. Reasonably priced and approachable menu. There's lots of seating inside, but looks like they would do takeout as well. They offered a free birthday dessert, which was excellent, we got the tiramisu!

The food here was really good. They have a nice selection of wine as well. It is a bit dark in the restaraunt, but a good vibe! Unforuntately our service was slow. I had a great date night here to celebrate my new job. Probably will be back at some point!

We loved the food and service was great! Many dishes here even for picky eaters. Their garlic bread was excellent.

If you want to skip the review, "DO NOT GO!" Drinks: The Good and the Bad - Limoncello Martini ($15). Filled to the rim and tasty. Very good! I am giving 1/2 Star (because it's just a cocktail) - Negroni-beer on draft ($14). Draft beer that was watered down. So much so, my colleague took it back to the Bar, and asked for a bottle of Modelo ($5). HOWEVER, they still charged us for the watered down draft beer (see attached Check with Negroni circled in Orange) Appetizer: - Fried Calamari ($17.99). The highlight of the evening! Excellent Calamari (even though, they added a few fried Shrimp to bulk up the dish). I am giving 1/2 Star (because they bulked up the plate with fried shrimp)! Entrees: 5 people dining and their comments - Chicken Parmigiana ($22.99) with green beans. A decent cut of breaded chicken, with mozzarella on top, BUT swimming in a watery broth. I took 2 bites and put it aside. HORRIBLE! I should have just bought Chef Boy R Dee and poured it over some Chicken McNuggets! HARD PASS! (See photo) - Salmon w Spinach ($26.99). My colleague said she thought it was like eating fish jerky. Sad. - Chicken Marsala ($24.99). My other two colleagues let us taste the sauce. Imagine molasses syrup on chicken. They added 15-20 grinds of pepper and red pepper flakes to take down the sweetness, but they gave up. - Chicken Carbonara ($23.99). Another dish swimming in broth with bland flavor. My colleague took 4 bites and quit. Service: We ordered a bottle of Chianti ($55), but with 5 people, the bottle was soon empty. We waited 20 minutes for the Server, but eventually, my colleague just went to the Bar (to return his watery draft beer), and grabbed drinks for the rest of us I CURSE that my colleagues convinced me to Tip 15%! I would have given 10%. Ambiance: None. It's a cafe in a small strip mall. POSSIBLE ILLEGAL CHARGE; On my receipt, circled in RED, you see they charge $9.94 for Credit Card payments! If you follow my reviews, I travel globally, and this is the MOST EGREGIOUS SERVICE CHARGE. I will be contacting the Minnesota Business Affairs and Taxation District about these added surcharges. Overall: If you're in St Paul and want Italian food, go to the grocery store, buy a bottle of Rao's Marinara ($8.99), some fresh pasta ($4.99), and a bottle of DaVinci Chianti ($15.99). MUCH BETTER MEAL AND YOU CAN FEED YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES! Tip for Bella Ciao ownership: You better call Gordon Ramsay for a Kitchen Nightmares intervention. Otherwise, you should be out of business within 6 months.

What a wonderful Italian dinner at one of the most gluten free friendly establishments I've ever been too! Practically everything can be made gfree...yay! Our server was Erick who was on top of everything, super friendly, and provided great service. I ordered the Fra Diavolo (shrimp, garlic, red sauce, red pepper) - it was perfection. The flavors were great. Other members of my party had gnocchi, lasagna, and pasta. I can't wait to return to try some more gluten free delish options.

We really enjoyed the bruschetta, soup and salad and receiving this delicious complimentary garlic cheesy bread! The ambience of the place was light, seemed like a local vibe but still keeping that Italian style. Service was awesome and wine was tasty. I also enjoyed my soup and pasta was alright. Was very full but squeezed in some space for tiramisu which was worth it! We did enjoy our appetizers more than our meals, but everything seemed to be in the appropriate price range!

The restaurant is nice and clean and organized. Nice ambience. The waitress and staffs were friendly and foods were prepared fast. We order fruitti di mir and shrimp gnocchi with a side of Caesar salad and cheese curds . The dishes were good. I feel like it's kind of bland could need some more flavor or more Parmesan. They give us free cheese bread with nuts marinara sauce. I would definitely go back and try other dishes and see if it's good.

Went here on a Monday and had great service. The place doesn't look like much from the outside but it is nice inside and has a nice bar. We had bruschetta for an app which was very good. I had the chicken carbonara and it was fantastic. All the food there looked great. They also give you a sample of their cheese bread to begin which is nice. We will be back!

The penne cardinelle has such great flavor, slight kick but not too spicy. Delicious breadsticks and soup. Service is always great!

I had the Fra Davolia and it was all that it promised to be. It had a nice kick. The shrimp were plentiful. Portion sizes are big. I took some home. The meals comes with warm breadsticks. And prior to the meal, there is complimentary warm gooey cheese bread. So good. The restaurant is located in an unassuming strip mall but don't let that fool you. Food and service is authentic and friendly. The cost is steep, but it was delicious. My friends had chicken parm and said it was delicious.

Ciao Bella food is great but the acoustics make the noise level inside so high that we don't go there anymore. Can't carry on a conversation.

We love this place! We have tried several items and they have all been amazing! We have noticed the portions are significantly larger when you dine in vs getting it to go. That was a bummer to find out. So we always eat in now.

I Abe heard about this place for years but had not tried it. We decided to give them a try one evening and made the drive to Champlin just for dinner. It's a quaint little place that feels like a home or cabin. The menu is large with a great variety. I love a good Chicken Parm and they did not disappoint! Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures. What impressed me most was how they gave you advice on how to reheat your leftovers. And using a microwave for pasta is not the answer!!! We loved the atmosphere and the food made it all the better.

The food was excellent. This was my second time here. Decided to give it a second try because we liked the food the first time but the service was so so. Not a lot of ambience but the food quality is great and table service was attentive.

This place has great food and atmosphere. The service is outstanding. I'm waiting for the weather it to warm up before I go back!

After leaving a highly disappointing Little Canada Days "fair," we were looking for somewhere to eat on our last night of our vacation to Minnesota and this popped up with great reviews. Even the table next to us were talking amongst themselves about how this is the only good Italian place around. Oof. It was just okay. We got two pieces of garlic cheese bread. which typically it looks like you have to pay for, but this was on the house for some reason. It was just okay. Glad it was free. Our food took a while to come out. I got a chopped salad, which was good. Pretty standard Italian salad. I also had the lasagna. It was just okay. I can't really put my finger on what could have been improved on, though. Maybe the sauce? My husband ordered carbonara and a side of meatballs. Meatballs were HORRIBLE. They taste like the ones in Spaghetti-o's. We each took a bite and left the rest on the plate. However, my husband enjoyed his carbonara, so that's good. Overall, for how hyped up this place seems to be, it really wasn't anything worth revisiting, which was disappointing to end our vacation on. It wasn't the worst thing we ate in Minnesota, but it was far from the best.

The food was beyond amazing. From the outside I was a little unsure just because when I want good Italian I would assume a strip mall restaurant would not be the place. But this is Authentic!! The foods So Good. The inside is clean and nicely decorated. The food is fresh. The place is nice. Eating in, I got my food fast. The service was friendly. I'm throughly impressed. The moscato is the best I've ever had. Tasty cheese bread. Just the right amount of cheese and dressing on my cease salad. My entrees were satisfying. I would recommend this place and most definitely return!

Amazing manicotti quite possibly the best I've ever had. I would highly recommend this gem!

This was a surprisingly inexpensive but delicious choice. This restaurant is exceeding exceptions in just about every way.

Great food, high quality ingredients. Only complaint is garlic being way too overpowering in the carbonara dish. Impossible to taste any other flavor - and I like garlic. My wife loves that they offer Simon ice cream!

I have been coming here since 2021, and love to bring my family fir special occasion dinners. I am happy to see they have expanded their dining area.

The food was decent. Definitely have had better Italian food elsewhere in the area. When we came in they were very busy but got us seated right away. You do get a plate of garlic cheese bread and sauce after you order which confused us a little. We thought we had received someone's order but then noticed everyone was getting them. Also when we got our food we also received breadsticks. So plenty of bread. For being in a strip mall it's a bit pricey.

This might be my favorite Italian restaurant in the twin cities. The food and atmosphere are top tier. I'd highly recommend the cavatappi pesto. I am eagerly waiting for a chance to go again!

As an Italian American who grew up in Sicily, I'm admittedly particular about Italian cuisine. Bella Ciao gets it right - consistently. This is one of our regular neighborhood spots. I've tried most things on the menu and enjoyed them all - the linguine frutti de mare, the Bella Ciao, the sausage gnocchi... so many memorable dishes. That said, the standouts for me are their chicken parm, chicken carbonara, and the chicken Marsala. I make a good parm, but I like theirs better. The carbonara is silky smooth with lots of bacon! But the Marsala... the sauce is divine! There are usually the same 2-3 servers when we visit, and all treat us well every time. Good selection of tap beers, wine, and they have a full bar. Desserts are good - I just wish they served espresso!

We went to Bella Ciao for the first time tonight. Wow what an amazing experience. Food was so flavorful and portions are huge. I'll have 3 meals out of one. I had the Pesto chicken linguine. And my husband had the lasagna. We've never had such great flavors. Can't say enough about this place. You must try soon. This will be a regular for us from now one. Complements to the chef!!! RJ and Jon

Service was great! She recommended some items and got us some bread. Pasta was delish as well as mussels and calamari. Would frequent again!

We have dined there many times and always enjoyed the food, the servers and the charming restaurant. Until Sunday evening 12/1/24. We sat in a booth, we were a party of 4. The restaurant was quite full but there were still empty tables. Our server brought our drinks quickly and asked to take our dinner order. We told him that we wanted to spend time talking and enjoy the drinks. A couple minutes later he returned to take our order. Not ready. Couple minutes later same thing. We told him we'd flag him down when we were ready. He then informed us that they were going to get busy and they were going to need our table. There were still empty tables and booths. OK...we ordered and left at around 7pm. By then more people had left. We're very sorry but we'll not go back.

Food, service and low key atmosphere make it a winner! Pasta tastes like it came from Italy! My only suggestion would be to serve Italian bread or rolls instead of bread sticks.

We came here for a birthday. Parking was easy, staff was nice. The food came out quick and was served as ordered. I would return. It's not spectacular, but it's simple quick and good.

I love a local find! My husband loves pasta and Bella Ciao is our newest favorite. Service is quick and extremely delicious.

Very good food. Great attention to detail and great value too! Very nice and friendly wait staff!

As a simple environment with simple decor, the food will make you think you're in a top tier restaurant. The food has depth that you can't believe and friendly service will make you want to go back.

Came here on a Wednesday Night, not too busy, not dead either. Service was very good. Pretty decent wine list for a small, quaint place. The menu was more authentic and surprisingly deep, not just the run-of-the-mill spaghetti joint. We started with the Bruschetta which was very tasty and good sized. I had the Carbonara which was great and the Wife loved the Capellini Al Fresco with Chicken. Good dining in a nice casual local spot. Definitely will be going back and would recommend

Love the service and food was freshly made! Recommend this place if you're craving pasta!

Very pleasant place. Booths by windows make it enjoyable. Nice and welcoming staff and atmosphere. I had lasagna to go. It was delicious. I highly recommend.

Excellent food and service with authentic Italian cuisine. Great for family and large groups.

This place is the best kept secret in town! Delicious spaghetti!! Young owners. I hope everyone will give them a try. Prices before 3 are a steal!

The food is very good! I love their marinara sauce. I highly recommend checking this place out.

This place opened in the small strip mall on Century and Long Lake Rd. I read good reviews on next door about it so I tried it twice. It's great! The place is clean. New booth tables. Food is delicious and pretty generous. I always have a bit left over to take home. Garlic bread and bread stick delivered to table. I would say not many places are this good when they first open. Somebody is doing something right. Try it out!

The food was positively superb! Bruschetta flavors popped, but the bread lacked authenticity. My chicken parmesan was excellent. Hubby's ravioli was properly prepared and presented, and the Caesar salad was tasty and fresh. Short handed on staff as one woman and one man seated, waited, and bussed tables plus took care of patrons at the bar. Kind of a sports bar ambiance, which was okay as we were wrapping up a day unboxing from our move. We will definitely return!

This is a fantastic place to eat. My wife and I are both presently surprised. The Italian decor and the music is just perfect. Good service and the food we had was amazing. Very good portions for the price. We will be back for sure.

Fabulous marinara sauce! Nice service, good portion sizes and nice presentation of food. We'll be back!

I had Chicken Parmigiana with green beans and it was absolutely delicious! The breading was perfectly done and the amount of red sauce was just right. The green beans were lightly buttered and cooked perfectly.

Nice dishes and friendly staff. We've been here a half dozen times or so and have always enjoyed it.

Been wanting to go here for awhile. Finally did and I'm so sorry we haven't gone sooner. What a gem! Don't let the strip mall put you off. The food and service are fabulous!! We've been back already for a second time within the week! The Italian sausage is a must. Spicy but incredibly delicious! We've had the lasagna, cappelini Al for no, manicotti and the gnocchi. We're planning on wrapping thing our way thru the menu. We don't believe we'll be disappointed with anything we order here. We've been looking for a great Italian restaurant and we've found it!! We are big foodies and we are in love!!!

Really good vibe and food. Quiet place. Employees are nice.I definitely recommend you going.

Wayyy better than Donatellies. Food always fresh and hot. Glad to see someone make it at that location

We just tried this place for the first time last week. The food was amazing and the staff were extremely friendly! We were celebrating an event and the staff went above and beyond; even offering a free appetizer and dessert as a "congrats". It is a small restaurant so if you have a big group I would recommend a reservation. Dress is more casual. Highly recommend!