Bella Napoli Italian Restaurant

I’m at a loss for words. My friend and I went in at 9:30 tonight. We walked in without being greeted, the cook that was sitting at one of the tables watching TV told us to sit wherever. Forensic Files was playing very loudly in the background (we had to ask the waitress to please turn down the volume and change the channel.) There was no music. The bread was AWFUL. Stale and powdery. The salad was pitiful. (With Asian dressing on it??) I ordered a seafood pasta with a white wine sauce. The waitress brought out the dish with red sauce, and immediately took it back after I told her. THE PICTURE is what she brought back, he must of just rinsed it off and left all the water in the bottom of the plate. It looked so unbelievably horrible we just stared at it in silence for a while. She knew when she walked it over it was a disgrace, she tried to explain it away. The cook was already sitting down a table away before I could take a bite. He became SO argumentative when I asked if I could get something else and said we could just leave without paying. He said “You won’t find anything like this in Italy” I replied my great grandparents came here from Italy. You won’t find anything like this in Italy was the only thing he got right. Disgrazia.

Best Lasagna I ever had and Tiramisu 😋😍 The service is also amazing i hope i can give more than 5 stars

My family of four, including a 3 year old and a 1 year old, love this place for takeout or a dinner outside. I usually order off the specials list and recommend others do the same. Today, our favorite dish was a shrimp, asparagus, and spinach pasta in a white wine sauce. Three generations enjoyed eating it. The complementary salad is fresh, and we love the zippy orange dressing. This is the kind of place I was always excited to visit when growing up in western New York. It isn't DC fine dining, and it isn't trying to be. It's welcoming people, friendly food, and reasonable prices (for Del Ray). I'm really glad a place like this exists in my neighborhood.

We had groupon so we stopped here for lunch. It’s a small place located in a cute neighborhood. It wasn’t too busy on a Sunday afternoon. The waitress was friendly and the service was great. We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer, gnocchi and tortellini in cream sauce and Italian cheesecake for dessert. The food was pretty good and tasted fresh. The cream sauce was good too. Portion sizes weren’t bad, good size for lunch. Looking forward to going back and trying other dishes.

It couldn't have been nicer or more delicious. And Pablo's service was over the top wonderful. My husband and I were in the area for the Heritage Foundation Gala . We had dinner the night before the gala at this little Italian Gem in Alexandria. Looking on Google maps I was a bit skeptical but am delighted that we took a chance and had dinner there. We came with a Groupon Certificate for 50%. Pablo greeted us with warmth and enthusiasm and told us there were no restrictions on the Groupon. ( which was delightful and unusual) Our food was truly delicious , and the sangria well made. Pablo packed the leftovers well and we enjoyed a second dinner from leftovers a few nights later. If we were local, this would be one of our go to places. Delightful.

We’d been wanting to go to Bella Napoli for a while and it was exactly what we needed tonight! We started with the prosciutto caprese which was salty and fresh. Pablo (who provided amazing service and made us feel like family) helped me and my indecisiveness choose the cheese manicotti which was hot and delicious! My fiancé got the chicken picatta and that was full of flavor. We ended with tiramisu and a cannoli (one of the best cannolis ever) and will be back :)

I have never bothered to leave a review before but this place was so good that I wanted to. I would highly recommend everyone to come here. The food was amazing, and so was the service and staff. Overall 10/10 experience.

Absolutely loved this quaint little restaurant. I loved the food, the service and the atmosphere. We were a party of 4 with a Groupon deal. The server was accommodating and helpful in assisting us in making our selections. We had the veal piccata, spinach ravioli and a large pizza. There was one other main course dish ordered but I don't remember the name. Everyone enjoyed their meal. The cannoli for dessert was scrumptious as was the tiramisu. You might miss this little gem as it is nestled in a neighborhood setting. I will be back at my first opportunity.

Visiting from out of town we are glad we chose this little spot. Pleasant cozy outdoor dining experience. Friendly and solid service and the meals were good and even better value. Hard to find an entre with salad and bread for less than $20 in 2025.

Absolutely amazing experience. Beautiful, quaint, locally owned restaurant. Perfect for a romantic date night. Great price point. Brushetta appetizer tastes so authentic and fresh. Best of all their hospitality was impeccable. 1000% recommend.

Ordered a large cheese pizza to go. Came with a salad which was a nice added bonus. However, I felt the size of the pizza was more of a medium especially for $20. The cheese, crust and sauce were good but not great.

Came here with my wife and two friends on a Groupon for 4 for a Sunday lunch. Can't say it is the best Italian but it was a good deal with a Groupon for a 3 course meal. My wife had the Pesto Penne and I had Manicotti. It seemed many of the appetizers and pastas had pork or shellfish which we my wife and I cannot have so that limited our options. The service was quick and friendly and the ambiance is nice but the place is small so calling ahead for reservations is helpful.

Pros: -The outdoor seating area is for the most part in the shade, so we were able to dine al fresco without sweltering. -The chicken parm with penne was pretty good. Ditto for the calamari. Not the worst, but definitely not the best. -The Scampi al Lemon. you MUST get this. This was actually going to be a 3-star review until I had this dish. It is THAT good. I did not initially intend to return, but I would come back just for this dish. It's such a simple dish, but it is so well made. -The cannoli was also very good! I would get that again. Cons: The young lady who was server was conspicuously inexperienced, although she was very nice. She did not give us sufficient time to look at the menu before asking us (multiple times) if we were ready to order... the stood over us as well looked at the menu. I also found it rude the way she would cut off our conversation without an "excuse me" or waiting for a break in the conversation to ask us whatever she needed to ask us. I was also not confident in her knowledge about the menu, or that she really understood what we were asking. I don't eat pork, and I asked her if the meatballs that came with my meal were made with pork or beef. Initally, she looked as if she didn't understand the question, before finally letting out a less-than-confident "Uh.. beef?" We also informed her before ordering that we had a Groupon for 2 appetizers, 4 entrees and two desserts. She said that she 'was not sure she could serve us two entrees' (per person). We told her that we planned to order one entrees a piece to eat now, and order the others to take home. She said again that she was not sure if she could do that. We asked her to go check with the management, who ultimately said that it was not a problem. But... HUH? She also did not clear our discarded dishes, despite visiting our table no less than 6 times before the entrees came out. This made it difficult for her to serve us the entrees because the table was so tiny. When she finally cleared the dishes, she took my knife without bringing me another (so I had to cut my chicken parm with my fork). This was the one time she took a break from stopping by the table. By the time she came back out, I was almost done with my food, so it wasn't even work asking her for one by that time. - The salad did not look appetizing AT ALL. I don't know what kind of orange pulp-like substance was heaped on top of it, and I tried to eat around it. After a while, I just gave up. -The gentleman who came out to serve us our sangria (which was not great, by the way), spooned a TON of ice in it (without asking us first) before pouring it. It was hot outside, and all of the ice just watered down the drink. It would have been great if he'd asked first, but he just looked so proud of himself that we did not have the heart to hurt his feelings. -The meatballs that accompanied my chicken parm were slightly undercooked. -One of the restaurant employees kept coming outside to "fix the menu" and it made my dining companion and I feel a little uncomfortable, as if he was checking on us and make sure that we didn't skip out on the tab (which was already paid, by the way, thanks to the Groupon). I would consider coming back here for a carry out order (as many people did on the day we visited), but the dine-in experience left an overall negative impression on me, so I would prefer not to dine at the restaurant again... which is a shame because that patio really is a lovely place to enjoy a meal.

Loved our waiter. He was super friendly. Food came out fast and tasted great. Would definitely go back.

Best option fur Italian food in Alexandria for casual dining. Easy street parking. Clean restaurant. Attentive service. I can't wait to come back. The pork was so tender and my guest enjoyed the chicken parmigiana. The fried calamari was crispy and fresh. Just make sure you order two cheesecakes. We definitely did not want to share one. So good!

Food was amazing. So fresh. Perfectly made. I've eaten spaghetti carbonara in Little Italy in NYC, in Rome in front of the Colosseum and now here. This is just as good or better than previous times. So good. Can't wait to come back!

Had a Groupon for lunch:appetizer, 2 entrees and a dessert @$26.10 for a $50 credit or gift card. We got 1bowl of minestrone soup (potato, celery, carrots, spinach n delicious tasty broth), then fettuccine Alfredo added chicken ( creamy sauce, different flavor but good) and the vegetable pizza (not much spinach, thin crust, little sauce but also delicious) and we ended with cheesecake. Again tasty but a spongy hokey cheesecake ( wondered if it froze n defrosted or possibly made with ricotta cheese). Given bottle waters and sourdough bread upon sitting. No other patrons in the restaurant, all tables set and one young lady working (daughter of owner)? Received a can of coke and glass of ice, owner/chef hand squeezed lemons into ice tea for an Arnold Palmer. Nice place and reasonably priced for homemade Italian food-not your average Olive Garden. We will be returning.

Great pizza Good service Clean Prices good Order pizza well done- it crunched when you bite into it

Always friendly, large portions, excellent desserts and generous pours! We love eating outside when the weather is accommodating. Always priority stop during restaurant week!

My parents and I were seeking a no frills, casual Italian meal and happened upon Bella Napoli. Not a lively scene middle of the day on a Sunday in summer, but the food was actually nice! We got a complementary salad with zesty Italian dressing, a warm loaf of Italian bread. And the food came out piping hot and fresh. It satiated our craving for some Linguini alla vongole and pesto pasta. They did a lovely job. We didn't have high expectations, but it's just the little mom and pop touch we wanted.

I went there with a group of people for lunch. The service was great, and the food was very good.

A hidden little Italy pizza around the corner in the suburbs of northern Alexandria. Side Parking made be a challenge or in back lot but once there a lot of great food...really home made style. Old style oven fire pizza at its best so yes no bread bone left behind lol We a veal pistachio and meat pizza that was enough to back for home later...dessert of course cheese cake.

As visitors from Denver who travel often across the country, I have to say that the food, drinks, desserts, and service were all amazing! Our party of 5 adults were immediately greeted upon entrance, and the staff was extremely welcoming, attentive, and friendly throughout our visit. Every one of us loved the food and experience and agreed that if this restaurant were closer to Colorado, it would become our new regular for authentic Italian food. The owner and David were great, and we thoroughly appreciate the amazing service! CHEERS to you fine men, and best wishes on continued success in the future!

The food was delicious! The service was on point. She took care of us the moment we walked in! The ambiance is a bit dated but that doesn't detract from the delicious pasta, pizza, and chicken we had! We will return.

I live locally and have always been drawn to the inviting patio here as I walk or drive by. We decided to give it a try recently and were very disappointed with the food. I ordered the chicken parm which looked exactly like the pics posted here and give it a one star rating for its tasteless marinara, undercooked chicken and box penne. My son ordered the meatball sub and the meatballs seemed to be the preciously frozen kind with the same tasteless marinara - the meatballs were cooked so I give this a two star rating. My husband got the chicken Marsala and of the three dishes, it was the best but still not what I would consider "good." It was edible and the chicken was cooked properly. Our meals came with salads which were served with rotting lettuce so I didn't touch it. The service was good and the patio was nice but we won't be returning as the food was awful. I did share that my chicken parm was undercooked and there were no questions asked as it was removed from the bill. I would go here again for a glass of wine and the ambiance.

My first experience was not great at this very small Italian restaurant. Our waitress was very nice and friendly but the food was very disappointing. We order the white pizza and veal pasta. The pizza was only dough and cheese, it had no garlic, salt or other flavors. I understand the menu said just cheese as toppings but I was expecting at least garlic. The freshness of the veal pasta was not there, the veal was tough that looked and tasted old. The only saving grace was the tiramisu, a delicious homemade dessert. Easily 10/10, it saved my dinner experience.

This is a cute mom and pop place. The food was good (not spectacular, although we made some boring orders) with good portions at a fair price. The sangria pitcher really does the trick. But it was the service that stood out. Ask for Pablo. Phenomenal waiter. Would be great to dim the lights and add some candles on the tables. Too bright which really hurts any potential ambiance. Also really need heaters for the patio.

I want to like this place, but I really can't. The salmon was evidently cooked by boiling, as much of the water was still on the plate when the fish was served. The pasta swimming in the cooking water didn't add anything to the meal, nor did the few dry shrimp atop the fish. There's a good neighborhood atmosphere, but unfortunately the food disappoints.

When you see pots and pans outside on a rack in the back of the restaurant it's a big red flag. But when you seat down and they bring bottled water without a glass cup toppled with dried out low quality bread you know you are in for a bad meal. Sure enough the seafood dish they call "Pescatore" didn't taste like "Frutti di mare" at all but it did taste old. Ambience doesn't reflect the prices either Yeah sure the Tiramisu was good but that was it and it was probably made by some one else. The positive was the service but i rather have good food and poor service. Proceed at your own risk but you are better going elsewhere.

Went to a late night dinner at Bella Napoli with my roommate. They have a nice little patio seating area set up in front of the restaurant. Waiter brought out some bread and butter - nothing special about the bread that was brought out. The garden salads which was ok, dressing was similar to a ginger dressing you'd find at a japanese place. We started with the calamari on a bed lettuce it was crispy but the actual calamari itself was very small, maybe the size of a nickel or quarter. I completely forgot to take photos as I was enjoying my conversation at the time. I ordered the pescatore, flavor was good and you get a decent portion of seafood to pasta. My roommate said her spaghetti carbonara was good. I also had their cheesecake and it was a bit cakey, not smooth like I thought it would be. Beware: Waiter came out with a bottle of wine and said he needed to finish it, asked if we'd help him, offered it to us and placed it on our table. We initially said no thank you but he insisted, then charged us for the wine at the end. We don't mind paying for drinks but it wasn't presented as such. I would recommend skipping the cheesecake and calamari if you are thinking of getting it. Entrees were good. Service was good if we weren't "tricked" into paying for drinks. Also note: tip was added to our bill.

Decent Italian for a carry out order. Even better is their service! The people working there are so nice and offer an amazing carry out deal. We ordered three entrees and ended up getting a free house salad and bottle of wine as well! Will be returning for more for future carry out Italian.

Simply, the service was good and the food was okay. It's always nice to have outdoor seating at restaurants and Bella Napoli made theirs cozy with bordering plants. Plus, they allow dogs at the outside tables. The service was tag-teamed between a young (likely new) waitress and what I believe to be the owner or manager. They were both attentive and kind. No complaints there. The food was cooked well(ish). The chicken in the marsala could be argued that it was a tad too dry, but it was okay. The pizza was fresh with a crisp crust. Overall, the food lacked flavor. Both the (sausage and mushroom) pizza and the chicken marsala were leaving the desire for something more on the tastebuds. Unfortunately, there's nothing to draw us back to this place. It's just okay. Though, it's worth at least one try. There were a few other patrons there so obviously some people do enjoy it.

Food was amazing and service was over the top. You need to experience this place as we did to understand just how good the food was. We will be back again

Places like this makes it worth it to go out and test out new spots. I found this thru a groupon. A 3 course meal for 2 minus the wine. It was a small little spot but was comfy. They waiter was very helpful and made sure our glass of Sangria was full. I had the salmon in wine sauce. The flavor was not so bad. I did enjoy that mussels as an appetizers. That's as pretty yum. I almost didn't share but I was nice. The tiramisu was perfect. That over sweet not to much brandy.

I've been twice and both times were amazing. Easily the best bruschetta I've had in the DC area. Pizza is very good but honestly you're missing out if you don't get something with pasta in it. I'll definitely be back.

Good pizza crust, sauce bland, eggplant parm good. Service excellent. Cute place outdoor seating, nice wine

Operating a small restaurant is a huge effort and I applaud those who endeavor day and and day out. Bella Napoli is one of those small community Italian restaurants. You walk in and there is a neighborhood feel replete with regulars. Bella is very welcoming and the staff genuine which makes the visit feel intimate like you are at someone's house. I ordered the eggplant parmesan and it was simply delicious. The eggplant was very delicate, cooked just right and sauce complemented well. The dish came with a few lobster raviolis which I was less enthused with as they were on the heavy side. The one oddity at this restaurant was that water was served in a plastic bottle. With all the sensitivity to the environmental waste from plastic I hope they reconsider this as it seems wasteful. Nonetheless, if you want that "home cooked" neighborhood Italian meal this place is a great option.

The service was incredible and the food even better!! Our server David was exceptional. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good authentic Italian restaurant!

Great food. Awesome service, we are coming back. We stopped after the Del Ray Halloween Parade. And we promised we would be back. The pizza was amazing.

Ordered to-go. Food was pretty flavorless. It was ready quick though and the girl was nice.

Sister' holiday dinner celebration. The restaurant is small though quaint in a local neighborhood, BUT the food is amazing. Our waitress, Jennifer, and manager were friendly to us. The Italian food is so yummy and good... just luv the tomato sauce.

Quality food, neighborhood vibes, very friendly service. Despite living in the area for over 5 years, it took us until just this past year to discover the gem that is Bell Napoli. Located right on Mt. Vernon Ave, Bella Napoli serves up homemade Italian fare that will exceed your expectations. The noodles are all clearly made in house. Soft, yet retaining that delightful chewy-ness fresh pasta mixed with creamy or tomatoey sauces. The manicotti is a great choice, but don't miss their lobster stuffed ravioli if you enjoy lobster dishes. The gnocchi is also a rich, and filling choice. The entrees are served with Italian bread and salad, making for a nice sequence of traditional courses. But don't miss the tiramisu! Some of the best in the region. All in all we're happy to have discovered this gem in plain sight. Make it your next Italian stop.

Leaving my first Yelp review ever to let this place know how much we enjoyed our experience. We were walking by and decided to stop for a quick bite to eat. We were sat outside and experienced tremendous service. Very genuine server. Happy hour menu is a steal. Pizza was phenomenal. Calamari and caprese salad were also great. We finished with tiramisu and a canoli which we will 100% come back for. It's off the beaten path of downtown Del Ray but worth the visit!

I craved chicken parm so stopped on my way home from an appointment. I'd never experienced this restaurant. The food was brought to me with a smile. However I was very disappointed in the food. There wasn't much cheese on the top of the chicken and the chicken's texture was not pleasing. The pasta was overcooked and the sauce not to my liking. Too bad. It's not far from my home but I won't be returning.

The good, the bad, and the tasteless Pro Staff were nice and attentive. I saw a few waiters making small talk and engaging with customers Fast meal preparation Cons I got a pasta dish and it was very bland. I mean salt and pepper were the highlights of the meal. It lacked flavor and I'm not one that needs lots of stuff. It could've used garlic spice, paprika, onion powder. I'll have to give it one more try, but I'm not running back to this place anytime soon.

THIS PLACE IS DELICIOUS! All of the food is yummy, you cannot go wrong with whatever you order. On top of this, the staff is amazing! They are so kind and caring for everything. The service was quick and they were so attentive to all of our needs. This place also could serve our 20 person party and was able to attend to all of us. All in all we LOVE this quaint little place. It truly is a hidden gem!

Fantastic fresh Italian made to order. I've dined there and delighted in delivery. Both inside and at home have been the same quality. I love the Marsala. Excellent. I have had the seafood pasta too. The fresh ingredients and immediate cooking bring all flavors together. Highly recommended gem. Thanks.

Happened by this little restaurant after all day in DC, and after having pizza the night before in another establishment, this restaurant was a lovely surprise! We (3) between us had delicious Sangrias, a huge Calzone w/sausage & spinach, & eggplant parmigiana - all very good. The friendly proprietor came around, visited w/us, as did some other friendly patrons - overall a great experience!

Great service and good food. The salad was very tasty and warm bread. I had the chicken Marsala and my boyfriend had mussels and pasta, both good. The Tiramisu was yummy! They have indoor and outdoor seating. I would recommend eating there.

Pizza here is great. 4 stars mostly because I've honestly not tried anything else. Staff here are sooo friendly and nice overall great low key place for delicious pizza. Inside is a little cramped but they also have a super cute outdoor patio space.

My husband and I had a wonderful first visit to this local establishment! The service was outstanding, the food was good -- highly recommend the garlic bread, seafood pasta and eggplant Parmesan -- and the tiramisu was to die for! We'll definitely be back.

My wife and I went for a special occasion. The service was very welcoming and friendly. We were given the best seat in the house. The bread was 'to die for'. The calamari were very crispy, and I loved the batter. Everything AOK! Then...My Ravioli dish was tough to chew and sparse on the filling. Cream sauce was very runny. Obviously (with hope) not their specialty. My wife loved her mussels, scallops, and shrimp pasta dish, so that made me happy. We ordered off of a 'special' part of the menu that had a deal for two, for which we met the restrictions set forth, but were charged a la carte pricing. I didn't mind paying full price because I am in business myself. But on top of that, we were charged a service fee for using our bank card to pay, so that was a disappointment. Next time I'll do some more research before I order. Support your local businesses!

The food was just awful! We were so looking forward to some good Italian food. Lasagna was tasteless, texture-less and like baby food mush. The spaghetti and meatballs was a C at best. The pasta was rubbery and the sauce odd (maybe a hint medicinal?), the bread was tasteless too (yet crusty). We got a scowl when asking for more butter. The complimentary salad was inconsistently chopped, a bit like kitchen scraps with VERY strange looking orange dressing that they said was balsamic vinaigrette. When they asked how our food was we told them. They brought us another menu and asked us to re-select without questioning us. Honestly there was no way we were going to try anything else. We told him we wanted to leave and they told us payment would not be necessary but we left a small token payment. Just do NOT come here!!! Check out the other one star reviews, for they tell it like it is. I don't know how anyone who actually ordered food could rank this place higher than one or two-stars. We returned to the delicious South China Chinese restaurant (where we had been the prior evening) two doors down and enjoyed another great meal.

We bought a Living Social for Saturday evening. We came with an open mind and palette. We felt a little likeness of Gordon Ramsey walking in. The ambiance is a small neighborhood feel. We were quite impressed as the house was full by 6:30 pm except for two tables! We LOVE how the host interacted with what we assumed were regulars. We got served a whole loaf of warm bread with butter packets and plastic bottled water from Aldi's. Hey not complaining at all, just a bit unusual for us considering we are under the impression that they make their some Of their own sauces and pasta from scratch as other reviewers claimed. Starter salad-salad was not tasteless but I was surprised to see a slice of canned beet. Meal-sauces were a bit watery not too much flavor in the wine sauce of the seafood pasta and the scallops weren't fresh and tiny. Pasta didn't seem it was hand made in my opinion. Eggplant Parmasean was a good plus as the slices were thin and easy to cut with a fork. Lobster ravioli had a shell in it for me to know it wasn't imitation meat, I don't think it was on purpose. Lol. Dessert-cheesecake seemed definitely made from scratch as the cannolis seemed it was bought in bulk as frozen. $60 Living Social deal for 4 and paid an extra $29.99 including gratuity, tax and service charge. Glad we tried them but not sure if we will come back again.

Wonderful food! This is my favorite place in Del Ray. The staff is very friendly and they have pet friendly outdoor seating. They serve bread and salads with the meals and everything we're ordered has been wonderful. I've never had tiramisu and it was delicious!

I rate an Italian restaurant off the chicken piccata. The piccata here was below average. I could taste chicken broth. The chicken had no flavor and the pasta sat in the piccata sauce. I use the term sauce loosely.There was no buttery or lemon taste to the dish. Piccata doesn't come with mushrooms and this did. It's not worth your time or money if you're looking for good Italian food. I did eat all of the food because I didn't have lunch today. It gets two stars because it was nice outside, and they allowed my dog to lay down next to me while I ate. The inside of the restaurant looked nice, but I'd rather eat amazing food in a dirty place then bad food in a cool place.

absolute delicious food, absolute sweet people true gem of a place if you haven't tried it, try it