Bella Vista

Been coming here for a decade. Tony always makes it a great dining experience. I like the remodel of the restaurant after the fire. Food is always fresh, hot and delicious. I normally get the chicken or veal piccata but wanted to change it up. This time I ordered the chicken cutlet with vodka sauce. Absolutely amazing. Drinks were crafted well too. Tony and his crew make you feel like part of the family when you dine here. He has a great sense of humor and knows how to get his patrons to laugh. Always my “go-to” spot in the North End. Highly recommend this place.

When you are on a pub crawl through Boston with 15 people on a Sunday afternoon and this place graciously allows your group take over the bar area...huge Thank You! We did not eat so I can only review the $10 martinis...yes, $10 martinis and they were outstanding (several options)! But even more outstanding was the bartender, Ernesto, who dealt with our entire group while smiling the whole time. Pats lost but this place is a winner...I can't wait to go back to try the food.

I am from upstate NY and a good friend of mine recommended that I stop by Bella Vistas for dinner if ever on the North End of Boston. He knows that I love Italian food and suggested that this was the place! So, for my 50th birthday my wife asked me how I wanted to celebrate it? I suggested we stay in Boston and try the North End and visit Bella Vistas. I have got to say that not only did I have the best 50th birthday that I could ever ask for, Bella vista knocked it out of the park!!! The owners daughter (wonderful lady) was our waitress and she was the BEST!!! She took our order and graciously brought my beautiful wife and I an antipasto salad for us to enjoy and it was complimentary:). It was delicious!!! We then ordered our dinner. My wife ordered the Ravioli dish and I ordered the chicken parmigiana. My wife had no problem completing her dish it was that good. I had a hard time on the other hand as there was so much food. It definitely wasn’t from lack of trying I was just stuffed! The chicken parmigiana was delicious and the pasta was amazing! It was really tender with a nice crisp coating topped with an amazing marinara sauce with melted mozzarella. We had the window seat so the environment could not have been any better! When we finished our meal our wonderful waitress surprised me with a tiramisu for my birthday dessert. What an amazing treat served by an amazing lady!!!! When we were getting ready to leave, I was invited to the back and I was introduced to our waitresses mother (owner) who greeted me with a smile and hug. She wished me a happy birthday! What a beautiful lady! Thank you so much for the wonderful experience and we will be back again and again and……!!!

When the weather is nice, the large front window is open to the street which is excellent for people watching and enjoying your drinks or meal in the sun. We caught their happy hour (3-5 during the week) so we got to enjoy their $10 martinis! They had SO many fun flavors! Then we split an antipasto plate—delicious, high quality cured meats and cheeses. I had the veal piccata with angel hair pasta and it was divine. The meat was tender and the consistency of the pasta was perfect. I love love love capers and lemon, so I was ecstatic that Bella Vista had this on the menu and that it was so delicious!!! My friends had the lasagne and I think that’s what I’m ordering next time—it looked AMAZING! And we ended our meal with some tiramisu and a cannoli. Such a sweet treat! So glad my friend recommended me to Bella Vista, I look forward to returning!

We stopped in for their Happy hour, as they advertised $10.00 Expresso Martini’s. It was not only a badly made drink it was served in a glass so small it was laughable. We felt obliged to order food even though we just wanted a happy hour drink! The antipasto was not bad but atmosphere and small, not shaken espresso martini’s is a no return for my family!

In from Galveston TX. Morgan at the bar took great care of us. The food was excellent. We will be back in January.

Best Chicken Parmigiana I've ever had. I'm still thinking about that chicken! It was the most tender chicken, and it melted in your mouth!

Food was very good, authentic Italian. It seems family owned restaurant, and staffs were not professional. But food was very good.

The place was so well decorated for the fall season, the staff was extremely helpful and friendly and the food was absolutely amazing! Highly recommend this place for a delicious meal with a cute environment for date night!

We were seated quickly and offered drinks. Water glasses were filled promptly. A nice basket of bread and butter was brought to the table. Wait time for ordering was a bit. We both ordered ravioli. My daughter really wanted manicotti but it was not on the menu. The ambiance is an upscale restaurant with subdued lighting. Sports were playing on both televisions. The music playing was a combination of country and Taylor Swift. Overall, a very good meal.

Bartender is one of the best in Boston. She was attentive, on point, and the her talent second to none. Should definitely get a drink her

Intimate atmosphere, great food, with nice touches. Service was spot on. Dishes were so fresh and creative. Veal with mushrooms, onions, artichokes & peas over angel hair was excellent. We shared a dinner so the photo is of half. We started with the seafood salad that was delicious. Again, fresh, wonderful flavors.

Wonderful experience last night! Food, service was amazing! We sat at the bar, Clodagh was our bartender/server. She made an amazing Amalfi martini! I had the escargots for an appetizer, delish! Had gnocchi & meatballs as entree, soft, light and fluffy! Meatballs were very good! At the end of the evening we meet the owners, wonderful people. We will absolutely be back!

I feel bad giving a less-than-stellar rating. We stopped here for drinks and a snack while waiting for our table at Carmelina's across the street. Pros: -The Bartender was awesome and made amazing drinks. They had a Happy Hour special - $10 for smaller drinks and the Paper Plane was divine. -She gave us a generous portion of crusty bread and butter pats. Cons: -Weird vibes and decor - seemed very off-brand from rustic, romantic, cozy Italian. Seems like they did a re-model recently that wasn't for the better. - $18.99 Caprese was in plain, not good. seemed like 4 thin slices of grocery store mozzarella on 4 slices of not very fresh tomato. No fresh basil or anything. Yummy olives though! With so many incredible Italian spots at North End I do hope this one steps it up soon.

This food is amazing. I travel to Boston frequently for work, and try to eat here every time. My favorite pasta dish is the linguini with clams, however everything is wonderful. The owners are delightful and welcoming. If you want to have amazing Italian food in The North End, come to Bella Vista.

Our dinner at Bella Vista was outstanding. Great wine with an excellent pour, caprese salad, delicious and tender veal Parmesan, and scampi. We finished with a tasty tiramisu. Lucia was such a terrific server and her attention to detail made our meal even that much more enjoyable. Can't wait to return next time we are in Boston.

We walked Little Italy looking for a place to eat but all the restaurants were packed. A few steps further down we found a quaint little restaurant with an open face window and they had open tables! We took a chance and it did not disappoint. A little gem!

Went here on a Thursday night. Needed to do a take out so sat at bar and had a glass of wine while I waited. Bar service was great. Got food home and it was SO Good! Got two specials....Sea Bass and lobster / scallop / scrimp special. Both were so good and so different. So much food we couldn't finish it all...I'm impressed!

The food was bland and service was just decent. The bread was stale/dry. We were able to get in quickly which was a plus for a Saturday night.

My husband and I saw a sign out front advertising $10 martinis so we stopped in for one, but stayed for two! The bartender was very busy and on top of things, also very friendly! The smell of garlic was amazing but we had just had a late lunch elsewhere....so we came back the next day for a light lunch! I love how small, intimate, and inviting Bella Vita is. The owner spoke to us and this place has been in the family for , I believe, 40 years! Great guy. We only ordered a Caesar salad that was flavorful with anchovies and garlic, plus some meatballs. The meatballs were very good, the tomato sauce was amazing! And the homemade bread- thick crust- yum! Wish I lived in Boston!

If we could give zero stars, we would, the staff was super rude and very unprofessional. They were very upset that we only wanted to get drinks and appetizers and not order a full dinner. They weren't even busy. The staff was arguing in the back. The ambience was very basic with everything looking super cheap. There were many spots on the wall that needed to be patched. It honestly felt like the family was all their hanging out and they didn't care about the service they were giving. We ordered a martini and it was about 2 ounces. Avoid this place!!!

The food was fantastic. I would highly recommend stopping here for a meal. Morgan the bartender was a knockout as far as service is concerned.

Food is amazing. Authentic Italian you can beat it. Very flavorful and the portions are amazing. One of the best I've tasted here on the North End in Boston. Can't get better service anywhere. Kasey, the bartender is amazing and makes a great Porn Star Martini. When the weather is permitting, you get to sit with the windows open and the lights dimmed. Music playing in the background creating the best atmosphere. This is really the BEST place to Visit if you're on Hanover Street. Tell them Ken sent you!!! This place is so family oriented. Literally reminds you of a place in Rome.

We were there for lunch today... the service was the worst we had in Boston. The server was rude, never took our drink order, didn't bring more bread, or ask how our food was and if we needed anything, and gave us our check without asking if we wanted dessert or coffee. The food was good but I would never go back because of the service.

The food was bland...expected spicier for all dishes severed to our group. Bread was like store bought and dry and not fresh. They left the shells on the shrimp in a dish with marinara sauce and for the shrimp scampi too. The lobster was cut longtime in half and in the marinara sauce but still in the shell, not easily removable. Very disappointed in the lasagna..tasted old and dry. The waiter was not professional..he was open and truthful but it came across as an intolerant person. The environment was chilly. We could take off our jackets.

Ordered the Calamari Marinaro over homemade linguine. They start you off with hot bread, butter and a hot. Pepper in olive oil. The bread was hot and toasted on the outside. The inside was soft and fluffy. Great was to start lunch. The Calamari was delicious over the pasta. It had a a few whole grape tomatoes and was loaded with fish. . The service was very good and you ate over a cloth tablecloth. This is a walking to Resturant, no parking. It is a the beginning of the North End.

Amazing food; best ever! Can't wait for them to reopen after their renovation. Closet food to my Italian grandmother's cooking I've ever found.

Came here on a visit to Boston. The restaurant was small and romantically lit. Service was fast and the food was decent, and on the cheap side for Italian. I enjoyed my food and service.

Had dinner on a Wednesday night and it was wonderful. A very small, intimate setting with the charm of white tablecloths and great service. Tony, our waiter, spent some time talking to us about the neighborhood and growing up in the area. Food was really good. My Veal Pizzaiola was perfect (Tony's favorite) and my friend said her Eggplant Parmigiana was really good as well. Service was impeccable. It was a great experience.

Traditional Italian in Boston's North End, they were taking bookings on Open Table and that's a good thing. The warmer weather is bringing out the tourists and so these days, you'll likely want to book ahead. We were seated when we arrived on time, getting one of the tables in the window, which was open to the street. Motorcycles and firetrucks, but that's life int he big city. I chose the Chicken Villanese. I nice flattened piece of grilled chicken topped with shrimp and mushrooms and clams in white wine sauce. Served with broccoli and grilled potatoes. A large meal and delicious. Very, very nice. For dessert, a canoli. It was good though covered in powdered sugar and with canned whipped cream on both sides. Nice presentation but I just want the shell and the delicious filling, please. Yum!

Got to say this was a great find..... had the minestrone.... Very good Wife had fried seafood and she loved every bit of it... and a very good sized portion I had chicken parm and very good, as well. Oh did I mention the bread..... like awwwwwesome.. Not as busy as the other places, but probably much better than the other places.

Bella Vista had good food and good service. The owner came to check on us several times and was very kind. The food was really good as well. I got the chicken Marsala which interestingly had ham in it as well. I think all or most of the main courses come with a side of spaghetti with tomato sauce; I was glad to be able to try some of the pasta. The atmosphere was a little fancier than I thought it would be with dim lighting, white tablecloths, and Italian music. Great choice for a date night in the north end, I will definitely come back!

I was on my way to another restaurant, unfortunately they were Not properly social distancing. Luckily, I found Ristorante Bella Vista, which was abiding by social distancing measures that met my strict requirements. Wow! What a wonderful find. Delicious Italian home cooking and an awesome conversation with proprietress, Ms. Lucia Pezzano, I felt like I was having dinner with family. She graciously shared a heartfelt story of how her and her family serves the community. I will return from South Korea in June and plan to have my mother meet me in Boston to enjoy dinner here. Bella Vista, please continue to practice social distancing measures for your sake and the safety of your customers. We will get through this.

We ended up here because our preferred restaurant was busy. It was a pretty average experience. We split soup, salad and an entree and all were just OK. While the waitress (owner?) was attentive and helpful the young guy that brought out the food, etc. needs an attitude adjustment. There was only one other table of guests while we were there. Does not appear to be a popular place. I think if they want more customers they might work on some of their recipes (More flavor please) and their service.

The food here is cheap and has large portions, but's is very generic/unremarkable. If you're hungry and just need a place to fill up, it would work. Menu is a bit limited, and they only offer tiramisu for dessert (which I haven't tried). The staff are attentive and helpful.

Freezing cold on a Saturday night on the North End and we popped in this place because it was the only one with open tables. (Which maybe should have been a good indicator, but like I said, we were desperate) The menu was pretty basic. The service was very slow despite the fact that it was pretty empty. When they finally did come to take our order, we asked some questions about the food and the waitress was generally unhelpful. I went safe with the chicken parm but my date ordered a meal with prosciutto in it. The food she got looked generally unappetizing and had the SMALLEST amount of prosciutto on the chicken. My meal was nothing unusual. So maybe this place would be a good place to stop if you are in a pinch on the North End, but it's much to pricey for a sub par Italian dish.

The food and ambiance are wonderful. The family that owns Bella Vista are professional and very inviting. We had a wonderful experience at Bella Vista. Can't wait for a return visit. Thank you

Delicious classic old school Italian restaurant. So refreshing with so many restaurants changing there menus to trendy food instead of classic dishes yummy

This is the best Italian restaurant I've been to in a very long time. Family friendly, romantic and welcoming! You feel like family coming home for an authentic meal! Lucia is a doll!! There's no rushing you out the door... they want you to enjoy your meal and company. When in Boston, I will be returning to Bella Vista!!

My daughter and I were visiting family in Boston for the holidays. We were on our way to Modern Pastry when we stumbled upon Bella Vista. Let me tell you we will absolutely be back. From the moment we walked in the door we were greeted with the most genuine and heartfelt greeting/service staff to finish. Our server Tony (who I assume is a manager of some sort) was the absolute best. I work in the service industry and it is very far and few between you find someone as real and amazing as this. He was so welcoming, even with the pandemic. We had wonderful conversation and I really felt like he cared for his business and the customers tremendously. The other employees though I don't know their names were phenomenal as well. Our waters were continuously filled without having to ask. The complementary bread was scrumptious. Our meals (which we ordered off the lunch special menu) was were an incredible value and outstanding portion. We had plenty of leftovers to take home. Even after we were finished with our meal my daughter and I were playing cards and we weren't rushed out of the building. They welcomed us with open arms. Can not wait to visit again. THANK YOU TONY AND STAFF FOR SUCH A SUPERB EXPERIENCE!

Excellent atmosphere, food quality and friendly chat with owner on Sunday morning. Can't get any better than this

Classic. This is not tweezerfood. You will not find kale massaged with anything. Their tripe lunch special probably isn't going to be featured on the Food Network tomorrow. They don't need any of that. We've been coming here for over 10 years, and we'll keep coming as long as the doors are open, because the hospitality and comfort Italian food can't be beat. I can count on Tony to dish my dad's sarcastic sass right back at him, tell my mother how lovely she looks, and ask my boyfriend what his intentions are -- somehow all at the same time, while also pouring us glasses of chianti. To go along with the chianti we always get the antipasti, and sometimes the fried calamari. At this point, we've sampled a large portion of the menu. Every single thing I've ever tried, I could describe with "classic." Their antipasti is perfectly balanced, the eggplant parm is light and never soggy, the Fra Diavolo is perfectly spicy whether you get it with lobster or with shrimp and scallops -- even the chicken piccata is good! (Also, they really do have a tripe lunch special. My dad gets it every time. You're not going to find that kind of authentic Italian meal just anywhere.) We always call ahead or make a reservation on OpenTable. It's a small restaurant, so accommodating larger walk-in parties isn't always possible. Inside it's cute, cozy, and charming. I love how they decorate for Christmas, and there are always fresh flowers around. If you snag a window table, you even have the added entertainment of watching the wandering masses of tourists. No matter where you sit, you're sure to leave full and happy. No other place will treat you like family the way they do at Bella Vista.

This little restaurant is excellent. We had calamari, fettuccine, and bread with great olive oil. Primo

While wandering the area looking for food i hear this low italian music playing, i look over and see this small italian place with an open front.. I decided to go inside and check it out, don't be intimidated by Tony the server there because he was a gentleman. I ordered some fried calamari and it came w actual marinara sauce. I have been to many spots that don't serve it with marinara sauce but they try to be fancy and have a chipotle sauce and other items. I will say the fried calamari did NOT disappoint. Being in a rush i kept my meal simple, ordered a chicken parm platter and it was good... their portions are perfect and their service is fast. Tony chatted for a bit in process of taking orders, cleaning up plates and giving out the bills. Def a spot i will return to when i come back to Boston... Thanks for the pleasurable experience! You replied back, that gets the 5th star ! You took the time and energy to care. Be well

I had the opportunity to dine at Bella Vista after wandering aimlessly down Hanover Street with my friend on a Saturday night trying to find a restaurant that didn't have a wait time of over an hour. That's when we stumbled upon this joint. Let me start by saying that this restaurant only takes reservations. Period. They had a few open tables inside but anyone who came in and didn't have a reservation wasn't being seated. My friend whipped out her phone and made one right when we realized that this was the policy. Funny enough we just had to show them the confirmation and then we were seated instantly. The restaurant itself is more on the smaller side. A classic Italian restaurant with white tablecloths and bread baskets; we weren't expecting anything extraordinary, just something to get the job done. When it came time to order both of us got the Chicken Parmigiana ($17.95). Overall the dish was pretty standard in my opinion. My friend said it tasted a little bit on the bland side but I really didn't mind it. Most likely it probably boils down to your own personal preference. The servers were alright as well. Attentive and efficient, they made sure to give us time to look over the menu while also resupplying our bread basket generously. This restaurant seems to be the spot to go to if you're looking for a no frills Italian option if all the other (and more well known) spots have huge wait times.

We went here last night and were able to get seated right away which was awesome. Their complimentary bread was so delicious. They have a good sized Italian wine list (with other options of course). Our service was excellent! Their menu isn't too extensive but they have all the Italian classics you could ask for. So we were happy. Our food was delicious and didn't take too long. Dessert I think they only have tiramisu so we didn't get any.

Saturday night at the North End -- lines and crowds as far as the eye can see, bumper to bumper traffic, a festival at the end of the street. All in all, a fairly typical weekend in this little Italian neighborhood. My boyfriend and I meant to grab a bite to eat at the Madonna Della Cava Feast, but weren't too impressed with the food vendors at this particular festival (it was a lot smaller and didn't have too much of a variety). So, at 7pm on a Saturday night, we decided to take our chances on the streets of the North End until we could find something that appealed to our appetites and wallets. It was a grueling quest -- from Hanover St. to Salem St. to North St., we walked until we came to a full circle. Every place we looked at, the line was at least an hour long or the prices were extremely extravagant. We honestly almost called it quits (especially since I needed a restroom at this point) when we found Bella Vista. This tucked-away little restaurant shone like a beacon (or maybe it was just my bladder rejoicing) in the night. Their menu looked delicious (if traditional) and their prices weren't half bad. Better yet, there was practically no line at all -- we were only behind one group of three. The hostess was an older Italian lady who was a little brusque, but pleasant overall, and we were seated in no time at all. I don't actually remember what my boyfriend ate, but I had the Linguine w/ Seafood and it was delicious; it was definitely comparable to the Spaghetti alle Vongole that I had in Italy this summer. If I remember correctly, he enjoyed his entree too (I think it was something with meat). The portions were generous and there was enough to take home. The interior can be described as intimate, if a little cramped. They managed to fit a decent amount of tables and seats in the space, but you do end up sitting elbow to elbow with other tables. If you have personal space issues, this may not be the restaurant for you. We sat next to a group of ten, so they can definitely accommodate slightly larger groups if necessary. I really liked the decor inside. The walls were covered in murals that aged the room and made it seem like we were in an Italian cafe. The large windows also helped displace any claustrophobic tendencies I had because they were so large and open. The lighting was a little low, but there wasn't any real visual difficulty. Service was pleasant. Like I said, the hostess was a little brusque, but she seated us and was perfectly pleasant throughout the evening. She felt more like a grandmother bustling about rather than a restaurant hostess though. The other waiters were very nice and polite. All in all, I'd definitely come back again and I do recommend Bella Vista for some good, traditional Italian cooking.

I miss this place! The best lasagna I've ever had! A totally random pick while in town for dinner and after trying lasagna in Jersey and New York.

A few of us were here in boston for a girls trip and stopped here for lunch mid-day. Omg some of the best Italian food I have ever tasted. Anthony the owner was so awesome to talk to and gave us so many recommendations of sights around the city. The food is amazing and the portions are HUGE. We seriously had so much leftovers it looked like we hadn't even touched our food. Beautiful restaurant to dine in (we took so many pictures). I am craving some Italian food from Bella Vista now that I am back home in Denver. Thank you Anthony for the delicious food and wonderful hospitality!

It was a Friday afternoon in North End Boston when my family and I were wandering around Hanover Street looking for a place to eat. I was back in town this weekend and was craving a good ole Italian meal. Most places had long lines with 1+ hour wait lists and I was beginning to feel defeated. Luckily I noticed this restaurant. It didn't look busy inside, but I was willing to give it a try! The waiter had a tell you like it is vibe, but he gave good recommendations, was very accommodating, and friendly. I ordered the seafood linguine and it was tasty. The linguine was al dente, the seafood was cooked just right and the red sauce was on point. Good balance between acidic and tomato flavor. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. We went during lunch and found that their lunch prices were reasonable and the portions were huge. The ambiance of the restaurant was very cozy and Italian. Another plus is that their restaurant opens up into the street.

LOVED the atmosphere! Great authentic Italian at a reasonable price. Phenomenal lunch specials with personalized service. Would recommend to family and friends. This was definitely a nice place to relax and enjoy a meal with good company. Large portions. Complimentary Bread & butter. Lunch was roughly $10 with another $10 glass of wine (which was 100% worth it).

In an area with a lot of wonderful restaurants, Bella Vista stands out over the years for its quality, consistency and reasonable prices. The service is also excellent. I've tried many of the items on their menu and all have been terrific! A great place!

Holy moly. Talk about GOOD. We went here to carb load for the 2018 Boston Marathon because we forgot to make reservations and they were the only place on Hanover with an open table. We stumbled in and ordered our meals, but did not expect it to be SO good. This is a stripped down dining experience, but you get more than your money's worth. Service is not 5 star, but the food makes up for it. The bread? Hot and delicious. The pasta? Perfectly cooked. My eggplant was phenomenal. But man, that sauce... WOW. We just had to come back, and they did NOT disappoint the second time around. We'll see you for our next trip to Boston, Bella Vista!

This place is awesome! It has great food! The lunch portions were very large! It tasted like authentic Italian food, all different types of pasta! The calamari was amazing with the pasta! The broccoli, chicken and ziti was very tasty with a white sauce! The sausage and chicken cacciatore was delicious! The owner Tony was a legend! He was full of great life advice and many one liners. He is a classic Italian! He waits the tables and meets all of his customers! Going to this place you will get more than just a great meal! You will get a great experience as well!

Bar none, the best red sauce anywhere!!! Don't be fooled by the old fashioned decor.. this restaurant has mouth watering sauces.

Our long weekend in Boston, found us wandering up to Mike's Pastry getting last-minute goodies to transport back to the Pacific Northwest, we noticed this little treasure and decided to go in for a quick lunch. What a great decision. The food was perfect! The fried calamari was the best I've ever had and the fettuccine Alfredo was as good as what we make at home, maybe better! Even the bread was to die for. Seeing as how authentic Italian food is near non-existing in Oregon, this was a real pleasure. The service more than friendly and efficient. The food was prepared fresh and arrived more than prompt. We plan on returning to Boston for the food, alone, and Bella Vista is a must-dine. Thank you for a stellar experience in dining!

I went here recently for a quick lunch and ordered the spaghetti carbonara. The lunch portion was pretty big! It came with spaghetti and pancetta in a creamy sauce made with eggs and parmesan cheese. It was delicious! Service was very good as well. Definitely will come back again!