Bistro Bella Vita

The atmosphere here is very welcoming. It's hard to place a finger on the exact style, but it's upscale and well lit. It felt a little retro upscale too. I ordered the Spicy Pork Meatballs ($16) as an appetizer. They were excellent. Not mind blowing unique, but done to a high standard. I came for the Beef Brisket Bourguignon ($36). I had heard they had a real good pot roast. Well it wasn't just really good. It was spectacular! Probably the best I've had. So tender and flavorful. The sauce with it is excellent and perfectly emphasizes the beef. The potatoes and veggies with it are all perfectly cooked also. I finished with their Chocolate Tart ($13). It was fantastic! It is chocolate to the nines. However it doesn't cross the line of being too much. The chocolate is extremely high quality and super tasty. The service was fantastic. It was super friendly and knowledgeable. Attentive without being too much. Shout out to Harrison, he was awesome. Overall one of the easiest 5 star reviews I've ever done. They are now in my top 5 places in Grand Rapids. Would I return? Lol, duh!

Stop what you’re doing and GO HERE! The Moules on the appetizer menu is out of this world (and I’m not a huge mussel person), and the black spaghetti is life changing. My husband got the risotto which was also delicious! It was popping on a Tuesday night, but there was no wait or reservation. I would get a reservation for the weekend though! 11/10 recommend, ask for Matt :)

Wow! We had an overnight in Grand Rapids and found this restaurant while walking around downtown. The atmosphere is fun and upbeat without feeling “stuffy”. We chose to sit outside for our dinner, and the patio seating was perfect for the amazing weather that early evening. Our server was friendly and offered suggestions and made us feel welcomed. We ordered the bruschetta to split and it was delicious! I opted for a simple meal for dinner and the Margherita pizza did not disappoint! It reminded me of the pizza I had while in Naples, Italy. The dough was light and flavorful with just the right amount of sauce and cooked perfectly. My friend ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese (forgot to snap a pic!) and she loved it! I tried a bite and the sauce was amazing with a hint of spice. Price is on point for the quality and amount of food you receive. Highly recommend!

We were greeted warmly at the door and shown right to our table. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive and recommended a pasta dish I inquired about. Overall a good experience and will come back again.

Excellent service, Gr8 food. My first time here. I never had a brick oven wood fire pizza before and it's the reason I came. The bartender recommended the prosciutto pear pizza...I was not disappointed. The CEO Stout just happened to pair(pardon the pun) well with the pizza...like they were meant for each other. The next time I come, I'll be sure to bring a date. Everything worked well together. The restrooms were immaculate I'd definitely recommend. I added a few photos. Thank you Bella Vita for giving me this Gr8 experience - Till next time

We hosted our team holiday party at Bistro Bella Vita and it was nothing short of exceptional. The food: incredible. The service: impeccable. The atmosphere: festive and energetic. The entire Bistro team took such great care of us from booking through leaving. I highly recommend Bistro for a company party of any size. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a wonderful meal and entertaining your team. Thank you Bistro Bella Vita!

We stopped here to grab a cocktail and sit outside since it was so nice out. We were greeted quickly and our server with the beautiful curly hair was really friendly. She helped my sister pick out a cocktail based on her preferences and gave us some recommendations. We didn’t eat any food because we just had lunch but I’ve heard their martinis were good so we wanted to come check it out. Both our drinks were delicious! I’m a sucker for a drink with a house made shrub! We gotta come back next time to try their food!

We are visiting from out of town and didnt realize reservations were recommended. We didnt have one, but they were able to accommodate us with a table for an hour and a half. Both hostesses were so pleasant! Our server Lauren was EXCELLENT! she knows the menu well and her recommendation for the arugula salad was perfect! I will be having dreams about that salad! The tomato bruschetta was yummy and the woodfire pepperoni pizza was 100/10! And the food came out so quickly! We will definitely be back! Also a fun fact, they make their own grenadine and oh my gosh it makes all the difference! We were stuffed but I'll be returning for the made in house Gelato! Ask for Lauren if you go! She was phenomenal!

My husband and I walked in on a Friday night at 645 and were able to get a seat right away. We had considered making a reservation but wanted to test our luck out. We had a fantastic server that helped with our indecisiveness and was very attentive. We started with the moules and burrata. The moules were mussels in a curry type sauce. If you had to get any appetizer, definitely get this. The sauce is AMAZING. So flavorful but also light. When we go next, I'll order the homemade focaccia to dip in the sauce too. The burrata was pretty typical to what any burrata would be. It is good but does not stand out. Our entrees were the Parisian gnocchi and bucatini. The gnocchi was very light and fluffy but also quite filling - I barely ate half of the dish. It had spaghetti squash noodles that make you actually want to eat spaghetti squash. I don't know what they did but I want to try to make that myself. The bucatini is a pretty classic pasta dish- well cooked noodles and a basic but good red sauce. Also nothing to write home about but would be good for a picky eater. The dessert- chocolate mousse tarte was DELISH. The caramelized hazelnuts were so crunchy and I could not stop eating them. The mousse had a center of caramel and the tarte shell was well constructed. I always hate when the tarte shell is so thick you need a knife to break it, but this one was perfectly easy to eat with just a fork. Also for the drinks- the Nebbiolo red wine is a must. I asked the server for a recommendation and the wine was so good I googled it and am going to total wine to get my own bottle!

My cousin was in town visiting from France so I thought I'd take her to this pasta place for lunch. BBV has a nice location, plentiful parking, but for some reason I've never made it out here to eat all these years living here. Service was great, atmosphere was typical, and the food was good for what ya got for lunch. Started odd with a formagi and prosciutto pizza but the server said she accidentally rung in two formagis. She asks us if it was okay, I mean why not you already made it right? But she didn't mention to comp this or get the other one going instead just asking if we would take this. Not too fond of this but can overlook. We just disappointed we couldn't get another pizza so we all had to eat two slices of the same one. The formaggi, was delicious. Will never know how the other one was. We ordered different pastas and shared bites. Rigatoni, black spaghetti, rotini, and bucatini. Everyone has their own style and uniqueness. The one that stood out to me was the rotini con pollo. Very good flavor and unexpected. Not sure I would go back here again as I don't have anything I would really want to try again. Maybe an entree next time? We'll see.

We dined in at Bistro Bella Vita for our anniversary and had a wonderful experience. The ambiance was lovely, with tasteful decorations. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and offered excellent pairing suggestions. The table setting was beautifully white, adding a touch of elegance to our special occasion. Every server and hostess wished us a happy anniversary, making us feel truly celebrated. The food was absolutely amazing! I had the steak, which was the best I've had in a long time. We'll definitely return!

Food was great and service was also great. My fiancé and I went here for a date night and got the pesto chicken pasta and I got the black spaghetti seafood pasta. Will definitely be back

Loved our experience here. It was my birthday and they had special menus that said "happy 34th birthday" and they also provided a complimentary dessert. We split the Cesar salad and bread which were both delicious. My husband ordered the pasta bolognese and I had the chicken rotini. Both were amazing but I had slight order envy because the bolognese was absolutely delicious. The tiramisu was also delicious and not too filling. Large portions big enough to split, I barely ate half of my pasta. Staff was extremely nice and prompt. Pretty laid back, you could go here for any occasion! Overall 10/10!

This place was pretty good. The food was filling and delicious! I got the Black Spaghetti which had a light but rich seafood taste to it. I'm not usually a seafood person, but I'd totally order that dish again. Our server was great and very nice with helping answering any questions we had. The ambiance was nice. It was a step up from an Olive Garden where you can dress up, but also not so fancy that families with little kids couldn't go. I mention this since there was a baby right behind me at the time I was eating there and it looked like a lot of the high schoolers going to homecoming were there too.

OMG seriously one of the best meals ever. My ravioli reminded me of this meal I had years ago before I had my son at this amazing, Michelin rated NYC restaurant. I never thought I'd be reminded of such a meal on vacation in Michigan. Ambiance was perfect, my mocktail was amazing, service was great, and for some reason my son really loved their bar. No idea why but he kept wanting to go to their bar lol. Calamari was beyond amazing too.

Bistro is a romantic, classic spot for dinner. The service feels old school in the best way, the staff is so attentive and always has added extra "pizazz" to my experiences. The birthday card signed by staff, complimentary creme brûlée dessert and table-side shaken martini's, it's just exudes fine dining without being pretentious. Photos are from a visit over a year ago, I will equate this specific visit to my partner (now ex) rekindling our relationship at the time. Without that romantic dinner, we may not have made it another 4 months...literally . The love for my ex may be long gone, but I will forever love bistro. Such a GR staple.

Was in town for a conference and was recommended this spot as it was close to our hotel... it did not disappoint! We had bruschetta, bolognese, short rib and ravioli. They have I house made pasta, our server Sarah was so incredibly knowledgeable about all the menu items and gave great recommendations!

This place was absolutely amazing! My mother and I came in before a concert and needed to eat but didn't want to leave anything since we couldn't bring it.... Our server Alecia ended up putting in a request to have our items split between the two of us! Which was so sweet and 5 stars in details! The Bruschetta was perfection! The Beet Salad was perfection and the Ravioli was perfection! I highly recommend this restaurant! Also the Spiced Peach Old Fashion(seasonal) was a 10000/10! Lemon drop martini also a 10000/10

Brought my wife her for her birthday dinner. Nice special touch they put happy 3* birthday across the top of our menus. Food was phenomenal and the pasta was cooked perfectly and tasted freshly made. The bolognese was some of the best I have had with a deep meaty /woody flavor. It's a big restaurant but the ambiance is nice and the place has very good lighting and somehow they keep the noise at a reasonable volume even with all the tables and a bar area. Cesar salad was "ok" and a little small at $16 but people don't come to Italian restaurants for salad the pastas are the star of the show.

We celebrated my brothers high school graduation dinner here this past month! It was a great option for a larger group and though they do have private rooms and ample space throughout the restaurant, we were tucked away in the back in a relatively private area perfect for our group of 12! They do not offer validation or have their own parking lot in downtown Grand Rapids, but are across the street from a paid lot, so still super accessible. The main dining room is definitely lively and loud, but with our secluded area the volume was perfect for our group, though I can imagine it being tougher to have conversation in the main area. It's a unique blend of cuisine with italian and french, but a lovely menu with ample offerings for everyone. We started with bruschetta for the table, which was great for sharing and delicious! I believe they blanch the tomatoes, which created a really loved flavor and texture. This is the only dish that took a oddly long time, but after that everything else was paced perfectly. Overall, the experience was very good! We all enjoyed our various dishes. I shared a few with my family including their Rotini con pollo, a chicken pesto pasta dish, parisian gnocchi, saffron risotto, the arugula salad and surprisingly the simple but delicious pesto dish was the winner for me! We ended the meal with tiramisu and some espresso, which was a perfect sweet treat to wrap things up. Prices were overall reasonable and to be expected for an elevated restaurant.

My wife and I were winding down a little weekend getaway and decided to stop in for dinner on the way home. It would appear that Sunday afternoons are potentially a great time to visit this place as we didn't even have to pay for parking. The room is bright with lots of natural lighting and very comfortable furniture. It's clear a lot of care went into the design of the space. Our server was an energetic polite fellow who checked on us several times throughout our visit. Other servers could be observed similarly energetic and taking care of their tables. It's always a good sign when the crew is engaged in what they're doing. The menu is wide and varied, but my wife and I decided we were ready for something simple and straightforward. We began with a shared meatball appetizer. A very generous serving, and don't let the name fool you they're not all that spicy. Rather they are dense and delicious! We ordered a pair of pizzas for our entrée. The carbonara pizza was magnificent. The Formaggi pizza was not quite to my taste but my wife indicated she enjoyed it. If we're ever in the area again I wouldn't hesitate to come back.

We had a gift card to this restaurant so we faced the snow storm to head in for a hot meal last night. I would say it's good, not great. I got the brisket (the waitress suggested they were known for this dish) and my wife got the black spaghetti. The brisket was kinda of dry, unfortunately, and it needed more sauce to make up for this. I would have let the waitress know, but she never asked how we liked our main course -- only asked if we were finished, so I didn't waste my time on complaining. Fortunately, my wife loved the black spaghetti and I did as well going off a bite she shared. She said the shrimp in it was overcooked but the sauce was phenomenal. We also got the barrata and calamari for apps - pretty good. Lastly, a crème brûlée and Expresso for dessert. Fails: dry brisket, shrimp in the spaghetti was overcooked and room temperature was cold. Successes: crème brûlée was a 12/10, sauce on spaghetti is super flavorful and the ambience is relaxing. If I consider returning, I would love to try the pizza - our neighbor table smelled amazing!

First time here and I loved the great service! We booked a reservation for our group and got a room all to ourselves. The service was impeccable, whenever my glass of water got low, someone would refill it without me even asking and they got our food out in a good time frame. My only thing is I would probably only go here for special occasions because it's sooo expensive. Everything except a bowl of soup is $20 or more.... I wish they had a menu with cheaper prices so I just went with a bowl of tomato - basil bisque. My friends got black spaghetti and rotini con pollo. They said the black spaghetti was good, but the rotini con pollo could have been better. They weren't expecting the chicken to be shredded and felt like grilled chicken strips would've been better.

I've only been here a few times, but it has been a good experience each time. My husband and I really like coming here for celebratory meals, too. They have really nice cocktails, and an ok beer selection. Parking can be tricky if there is a hockey game or a concert at Van Andel, but we've never had longer than maybe a 5 minute walk. On our most recent visit my husband ordered the filet mignon and I had the Faroe Islands salmon. Both were cooked well, and were filling portions. The sides that come with each are really tasty, and really highlight the protein. I've also had the pizzas before, and have no complaints! Overall I think it's a nice date place or celebratory spot. If you want somewhere you can get a bit dressier and have some really good food they are definitely one to check out! There are a bunch of other entrees on the menu that I'm looking forward to trying, so I can't wait to go back soon!

Bistro Bella Vita is nestled in downtown, but brace yourself for the parking challenge - you'll likely have to pay for parking in a nearby lot. Once inside, the restaurant boasts a beautiful ambiance that sets the stage for a delightful evening. Now, onto the food journey. The service was a tad on the slower side, but the wait was worth it. We decided to try a little bit of everything, starting with the pizza and the braised beef dish. Kudos to the staff for kindly splitting the pizza for us, a thoughtful touch! The pizza was the star of the evening for me. It had that perfect blend of crispy crust, fresh toppings, and light cheesy goodness that I crave. On the other hand, the braised beef dish left me wanting more. It needed a bit extra sauce to elevate the flavors. But oh, the creme brulee! It was pure perfection and worth the visit all on its own. Creamy, sweet, and with that satisfying crack when you break through the caramelized sugar on top - it was heavenly. In summary, Bistro Bella Vita offers a lovely ambiance and a decent food selection. While the service was a bit slow, the pizza and creme brulee made up for it. If you're in the mood for a classier night out, some delightful dessert and good pizza, this might be your spot!

The place was good but not great. Truffle fries were good but the sauce was just a bit too strong. The salad was actually my favorite part, very refreshing. The old fashion was great.

Another great GR restaurant. We've been in twice now. If you find seats at the bar while waiting for your table expect prompt friendly service. They are definitely on top of things. Table service has been a bit mixed. Sometimes it's great sometimes you wait 15 min for salt and pepper when it's not busy enough to warrant that. On our first visit we had a delightful server, Jordan. She was a great help to me communicating with the kitchen and exploring some dinner options that I could have with my allergies. We started with the Focaccia. For dinner I decided to go with the Rigatoni w/the sauce from the Ravioli as it was allergy friendly. The sauce was nice and not sweet thankfully. I've had this dish a few times and the only thing I can say is that the Pasta is a little too Al Dente even for this Italian girl. My husband went with the Rustica Pizza. He liked it but wasn't blown away. He also ordered the Bolognese on a different night. He thought it was more of a meat sauce than a traditional Bolognese which has less tomato to it. He did enjoy it though. Cocktails and Wine selection are good. Definitely going to keep this in our rotation

Quick shoutout to Bistro because they made my birthday dinner with friends SO special. From the manager working hard to get through a reservation mishap, to our server Lisa who went above and beyond to make sure we were ALL taken care of (and there were a lot of us), everything down to the tiniest detail was perfect (Including the menu saying, "Happy Birthday!") I tried so many foods and so many cocktails I can hardly review them all, but everything was amazing! My entree was the saffron risotto, and it was perfect. (What I expect Sookie's Famous Risotto tasted like, for all my Gilmore Girls out there ). I also loved the rigatoni, and will probably order that the next time I come! My favorite cocktail was the It's Britney, Spritz, which I could've drank all night if I wasn't on a mission to try new things. For appetizers, we got both the burrata and calamari, and I truly couldn't pick a favorite. This whole place was perfect. It was decently busy, but still felt intimate, even though the space itself is pretty large. There was a mix of people enjoying quiet dinners with family, people celebrating, people who looked like they were there on business. With its location right next to the Van Andel, this would be the perfect place to make a reservation before any event you're attending!

Although we visit Grand Rapids regularly, we had never been to Bistro Bella Vita. It was a very pleasant surprise. Food was excellent, service was solid and the atmosphere was very nice. We had some basic Italian dishes, rigatoni bolognese and cheese ravioli and which were both very good. Combined with a nice wine list from which we ordered a $100+ bottle of chianti, it was a great meal all the way around. We'll be back!

Absolutely splendid dining experience! My wife and I both enjoyed the food as well as the atmosphere a great deal! The staff was helpful and friendly.

This is probably the 5-6 time coming to the Bistro and it never disappoints. Food was amazing, high quality and great service! The atmosphere is fun and inviting with a great mix of young and old.

Tasty food. Amazing service. Trendy and clean ambiance. Although a bit pricy, Bistro Bella Vita is worth the price. I don't have anything bad to say about my dining experience here and will definitely come back. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable of all the dishes. She even made a good wine pairing suggestion for me. The calamari was evenly breaded and the sauce complimented it well. My risotto was fabulous! Just wish there was more shrimp in it. I did not order the gnocchi, but my friend who did said it was good just a bit dry. The one bite of the gnocchi I had was great, however! Finally, the chocolate cake was very moist and rich in flavor. If there was one actual critique it would be on the bread. It was not served warm, but I think that is more of a conditioned expectation from so many other restaurants toasting/warming their bread. Overall, I think Bistro Bella vida does an good job in creating a "semi-upscale" and "trendy" dining experience for Grand Rapids.

Just had the most fantastic time at Bistro Bella Vitas celebrating a coworker's retirement! The envy was real, but the food stole the show. The bruschetta? A flavor explosion with those balsamic-soaked onions and tomatoes! Went all-in for Dry January with the "This Little Life" mocktail - so good I doubled down! And let's talk about the margarita pizza - absolute perfection with that dreamy crust. Normally a Pesto Chicken Pasta fan, but last night, pizza cravings won! Bistro Bella Vitas is a gem - an impressive menu, chic ambiance, and the servers are superstar material! If you're looking for a delightful dining experience, this is the place to be. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you!

Such a great restaurant. I ordered the salmon and it taste soooooo salty, I drank lots of water But this restaurant has really great atmosphere, it's a good choice to hang out with friends in downtown

The food and drinks were amazing and the service was perfect. They even made a personalized menu for my mom's birthday. The ambience made you feel so relaxed. I highly recommend. Plus they have a happy hour, so take advantage of that.

Definitely eat here! All around this place impressed: outstanding, attentive, and next-level service was a binder to food that was well prepared, flavorful, generous, and delish. For those who imbibe, it looked like a strong wine list and handmade cocktails (and there was even Athletic Brewing NA beer, which shows taste beyond most places have). The Fried Brassicas were a treat, and the name alone had me concerned (working to stay away from fried food). While technically they were fried, it was a flash situation with no batter. What you got were slightly crunchy, fully recognizable cauliflower, broccoli, etc. for main I enjoyed the Black Spaghetti. Such a well crafted dish. Others loved the bolognese and the rotini con pollo (I'll save you the Google search: pollo means chicken ‍) When back to Grand Rapids, I'll come here again for sure!

I was visiting family for the holidays, and we had decided to do dinner one at at Bistro Bella Vita! After reviewing their menu, I had decided on the Ravioli and a small arugula salad. So I'm not a goat cheese fan...and for some reason I had missed that the ravioli was stuffed with goat cheese. (Internally cries) So I wasn't too much of a fan; however...the ravioli sauce was absolutely delicious!!! The arugula salad was good, but not great. The white smear on the plate is also goat cheese...also didn't expect that lol I think Bistro Bella has better dishes these, so I was slightly disappointed when I realized I didn't care for either of these dishes. But that's okay! You live and learn! I would definitely return, but I would go with the pesto pasta instead. The seating is plus size friendly! Yaaay

Consistent as ever, I'm back to reiterate my adoration for this staple Italian restaurant. I've recently ventured into the world of Negronis and the bartenders here are able to really appreciate the art of the drink. They have a few on the menu, but don't be afraid to ask for a special gin or ratio here; I love a staff that's willing to accommodate. The linguine Norma (specialty item) should be a staple on the menu, particularly because I have not found a proper eggplant dish in all of GR. The eggplant was perfectly cooked and I crave this kind of caramelized italian specialty sans breading. I love that they accommodate my requests for veggie sides. They're more than willing to bring broccoli, asparagus, peas or green beans along with an entree for some extra greens! They have a wide selection of amaros which I highly recommend trying for an after dinner enjoyment. BBV has not disappointed me and this type of consistency is astonishing, particularly in the restaurant industry. Keep up the fabulous work!

Our first visit, and a spectacular meal!!! Party of three, mysself, wife and son, all foodies. We are particularly fond of Italian. September 2024; I enjoyed one of the specials, a spagettini with lamb meatballs, mushrooms, onion, and mascarpone. Son had a pizza with saiusage and goat cheese. Wife had a special pizza with pear and proscioutto. Our server Amy took great care of us. After admiring the wine list, I asked to speak with the sommeilier, Tristan came by a few minutes later. Turned our he was not only the sommeilie but also the restaurant COO. Both he and Amy were engaging, friendly people clearly committed to taking care of customers. Menu showed creativity and wine list was exceptional. Check it out, you'll love it!!!

This place lived up to all the hype! So many people have recommended this place to me and I'm happy I was able to celebrate my birthday here:) Finally had the chance to experience Bistro Bella Vita on a Saturday night with a party of 4! We made reservations in advance and the staff all treated us with so much kindness and hospitality. I added the reservation was for my birthday and received a lot of extra attention and love for that. We were seated in a booth by a window and right away I was impressed by the inside of this place being all decorated for the holidays and it was also incredibly busy. Our server was amazing and got our drinks right away. For appetizers, my friends ordered the tomato bruschetta which they loved! And I ordered the Burrata for the table. I've been wanting to try Burrata cheese for a long time and this was a great first experience. Our server recommended extra bread which we decided on getting because it is alot of cheese and you can't go wrong with more bread. Cutting into the burrata cheese was so satisfying and it was obviously very fresh and tasted amazing with the pepperonata and arugula! For our entrees, the men both ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese and cleaned their plates clean and loved the meal so much. My friend ordered the Black Spaghetti which had shrimp and crab in it and she said it was delicious!! For myself, I ordered the Faroe Island Salmon which came with broccoli and potatoes that were roasted to perfection. The salmon was cooked perfectly with some crispness on the edges and soft tender insides... and was near some vichyssoise sauce which tasted absolutely amazing to dip the salmon meat in that. I already want this entree again haha. For dessert my friend ordered the Creme Brûlée and it came with some berries on top and also a cookie. The traditional crunch of the caramelized top was satisfying to watch and hear. I ordered the tiramisu and they put a candle on it for me so I could blow it out and make a birthday wish. I don't typically like a lot of attention for my birthday but this was the right amount and I'm glad there was no singing or clapping hehe. Overall, this experience was divine. I will highly recommend this to anyone and everyone looking for a great dinner or date spot. Loved every single bit of our time here :) We had Sarah as a server and my friends mentioned she was one of the best they've ever had! Her energy and spunky vibes were awesome and she made us feel so welcome and at home there:)

The food is always good here and so is the service. One of my favorites. It's always best to get a reservation because it's always busy.

We ate here twice when in town for a conference. Really genuine & attentive servers plus excellent food. One night was family style with an opportunity to taste tons of dishes- uniformly delicious. Try the black spaghetti and Parisian gnocchi!

Came to celebrate a birthday. Between the good food & conversation, I only managed to snap a pic of my meal and the apps The bruschetta was not like I'd had it prepared before - the bread was extra crispy (nor was it soggy) and had a bass-layer of olive oil and the tomatoes were on the sweeter side. The calamari was really flavorful and almost melted in your mouth. I ordered a seasonal dish - Mafalda pasta and was able to ask for the them to put less cream in the lemon cream sauce. It had crispy prosciutto flakes on top and shaved asparagus. Very light pasta dish, and filling (definitely took home leftovers). Other dishes ordered: seafood/black pasta, risotto, and a chicken pasta dish (idk what it was, but it was apparently 11/10). Service: attentive, knowledge, and quick. Free dessert for the birthday girl was a nice touch (and all the staff signed a card for her/our menus all had Happy Birthday on them)

We had such a great dining experience at Bistro Bella Vita. We made a reservation and were seated promptly. Our server was very attentive and nice. We started with the tomato bruschetta. It was very fresh and tasty. My dish was the black spaghetti and my husband got the beef brisket bourguignon. These dishes were both excellent! The tiramisu is a must try for dessert! Overall, this place was great for a date night or special occasion. The location was convenient to other fun places downtown. I would definitely come back again.

So for a limited time you can enjoy the 25h anniversary menu. This menu brings back some of the dishes Bistro Bella Vita started with 25 years ago and in my opinion these two dishes should never leave. I very much enjoyed the Magret de Canard which is a very classic French dish in this case paired with some lovely fall vegetables. The skin on the duck was rendered near perfection though there were still a couple areas left slightly fatty. The flavor on this dish was as amazing!! A must try for this 25th anniversary! For dessert I absolutely had to try the classic take on a creme brûlée and let me tell you this is perfection. The custard is made with fresh vanilla that you can see and taste throughout. The brûlée on top was perfectly brown, broke like glass, and added to the flavor of the creme on all the right notes. So obviously food freshness and quality gains 5 stars. I'm giving 5 stars on every other area as well. Service, cleanliness, ambiance... oh I must say there was live music I did not expect this night and it was lovely!! 5 stars top to bottom side to side that is all!! Oh but come ready to spend a pretty penny. It was near $100 just for me which I didn't even pay at Gordon Ramsay's restaurants in London. Just saying.

One of my favorite spots in all of GR! The staff is beyond nice and accommodating. The food is so good, their black spaghetti is still one of the best dishes I've ever had! The entire restaurant is decorated perfectly and is very inviting.

Came on a Sunday night and there was plenty of space. A mix of spectacular and solid. Gnocchi - 5/5. Melt in your mouth pasta that soft on the inside with a nice outside seat. Wonderful complement of well seasoned vegetables and green sauce. The hazelnuts add crunch to put this over the top. Chocolate cake - 4/5. Lovely soft texture, like elevated Angel Food cake. Switched to a blood orange sorbet, which likely was a mistake, but fun to try and refreshing. The crunch on the plate adds a nice element. It all comes together to make a tasty, unexpected bite. Pizza with brisket - 3.5/5. Got a daily special that had a nice thin crust and was decent. The balsamic glaze was delicious. But the overall dish didn't fully come together for me. Cocktails - 4/5. Got a vodka elderflower drink that was delicate and lovely. Also a spicy tequila drink that really punched the spice with decent balance.

Consistently good as always at Bistro. Always a nice crowd with good service, drinks, etc. Easily a top choice for date night or evening out with friends.

The food and vibe was amazing! The salmon was great, as well as the chocolate cake. However, the part that really made this experience amazing was the service. We came in to celebrate my boyfriend's college graduation with his family and our waiter Harrison was absolutely amazing. He was so kind, every recommendation he made was an absolute hit, and he was so attentive. While the food was amazing, the whole night was truly enhanced by having such a friendly and interactive waiter. I would totally recommend this place!

I've been to Bistro Bella Vita a few times in the past. The food has always been really good and the service has been adequate as well. I was in Grand Rapids on business and my customers suggested it for dinner on a Tuesday night. Luckily for us, this visit turned out to be the best one yet. Not only did we have amazing food, our server Sarah K, really went out of our her way to make it an unforgettable experience for all of us. The 4 of us were all torn on what to order for dinner. Sarah suggested that the kitchen split up the meals so we were able to dine Tapas style - giving us all each a taste of the 4 entrees. I made a comment that the kitchen was probably going to be super pissed with her, but she reassured me that they wouldn't mind... This went from being an ordinary business dinner to an unbelievable dining experience. The four of us split the Beef Brisket Bourguignon, the Saffron Risotto which was served with shrimp and seafood, the Rigatoni Bolognese, and a Black Spaghetti pasta dish served also with shrimp. It was really tough to pick a favorite. All of these dishes were absolutely fantastic. The brisket was tender and full of flavor. The pastas all tasted homemade and the risotto was so rich and delicious that we were all glad we got it as a taste because none of us probably would've been able to finish a whole plate of it. It was decadent. Again, when you are able to experience a meal like this with a server as good as we had, it becomes an unforgettable experience that I was able to give to my customers. Thank you Bistro Bella, Vita, and a special thanks to Sarah K! We will definitely be back again!

I've been to the spot a couple times and service and the quality of food does not disappoint. It's a nice restaurant where you can get a very great meal and a downtown atmosphere and grand rapids. I would like to stop here again and I would recommend you do the same.

Last time I've made a trip here it left me in shock. I've been here many times and have always thought it was an okay restaurant. My girlfriend complained about the gnocchi being weird in taste and appearance. I had an exceptional burger and from the first bite I couldn't put it down. Something I didn't know bistro Bella vita had under their sleeves. Ambiance is nothing crazy. We did however receive a lovely anniversary card that said happy 50th anniversary, which made us laugh and chuckle a bit since my girlfriend and I are in our mid twenties.

My husband and I came in from Grand Haven for date night here. The food was fantastic! Our server made some great recommendations. Very pleased with what we had. Nice wine selections too! Great date night spot!

Pricy but high quality. - Frites (truffle fries): I could NOT stop eating them - Calamari: good despite not being fully crispy - Saffron Risotto: full of flavor - Formaggi (mushroom pizza): soggy and the Gorgonzola cheese was overpowering - Steak: no flavor aside from smokiness; not worth the $50+ price tag - Apple tarte tatin with vanilla gelato: fantastic; though apples were oversoaked in rum/spices but the gelato was smooth, sweet, & refreshing. I don't even like raisins but the raisins in the dessert was delicious with a slight crisp & juiciness Overall, nice place for finer dining.

It was our first time and it was certainly wort the hype. Food was exceptional. Staff worked as a team which is huge to me. And the ambience was lovely. They knew that we had an event to get to, and made sure that we did without feeling rushed. Certainly be back.

Beautiful restaurant a stones throw away from the stadium. Nice seating areas in both the café and the main restaurant. And gorgeous bathrooms with tile work. On my way back I noticed them making my margarita pizza in the stone oven fresh! The pizza itself was way too salty. This might've been due to the types of cheeses that they used for employer make you drink more! Great service and fast food prep time. Next time I definitely going for the beef rigatoni.

Came here with a large group and had a fantastic experience. We sat in the private dining area and our service was top notch. Started with several appetizers which were all delicious, the fries especially are amazing. I had the saffron risotto for my entree, delicious and a huge portion. Could have easily shared with someone. The Creme brûlée dessert was fabulous!