We stumbled on this place while wandering around for somewhere to eat and we're so glad we did! We were able to just walk in around 7pm, but I think we were just lucky. The wait staff was kind although a bit un attentive at times. I had the ravioli with black truffles and it was so tasty! My friend had the veal and raisin ravioli which was even better. For dessert we got both the chocolate soufflé and the creme brûlée and we're still trying to decide which was better! They were both vey well done. The restaurant is in the crowded side....but I'm from Denver and probably have a different definition of "crowded" We actually considered going back her for another meal on this trip because it was so good! read more

Bella Blu - Chocolate soufflé - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Ordered a dish for $22 - granted it was an antipasti -but the portion was so tiny I am stunned. This is not inflation - this is sheer greed. What's next teaspoon size portions for $30? Shame on you. And by the way this eggplant parm is the worst I have ever eaten - I make better eggplant parm than this crap. It is fried tough rubbery and they use an old stinky cheese that is hardened on top. It is the worst eggplant parm I have ever had! read more

So Disappointed . The ambiance was comforting and colorful . The service , very friendly and helpful. . Here's the bad part . When the bread comes out cold that's a red flag ! A good restaurant should have warm bread . Especially at theses prices . . The appetizer Ceasar salad was DOA ( dead on arrival ) . The romaine lettuce was limp and white colored . It looked sick . I hardly could taste any Parmesan cheese . Maybe 3 croutons on my plate , looking for a home. The main Course was ok , my steak a bit tough but flavorful. My girlfriend's pasta was good. Then the tiramisu . How can an Italian restaurant have lousy tiramisu? A glob of mascarpone cheese with barely a hint of lady finger and a dusting of cocoa that didn't even cover the top of the dessert. Waiter , check please ? read more

Service is amazing! Ambience is flexible, with ample space for large groups, romantic dates, parties, a pregame at the bar, etc. They have some amazing Italian wines, and super friendly Italian servers as well. Bruschetta comes with atop bread perfectly toasted on the outside and soft on the inside. Octopus appetizer was delicious, the potatoes are perfectly cooked (it nearly melts into your mouth with every bite), and the octopus meat has that delicious chew. Branzino was a great option on the healthier side too. The fish was soft and delicious, fresh, no intense sauces to take away from the fish. This dish comes w artichoke hearts and the plate as a whole is drizzled with olive oil. My only complaints: There were a couple bones in our fish and the thin pizza slices were a bit cold. I felt like it had been out a while. I would come back to try their pasta dishes, since I didn't get to last night but I would recommend this place if you are looking to pay more than you would for an Italian meal/impress your date! read more

We didn't like the food at all! The service was ok, the atmosphere was ok but the food was just not good. We ate there a few times when we lived in that area (2 years ago) and it was great. Now we came back to visit and was different. Not sure if they changed the chef/mgmt. or why but everything was not good. The pasta was dry (we had 3 different types), the appetizers didn't have any taste (even when we added salt!) and even the dessert was not as good as before. We used to love their Tiramisu and gelato and this time both were terrible. I hope the mgmt. will take this comment seriously and will bring back the good food they used to have read more

My new favorite neighborhood spot. But be prepared to open your wallet , but it's worth it! Went here on a Friday night it was a lively scene. I loved the fresco on the wall and the decor as well as the energy the place had. The hostesses were helpful and unpretentious. We had about a 20 minute wait for a table because we didn't want to sit in the middle of the restaurant and have people walk by us constantly and so we had wine at the bar. $16 glass of Red wine. I was ok with it and enjoyed our wait for the table, and made friends. This couple eating at the bar, locals, picked up our wine after they chatted with us! It was so sweet. When we were seated the people next to us gave us a heads up that they don't even order off the menu and to wait for the specials. They were right, incredible! But they had been going there for ten years and order things off the menu. Our waiter was amazing. The bruschetta was the best I've ever had. I had a veal special my date had the pasta fradiabla special and both were wonderful. We started with the burrata special. At the end they give you special cookies as desert. The regulars were given cookies to go which they shared with us. Although their white wine list was sort of limited they had a very extensive red wine list, more than four pages long! I left grinning ear to ear so full, happy, drunk and excited to come back soon. This is definitely my new spot when I want a scene and to go out somewhere delicious and have a long enjoyable dinner. I am so happy I finally tried it! read more

I've been coming here for years. Excellent service and food. Unfortunately, I had lunch here yesterday and one of the customers was causing trouble. This man -- note not gentleman -- has long grey hair and a nuclear blast tan. He's obviously a drunk with no class. This man ruined everyone's lunch! Nothing was done! He should have been asked to leave. He was swearing and saying inappropriate things in the middle of the dining room. I had to change tables to avoid him. Again, the staff did nothing. When paying over $100 per person for lunch, I expect more. This man should be banned from your establishment . read more

The energy at this restaurant is on. Wait staff is amazing good real Italians running the place very clean food great branzino fried calamari and very strong drinks what more can a girl ask for ?! If you want great food and your uptown come on over ! You won't be disappointed I can't post my food pics because I was too hungry and ate it so fast next time ! lol !!! read more

Very dispointing is an understatment. The octopus appetizer was poorly cooked. I have never seen grey skin on cooked octopus. The shrimp/crab meet pasta was unedible. The crab was obviously not fresh and the shrimp were rubbery. I waited for the server to atleast inquire on the meal; I was mistaken. Very surprised when the table was cleared and I was not asked if my barely touched was to be wrapped or if there was an issue. After waiting with my card with the bill for over 15 minutes I paid in cash. I normally tip well but only left $10 on a $150 bill; only because I didn't want to wait for change to leave no tip. Very poor food and service. A shame since the ambiance is very nice. read more

Great location and authentic atmosphere Pizza was a good surprise but the soup was not exactly my Nona's pasta fagioli. Overall a 4+ experience... read more

Bella Blu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

This place is just awesome! The food is truly authentic, pizza is amazing! The service was quick and showed attention and courtesy. The manager was really kind. I just love this place! Absolutely a must if you want to try authentic Italian food. read more

Love this local UES italian spot. Totally consistent and dependable genuine offerings make this restaurant place to come back to time and again. You will have to go to Italy to enjoy minestrone like theirs, which is the best in New York City. If you know real Italian food, the staff will respond to your off the menu requests if at all possible. While I'm on the subject, the waitstaff and management are first-rate and attentive at all times. Italian comfort food at its very best...é veramente italiano.... PS Can be a little loud, but I suppose that's what happens when a room is packed with enthusiastic diners... read more

My parents live on the UES, and whenever I go to visit, we always order from Bella Blu. I love their pasta dishes, and their bread and red sauce are delicious. When we eat in the restaurant, it reminds me of Italy with the decor and their large vase of beautiful flowers by the bar. I've also seen quite a few celebrities in here, which is pretty cool. I love this place, and it will always be one of my favorites. Also, the service is impeccable. Everyone is fantastic! read more

It was Christmas Day. It's a narrow store front restaurant with tables rather tightly placed. I can recommend the Chicken Milanese from the lunch menu. My wife was very pleased with her Chicken Palliard. The eggplant Parmesan appetizer was rather small and not notable. Our pizza appetizer didn't arrive until after our entree was served. A bit puzzling, but to their credit it was not added to our bill and they gladly packed it to take home. The wait service was less than effective, but then again, it was Christmas Day. The holiday staff was not up to par. Therefore, only three stars. All in all our party had a good time. read more

I will start by saying the food here was very good. Make sure to check your bill before paying. They tried to charge us multiple times for the same dish. We had made it very clear we were splitting and dish and this was confirmed 3 times by the waiter. It was then on the bill three times and when I mentioned it the waiter he gave us a hard time. Additionally this is the first restaurant I've ever been to that does not provide refills for iced tea and does not let you know this. They charge $4.50 for every small glass of iced tea and when I said that they should make it known that refills on iced tea are not included the waiter literally said to me "this is a restaurant, not McDonalds". I left feeling scammed and disrespected. read more

One star- I never complained about anything much but this... I had reserve for 3 people. Came in. Waited for water 15 min.. for wine 10 minutes.. food nice, as soon you drink your glass nobody pay attention to you, nobody asks if you need something you have to wave with hands like crazy to be noticed .. my friends pasta raw so we asked to fix it the. My others friends lobster pasta with no spoon. I know it's sounds funny but me catch attention to bring spoon which goes automatically with spaghetti c'mon !!!! She left half of food cause then they bring spoon when pasta is cold .. Food is nice but the rest no comment. Ohh and no bread basket for table read more

I just had a terrible experience at this restaurant. My friend and I were there to have lunch and I ordered gluten free pasta and she ordered a salad with grilled salmon. We waited over 40 minutes and the food never came. We asked to speak to the manager and she said there was nothing she could do and both her and the waiters told me it takes 30 minutes to make gluten free pasta. I have been here many times before and have never waited more than 20 minutes for my pasta. I asked the manager to please comp the meal and she said the best she could do was give 20% off. My friend and I both left starving. Terrible customer service. read more

How did this resturant get so many good reviews. I had much higher expectations as my experience was very different. read more

Delicious food, great service, you are a great Upper Eaat Side restaurant. Dependable and delicious.

I was most impressed at the quality of service at a recent group dinner. Somehow our reservation fell through the cracks. It was a very busy evening and they kindly made accommodations for us. Everyone loved the food. read more

Popped into this restaurant on the spur of the moment one rainy day. I found the help to be very indifferent and had a sense they could have cared less if we were there or not. When they gave me the menu I was surprised at the high prices during lunch time. Pastas were more than $20. The day we were there they had no pizza which I would have liked. The Caesars salad was actually terrible. I had to ask for parmesan cheese because it was tasteless. I had vitello tonnato which was okay as well as a side of sauteed spinach which was also okay. The bill for all this with an iced tea and a Coca Cola was $60 plus tip. I don't usually complain about prices but I thought this was way too much. read more

Impeccable service. Amazing food on a consistent basis. Great vibe. My favorite in NYC

The place was amazing, I had the truffle sauce ravioli, it's amazing I recommend it. The place is small, but everyone is super friendly and everything is lovely. The waiter was polite and the food came fast and was super delicious. read more

Bella Blu - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Found this gem by chance when looking for an Italian restaurant near the hotel of friends who were visiting from out of town. The staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome and the food was some of the best Italian cuisine I've had outside of Italy. I'll definitely be returning! read more

I was pre-disposed to like this restaurant because it is a go to place on the upper East Side for good friends. This restaurant is long and narrow, but well decorated. I was jostled a lot by waitstaff and passers by. We were escorted to our table by a statuesque hostess. The restaurant was pretty noisy. We were seated between a couple of tables with young children (don't eat too early if this is bothers you) and an Upper East Side dowager who alternated, in a loud voice, between instructing two or three staff members on what she needed in order to have a satisfactory meal and holding forth on the merits of various airport lounges and television shows. We were a party of three, but it took the waiter half an hour to understand that we were not waiting for a fourth diner and take our orders. Wine by the glass and cocktails were good. We started off with some good bread and spread. The appetizer of fried baby artichokes was very good, although heavy on the olive oil. The entrées were next. The gnocchi were very good. My steak was OK - I don't know why I ordered steak here but nothing else on the menu that inspired me. My wife's chicken Parmesan was way undercooked and needed to be returned to the kitchen. Desserts were good. Overall, average food and an uneven dining experience. read more

Decent food.- Bad Service. My parents came in from suburbia to have a nice brunch. Although the waiter was pleasant, he botched our order. First we waited 40 minutes for a pizza , then the main course came and they gave me a Caesar salad instead of a beet salad. Then finally when the bill came, he knocked a glass of water which got all over my son's pants and my dress. Sure he apologized but nothing was deducted from the bill despite how understanding we were read more

Had a "Lexington" pizza at the bar last night. It's a pizza topped with wild mushrooms and spicy sausage. Delicious! Bella Blu makes better pizza than most pizza parlors in New York. Together with a good wine, you can't do any better. read more

We had a great dinner with our son and 3 of his friends. Charcuterie, burrata, and calamari were great to share. All entrees were on point. Wine suggestions worked really well. Expert and friendly service. Very attractive setting. read more

If you like UES pretention - this is the place for you. I have been to this restaurant a handful of times, usually business lunches and such. Yet little did I know that if you aren't dining with a wealthy Eisenhower supporter, you will be treated rather poorly. They first tried to shove us in a tiny table in the back, when 3/4 of the restaurant was empty (and stayed that way). We requested a slightly larger table, further from the restrooms - which they begrudgingly gave us after first suggesting two other cramped tables in close proximity to the bathrooms. Fine. We sit down and order a round of drinks. They can't seem to listen to instructions (apparently dry manhattan = 50% sweet vermouth), and then left us for 20 minutes. We finally flag down a waiter, who decides that this is the moment to tell us that 1/3 of the menu is unavailable that day. We ask for another minute to review the menu. While we are doing this, he goes to the table a few feet away and lists a string of specials. We would have found that information helpful. Finally, my lunch companion is so frustrated by the quality of the service that she requested we leave. We understand what waiters deal with - we both make a point of never tipping less than 25% unless it is absolutely terrible service. We also don't look for the cheapest thing on the menu. I got the check, still left 25%, if only to show them that we weren't third class citizens, and decided never to return. I get it, we are in our late 20s. My friend wore pants, not a dress (ghasp). But come on, don't treat us poorly simply because you assume we aren't cash cows. read more

My new favorite Italian restaurant on the UES. I'd passed it a million times and kept drooling each time I looked at the menu. The choice of ingredients just sounded so original, and the prices were relatively low for this 'hood. The wine selection is the part that breaks the bank, being that they've got all sorts of honors for their winelist from a bunch of different magazines. But all their pasta dishes hover below $20, and other entrees stay largely under $25. I'm thrilled to report that the anticipation was well founded. Though it's always jam-packed to the gills, and the seating is super tight in the small space, I'm now completely obsessed with Bella Blu. It's all because of their heavenly Gnocchi in Fig & Rosemary sauce. Fig and rosemary? I know! I wouldn't have thunk it, either, but it's fantastic. The gnocchi isn't your usual doughy glob that sits like a brick in the belly. Instead, it's so light it literally melts in your mouth. Yum. Hmmmm, I think I gotta go make a quick detour by 70th & Lex on my way home... read more

Eh, my experience was just ok. Truthfully I don't think the food is that great. I've only been to this restaurant a handful of times and truthfully I never really feel the desire to come back. I am a Italian woman so I know when food is cooked with love and cooked right, I'm not trying to be one of those annoying yelp customers but when dining out at a restaurant with expensive prices people should receive good quality and exceptional service. Last night was truthfully like a circus. Between the hostess wearing a dress and shoes paired for a strip club, and toddlers rolling their scooters through the restaurant, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere, the food was just OK. I don't like to end a work day and listen to screaming family arguments in the restaurant while trying to enjoy my food. That's not how one should run a business. I don't care owners or not. read more

Terrible 3 of us went over memorial day and place was crowded. Sat in the back and took waiter 20 minutes to get to us. Took the drink order and got it wrong. He never said anything but looked disgusted. We decided to eat lite with 3 salads and a pizza. That was it for us. Told him we wanted the salads first but no way. Brought everything at one time and never saw him again. Got the check from busboy. Prices are veey high considering the place. I could go to great steakhouse and get better food at same or less price. You would think a neigborhood place would exude service instead of rudeness. Experience was a bummer. Place is loud and tables near each other. read more

Was strolling down Lexington on a Sunday afternoon shortly after 5pm. This restaurant looked charming with an entire row of empty tables right at its front window on the sidewalk and I was feeling a glass of red wine. We went inside to see if we could get a table to have a drink (the indoor bar had maybe 10 seats and all were occupied) and we were turned away. We were told their tables were for "food orders only." Meanwhile, it was 5pm on a Sunday and EVERY table in the restaurant was EMPTY. Turn away business? Okay, sure. Bella Boooooo! Try the charming Italian place just a couple doors down instead. read more

Very authentic, delicious food! Our pasta was perfect and the pizza was amazing! Crust to die for! Great service and selection. read more

Stumbled onto Bella Blu when entertaining an out of town guest last weekend. We were looking for a place to have a casual lunch and I was drawn in by the cosy, sunny bright decor and the huge pizza oven. On a cold afternoon Bella Blu was warm and inviting. He had a Bloody Mary, I had a Montepulciano. The tomato tapenade that came with the bread was very more-ish. We whiled away a pleasant hour or two, enjoying our salad and pastas (my amatriciana?? was good, but quite heavy I thought) rounding it all off with an espresso and an amaretto. The atmosphere was great. The service was excellent too, with friendly and accomodating wait staff, who didn't hover, but weren't too far out of sight when we needed them. I'm not sure I would make a huge effort to come here again, given the large numbers of other great italian restaurants in the city, but if this place were in my neighbourhood, it would probably make it onto my list of regular dining spots. read more

I should arguably give this place a 2 for the confusion, mediocre food, and the expensiveness. However, the charming server made up for that star and i'm a sucker for charming, dark haired, dark eyed, scruffy italian servers. I'm not the only one to agree with this because Vanessa was fanning herself off every time he came to our table. I have to say that the dip for the bread was AMAZING. I could seriously just have bread and that bruschetta-ish dip as a meal. The carbs would probably take me 2 hours of an intense workout to burn off but who cares. It was 80 degrees outside, humid, and it was already 9PM. I decided a mojito would really hit the spot and boy did it ever. There was quite a bit of alcohol in mine, but it was made so well that i couldn't taste it. The mojito was well made and very refreshing. I then had the Truffle Risotto w/ Logostino. I have to admit that it was quite tasty, but the damn risotto was not completely cooked. My saffron rice was hard and actually a little powdery in the middle. Yuck!! Undercooked rice is so gross. Others had pasta, which was cooked al dente. I like my pasta that way but others not so much. There was also dover sole which literally cost them an arm and a leg. $43 for 2 small filets of fish, not cool. Not to mention one of the dishes of dover sole was not de-boned correctly. 15 bones per bite seems a little extreme. In the end the bill was over $400 for 9 people. I wasn't full at all. There was also a huge confusion over how to pay the bill with the server. What a night! read more

After ending a very New York sort of evening at the Whitney museum, a good friend of mine insisted on a culinary bypass before we called it a night. Bella Blu, one of her prized Italian joints in the city just didn't sound worth the hullabaloo to me. Let's face it, apart from very few places, the Upper East Side is hardly the pulse of Manhattan. More importantly, is it ever on a gourmand's radar? Surprisingly, the food was eventful. First off, the sun-dried tomato tapenade accompanied with bread was delicious. It was oily and had an aromatic ratio of onion, garlic, tomato, pepper, and anchovies. The Cestini, their most basic pizza creation can be best described as appetizing elegance. A simple thin crust topped with olive oil and tomato paste that had a little kick to it. Beautiful. We also ordered the Sauteed baby artichokes salad with pistachio, mâche, baby greens and parmesan. While it was a pleasant salad, it had quite a blunt tone. Perhaps a little zing of citrus or spice would've livened it up. The Penne with fresh tuna, capers, oregano, gaeta olives and tomato sauce was exceptionally good. The capers and olives shaped most of the dish's flavor. The penne was done al dente in a way that I can only dream of replicating. All in all, it was quite impressive for the Upper East Side whose culinary scene is usually limited to a pricey bill and pedestrian food. read more

I love this restaurant. It is the perfect place to stop for lunch after a long day of shopping up and down lex. I keep coming back because it is consistently good on all fronts - the service is nice and attentive, the ambiance is warm a neighborhoody, and the food is ALWAYS so fresh and delicious. My favorite salad is the roasted vegetables. All of their pizzas are wonderful. they are the perfect size to share. I recently shared the Lexington and it was great. I'll be back soon! read more

On Thursday 10/14 I walked over to Bella Blu and made a reservation for an outdoor table for the following evening. I received a confirmation from Open Table. When I got to the restaurant with my guests they had no record of the reservation and were unable to rectify the situation. We went elsewhere. read more

Negatives: Make sure you know the prices of the Specials!!! I ended up paying $62 for a steak special and $45 for a bronzino that wasn't as good as the $33 sea bass on the regular menu.Wines are a crazy price - least expensive is $50 for a mediocre Chianti. Should be serving hand cut fries not frozen. Positives: Great food, really great food. Great atmosphere Great service read more