We love to come here with large groups because the restaurant has a bigger space to fit everytime. The food is always good and the portions are generous. The staff is caring and polite. There is a new version of the menu with new items. We tried the calzone, Stromboli, and chicken piccata. It was very tasty and the portion of the food is enough for two. The only negative was that they forgot the chicken for the chicken Alfredo but the staff corrected it. read more

Bella Cucina - Create Your Own Calzone - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

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Placed an online order for pick-up at certain time. Arrived at said time and they didn't have the order. Turns out they forgot to submit it to the kitchen. Two pizzas finally get done only to have one of them be made with the wrong toppings. Leave 30 minutes after designated pick-up time with one luke warm pizza, one burned pizza and terrible service. It will be a long time before we order here again. read more

What's not to like about this place! Food was great, and service was excellent. From the moment we arrived until we left, all good! The Caesar salad was classic northeast dressing, a little on the thick side, real anchovies and tasty Parmesan with olive oil just right taste. It's too complicated to go into the history of Caesar dressing and each person makes it to their own liking, but this one was simply good. Pizzas were excellent, a take like Connecticut / NY style. Cooked with starting on a screen and finished with brick (they have to crank out a lot of pizzas for take out and in dining). Dough is not bready more on the chewy side. They use very good high quality ingredients. This is not Frank Pepe pizza but a real delicious pizza at a good price. Our waitress was phenomenal so personal and attentive. The decor is charming and you can tell the place is managed with a lot of love. I admired the rose wall, flowers, linen tables, linen napkins and extra thick paper napkins. You didn't have to ask for anything. What you thought you wanted was automatically offered or provided without asking. We'd be back when in the area. read more

Participated in the inaugural wine tasting event at Bella Cicina on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. It was a sold out event, featuring a Noona who shared her Italian family's dishes. Each dish was expertly paired with Italian wines. Not only was the food excellent, the service was exceptional! The staff made this inaugural event seamless for the participants. Job well done and look forward to next month's event! read more

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Let me start by saying this was not our first time here, but it was our worst time here, by far. To begin with, the beer was warm, my wife had to ask for ice to put in her beer, and my old fashion had no alcohol, it was a glass of brown sugar water. Our friends had pasta dishes that were absolutely flavorless, no spices at all. My wife and I were excited to order the Braciole off the specials menu. What a disappointment. It looked like a pile of dog food. There was no prosciutto, no cheese and very little bread crumbs. And the whole dish was drowned in a gallon of sauce. If you don't see the problem, just Google the dish. It was almost like they took it all apart to use the ingredients somewhere else. The whole evening was a disappointment. Now, I know that you can't hit a home run every time you step to the plate; this was a strike out for sure. The staff said the tourists have everything backed up, I guess I will wait until the tourists are gone and try again. read more

My husband and I came in without a reservation and were seated very promptly. Our drinks were lovely from the bar as well as the complimentary bread. The atmosphere is very cozy and the service is fantastic all around! The pizza came out and WOW! Huge and delicious! We will be back!!! read more

Our service Chris was just amazing! Very nice, attentive and thorough. Explained options well and really hustled! We left behind eyeglasses and a credit card and were outside pulling away and he ran up and presented them to us! Excellent customer service for sure Thank you Chris We will be back! Jessica read more

Very welcoming! Sat at the bar and Valarie's service was outstanding! We will be back! read more

Bella Cucina is a popular restaurant in Southport. The restaurant has a take out section; a bar section; and a dining room section with all having the same menu. I went without reservations and luckily was given the last table in the dining room. The staff warmly welcomed me. Sam was my waitress and she was very friendly and attentive. She recited off the three specials from memory. I ordered the bread and it was made clear that it was $3. It came with four thick slices and a mixture of oil and cheeses. I highly recommend it. I ordered the shrimp scampi. The portion was generous and the flavors great. I had my eye on the Venetian pizza as well but that was too similar to the pasta so I ended up with a Margherita pizza to go. I didn't have any of it right away like I should have. I was surprised with all the tomatoes on it. It was still good cold but next time I will eat the pizza fresh out of the oven. I will remember to make reservations ahead of time for my next visit. read more

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Our third visit...we had reservations because we thought this weekend it would be packed. Even confirmed our reservation earlier that day. We went because we had two previous great experiences and wanted to treat our guests. We arrived 20 min early and overheard the staff huff a bit...even after we told them we'd wait. Waitress told us we couldn't order a pie without waiting another 40 minutes. If I hadn't had my guests, I would've left. Apparently carry out /delivery was getting priority over those who were seated as the oven was full! The Waitress was awesome in providing great service while sensing I was perturbed...! I was, but I know it wasn't her fault, and I was not going to create a scene over this. What did annoy me was seeing a party come in a few minutes later, and not long after our alternate ordered meals arrived, so did his Pie. I've eaten in restaurants in more than 20 countries , but never at one where I was competing with the carryout/delivery orders...and to the tune of about $50 more to my bill for the alternative orders. If we come back, I'll call first to see if I can order a pie when I arrive?? Hope this review provides some insight for the restaurant, and other patrons. By the way, the Bread is really good. Good Luck. read more

My gal pal and I went to Bella for a late lunch yesterday. Sign on main door said to enter thru deli/carryout side. We did that and then proceeded into the bar area with booths. Staff saw us go in to the bar and seat ourselves in a booth. We sat down and proceeded to wait and wait and wait and be ignored. There was a bartender and a busboy in the direct area where we sat and waited. There was another couple eating so we knew it was open. They basically IGNORED US until I asked if we were ever going to be acknowledged or served. The busboy looked at us like we were crazy and said "this side is closed" with no apology or courteousness. The bartender looked at us and said absolutely nothing. Customers like to be acknowledged and respected when they go to a restaurant. To be made to feel totally INVISIBLE is not only rude, its bad manners. Employees should be taught how to address people and to be more forthcoming on the restaurant serving times, etc. read more

Nice server and employees. The calamari and the bread and oil were great. Clean place. More seasoning was needed. read more

Bella Cucina - Very plain, no flavor. - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

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Our favorite go to place to eat. Always good food and plenty to bring home too! Plus you can Make a reservation! A big plus around here! Our last time we went, we met Maria, one of the new owners and she was vey nice and explained the history of her family and abt her grandfathers map of Sicily which is hanging on wall over the big booth on left side. And she decorated the Plce so nicely at Christmas! I wish them well! read more

Food was average at best. Service was very poor. We had empty water glasses for over 15 minutes. Our waiter virtually disappeared.

The first time we went here, we had a great experience. But lately, it's gone down hill. We've had to wait an egregious amount of time only to be served our drinks. Our waiter was quite apathetic and lackluster too. When we got our food, it was cold, especially the pasta in my father and I's food. After we had our dishes warmed up, the below picture is the state of my chicken parm. (Note: I did not get any sauce on it). The only good part of our experience was the appetizers, which take little to no effort to prepare. We will not be coming back, this was our last time at Bella Cucina. read more

Bella Cucina - Pollo Parmigiano - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

Ordered a plain pizza for take out it was horrible. The crust was so thin there was barely any sauce or cheese the flavor was non existent that we had to add salt! Not what I expected won't buy there again. read more

Visiting the area and on the way to where we were going we decided to stop by this Italian restaurant. We were greeted with a smile by the hostess as soon as we walked in and then we were seated right away, no wait time. It is a family friendly restaurant. We liked that the hostess gave our children a coloring sheet and some crayons to keep them busy. The table had a paper tablecloth on top which was great since our children colored on top of it. The following dishes were ordered: 1. Chicken French with a side of linguine- 4 stars: had good taste but a bit too lemony 2. Penne Al forno with bolognese sauce- 3.5 stars: a good amount of the penne pasta was burned and the sauce was lacking some flavor. 3. Chicken fettuccine Alfredo- 5 stars: this dish had an asterisk next to it which meant that it was a favorite. I definitely agree. This was by far the best thing that we ordered! 4. Kids spaghetti and meatballs- 2 stars: our kids did not eat their dinner. The dish came with one giant meatball but the meatball didn't really have any flavor, nor did the sauce. Our waitress was extremely nice and attentive. She had a great smile and attitude. We really tried to like the food but it just didn't work out. I would definitely recommend the chicken Alfredo though as it did not disappoint. read more

Bella Cucina - Best chicken alfredo I've ever had - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

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Get the mussels. We tried the white wine mushroom sauce two weeks ago. Tonight, we had the red sauce. Both are delicious. The mussels freshly steamed. The bread plate is $3. So good to dip up the luscious mussel sauce. My husband had the eggplant, which he said was crispy with the perfect amount of sauce. Tonight, I had the chicken Francesca. The chicken was good, but the sauce lacked luster. read more

Bella Cucina - Empty shells - good sauce - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

First the good....pizza calamari and bread pudding all were great. Make sure to ask for ice cream for the bread pudding. Now the bad....hostess was not very friendly. Veal Picatta was not prepared correctly. Veal was not pounded thin. Capers were there, but no lemon in site. Charged $3 for bread, but not enough bread on plate for 4 people. Waiter came to the table to ask if we needed anything, had dirty dishes from another table in his hands. Desset was brought to the table without spoons?? Need to train wait staff better!!! Next time I will stick to pizza and or pasta. read more

Our review from October still stands regarding Bella. Prices have gone up and quality has dropped below one star! If you're seeking to go on a diet??? Then Bella's is the place to go. Family recipes handed down? Handed down by whom the local chimp? I ordered a calzone and got a stack of ham and some cheese. More than 1/2 the dough was missing and what was there wasn't even cooked! There's your diet! I love knots... But I prefer my knots not so over cooked that my teeth are ready to break off. There's my other part of my diet. I guess I won't be going back unless I need to lose another 10 pounds! Ouch that was an expensive lesson-close to $30 read more

Amazing Italian food. Dont let the tourists fool you. I am a new transplant to this area fro Rhode Island where we have some of the best authentic Italian. This place rocks. read more

Bella Cucina - Calamari. Just like home only better! - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

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The food was soooo good! I had the bread with oil...chicken parmigiana and the minestrone soup of the day. My friend had penne pasta and meat sauce. The portions were huge! We took it back to our AIRBNB for lunch the next day! The ambiance was nice. Everything was clean and there were table cloths! There's a side for to go and for families visiting with kiddos. The service was phenomenal! Our waitress was great!!! Highly recommend! read more

Loved this place! Service was great and Food was so good we ate there 2 nights in a row. We had the fettuccini Alfredo with blackened chicken / Vittoria pizza and penne bolognese. All excellent! read more

Second time in a month and would not recommend. Sadly, we were pleased a couple years ago but no longer Chicken Parmesan over fried on pasta with very little sauce read more

We have always liked to stop at Bella's for their delicious food but tonight's take-out pizza was a disappointment. May try Dry Street next time read more

All we ordered was pizza, to go, and by the time I put the baby down it was lukewarm at best.....#momlife #thenewnormal and it was still delicious!! Better pizza than I get back home in Nashville! Definitely go here if you are looking for good Za, the chefs are from NY/NJ so it makes sense they make a good pie! read more

All in all this place is just so so. They serve all the usual Italian dishes but nothing special really. My husband had the pizza which he liked but the type of pizza they serve with a gluey, thick crust is not to my liking. We went there once and so far have not been back as there are so many better options in the area. read more

Every time we've been, it's been fantastic! GREAT food..and martinis are on point. We've had chicken picatta, lasagna, mussels in white wine, linguini Alfredo, and chicken parm--all delish! Lovely ambiance in main dining room--white tablecloths and romantic lighting + soothing music. We ask for Sam every time--she's an amazing waitperson! read more

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area, largely due to excellent value on the pricing side, good portion sizes, and decent quality. It is not high-end by any stretch, but then you're not paying the very high-end pricing either. read more

Ate here last night the appearance was amazing, the staff was very nice, and had amazing appetizers. Very good time to spend with family and enjoyed a lot would go back here. read more

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Our first time here. It was short notice for dinner but need to eat near by our hotel. We were iffy about this place because the pictures on Yelp seam okay with a pizza place but it's actually an Italian restaurant, yes they do have pizza. Drinks was great, our service was great, our dinner was amazing. I had the clams with pasta, my husband had the lasagna, we share antipasto, small pizza to take home. Everything was delicious no complaints. read more

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Pretty good Italian food. Has the usual selection and pizza. A little pricey for the amount of food you get but still all in all a good option for nearby Italian. read more

Bella Cucina - Baked Chicken Linguine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

My husband and I were recently in Southport, staying at a Fairfield Inn next to Bella Cucina and decided to walk over for dinner. Although there was a large group dining there, we were seated and waited on quickly and very pleasantly. We ordered "side salads" which were more than ample and freshly made and my ranch dressing was made in house. The pepperoni pizza (a medium with 6 large slices) was delicious and our glasses of Diet Coke were constantly being refilled. A very positive experience for us and we would definitely return on our next visit. read more

The service, complimentary oil and bread were amazing! Our visit was great from start to end because we even were able to make reservations which was perfect for our large party. The drink choices were great & the menu was really big! Only took away a star because a few of the dishes we ordered didn't taste quite right/weren't cooked correctly/disappointing such as chicken Marsala, veal, and lasagna. The staff was accommodating but still was a bit disappointing. The scallop special and Stromboli were amazing though! Overall this is a great Italian option in the area and we didn't try the pizza which seems to also be popular! read more

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Wonderful service and great food. Love the ambiance and the menu selections are very diverse. We have become regulars.

Great Italian food! Pizzas are amazing, nice friendly staff. Busy especially in the evenings. Italian pictures hang on the walls. Have been there several times each time has been an amazing experience. read more

We've eaten there. Several times. Food is terrific. Service is wonderful would recommend. Super happy With the place.

After not being out much, we in the past went to Bella Cucina weekly and was always great food but I was looking at reviews and couldn't believe the bad ones I was seeing so my husband and I went tonight , I will have to say we had great service from Marcus and the food, one special, one veal parmigiana , side salads and bread with oil,garlic and cheese were absolutely delicious, with a glass of wine and a beer,no room for dessert our bill was around $86 , that price is more than reasonable, we'll be back sooner, FYI the restaurant was pretty busy !!! read more

Disappointing meal. We came expecting a delicious meal. But the calamari was overcooked and too dark. My lasagne was not even properly warmed. The first few bites of sauce around the edge were warm but the rest of the lasagne was not even warm. Server was busy so I didn't ask to have it taken back to reheat. That always takes too long and I can't believe a good restaurant can't even warm food to proper temperature before serving Again this was a very disappointing experience. read more

Bella Cucina - Lasagne served cold. Unable to eat anything besides the outer edges of sauce. - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

When I first came here in 2017 it seemed so good, was almost like NY pizza but it has steadily and drastically gone down hill. Witch sucks. Used to get two fresh hot slices a drink and it came with free garlic knots for around $7 bucks. The only thing that stayed the same is it's still not a bad price, but the pizza looks old and dry one now only a cheese choice. No more garlic knots. In all the place has potential but it just seems like their heart is not in it anymore. Oh well on to the next one. read more

Bella Cucina - Italian Near Me - Southport, North Carolina