This was my first visit to Bella Monica. Good food but found egg shells in my baked ziti. Not sure if it was from the kitchen or when the waitress took the food to box it. I'll stay away due to this and won't be back on my own. read more

They are tucked inside a strip mall that its tough to find unless you know what youre looking for. Just keep an eye out for the building that says "pizza" on it. We got a pizza for takeout and I thought it was ok. Even though its called Neapolitan style I could tell it wasn't singed on a super hot coal fired oven or anything. I really think this place shines for their other dishes which seem pricey but ill be sure to go back and see if they are worth it. Parking Lot can get busy depending on if you go at peak time or not but you should always find a spot. read more

One of our all time favorites when back in town!!! Sarah and Alejandro rocked it. We felt like A list!! Hated to miss you, Corbett Monica!! Everything was absolutely to perfection. Incredible wine selection. We eat organic and local - the food is made from scratch so we always feel great eating here. read more

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The best thing this place has going for it is the wine list. I went here on a pretty busy Friday evening and was told that only bar seats or outdoor seating (in Feb) was available due to it being a game night. That was ok as there was space at the bar but I felt for those that came after. The bartender was quick to take our drink order but then got backed up with drink orders for the restaurant so it was a while before our order was taken. I got the Margarita flatbread while my companion got the chicken parm. She had been here before and knew the parm was good. The flatbread was ok...not great. The selections were pretty limited. The chicken parm was a large plate..and again ok, not great. Considering the prices and other reviews I was expecting the best Italian meal I'd ever had. I didn't get it. The restaurant is in a busy area with pretty decent parking. The place itself is like most Italian places...nothing stood out. I guess if it were later in the season we could eat outside...looking at a parking lot and next to a chinese restaurant. Over all...nothing to write home about or get excited over. It was a decent local Italian joint. read more

Excellent service 1st time here and we will return! Food was great and served quickly

I decided to check this place out after being told by various different sources that Bella Monica has the best Italian food in Raleigh. I thought it was delicious and I can't wait to go back now! My boyfriend made us reservations for Saturday night, and I'm glad he did. You certainly want reservations at this place because it's a small, intimate restaurant. Definitely quite cozy. My favorite Italian dish is eggplant parmesan, so I naturally ordered the Roasted Eggplant Parmigiana. It was definitely some of the best I've ever had! Major thumbs up. My boyfriend ordered the whole wheat penne and I tried some of it. The eggplant was definitely the winner of the two, but I didn't dislike the whole wheat penne. It tasted very fresh and healthy, but because it was a healthier option it wasn't as "melt in your mouth amazing" as the eggplant was. For dessert we shared the tiramisu and at the moment of my first bite I decided that it would be worth it to come back to this restaurant JUST for that if for nothing else! Holy cow! Foodgasm. I look forward to returning to Bella Monica soon to try some of their other classic Italian entrees. read more

Bella Monica - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Came here with a party of 10 to celebrate presenting my thesis. The service was top notch and they had a nice large table set up for us. The server was extremely Knowledgable about the entire menu, wine and pairings. The bread was delicious and well sized for a starter. The herbs on it and accompanying olive oil was quite satisfying. We shared a few pizzas, and I did my best to try others dishes. The pizzas are fabulous and thin crust like I enjoy them, so there's not too much dough in the way of enjoying the flavors. If you get sausage on the pizza you can get it diced or cut long. The beet and goat cheese salad was great over arugula and I added salmon. The lasagna dish was true, authentic quality. The marinara had local flare to it and wasn't a bottled taste. The cheese had a crustiness on top that was so satisfying and the meat was cooked to perfection. They do it right here - homemade, Authentic food all the way! Also as a tip, they don't do any advertising and don't even have a restaurant sign, which is all the more impressive and respectable. I appreciate the word of mouth feel and obviously this restaurant is doing it right because it fills up! read more

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What a great meal. Or dinning experience. The lasagne is the best I have ever had. 7 layers of heaven. Mmmmmmmmm. The chicken parm was also a hit but not better than the lasagne. Well I thought I was finished BUT. we had desert. The Key Lime Pie was incredibly good. Not to be out done by the Cream Brûlée. Another great treat. On my return list. And Madison was a fantastic server. Such a pleasure. read more

Bella Monica - The last half of the best lasagne - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Disappointed is an understatement. I have loved and highly recommended this place for years, but after my experience yesterday evening, I will never return and certainly never recommend this place again. Our table wasn't ready until 20 minutes after our confirmed reservation time (8pm), the bartender was rude as we waited for our table, our entrees were delivered to the table for 2 out of 3 people, the 3rd person's food was completely forgotten, we ordered wine and were told that we would not be served any further because the restaurant closes at 9pm and it was 9:05pm, we were not offered dessert which we had planned to order, and last but not least - as we were waiting for our checks, two patrons walked out and said to us, "y'all better hurry up and leave, they're in there talking about you." I have never in my life had a more awful experience. When I spoke with the manager immediately after hearing this, he vehemently denied that anyone was talking about us, he did not apologize for the poor service we received, and then tried to offer his business card so that we could contact him if we ever have any issues in the future. The worst part is that I had a guest from out of town and I had talked this place up so much, only to have our night ruined by the terrible service. 0/10 would not recommend. Raleigh has so many other options for a much better dining experience. read more

Most of the reviews are spot on! I had a really nice meal and overall experience here. The number one tip I'd give is too definitely make a reservation! We had one and got seated the minute we walked in which was great! The service was very friendly and our server was very knowledgeable on the menu and specials. She was also very genuine which was nice. The manager stopped by making sure all was good. My favorite thing that made their service unique was how the food is brought out personally by the chef who prepared it! Very classy! The only complaint I had service wise is how the guy who runs around refilling drinks doesn't ask if you'd like a refill or say anything at all, he never even smiled. Oh well. The bread to start isn't anything to brag about and neither were the Caesar salads that accompanied our meal. The food, though, was top notch. We had the spinach and cheese stuffed shells and the mussels. I devoured every last bite and although I was full, I still got dessert because I love tiramisu! (And boy was it good!) I was really impressed with the presentation of the food from start to finish. This is a nice place to go for a special dinner if you call ahead and reserve your spot. But it can get noisy so I wouldn't suggest it for those who like a quieter dining experience! read more

Bella Monica - Spinach and cheese stuffed shells (minus the tomato sauce)...sooooo good! - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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What I like best about Bella Monica is not the impeccable staff, thoughtful menu or that amazing Bella flatbread...it's that I always know the meal will be standard setting for quality, fit and finish and a fantastic evening. The consistency of the experience is virtually unmatched in all of Raleigh/Durham... I highly recommend the pork tenderloin dish. read more

Bella Monica - Pork Tenderloin - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I have to Say the food was terrible. I will never go back. Our bill for 4 was $187.00. And the waitress had about as much personality as a stick. We left a nice tip, but never again. read more

First time here. Traveling thru town. What a find. Squid in pasts with shrimp and calamari in pancetta sauce. Amazing. Jennifer is a wine sommelier. read more

Bella Monica - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is so special to me and my family, and they know it. We've been going here for 3 years. Anytime there's an issue, they listen and actually care to improve on it. (But they rarely have issues.) The food is fantastic. If you order a pasta dish, spring for the fresh fusilli. Order meatballs on your pizza or flat bread. Get a side Cesar salad. Go on a Monday night and get the special. I actually don't want to share that secret so publicly but maybe a higher demand could push them to making it a regular menu item :) They truly take care of their customers and make this place feel like home away from home. You should pay them a visit for the service alone, but I'm sure you will keep going back for the food. read more

Bella Monica - Short rib lasagna - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Waited over an hour for two main dishes to come out. Rigatoni and spaghetti was undercooked and hard. The spaghetti gravy tasted bitter and unpleasant. The restaurant was very loud and the table I was at was really dark. The Bolognese was decent other than the undercooked pasta but other than that the whole experience was pretty subpar. Don't know why the place has such a good rating. read more

We had a nice lunch inside today with no other customers within 20 feet of us. We ordered from online menu instead of having customers handle hard copy menus. Emily was a delightful server and my prosciutto and fresh mozzarella sandwich was yummy! Even the sandwich bread was awesome! read more

As always 5 stars. I must say that I miss the old days of Bella Monica when the owner would greet us and offered food suggestions. I love their food, but it's lost its personal feel, which is sad. As always the food was delicious, but I'll warn you, if you are at all sensitive to garlic, DO NOT get the garlic soup special. I won't lie, it was a rich, creamy, delicious soup and I slurped down the whole bowl, but on the way home, it hit me hard. I was up and down through the night with stomach distress, but it's my own fault. I would highly recommend this soup before you begin colonoscopy prep. The arugula salad with salmon, rigatoni veal bolognese, bruschetta, tiramisu and chocolate amore, were incredibly delicious. read more

Food was just ok. Had been there a long time ago and it was just ok then as well. Pasta veal Bolognese taste like store bought pasta with canned sauce and some ground veal I think or was it turkey? Maybe pizzas are better?? read more

Exceptional food seasoned to perfection and the service was phenomenal! Major thanks to our waitress Jacquelynn for making our date night spectacular! read more

The staff was really friendly and very attentive towards their guest. My meal was good, and I recommend it!

Wonderful place to eat, best Italian food, wine and service in town, hands down! Keep up the great work during COVID-19, we appreciate all you are doing in our community. read more

On a business trip to Raleigh, my coworkers and I gathered at Bella Monica before meeting with our client. This little spot is hard to find. It's in a strip mall and nearly hidden behind a Chinese place. Had I not seen the neon "pizza" sign, we would have circled the parking lot yet again. Anyway, we ventured in and were immediately greeted and seated. This place is cute and cozy inside. They have a nice patio that would have been great had it not been freezing outside. Decent wine selection, even by the glass, although I didn't partake at a work lunch. Service was friendly and efficient. Our food arrived quickly and was fresh and delicious. The smells really helped whet our appetites! We were started with the complimentary focaccia bread drizzled with olive oil. What a great start. The bread was fresh, warm and flavorful. Since we had plans for a dinner with the client that evening, I wanted to keep my lunch on the lighter side. I opted for the beet and goat cheese salad topped with shrimp. I am a sucker for anything with goat cheese. This salad did not disappoint. Arugula, beets, crumbled goat cheese, carrots and pistachio vinaigrette topped with freshly grilled shrimp was delicious! The pizza my coworker ordered looked really good as well. If I were in the area again, I would certainly stop in again. I would love to try more of their selections and maybe indulge in a glass of wine. It was a great place for our group to have lunch, but I would think this would be the perfect intimate date night experience as well! read more

First time here...simply put, the food was not good. Had a gathering of 7 and all had different meals. All had complaints about lack of taste, and overcooking: burned the ziti, the meatballs, and the flatbread. They did have a nice arugula appetizer, but, sadly, the pancetta was burned as well and very difficult to chew and taste. Sorry we spent over $200 here when we could have gone to a Fazoli's and eaten better italian food...was for a birthday party to boot! Very disappointing based on yelp reviews...we will not be going back. read more

Solid 4 stars for wonderful atmosphere and incredible food. Definitely will come back again. The only reason I put one star down is because the bread that they served didn't feel it was fresh or baked on the same day. It's not a cheap place and I expect exceptional food. But that's just me! Will come back again to try their pasta selection. read more

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I really enjoyed the food at Bella Monica. I went with my co-workers to Bella Monica for lunch. I would not recommend this place if you need to have a quick lunch before going back to work because the wait for our food was about 45 minutes. I tried the bruschetta, calamari, and lasagna. Bruschetta: There were 3 different bruschettas we tried: eggplant, goat cheese, and sun dried tomatoes.They were all very tasty and had their own unique flavors. The ingredients were all high quality for each bruschetta. Calamari: The calamari was seared with basil rather than fried like many other restaurants. I really loved this take on a calamari appetizer as it tasted way healthier than fried calamari while still tasting just as delicious. The calamari came with arugula, beans, carrots, and onions. Lasagna: The lasagna was quite expensive for lunch (19 dollars); however, I think it is worth the price. This was some of the best lasagna I have had in North Carolina. There are 8 layers of pasta in the lasagna. All the elements of the lasagna (the pasta, beef, tomato sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella) formed a balanced and cohesive whole. The portion was very big as well, I only finished half of my lasagna. read more

This place always seems busy around lunch, so I thought I'd try it since it's close to my work. I ordered take out-- baked ziti with ground beef (addition) and a small arugula salad for lunch. The total came out to $35! Apparently they don't have lunch portions of the ziti, so you will pay full price on all menu items. Okay, well I was really craving pasta. Unfortunately, the ziti was quite mediocre at best. No flavor or seasoning to make it stand out. Ziti is such a simple dish (pasta, cheese, sauce), your sauce had better be on point. I received a standard dinner portion, but it was not worth the $$. The small salad was $9. Nothing special to write home about; just mostly a big pile of arugula with a couple onion rings, tiny sprinkling of cheese and nuts, and a few wedges of some dried figs. The lemon basil dressing that came with it was really blah and I found the addition of the sun dried fruit/figs an odd texture. I love arugula but this salad was just disappointing overall. Doubt I'll ever give this restaurant another try, especially at their prices. read more

I got pizza and my husband got their lasagna special and we fell in love with this restaurant! It was all so delicious, we'll definitely be returning! read more

Had a fabulous meal a few days ago. It's a tradition to eat at Bella Monica for my birthday. With times as they are we ordered take out. The food was delicious. It was hot and ready on time. Very generous portions that gave another night of leftovers. I appreciated the helpful staff and will order take out again! read more

This place is so overrated. The food was just okay and nothing that would warrant getting a babysitter to come here for a Saturday Date Night. We ordered soups as a starter and it came to us nearly at room temperature. The pasta in the Wedding soup was in clumps. I get that they don't want to add the pasta to the soup until it's needs to to served, but you would think they would stir the soup before serving it. Maybe if the broth was hot enough, it would have done the trick of separating the pasta. The soup tasted no different out of a can of Progresso. I got Veal Bolognese that was recommended and my husband ordered the Chicken Parmigiana. Both were okay, but we expected better coming to this Italian restaurant. We were surprise no one asked if we wanted fresh grated cheese on our pasta upon serving it. We had to ask for it and it took a while for them to bring it to us already shaven and it wasn't even Parmesan. Not sure if we came on a off night, or we should have just gotten their flatbread pizzas. If it wasn't for the friendly staff and server, I would have given this place an even lower rating. read more

Always Good food and service is great!!!! I have eaten there about 5 times when in town. Only thing is if you rent the party room it is a little pricey but if you need privacy and room for 18 it is worth it. read more

I've heard of this place several times over the past cpl years and just never got a chance to make it. Last night I did. Besides definitely needing a reservation on a Saturday night and having to initially squeeze into the tight bar space. I had THE BEST experience and Italian food I think I've ever had to be honest! The cheese garlic bread was absurdly delicious and the Spaghetti and Meatballs I had was insane! I had a taste for it so bad and they nailed it! The bartender Blair was more than accommodating and kind which topped the whole experience off perfectly. Thank you! Will return very soon! read more

Back in July my now husband and I decided to elope! While we had everything lined up and ready to go with a venue, photographer, cake, dress and videographer we still needed catering for our small group. I called and spoke to Ben and he was more than accommodating! We ordered two small catering dishes and since we would not be cooking them until we got back after the wedding he places the pasta and toppings in separate trays to avoid the chicken and veggies getting soggy. He literally made it as simple as take the pans, out them in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes. It tasted just like a fresh plate! Everyone was amazed and could not stop complimenting the food. I'm so grateful to have a local amazing Italian restaurant to make our special day feel like a top notch wedding. If you're a COVID bride looking for quality food for a wedding look no further! Ben will gladly take good care of you! Thank you guys so much!! You have no idea how much this little act meant to us on our wedding day! See you on our one year anniversary! read more

44th Birthday here. Also had 42 and a lot of others. My favorite spot to take friends, if you can get in. Food is always excellent, but really their service is just the best. Cannot really express how much I love this place. This is a special place. read more

Never disappoints! In my experience Bella Monica has had the longest running and best gluten-free menu in the area! I'm a big fan and will frequent this place. read more

Gluten free focaccia bread? Where do I sign up? I haven't been to BM in years, but at the invitation of a friend who had a gift certificate for a multi course meal, I wasn't passing the opportunity. We FULLY explored the menu, with reckless abandon for our growing mid sections. To include: salads, beef carpaccio, salmon for me, some pasta dish for him, desserts and did I mention the GF focaccia bread? Oh my gosh, it was heavenly. Note: they have limited options for non-dairy, garlic, gluten folks. Finally, the manager came out and I said why don't you just steam some broccoli and cook some salmon plain. It worked but the first dish they brought out had garlic in it and I questioned it after taking a bite. So, be careful and don't trust what the waiter says because they are often in a rush. The service was spotty. I literally had to ask the waiter for drinks multiple times and then I'd ask the manager and he'd forget multiple times as well. But, everything sans the bevs was covered so hard to complain. A bit of advice though, be sure to get reservations far in advance. They book up. I'll be back just for the bread and probably to check out their pizzas next. read more

This place is absolutely amazing! My boyfriend and I go here every year for my birthday and Valentine's Day! The food is delicious (especially the spaghetti and meatballs) and the service is great. Our server kate this past visit was so attentive and informative. She also was very humorous and made our trip enjoyable! We will definitely keep Coming back read more

My husband Ben and I had the most fabulous dinner On September 10th. It was a wonderful evening. The hostess was so gracious and found us a wonderful table. When we mentioned that We were still celebrating our 50th anniversary which was a few days prior the fun began. Hearts were sprinkled on our table and each staff member congratulated us as they gave us wonderful service. Being of Italian decent and having traveled in Italy we know and love this cuisine ! Each course was outstanding not to be outdone by the marvelous cannoli and rich chocolate cake which was compted. Congrats to Jenny Mitchell for having a wonderful chef and a great wait staff. We only wish we lived in NC and not Ohio! Go there when you can. It is not to be missed. read more

The food is always so fresh and unique. I've been going for years since they opened whenever I'm in Raleigh and have never had a bad experience. Today, I had lunch on their patio as it was unseasonably pleasant for a NC July day. There is enough foliage buffer to make their patio an oasis from the busy Harris Teeter parking lot. I got the Arugula salad with candied fruit and much to my pleasure, it wasn't a salad full of raisins. It was a light delicious combo of candied figs, cranberries and I think oranges with a simple dressing with enough flavor to be satisfying. We also split the traditional bruschetta which is the best I've ever had. The tomatoes are seeded and chopped small but packed with a wow of flavor. They have an extensive wine list if that's your forte. read more

Great food. Bartender was very distracted on her phone. Waiter was excellent. Noisy but acceptable

My boyfriend and his family threw his mom a surprise dinner party here Saturday and I really loved this place. The staff was so friendly and attentive to everything we needed. Prices are good for the food which was wonderful. Can't wait to return. read more