Good news, bad news There are probably more Italian Restaurants per capita in this town than in any other town in the US. This one is small, friendly and the food is well above average. The chef/owner Regina is putting out real good, inexpensive meals. Real handy to the Stanley Theatre, just a block away. Great lunch buffet, all you can eat chicken riggies and Utica greens and a soup/salad bar-can't go wrong for a quickie lunch on the run. downside is parking- it is at a premium, so prepare to walk a little ways, but it is worth it. read more

Try the greens. I'm not from the area, but I make sure to try greens everywhere I go. These were different from others as they were still somewhat crunchy. I like that I could pick the type of peppers. Got a sweet/hot combo. The wine slushy was tasty, too. read more

Pros: Nice small restaurant with good food and reasonable prices. Cons: Can get a little loud in the dinning room. Over all I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This used to be a favorite place of mine. The food was excellent, and the staff friendly. Sadly over the past few months everything about this place has been in decline. The food quality is now inconsistent, the staff is horrible. The older woman hostess is rude and unfriendly. It looks like they gave up on cleaning the place. Wait times to get food even with a reservation just aren't worth it. It'll be out of business if they continue to treat their customers that way. Such a shame. I truly loved this place. I will never go back after this incident. read more

The all-you-can-eat lunch buffet has the best Utica greens and chicken riggies in Utica!

The riggies were good... the service was even better. Our group of three had the buffalo, chicken and seafood riggies. I personally think the seafood was best! I believe the crab was imitation, but it worked well with the shrimp. I also had the sweet and spicy pepper option, which was totally manageable in terms of spice. All in all, it was a very hearty meal-- one riggie could easily feed two hungry people. More than anything, though, Sandy was amazing! She made our trip through Utica a delight. Overall: While the prices may be a little inflated, the ambience, food and service were amazing. Thank you Sandy! read more

Great restaurant in the center of downtown! Large portions, great staff. Prompt service, will be back again soon!

My husband and I came here for the chicken riggies and greens lunch buffet and we were not disappointed. The food was fresh, the sauce on the riggies was perfect and the greens were delicious. Perfect way to get our fix while we were in Utica. read more

Was up here for work and was skeptical when a coworker suggested it. Had the veggie riggie with sweet peppers--so good it made me with I had fasted all day so I could eat every last drop. Huge portion. Delicious creamy sauce. Big beautiful veggies included mushrooms and broccoli. Really nice waitstaff. I will be dreaming about all that I couldn't finish. read more

I just had a fantastic pile of riggies with meatballs. Honestly, I don't know why everyone isn't obsessed with this restaurant. The owner is the chef who used to cook at cafe del buono, her food is on point every time. If you're looking for your new favorite restaurant, this is it. read more

My brother recommended Bella Regina to me- I believe it used to be the chatterbox nightclub if I'm not mistaken? Oh my gosh they revamped this entire place and it looks absolutely AMAZING!!!!! The decor is awesome, it's all Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Broadway musical playbills- everything you can imagine and I fell in love with it. The host was a really nice guy with a charming personality and welcoming smile! He made us feel at home. The BF got the all you can eat chicken riggies & greens lunch special (includes salad) for $9.99- what a great price! He loved the riggies- they have a spicy kick to them- they were really delicious as well as the greens! I got a skirt steak sandwich- forgot what it was called but all the sandwiches have pretty cool names like "Elvis" and "the New Yorker" etc. it was really good, I ate the whole thing and probably gained like 5 pounds at this meal but it was worth it. Our waiter was a really laid back, funny guy. I saw that they have homemade sangria at the bar- I will definitely be back to try it.. Def recommended! The atmosphere, service, food and ambience is all excellent! I wish I took pictures bc the decor is seriously awesommmme! read more

My wife and I just enjoyed a delicious meal at Bella Regina after visiting the Utica Zoo. They give you these pita chip-like crisps and some gooey, garlicy cheese for dipping before the meals come out. Very tasty. For my entree, I ordered the eggplant rolitini and my wife ordered the riggies. Both were amazing! For what we paid, the portions were HUGE! We have enough leftover for lunch and possibly dinner tomorrow. If I had one complaint, I would say that I found the marinara too sweet. The service was perfect. Debbie was so friendly and attentive! read more

Very friendly staff and the food was excellent! I ate lite though. I had the eggplant app, which was perfection. The eggplant was as thin as you can get, crispy on the outside with just enough cheese and sauce, YUMMY! I also had a veggie which also cooked to perfection, al dente. I will say all the food coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled wonderful. The portions are generous too! This was by far the best bite to eat I had in Utica! read more

If you go to UTICA and don't go to Bella Regina, you are missing out on a dining experience that is kind of like Sunday dinner at Nana's... riggies are a staple of the upstate New York crowd and Regina has this recipe down pat! They serve you chips and an amazing mish-mosh of cheeses for a dip while you are enjoying their slushy wine and after that, you are on your own to experience the Ambiance, the food and a wait staff that makes you feel like you are their best friends! And if you have a chance to say hi to her, Regina rocks! read more

Excellent Utica Italian food. The Riggies were excellent and the portions are ridiculously huge. Come with a big appetite and have fun at this cozy Italian eatery. read more

Was recently here for a after communion celebration with the family. The food was amazing and the portions are huge. The artichoke appetizer was my favorite. The meatballs were awesome as well. The reason for 4 stars is they do not separate checks and they added on gratuity. I always am generous with gratuity usually over 20% but I am not a fan of restaurants that force that on the bill. read more

I was really excited to try this restaurant. Loved reading the reviews here on YELP. We walked into the restaurant at 7:30 and didn't get our main course until 9:05. What is more, we waited almost a half hour in-between our salad and main course. Never sis the waitress ask if we wanted a refresh on our drinks nor did she apologize for the long wait until I asked her to check on our food. After all of that, she then made us wait 10 minutes to get our check. We ordered pasta and it was totally underdone. Overall it was a terrible experience and we will never return. read more

Just went last night with a group of 7 (we made reservations). Our table was ready and the waitress was at our table right away. She, the maitre'd, and the live singer ("Big Al" Amadeo) were so friendly and accommodating, that we all had a great time. The food was huge proportions, but solid stuff. We ordered a veal parm, which was good, chicken marsala was awesome, and the riggies with chicken and riggies with shrimp were amazing. Between this and 3 apps (the Caveltelli Greens, Italian nachos, and calamari), we ended up taking home loads of food. We loved everything, down to the cannoli cake and coffee for dessert. The signer was a riot and if I had an event in town, I would hire him in a minute! The waitress was incredibly accommodating and friendly -- she even found a to go coffee cup for one in our party! I suppose the size of our party and the fact that the restaurant was not packed may have meant great service, but I find it hard to believe these people are not trying their best every day. read more

Wow!!! If i could give this restaurant 6 stars i would! Everything about this place is excellent. First off the service is very good the host which i believe is the owners brother is polite, friendly and charming he makes you feel welcome like you are part of the family. The atmosphere is comfortable, complete with a lounge singer, singing all the classics. The menu is stacked with the heavy hitters we all know plus some dishes that you wont find anywhere else in utica. The food couldn't be better so delicious. All the dinners are made to order Homemade! The portions wont leave you hungry. The prices a very reasonable. The waiters are attentive and eager to please. The deserts are fantastic rich and homemade. Did i mention the food is phenomenal. If you have restaurant then look out this girl is the real deal. I have no doubt that Bella Regina is here to stay! I dare say my favorite place in utica. I will have many pictures soon, it wont be long before i return to get my fix of our home city favorites such as chicken riggies. Its an 11 out of 10. BRAVO!!! read more

Bella Regina - Chicken marsala - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

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I have never written a review in my life. I don't know how to leave no stars. But I feel I need to warn others so they don't have to suffer the way we just did. The calamari was terrible, frozen for sure and disgusting. The worst sauce we have ever had and we are Italian. This is not only the worst restaurant but also worst Italian restaurant ever. We returned all of our food and received no compensation. The wait staff was friendly and quick not their fault AT ALL! We left a tip because we felt bad for him. read more

Portions were huge and food was good. Veal parm wasn't what I expected but the riggies were very good. Be ready for a nice atmosphere with a family vibe. Live music wasn't bad either read more

Bella Regina - Veal Parm. Huge portion - Italian Near Me - Utica, New York

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Very slow service, ordered salmon and it was not fresh. Overall let down. Went with a small group and our meals all came out separately.

If I could give this less than zero stars I would. I had the worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant. We sat down and ordered our food and drinks at 6:30 multiple tables sat down after us and received their food and checks before our food even came out. They cooked for at least 6 tables that walked in and sat down much later than we did. At 7:30 our server came over and said he was sorry they "wanted to get some of the smaller tables orders out before our 6top" every table in the restaurant was fed before we even received our food. We got our food after the restaurant was closed. We asked to speak to a manager at least 5 times and nobody came to talk to us. One of our meals had a long black hair in it which we found out was the owners who happened to be cooking. The owner refused to come speak with our table. Finally after they called the cops because we wouldn't leave they came out and had the nerve to shush us for asking what the issue was. It was the absolute worst experience I have ever had and the owners should be embarrassed for how they handled the entire situation. I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

Went on a Wednesday during their first week of their new dinner buffet. We were greeted by someone at the door with a very hearty hello and were sat immediately. Within 2-3 minutes after getting our 10 month old situation in a seat, the waiter Kris, politely asked if he could start us off with drinks. After our drinks came, we let Kris know we were here for the buffet. He promptly returned with our plates and soup cups and offered us to help ourselves. Over the duration of our stay, Kris checked on us frequently and made absolute sure we had everything we needed. It's a very rare occasion to find a waiter/waitress in the greater Utica area with his amount of energy and passion to serve his guests. Onto the food. The buffet was about an 8. The Chicken Riggies were great and the seafood chowder was exceptional as well. However can't say that for the greens. They seemed very salty, which is highly unusual as I've eaten here 100 times previously. The price for the food was great, $15 for all you can eat which for the Riggies alone is a great deal. All in a 4.5, I give the extra .5 because Kris really knocked it out of the park with his service. read more

I cannot comment on the taste and quality of the food because after waiting an hour and 15 min. for a table (we were told 25 min.) and an hour for food we got up and left! No one came over to offer more pita/cheese or a cocktail. I'll not be returning unless I've eaten first and have hours to kill. I've gone out on Mother's Day and not waited this long. read more

I can't rave enough about their riggies, I had chicken my sister had shrimp they are the best in town! The shrimps were huge and full of flavor. The service was awesome, friendly, and personable. I will definitely be back again. The place is very cute with all the pictures, decorations, and nice lighting. read more

The best Chicken Marsala I've ever had. The service was outstanding and friendly. The decor is welcoming and appreciated. We live five hours away, but I will definitely be coming here again. And, best of all, the prices are a bargain. read more

We were so excited to go to Bella Regina we heard such great things about. We waited for our riceballs for about 45 mins and we waited for our dinner for over an hour. When we asked the waitress how much longer she said "have you been here before? Everything is made to order". While we did enjoy the food once it arrived, the customer service just wasn't on point. The food was good but service needs some serious work. read more

The best I've had in the area and I don't say that lightly. We have a many excellent Italian establishments in the area but the food here is just stellar. read more

The marinara sauce is authentic and fresh! The atmosphere is fun and the desserts are delicious homemade.

Calamari breading was salty but squid tender and not rubbery. I had haddock franchaise which was good, moist and tender. The spinach over the Angel hair pasta was raw but it cooked with the heat of the pasta. The husband had a fish fry dinner and liked that also. Very friendly staff. Live music. Good for family gatherings and meeting friends for a meal. Too noisy for a date. read more

Bella's food is pretty good. Great rice balls and riggies - potentially the best riggies in the city of Utica. The service is always polite and efficient. Their atmosphere, however, is a total mystery. Statues of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis clash with Classic Italian decor and old Hollywood and Broadway posters. It's a bit too eclectic. The worst is the lounge lizard singer that takes up residence by the front door. read more

LOOOVVVEEE THE FOOD!!! Seriously, probably the Best spot for Italian food in Utica - and that's saying a lot! The only reason I take it down 1 Star is because whenever they get busy, things tend to go downhill really fast. We found that it's always best to go on an "off night" - like a Tuesday or a Wednesday because once they get busy, forget it. It'll be 2 hours before you see your meal. We also find that the bands they host on the weekends can be a bit loud for dinner in our opinion. Oh, and stay away from any "Show" nights at the Stanley also. You can taste the difference in food quality whenever they're busy like that. (We're regulars so we've got all the angles covered when it comes to eating here...) Rice Balls are the best, Riggies CANNOT be beat - we also enjoy the Fried Eggplant, Cavatelli & Greens, Fish over Greens, Sorrentino, Sicilian - and many more! The Cheese Dip that comes instead of Bread in the beginning is usually a Treat as well - it especially helps fend off the sometimes long wait for your dinner. Nice thing is there's always leftovers for the next day! Prices are VERY reasonable for the amount of food you get. read more

My favorite food in Utica is prepared at Bella Reginas. Dave the hostess (and I believe part owner) is always nice! Would highly recommend the eggplant rollitini read more

Headed there after the Meatball Mash though was disappointed with the meal. All my favorite things sausage, greens, and pasta: layered in so much cheese there was no taste or sauce to the dish. One big clump on a plate. When we brought it to the waitresses attention she said sorry and handed us the bill. Won't be heading back! read more

Bella Regina is wonderful!! They accommodated our large party, and made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The food was delicious, and the portions were huge!! Regina, the owner is awesome!! She came out to see how we enjoyed out meal and talked with us like we were old friends, even though it was our first time! She even gave us limoncello shots on the house! We will definitely be back on our next trip to Utica!! read more

Very disappointed again! I will not be returning sadly I will miss there riggies but not worth the bs. I tried calling for 3 days to make reservations and not once did anyone answer the phone. So I just showed up early and prepared to wait but...... I was turned away at 4:45 for a party of 8 they were not busy in fact people were standing around doing nothing. I was told they could not seat a party of 8 and I looked around to see a half empty restaurant and workers standing around!!!! read more

Sadly my experience tonight has left me compelled to write my first restaurant review ever. Called the restaurant for a single order of riggies to go, mind you I was willing to wait as long as needed for my order, but instead was told that I could not order this evening because the books were full. As a seasoned line cook...I can't quite wrap my head around why pre made sauce I've personally witnessed you scoop out of huge bambourines in the past couldn't possibly be scooped on noodles and wrapped up. Sadly as much as I enjoy your food I'll never spend a dime in this establishment again. No excuses read more

Best Chicken Riggies in Utica! Cool atmosphere that takes you back a few decades. All their pasta dishes are made to order, so it could take a little longer than other generic restaurants to get your entree but you will be rewarded with an enormous plate of heaven. The pasta dishes are huge and you get a salad bar trip as well. We had spinach & artichoke rice balls for an appetizer and thought they were pretty good (first time trying them so don't have another to compare them to). If you are able to finish your plate of riggies they give you a free t-shirt for your accomplishments. If you are a local and have friends/family ever in town I highly recommend this restaurant for the Utica riggies experience. read more

The absolute best Eggplant Parmesan I have ever had the opportunity to put in my belly!! Wait staff was top notch and friendly! The decor is fun and quirky and the music playing was Frank Sanatra and old show tunes! A must to check out! Only wish I could take this place back to Charlotte, NC with me! read more