Waitress/owner rude!!!! My family and I have been going to Bella Sera for years. We regularly bring large groups of 15-20 people for family gatherings, and until recently, we've always enjoyed both the food and the customer service. The owners know us, and we've had many friendly conversations with them over the years. Unfortunately, our most recent visit left a very negative impression. I personally didn't order food because I had already eaten, but I did have a water, and my son ordered a soda, which we paid for. When the owner/waitress brought out the bread, I took a piece and was told, "The bread is for people who bought food. If you want bread, buy some." I found this comment incredibly rude and unnecessary. Considering that our family was there with a party of around 20 people and has been supporting this restaurant for years, it was surprising and disappointing to be spoken to that way. My own family members at the table were offering me bread, yet I was made to feel unwelcome over a single piece. It felt like being told that people can't share food at the same table, which seems unreasonable. To make matters worse, my cousin also had a negative experience regarding the tip. Because the gratuity wasn't added to the receipt, the owner reportedly wanted to see proof of the tip before the party left. My cousin was planning to leave a cash tip on the table, but asking a customer to show or prove their tip is inappropriate and unprofessional. The food is still excellent, which makes this experience even more disappointing. However, customer service matters, and after being treated this way, I don't plan on returning. read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas

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It's hard to find veal in San Antonio Italian restaurants. It's not cheap. We were in the area looking at properties and decided to top at Bella Sera for an early dinner. They have some nice hot bread they bring out. We decided on Veal Piccata and Saltimbocca. Both were tender and had a flavorful sauce over spaghetti noodles cooked al dente. And the tossed salad with balsamic dressing was very tasty. read more

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Was craving an Italian dinner for my birthday and since this was my daughter's favorite place, I decided I must try it for myself. This place is located in not-so-easy to find, around the corner of an outdoor shopping area. I am truly glad we found it. Arrived for an early dinner, 6 PM, happened to be one of the first to arrive. Fair warning as of this post, they do not have a liquor license, therefore outside wine and beer is currently acceptable. We brought two bottles of wine which they chilled for us. Ordered the Calamari as an appetizer along with the Balsamic Bruschetta. Really a great start. Both very delicious. Wish we had ordered another of the Bruschetta. This place is a definite Mom & Pop shop, so service can be a little slow. Be patient, they are working very hard. We were a table of 5, but around 6:45 they started setting up for a party of 16! We hurried to place our food order. I have issues with Dairy but paid no mind to this issue for all the freshly made food. Chicken Cacciatore for my daughter and Chicken Piccata for Me! So good, my son ordered a Large Margherita pizza, we each had a slice and he still had some to take home. AND the crust was fresh, baked to perfection. Really a good pizza. Someone else ordered the Baked Ziti, it looked really good presentation wise. Definitely recommend finding this out-of-the-way place, good food with reasonable prices. Oh we also had dessert, Tiramisu and Black Forest Cheesecake. Perfect way to end a really good meal. read more

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Wonderful homemade food in a great location. The owners specialize in making their patrons feel like they're at home. read more

The husband and wife who owns this place are suuuper hospitable and even if they have a full house they make you feel like you're the only table there. They're definitely a hole in the wall but the decor inside is nice. The ambiance is dining out but cozy. Have had several of their italian dishes and had a great experience every time. Best Italian in the area I think. Their pizza is worth trying too. Give this place a try and you won't regret it read more

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First time - not packed for a Friday evening- no reservations needed. Service very friendly and consistently with a smile! The restaurant is clean and inviting. The food was yummy! Chicken soup or salad with your meal- salad was fresh and crisp, soup was hot and flavorful. Chicken piccata and shrimp scampi a bit different to my previous experiences- loads of liquid as you can view in the picture and the Chicken seemed a bit more like fajita type meat. But the flavors were good! Overall and enjoyable experience and I would like to come back and try another menu item. read more

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This is the review that almost wasn't. That's because as we sat we asked for the wine list- as one does in an Italian restaurant. That's when they told us they didn't have a license and didn't sell alcohol. It was Friday night...we almost left. The place has really good reviews, so we decided to stay and we're glad we did. For our appetizer we ordered the Calamari which came with a spicy marinara sauce. The batter was delicious and had nice thickness and slight crunch. For our entrees my wife got the Chicken Marsala and I got the Fettuccine Carbonara. The Chicken Marsala was good. It came with grilled chicken breast that was sliced into strips making it different than most we have, which came with the full (or half) breast (not sliced). The mushrooms used in the dish and the Marsala sauce were the star of that dish. The Marsala made the perfect dip for the delicious bread served with the meal. The Fettuccine Carbonara was outstanding! The cream sauce, the Italian ham, and the mushrooms combined as this decadent coating for the homemade fettuccine noodles. Each bite was worthy of savoring slowly. The restaurant ran like a well oiled machine with the two servers working collaboratively on every table. Before we left, we mentioned being glad that we stayed because we almost didn't when told we couldn't have wine with our meal. He said that we are welcome bring in our own bottle of wine next time. Not sure of corkage fee. At any rate, this was really delicious Italian restaurant with great service. Just BYOB. read more

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I've been meaning to leave this review and it just hit me after posting about another spot... so here we go. The husband and I decided on Italian for date night, and Bella Sera did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in, the place felt warm, clean, and inviting. It had that cozy, relaxed Italian atmosphere that makes you want to slow down, sip your drink, and actually enjoy your meal. Now let's talk about the food. I ordered the Chicken Marsala, and as someone who absolutely loves this dish, I have high standards. I'm happy to say it exceeded them. The sauce was rich and savory, perfectly balanced with the mushrooms, and the chicken was tender and flavorful. Every bite tasted like it was made with care, not rushed, not bland, just right. My husband ordered his go-to favorite: Chicken Parmesan. He's had this dish at countless places, so he's not easily impressed. But this one? He loved it. So much so that he took the leftovers home, and actually finished them the next day for lunch. That's always the true test. Overall, Bella Sera stands out above most Italian spots we've tried. Great flavors, solid portions, and a comfortable atmosphere that makes it perfect for a casual date night or special evening out. This place is an absolute must-try. ***This review is based on my taste buds. Not all taste buds are created equal. read more

Best pasta dish in South Texas. Gritty de Mare is out of this world. Actually Italian family owned. Prices are great and they have a $12.99 lunch menu read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas

Good food! Great service! The staff were very attentive and nice. I would absolutely go back if I'm ever in the area.

My friend and I were running errands nearby and decided to try Bella Sera. The reviews were good so I was surprised at the taste of the food. A choice of salad or chicken soup was offered. I chose salad which had been sitting too long on a salad plate in the refrigerator. I ordered the Chicken Piccata. It was a little on the soupy side and the pasta reminded me of the American Beauty brand of spaghetti we ate in the 60s. It bordered on being overcooked. The flavor of the dish was pretty good, hence a 3 star rating. I think it was missing garlic and some salt. I was offered red pepper flakes and grated parm cheese. The cheese in the shaker seemed more like sawdust cheese that comes in a green foiled cardboard shaker. I heated the leftovers up for lunch and was able to add freshly grated parm cheese, Maldon salt, and freshly ground pepper. Tasted much better than at the restaurant. My friend ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. The dish was so bland. The 5 meatballs were so tiny, the size of a ball you play Jacks with. Texture was off and a little like the meatballs in a can of Chef Boyardee. Service was ok. We ate early, at 5pm. Only one other couple was in the restaurant eating. Several people stopped by to pick up to go orders. Owners child was playing behind the hostess check in area. He was a little noisy playing video games. It did not add to the ambiance. There seem to be so many restaurants struggling these days. The cost of our food was pricy considering what a box of pasta costs. We might come back to check out the pizza, but we definitely will stay away from the entrees costing anywhere from $28-36. read more

Was recommended to me by family, one of the best stops in my book of new food places. Establishment was clean, looked good inside. Food is amazing and flavors were superb. Would not only go back, but highly recommend. read more

Walking in the place is nicely lit, clean and have Italian decor. We were greeted and sat immediately which was nice. Our server was really friendly and took care of us greatly. The food we ordered was the trio which consisted of half lasagna, chicken Parmesan and fettuccine Alfredo. Which came with a salad or soup and bread. There was butter on the table to put on your bread and the salad was fresh. The entree itself was not my favorite because the fettuccine Alfredo tasted too milky, the chicken Parmesan was okay and the lasagna was a little greasy. Maybe I'll try them again read more

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WOW!! After a long day of chemo- I decided to order takeout food for myself-my son and daughter in law -Bella Sera has been opened for about a year I believe- The reviews on social media have been great but I don't eat out often so sometimes I just forget about some place new- We ordered a ribeye portabella Shrimp and scallops Alfredo Lobster ravioli Tiramisu cake Oh my goodness we were in for a surprise! The food was amazing and delicious!! Not one complaint about any of it. We had enough for a midnight snack and some for lunch today- I now have to go back tomorrow and try a Stromboli and baked ziti The owners were extremely nice and friendly If you haven't been there you need to try them out for yourself- you won't be disappointed. read more

Wow! I've always wanted to try Bella Sera but my go to was always 4 star pho (next door) today I finally tried it and WOW! I've been missing out!!! It was the best tasting Italian I've ever tried! Great customer service! Food was phenomenal! Pictures do not do justice! Everything was so fresh! Salad, bread allll of it! Don't think about it, GO! read more

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Top notch Italian food not bad service at all tho only bad side is the food is good but scolding hot $$$$$$$$o the garlic bread is good but at the same time you don't want to fill up on bread but n E ways 3.8 stars oh my bad I had to give them a bonus star for the integrity of the wait staff very nice yelp done read more

The people leaving bad reviews are crazy. I've been here numerous times and the staff and food are always amazing. Tried the Bella Sera pizza for the first time today and it rocked my socks off. I will absolutely be back. read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Bella Sera Pizza. - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas

Really enjoyed our dinner here! The service and food were some of the best. We ordered the Brushetta for an appetizer. It was good. The garlic bread was also delicious. Shared the Pasta Trio with my daughter. We really enjoyed the chicken soup and the lasagna. My son loved the kid's ravioli. We are looking forward to visiting again. read more

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Delicious food and fabulous service! Loved it. Clean restaurant and great parking. Prices were also very affordable.

Great food, reasonable prices! Nice to enjoy a "family owned" Restraunt instead of the big chains! read more

Me and my wife tried Bella sera for the first time and were pleasantly surprised Our sever was very attentive and brought the food out quickly The salad was fresh and tasty My wife had the chicken Alfredo which was a creamy wholesome classic and filled her pregnant craving requirement for that day. I had the Veal picante which was drenched in this very delicious lemons sauce which penetrated the meat and made it very light and digestible meal but at the same time was very filling. Also the place was very clean and pleasant to be at. read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Chicken Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas

The food here is so good! The family is so kind and helpful. Everything is homemade with love and fresh ingredients. We had a family of 6 and we all ordered something different and no one had any complaints. Homemade bread and sauces. Highly recommend. read more

Food arrived hot and delicious The pizza is always delicious and top notch Had it delivered during football game read more

They have a broken online menu where multiple items are labeled the same and will not fix it when you get the wrong item. This was supposed to be to be pink sauce as I do not eat Alfredo sauce because I can not stomach it. read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas

Wow! This place is absolutely adorable. Cute location, great relaxing music, and ambiance. Great place to go on a date because the music is calming and at a level where you can speak to the people at your table. This family owned business has been here about 6 months, and I am so glad I saw it on Facebook! The service was prompt and got every single thing right! Can't make a single complaint about my visit. I even stopped the owner, Becky, and spoke with her a few minutes. She was fabulous! The food was fabulous. Home-cooked goodness and my happy belly wanted more. I had to get dessert too! My husband and I came here on a unch date after running errands all morning! The first stop was, of course, the bathroom. It was clean and had positive affirmations on the walls! It was very fresh and welcoming. I returned to the table and my husband ordered my tea and it was perfect! The tea was fresh and tasty. No old tea from yesterday here! We were able to order our lunches. Hubby got fettuccine carbonara, and I got the veal parmesean. The salad was a garden salad. Fresh dressings that seemed homemade as well served with rolls that were knots. Tasty and filling! The food came at the right time. They have their timing correctly for the salad, then the dinners. Tasty creamy carbonara that was plate licking good! The veal cutlet was tasty and had the right amount of sauce and cheese. The spaghetti was cooked just right! We did get dessert, the lemoncello cake. Light, tasty, and had white chocolate shavings that popped in your mouth! Perfect end to our meal! It came in a container, and I was a bit worried that it would be dry, but it was fresh and tasty! We will be recommending and returning! Apparently, they have a pizza special! I can't wait to try! read more

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Food was delicious specially the mozzarella sticks. Friendly staff and good place for family gatherings read more

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Several times I have eaten here the food is authentic Italian cuisine great people clean go for it

Our waiter was outstanding! He was super polite and made sure all of our questions were answered no matter how small the confusion. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was calming and quiet even when full of people. 10/10 must return especially for the deserts read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas

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I went to Bella Sera for my birthday dinner. The owners are really sweet and nice. I enjoy Italian food and my daughter insisted we try this place because she loves it. I ordered the veal piccata , calamari and bruschetta. The bruschetta was delicious and the calamari was Ok. My veal piccata was average, pasta was al dente and the sauce was good. I would say the food is better than Ok but i didn't love it. The restaurant is semi spacious and they were not too busy but they had customers. The food came out pretty fast and they are big portions. The wife is so sweet! If i remember her is Becca. read more

I really love this place. We have eaten here several times. Bella Sera has a lot of choices that they offer. You can request gluten free pasta noodles which is perfect for people that can't eat gluten. The service was great and the owners are very nice. You can also order gluten free pizza as well. Try it out. read more

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This recent addition to the San Antonio Metroplex food scene falls somewhere between Capparelli's and Sorrento's on Broadway. Think lots of pasta dishes, a large menu with food photos, and faux grapevines adorning the walls. The dishes are straightforward "red sauce" Italian, and executed well. The exception to this is the Capresse salad. Traditionally, the Capresse is a simple salad of fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes and balsamic. Sera's Capresse includes a bed of shredded iceberg, carrots, olives, grilled peppers, and powdered Parmigiano "cheese". This is a take on the salad I had not seen before, nor did it match the menu photo. It was the weakest dish of our meal. The service at Sera is friendly, helpful, and clearly tuned into the family owned vibe predominant in the restaurant. I recommend Bella Sera if you enjoy casual dining with simple classic Italian food... but skip the Capresse. Cheers! read more

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So we went to Bella Sera today ,we had the pleasure of meeting the owner. He is from Greece and his wife is from Italy. They have amazing food on their menu, we ordered 2 meat Stromboli's, a Caesar salad, two chicken, soups, and garlic knots. Everything was amazing. If you haven't gone out there and tried Bella Sera yet I highly recommend it , it's authentic Italian food. The owner was very nice and explained the menu, you can't go wrong with homemade Italian food. It's hard to find good Italian food in the city. read more

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Great meal. Very feeling large portion. First time time trying this restaurant. Arrived at my house hot enough to not have to reheat.

I've never been to Italy but this is what I imagine the food to be like. Definitely recommend.

Love the home adult atmosphere and great food. Wonderful service and outstanding cuisine

Nice restaurant with good food and service. My only complaint is the noise level. It's a relatively small restaurant. I prefer a more quiet setting when paying those prices for a nice meal. read more

This little Mom and Pop shop is as authentic as it gets! The owners were so kind and the food was just amazing. I had the Eggplant Parmesan and would definitely recommend. We had a rough day and thought we wouldn't try here after we realized they were still waiting on their alcohol license, but our waiter suggested we grab a bottle of wine from the gas station next door and they would serve it to us - no cork fee! So nice to get authentic Italian food from a family run business. They even spent some time talking to us and telling us their story. Definitely a place you have to try! read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Eggplant Parmesan with pasta - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas

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This restaurant is under rated! The food is so good, great price too! Service was fast friendly! read more

Oh boy.... What can I say that hasn't been said. Delicious food cooked by gentle caring hands. Served by a lovely staff that deserves your business. Believe me when I say, "You need Bella Sera." Not only the best Italian food but the best food period. We have eaten almost everything on the menu and it just keeps getting better. My name is LZ and I approve this message. Ps. Closest you'll get to New York style pizza in SA. read more

The food was amazing!! We got the fried cheese sticks as an appetizer. They were so good. My main dish was what blew me away. The tortellini was fresh and the alla panna sauce was to die for. The service was decent and the restaurant was clean and cozy. The bathrooms were very nice and clean as well. I will be coming back!! This is great local Italian food. read more

Bella Sera Italian Restaurant - Tortellini Alla Panna - Italian Near Me - Universal City, Texas