This place is incredible Mike greeted us at the door with such warmth. We got seated outside on the back deck by request, with the best view of the lake! We got the octopus and soft shell crab, and the baked clams ! So fresh and really delicious. Chef fabrizio also sent us out a small plate of the fried calamari, the best I have ever had. Not chewy and the batter was definitely made with love. For dinner, I had the striped bass which was perfectly cooked with veggies underneath and mussels surrounding. My friend had the crab with flounder, it was also great. For desert, gelato and sorbetto, felt like we were in Italy. Absolutely one of the best restaurant experiences I've had on Long Island. Will definitely be back! Thank you mike and fabrizio! read more

It was wonderful. Food was delicious. Ambience was great. I had the veal Francese . Very nice presentation. It was really good. We also had the Bella vie salad really fresh and tasty. Rice ball with some kind of white like gravy. Never had it that way but again very good. They gave us bread when we first sat down and 2 pieces with a bruschetta. Really good. We had a nice bottle of white wine. Dessert was a tasty cheeses. Cappuccino , Frangelico. I also had a martini that was made with fig. It was delicious. The manager or owner gave us a dry on the house. Everything was delicious at this restaurant. They have hand sanitizers I believe in all tables . The waitstaff was professional . It was a great time and dinner at this restaurant. Will definitely be back. read more

Excellent food! Service was a bit pressed to take our order but overall good experience. Will come back for seconds.

We have not been here since it changed its name a number of years. This was on Halloween night, our 29th anniversary. We got a little dressed up and felt appropriate for the decor. Food was excellent, particularly the rack of lamb chops cooked properly rare. Waiter was attentive and suggested a nice bottle of wine. I would give five stars except for the surprise on the bill at the end: Is it really necessary for a restaurant of this calibre to put on a surcharge for using your credit card. I can understand the small takeout joints having to do that but an expensive restaurant like this? It left a bad taste in my mouth after a delicious meal. read more

Amazing people running a best in town cuisine at the magnificent location with Exceptional Atmosphere by Lawrence Lake and they serve delicious creative foods.... owner Mike and son, Albert, with also owner / Chef, Fabrizio provides their great service and tasty foods that makes our dinner experience at Bella Vie absolutely wonderful. Thank you all! See you soon! read more

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Great food, great service. They know how to prepare amazing dishes. I like the view too because make you think you are in a different place of the world. I will go back again and again read more

During covid dinner- no disposable menus who knows how many hands touched the menus. Hostess/waitress had a mask on not covering her face at all, baked clams waitress told us "chopped" , they were whole. Salmon average at best, gnocchi was ok. 2 stars for the lake view in the back but overall very disappointed. No reimbursement for the falsely advertised chopped baked clams. read more

Restaurant never reached out after someone got food poisoning and after speaking to others at the table after we left, not one person enjoyed their meal. read more

Bella Vie - Italian Near Me - Bay Shore, New York

I'll cut to the chase. Food was good, but service was not. I'll take mediocre food with good service over good food with mediocre service any day. 1. Waiter asked if anyone wanted drinks, was interrupted by a bus boy and proceeded to leave everyone waiting for him to issue instructions to bus-boy. Then walked away without taking anyone's drink order. 2. When he came back he ignored the fact that there were women at the table and started taking orders in the order he wanted. 3. He forgot a drink that was ordered and when we asked for it he said "Oh, you would like to add one to the order, as though we were ordering another one as an after thought as opposed to asking for the one previously ordered" 4. Same thing happened with our main course. One of them was forgotten all together and I again, I was met with "oh, you would like another one" When I pressed and asked what order he had in for that person I was told "I'll add another one right away" with a bad bad attitude and tone. 5. Coffees came luke warm and about 10 mins before dessert. 6. After dinner drink ordered at the same time as coffee and dessert didn't come with coffees OR dessert. I had to ask another waiter to get it. 7. To top it all off, as soon as I signed the check, while we were in the process of standing up to leave, the waiter came over, reached in between us, took the check off the table and stood right there as he inspected it. I couldn't tell because of the mask, but I'm pretty sure he was giving me a dirty look. I'm guessing after seeing his well deserved small tip. The place was relatively empty but overall our waiter was inattentive, did not know the basics of being a waiter and had an attitude that was not appreciated. read more

We kept saying we needed to try this lovely restaurant set in a charming spot downtown Bay Shore! Great Italian fare, wonderful, friendly service, Great Cosmos! Now it's one of our favs! read more

Been there for drinks at the bar, dinner, even had a family get together there. Always excellent service, food and ambiance.

Great view....food was on point as was the service. The only draw back was $15 for a shy 4oz pour of house red that was probably from an $8 bottle. Next time I'll skip the wine....but I'll be back for all else! read more

I used to take out of town guests here for lunch or dinner. My recent lunch was not good at all - served by a bored waiter.

Supberb! One word says it all! Aviance, great food and drinks. All this along with a great staff make this place a gem. Make sure to enjoy a drink at the bar before dinner with Sean. A great night was had. read more

It was amazing the food, the service, and the view. It was somewhat pricey but that was because of the amount of people. I enjoyed it a lot. It was pretty on the inside too. read more

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This is absolutely my new favorite restaurant! The food is phenomenal from the appetizers to dessert!!! The view is serene and beautiful. The servers are polite and attentive. Overall the whole experience was honestly exceptional. I highly recommend you go to this restaurant. I'm extremely particular about my food, service and atmosphere and I truly mean what I say. Definitely worth treating yourself to go to Bella Vie. read more

I'm a fairly new customer. Before this apocalypse the service was excellent as was the food. During the crisis their curbside service and food is incredible. Enjoyed the Colorado lamb chops on Easter Sunday-done to perfection! read more

Had our 30th wedding anniversary dinner at Bella Vie yesterday. What an amazing meal! But first, the ambiance . . . beautiful lake view with lots of wild life, elegant yet friendly environment. Waiter was professional, solicitous. The food was unbelievable. Special stand outs were the baked clams (never had better) and some sort of short ribs in pasta, like large rectangular ravioli but with short rib stuffing and some delicious creamy sauce. Super tender calamari in a super spicy arrabiata sauce was also delicious. We both loved everything. Priced at the higher end of the scale, but we felt it was well worth it. Highly recommend. read more

Very very impressed. First time eating here and had a great experience. We ordered as a group, the Stuffed Veal Chop, Pasta Primavera, Filet Mignon, Lamb chops and the short rib. Appetizers were also great. Absolutely a place I would come back too. Servers were polite and friendly. Awesome experience from a very picky food critic ! read more

Bella Vie - Italian Near Me - Bay Shore, New York

Cozy throwback style restaurant. Beautiful bar. View of pond Professional staff. Properly prepared meals. Will definitely go back

Felt like I was there, good quality, perfect presentation and packaging is top notch. Didn't think it would be as good as I had dining in.

Found this place after a beautiful day at the beach. Food was yummy and staff was extremely nice.

We decided to spend valentines dinner at Bella Vie and we're very happy with our decision. The ambiance of the small Italian restaurant was exactly what we were looking for. The live singing of old Italian classics made the night very enjoyable and unforgettable. We enjoyed our dinner from appetizer to dessert. This was our first time here and we look forward to our return. read more

We came here for my birthday and had a great time. Mr. Mike took us to a lovely table. The staff were all so great, shout out to Jesse, Jeremy, Deborah,Frank the bartender, and Ramsey all who made my night extra special! The food was so good and the cappuccino was my favorite part along side some homemade cheesecake. Thank you Bella Vie read more

Absolutely delicious and terrific service! The chef is also a really nice guy with a great personality. You can tell the staff enjoys working there and goes out of their way to offer extra hospitality. read more

Bella Vie is as charming of a place as it gets with homemade delicious Italian food made with love. We came here for the first time shortly after restaurants were permitted to open following COVID. We are formally from Brooklyn and Manhattan so to call us "foodies" is an understatement. What struck me immediately was the owner Mike greeting each table (several which seemed to be regulars *always a good sign*) the food matched the atmosphere - no shortcuts here - just genuine good food in a relaxed setting. We had the cavatelli seafood pasta special tonight and the short rib and they did not disappoint! If you have an appreciation for GOOD food and genuine hospitality and heart - you will want to be part of the "regulars club" at Bella Vie. read more

Delicious! I had crab crusted salmon. My husband had lasagna and both dishes were great. Can't wait to go back.

I called 3 days prior to make a reservation. I requested a table in the room which is lakeside and was assured that was not a problem. When I arrived, I was told that no table was available though there was one with a reserved sign on it. I explained that I made reservations 3days before but was told the table was for someone else. Like the old Seinfeld routine, Belle Vie knows how to take a reservation, they just don't know how to keep a reservation. I will never go back there. read more

Had dinner the other night w/ a friend. Small cozy room. We sat facing the duck pond. We shared an appetizer of fried calamari that had shrimp and sliced zucchini in a honey mustard aioli Delicious. I had for a main course, black pepper & lemon linguini w/ shrimp, clams, and calamari in a tomato sauce brodino. Really out of this world. My friend had salmon, she said was also delicious Specials almost every night like bring your own bottle. No corking fee. Spoke to owner Mike before we left. Very nice. Will go back again. read more

Situated on Lawrence Lake in Bay Shore, this romantic restaurant has got it all! The gnocchi is to die for. And for seafood lovers you must try the scallops nestled atop a creamy risotto. For dessert the crème brûlée...totally sinful. Worth going off my diet. I would give this restaurant 10 stars if that was an option. Great staff and service. Wonderful experience! read more

The food is good but not great. I would give it a 7 on a scale of 1-10. Appetizers: Frito Misto was ok, but lacked salt and the shrimp were small and therefore easily overcooked and rubbery. The baked clams we're tasty, but the breadcrumbs were mushy instead of toasted and crisp. Entrees: The gnocchi we're good, but also under seasoned. Same for the short ribs, which once I added a hearty amount of salt, were very good and tender. Desserts: Tiramisu was very good and another dessert, which I cannot remember the name of, but was a cross between a chocolate pudding and a ganache with a pistachio, amaretto cookie crumble was excellent. The coffee flat out sucked. Generally speaking, I would advise the chef to be way more liberal with the salt. It's not quite the same when it has to be added on top as a rescue measure. Now, let's talk about the service. It was very attentive. The wait and bus staff were great. My only criticism is of the host. We'll call him the big guy in the suit because I don't know his name. If I had to guess though I would say he's probably an owner. He's unfriendly. He is the one that greeted us and sat us. No smile. Stoic. Unfriendly. We also observed him yelling at the wait staff to "wake up and get moving." Number one, don't do that in front of guests. It's unprofessional. Number two, the staff here are the stars of the show. They were great and working hard. They don't need to be yelled at in front of guests. It's demeaning. He also barked something at the chef from the door to the kitchen. My wife and I looked at each other and simultaneously said, "what an asshole." This guy seriously lacks people skills and he's in the hospitality business? My advice to him would be to hire a friendly host or hostess and have them run the front of the house. He shouldn't be seen or heard by guests. It's a big turn off. If they fine tune the food a bit and get rid of the big guy in the suit they may survive. Otherwise, aside from the good wait and bus staff, this restaurant is quite forgettable. read more

I visited Bella Vie for lunch and I was very impressed. The restaurant is beautiful and spotless. The service is amazing and my meal was perfect. I highly recommend you find your way to Bay Shore and ask for the manager, Mike Lekaj. Mike will make you feel at home and make it an even more special experience. read more

Food was incredible and server was attentive and very friendly. Location on water is very relaxing.

What a little gem of a restaurant!! Attentive and sincerely warm service. Intimate and beautiful setting. And let's not forget the food!! Chef Fabrizio and his team put together a fabulous seasonal menu that met every expectation. The pork osso buco was a stand out as were the short ribs. The pasta was fresh as was the fish. The surf and turf was on point. Can't say enough about this spot. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Excellent experience! I had the lasagna, my husband had beef Wellington and we shared with our friends that had the Pappardelle and Ravioli..every dish was delish...the service was absolutely wonderful, atmosphere was beautiful, we will be back for sure! read more

This is restaurant has so much potential. We have gone several times & the food never disappoints. I commend the Chef who is very creative. It has a nice atmosphere when you sit on the deck, i definitely would not sit in area by kitchen. Service is lacking here. I usually come during the week around 7:00, so typically not too busy. Waiter tells you they have $40 bottles of wine & when you ask about them you are told to go over to the table. Not sure why they would not be on a list? even on an insert? Food comes out & the servers have to announce every meal as to "who get the salmon", i know from being in the business that every table has seat numbers to avoid this. We had to ask for water 4 times while the bus boy walks by your table. They clear the appetizer and do not replace the silverware until once again you ask. Don't get me wrong everyone is very nice, but lack training. These are just minor things I know, but the restaurant has so much potential between the food, location & atmosphere. read more

Very cute place! Really nice view, delicious food and drinks. Loved our dishing experience here.

Good food great service friendly waitress service great atmosphere always service with a smile

The view makes this place! Food was very good as well, if you like waterfront dining give this place a try

Decided to try this place last minute. It's conveniently close to us as we just moved to bay shore. They sat us down right away without a reservation. The fresh bread they brought to the table was delicious. For an appetizer we shared the eggplant meatballs which were great. For entrees we had the pesto pasta with shrimp and the fresh spaghetti with clams and calamari. Both dishes were great and tasted fresh. read more

Bella Vie - Italian Near Me - Bay Shore, New York

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