We were here for a party on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant is located right on a lake giving it a beautiful setting. There's a large bar inside and both indoor and outdoor dining. For this party, we had a great selection of appetizers, followed by an entree. The baked clams and cold antipasto platter were very good. I ordered Chicken Parmigiana for dinner and it was outstanding! Loved the crispness. The restaurant is a bit off the beaten path, but it was a fun find. I'll go back sometime soon for dinner. read more

They could get rid of the rude wait staff. Was there for Mothers Day, and not only was the food subpar and cold but the waiter was rude and insulting read more

Following the recommendation of my Mom who had dined at Bella Vista Ristorante recently, we decided to celebrate my husband's birthday with dinner here. Bella Vista Ristorante is located on a lake and even on a cold, rainy, evening, the view from our table along the window was lovely. It may have been a house in a former life. The massive fireplace suggested an inviting great room. For me, a Jersey Girl, Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen. But my hubby likes Italian and this place did not disappoint. In fact, after reading some of the reviews by individuals who gave it only one star, I really have to wonder if those people were from competing restaurants. I mean, my only negative comment is that service was slow. No one was rude to us. In fact, when the hostess tried to seat us near the kitchen (one of my pet peeves), I asked her for another table and she obliged with a smile. The food was, what I anticipated, typical good Italian fare. I enjoyed the Burrata and Beet starter. My husband and my Mom had salads (we had had a big lunch so we skipped the appetizers). Mom and I enjoyed the Veal Peccario (forgive the spelling; it was a special) which was a healthy portion of veal stuffed with provolone, mozzarella and spinach and topped with three shrimp. The pink sauce (is this what us non-Italians call vodka sauce, I don't know) was flavorful but I question whether it was homemade. My husband's Veal Milanese was tasty. As for the prices, I have to think that people who complained about the cost of dining there don't get out much. I have not seen a veal entree in the $20 range for quite some time. Our bill for the three of us, which included a bottle of wine, was under $130 (not including tip) which - in my humble opinion - was very reasonable. The ambiance was peaceful (lovely view), the staff were friendly, the food was good, the prices were fair, and there was off-street parking across the road. Apparently, my observations were not unique because on a gloomy Friday night, the restaurant was full and many of the patrons appeared to be regulars. read more

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Charming Italian restaurant located on Lake Swannanoa. Congenial service , beautiful Italian music add to the pleasant vibe . Italian fare was solid and everyone in my party of five enjoyed their meals. ( my chicken parm was one of the best I've ever had ) read more

Fantastic food, fantastic service! Bob is a delight and so helpful from start to finish with planning our event! We had our daughter's baby shower here and our guests are still talking about how amazing the food was! All our future celebrations will definitely be here, cannot say enough good things about this restaurant! Best place around for taste, service and beauty!! read more

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The food is always better than good, some dishes are fantastic. Service is excellent in the old school way you're not going to be coddled if that's your thing. It's on a lake with views.The interior is a little dated but very open and spacious while somehow being quint. Prices is really good and that's how I rate everything. Ambiance per the interior would be its biggest downside. read more

As the name implies the view is beautiful. My favorites are the chicken parm, rigatoni bolognese, and chicken saltimbocca. My boyfriend loves the linguini marechiara. They have fun specials too. Prices are very reasonable. Love sitting outside during the summer. read more

Bella Vista Ristorante - Outdoor view - Italian Near Me - Oak Ridge, New Jersey

Nice place with a fantastic view of a small lake & a tree-lined mountain! This place has a very attractive & inviting outside area. We sat at a table with an umbrella right by the lake which made the experience wonderful. We enjoyed calamari - they are the big rings & were tender. Sauce could have been a little spicier. Entree's came with a simple house salad that was a good palate cleanser. For entree's my friend got a combo veal, chicken, & shrimp francese & I enjoyed shrimp over penne with vodka sauce. The bread was amazing! I took no pictures but I wish I did! Great place - service was a little slow but we didn't mind - I hate being rushed! Definitely going back! read more

Always a good experience while dining here, both the food and service from the staff has been consistently good. This restaurant has changed hands a number of times along with their name. And we've been here for most of the changes. We like supporting local spots especially during the height of covid when most establishments and businesses were forced to close. When they reopened for takeout only we ordered from them and some of the other restaurants in town. Consistency is crucial when operating this kind of business and I'm happy that they've been around for quite awhile now. Really enjoy eating here and would recommend this place to anyone interested in some fine dining. read more

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This order was picked up where there were no issues at hand. The menu had traditional Italian options. Several items were tried, and each are below. Rigatoni Bolognese - This was okay. There seemed to be something missing from the overall dish. House Salad - This was a traditional house salad. I believe it came with a mustard dressing, which was pleasant. Veal Parmesan - This was probably my favorite dish tried of the night. The veal was thin and not too tough to deal with. There was an appropriate amount of sauce and cheese present. It was very good. Chicken Francaise - I did not care for this at all. The chicken was thin and lean, but the Francaise sauce was plain and not much flavor. It was disappointing. Will I go back? Possibly. read more

Food is very good and you can't beat the prices. A little disappointed that the air conditioning is minimal. On these hot, humid summer nights my husband and I were uncomfortable. We have been here many times and the service is very good. Would go back again and again, but probably not on a hot steamy night in New Jersey. read more

I don't know what has happened to this place. I ordered a pasta dish and it came out cold. On top of it the server was incredibly rude. Stay away. read more

For starters- incredibly rude wait staff. Food was nothing but mid at BEST. Seriously save your money. Food here is not worth the price as it was beyond flavorless. If I were the owner i'd be very concerned for my future. read more

Bella Vista is amongst the worst Italian restaurants I've been to. Not only was the server rude from the jump, but my food came out cold, and the vodka sauce tasted like it came from a jar. On top of that, it was extremely overpriced. I was really looking forward to treating my girlfriend to a nice dinner, but we both came away extremely disappointed. Might as well have eaten at home. read more

One of the worst experiences of my life. I wouldn't wish this cooking on my worst enemy. I found three hairs in my food, and they did nothing about it. gross and dirty. read more

Bella Vista's food never disappoints. Ordered the family takeout for company. Chicken Marsala was sooo delicious! Marsala gravy was filled with mushrooms and the chicken was fork tender. Added to that was penne vodka pasta and a Caesar salad. Thanks for making me look good, Bella Vista. P S . I love having their glass of white Zinfandel when I dine there. read more

The foods were delicious. Specially eggplant Parmesan so delicious. Just the service need more professional training. They only have table wine glasses for red ! read more

Best place ever if you're looking for a great dinner and great customer service!! I've been a customer for years and I will always bring my family and friends here. read more

We had a birthday dinner for my son at Bella Vista last Night. The food was delicious and the wait staff was very attentive and so accommodating. We were all very pleased and will definitely be back. We all recommend this fine restaurant that is hidden away off the beaten path. MD read more

Support local restaurants, including this one!! Off of Berkshire Valley Road, Bella Vista is tucked away in residential area right on Lake Swananoa. Good Italian food. Lovely porch and patio area, right on the lake. Indoors, there is a bright, open casual bar area, nice for just dropping in for a drink. Pleasant dining areas in this charming old building. Service was very good, friendly, responsive. Didn't see, heaters on the porch or patio, so not sure how much longer you can eat outside. Employees did a good job with mask wearing and social distancing customers. read more

Food selection and portions were excellent. Always a pleasure seeing the same hard working crew. I'm very happy to see they've kept their pricing much better than most of the local restaurants that are gouging the public. read more

Nice little place with a cozy lake backdrop. Service was slow. Food took a good 1.5 hours to come out. In that time, we ordered a good $100 worth of wine. Once the food came, it was great. I had the veal and tasted the lamb chops my buddy had. Both were great and the portion sizes were bigger from when my wife came in June. read more

Bella Vista Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Oak Ridge, New Jersey

Belle Vista padded our bill, and it happened twice, during each of my visits, there. During the first visit, the waiter charged my friend for two drinks, when he had only one drink. He was told that the bill would be adjusted, but it wasn't. He had to return the bill, again, to have it adjusted.. At the next visit, there were three of us. I asked for a separate bill, and that caused a disturbance, to the point of a nearby customer laughing, because I said " No separate check, then no bill gets paid." I, then, after an argument, received my separate bill. My friend ordered a steak for $28+ and was charged $50 on her bill. She only had the steak and another friend bought her a drink. We left with my friend's bill, as overcharged. My friend made a phone call the night we left the restaurant to ask for a refund on the overcharge. She was not given any help and was told that someone would call her. Someone called days later and said at her next visit, her order would be credited a $15 amount. My friend lives in NY and is unlikely to ever visit there again. That offer to make her return to order another dinner is outrageous and dishonest! There were two dishonest transactions, each time I visited. The view is delightful. The management is a disappointment. I would recommend don't visit the place and if you do eat there, check your bill carefully. They exhibit dishonest behavior and an inability to rectify their actions. read more

I went there for a Christmas party so there was a lot of people in my group. We had the back room which was very cozy. The service was a little slow but very friendly. There should have been more wait staff. All the food was excellent from appetizers through desert. I had the Most tender veal. The sauce was a little more like gravy but still very tasty. Out of all the choices in the area, I would go back there. read more

Best Calamari around! Delicious authentic italian cuisine. Really fresh!! Nice service too!!! My favorite spot in town.

Beautiful setting. One star for the atmosphere. Zero stars for the food and waitstaff. Food was bland. Stuffed artichoke was in a sauce that I can only describe as cornstarch in some kind of yellow liquid. Eggplant Rollatini was unable to be eaten. It literally had no taste, I left it on the plate. Shrimp Scampi was shrimp swimming in a liquid that was inedible and lackluster. Had to doctor the sauce with lemon and Parmesan cheese. The waiters were grumpy and I know for a fact they were talking about my friend and I in Italian (I speak Italian) when we asked for more Parmesan cheese and lemon. Overall not a great experience. Be aware... read more

The food was delicious. The fried calamari was just the way I like and all of our meals were delicious. The penne vodka was amazing and I tried the chicken francese which was very good. I will definitely go back. read more

Went to this place for dinner with my wife. We asked for a table by the water and the head person said no that the tables weren't clean, so we sat under a roofed section outside. A party of 4 sat down behind us and ordered. Then they asked if they could sit at a table by the water. The same person who told us No, told them Yes. He would have someone clean a table for them. WTF ? We couldn't sit there but they could ? So when we left I disclosed my displeasure to the main person in charge and they started giving me lip. I decided I would never go there again. The restaurant business is a hospitality business and if the owner doesn't understand that then he should sell to someone who knows how to treat a customer. Other than that, we had a decent meal and the service at the table was acceptable. But not my kind of place. read more

We arrived 15 minutes prior to our reservation. I had made reservations a month prior and we show up to find it is not in the book, really? The gentlemen I spoke to confirmed all my information when I had called. The Hostess told us they were busy and she didn't see anyone leaving. Finally they managed to put two tables together for us, party of 6. OK, then we waited forever for someone to come over to get our drink order. One gentleman came over but said he could only take food orders and not drink orders WTH? When we asked to get separate checks, they told us we could not. That's interesting because we have gotten separate checks in the past. The veal was extremely salty. What an overall bad experience we had last Saturday. Not sure we'll be going back. read more

A hidden gem. Lovely italian restaurant with a nice well stocked bar. It jusy has that classy feel. During those nice nights you can also enjoy a nice lakeside dining experience. The food quality is great and portions are great. You definitely wont leave hungry. read more

Back again at this restaurant. Excellent brozini special. Service was exemplary. Would recommend stopping in. Once weather gets warmer the lake setting will be a bonus for sunsets and cocktails. Give it a try. read more

Food was okay. Great view of the lake. Kitchen was EXTREMELY slow. I don't think I've ever waited so long. But, they did take us, a group of 10, without a reservation on Mother's Day. For that, I'll give another star. read more

The food is absolutely perfect. I had grouper marecchiara and it was phenomenally fresh and flavorful. The service impeccable. And the price was just right. I've been here a few times and never disappointed. read more

Although the food is good, the service was horrible. Definitely not a place I would consider going again. It took almost 15 minutes for a waiter to come to the table to get a drink order. The food brought out sporadically and the wrong entrees were delivered to the wrong tables. It was a total mess. We were there with a party of 10 and not only were the orders mixed up, but only a couple of the dishes were brought out at a time, with a gap of approximately ten minutes or more until the next entrees were brought to the table. If you wanted to be polite and wait until the whole table was served, the last people being served would be the only ones having warm food and the rest of the table's entrees were cold. Other patrons were experiencing the same kind of problems that we did at our table. Management seemed clueless as to how to handle the problems. read more

This is my first time here. I'm here right now actually because it took 2.5 hours from when our group sat down to get our entree. There was no acknowledgement of how long it took to get our food. No apologies were given. Furthermore the food was not worth the wait. I feel like i have had better "shake and bake" pork chops than what i am eating now. I am disappointed and frustrated with this entire experience and will never come back here again of my own free will. read more

Bella Vista Restaurant is the perfect place for dinner after a round of golf at Berkshire Valley Golf Course (only 5 mins away). We were seated immediately at a table overlooking the lake while enjoying our drinks. The calamari appetizer was fresh and crispy and the spaghetti with anchovies and the olives was delicious! This place will definitely be our regular stop after playing golf! read more

Had dinner here for the first time based on the Yelp reviews. Had to agree very friendly staff. Lots of ambience and. Good food. We had a very nice waiter who was familiar with the menu. The appe was grilled calamari. Enough for three which the waiter advised us. Ravioli was every ones' choice and it was delicious. No desert, we were too full. We will return to this Lovey lakeside restaurant. read more

Very nice place. Have been here twice since new owner took over. Very good service. Food excellent. Love the specials. Lovely setting on the lake. Highly recommend this place especially with a group of friends and family. read more

Went here for a Saturday lunch (noon). They only had a dinner menu. We ended up ordering and appetizer and salad. Food was delicious but (like the 2 previous establishments) they need more practice. It's only been open for 5 weeks, so we will try again. Love the location and the building. Hope this one sticks read more

I just want to start by saying I'm Italian and love good Italian food. I usually never eat anyone else's red sauce but my own. We all can't stop talking about our dinners tonight. We all shared everything. We had the fried calamari & eggplant rollatini for appetizers. Everything was very fresh & delicious. The pasta with vodka sauce was one of the best we have ever had. I had the pork osso bucco which melted in my mouth. The puttanesca & chicken parmagiana were so so good. Great portion size. Our waiters were very nice & the service was great. It's a very relaxing atmosphere & the food was well worth the wait. We chose to sit inside & the view of the lake was perfect. We can't wait to go back again. read more