The staff was super nice and attentive. There's a long wait for a good reason. This place is definitely a staple of New Haven. The presentation and flavor of their food speaks volume to the dedication they have regardless of how busy they are. I ordered the Dutch baby soufflé special, unfortunately the middle of it was a little raw. Our waitress was very kind and comped it off our bill which was super appreciated. The home fries were cooked perfectly and seasoned well! read more

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This place was amazing. Staff was friendly. I love breakfast and this place by far the best tasting I've been too for a hearty breakfast spot. read more

Bella's Cafe - Banana caramel French toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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You can bet on a 40 minute, minimum wait for Bella's on any weekend morning and for good reason! Their menu consists of breakfast staples with a gourmet flare. Their pancakes are usually topped with walnuts, a sweet/light cream and bourbon syrup. Drink specials also rotate with the seasons (pumpkin mimosas, ciders etc). If you can stand the wait, I promise it'll be worth it! read more

Bella's Cafe - Smoked salmon benny and red velvet pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Beautiful cafe, nice atmosphere. Delicious breakfast for reasonable price. House-made sausage was delish.

My first time at Bella's cafe was a success. They have a seasonal menu and feature meals like the corn beef hash and eggs. I went with the Challah French toast to start, it was out of this world. Then I had the Palermo Omelet which had spicy sausage, what a nice touch! I will be returning. read more

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The Summary: Atmosphere - 4/5 Neighborhood - 4/5 Food - 5/5 Drinks - N/A Inclusivity - 5/5 Experience - 5/5 The Story: There's good reason that this is a popular spot. This place can easily rival any NYC brunch spot because of the high quality of it's food. I had their French toast with Italian bread and it's one of my most memorable brunches! My friend and I were blown away by our meals and were envious of what others were ordering, since their food looked so good to. My friend & I came early so we beat the weekend lines, so if you can do that it's highly recommended. read more

Bella's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We, 4 women of color, will be taking our business elsewhere. Other responses to reviews mention wanting proof of racism. All we can do is share our account of the disrespect we endured trying to have a meal at a white-owned restaurant that has arguably capitalized on Black and Creole southern cuisine for over 20 years: Three of us arrived to several empty 4-person tables in the restaurant. The host (white appearing) stated she could seat the three of us but not if we were waiting for a 4th person. We were truly not sure if our 4th friend would be able to join at all, but took a table assuming it would not be an issue to have the 4th person take the last spot at our 4-topper **as is the case at most casual restaurants when they are not busy**. Once seated, we ordered 4 pumpkin spice mimosas from the very friendly server-in-training. His supervising server (white appearing) brought us only 3 drinks. When we updated her that our 4th friend confirmed she was on her way, this supervising server stated we would have to be reseated if she arrived, without being able to answer why it was an issue to have the 4th friend sit down at the empty spot at our table. We decided that if they were so insistent on enforcing this policy then we would simply pick up our drinks and coats when our friend arrived and wait at the bar to be reseated at another 4-topper. When our 4th friend arrived, unaware of this unconventional restaurant policy, she told the host that she saw her friends would "just go join them", coming to our table. My other friend immediately got up to explain that our 4th had joined, in case they needed to reseat us before taking our food orders. Again, despite the absence of rationale for this policy, we were trying our best to go along. The supervising server (still white appearing) raised her voice at my friend, called our 4th friend rude for passing by the host, and yelled at my friend to "just sit back down". This friend returned to the table looking a bit shaken and deflated. The young couple next to us who had seen the exchange agreed that it was messed up. At this point we decided to pay for our mimosas at the counter and leave. With the bad taste lingering, however, we returned to speak to the manager, expecting an apology about the hurtful disrespect from the supervising server and possibly a refund. Instead, the manager/possibly owner (white appearing) did not let us explain our side of the situation stating she had "heard it all", and doubled down by calling us rude, how she didn't tolerate "the kind of attitude these days", and that she would not have US disrespecting HER staff by walking past them (to locate a friends' table) or by disregarding their seating policy (even though we got yelled at when we tried to go along with it). Not only was there no apology, there was further demeaning. The only bright side of this story is it where it ended: across the street at the stunning Syrian artist/architect-owned Pistachio Café where we were treated by kind and attentive servers to sumptuous drinks and elaborate toasts and waffles. Go to Pistachio if you want to be treated with respect. read more

Amazing food experience, great ambiance and extremely friendly. As I'm sharing some of my food with my pregnant wife the owner approached us and asked if she could post the pic made us feel super welcome on top of amazing food! Definelty recommend!!! read more

Bella's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

What time do you stop accepting customers? It would be helpful to put up a sign so everyone is informed. I arrived at 1:20, and there's no line--just empty chairs. The acting manager told me they aren't taking any more customers because they're waiting for people they've texted who aren't here, even though the kitchen closes at 1:45. In the meantime, you're turning away customers right in front of you, despite having plenty of empty tables." read more

Everything here was bomb! We went in knowing there would be an hour wait on a Sunday morning so the wait didn't bother me at all. While our server seemed a bit exhausted and bored they still managed to be such a delight. I got a cappuccino with almond milk, was expecting a simple drink, so I was super happy to see it topped with cinnamon and came with a sugar crystal stick. I then ordered the corn beef hash and it was probably the beat I've ever had. Will definitely come back if I'm in town again. read more

Bella's Cafe - Corned Beef Hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Always a top notch experience at Bella's! You can't beat the delicious and creative meals. They are always happy to accommodate for specific dietary needs, and everything comes out great! This place is a treasure in Westville. Friendly neighborhood vibes and great servers! read more

Bella's Cafe - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Very popular option for brunch, yet business never creates lack in taste here. Generous portions and fresh ingredients will have you leaving full and satisfied. More champagne to OJ in the mimosas create the perfect brunch buzz. Highly recommend. read more

Bella's Cafe - Passion Mimosa + Sha-Bang Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

We were a party of 10. Everyone ordered something different, and we all enjoyed it! We chose an outdoor table. Service was excellent. The food quality, flavor, and value is excellent. Some of us were from out of town and some were local New Haven residents who had not been there. We all agreed that we should return. read more

We've been going to Bella's for years and although the food is great the service has always proven to be sub-par. They desperately need a reservation system. Waiting for 2 hours just to find out you have to wait another 15-20 min more is unacceptable. If you have good food and you know people love to be at your business, do everyone the favor by allowing us to all plan in advance. There is never a clear definitive answer as to when you will be seated and then putting your name on a waitlist does nothing. They don't have a line up. And apparently a party of 4 is "a large party" but a party of 3 can sit within 10 minutes, every table has 4 chairs btw. The food is great but unfortunately its not worth the indefinite wait. Thanks for another day, hungry to no avail Bellas! read more

This is definitely one of my favorite spots to go to for breakfast never disappoints as lots of specials on the weekend to try and always enjoy their hot chocolate or the grits and I'm not someone who eats grits all the time this is the one place that I will always get them! read more

Been wanting to try Bella's Cafe for some time now, but we had no desire for the long wait (as reported by fellow Yelpers). But we had the day off from work this morning (a Thursday), and were in the area, so it was the perfect opportunity. Arrived around 9am and we were seated right away. My wife ordered the Bella's Benedict, I went with the Bananas Foster French Toast w/ a side of spicy sausage. Meals came out in about 1/2 an hour. It was well worth the wait, one of the best breakfasts we've had in a long time. The hollandaise sauce was spot on -- light, lemony flavor, she loved it. The eggs were poached perfectly, and her potatoes were seasoned just right, excellent. My Bananas Foster French Toast was outstanding, and the spicy sausage was very tasty. Our meals really hit the spot. Service was excellent also, our waitress, Danielle was friendly & attentive. Our bill (before tip) was over $39 -- yes, an expensive breakfast, but well worth it. You're paying for quality here, looking forward to a return trip when the we can. read more

Bella's Cafe - Bella's Benedict, at Bella's Cafe in New Haven, CT. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Everything fabulously delicious. And the grits so creamy . Busy as it gets, still great service in a mellow place.

What the space lacks in size, it makes up for in... everything else! Come with a hearty appetite and be prepared to experience delicious comfort food with flair, large portions and a lovable staff. It's probably best to come with a small party to avoid a wait, but even so - it might just be worth the wait. The menu is loaded with familiar breakfast/brunch/lunch items, but always with an approachable twist. While I was so tempted to order the stuffed French toast with guava paste and cream cheese in a coconut dulce de leche with plantains, I actually opted for a little protein and went with the smoked salmon omelet, with cream cheese and scallions. When my food came out I was shocked by the portions - it must have been a 4 egg omelet and the chef was incredibly generous with the cream cheese and salmon, all blending together so smoothly wrapped in the heat of the omelet. The side of home fries - almost caramelized and perfectly crispy. They also had a check-in offer for a free order of french toast, so I thought "Why not?! I'm already in deep here!" Unfortunately, it was a little on the soggy side with an "eggy" taste, so not my fave - but it may have just been an off batch. Either way, a heaping side of french toast as a check-in offer is pretty outstanding. If you're in the area, definitely drop by! Not only did I enjoy my food, but from the looks of things, so was everyone else! read more

Bella's Cafe - This right here is what the check-in offer looks like!! Mmm... - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Denied service after being told by phone that "if you come in to dine you can take your food to go" so I said "ok". Took me about 10 min to get here and then told we could not be served. The person I spoke to offered a BS apology after admitting how what she said could be misunderstood. Like it's 2 people. You could've rectified the situation. Very disappointed read more

Positive first. The gluten-free French toast, with chicken sausage, and parfait size fresh (and sweet) fruit cup were non less than delectable! Our server, Mike, had just the right amount of conversation and personal touch to keep us smiling. Very hospitable and yet a personal touch. The bad apple that almost made us leave-the receptionist who was rude to say the least. If there is a party of one or two, the table sits two. Seat people. "You're on camera," she said. Was I going to be as rude to her as she was to me? She sent me to a sunroom that wasn't big enough for multiple people when the door opened or closed. It was snowing and cold. While you have no waiting area, you have to make up for it with a polite and responsible receptionist. We watched four people leave without ordering. She talked about it rudely with the wait staff. That's four people who did not order. They missed a lovely meal. The restaurant missed four good "word of mouth" references. What a shame. Get a receptionist! read more

Amazing service and food! The hot chocolate was decadent and had a beautiful presentation. I took my cousin here and he loved the food as well as the vibe of the place. It feels very cozy and informal, the perfect place for a relaxing time. It could be loud at times due to conversations of nearby tables, but wonderful nonetheless! read more

This is BY FAR the best place in New Haven / Fairfield County for breakfast or brunch. You are doing yourself an injustice if you haven't been to Bella's Cafe. We went this past weekend and to no surprise, it was jammed packed and many people were waiting. There's a reason that there's a wait...because Bella's Cafe is spectacular! We used Yelp and made a reservation and fortunately we didn't wait very long at all. The owner, (I believe her name is Rose) is the chef and she takes much pride in serving her customers the most delightfully and delectable dishes. I couldn't decide on what to have because everything looked delicious, so I had two items off the brunch menu. The first one was the Chaurice Benedict: "Sautéed chorizo sausage patty topped with fresh arugula, sliced tomato, Bermuda onion and smashed avocado over an English muffin with poached eggs, cilantro hollandaise and potatoes" Next was the German Chocolate Pancake: "our dark chocolate buttermilk pancake topped with a Coconut Pecan frosting, bourbon maple syrup" Once you've tried Bella's Cafe nothing else will ever compare. read more

Bella's Cafe - Bella's Cafe: German Chocolate Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Food was ok. Large portion size. Grilled potatoes were a bit raw. Omelet was ok. Coffee not great. Service poor. Missed serving an item. Never checked with us throughout meal. Never fill water for us. Do not recommend read more

My boyfriend was in for the weekend, and we wanted to have a nice Sunday brunch, as usual. Upon searching yelp, we came across Bella's Cafe in the Westville area of New Haven. It was rather busy, and the wait for two was 45 minutes. The wait passed by quick, as we walked through the cute boutique shops around the neighborhood. Once we got called in, we were seated towards the side area. There was ample room for many tables, and the room was filled with chandeliers and classy decorations. They had a Sunday breakfast special menu, but we were disappointed to find out two of the items (the breakfast burrito & sausage and shrimp hash) were sold out. I opted for a usual 2 eggs, bread, potatoes and bacon while my boyfriend had the smoked ham egg's Benedict. We also ordered two cappuccinos, an orange juice, and a short stack of buttermilk pancakes to share. Hands down, the best part of our brunch were the pancakes. They were warm and fluffy on the inside, while toasty on the sides (I wanted to swim in the syrup). Our cappuccinos were delicious, and came with their own sugar lollipops for sweetness. The orange juice was as natural as a fresh squeeze can get. My eggs breakfast was simple but tasty. My boyfriend's egg Benedict came with a thick slice of ham that was a bit overwhelming, but overall satisfying. We'd definitely come back next time, just maybe a bit earlier before the specials run out. read more

Bella's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Glad my friend took me here on my one free day in New Haven on a work trip. Huge impressive brunch plates. And on a Sunday at 10am, we were lucky to wait just 10-15 minutes because we were willing to sit at the bar. COST: $37 total (incl. tax/tip) for 2 brunch entrees and an iced coffee. MUST-HAVES: Any french toast! Sunday brunch menu page 1: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bellas-cafe-new-haven?select=U9Eh3AiaA4ZnzBUHKcKRlA#U9Eh3AiaA4ZnzBUHKcKRlA Sunday brunch menu page 2: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bellas-cafe-new-haven?select=U9Eh3AiaA4ZnzBUHKcKRlA#7XEyOOkve1edx46XjPW2VA * Texas Brioche - 4 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bellas-cafe-new-haven?select=U9Eh3AiaA4ZnzBUHKcKRlA#sk9Ip7pyceMXoWLnm0Gczg (Stuffed with cream cheese, poached port figs in a maple port syrup and toasted hazelnuts. $11.95) Incredibly decadent - a huge serving! The toast was very, very soft, moist, and smooth. It had just the slightest crisp on the edges - just enough to add some texture. This was a super rich and sweet entree - if you like intensely sweet brunch dishes (like me!) then this is for you. * Grilled Ciabatta - 4 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/bellas-cafe-new-haven?select=U9Eh3AiaA4ZnzBUHKcKRlA#azz3fgexjIVd6R-Gi_Nttw (smothered w/ goat cheese, crispy prosciutto, heirloom tomatoes and arrugula topped w/ poached eggs, tarragon black pepper hollandaise. $14.95) The prosciutto was a little too crispy. It was hard to cut apart so my friend and I could split it and eat it with the bread & eggs. This had really tasty, perfectly runny yolk. The ciabatta was pretty crispy too, but we needed a steak knife to be able to cut this apart and share it. The potatoes were soft but had a decent crisp to it, and I loved the fresh scallion on top that made it feel healthy and just refreshing. read more

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Bella's a definitely a good spot to hit up. It seems as though they are outgrowing the space, because there's always going to be a wait for a table. However, is that what contributes to their charm? They offer coffee and tea while you wait, but the wait is definitely a downer...especially on a cold winter day where there is barely anywhere to stand and wait and stay warm. The food here is great. The specials that they have on their menu are very unique and jam packed with flavor. Their regular menu has a lot of staple items if you are looking for some classics. I had ordered the Sloppy Jose breakfast sandwich for my meal. It was salty, it was spicy, it was sweet. All good flavors leaving me wanting more. I'll leave you with that note since this was a weekend special and I'm not sure if and when it'll be back on the menu. Bella's Cafe definitely knows what they are doing. read more

Bella's Cafe - Weekend special - sloppy jose - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Had Brunch today at Bella's and it was absolutely amazing and the wait staff is fabulous. Don't delay and stop by for Brunch you won't regret it. read more

Every thing I expected and more from the reviews. 5 star food and great service. I'm not sure what others expected but it's a great cafe. Our server was Michelle and she took great care of me and my wife. I had the Biscuits and Gravy which were the fanciest I could ever imagine this dish to be. Haute cuisine in my opinion. Just check out the pictures. My wife had Red Velvet pancakes she said rivaled the best cake you can buy. Blood Orange Mimosa's complimented the meal well. The atmosphere was lovely, the place was busy, every one seemed pleased. read more

Bella's Cafe - Red velvet pancakes and the best, most savory and complex biscuits and gravy ever. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Hidden Gem of New Haven , the food is amazing our server beccas was friendly and the atmosphere was gorgeous ! Definitely a new favorite breakfast spot . read more

Bella's Cafe - Shrimp and grits /// special eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

After being seated, we waited about an hour and half for our food. The food was good, a bit salty. Our server was great and very apologetic for the delay in getting our food. We came about 20 miles to try this restaurant. read more

Bella's Cafe - Shrimp & Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Place to be for breakfast Be early on Saturdays and Sundays Really a 3.75 star, but Yelp don't allow such rating. Ok this use to be THE spot for a good breakfast and It is still probably the best in New haven. When you go, make sure it is the day you are not calculating and don't care about your food points, macro counts, or total calorie intake. The lower star rating count, despite being one of the best breakfast/brunch place that New Haven has to offer is due to the fact that I've notice since the 2020 pandemic, there's a bit of dip on the taste and quality. Usual dishes I order frequently, such as shrimp and grits, is not cook consistent. Some day the gravy is thick (just right) and at times it is runny and liquidity (just not right). I still recommend the visit. Parking is fair. There's local street and a small parking lot across the street from the restaurant. Enjoy read more

Food was amazing! Staff was very friendly and attentive. Highly recommend any dish with the potatoes. Absolutely will go back. The vibe was very relaxing. read more

Your hostess messes up calls me out of my car on a nasty rainy morning..after I come in to be seated oh sorry we messed up...now you tell me I can't wait inside go stand out in the rain..your food is good but your service and attitude are disgraceful read more

There is pretty much always a wait here, but it's so so worth it! They have so many creative dishes to try out with such unique ingredients. I got the Torta Regina pancakes filled with hazelnut, orange and lemon zest with bittersweet chips topped with mascarpone cheese, brandy caramel & ganache drizzle and a vanilla bean anglaise. This was on their brunch menu. The flavor profile was incredible. They also have unique sausage flavors which are pricy but certainly worth it read more

Bella's Cafe - Torta Regina Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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What a great find! Breakfast and brunch all day on the weekends and breakfast and lunch during the week. Fantastic options and specialty items on both the regular as well as the specials menu. Egg dishes and omelets, waffles and pancakes...enough meatless selections to make this vegetarian happy! We arrived after 1:30pm on Saturday and were seated right away...in the past we've driven by to see a long line out the door. Service was very good. I had the wild mushroom omelet (shiitake, cremini and oyster mushrooms, spinach and goat cheese) with potatoes, cranberry walnut bread and a side of fruit. My husband had two eggs, potatoes and apple smoked bacon with toast. Everything was fresh and very tasty. The decor is nice-hipster atmosphere in the Westville section of New Haven surrounded by coffee shops and vintage and antique shops. Bella's is definitely worth repeat visits! read more

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Bella's is INSANELY AMAZING!! Probably the best breakfast I have ever had... ever... Sticky bun french toast ?! I can literally die happy now read more

Bella's Cafe - sticky bun french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Amazing food! I highly recommend this place for a chill day in town. Nice brunch for catching up with a friend. I recommend the shrimp and grits for southern food fanatics. Fresh orange juice made right in front of you. Enjoy this whole in the wall! Atmosphere: 4.5/5 Food :4/5 Location: 4.5/5 Price: 5/5 read more

Bella's Cafe - Shrimp and grits. (Bella's) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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My boyfriend and I are up in New Haven for a weekend getaway. We looked at Yelp and saw Bella's had a lot of positive reviews, so we went for it. My boyfriend got the shrimp and grits and was speechless about how good it was. I had the challah French Toast with an egg and sausage and it was the best French toast I've ever had. Amazing food. Strong recommend. Take a stroll around the neighborhood while you wait, because you're probably going to have to wait to get in. It's definitely worth the wait though. read more

Considered by many to be one of New Haven's best spots for Breakfast and Brunch, an address nearly three miles Northwest of Yale's campus cutting down on college traffic and making it a distinctly locals-only sort of place, Bella's Café played host to a memorable meal on Saturday morning mostly on the merits of its Food but also due to the customer service. Originally opened in 2000 and still packed over seventeen years later, the counter and tables at 896 Whalley Avenue available via walk-in only beginning at eight o'clock Tuesday through Sunday, it was no more than thirty minutes after Bella's opened for business that parties larger than one were being informed of a wait, the benefits of arriving early and traveling alone yielding a spot at the Bar where Coffee was filled quick, though the man acting as host could not seem to keep from bumping into chairs throughout the meal. Offering all-day Breakfast until 3:00pm on weekdays and 4pm on Weekends, Saturday and Sunday seeing no less than six specialty items plus an equal number of Mimosas added to an already respectable menu, it was with a tall chair shifted away from a man and woman talking politics that options were perused and an order placed, the Croque Madame Soufflé skipped due to the presence of Mustard that was never in the original recipe even though many places seem to think it should have been. Using seasonality as a guide during warmer months and serving a heartier menu during Autumn and Winter, Bella's famous "Italian Style" French Toast so popular that a gluten-free version was created to join Griddles, Eggs, Omelets, Salads and Sandwiches, it was after considering the local favorite that the decision was instead made to invest in two specials, the flip-side to quick seating being that a solo diner can only eat so much. Waiting perhaps thirty minutes for the bustling kitchen to produce an order, the barman and his female co-worker checking in frequently and keeping Coffee topped off, it was now with a fair number of folks standing in the foyer that two large plates were set down carefully with sides of warm Maple Syrup from Vermont, the Buttercream slowly slipping off a stack of three fluffy Pancakes made with Flour and lots of shredded Carrots plus Buttermilk, Pineapple, Coconut and finely chopped Walnuts. Quickly understanding what Westville residents have been raving about, the Syrup almost unnecessary as the Pancakes themselves were nicely balanced and plenty sweetened by Fruit and Frosting, it was moving on to Bella's Sticky Bun French Toast that taste buds once again were delighted, the lack of Syrup provided for this plate completely justifiable as each buttery housemade Biscuit was soaked with creamy Custard and layered by a sugary Cinnamon Smear. read more

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I love Bella's Everytime I go I'm never disappointed. Always great specials and my favorite is the shrimp grits and eggs. Staff always on point. Atmosphere is always welcoming. Can't wait to try another great dish. read more

Bella's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut