WOW! Highly, highly recommended!!! When we pulled in we were concerned due to neighborhood and exterior look of the restaurant ... Still gave a chance, and so glad we did! This food is amazing! One of the best Italian food we ever ate! Sauce, spice, time of the meat cook.. all perfection. Even it is 45 mins away from where we leave, we feel like we discovered our new Italian restaurant going forward. read more

1 star I don't usually leave reviews like this, but this one felt necessary. The staff was kind and welcoming, so service wasn't the issue. The problem was the food did not match the high reviews at all. My wife's lasagna came out looking like a giant block of tofu. It didn't resemble lasagna, the pasta felt rubbery, and the meat didn't even look like ground beef. She didn't feel comfortable eating it. Her Greek salad also looked off, like a mix between a Caesar salad and something random with feta on top. I ordered the Chelidra Rossa because I love red snapper. What I got was definitely not red snapper. It tasted and broke apart like old tilapia that had been sitting for days. The dish also only came with one shrimp, which was disappointing. The pasta, vegetables, and mushrooms were bland and had no flavor. The bread was not fresh. When I asked for vinegar, they brought another oil mixture that wasn't what I asked for. The calamari came with a dried-out lemon that had clearly been sitting, and I had to ask for fresh slices. The pizza also didn't taste right, and the cheese had a grainy texture that didn't melt like normal pizza cheese. For what we paid, the quality didn't come close to matching the price. We ate maybe 10 percent of our food and left. I honestly don't understand how people are saying this place has fresh pasta and fresh ingredients. Based on our experience, it clearly did not. Real, honest reviews matter, and this was ours. I really wanted to like this place, but this just wasn't it. I won't be returning. read more

Bellissimo - Sauce didn't look appealing - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place is quite the gem! Tucked away on the east side of Main and right above 610, the place looks like maybe an old wedding venue turned into restaurant. The dining area is dimly lit with candles and makes a perfect ambiance for a cozy date night. Their dishes are fresh, simple, and also have some unique flavors! We loved the olive oil that came with the bread. The 25th Street Pasta comes with jalapeño infused sauce that had a pretty strong kick, but it was nevertheless delicious. We also ordered the bruschetta which tasted fresh and clean. Seems like a family owned restaurant with very nice staff. We had a nice time here and will be visiting again. read more

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Food was incredible, I would give them a 10 if I could. Pasta was fresh, sauce perfect, seafood fresh and plentiful. Price is very reasonable for quality of food. We went before the theatre so arrived early so not crowded, but service was perfect. Building is old, but maintained well and very clean and comfortable. The part of town in interesting - independence Heights is starting to gentrify but in transition. I really hope more people will venture out there and keep them going until it is booming like the Heights. read more

This is a very quiet place. But the food is amazing. I tried their seafood lasagna, their tomato soup in a bread bowl, it was so delicious! The wait staff was great, I don't remember her name but she was very attentive and let us know of the specials and her recommendations and her recommendations were great! Love this place I thought they had closed when they were on Airline but when I found out they had just relocated I was excited to heard those news! My husband loves this place as well. Highly recommend! read more

Bellissimo - Seafood lasagna - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

OMG. Why aren't more people eating here? the pizza was fantastic, the pastas were delicious, and the service was amazing. we had a wonderful time, and it's BYOB!!!! read more

Looking for local Italian food that wasn't Pizza Hut or Olive Garden. Disappointing. Got the lunch spaghetti and a pizza. Not flavorful. Had tried them earlier at the Airline location. read more

The food here is wonderful! The chef is top notch. I have eaten at many Italian restaurants over the years in many cities and the good ones here are so expensive now. Bellissimo's is reasonable. We had tomato soup, creamy and delicious and served in a bread bun! I had the seafood lasagna, and Dan had a pepper pasta dish. The place is clean and the service excellent. It is on 33rd St in the Heights off Yale, a bit out of the way but plenty of parking. I don't understand why it's not packed! We will certainly go back. read more

We were told about this hidden Italian gem! It did not disappoint! We'll definitely be going back for their pasta dishes.. try it. read more

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When I made reservations for dinner recently, I thought there was something familiar with this restaurant. I noticed it was on the Houston Restaurant Weeks list and invited 3 friends to join me for dinner. I later found out that I had attended Bellissimo about 4 years ago when it was at a different location and remembered enjoying the meal. This location has a dedicated parking lot behind the restaurant. Inside, it could use some work. There is an awkward looking black curtain dividing the main dining room with what looked like it could be a storage area. The dining room is boring and provides no ambience like most Italian restaurants do. From the $39 HRW dinner menu, I chose the tomato bisque bread bowl to start and then the Pollo alla Bellissimo for the entree with the cheesecake to finish. First to arrive was a basket of complimentary bread and oil for the table to share. Then a couple of minutes later another basket of garlic bread appeared and the waiter said it was part of the HRW meal. It is safe to say that we had plenty of bread! The first course arrived a few minutes later. The bread bowl looked kind of small and as I expected the amount of actual bisque inside it was limited. I will say what bisque I could scoop out with my spoon was delicious. Oh yeah! I could also taste some cheese in the savory and rich soup. Because I had not had enough bread that night ;) I ate part of the interior of the bowl that was soaked with bisque. What I would have (much more) preferred was a real bowl of the bisque even if I had to pay extra. The entree was a pan seared boneless chicken breast on a bed of capellini that had Parmesan and olive oil with mushrooms, artichoke hearts and a large shrimp on top. It also came with steamed veggies. This was a very tasty dish that was both enjoyable and filling. I would order this again and with the complimentary bread would be a complete meal to me. Finally the homemade vanilla bean cheesecake arrived with a slice of kiwi fruit with whipped cream and a raspberry on top. This was simply delicious in every way with a smooth and rich flavor. After this meal I was stuffed. Finally our table service during the meal was very good. When our separate checks arrived we noticed there was a surcharge of about 3% for credit card usage. This was not disclosed by any signage that we saw including on the menu. I don't like that. This was close to a 5 star meal for me taste wise. The small amount of bisque served with the hidden cc fee and drab dining room brought it down a star for me. read more

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We visited Bellissimo on a Saturday evening. Originally established in Houston Heights in 2012 by Chef Javier Machuca and his uncle, Pedro Espinoza, the restaurant has since relocated to Independence Heights due to the negative impact of the pandemic. Upon arrival, the first impression was disappointing. The restaurant, situated in a residential area, looked rundown and in need of renovation. It was dark and mostly empty, with old furniture. Additionally, we noticed containers on the floor catching water from the ceiling. You can also see straight into their store room. Despite the off-putting vibe, the service was commendable. The host and waiters were dressed nicely and were very attentive. They promptly led us to our table and served complimentary bread and oil, which was a nice touch. [INSALATA] +Insalata Caprese (fresh sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a side of mixed greens in a white sesame balsamic vinaigrette) for $14 - The tomato wasn't ripe, and I had to sprinkle some salt and pepper to enhance it. The side salad and dressing was much better. - 3/5 [PASTA] +Tortellini Con Basilico (cheese tortellini, grilled chicken, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in the creamy basil pesto sauce) for $18 - The cheese in the stuffed tortellini was a bit overwhelming for me, but my wife found it okay. I like the grilled chicken, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in the sauce though. - 2.5/5 [PIZZA] +Jalapeño Pizza (grilled chicken, jalapeños, black beans, cilantro, tomatoes, and a white wine butter sauce) for $16 - The center of the pizza was unfortunately very wet, likely due to the tomatoes, and lacked the desired crispness. However, the taste was fine, and the leftovers tasted even better after crisping them up in the oven at home. - 3.5/5 Overall, Bellissimo has its charm, but it desperately needs some updates and repairs. The food was okay, but the service was great. If you're looking for a local spot with potential, Bellissimo might be worth a visit. read more

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What a diamond in the rough... if we had not seen this place on Houston Food Week we would not have went inside. I just want to tell everyone to go out on that limb and give it a shot. You won't regret it! First off, we were greeted by friendly smiling staff and everyone that came by checked on us. Always nice when it seems like the staff enjoys their job and wants to be there. Went went pretty early. It was 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon so we we're definitely there before dinner time. It was very cozy and quiet enough that we could carry on a conversation. We had also checked and while they did not offer alcohol it was BYOB. They charged 5$ uncorking for our wine we brought in. The food not only smelled delicious it was very tasty. I had the 25th Street Pasta. I never would have thought to put jalapeños in my Alfredo sauce but it was perfect. Not too spicy, just the right amount of punch. We also had the Tomato Bisque soup which came out with piping hot bread. Sooo very good. My daughter had a chicken dish. I can't remember the name, but it was very good as well. People were coming in and picking up pizzas so that will be something we definitely try next time. read more

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It's a freezing cold day and they are cooking excellent food. Off the beaten path I recommend.

So it's a Sunday afternoon and I'm out and about with the wifey and six of my closest friends and we feel like eating some Italian food. So one of our friends, whose birthday is also on this day, suggests Bellissimo, and tells us it's his favorite Italian restaurant. Of course we all agreed to go and try it with him, because you can't say no to where someone wants to eat on their birthday! We get there around 1pm and there is maybe one or two other tables with guests in the entire restaurant. This makes me a little worried, but I'm hungry. I really had a craving for breadsticks, but was disappointed to find out this place has garlic bread but not breadsticks for an appetizer. I really love some delicious breadsticks with my pasta. On to the main course, I got the pasta dish called "25th street pasta" that has chicken and sausage on a bed of jalapeño noodles covered with Alfredo sauce. Sounds like it's going to be amazing right? Not the case for me, I really thought I was going to love this dish and cancel my membership at Olive Garden, but hold the phone! I know there was 8 people in our party, and maybe my dish was made first and sat in the window for awhile, I can't be sure why, but my pasta dish was not hot. It was lukewarm at best, and that made me sad. I also felt that the dish tasted ok, but didn't have any flavor or seasoning on it. So add that to it being lukewarm at best and I was not impressed. My birthday friend who loves this place really loved his meal and still swears by how great this place is, I just can't back up his claims. Cool restaurant fact, if you come there on your birthday the chef personally picks out a dessert for you and you get it free! We also got desserts and once again I was disappointed to learn they don't have Cannolis as a dessert option. Growing up in Boston and going to the North End for Cannolis just makes life better. Side note-once your meal is served someone cones around and offers to add some grated cheese to your dish. Only trouble my pessimistic brain has with this is she just spoons the grated cheese out of a big bowl, and doesn't grate the cheese fresh on demand. Makes me think they just bought some bulk grated cheese at Sams club. read more

Bellissimo - 25th street pasta - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Hidden gem....don't let the outside fool you definitely some of the best Italian food, consistently good and have taken some of our pickiest foodie friends there and they are impressed. Appetizers are "hit and miss" but the calamari is a winner. The entrees are always wonderful! Be prepared no wine on the menu, BYOB. read more

I wanted to really love this place. If this were rated on a scale of Italian vibes and service of wait staff to large group of people, definite five stars all day long. They were so great with my friend's birthday even after two extra people showed up who never RSVP'd. They even managed to find a candle for my friend for his birthday cake. When I tell you the service was spot on, then this is it. If you need a good date spot with good service and that, "Lady and the Tramp" vibe but for grown ups, bring your date here. My issue was the food and the pricing issues - not the waiters fault. First let's talk about the pricing issues. Too many people in our group kept getting conflicting information about whether or not they charged more for a credit card. Apparently the website said one thing, the menu another. People brought out extra cash, but someone I guess decided that dealing with the credit card surcharge that wasn't clear wasn't worth the hall with our large group. The other thing pricing issue, while relatively minor, ties in with my previous issue. I asked for a different side, and was told it could be done. No warning that it was an upcharge or a premium side. To me mashed potatoes aren't premium sides. Now, would I have till ordered the mashed potatoes instead of the healthy vegetables? Who knows, but I didn't like finding that surprise o my menu. My husband calls it deceptive practices, but didn't blame the waiter. I don't blame the waiter, but believe their pricing on sides, credit cards, groups just isn't clear. Now the food. I wish I could say it was just gross or something. I just didn't like it. It was okay. What helped with my dish in particular was letting the waiter put in all that extra grated cheese and red pepper flakes. The red pepper flakes added that depth of flavor I was expecting from the restaurant. The food was okay. The mashed potatoes good, not the best. It just wasn't mind blowing or some of the best Italian I've had. My friend loves this place though, so maybe my plate was just eh. While I didn't have the pizza or calamari they looked great. I feel bad that I though my food was just okay. This isn't a spot I would come to for the food experience, but I would happily return if my husband wanted to come back or if another friend wanted to return, because really you can't beat that kind of service. If they can't just punch up the flavors ever so slightly and figure out what it's credit card and food substitution policy is, this restaurant has the capacity to easily be a 4/5 star restaurant. read more

Bellissimo - The food was good to meh, but presentation wise perfect. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The food was absolutely amazing! I had the Parpadelle Di Spinaci and couldn't get enough of it. Definitely coming back to try more plates.

Love this place! Food is amazing and it has an old timey ambiance. It's like eating in an old mom and pop Italian restaurant from the 80's. You really can't go wrong with whatever you order. They play old Italian accordion music and you can bring your own wine. Ask for the larger portion of the olive oil dipping sauce with the bread. It's so delicious it's totally worth the extra $2. This is a very special hidden gem. The service is amazing too! Very friendly! The perfect candlelight date night restaurant!! read more

Another couple and we were quite taken with the restaurant and returned a number of times until we were refused a second bowel of olive oil and herbs. We were four people, yet were restricted to ONE bowl of olive oil. Never have returned to the restaurant and will never likely do so. Cheap, cheap, cheap!!!!!! It was insulting. There are lots of Italian restaurants, none of which would refuse a second dish of olive oil two a four table seating. read more

Hands down some of the best Italian food in HTX. Food was delicious and didn't take long. Waitstaff wasn't overly friendly, but attentive and knowledgeable so wasn't an issue. The space is... interesting. Feels mom n pop, but was cozy. Looking forward to coming here again! read more

Absolute hidden gem of an Italian restaurant. The food is always so delicious it's ridiculous. With the price of fast food these days you might as well pay a little more for an outstanding dinner. Have no idea why this place is empty all the time. It currently doesn't have a liquor license so it's being your own with bottle service. Go try this restaurant out and help a local restaurant not go under. Absolutely my favorite pasta in H-Town read more

This is a definitely a hidden gem. The food is of good quality and very tasteful. The star are very nice and attentive. I'll be back for sure! Also it's byob. read more

Bellissimo - Frutti di Mare - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great Italian restaurant with the perfect serving size and menu. The service was fast paced and the light was romantic.

Location and exterior is a bit rough, and the interior is more hole in the wall-ish but the prices, services and food totally made up for it. I had the lasagna and it came with a side of sautéed veggies and both were really yummy. Desserts were generous portions for the price and our group of 12 had a fabulous time. If I were in the area again I would stop in. read more

We used to go to their old location on airline but when they moved, we lost track of them. So glad we found them again! The food was excellent and we really enjoy that it is BYOB. read more

Let's start off by saying a reservation was made for 7:00 on a Sunday night, only to be surprised when walking in to be the only people in the entire restaurant for about 30 minutes after sitting down. If that didn't scare us already geez. Really just an odd place. Went for the Houston Restaurant Week special. First up, Calamari. Wasn't breaded, and had an extremely rubbery taste. We asked to send it back and exchange for a Caesar salad. Our waiter said "sorry, we aren't normally allowed to send food back." Red flag right there. They did thankfully exchange it, but somehow the salad - a salad - was worse than the Calamari. Main course was absolutely nothing to write home about. Pasta didn't have any feeling of authenticity. And dessert. Oh goodness was the tiramisu the worst desert I've ever had. Came out in a cake slice. No cream. No espresso on top. And absolutely dry. Overall, just hold out on trying this place. Hope my experience was a one-off, so feel free to take it as you please. Just writing about my genuine experience with two witnesses to back this up. read more

What delicious food and great service! I loved the eggplant parmigiana. We enjoyed it and will be back very soon. read more

Bellissimo - Seriously the best eggplant parmigiana! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Still the best Italian in Houston at extremely reasonable prices. And BYOW for $5 cork fee. Best key lime pie ever.

This place is tucked away in independence heights and at first I passed it up because there are no other businesses or restaurants around. Just houses. It looked a bit run down on the outside but once I walked in it was clean on the inside and all the tables were set up for dinner. I called in my order for takeout and it was hot and ready when I arrived about 30 minutes later. I ordered the pollo parmigiano, garlic bread and meatballs. Everything had nice flavor and I was served a good portion of pasta and veggies with my meal, which also came with another bread roll. Me and a few friends ordered in for movie night. My meal paired well with some Pinot Grigio by La Crema as well just FYI. If you live in the area, give this place a try, and it might be your new go to Italian spot. read more

Bellissimo - Garlic bread and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Let me start off by saying the food does not disappoint from the entrees to the dessert, everything is delicious. The server we had was very attentive, courteous and polite with us. She definitely made some great suggestions. I highly recommend, I know I'll be going back for special occasions. read more

Doesn't look like much when passing by BUT looks are deceiving. This is a hidden gem. It is a small restaurant with simple decor but the taste is enormous! Oh, and you can byob of wine. When I'm with my sister, we like to try new places with the kids to get an overall cost. Then based on serving size and price, we put together a menu that we can split for future visits to save money without cutting the expense on taste. This visit we had 2 pizzas , 1 tomato soup , artichoke dip, house salad, dessert, and 3 adult/3kid drinks. Our bill came out to $65. Pizza cost $14 and available in one size only (medium). We figured on the next return we would order 1 pizza, tomato soup and maybe the artichoke. They serve bread with a sweet, olive oil dip that fills you up. Food - 4 stars One word - delicious Customer service - 4 stars Great customer service. First time visiting and waitress was very knowledgeable of menu and suggestions. Price - 3 dollar signs Look to spend minimum$25 Cleanliness- 4 stars Restaurant and waitress were presentable. Dining area was cold (temperature) but clean. Note*they did adjust the ceiling fans. Restroom - 4 stars Smelled good and clean read more

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I landed at this place for lunch after I found out my other two choices didn't open up until 5pm. It's tucked away in a residential area. I wasn't expecting that and did a double-take to make sure I was in the right area. The parking lot is fenced in and has a few basketball nets hanging up. Thought it was odd but it's probably remnants of whatever was there before Bellissimo moved in. I was also the only car in that parking lot the entire time. I walked in and someone immediately came to the front to greet me and seat me at a table. Bread and olive oil was good. The salad that arrived before the main course was delicious! I ordered the 25th Street Pasta, which I'm told is one of the most popular dishes. It normally comes with Alfredo but I'm a Marinara person. They charged me $1 to change the sauce from Alfredo to Marinara. Nancy was the name of the server and she explained that they charge for substitutions and pending on what you substitute, the charge can be $1 or above. Good thing to know for future visits. Btw it was delicious, I loved the fettuccine infused with jalapeño. I had key lime pie for dessert and it was alright. Topped with strawberry and a slice of kiwi, that's definitely different. Next time I'll try the Oreo cheesecake. I had the entire restaurant to myself during lunch so if you want a nice quiet spot then this is it. Place is dead during lunch. Nancy explained that they do get a big crowd during the evenings and weekends. They moved in two years ago from a larger space on Airline, after Covid caused them to downsize. There are a few more items in the menu that I'd like to try so I'll return for another peaceful lunch. read more

Bellissimo - 25th Street Pasta - It is normally served with Alfredo, I asked them to use Marinara instead - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

We visited for the first time for Houston Restaurant Weeks. It would be an understatement to say this place looks very unassuming. VERY unassuming. BUT the staff was lovely and we all enjoyed our food. The BYOB thing is fantastic. We were the last ones to leave but the staff was VERY patient and never rushed us. If you can manage not to judge a book by its cover, this place is worth a try. read more

One of the Greatest italian restaurant a person can try. Great place for a romantic dinner! Hat off to Chef Javier!

The one thing that you should know about belissimo is that it is Italian fusion more than it is true Italian. It has jalapeño fettuccine, which is obviously not something that is traditional to Italy, but the chef definitely puts their own take on the meal. The service is always outstanding, and it is a family run business with the daughter as the lead server. The ambience is mellow and relaxed, and very easy to be comfortable. I get multiple things there. The tuna is incredible!Gamberi Parmesan is delicious. And don't even get me started on the fresh mozzarella balls rolled in pesto before being fried. Plus, you can get their soup in a bowl or bread bowl with lunch, outstanding, tomato soup, the best I've ever had. read more

You know the feeling you get when you know you've found a gem and you're just patiently waiting to confirm that wonderful feeling? They say don't judge a book by it's cover for a reason, some of the best hidden gems are hole in the walls and this is honestly the best hole in the wall surprise yet! Our server was and she was so sweet, great check backs and overall amazing service. We sat there in excitement as the complimentary bread came out, big fans of soft warm bread and that's what we got, with a very herby olive oil and balsamic dip on the side. Our salads came out not too long after followed by the garlic bread: BEST garlic bread we've had yet! Bravo! I got the Pesto di Coriandolo, beautiful creamy cilantro pesto, perfectly cooked proteins and broccoli, I highly recommend! My husband got the 25th Street Pasta, he loved it. He loved the jalapeño infused fettuccine, said it was the most unique twist on the dish that he normally gets which is fettuccine Alfredo. The total waswe loved it and will definitely be back! Thank you Bellissimo! read more

All the food so far has been delicious. I ordered the pizza and lasagna for a nice movie hang out night at home with the parents read more

Always so delicious. This fusion restaurant a mix of Mexican and Italian is amazing. we need more places like this in our lives. Keep up the good work we love you. read more

This was one of our best dining experiences in the Heights. While the restaurant used to be on Airline drive the new location seems a bit distracting in a somewhat run down neighborhood; yet we were pleased with the service and the outstanding meal for both of us. Don't let the exterior stop you from enjoying this terrific food. read more

Surprisingly very good! Fettuccine Gamberetti $19 - [fettuccine alfredo w/ shrimp and mushrooms basically] - very good, extremely creamy. huge shrimps. bf and I shared the pasta and pizza w/ 2 slices leftover. This was one of the waitress's recommendations along w/ the 25th street pasta and i think the main st pasta (fettuccine w/ grilled chicken, italian sausage, mushrooms, sun dried tomato) 25th street pizza $14 - [grilled chicken, smoked sausage, sun dried tomatoes, green onions, diced jalapenos, & alfredo cream sauce] - not your typical red sauce pizza, but it was very good and unique! only a tad spicy. The crust reminded me of garlic bread. Only thing is it could have been crispier, but I think the sauce made it oily / heavy because the leftovers did not crisp up in my air fryer; it stayed soggy (but still delicious). came w/ 6 slices. thin crust pizza. Parking lot next to it (old bball court). Friendly, fast service. We would definitely return. (FYI: Closed on Mondays. No alcohol - It's byob w/ a corking fee.) read more