Andrea T.

This was okay. The food was good. The drinks were good. The staff were nice and overall good. It's a cute little place. It was not a very memorable experience to be honest, would I come back? Maybe..? I don't know. Just not something that I loved but also not something I hated. Just okay.

Kris G.

First visit to Cia Bello-- definitely NOT my last! I enjoyed the atmosphere but the tables were a little tight. Everyone was constantly having to excuse past each other, but they did it effortlessly. The staff were attentive and worked well together. Their large portions don't sacrifice taste nor quality. The Osso Bucco was a show-stopper in appearance and taste. It was phenomenal. The alfredo had a nice lemony, garlic, wine flavor and wasn't too rich or over-powering. The grilled chicken parm was a nice substitute and allowed me to enjoy the meal as a gluten-free diner.

Karen L.

Housed in the former site of La Fontana restaurant Ciao Bella has opened its doors with a fresh look and new menu featuring all the classic Italian favorites. The interior at Ciao Bella has been softly refreshed with small table lamps and fresh flowers. Promoting "martini bar" cocktails is the restaurant's aim and a good number of Italian fine wines are also offered. As a classic Italian meatball lover I am always in search for a good serving and they did not miss the mark. The marinara sauce was very good as well as the meatball mix. The meatballs were tender and nicely spiced. I also love a nice Pear and Gorgonzola salad but this salad did disappoint in terms of presentation and ingredients... I would have preferred a crumbled Gorgonzola cheese instead of cubes, the pear slices quartered and limited walnuts. I suggested Chef offer this salad with endive. The spring mix was fine but again I felt the salad could have been presented with a little more thought. I was looking forward to crispy Italian bread, focaccia or garlic bread and believe it would've added to my experience but instead very marginal and soft bread was what the bread basket contained. I asked for olive oil and was handed a thin watery oil ... I did observe a beautiful bottle of olive oil on display on the sideboard and asked if I could swap it. I didn't get the beautiful bottle of olive oil on display and instead got another type of mixture from the kitchen with some minimal herbs in it. At times I had to reiterate and chase the server as he was not very forthcoming with additions ( grated cheese, etc) so do not expect a higher level of attentive servers here. I wanted to try a dessert and ordered a slice of chocolate cake to go. It turned out to be a chocolate mousse cake and was smooth, dark and satisfying. Although I did not try any of the pastas, antipasti or secondi piatti dishes, I had a sense of this restaurant and would recommend to try. I would not rate Caio Bella as highly as others however.

Butch G.

I stopped in for dinner this past Saturday night (March 29) and had an absolutely fantastic meal. This is a new restaurant, and in fact, they were doing their soft opening this past week. Soft openings are done to help improve processes and eliminate glitches. I experienced neither. What I did experience was an exceptional meal, a very cool vibe, and superb service. I wish I had remembered the name of my server because she was exceptional in demeanor and execution. My wife and I tried two dishes recommended by our server, and her recommendations were on the money. Two items are not pictured. We shared a salad with an exceptional house-made dressing--in fact, everything was house-made. We finished our dinner with a light and flavorful Limoncello Cake (from scratch). We didn't have any cocktails or wine, but the cocktails being served around us looked good, and people's expressions as they consumed them indicated they were excellent. The value and quality make this new establishment a must-visit.

Angela F.

This place is loud and chaotic. It's Italian American fare. The carpaccio and burrata appetizers were delicious. The carpaccio was served room temperature under a topping of arugula and capers. The burrata was served room temperature ed with pesto and roasted tomatoes. and two thick pieces of their toasted bread. The gnocchi was smothered in red sauce. The sauce was good but there was just too much of it. It overpowered the gnocchi. Adding some fresh basil may sweeten it up. Great cocktails too. I had a peach martini.

Ravyn W.

This is my first time ever trying this Italian place. I wanted to choose something different for my birthday celebration and this was on my list. This place did not disappoint. Now the parking is very small but if you get there early, you can get good parking. It's a very quaint and ambience place. I would say it's still family friendly, but it does have some romance to it. When we got there the waitress was very accommodating. She was able to tell us the specials of the day. She was open and made suggestions when we asked. For starters, we had the bread and olive oil, truffle fries, and meatballs on fire. I had the Pollo Piccata. Everything was delicious. I especially like the meatballs in fire. That was my favorite and MacDougal back. I will definitely get that again. I would say it was a great experience and everyone should try.

William B.

Family is the foundation of Ciao Bella Restaurant & Martini Bar. Chef Gary Langevin has always been a force in Lowcountry Italian with Bella Napoli; Badda Bing Pizza and La Fontana all being spearheaded by him. He moved to Florida and was going to sell La Fontana when his daughters Sarina and Maria offered to run the restaurant. He spent two weeks remodeling and reworking the menu then he handed them the keys. The restaurant went from almost empty to packed every night in no time. The place is small but warm and inviting and the staff goes out of their way to treat you like family. We were brought warm bread and a wonderfully spiced oil for dipping. People have said they had to pay for bread or only got two pieces which is untrue. Being a martini bar a martini had to be sampled. My wife got the "Gettin' Filthy" a classic dirty martini. The martini was excellent and the stuffed olives overflowing with blue cheese an absolute delight. I tried the "Feelin' Peachie" which was rich and definitely peachy no doubt. Very refreshing after a hot Charleston summer day. For our starter we ordered the Bruschetta which had four big pieces. We were worried it would be too filling, but the toasty bread was light as air and the tomatoes sweet and fresh. A great start! My wife ordered the Ravioli Di Aragosta with lobster stuffed ravioli and shrimp swimming in a pink creamy sauce. The shrimp were large, and you definitely tasted the lobster with each bite, The sauce was light and zesty and complimented the entire dish. I ordered the Pork Osso Buco, a slow roasted pork shank on the bone with demi glaze port wine and portabella mushrooms served over pasta. I am glad I skipped lunch as the portion was huge! The pork was extremely tender literally falling off the bone and the red wine demi glaze was so good I could have licked the plate. For our next round of drinks my wife tried the Smoked Old Fashioned which was unique in that this is the first establishment I have eaten at that offered a choice of smoke. They had apple and cherry, but she decided on pecan. Nice and boozy and full of bold flavor. I tried the Tiramisu martini, which I believe was a special. It was full of coffee flavor, and it was fun dunking the lady finger into the drink and eating it. We decided to get a meat lovers pizza to go and were taken back on the nice sized cuts of meat on top. The pizza was chewy in the right way and for only $15 an absolute steal! They don't have open table up and running yet so you need to make reservations by phone and believe me you have to because walk in seating is rare and a long wait. Excellent food, great service and two sisters hitting it out of the park is all the reason you need to go here!

Laura A.

Carne Griglia, I ordered medium rare, was medium well and fatty. Truffle fries were soggy fries (like frozen) with parmesan. Didn't taste any truffle. $44.00 for overcooked steak. Im hoping to be compensated for steak. I ordered thru grubhub, and their service was great. On the other hand - the veal Marsala was very good, two small thin patties of veal though. Less than I've ever had with that dish. Pizza was good. Don't recommend the carne griglia, truffle fries or calamari. They have some tasty items, maybe they offer too many items and should concentrate on a smaller menu? Good food but an off night?

Ebony M.

We had such an amazing experience at Ciao Bella Restaurant, Pizzeria & Martini Bar! From the moment I first called to reserve a large dinner for 18 adults, the staff was incredibly pleasant and accommodating. I even called multiple times to confirm, and each time they reassured me with patience and kindness. When we arrived, the tables were already arranged and reserved for our group, which made everything seamless. Maria and the entire staff went above and beyond to take care of us. The drink selection was spectacular--especially the Lychee and Feelin' Peachie martinis, along with their flavorful wine options. Our group ordered a variety of dishes--wings, salads, truffle fries, calamari, octopus, shrimp scampi, gnocchi, lamb chops, lasagna, chicken alfredo and salmon piccata--and everything was absolutely delicious. What made this dinner even more special is that the majority of us grew up in West Ashley, so it was important to support a local restaurant in the area. Ciao Bella truly delivered on every level: service, food, drinks, and atmosphere. Highly recommend for both small dinners and large gatherings!

Justin J.

I've been trying to find some good Italian in the Charleston area for nearly two years and finally hit jackpot! Tried Ciao Bella and it was insanely good! The prices are right in line for a high end Italian restaurant and the quality delivered. I started with the caprese salad and the mozzarella was super fresh and it wasn't drowning in oil and vinegar like a lot of places do, and the basil was very bright. Great choice! I had the fruiti di mari for my entree which is a typical pick for me at Italian restaurants because it's on the lighter side. The seafood was all perfectly cooked, even the squid, which is hard to find. The inclusion of fish was a nice touch, it doesn't always have that. And there was a ton of seafood on here too. The pasta itself is clearly made in-house and was not overcooked despite being thin spaghetti. I finished with a crème brûlée. Usually these come out pre-caramelized but this one came out with the sprinkle of caster sugar was torched right there at my table which was fun to see. It was very creamy without being sticky sweet, it was just right! My server was Brittani and she was super friendly and had great recommendations for me (she suggested the caprese salad), and made sure to ask if I wanted time between the appetizer and the main meal, which was a nice attention to detail. Food came out at a good speed. This place is really hiding in this area, I am glad I came out, and I am thrilled that I have found some great Italian around Charleston! J.Ja