I wish I could say this place is great but considering i'm sitting at my table and it's been over an hour waiting for my plate of pasta i'm actually so annoyed!!! Currently starving and watched every single table around me (that got here after me) get their food and start eating while we are sitting here waiting FOREVER despite asking multiple times. Like is it really that hard to make a plate of carbonara....I've heard this place has amazing food but when the service sucks this badly good food doesn't make up for a bad time. read more

The only thing better than stuffing tasty pasta down your gullet is doing it whilst listening to a man who moonlights as a Liberace impersonator do a version of Mariah Carey's 'Hero.' I'll take a moment to let you digest that statement... .... ... It was cold out when we rounded the corner onto Lamb's Conduit Street and saw Ciao Bella glowing (literally) like a beacon of warmth and tastiness. The portions are huge and so spot-hitting you'd be willing to pay just about anything. Luckily the place is also reasonably priced so there's no fear of losing an arm or a leg when the check comes. I'd wager that the only medical procedure you might require is arterial bypass; these guys aren't stingy with the cheese. It's just a fun family spot with hearty fare. It'll go in my little black book for sure. read more

Let's be honest -- on the yardstick of tacky Italian restaurant names, Ciao Bella is right up there with "The great Impasta" and "Papa Razzi." But I quickly shut my cheeky mouth (or rather, stuffed it) when some of the most drool-worthy, fork spinning, bread dipping lasagna and aubergine parmigiana appeared steaming on our table. I am perhaps the only person in the world that isn't much of an Italian food fan. Their wine is another story, clearly. However the incredible pasta at Ciao Bella could make a believer our of Mr. Atkins himself. A 1/2 bottle of wine, a large house salad and two entrees for £27? It's amore! read more

Ciao Bella is the gift that keeps on giving. First they give you free mixed and spiced olives, delicious little chunks of parmesan cheese, and breadsticks. NICE. Then they generally give you pretty abrupt and brusque service, all the more to get you sitting, ordering, eating, and leaving quickly. Not quite as nice. However, they more than make up for it by giving you amazing, fresh-cooked, well-priced, ridiculously tasty pasta. The massive plate of linguine with pesto for £7 is so good that I left the restaurant and immediately began discussing when we could return so I could eat it again. REALLY NICE. And remember the not-so-nice part? They tried to hurry us along by giving us someone else's order, but then apologised by giving us free pizza bread. So much to give. The only problem in my book? Ciao Bella gives you such crazy garlic breath that you could slay an army of bloodthirsty vampires with a single exhale. Give it a few minutes before you make out with anyone. read more

On my first visit to Ciao Bella I treated it as a Pizzeria - how wrong I was. The food is excellent - Roasted rack of lamb with chestnuts is beautiful. The service and decor are ok, and there's a pianist some nights too. The atmosphere is pretty good most nights because you can generally count on there being a birthday party somewhere in the restaurant. I'm very jealous of a friend who can call this his local restaurant - at one point he was in every week so the manager knew his name! read more

This restaurant is excellent for the buzz as it is always busy with a great volume of people chatting and a pianist come singer in the corner upping the volume levels even more. The food is good value but not served with any panache - large portion dumped in front of you - more greasy spoon appearance than restaurant My friend had the veal and reported it excellent whereas I had the Insalata Nicoise which was appalling. The tiramisu for desert was home made and a massive portion flooded in an Amaretto sauce and heavily dusted with chocolate powder. I doubt if I will bother with this one again in the near future. read more

Was recommended this place. Called early in the day for a reservation that night. Apparently Friday's and Saturday's get quite busy. The woman was very accommodating and booked the two of us for 7:30. We finally get there promptly and ask for our table. One of the owners scours the book looking for my name, thinking that I'm trying to pull one over on him. Apparently, his Mama took the reservation, but forgot to put it on the books. He said she does this often. No harm, no foul. We were seated immediately. Ordered a bottle of Chianti, a side and our entrées. The food was amazingly good. The service was wonderful and definitely has that down home Italian hospitality about the place. Great find and one I'd definitely recommend going to. Just make sure to make a reservation earlier in the week. Around 8pm, it starts to get really busy and queues up. Especially if there are a couple big parties. read more

Reasonably priced Italian food near Russell Square. Definitely not the best Italian food I've had but it was very good. The tables are very close together and it is extremely loud inside - can't hear others in your party talking so you end up screaming at each other all night... We had: Spaghetti alla Bolognese, Penne all'Arrabbiata, Veal Saltimbocca, Insalata di Rucola & Parmigiana, Fresh Salmon with Onion and Red Wine Sauce and Bruschetta. Everything was good - they did better with the main courses than with the pasta dishes. Pasta dishes are very reasonable in price, but the mains are a bit more expensive. It was a great time except for the noise level. Service was just okay. May or may not return in the future - probably only if invited. read more

Ciao Bella's food is the saving grace. I think their spaghetti and meatballs are amongst the best I've had in London. I've never bothered to ask about it, but the little chunks of Parmesan to nibble on while you wait (is it parm? could be summat else) are divine. The service is brusque, so if you're going with people who tend to be indecisive, prepare to be scowled at and have the staff walk off. They do this regardless of if the place is packed or just opened and you're the only table. That said, if you're in a rush for something and can get a table, it's pretty easy to be in and out of here with a good meal in your belly. I think there's a small discount for takeaway dining if you're local, but I wouldn't recommend it. I once called in an order, was told 20 minutes, and then stood there like a plank waiting for another 30 minutes. Had I not already paid, I would've left. I'd recommend a reservation for nighttime dining. But as a good place for a date? Come on, y'all. It'd be like taking a date to your nana's kitchen. read more

I have been visiting Ciao Bella for the past 10 years now - and love it. I have never had better carbonara in any other italian - and Ive tried quite a few. The lasagnia is amazing and so is the ravioli. If they have white bait on the specials, dont miss it. Ending with a tiramisu is an absolute must. I agree with the other reviews that it can get noisy but in a way that adds to the charm and buzz of the restaurant. If you want good wholesome italian food in London - Ciao Bella is a hidden gem!! read more

Food 4/10 Atmosphere 5/10 Service 2/10 Food: I did my regular mental IRS (Italian Restaurant Shuffle) of 'oohhh, I really fancy a nice comforting carbonara, but shouldn't I try something different as I'm out?' and the coin fell this time on carboara. I wish it hadn't. This was the blandest I've ever tried. Very little meat, and NO SALT! Hot cream and spaghetti is not tasty! One of my friends had shellfish, so I didn't try hers (shellfish spends all its life sifting through the poo of other sea creatures and eating it - nuff said) but she said it was ok, albeit also lacking in salt. Friend #3 had to stop eating her pasta halfway through because no amount of extra seasoning would bring it to life. Maybe they ran out of salt, or a safety conscious slug was cooking that night (geddit?), in which case it's a great pity, because it means that I cannot join in with the other reviewers who praise the food here. The big dark green olives on the table were hard and yucky. There was a hard little lump of parmesan next to them, the size of a newborn's fist. Why? None of us wanted to nibble on a large dry piece of neat parmesan, and the waiter brought his own to us when he came to us, grater in hand. As the room heated up and our cross-table conversation flowed, I keep geting strong wafts of open-air cheese. Atmosphere: Absolutely jam-packed like sardines. I sat facing a huge wall length mirror (as did half of the customers) which was very disconcerting. Although I do have a pleasant face, I don't really need to look at it all the way through a meal. It also highlighted how small the basement seating area was, because resorting to a wall-sized mirror is a pretty cheap and desperate conjouring trick. Yucky laminated menu which included lurid colour photos of the desserts. Not cool. Service: This was the real killer. We arrived and were brusquely directed downstairs, and as we walked down, the oddly toneless order 'you must leave by 8pm' (giving us 40 minutes) was called down to us. No questioning whether that would be ok, or stating it politely. Luckily, it was ok! On arrival downstairs, a very pissed off looking waiter greeted us with a frown and a 'there is no space'. I replied that we had been told we could come down, as long as we left by 8pm. He sighed, said 'ok then', and pointed to a table. We were left to squeeze past the diners on the very close table behind ours, and jam our coats on the back of our chairs. Already fuming, I was tempted to leave. Wine calmed me down, but the surly, frankly shit service continued throughout the meal. When he was cheesing my plate up, the same pissed-off waiter barely kissed my food with a light powdering of the good stuff before huffily, distractedly moving as if to go. When I politely said that I'd like a little more, he sighed loudly before tetchily scratching a bit more on and leaving, again too rapidly. Don't get me started on how long it took to get the dessert menu or bill. No further attention was paid to us, and I had to resort to waving, which made me feel very rude. A different, very nice old waiter came to us at the end when we needed change, and he was charming. Reading the other reviews here, I feel even more cheated. Perhaps this was just an unusually lousy evening, with angry young staff frustrated by the lateness of their much needed salt delivery. read more

In another life, I was Italian. Why do I think that? Well, this place gives me my comfort food. I have been here so many times, I can't even begin to guess. I am in love with the SPAGHETTI al CARTOCCIO. It is spaghetti with clams cooked in a bag. The clams and the pasta mingle together and it tastes amazing each time I order it. Also, the portions are very generous. Their house red wine is quite nice and very inexpensive. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and no nonsense. The main downfall is that it is always very packed, and if you are unluckily seated downstairs in the basement, you really don't have much of a ambiance to work with. But the pasta is the reason to continue to go bad. Always good, always filling read more

This place is super-solid. On a Tuesday eve this place was hopping--the outdoor space, the main floor, the basement. And that is because it is solid. I was warned that the pizza was just okay but the pasta was the specialty. They had a great offering of classic pasta and risotto dishes. It wasn't Italy, but my pasta with broccoli was good and the dishes around me looked amazing. The house wine was great too. Liked the vibe--happening, festive, lively.....everything that is great about an Italian restaurant. read more

Do not let the name put you off,Ciao Bella is a great restaurant offering well above average plates of delicious food - portions are HUGE. Puts alot of italian ' chain' restaurants to shame. The only thing is it gets so loud you cannot hear anything as it is so busy - full to bursting with customers every night,and some of the staff are very brusque in manner....but the food and good prices make up for this. Pasta is great as is the Veal escalope milanese. read more

Ciao Bella is the real deal. You'll no doubt be squeezed into a table, elbow to elbow with your neighbours (because they seem to always be full unless you eat about 9.30pm) and your waiter will rush you along almost like he doesn't want you to be there. But don't be put off by that, don't rush, he'll come back once you're ready to order. It's almost an initiation test! The food here is fantastic. Obviously fresh, super tasty and quite reasonably priced too. They'll give you some olives and cheese to nibble on whilst you decide what you want and they're a good omen - great olives and crumbly parmesan. Not at all bad for free. Shared a couple of starters; some juicy bruschetta (seasoned perfectly) and 3 large sardines, which were grilled and the spines came away with ease - leaving no bones at all. Colour me very happy at this stage. For a main I went for a special - the rabbit with pappardelle - mostly because it's my favourite type of pasta. And it was huge. I think I had half a rabbit on my plate. My friend went for the seafood spaghetti and it's served in a brown bag and practically poured onto your plate at the table. Nice touch. The wine list here is a weighty tome, so if you know your reds you're in for a treat. Overall, great experience and would love to come back. It's not at all fancy, so you can dress as casual or as smart as you like. Try and grab an outside seat in the summer! read more

With all of this restaurant's good reviews, I was expecting better. I knew that service would be rushed, since I came in without a reservation, but I didn't expect it to be this bad. I came in and they wanted to seat me right next to the door on a cold night. I declined politely, so they seated me farther in the entry room, and warned me that I had to be out within an hour. They then proceeded to open the door (presumably to air the place out) - it got cold! Worse yet, we got wafts of cigarette smoke coming from outside. They finally closed it when asked, but seriously...? During this full process, service was not friendly or warm at all. It was efficient enough, but they barely said a word when serving the food. The most I heard from the waiters was when they were standing around laughing boisterously at a YouTube video. Unprofessional! I ordered the onion soup (mediocre) and the seafood spaghetti in a bag. The latter was disappointing as well. The pasta was fresh, but the white sauce was oily and watery. I wasn't impressed particularly. I wouldn't recommend this place, although perhaps I just caught them on a bad day. read more

Ciao Bella is one of the places I go to at least once a month (I even have it take away sometimes). I think they have a very good and simple Italian food, nice parmigiano cheese and olives to get you starting. And I like their veals steaks they are just good to have. I'm a fan ... Though I think their service sucks! read more

The first night in London and I met up with my girls for a wonderful meal at one of their favorite haunts, Ciao Bella. Once seated, we were greeted by the owner (who immediately recognized my friends) and promptly given a coupon for a percentage off our meal. Excellent! Then we took some time to peruse the menu (which was mainly Italian pasta and fantastic desserts) before deciding. Let me say that our meal was FANTASTIC. Amazing pasta with large portions. I adore the desserts as I had some of their gelato while my friends shared a ginormous dessert concoction. The service was brusque but whatever, I'm here to enjoy hanging out with my friends and having a wonderful conversation filled with laughter and good food. This more than fits the bill! I definitely recommend coming here a bit early. It gets crowded quickly so grab a spot with a date or some good friends and settle in for a great evening. read more

Ciao Bella is a solid option for Italian in a city not exactly swimming in options. It is family-style: you sit at long, barely separate tables. Everyone can hear your conversation, but that matter little when so much of it is about how good the food is. Let's be clear: Ciao Bella isn't setting the high-bar for Italian worldwide, but it is in the top 10% of London. It full deserve four stars. No more, no less since you can find better here and can certainly find worse. You can tell right from the olives they give you that there is something special, but not sublime going on here. The wine list, with many capable options, isn't going to blow any sommelier's mind, but he wouldn't scoff either. The food is served in healthy portions, is super tasty, and filling. There's lots of variety. The staff are prompt and courteous. Given the decent size of the place and it's more neighborhoody location, you're likely to get a table quickly at all but the busiest hours. All-in-all, a solid option I will be definitely returning for several times. read more

This is the best Italian in London I've know so far! It's actually a really famous place among Japanese in London. The place is not that small and filled with table and seats (only a little space between tables/seats) but it's always crowded with people. The foods are tasty and offered at very reasonable price for London! I don't remember exactly what we ordered but I do remember that their veal steak and tiramisu were really good!! read more

Food - 8/10 Ambience - (when we arrived) 6/10, (when we left) 4/10 Rupert Everett eating directly behind me - allofthecoolpoints! This place is pretty great. A definite family feel with a great ring of authenticity throughout. The well-painted, but also kitschy murals; the piano man who started playing singing out of nowhere (most of us thought that was a bar - nope, a piano!); the fast-talking no-nonense wait staff - it's all quite nice. I was there with a large party of about 15-20 people for a birthday and they went out of their way to make sure we were all taken care of. 3 people arrived really late (as the rest were beginning to get main courses served) and the kitchen rushed their orders so that the late arrivals still got their main courses before the rest of us had finished. They made a beautiful chocolate birthday cake for our friend who was celebrating. The buffalo mozzarella starter is amazing and every one liked their pizzas and pastas for mains - even if we were all shocked by the portion size! I had pesto linguine and the pesto was really lovely. My only complaint is that by 9:30 or so it was packed and insanely loud. Shouting to the person next to you at dinner is less than ideal. Bonus: actor spotting. That was just something fun. read more

Good local Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is loud and as he might try the piano player is off key somewhat - def not "the piano man". Still the food was very good. read more

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A lovely restaurant. Lovely lovely. After walking past a couple of times and seeing everyone so happy and smelling delicious Italian smells, I went in and my life changed for the better. Everything on the menu is delicious. The pastas, the pizzas, the mains, the wines - all delicious. It's a general Italian menu, so they have your usual selection of pizza margherita, spaghetti bolognese, and bruschetta alongside more Italian dishes like osso bucco and calf's liver. They also have gluten-free pasta on hand, as many Italians are celiacs. It's really a neighborhood place: the best time to come is Sunday afternoon, when families who have just been at the children's park at the end of Lamb's Conduit come for lunch. Also, it seems like the waiters have certain hiring requirements (besides being Italian): have a potbelly, have a mustache, be partly balding, and know how to unnecessarily assist a lady up the stairs. My Italian friend likes this place so much that we just went again with her Italian boyfriend (so you know it's authentic!) The only issue I have is with the downstairs dining room. Upstairs and outside are fine, but downstairs is cramped and noisy and frequently overheated. I'd recommend making a reservation at busy times (7-9 pm, weekend lunch) to avoid getting stuck down there. read more

This place was freaking packed! and it is jam packed like a bunch of sardines downstairs. I was so tired I can't remember the food all that well, but I remember the plate of olives they served for free! and everyone seemed to be satisfied with their meals... I think this was one of the only italian places I saw while in London.. or maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough. read more

A sweet, tasty family restaurant in an interesting (if off the beaten tourist track) part of London. Kinda noisy and crowded, but the piano player was a lovely touch! Completely random decor. Pastas carbonara and arrabiata were both plentiful and delicious, and prices very reasonable. Be sure to get the red wine--and make it an Italian bottle! Our server gave us much good-natured grief for choosing a Spanish one. Would definitely recommend for a good value, and if I lived in London I'd totally go back! Just not a place to have a really intimate evening. read more

This is an unassuming neighbourhood restaurant, that just happens to be in the heart of town. The food is fabulous, including the olives and cheese whisked over to you as appetisers within moments of sitting down. We had a single course of pasta (spaghetti with tapenade, beef ravioli) and glass of a lovely montepulciano from an adorable half-bottle. We had swift service in the early evening, great food and lovely staff (who know some of their customers by name - the sign of a great restaurant). There were some seats outside, and the quiet Lamb's Conduit Street provided a more than adequate backdrop for our bites to eat. Heartily recommended, especially for the reasonable price and great location. read more

Nice food and friendly staff. Had a great time dining out in Ciao Bella. As soon as we got into the restaurant, they provided us with their wifi password, which was so considerate. read more

Ciao Bella - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

We went to Ciao Bella because the other Italian food restaurant we we're planning to eat at was closed for the May Bank Holiday. We saw that Ciao Bella was opened and decided to try it out. We showed up right at noon when they were opening, but there was already a large gathering of what looked to be "regulars" on the front patio area. They were also all speaking Italian, so we thought that was a good sign! However, our server was indifferent at best with us, while he cracked jokes with his regulars. We truly felt like he didn't want us there. The food we ended up eating was mediocre and I probably could have made better at home. My husband got the cannelloni, which was bland, and I got the carbonara, which had a broken sauce and overcooked pasta. There are plenty of better Italian food options elsewhere in London. read more

Ciao Bella - Cannelloni - Bland - Italian Near Me - London, XGL

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Having moved away from the UK, I find myself salivating at the thought of Ciao Bella's food whilst reminiscing, teary eyed, about the good times I've had at this place. Good thing my friends and I have already put Ciao Bello on our list of things to do when I make my visit next month! Great nights often started at this restaurant. It was the combination of cheap wine, great food, and warm atmosphere that puts people in the right mood to be adventurous in roaming the city after dinner. The restaurant is compact, so you tend to get a bit intimate with those around you. Also, there might be quite a wait during dinner time, but you can easily slip on over to the pub next door (The Lamb??) for a few drinks as you wait. Once seated, you are greeted with olives, cheese and breadsticks, but be careful not to spoil your appetite. My personal favourite was the seafood pasta that came in a greaseproof bag. Sadly, I always order too much, yet too little...meaning I'd fill myself up on olives and either the avocado vinaigrette or avocado prawn cocktail. All this before my pasta even arrives... not to mention the wine. Did I mention their wine is cheap? read more

I am at Ciao Bella practically every week. It is cheap, cheerful and has a great friendly atmosphere. The quirkiest thing is the sheer number of birthdays that seem to be celebrated at Ciao Bella. On any given Saturday, there are 5-10 renditions of Happy Birthday, played by one of the regular pianists. The pianists are also open to other requests and are particularly keen on audience participation as long as you have a half decent voice. The service can be a little slow, but I like to think that this is due to the staff reading the situation and serving those who are in for the duration more slowly than those trying to grab a quick bite. If you mention that you are in a rush, they are usually accommodating. read more

Ciao Bella is perfect for groups- it is cheap, fun and they have large round tables, big enough for 10 people. As soon as you sit down, they give you plates of large chunks of parmesan cheese, olive oil and bread sticks (the service is quite slow so you will be glad of it) If you can, book ahead as it gets extremely busy- it is a very popular restaurant and is constantly filled with families and large groups. If they are full, they might try and put you downstairs, which definitely isn't as nice. Try and get upstairs next to the window so you can look out onto Lamb's Conduit Street or near the piano (if you are lucky/unlucky they will be playing) The food is excellent- I can't have cow's milk (boo) but am a massive fan of pizzas and was extremely impressed when they offered to make me up a calzone with buffallo mozzerella. It was delicious. read more

The food here is great! My husband and I have been here twice and both times we got pizza (first margarita, then mushroom pizza) and pasta (first penne with eggplant, then pesto linguine) . Both times we were very happy with our choices! They also provide olives and cheese as starter for all their guests that is pretty awesome. Also, great customer service! read more

A very friendly, cozy place for dinner. We came here on a Friday night to start the weekend. The restaurant has two levels. The upstairs is entertained by a pianist while the downstairs seem a bit rowdier by comparison. We were seated downstairs but apart from being a bit loud, it was actually quite festive and upbeat. For starters, we shared a Margarita pizza that actually reminded me a bit of traditional New York pizza. My entrée was the veal marsala, which I enjoyed very much. I was also happy that they were able to substitute the potatoes with garlic spinach. Just an extra note to the spinach - really loved the strong olive oil and garlic taste. For drinks, we had the house red. It was very good and at a great price. Finally, the desserts did not disappoint. The service was prompt and very friendly. I especially enjoyed the family feel of the restaurant. read more

When I first moved to London as a student WAY BACK AS MANY YEARS AGO AS IT TAKES TWO HANDS TO COUNT Ciao Bella was the "fancy, celebration" restaurant we'd go to. Post-exams. Final goodbye at the end of the year. Ciao Bella was the ticket. It was great, and we'd sit outside as a loud group of students, smoking cigarettes and eating massive pizzas and sipping wine and feeling very smug and sophisticated. Power forward ahead: I love Lambs Conduit and many of the new incarnations along the strip, but just have never had a recent opportunity to revisit Ciao Bella. Until I recognized the same Italian man outside and decided to, well...pop in. And make a reservation. And...it was lovely. The service - which several reviews mention as brusque - is. It is, totally, brusque. But not in a harsh way, and certainly not in a targeted way: that's just how they operate. Equal opportunity brusqueness! Also: don't go here to break up with someone. Or to tell them a secret. YOU WILL BE PACKED IN TIGHT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOUR. Especially if you sit out on the patio under the heat lamps (which you should). Food is hearty, good, not fancy Italian fare. For the portion sizes, I think totally affordable (I always have leftovers or - pro tip - go for 1/2 portions of pasta, which they are happy to do for all but the seafood options). Veal meatballs? Delish. Pizzas topped with an egg or, perhaps, with pear and blue cheese? Yep, sure. They also do more traditional mains like veal cutlet, or stuffed chicken breast...I've only nicked some of both from friends' plates and they were good (special shout-out to the veg which are never mushy or overcooked) but I always stick to a pizza / pasta option. Oh, and the tricolore salad with mozzarella, tomatoes and avocado, a spritz of lemon, some pepper and lashings of olive oil. That PLUS the freebie olives, hunks of parmesan and breadsticks and, well...prepare to roll home. Yelp note: reservations highly recommended (though if you have a wee wait, The Lamb and The Perserverance are both good bets) read more

Great restaurant! Been coming here for years. NHS covid tracing is treated appropriately (conservatives can eat in peace here)

I was taken on a date here a couple of weeks ago, and as your would expect of an Italian, the food was very good. Although the service was slightly cold, i was served by a older man who seemed to have a small chip on his shoulder, although the other staff seemed smiley enough. I had mussles to start with, which was emormous and I could have stopped after that, I found them delicious though my spanish boyfriend had to think Spanish do them better.. urgh medeterrean competition! We sat outside, and even though it was -3, their were patio heaters which made it bearable with a fur coat on! The pizzas were huge, and delicious. There were a friendly and lively group of LSE students next to us, drinking Lemon Cello my favourite! i'd recommend sitting outside for a romantic evening out.... read more

One of the best value, tasty, and intimate Italian restarants I have been to in London! Prices are cheap (less than a tenner for primi pasta plates, £12-£18 for main secondi meat courses), portions are big, the food is tasty, and service is great. What more can you ask for? Do try the seafood spaghetti in the bag if you can - that is their signature dish, and they also have a daily special menu which, on my visit, included interesting dishes such as rabbit and traditional Italian dishes such as osso bucco. Reviewed by The London Insider http://www.london-insider.co.uk/2011/01/review-ciao-bella-delivers-great-humble-italian-food/ read more

When you live near Little Italy, you tend to know some good Italian. And on my walks home from campus, the buzzing outside crowd caught my attention each time. When it's cold outside and you have people willing to sit outside anyway, you know this place it quite special. I can say this was quite decent. Like other ethnic restaurants, when the staff, clientele and menus are in the language, I tend to believe a little more than otherwise. Which is the case here. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I appreciate it. We sat outside and I practiced my limited italienne (thank you music lessons) and ordered a simple pizza. It was a good size, I think at least three people could have been fed with it. That day I was quite hungry and ate more than half by my small self. nbd! We picked the cheapest white they had and for London it was okay. They had better more expensive wine that I will one day try when I start making money again. The price of the food wasn't too bad for the Bloomsbury area. All in all I would return for a lovely time. read more

Very friendly! Food prices are good. I got half a bottle of wine, soup, dinner and dessert all for about 26 pounds. The staff was great. There was live music and singing. Portions are good size. Easy to find. I might try to eat here again before I leave. A+! I was traveling alone and found some other americans, they offered to move my table so I could sit next to them. It was a nice gesture. read more

I haven't actually been to Ciao Bella for an actual sit-down meal. But, I was really impressed with the plate o' yum I had the other day during the Lamb's Conduit Christmas Street Fair. For a mere five quid I got a plateful of meatballs, roast pork (with homemade crisps) and a breaded chicken drumstick. Each item on said plate was dee-lish! This friendly, local Italian resto is now top of my list for the next time I go out for a nice meal. Ciao Bella is steps from one of my favourite pubs too - The Lamb! Yay. People whose judgement I trust, such as Qyper JuliePH (http://www.qype.co.uk/people/JuliePH) , speak highly of this place too! Hmmm ... need to get back there asap. read more