The restaurant was already very busy when we arrived at 5:15 p.m., with many customers already seated. It was a Friday night. Anna was an excellent server. She took our order and recommended some of her favorite dishes, which turned out to be great choices. The food was very good. I had the spicy shrimp and salmon pasta, and I really enjoyed it. Audrey, the hostess, was also wonderful. She had only been working there for two weeks, but she was doing a little bit of everything. It seemed the restaurant was short-staffed, and she handled the busy evening with a positive attitude. Overall, the restaurant offers great value for the quality of the food and service. I would happily return. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Spicy Shrimps and Salmon Pasta. It is not real spicy, just a little kick. - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

So I went to Ciao Bella for dinner tonight. I've probably eaten there around 10 times over the past few years and have always enjoyed the food, which is why tonight was especially disappointing. The three of us ordered lasagna. It was Cesar's first time there, and I told him he wouldn't be disappointed. When the food came out, his portion was noticeably taller than the others, but I didn't think much of it at first. As we started eating, I noticed both Misha and Cesar pushing most of the pasta aside. When I looked closer, the majority of the dish seemed to be mostly ricotta cheese. Neither of them ate more than a few bites before stopping altogether. I politely let the waitress know the lasagna just didn't seem like the quality we were used to. She immediately took the plates to the back and brought us the bill, still charging for all three dishes. I asked if I could speak with the manager, and she told me she was the manager. I explained that we were simply disappointed with the meal and would have gladly shown what the issue was, but she told me the dishes had already been thrown away. She said she had shown the chef and that he makes it the same way every time. She eventually removed two of the lasagnas from the bill, but then came back and said the chef's response was, "If you never come back again, that's fine." That honestly surprised me more than the food itself. I've owned a business for 30 years, and I can't imagine ever responding to a customer that way, especially a returning one. I'm not writing this out of anger -- just genuine disappointment. We had always enjoyed coming here, but after tonight, unfortunately, we won't be returning. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Restaurant sign. - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

Food is amazing, specials are always good, drinks are always on point! Love the service you get here! Highly recommend read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Vanessa, our bartender with a very refreshing cucumber martini - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

Located in the overabundant parking of the Orangeburg shopping center just off of Briggsmore and Oakdale Road Completely renovated absolutely stunning, intimate, romantic location for your next dining experience. Location does take reservations and they get very busy on holidays. They have a full bar they have bench seating and regular table styles. High-end cuisine with flavors that pairs, so great together. We started with the bruschetta while enjoying our cocktails. Then moved onto the absolutely perfectly cooked filet mignon coated, and garlic butter. Vegetables cooked to perfection.. Then, of course, we had to finish it with their crème brûlée, amazing vanilla flavor, perfect caramelized sugar top. This is not a cheap place to go to so make sure that you bring your wallet, and your appetite. read more

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Have tried to eat there 3 times without a reservation, I totally understand that is a long shot but the hostesses are so rude about it it's unreal. Needless to say, I will not be making a reservation or going back to this place, ever. read more

Make sure you go in the daytime, if you want to be able to read your menu items, it is dark in there! I ordered the Fettuccini Alfredo, which was decent, but I had to ask for shredded Parmesan to give it some flavor...it was quite bland, but I LOVED all the extra sauce! I also ordered the calamari and it was delicious! I did not like, however, that I ordered a "house" Chardonnay, and it was more like a Sauvignon Blanc...then when I ordered another glass, it was completely different (and was actually Chardonnay). I asked the waitress why they were different and she said because my 1st glass was during "happy hour." I had no idea it was because there were NO signs, nor did she tell me when I sat down. That being said, I don't want to be served the "junk" wine, even IF during "happy hour." The waitress was a really sweet girl, Alaina, I think. I'm pretty sure she was newer but was on it, with coming to the table, quite often, which I appreciated! So, thank you Alaina :) The inside is clean but not inviting read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Fettuccini Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

Ciao Bella is one of my absolute favorites whenever I come home to visit -- it never misses and always delivers the best dishes! I have not been back since they remodeled and expanded and it looks amazing! Our server, Anita, was amazing -- so sweet, friendly, and incredibly helpful, especially when it came to picking the perfect wine for the table. Truly top-tier service. We ordered the lamb, and WOW... just look at the size of those chops! Insane. Cooked to absolute perfection and paired with a pesto chimichurri sauce that was chef's kiss . We order lamb all the time and have never seen portions like this -- such a pleasant and delicious surprise. My go-to is always the stuffed calamari, and it did not disappoint -- just as incredible as I remembered. We also tried the fried asparagus, and the entire table loved it. My dad went with the halibut and jumbo shrimp special, and those shrimp were massive -- honestly looked like lobster tails! From the appetizers to the wine to every entrée, the whole table enjoyed everything. So glad we were able to squeeze in a visit this trip -- Ciao Bella never lets us down! read more

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Service was terrible. We were just ignored. It was obvious they were understaffed. Waitress never delivered the salad to one party.

The last time I was here... it was only one room without the full bar. Wow what a difference. I enjoyed my Eggplant parmigiana so much... I forgot to take photos. The marinara sauce was perfect and the Eggplant was perfect. I always went to Chefs of New York and hadn't found anything I enjoyed better in Modesto until last nite! My company had the chicken pesto pasta. He said it was delicious. The bar was popping for Saturday with a lot of familiar faces. Anna, our server is amaaaazing. If you have not been, this is your sign to go. I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed. read more

Came here on a Friday night with reservations at 5 pm for a retirement party of 10. We were seated to the far right on a long table. For it just opening at 5 pm, the bar was filled with patrons already. Hard to describe what everyone ate and ordered so I'll just focus on what I ordered and tried. So for appetizers- I ordered 2 calamari for the group. It was served with a bed of lettuce on the bottom with the calamari to appear more in the bowl. Came with a dipping sauce that was orange in color so I'm assuming it was sriracha and mayo. It was pretty good. Not too salty and had a crunch to it. I'd give it 5 stars though since it was definitely being gobbled by all. So my wife had the chicken fettuccini. I asked her how she liked it, her complaint was about the chicken. Something about it being a bit hard. She's not one to complain but she did notice something off with it. I won't rate that since I didn't try it but just sharing her comment to me. As for myself, I had the Ribeye - medium that came with vegetables and mash potatoes. Price $50. The steak was a thick cut with butter on top. I thought the steak was cooked to perfection, great flavor and the sides were seasoned good. 5 stars If there was one complaint I would have being a part of 10 was the serving of the food took a good 5 minutes for everyone to get their dish. Our waitress was the only one bringing the food so she would serve 2 dishes to my group. Then go to the kitchen to get others. There was a good wait time in between so to me, not all dishes were done simultaneously. Just from an etiquette standpoint, everyone waited til all our dishes were served to my guests before we started eating. There wasn't an extra server who helped our main waitress to bring everyone's dishes all at once. And for that, I give 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, if you have a large party like we did, I would recommend Ciao Bella since the interior was nice and had good lighting for photos. Would return with my wife whenever craving for that ribeye! read more

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Family outing, I found this place online, we stopped in for a quiet dinner, the dinner was delicious for all four of us, our waiter was welcoming , knowledgeable and polite. We will go back. read more

It has really changed since the last time I was there. The music is very loud, making it difficult to have a conversation. (County/rock -- not Italian.) The service was great although not so much for the food. My pasta was dry, with very little sauce. The Chicken Parm was lukewarm and the cheese topping not melted. Needless to say, we won't go back. read more

Been there 3 times and have always been accommodated to mood and taste of dishes The severs are super nice and helpful and so far always been impressed and satisfied read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Halibut with jumbo prawns - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

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Great food! Large menu with lots of options. The nightly specials are always on point. Service is excellent.

OK, we started coming to Ciao Bella with our kids, years ago when we moved to Modesto. Our whole family enjoyed the ambiance and food. My parents were old school italian, and loved the Calamari. WHAT happened? Wife and I went on a Wednesday night, bbq rib special. Flavor ok, but four, what seemed like boiled, light colored ribs with about a tablespoon of bbq sauce. Then, my wife had appetizer, clams with mussels, with noted garlic marinara sauce. We asked about the bread and oil and vinegar, was told it is now an additional menu charged item. Really? Nothing to soak up the sauce! I mean four slices of bread would have been nothing, and cost about the same as the ice in our water glasses. The only italian restaurant in town, that doesn't supply you at least a slice of French bread. Sad. Anna the serve was great, if it wasn't for her, it would have been a one star disaster read more

Services was bad (slow) Reservation. We had 6:00 reservations time they didn't seat us until 6:20 No salt or pepper on the table. They waiters didn't bring out serving plates ( we had to ask for the plates) And my main course grilled salmon wasn't cooked in the middle. I ordered pasta and there was no Parmesan cheese offered. Suggestions to improve their service would include offering fresh cracked pepper and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Small low cost service additions but one's customers would remember. I'd also recommend adding garlic bread to their menu and having a dessert menu and listing coffee as a beverage. This was our 1st time there. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. It was a big disappointment. read more

My favorite place to have a fabulous dinner. Food Superb, Service Absolutely Wonderful, Ambiance Very Very Nice. The staff is excellent The Chef is truly a Wonderful Person with a true Gift of Spectacular Cuisine Cooking. I have been a customer when they first opened their doors. So happy that they are also just around the corner where I live read more

I have been here several times. The food is amazing! I have always have exc service. My blackened salmon was amazing

I am giving this restaurant 2 stars because the atmosphere was beautiful and the food filled our stomachs, but unfortunately the service and food quality left a lot to be desired. Our server was Linda. We ordered simple pasta dishes, yet after waiting at least 40 minutes, a table that arrived after us and ordered steaks was served before we were. When I asked about the delay, Linda, who seemed irritated that I brought it up, explained that another dining area on the other side of the wall was full. While I understand restaurants get busy, this did not excuse the lack of communication. Linda also forgot our side salads, and we had to ask for them. In fact, throughout the meal, we had to ask for everything ourselves. The only thing she proactively did was refill our water once. When she did speak with us, she often did so while walking away, making it difficult to ask questions. At one point she leaned on our table and asked if we needed anything, but by then we had already been tracking her down for everything we needed. I also asked Bella, another server working nearby, about whether the restaurant offered bread. Unfortunately, there was no complimentary bread service. As for the food, my daughter and granddaughter both experienced stomach discomfort after eating. My granddaughter was very hungry and ate most of her meal, but rated the flavor only 7 out of 10. My daughter ate about one-quarter of her meal before saying she felt like she was going to be sick and could not continue eating it. I finished my meal because I was hungry, but the Alfredo sauce lacked the rich Alfredo flavor I expected. It tasted like there was little to no garlic in it and was generally disappointing. The bright spot of our visit was Bella. When she cleared my daughter's bowl and asked how everything was, my daughter honestly told her she did not care for the meal. Bella immediately went to the kitchen, came back, and let us know that my daughter's meal would not be charged. She was attentive, professional, and genuinely cared about customer satisfaction. We truly appreciated her efforts. So, Linda, consider this review your tip. Thank you, Bella, for providing the level of customer service that made an otherwise disappointing experience a little better. read more

I heard good things about this place and was excited to try it out, but upon calling no one answered. We rang the line a few times and nothing. As a joke we wanted to see how many calls it would take for an answer, but after 20 calls and a full voicemail box, we gave up and decided to make a reservation elsewhere. read more

Ciao Bella exceeded every expectation. From the moment I arrived, the service, food, and atmosphere created an unforgettable experience. My surprise birthday celebration was handled with such care and attention that the entire evening felt truly special. I am deeply grateful to Anita, her team, and the chef for their professionalism, warmth, and dedication. Every detail was thoughtfully handled, and the level of service made me feel genuinely valued and celebrated. That kind of care means everything during a personal milestone. The food was exceptional. Each dish was beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and clearly made with pride. The chef truly outdid himself. Every course impressed, and not a single guest was disappointed. Several guests were visiting Ciao Bella for the first time and are already planning to return based on the quality of the food alone. The ambiance was elegant, comfortable, and welcoming. It provided the perfect setting for meaningful conversation, laughter, and lasting memories. Ciao Bella delivered outstanding food, gracious service, and a warm, refined atmosphere. I am sincerely thankful for such a memorable birthday celebration and look forward to returning again soon. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Food Menu - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

We ate here for the first time. It was our 58th wedding anniversary. It was so good. We went back later in the week. I had the stuffed calamari the first time and it was delicious. The second time I got their fish and chips special it came with a nice small salad and dessert. I gave my husband my crème brûlée dessert and ordered their delicious lemon berry mascarpone cake. This is going to be my new favorite place. read more

The food and service at Ciao Bella is always excellent. We definitely recommend dining at Ciao Bella. We always look forward to dining at one of our favorite restaurants. read more

It was our first time here. This food was great! We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer (5/5), meat lasagna (5/5) and spaghetti with homemade meatballs and meat sauce (4/5). The service was good. Our server was very kind and gave us her opinion on what menu items were top picks. We were not disappointed. The ambiance was nice. It's low lit, modern and clean. There is also a bar area and additional seating outside for outdoor dining. Overall, great food. read more

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This is the best Italian food in Modesto Food Service Prices are the best. Don't miss out. John Metcalf. read more

Reservations at 6:30 pm seated at 6:35 pm. Greeted like they were happy to see us, led us to our table as we sat asked if we would like so water. Within 7 minutes or less, the main waitress assigned to our table asked if there was a special event we were celebrating. Our drinks came within 5 to 7 minutes of us being seated. The waitress explained some of the dishes my wife inquired about then asked what I wanted. When I said the clam and mussels pasta, she said they were out but would ask the chef what he could do. When she came back she said no clams and mussels but other seafood would be prepared if I would like. When our dishes came out, to my delight, in a light broth was two huge prawns that looked like baby lobsters, 4 huge prawns, 3 large scallops each cut in half several nice pieces of salmon, WoW! This was an excellent meal, prepared by talented chefs and served by very hospitable and welcoming staff. Excellent evening. read more

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So, my wife and I were mulling over some place to eat yesterday (Saturday) and I found this place on Yelp. We decided to give it a try for the first time. I called them up and "Dolly" answered the phone. I inquired about dess attire, if shorts and T-shirt were acceptable and if reservations were required. Dolly said, "the dress was casual, shorts and a T were acceptable.' Although reservations were not required, they were advised." So, I made a reservation. Upon arrival we were greeted promptly. The hostess seated us on what we learned later was the booth (bar) side. A wall at bar back seperated two sides of the restaraunt. The other side being the "table side". No sooner than we sat down, some obnoxiously loud baffoon strolls in and on his way to sit at the bar, begins shouting in greeting to another patron at the end of the bar. I thought, oh brother is it going to be one of those kind of nights? I got up, approached the hostess and asked if there were any seats open on the table side and we were seated immedietly on the table side. If being subjected to potentially loud atmosophere doesn't bother you then sit on booth (bar) side. If you want a more quiet and relaxing dining experience, sit on the table side. Now to my review. All in all the ambiance was very nice. It was a bit dark, but still nice. Our wait person named Prescious, was extremely helpful with our questions about menu items and was very attentive without hovering. Dolly, with whom I spoke to on the phone and not our wait person, was also a pure delight, and extremely attentive. My wife commented that she was "absolutely beautiful." On to our meal. We ordered the Fried Calamari as an appetizer to start and I must say it was cooked to PERFECTION! The seasoning was perfect with just a hint of heat (a toddler could eat it). The crunch was no less perfect and the bite melted in my mouth. We ate half of it before I remembered to snap a pic. This dish was 5/5. My wife ordered the Stuffed Calamari which are calamari steaks stuffed with crab, shrimp and mozzarella cheese and topped with a Rosetta sauce. Her dish also came with mash potatoes and veggies. Now, this isn't the type of dish my wife would normally order, but she wanted to try it. Nope, she didn't like it. Not because of the flavor, it was loaded with flavor, but because it was a bit to heavy for her. This would be more my type of dish to order. I tried it and it WAS THE BOMB! Give that 5/5 Finally, I ordered a House Special which is not on the menu, it should be, but it isn't. Blackened Halibut with Jumbo Prawns. It came with mashed potatoes and veggies like my wife's dish did. The mash and veggies could be a meal all in their own. Nothing but pure deliciousness. The jumbo prawns were butterflied, nearly lobster tail sized and came with a delicious butter sauce for dipping. The blackened Halibut melted in my mouth and was FULL of flavor. I give this dish a 6/5. All-in-all this restaraunt has Bay Area quality, freshness and taste. There is a Chef behind the scene that has mastered food consistency, not only in the quality and freshness, but also in the preparation. EVERYTHING was prepared and cooked to perfection. No inconsistencies like undercooked/overcooked to be found. The US and California in particular, is a melting pot of ethnicity. If you have mastered culinary skills in a particular food type, genre or culture, it doesn't matter your ethnic or, national background. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Pam. What a delight she was. Pam, you are doing it right. In closing all I can say is...WHOOOAAAAHHH NELLY THAT FOOD WAS THE BOMB DIGGITY BOMB! BACK IT UP AND BOMB AGAIN! read more

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Ok I have to write a review bc yesterday was my second time back and the food does not disappoint. It's a cute little restaurant with a bar area and smaller dining area. The ambience is nice, whole restaurant is clean, and parking is ample. The hostesses are always friendly and welcoming. But Anna, our server, ok this girl has the memory of a magician bc she remembered us from A YEAR AGO, including where we sat and what we ordered! What a sweet gem of a person! She's a great server with a fun personality and good customer service! Let's talk about the food. DE-LI-CIOUS! Both times I've been here, food is spectacular. Meaty lasagna that I ate for two days. So hearty and flavorful! Spaghetti and meatballs were yummy. My bf got lobster ravioli and chicken Alfredo. That Alfredo was THEE BEST! We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert both times. It's decadent and moist and heavenly. I can't wait to come back! :) read more

I have posted about this place before. Ciao Bella's chef Ciao is the reason why this place is so good. I have been going for over 9 years now. Quality of the food has been on par every visit for me. His servers for the years are so good, this guy knows how to hire wonderful servers. Anita our server is the best of the best... kudos to her. You should call in to make reservations, and always try a special, I love his sea-bass fish (seasonal), Halibut, risotto, calamari Steak, mashed potatoes with any dish are so buttery and smooth. I don't eat steak, but I know from my friends who ate it, it was pretty good. I steal his mashed potatoes from my husband's plate too. Desserts are so good too. Ambiance is wonderful as well. Their recent bar edition has made it top notch. read more

I was a little wary to check this place out because of the under 4 star rating, but my fiancé convinced me to try it out anyways. Went last night and I LOVED the food! The calamari was so tender. The flavor and quality of all the food we had was exceptional, especially for this area. Really glad I gave this place a shot. Our server was really nice and extremely attentive as well. Prices are a little high but worth it in my opinion for the quality. Yes, the place is pretty dim but it didn't bother us, personally. Would definitely come again for special occasions. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Fettuccine Alfredo, meatballs on the side, chicken parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

My husband and I were out running errands and decided to try this place. We weren't sure if there was a dress code; it's pretty much shorts and T-shirt attire. He ordered the ribeye steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The steak had no flavor, was tough, and had lots of fat. The mashed potatoes were delicious. The vegetables were delicious and cooked perfectly. The calamari was delicious with a nice light batter; the clams and mussels were so delicious, but my husband didn't care for the marinara sauce. Their warm bread is delicious, and they have a five-dollar drink special - a mango jalapeño iced margarita - which was delicious. Also, the service was great, the atmosphere was great, and the restaurant was very clean. We will definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

First time eating at this restaurant last night for a couples dinner with some dear friends. Great vibes. Such a classy place. I'd recommend for a date night to celebrate special occasions since it's a bit pricey. The food however was amazing. The portions are huge! The quality of our food is excellent. My hubby doesn't care too much for seafood but he got the Halibut & Scallops and ate it all up. He said it was cooked to perfection. He gave it a 8/10! I had the salmon plate and it was cooked perfectly. My friends got the stuffed crab/shrimp scallops and those were delicious too. Our server was fun & accommodating! We had such a great time... I will definitely be returning! read more

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Their food is simply wonderful! Well prepared, beautiful and authentically Italian. You can always count on having a great meal. The service as good as the food! read more

Couldn't even make a reservation because they don't answer the phone. Called multiple times.

My wife and I have been coming here for many years for special occasions. This is hands-down the best restaurant in Modesto, especially if you love seafood. The service is always top shelf. And their recent remodel has this place looking like it belongs in the Bay Area. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

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We were surprised to learn the chef refuses to cook filet mignon past medium--even when requested. Saying "we don't cook it medium well" is already a bit rigid for a non-steakhouse, but following that with "we won't make an exception because we're busy" is a red flag. It comes off as dismissive, and honestly, it's a poor excuse. If they're charging $55 for a filet, they should be able to accommodate a basic request--especially for something as personal (and standard) as steak doneness. We won't be back. read more

My friend and I visited on 6/24/26 for dinner. We both ordered the clams and mussels linguine and were very disappointed. We told the waitress that the mussels were gamey, and she asked if they were overcooked. I told her that they had a bad taste, a metallic bitter taste. She indicated that it was about a 50-50 chance that they come out that way and that for that reason, some people just order the clams. We both picked at our food and even tried to add more lemon to make it taste better. The sauce was even overpowered by this unpleasant taste. We both ordered ice cream to try to get the taste out of our mouths and asked to talk to a manager to reduce the cost of our meals. She said the managers were gone so all they could do was give us free ice cream. This is the first time we've ever had bad food here, and we felt that our concerns were not heard. We reached out on Instagram to message the business but never received a response. read more

Poor service. Brought wrong meals to table trying to say it was our fault but it couldn't be because of personal allergies. Then offered alternate plates- not what we wanted because they ran out. I accepted one and my frenzy ordered something different and it came long after our dinner party was finished. And then, if that wasn't bad enough, they didn't comp her meal. So, 4 meals ordered, 2 meals not wanted and nothing complimented. Bad form. Needless to say I will not be going back. read more

This is a classy setting nice ambiance inside place to eat. I am always on the hunt for the best of the best. I judge an Italian restaurant first and foremost on the bread you get with your meal. The bread was ok, not blow me away. Also the bread portions was skimpy, I understand you can ask for more and maybe they don't want to waste. The service was top notch, very friendly and accommodating. We didn't have reservations but they made room for us. I got the lobster ravioli to compare with my favorite lobster ravioli at another restaurant Bella Italia, to see which one was better. Bella Italia won that round with better taste and more portions. I felt that it was too expensive for the amount I got, that's just my opinion. Listen this is a nice restaurant and most people would have nothing but good things to say. I'm just more picky then most people haha. Also the tails were left on the shrimp that came with the lobster ravioli, I personally don't like that. I don't want to have to get messy to eat my shrimp in my pasta. That's just me, Mr. Picky haha read more

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Probably the worst restaurant experience I have had in this town. We waited for over two hours with no service. I understand the restaurant may have been busy, but two hours without any attention is unacceptable. The only reason I stayed was because it was my friend's birthday. Very disappointing. I would never come to this place again. I know my review may not affect much, but you just lost one customer. read more