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    Isola Bella Italian Eatery

    4.1 (204 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Isola Bella Italian Eatery Photos

    Business Info

    ISOLA BELLA ITALIAN EATERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Isola Bella Italian Eatery

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    Inside seating
    Bob S.

    We went here for dinner but had a hard time getting a dinner reservation so plan ahead and book well in advance. Our orders were Chicken Parm ($29) and Ragu Meatballs ($29). Wine was $14 a glass. The service from Clarissa was excellent. Our food arrived very fast; so fast we felt a bit rushed but after that every thing was fine. Both portions were more than adequate and we took some leftovers home. If you're looking for what I would call home cooked Italian food this place is a good choice. Full bar and a good wine list. Free parking in their lot. They have both indoor and outdoor dining.

    Gnocchi
    Alex G.

    We sat inside - the restaurant itself is in a shopping center and not super fancy curb appeal wise. The food is elite - very very authentic Italian and delicious. Priced reasonably. Service is great. Highly recommend on the island.

    Carbonara
    Mark C.

    We decided to take our annual vacation with our friends to travel to Anna Maria Island this year. It was the first time my wife and I had stayed on AMI before, but our friends had been there several times. They recommended we try this little Italian place over by The Ugly Grouper. I had heard about that place, but I was skeptical about an Italian place in a small beach town. To say that Isola Bella might have been the best restaurant we tried while we were there might be an understatement. A 5-star rating is the highest rating I could give them, otherwise, it would have been more. Let's start with the restaurant facility. It's tucked away in the corner of a building slightly off the main road. There is some outdoor seating as you walk up to the front desk to be seated. Pro tip: Get a reservation. We ended up sitting outside, which would have been incredible but the night we went was extremely hot and humid. They had fans blowing to help but fans can only do so much in southern heat when the wind isn't blowing. The tables were clean and well prepared, and the service staff was prompt. I highly recommend getting reservations so you can sit inside. We were barely seated for 3 minutes when our server came over to get our drink orders. It was perfect timing and gave us time to review the drink menu. The menu has just the right amount of items on it. Many higher end Italian places have a handful of specialty items and lower end places have too many items. I ordered the chicken picatta (a personal favorite) & mediterranean salad, my wife ordered the carbonara & Caesar salad, and our friends ordered the gnocchi al pesto & tortellini Bolognese. I have eaten at several high-end Italian restaurants in other large cities and frankly, this meal ranks among some of the best I have ever eaten. I am generally very critical of dishes that are personal favorites. There is a right way to cook picatta dishes and there are many wrong ways. If you know, you know. The chicken was perfectly trimmed & flattened, seasoned, and cooked to perfection. The pasta was a perfect al dente and the sauce was next level. The perfect balance of lemon and capers without overpowering the taste of the chicken. My mouth is watering even writing this review. We wrapped up our meal with some gelato and even that was the perfect balance of creaminess and flavor without going too far. The portion sizes left me feeling sated but not miserable. Outside of the food and facilities, the staff was amazing. The runners made sure the food hit the table while it was perfectly cooked. I'm not even sure if they had heat lamps in the kitchen. Our drinks were never empty, and our server had a wonderful personality. My buddy, Tim and I are sarcastic and pranksters, and the server played right along and made the meal even more enjoyable. We learned he was trying to become a firefighter, and we certainly hope he gets to live his dream. Well done to the chef, staff, and owners of Isola Bella and I hope you will remain there as long as we continue to come down to visit AMI.

    Lasagna
    Anna B.

    All of the food was delicious and fresh, clearly made in house! The service was incredible, I'm kicking myself for not remembering our servers name but he was such a gentleman and has been in the industry for 39 years. It's such a small, cozy atmosphere but still seated plenty of guests. All of the food was a hit, but the lasagna really stood out! The tiramisu was out of this world. Finally, don't skip the Marsala based on older reviews! It was delicious.

    Inside the restaurant with our dinks on the table.
    Daianara B.

    We ate here for our first night in AMI and it was SO GOOD. The staff was so friendly and nice. We went late in the evening so it was quiet and calm atmosphere. The food was so good! It was some of the best Italian food I've ate. The chicken Marsala was amazing! I got spaghetti carbonara with chicken and it was great too! Highly recommend in the AMI area!

    Bread pudding
    Sarah B.

    True authentic Italian! For this trip to AMI, we were here 8 days and ate here 3 times. You just can't beat it. Everything is outstanding, the prices are right, and the service is top notch. To start, my husband and I split the Caesar salad (which doesn't come with the anchovies on top like the pictures show- I found that to be a little off putting and I asked about beforehand) and it was fresh and crisp. The house bread and olive oil is great. I got the lobster ravioli each time because it's light and perfect. My husband raved that the shrimp fra diavolo is the best dish he's eaten in the last several years. Perfectly spiced. The wine we had was excellent. We finished the meal with the bread pudding which was nice and had a cinnamon flavor, that I'm still thinking about. The service was excellent and prompt- our drinks never went dry. Our server brought my son's meal out when it was ready so he could start enjoying his meal, something I'd normally have to ask for, and that was so helpful. It's literally the best food and service on the island, hands down!

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    5 months ago

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    21 days ago

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    Isola B.

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    3 months ago

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    Isola B.

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    5 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Came here , empty place, nobody was there. Inside was empty, outside was empty... 10-15 minutes to sit down. Awful. Avoid at all costs,

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    Isola B.

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    3 months ago

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    Isola B.

    Grazie!!

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    5 months ago

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    Isola B.

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

    Closest to Italy and Sicily that I have experience in a very long time. Nice wine list, excellent service, interesting and fresh specials.

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    Isola B.

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    4 months ago

    Great food and service. Delightful atmosphere. Will definitely go again. Very attentive to customers. Thank you, truly enjoyed.

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    Isola B.

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing food and service. Family oriented staff and fresh Italian food. It was like stepping back home being from the north east.

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was mediocre. Overpriced for the portions. Salad was good. Bread was cold and seemed store bought not freshly made.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Isola Bella Italian Eatery

    Is it kid friendly?

    No...way too expensive!

    View All 2 Questions

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    The bar
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    Smoked Harissa Shrimp and Hummus Beef "Kofta" Meatball
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    Isola Bella Italian Eatery - italian - Updated July 2026

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