Great good! Excellent atmosphere (love the bar here). I wish they had some veal options, that…read morewould make it feel more Italian. They could also add a few higher end Italian reds. That said, great food ( bolognese or eggplant parm are our regular choices), great staff, great location. Parking is not hard once you realize that they validate for the surface lot across the street or the hotel parking lot. Plenty of feee parking options. Go, you won't be sad!!

my brother's girlfriend made a reservation for our group of 6 via Resy for my brother's birthday…read more there was a cute hand signed card on the table when we arrived but didn't notice until the end of dinner. i was told they have a parking lot dedicated their patrons but i did street parking which was free on sundays. we started off with a large caesar which was enough for everyone to get a small plate and very delicious. we also bad the calamari which was just a bit too salty and not crunchy enough for me. we had 3 orders of chicken alfredo, shrimp scampi, carbonara, and pizza. we also had the pane all, algio bread which was super good. everyone enjoyed their meals. i personally had the shrimp scampi and i liked how flavorful and big the shrimp was but i think i would try a different dish next time i come here. i also liked how they grate the parmesan with a big fresh block. the vibes in here felt cozy with the lighting, decor, and set up. the restaurant got a bit more busy as we dined but nothing too crazy. i didn't realize there was a $20 cake fee until looking at the receipt the next day to write this review. we did not ask to have our cake refrigerated or cut by the staff or anything additional besides a knife, plates, and spoons. i wish our waitress would have informed us about that beforehand. overall, palio is a solid choice for italian food in grand rapids. definitely would come back again to try other items!

We came to Bistro Bella Vita for our anniversary. The food was delicious. We loved the pesto rotini…read morepasta best. Was quite noisy with large parties seated next to us- that was the only negative.

Our server was excellent, very attentive…read more Every food item was delicious. Cute outdoor seating space. Would definitely come back if I was in town!

First time visit and we loved it. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, and the live music that…read morenight was such a nice touch. We started with sangria and the arancini. The portion was very generous and the sauce was absolutely delicious. For salads, my husband had the Caesar and I had the capri. We ordered half portions and it ended up being the perfect amount. The dressing on the capri was amazing. For dinner we shared the Giovanni deluxe pizza and it did not disappoint. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. We finished with the chocolate cake with raspberry purée and wow. The slice is huge but completely worth it. We will definitely be back.

I am here frequently getting jarred pasta sauces, wine and pasta. Most recently I got to try out…read morethe deli and had the Italian sandwich and it was excellent! It's freshly made and really hit the spot. I have been craving this type of sandwich and good to know that there's a great spot that exists. Next time, there are sweets to try between the Italian cookies, cannolis, and cakes. I also want to sit in and try the restaurant food. They have a lovely outdoor area next to their patio was perfect to enjoy my sandwich on nice summer day.

First time here and it was a birthday well spent. Food was good and plentiful. Meal came out hot…read moreand quickly. For someone who has kids waiting at home, it's much appreciated. Definitely adding to our repertoire.

Gorgeous place, wonderful food, and kind people! My husband and I went to Nonna's for our…read moreanniversary dinner and it was the perfect spot to celebrate. Upon entry we were greeted by friendly staff and given a menu to review while we waited for our table. After being seated we were able to order drinks and food quickly! Everything came out in a timely manner. We also got a free dessert for our anniversary which was such a wonderful touch! The dining space is a little small which made it difficult to converse at some points but this was truly the only downside. We can't wait to return to this spot for another delicious dinner! Food: -Calamari: beautifully seasoned and breaded. Great portion size with amazing flavor! -Chicken Scallopini: Creamy lemon goodness! Rich flavor with perfectly cooked chicken. The angel hair pasta did get a little soggy underneath the chicken- maybe swap it would for an alternative noodle?

Came here for my partner's birthday and had a wonderful experience…read more The restaurant has a nice fancy tavern/fine dining ambiance and was kept clean. Our server Mark, was super personable and was a delight to us. The food was extremely flavorful. For my partner's birthday, we also received some chocolate vodka dessert (not pictured) as complimentary.

Honestly, I haven't tasted flavors this Italian since actually being in Rome. Chef Jenna visits the…read moreold country often, and she and her team bring. home. the. goods! You don't even need to get fancy. A bowl of Amore's house made pasta and meat sauce will stretch any mouth into a smile. You won't want to waste a drop of the sauce--tomato flavors bright as ever cozied up with savory bits of sautéed Italian pancetta. Ask your server for a great wine pairing, or order a craft cocktail. And save room for dessert--the tiramisu, cheesecake, and cannoli are all winners. Great for a romantic night out, a big, Italian family dinner, or just to unwind after a long day. Amore means love. And there's never really a bad time for that.

I had noticed Licari's moved into the old Red Hot Inn space but didn't realize their Fuller/Knapp…read morelocated had closed. I'm glad I got to visit the new(er) spot recently! The space is cozy and pretty large, with what looked to be a private area with a birthday party going on towards the back. Our server was really friendly and patient as we explored the menu, which features Sicilian items like pizza, pasta, and several starters. We wanted to try some appetizers so we ordered the cozze di mare (mussels) with white sauce, rotoli (eggplant rolls filled with Prosciutto di Parma, house-made tomato sauce and provolone cheese, baked then topped with basil), and a Caesar salad. The mussels and eggplant dish came out first and were delicious. I personally loved the eggplant rotoli the most - the eggplant was tender, the sauce was savory, and it was stuffed with cheese and prosciutto... yum! I would get this as a meal with a side of garlic bread for dipping. The mussels were nicely cooked and the sauce was subtle. The salad was crisp and fresh and I liked the different toppings (fresh tomatoes and sun dried tomatoes). The Caesar salad only comes in the large size, but it was good to share with the group. For dinner we shared a couple of pizzas - the bocce and a margherita. The freshly grated cheese over top was perfection - don't skip this! I loved all the toppings on the bocce (basically a version of a supreme pizza) but the pepperoni was my favorite with how crispy it got. The crust was missing a bit of flavor for me, but it was cooked well and not soggy. We were too stuffed for dessert but I'd come back for their cannoli or rotating cheesecake flavors! I want to try their pasta next also.

I took my husband to Licari's for a Valentines dinner! What a great choice! We had the house…read moreCabernet and ricotta balls for an appetizer. The wine was delicious very smooth with good body. The ricotta balls in red sauce melt in your mouth! Yum We ordered garlic bread for the main dish and it too was delicious crusty and perfectly cooked. My husband said it needed a little more garlic flavor but I loved it. He had spaghetti and meatballs and said it was the best he hahad in Grand Rapids! He is a tough critic so this is a real compliment. I had the Ricotta Salsicca for the main dish and it was fantastic! Seasoned perfectly. The sauce and cheese were amazing We had the cannoli's for desert! Delicious crispy with yummy filling! April was our waitress and she was on top of everything! She made recommendations and was pleasant and personable. We had been to the other location many times but the new location is gorgeous! Modern and spacious with a great parking lot! We will be back no doubt but thanks for a great Valentine's Day!

SUCH A FIND! My husband had been wanting to try this place out for a while after smelling it…read morewalking by and we were so blown away by the pizza! I got a pickle pizza and he got the pesto. Service was great and we loved having the hockey game on while we hung out. Crust is soft but still crusty and the ingredients are super fresh. I love how many options of sauces and toppings there are to customize. The menu all looks great and we absolutely will make this a regular stop for pizza.

My partner, his family, and I came to Fratelli's to celebrate his mom's birthday, and we had a…read moregreat experience. Since it was a Monday evening, it was nice and quiet, and we were able to choose where we wanted to sit. Our server was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. The food was delicious. I ordered the Aglio e Olio pizza with added chicken, and it was excellent. We started with the bread balls, which were a great appetizer. For dessert, the birthday girl got to choose something from the dessert menu and picked the cannolis, which we all shared and enjoyed. I also had the white wine sangria, and it was absolutely delicious. Overall, it was a wonderful dinner with great food, drinks, and service. I will definitely be back!

I recently went to Pietro's to celebrate a friend's birthday. My boss and other locals knew all…read moreabout the birthday celebrations which seem to be a big hit! The space is large and easily visible from 28th street. It's a little off the main road so there's ample parking and it feels less hectic. I was greeted and easily helped to my table. The server we had, Colleen, was an absolute pro. She was soooo much fun and did everything to make sure we had a great time. She had such a wonderful energy and really helped to make sure we all had a great time. The food was good, I liked that some of the options were more interesting than the typical local Italian fare but still made sure to include the classics. The menu was on these large ipads which was somewhat offputting to me and we realized later that you could tap on the items to learn more about each dish. I personally prefer physical paper menues but it was definitely a talking point.

What an amazing place this is. We had a party of six for dinner. Nice size round table and…read moreplenty of arm space to eat and not feel crowded. We first tried some starters - pepperoni bread, also meatballs (3 balls per serving). Nice size meatball and very tasty. Not a lot of filler in these. So good. They also have a soup bar - this evening they had Chicken & Rice, Seafood Chowder, and one other I did not get the name. I loved the Chowder enough to go back for seconds. Then my entree was a Ceasar salad with grilled salmon. Salmon was done perfect. Just right at that edge of being rare to well. Flaked out perfectly and flavor was spot on. Ceasar salad was tossed lighting with dressing and it was also very tasty. Others raved about the northern sampler which they seemed to love. This place is a good one to make a regular weekly stop to.