Decided to do a date night & Dined in at 7:30pm on a Sunday night. Our server was welcoming, professional & attentive. She was patient, answered all of our questions, knowledgeable about everything on the menu. We received Great service tonight! Our food was delicious, huge portions & came out quickly! We ordered and shared a Caprese salad. The ingredients were so fresh! We loved it! We ordered the Pollo Marsala and their Spaghetti with Meatballs. These entrees came with bread and butter. Everything was great but we didn't have enough room for dessert! We will have to try & save room for it next time! Thank you for not making us feel rushed! read more

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Food was just okay. The $10 meatballs were absolutely not worth it. They tasted frozen, lacked any real flavor, and were basically oversized Chef Boyardee meatballs--which is honestly an insult to Chef Boyardee. The restaurant itself also had some issues. The ceiling tile above our table was literally falling out and looked like it was one bump away from landing on someone. On top of that, it was uncomfortably hot inside. Considering how hot it was outside, it seemed like the air conditioning either wasn't working or wasn't turned on. The biggest disappointment was the service and how the restaurant handled multiple mistakes. We had a party of eight, and our checks were completely messed up--including one check that somehow had a 42% gratuity added. That's the kind of error that should have been easy to correct. Things only got worse from there. One person's leftovers were taken to be boxed up and never came back. When we asked about them, they returned with a steaming hot container of broth and tomatoes... except the original meal was seafood with shrimp, mussels, and fish. It was obvious the food had been lost and hastily replaced. Another friend had his leftover pizza dropped in the kitchen. To make up for it, they offered him a complimentary dessert... then actually charged him for it. The final straw was the interaction with the "manager." When one of our friends politely questioned her bill, he immediately became aggressive and said, "How can I fix this problem? I'm not a mind reader." Instead of listening, he became defensive from the start. He first offered about $80 worth of desserts, then agreed to remove part of the bill instead. A short time later, he returned and claimed he couldn't do anything because "the manager wasn't in yet"--despite presenting himself as the manager moments earlier. The entire interaction was rude, unprofessional, and completely unnecessary. The only bright spot of the evening was our waitress. She was kind, attentive, and clearly doing her best despite everything going wrong around her. Mistakes happen, but she handled herself with professionalism and kindness all night. Unfortunately, between the mediocre food, the multiple service failures, and the way management treated our group, this was not an experience I'd want to repeat. read more

2/21/26 I was craving an indulgence of carbs this evening and my go to choices (Sorella, Mangia Qui, Hearth, Cooper's Hawk) all had a 2+hour wait for a table. It's not even tourist season yet. Found La Bella Italia on Yelp showing available immediate reservations and decided to give it a try. Arrived at 6:30pm and it was busy but not packed. Husband and I were greeted and seated promptly but had about a 10 minute wait before a waiter came to bring water and inform us our waitress would be with us shortly. Another 5-7 min and the waitress came out. The waitress seemed nice but distracted or maybe very introverted. We started with the bread and butter and Insalata Di Cavalo (baby kale, apples, red onions, candied pecans, vinaigrette). The salad way yummy! The bread was decent (my husband would have wanted it warmer) not sure if the butter was just unsalted or if it was margarine but we didn't care for it. It was served with a bottle of oil and vinegar... A small oil dipping dish would have helped. We tried the bruschetta appetizer which was tasty but wish the basil would have been cut instead of one large leaf per toast. We realized at that point, the waitress never asked if we wanted drinks. I was only planning on drinking the water so it was no big deal to me. My husband caught the waitress at some point to request a drink. The big disappointment for the night was the Margherita pizza. I'm including a pic...but it was just cheese pizza, soggy bottomed at that. No fresh mozzarella, maybe there's some basil under the regular mozzarella, who knows. The cheese pizza flavor was average at best. Debated sending it back but my husband had been fasting all day and didn't want to wait for a new order. He ate 2 pieces, the rest was a waste. I ordered the salmon served over mushroom lemon risotto. We asked if there was any way to order a side of risotto for my vegetarian husband, but were told the chef was not willing to do it. Not really complaining about that since the risotto is not listed as an ala carte side. Salmon was cooked nicely. Crisp sear but not overdone on the inside. Risotto was only okay after all so it worked out they couldn't serve it as a side. I had to ask multiple times to see a dessert menu, waitress kept forgetting. I got a slice of the carrot cake. This was delicious but at $14 a slice it needed to be! Apparently it's made by their sister restaurant Steinhilbers (I haven't been there in years). Final note, the bathroom situation... There are 2 single room bathrooms for a restaurant holding up to 100 people. There is NO reason to label a single person bathroom as male or female. It just creates unnecessary waiting outside the "ladies room" Overall rating is probably a 3.5 but the service was lackluster, the bathroom thing annoyed me, and I'm still mad about the pizza... So I have to round it down to a 3. read more

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Great service and Ambiance. A few things on the food however: 1. Top of egg plant was a thick crust. 2. Spaghetti substituted for linguine by the kitchen. pasta is pasta... 3. Veal portion was thin and mostly crust and cheese. Bread was great. read more

I've passed La Bella Italia many times over the years but never stopped in so when my friend mentioned trying it out, I was all for it. La Bella Italia is actually the sister restaurant to Steinhilber's Restaurant, which I thought was pretty interesting. We arrived a little before 7pm and it was only a few people there. I've actually never seen the restaurant packed so I've always been skeptical of the food. Our server was very nice and asked for our drink orders as we looked over the menu. I ordered a Lemon Drop Martini while my friend ordered an Espresso Martini. My drink was alright, I've had better. Unfortunately, my friend didn't enjoy her drink at all and eventually switched it for a Chocolate Martini. I'm a huge fan of Fritto Misto, which is fried shrimp and calamari, so I started with that and decided on the Lasagna as well. As we waited for our food, we enjoyed the complimentary bread. The crust was hard but the inside was warm and soft. The butter tasted a bit like margarine so we opted to eat the bread without it. The Fritto Misto was fantastic and probably the best I've ever had! The seafood was seasoned, lightly fried and cooked perfectly! The Lasagna was pretty good, but it had a little too much meat for my liking. My friend ordered the Chicken Alfredo and she enjoyed it. As our server packed up our meals, he shared with us some items on the dessert menu and we were sold. My friend ordered the Double Chocolate Cake which was absolutely delicious, it was decadent and rich and paired wonderfully with her Chocolate Martini. I decided to try the Lemon-Berry Mascarpone Cake and it was good, very light and full of flavor. Our server gave us complimentary Cannolis which were great! Definitely stop in and try out La Bella Italia! I hate that I've missed out all these years but if you're craving Italian, definitely try them out! read more

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Come for Dinner, Stay for Dessert -- A Sweet Surprise at La Bella Italia I've had La Bella Italia on my radar for a while now, especially after enjoying their sister restaurant, and it came highly recommended by several friends. I finally got the chance to try it, and while a few things surprised me, overall, it was a lovely night out. To start, I was honestly shocked that fettuccine Alfredo wasn't listed on the menu -- it's such a staple dish! When I mentioned this to our server, he explained it's not officially on the menu, but you can still order it. I appreciated the flexibility, though they didn't actually have fettuccine noodles -- it was served with another type of pasta instead. The flavor was good, especially with the added chicken, but I really believe the fettuccine would've made it much better. The texture just wasn't the same without it. We also ordered cocktails to start the night -- I had an espresso martini, and my friend ordered a lemon drop martini. Both were tasty and well-balanced. No complaints there! The real star of the night, though? Dessert. Hands down, the dessert stole the show. I had the chocolate layered cake, and it was everything you'd hope for -- decadent, rich, and deeply satisfying. My friend ordered a cannoli, which she loved, but that chocolate cake paired with my chocolate martini (with hazelnut liqueur added)? Chef's kiss. It was the perfect pairing -- indulgent, luxurious, and unforgettable. My friend had the lasagna for her meal, and I tried a bite -- super hearty, super flavorful. I usually don't order lasagna out, but next time, I just might. Their sauce was rich and comforting in the best way. Overall, while the entrée portion of the evening had a few bumps, the drinks and dessert made up for it. I'd honestly come back just for the sweets and that chocolate martini. read more

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Nothing that was served was particularly good. The salmon, eggplant Parmesan and pasta all seemed to have been prepared earlier in the day and run in a microwave. read more

If I could give this restaurant zero stars, I would. Our visit was filled with miscommunication, poor service, and unnecessary rudeness from beginning to end. We were celebrating a birthday with a party of eight and were looking forward to a great dining experience, but unfortunately it turned into one disappointment after another. To start, we ordered eight meatballs. Before placing the order, I specifically asked our waitress if the meatballs were an appetizer, and she replied, "Yes, we can make that happen," then asked how many we wanted. I requested eight, assuming they were meant to be shared as an appetizer. At no point did she explain that they were actually side orders priced at $10 each. When the bill arrived, we were shocked to see an $80 charge for the meatballs. Had we been properly informed of the price, we never would have ordered them that way. Next, the pizza arrived soggy and appeared to be undercooked. The waitress attempted to make up for it by offering our friends two large cannolis. However, she incorrectly told them that the tiramisu they had ordered was not included as part of the compensation, so they still ended up paying for dessert. The birthday guest ordered the seafood gnocchi and had leftovers boxed to take home. When the box was returned, it contained only a few tomatoes and broth. After asking where the rest of her meal was, it was clear that most of her leftovers had never been packed. Thankfully, she checked the box before leaving the restaurant. The billing issues continued when another couple in our party discovered they had been charged gratuity twice, resulting in a 42% gratuity charge. I asked to speak with the manager. A man dressed in black with a red tie approached and said, "I hear we have an issue." I explained our concern about the $80 meatball charge and how we had never been informed they were $10 each. His response was rude and dismissive, simply stating, "They're on the menu." When I asked him to make it right, he replied, "Well, what do you want me to do? I'm not a mind reader." That comment alone was completely unprofessional and unacceptable. I even explained that I had worked as a waitress in the past and that a server should have informed guests that eight meatballs would total $80 before placing the order. Basic communication could have prevented the entire situation. He later returned to tell us that the actual manager was not there but would authorize taking half of the meatball charge off the bill. I wasn't asking for the entire $80 to be removed since the meatballs had already been eaten, but I did expect the restaurant to take responsibility for their lack of communication. Overall, the food was inconsistent, the service was disorganized, the billing contained multiple errors, and the manager's attitude toward resolving legitimate concerns was unacceptable. What should have been a fun birthday celebration ended up being a frustrating and disappointing experience. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant and will not be returning. read more

Service was excellent, even on a busy night. Our waitress was very polite and attentive. Food for the most part was great, except the pizza. The calamari and shrimp appetizer was fantastic, and my wife's pasta was delicious as well. I ordered a plain cheese pizza, and unfortunately the center of the pizza was very soft and undercooked. I will likely come back and try it again, as the kitchen may have been rushing a bit due to the amount of people in the restaurant. I was pretty disappointed though, I had heard good things about the pizza! read more

Great food and friendly people. We have been there often and will definitely continue to visit.

Best chicken marsola I've ever tasted. A little bit sweet but mixed with the wine flavor just right. It was so good that I am taking it home for later and with an extra side of pasta for only $6. The waitress was great, very attentive and nice. It was nice to see the manager come over and asked about our experience, which I was happy to let him know it was awesome. The vibe was clean, cozy, relaxing, and welcoming. read more

La Bella Italia - I had to stop myself from finishing this, that good - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Enjoy this place more every visit. Best mussels around, the prime of shelled seafood. Great bartenderess always aware of her bar patients. Atmosphere is upbeat and friendly. My other favorite Italian spot is Lidya's in mechanicsville. Different in many ways but very good in many ways. read more

La Bella Italia - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Excelant. Delicious. Worth all the time. Great staff. Been there 4 times. Keeps getting better.

All the sauces & dishes we had were richly flavorful. The caprese with huge mozzarella slices and fresh basil was an amazing salad. Service was great and accommodated our family and this spot was a perfect pre-race spot before the Shamrock half/full marathon! Highly recommend. read more

We just left this restaurant. We had high hopes, but we found it a rather blah experience. The barely average food was overpriced for what was actually served. Entrees did not include sides. A side of sautéed spinach or broccolini is an additional $10. The bread, which we had to ask for, was very disappointing, especially since they advertise themselves as a bakery. The most troubling aspect of our meal was the waiter's extremely overbearing cologne. It was so strong, I lost my appetite and couldn't even finish my meal. We won't be returning. read more

We moved from Virginia Beach in 2009 and this was our first opportunity to return. We knew when planning our trip that dinner at La Bella Italia was at the top of our list! We weren't disappointed! The food was delicious and my great grandson got his first taste of pizza margherita which he loved! I don't know when our next trip to Virginia Beach will be but La Bella Italia will definitely be at the top of the list for dinner!! read more

Came here on a Friday night with our family. The restaurant was full of people but still plenty of room for more. Our waitress was very attentive and patient with us, our parents are deaf so dining in can take a bit longer with translation. Three of us ordered the chicken Parmesan and one of us got the chicken Marsala. Everything was hot and season well. The bread and oil was one of my favorites. The tiramisu we got to go home and it was so yummy. read more

Solid! Delish. This is very nearby to my in-laws who eat here often and have been raving about it. After a tough day of moving we met here for carb loading with the family at 8pm. They close at 9 but our server was great and we didn't feel rushed at all. It is much more spacious inside than I thought with tons and tons of seating, a huge bar area with a lot of seating and a large back room with additional seating if needed. We tried several dishes and everything was wonderful. My stepdad got the rockfish of the day and loved it, we tried the bolognese and my in-laws got the carpaccio. Many of us got their caprese salad which was fresh and delicious with some very good mozzarella and fresh basil. Large portions for everything too. Easily shareable. We got French press coffee which was fresh and piping hot as well as tiramisu (bc it's my fav). Everything was great and we will be back soon!!! read more

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Enjoyed a great meal with great service. Food was delicious, dessert was decadent! David is the best server! Can't wait for my next visit! read more

La Bella Italia - Dessert! - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

We had three people in our party, celebrating our sister's birthday. The table bread was warm with a nice crunchy crust and soft center. For my entree, I had the chicken Marsala which was delicious! Large portion, I took half home. My sister's enjoyed their dishes as well. The only negative thing, they had no cannolis. That's ok, I will get one the next time I'm in. All in all, a great dining experience! read more

Food and service are excellent .recommend and will be going every time when I'm craving Italian food

Food, drinks and service was excellent. Awesome Italian restaurant. A great restaurant to celebrate a special occasion.

Food and Service was amazing. I had the Carbonara Con Bucatini. It was delicious. Then for dessert I ordered the Tiramisu (wish I would have taken pics). read more

As always, we really love this restaurant! The food is amazing! The service is fantastic! Thank you very much! Now bring back the Bucca!! read more

La Bella Italia is a huge Place plenty of seating we were a Party of Five my wife and I daughter son and one of his her sons and her daughter service was great the waiter knew what he was talking about and recommendations all the dishes came out rather quickly and we thoroughly enjoyed our food and most of us didn't have room for any kind of dessert I ordered their fried shrimp appetizer as my entree because they're huge love the place it is our go-to Italian restaurant read more

Food is delicious, the Ambiance is nice , service is great and friendly . A down home meal fresh ingredients oh and I love the bread loaves they give the customers to take home. read more

This place doesn't look like much from the outside, in a small strip plaza, but it was very nice inside! It was classic Italian small restaurant inside, semi formal, some people were in nice suits, other people were in T-shirt's and shorts! The vibe was friendly and welcoming! My husband and 2 year old son loved dinner! We started with a caprese! It was very fresh and light. I had a very good rigatoni bolognese! It was very flavorful! It was the perfect amount of food, generous portion! My husband tried the beer special that was recommended, it was nice! He tried the chicken Marsala, and it must have been good, bc I never got a bite! Overall a very good experience! The only weird thing I noticed was there was NO bread provided! A bread to sop up the rest of my meat sauce would have been great. read more

La Bella Italia - Caprese! - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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We came for coffee and dessert and found our new date night. Amazing cappuccino, caramel brûlée cheese cake and the tiramisu, blew us away. The waiter David was very welcoming and proper. Felt like we were family. Be back weekly perhaps. Highly recommend! read more

Joe. He's the man. Without him this joint is not the same. The food is excellent and, an exception at the oceanfront , is priced reasonably. read more

Under new management but as good as it used to be !!! Great atmosphere ! Great service! Delicious food! And a great experience!!!

Low key atmosphere for dinner with friends. Apps and entrees were good, service was fine. Reasonable prices for good food.

Great ambiance! Service was excellent and the food was very good. Wished the menu had more offerings.

Needed a nice place for an anniversary dinner and they did not disappoint. Ambiance and quality of the food was outstanding! read more

La Bella Italia - Lasagna and Veal Indorato - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Reserved a table. Din lighting table cloth setting can be casual to romantic. The fresh bread served with butter, olive oil and vinegar was a great starter. The Pollo Piccata with lemon caper vodka sauce was delectable. Service attire was elegant for the fine dining experience. This place I highly recommend. read more

La Bella Italia - Italian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Service was outstanding. Food and atmosphere were terrific. Prices were very reasonable. Great spot for date night!. Did not realize that La Bella was associated with Steinhilbers, another of our favorite restaurants. We will definitely be dining at La Bella again....soon! read more

Took a chance on this Italian restaurant while at the beach for my birthday weekend. I have passed it many times, so why not give it a try. I felt a bit underdressed when we walked in, the lights were dimmed and there were cloth tablecloths and lit candles on tables, we were even asked if we had a reservation. But, once seated, I saw a few others who were dressed down (it was very chilly out and i had ended up buying and wearing a sweatshirt). Our waiter, Hunter, who had seated us, brought us in stages; water, bread, olive oil, he took our drink orders, and Mike ordered calamari. It took forever for Hunter to take our actual dinner order. By the time we finished our meal, Hunter had thanked us at least three times for our patience. Unfortunately he never brought us the additional bread we had requested and he got a little snarky with me when we declined dessert. This is a pretty classy restaurant, and my lasagna was delicious. Mike enjoyed his calamari and said his chicken parmigiana was just about average, but the side of pasta tasted farm to table fresh and delicious. I only just felt kinda annoyed by the time we left and therefore I'm not sure I would go back. I enjoyed my view of the hardworking chef and cooks, our service was just lacking and disorganized. read more

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One of my favorite regular go to restaurants. Good food, good atmosphere, and great service all for a reasonable price.

Did a Togo order it was so good! The gluten free pasta so good. So happy to find Italian with gluten free options

I ordered the veal parmigiana and the shrimp, for once I thoroughly enjoyed my Italian meal. The pasta in Pomodoro sauce was absolutely delightful. The veal was wonderful. The bread came with tasted so good and fresh. And of course, the shrimp melted in your mouth. I picked the order up and it was wonderful even by the time I got home. I recommend this restaurant to everyone. When I entered the restaurant to pick up the food it was a very delightful atmosphere. James W. read more

Very nice place. They were playing Christmas music. Not a busy night so service was good. The bread was warm out of the oven, and came with olive oil and basalmic vinegar but no setup (cheeze, herbs) to dip. No presentation. Unfortunately we tried this place as I was looking for good, hot Italian sausage and good spaghetti. No hot sausage. The "sausage" looked and tasted like meatballs. The pasta looked like it had been soaked in marinara sauce overnight. I think the sauce should have been on fresh pasta. This was the way it was made at the other table. My wife had the seafood but clams were tiny and all fell out of the shells. She had to hunt for them in the pasta. Shrimp was very large. Overall, the best of the two meals. read more