I found out about this restaurant through one of my Yelp friends who didn't have the best experience here. I was reading this page and saw mixed reviews, so I decided to try it with my son and make my own determination. They have no parking but thankfully we found a spot on the side street. The restaurant is located on the ground level of an apartment building. They also have outdoor seating, but we sat inside. One restroom each for men/women (and super clean). We walked in and got a pleasant greeting from Mia. She was HANDS DOWN the best part of this experience and provided stellar customer service. She is so young and has a bright future ahead of her. Mia treated us with genuine kindness and was a pleasure to talk to during our dinner. She made sure we were well taken care of and our orders were to our exact specifications. This restaurant is very lucky to have someone as good as her working there. For our appetizers, we got the Cesar Salad ($17), Parmesan on the side, and Bruschetta ($17). I also asked Mia if they bring complimentary bread to the table and she said they do, upon request. She asked if we wanted olive oil or butter and I chose butter. My son and I both enjoyed the Bruschetta and thought it tasted very good. The bread was nicely toasted and the tomatoes were seasoned well. It was also a good portion, easily shareable between 2-3 people. The salad wasn't our favorite and we've definitely had better at other restaurants. The lettuce didn't taste too fresh and the dressing wasn't really that good. The portion size was good, though. For my entrée, I got the Spicy Rigatoni ($22) but I asked for it to be light on the spice and added shrimp (+$12). It tasted fine, nothing really to write home about. I had to ask Mia to microwave it for a minute because it wasn't hot. My son ordered the Chicken Parmigiana ($23) but asked for the chicken to be grilled instead of breaded. He said he enjoyed his dish and the tomato sauce had a good amount of garlic in it. For dessert, Mia was kind enough to bring out a complimentary Key Lime Cheesecake since she found out my son is celebrating his birthday in a few days. She was seriously impeccable. Honestly, the place is just really drab and boring. There isn't much decor and it feels like a slightly elevated diner that serves beer and wine. It was a Friday night and there was no one in there/no pickup orders. We were there from about 7:30pm-10pm when they closed and only 3 other parties came in. There is no music playing, which makes the atmosphere even more drab and lifeless. Its also super cold in there and I asked Mia to adjust the AC and even after she did, it was still cold. It's not an upbeat type of place at all but the food is decent and Mia's service is the best part. She herself is 10/5 stars, but for my overall experience, I'll stick with 4 stars this time. read more

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I think it is important to update this review because I got a detailed and thoughtful message from Belle, the owner. She explained that they were short-staffed and had two brand new servers last Sunday and that she was frantically trying to take care of the cooking and the serving as well as greeting newcomers. That explanation makes sense and had we known that, we might have chosen to forego the reservation that day or not been upset. I appreciate her taking the time to get back to us and being so candid and self-effacing. It seems it was a confluence of unfortunate factors that led to us having a sub-par experience at a respected restaurant. read more

3 stars because food was good (2 pastas + caprese salad) and complimentary mimosas. 1 star for service. It was extremely busy with the holiday so I understand the chaos, but they're severely understaffed and probably were not used to such a high volume at once. We waited over an hour for our food.. thankfully we were not in a rush. The manager and host/server were sweet and trying their best to handle it all. If there were a couple more cooks and servers it would've went smoothly. read more

La Bella Pinseria Romana - Spicy rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Glendale, California

Was feeling like Italian food, and was in Glendale. Had been to this restaurant before but it was rented our at the time for an event, so was unable to try it. The second time around was the charm. We got there, walked in and it was completely empty to the point we didn't know if it was open. But a host came out and sat us and the experience began. Being an Italian restaurant, they specialize in wines, so no cocktails this time around. We started out with the meatballs that come with San Marzano tomato sauce, stracciatella cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano and multiple crostinis. The meatball itself tasted bland inside, definitely needed seasoning. But if you cover each bite with the tomato sauce and the cheese, then you have flavor. And putting it all on a crustini made each but even better. But again, need to cover that meatball as it lacks flavor itself For entrees we tried the seafood pasta and the carbonara. The carbonara cooked with spaghetti noodles, not aldente at all. The noodles, themselves, also tasted like they were not seasoned, and the sauce on the pasta lacked that flavor profile you come to expect from a good carbonara. The guanciale was decent, could have been a little more crispy for texture. As for the seafood pasta, the seafood inside was ample and tasty. The linguine noodles and tomato sauce tastes pretty basic, needed some salt and pepper to boost up the flavor. Overall, for an Italian restaurant, there are much better ones around Los Angeles. But, for Glendale, it is decent. Can't recommend you to run out and try it immediately but, if you're in the area and happen to be craving Italian, it will hit that itch but you'll still be left wishing it was here read more

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Very generous portions and prompt service! I've been here a couple with my family. It may not be very fancy like similar nearby Italian restaurants but it feels very local and homey. It was cute to see the owner with her four month old child who was very quiet. The one downside is the seasoning needs some improvement. I had to put salt and pepper on the dishes. read more

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This was a super cute and intimate place. We sat inside as it was cold and rainy when we went but they had a cute outdoor area and it was nicely decorated for holiday. The staff was really nice but I could tell the server was alone so it took a while to get her at times but the food came out hot and was very delicious. I had the shrimp scampi and my boyfriend had the chicken parmigiana. He said his was good but the bread was too thick and slid off the chicken. I love my scampi and would definitely get it again. Also had the La Bella Salad which wish i had more of even though the portion was big enough for 2 lol. I will say I'd rather it was goat cheese other than that i would recommend it. read more

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Had the La Bella Salad and it was fresh, light, and really well made. Exactly what I was in the mood for. Huge shout-out to Maya, our server. She was genuinely kind, very attentive without hovering, and had great timing. She checked in on us, made sure everything was right, and did it all in a way that felt natural and friendly, not forced. You could tell she actually cares about the guests and the experience, and that really stood out. Great food, great service. Will definitely be back. read more

La Bella Pinseria Romana - Inside - Italian Near Me - Glendale, California

Walked in on a busy Friday night and were seated right away. It was pretty packed and there were a couple of big parties present so it was a little loud in there but more than understandable and expected. The servers told us everything is made to order and they are pretty busy so it would take a little bit to get our food out, which we appreciated because we were in a bit of a time crunch, however our food came out fairly quickly for how busy it was. The only thing that was a little disappointing was the garlic bread, the pastas, the salad, bruschetta, they were all delicious. Again it was a busy night so I understand why the garlic bread could've gotten put to the side in the kitchen, however the bread itself was a delicious addition to eat with the pasta. 4.8/5 will definitely come back and try the rest of the items on the menu! read more

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Stopped by on 12/31 for dinner. Unfortunately was understaffed with only one server but we were not in a hurry as it was an early dinner. They did close early for a private NYE party, though the staff for the party could have helped the overwhelmed single server. Food was good and filling. We shared some appetizers and each got pizza or pasta entrees. The four pork pizza was a little salty, but probably expected. The pastas were all pretty filling and generous with the meats. Ample street parking just read the signs. Meters on Central or take your chances in the neighborhood. read more

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Super salty, not that great service, female host was not very happy to be working, she only smiles at man, and is kinda dismissive with females. I definitely don't recommend this place not Italian , not healthy, super salty food read more

I had reservation for two on Mothers Day. We arrived 10 minutes early and no one came to greet us. The restaurant was crowded and noisy with two tables of at least 10 people each in the back and two tables of 6 towards the front. We quickly surmised that there was exactly one waitress, being bossed around by a woman who seemed to be the manager/owner. After 15 minutes we grabbed the poor woman to ask for water. Another 10 minutes passed before we got the water. More people arrived. The sole waitress was running wild trying to serve everyone by herself. One of the tables of 6 had to go ask the owner if they were ever getting their food. Meanwhile the owner brought a plate to the other table of 6 that they didn't order. The waitress kept apologizing and greeted everyone with a big smile. I wanted to leave money for her but was afraid she wouldn't get it. We left and won't be back. read more

We came here for a nice Christmas dinner date night and we were in a mood for pasta. We had made reservations to make it easier to avoid any potential wait time. We ordered the bruschetta and broccilini as appetizers and we were pleasantly surprised. The bruschetta was so tasty, I'd say it's the one thing that draws me back to eat here again. The bread was nice and crunchy, the tomatoes and burrata fresh, and the basil garlic olive oil topping was so delicious. The broccolinis were cooked perfectly and had a bit of spice for a small kick. For the main course, I got the carbonara and my boyfriend got the fettuccine alfredo with chicken. I enjoyed the creaminess of the pasta, but it was a tad bit salty to me and it definitely could have been from the bacon. The bacon chunks were a considerable size and if you love bacon, they do not skimp on how much is in there. The fettuccine alfredo was just as creamy and flavorful, I enjoyed sneaking a bite or two off the plate. The fresh aged parmesan grated into it is very strong, so expect that cheesy flavor if you're not a fan. Overall, this is definitely a spot added on my list when I'm in the mood for a taste of italian. read more

Love coming for the great food and atmosphere. Underestimated the portion sizes so my family and I ended up taking a bunch of leftovers home. Personal favorites were the Cesar salad, margarita pizza, and pappardelle. The pizzas had crunchy crusts with gooey cheese and a bunch of flavor. Unfortunately service could've been a bit better. Made a reservation for a birthday but was left standing around for a bit before a server came to us. read more

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We came here for the Italian food and we were not disappointed. It's a nice classy restaurant that's perfect for all occasions. The service is very professional, friendly, and helpful. The food that we ate was amazingly solid. Their bone marrow was my favorite! We would totally come here again! Parking can be a bit tricky but you will most likely have to street park! read more

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This place is a hidden gem in downtown Glendale! I have been here many times with friends with kids and family. Haven't tried everything on the menu yet but tried most! My absolute favorites are the meatball spaghetti and spicy rigatoni. The staff are also very friendly and kind! From the chef to the waiter to the host - they all make us feel welcomed. Ambiance is overall cozy and warm. read more

It's a very average place. Saturday night and empty, only us and another table. We were surprised for a Saturday night how empty it was. Food is mediocre. Carbonara was dry and it didn't taste like traditional Carbonara, some weird taste it had, not sure what are they putting in there. Service was good, restaurant wasn't busy after all. Being a so called Italian restaurant a bread basket and olive oil with balsamic vinegar would be nice to have on table while waiting for our meal. No they don't serve that. The outdoor is very lovely with colourful lights. We took some pictures and they came out beautiful with lights. read more

What an amazing service. From first interaction where we had parking challenges to service and attention to details, to tasty food. Everything was great and staff and manager were very attentive to details. The food was amazing and the flavors mashed well. Definitely coming back on my next visit to Los Angeles read more

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Worth the try: try the pinsas, whichever sounds good to you! Tip: pinsa is different from pizza! It's a type of flatbread, a Roman style of hand-pressed dough made from a blend of premium quality flours, rice, soy, and wheat, making it a healthier alternative to pizza. Calamari ($19): calamari fritti, fried pickled jalapeños, piquillo pepper sauce, lemon meyer aioli. Burrata Pinsa ($20): San Marzano tomato sauce, burrata, grana panado (cheese), Calabrian chiles, arugula, oregano. Generous amounts of buratta on each piece. The dough is crunchy. The peppers add a nice touch. Casarecce ($26): short twisted pasta with bone marrow, wild mushroom, veal reduction, and parmigiano-reggiano. A very rich dish. The pasta was nicely al dente, the bone marrow added great flavor. Overall great but wish they added more Parmesan on top. PARKING: Lots of nearby street parking, easily found a spot on a weekday. Could be a different story on the weekend. SERVICE: AMAZING service!! The servers greeted us by our first names through the night and made sure we had everything we needed. Truly made us feel like family here. AMBIANCE: Lovely restaurant in Downtown Glendale. Spacious with lots of tables. Perfect for date nights, groups, or those looking for an Italian fix. My partner and I were craving Italian and stumbled upon this place. Compared to other Italian restaurants nearby, this place is affordable with generous portions. I'm usually skeptical about Italian places, but this place is a reliable go-to spot! read more

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Not busy at all on a Tuesday dinner time- and I can see why. Service was OK. - Caprese Salad 4.2/5 Different with the pesto. It's refreshing and light tasting. - Seafood Pasta 3.8/5 For an Italian place, they sure overcook the noodles. The sauce is not too creamy and not too tomato-y. Ask for red pepper flakes and hot sauce: add that in. Several pieces of mussels and shrimp. They cooked the shrimp well. - Margarita Pizza 2.1/5 Tastes like cheese pizza with a sad basil on top. The crust tastes good but overall it's a disappointing pizza. Would not get the margarita again. It definitely needed more sauce. - Limone dessert 4.4/5 It's refreshing, light, and not too sweet. It would get a 5 if it tasted more fresh. Tastes like it's been made days before and kept in the fridge. Street paid parking. read more

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This place is amazing! We are regulars now! The host is a sweetheart and the food is delicious 10/10 give this place a try! You won't regret it! Very attentive staff! And the ambiance is very cozy and elegant! read more

This place was sooo good ! Me and the bf got the funghi misti pinsa (mushroom pizza), the alla salsiccia pinsa (oh my god the round soft pork meatballs on this pizza were DIVINEEEEEEeee), the carbonara, spaghetti bolognese, calamari, garlic bread, and key lime pie. They were all excellent but my favorite was the carbonara because I am quite the carbonara lover Maya was our server and she was also amazing. She was impeccable on timing and knew exactly when to come to the table to help us box up stuff we couldn't finish as the courses came so that we could have more space on our table but she also didn't rush us and checked with us if we were still enjoying certain dishes instead of just taking them which is always something that has taken away or detracted from my experience so I'm glad she didn't do that :) she was also so nice and gave us such good energy Overall a very lovely experience. We will be back now :) thank you La Bella Pinseria Romana read more

The food is just Ok. Nothing special and not as authentic. The issue I had was the service. The guy waiter has no business being a waiter. I know times are tough but he need a ton of training. He screwed up on everything. Our food was wrong, we asked for lemon in our iced teas and that didn't happen. Excuses for everything when the place was empty per usual. He is also not pleasant. Do you selves a favor and hire someone else. read more

Wow I'm so sad this place used to be so good when it first opened. They had amazing pizza they would bring out fresh (house bread) with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette complementary. We ordered (Garlic bread) never got it but was on our bill. We ask for fresh jalapeños got pickled I rather them say they don't have any instead of bring out a substitutions. we asked for a burrata pizza instead we got I can't even describe what we got in words but it was not what we expected. we took off a lot of the cheese and pushed it to the side because it was a overload. We ate the pizza anyways because we were starving. When the server came around, we didn't want to make him feel bad so when he asked if it was good, we just said yes it was out of respect. Overall for us personally it was not the same service or experience in taste we have gotten before. we wish the business best of luck and hope it improves for the better in the future. read more

La Bella Pinseria Romana - Italian Near Me - Glendale, California

A great place in a centralized location without much foot traffic, so I thought it was important to provide a review in the hopes that they stick around for years to come. Our party of 4 was the only one in the dining room at 11:30, although other diners did eventually come. Good, authentic-tasting food at sensible prices (even these days), with earnest, albeit distracted service---I suspect it's family owned. I've eaten here 3 times and look forward to enjoying the food again in the future. read more

Not only do I highly recommend this superstar restaurant, I try to eat there as much as possible. Everything on the menu is a winner...I end up ordering too many dishes because it is so delicious. The challenge is to not eat so much you don't have room for the amazing desserts! Then the great service puts it on my Five Star List! read more

Food was great , service was bad /OK . I just moved to the neighborhood and I went to walk over and put an order . As I walking up she is outside. She did not greet me . Rather stood her ground and looking at me daringly . and I asked her if she's the hostess and if I can see a menu. Finally letting me inside . She given weird vibes, asking me why I don't order online , like she's mad to have a customer sitting inside her restaurant ? I think to myself , Well lady because my balcony looks at your store front , and I can do what I want ! I just told her I live across the street , she was very unkind to me , yet when another group of women enter she greeting them warmly , yet giving me that third degree "WHY YOU DONT ORDER ONLINE AND PICK UP " Ok sorr-yyy !!! Phew my business was not appreciated . read more

La Bella Pinseria Romana - Mucho grosero - Italian Near Me - Glendale, California

Wanted Italian and found this place. Figured it had decent reviews so we would try it. Overall, not a bad experience but I wouldn't venture back. The pasta and sauces were decent but you have to ask for bread and when we did, it was dry and over toasted. On top of that the soda is really experience back Fs a can so no refills. I would have liked to known that up front and I would have just gotten water instead and saved myself nearly $5. Also, the portion sizes are pretty small, especially for the cost. I will say, our server was friendly enough, the bathrooms were clean and the place was decorated cute. However, trust, there are better Italian places in the area. I wouldn't waste your time on this one. read more

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Visited on New Year's Day with my boyfriend and his parents as it's halfway between where we live, so I'm not familiar with the area or this restaurant. It seemed like a somewhat fancier spot for dinner to celebrate the new year and my boyfriend and his father's birthday. Decor is excellent, and we appreciated that they were dog friendly for my therapy dog. Unfortunately, the place was horribly understaffed and this caused a few issues that makes this a place I'd need to try again to actually recommend it to anyone. They apologized and did the best they could, but looking at other reviews this seems like a common occurrence for this restaurant. Our drinks were totally forgotten (thankfully I was able to get someone's attention after getting my meal to get my wine) and there was no one to check on us or even refill our water. The menus were left on the table, and the food came out bit by bit instead of all together. The food was decent but not really worth the price point. I appreciated that the Lobster Ravioli wasn't fishy tasting, which can happen at lower quality places, but the plating left a lot to be desired. It was also lacking some serious seasoning. Seemed on par with Olive Garden to be honest. For nearly $30 I guess I just expected a bit more pizazz. Speaking of, the pizza was actually really good. The dough was so flavorful and they didn't skimp on the toppings. Clearly I should have opted for their signature item here instead of pasta. I also feel like salad or bread is a low cost way to add value to the meal and make it feel like it's worth the $25-$30 price point for personal pizzas and pasta. Plus when you're understaffed it gives your guests something to munch on while they wait... and we waited a good long time for our food. I hate to be the one asking for something in exchange for a poor experience, but there didn't seem to be any manager or authority figure to even apologize for the slow service. Just some understandably stressed servers... Overall, it truly wasn't bad. Overpriced will happen in southern California, and if you stick to just pizza and maybe shell out for an appetizer on a day they're not understaffed you'll be fine. If I find myself in the area again perhaps I'll pop in and see if there are more stars in their future. read more

La Bella Pinseria Romana - Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Glendale, California

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I love this gem! Venture off of Brand to Central, get away from the crowded streets and grab some great Italian food and wine. I'm walking distance to plenty of spots but often come here! Great food, great service. Bright, clean, cozy and has a lovely vibe! read more

The casarecce is so good with the bone marrow and mushrooms but it is a bit salty. Meanwhile the pasta is creamy with mushrooms which my personal favorite . I would definitely come back to try other dishes tho. Our waiter was patient and quick in our orders. The ambience of the restaurant was charming and elegant and would make a good birthday dinner or date night. read more

La Bella Pinseria Romana - Casarecce - Italian Near Me - Glendale, California

Everything tasted great, service was awesome, the place was nice and intimate. Parking though--is quite horrible.

We ordered food and after one hour of wait we left our table. There were 3 or 4 more tables that had been waiting for their food for over an hour, and people were frustrated with the service and arguing with the manager. The waiters consistently delivered wrong plates to the wrong tables. Unfortunately, all of this ruined the Mother's Day lunch for my mom and my wife. read more

Everything was Amazing from the tasty food to the friendly service they had from A to Z, highly recommend for family gatherings. Maya was very professional and made my daughter and friends feel like home and have the best time ever, can't wait to visit again! read more

Absolutely terrible terrible service. Online reservation apparently does work? Don't go here

Sadly our experience was short and disappointing. We never got to eat the food, so this review isn't about the culinary offerings. What was so off-putting was the server. She seemed harried and irritated by our questions about the menu. She left us alone for quite some time so when one of our party, who arrived after the others had ordered, was finally able to order, she rushed him and was rude. We decided to leave before spending any money. The rest of the evening (at a different restaurant) turned out great. read more

Terrible service and rude. Staff is terrible, so bad that we couldn't even eat there.

Came here on a Thanksgiving for dinner and the interior decorations is so pretty! We ordered La Bella Salad, Calamari, truffle fries, and broccolini as appetizers. The broccolini surprised all of us - super tender and the garlic flavor is so fragrant! The portions are great for sharing! For entrees, we each ordered a pasta / ravioli and ordered the Margherita pinsa to share. I ordered the Casarecce pasta (bone marrow pasta with wild mushrooms) and it was delicious! Wish the bone marrow had more marrow inside and would be nice if it's creamier but overall a very solid dish! Although it is slightly on the saltier side, it pairs well with the La Bella salad we ordered. We rounded out our dinner with pecan pie (Thanksgiving special) and the bread pudding. Both are delicious! The bread pudding is warm and the texture is just right - not too dense and not too airy! Service is really good as well! Definitely check it out if you are in the area! read more

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This is a relatively new restaurant, and since I'm new to Glendale and a big fan of Italian food, I decided to give it a try. It is a delightful establishment, a bit off the beaten path, but lovely inside. Our server Michael was awesome and quite helpful in telling us about the available entrees and other items. We started with the La Bella Salad, which was fresh and flavorful. My friend ordered the salmon with risotto and said it was excellent. I had the eggplant parmigiana appetizer -- the flavor was good, and the sauce was delicious, though the eggplant itself was a bit thick and slightly undercooked. We ended the meal with the crème brûlée, which was also very good. Great experience, and I will return. read more

We had the Prosciutto Di Parma pizza. The best pizza ever! The pasta carbonara and calamari were great too. The place is cute and the hostess, Maya was wonderful. We will return to try the other items in the menu. read more

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I came here for a holiday work party and I did not expect the food to be this amazing! I'm already planning on coming back here again. La Bella Salad: 5/5 It was super fresh. The tomatoes and dressing paired well together. I also liked that the ratio of salad to dressing was good. Not too much dressing. Gamberoni All' Aglio: 4/5 Mussels: 4/5 The sauce that came with it was really good. Calamari: 5/5 I liked that it also came with deep fried jalapenos too! It came with two different sauce, and the jalapeno in the orange sauce was bomb. Seafood Pasta: 5/5 The shrimp that came with it was a nice juicy size, it was peeled for you up until the tail. Pappardelle (Braised Short Rib Pasta): 4/5 I would give the short rib a 5/5 because it was so tender and flavorful. The pasta and the sauce that came with it was okay. Casarecce (Bone Marrow Pasta): 5/5 I don't know what it was called... But I think it's this one? I really enjoyed the cheese on this pasta! It was subtle, but super sharp at the same time. I was sad I was so full already. But I'll definitely get this again. Funghi Misti Pizza: 4/5 It was toasted really well. Salmon (Risotto with salmon): 5/5!! I really enjoyed this plate as well. This one ran out really fast at our table. The risotto was bursting with flavor. Budino di Pane (Bread pudding): 4/5 It was spongy, not too sweet. read more