My family and friends had just gotten off the Polar express train ride looking for a place to grab a bite to eat before heading home. All 12 of us ( 6 adults 6 children ) didn't have a clue where to go. La Bella Via just happened to be on the way for all of us to head home so we stopped and tried it. We all had a little bit more than an hour ride home so didn't want to take to long. To accommodate us they had to setup tables and chairs which took about 10 minutes which wasn't to bad. They set us up in our own area which was great for the other patrons cause of the kids ( which by the way they were great and well behaved ). We started out with wings and calamari both were very tasty and came out very quickly. The children had pasta which was easy enough the adults ordered whatever they wanted. My wife had salmon and pasta which was very good and reasonably priced at 18.99$, I had eaten before so I just had an appetizer of clams and mussels very good. The staff was on point the whole time with drinks cleaning plates and whatever else we needed. If In the area again we would definitely go back, also plenty of parking. read more

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We ate here again recently, the food was not good, and our service was lousy, most likely due to our waitress taking numerous smoke breaks, as she reeked of cigarettes.. I won't go back here again. read more

Just celebrated my sister-in-law's baby shower at La Bella Via! Sal and his staff were amazing! Everyone raved about the food, the room was nicely set up and the staff were attentive and friendly! Thank you Sal for making this experience wonderful! read more

La Bella Via - Baby shower 2016 - Italian Near Me - Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Great place, good food especially the chicken cacciatore and clams. The owner is friendly and the place is clean .

Our favorite Italian restaurant in the area. Everything is delicious, love the eggplant parm, lasagna, pizza and in-house made pasta, red sauce and garlic bread. Never came away disappointed! read more

Tried this place out because the reviews were very good. Great pizza! I always go for a plain to get a feel for the crust and taste. So good! And this coming from a previous east NJ pizza family tavern owner. Loved everything! I may order the crust to be "well" done next time, love an almost burned bottom. Wonderful gentleman answered the phone and answered my questions. Think he was at the counter when I picked up. So friendly. He said he makes the bread for sandwiches and all pasta too! Very excited to try both on my next visit! read more

terrible,,terrible horrible horrible service!!! my wife took me out for my birthday. welllllll, parking lot was packed. went inside we were finally seated. plenty of seats available??? when the person informed us that we are out of menus?? we need to wait until menus are finished being looked at??? ok. so we waited and waited ...... we witnessed a few new customers being seated. they were given menus.. after a few other groups came in, one party directly next to our table and given menus, we decided to leave! go somewhere else that gives better service! read more

My husband and I stopped in for dinner. He did not like his Spaghetti with (paltry) 2 Meatballs (sauce was "special" Nonna's) and while I was able to finish my (also paltry) portion of (just ok) eggplant PARM, I could not finish my pasta with sauce because it tasted awful. I also had crab bisque for appy and it was equally as awful. Let me add the conversation between the 2 waitresses by our table griping about having too many tables. Very unprofessional! read more

Food was very good! Would've given this more stars but I was disappointed with our server. She was very polite and friendly. But we asked if the meatballs were pork because my husband does not eat pork at all. She said she would check for us. She left for a few minutes and came back to ask if we were ready to order. We said yes and asked her again about the meatballs, and she said that the meatballs were all beef. Later then we found out from the owner after talking to him that the meatballs are a mixture between beef and pork. If she didn't know she shouldn't have said it was all beef. What if he didn't eat pork due to religious reasons, or allergies? Disappointed because the food was good and the server was very friendly, but I didn't like that she said they were all beef when she didn't know. read more

I have been eating food here for years and even had my wedding rehearsal here. The sauce is boss here. The pasta is made from scratch. My favorite is the eggplant rollintini, gnocchi specials, garlic knots, and seafood scalapinia. The bread is also home made and great. The pizza is also good, especially the deep dish. The service has always been great but you might wait a little if its really busy. I see some of these other reviews and either they are competition or just crazy never can please kind of people. read more

Bad service this evening. Food took forever and was sloppy. Came here on suggestion of a friend but I don't know how this place stays in business. I'm disappointed and actually angry the food and visit was so poor. Waste of money. read more

We went here again and the bolognese with homemade fettuccine was out of this world! I had the leftovers today for lunch and it was still incredible. I love this place! read more

Don't waste your time with this place. Much better Italian at better prices in the area. Service was very slow, restaurant was very chilly and the food was plain. Marinara was flavorless and the pasta was way too thick. Marsala sauce and chicken was very plain and pasta was doughy. Owner could care less about customer satisfaction. Definitely won't be back! read more

Staff is friendly. Owner is very friendly. Food is solid. Be sure to have the garlic bread with cheese with anything you choose.

This was my first experience at La Bella Via and I was very surprised. I think when you go to a place that you have never eaten at you expect it to be great. This experience was great like 4.5 stars out of 5. Service - Awesome. Micha was great and friendly. Food - Off the charts awesome. Best chicken parm I have had in a long time. Atmosphere - Family atmosphere. Bar - Yes, full bar to sit at and have a drink and even a great spot to sit while waiting for your take out. I had a chance to meet the owner and he was friendly, showed me there amazing pizza oven that fits over 30 pies. It has a spinning wheel that has a bank safe type wheel that turns what looks like a lazy susan. Just awesome. Coming from a food background, it was very interesting to see this pizza oven that takes up a huge piece of real estate in the kitchen (which you can see right in) I will be back, and very soon. Highly recommended, so go there, eat and enjoy an atmosphere that is fit for everyone. Thank you again! Chris read more

I have been coming here for years and love the food. Owner was always friendly and service was prompt. Tonight was a different story. Service was horrible!!! It took 15 minutes for the waitress to greet us, another 30 for salad and soup then another 30 for dinner. The drinks and plates sat empty in the table forever. All this happening as the owners wife sat right behind us. The restaurant wasn't even busy. Waitress never asked how things were or if we needed anything else. It was drop the food and run away and hide for 30 minutes. A party of 6 came in after we ordered our food and began eating way before us. I can't believe how downhill this place went. read more

I held a party for my son's baptism at La Bella Via and it was an absolute pleasure to host an event there. The event coordinator worked with me to answer all of my questions and concerns in a very timely manner along the way. Dealing with a newborn can be time consuming and I did not have to worry about my sons baptism party at all as the staff at La Bella Via had everything under control from the day I booked. They told me whenever I needed to confirm details and were very receptive to the last minute changes I had. The price was reasonable and the food was delicious. We received many comments from our friends and family saying how good the buffet was. I wouldn't hesitate to hold future events at La Bella Via and believe that any local friends and family who attended my party would consider La Bella Via for future events! read more

Great little Italian restaurant. Was there for 1/2 bottle of wine night and had shrimp and scallops that was to die for. If I'm ever in the area again will definitely seek this place out. read more

Terrific food!! I used the catering service last weekend for a small party. The food was delicious! I ordered four small trays - two of which were vegetarian. The food was ready for pickup at the time promised and ordering was very easy. I highly recommend La Bella Via for your next party or gathering! read more

Very unsatisfactory if I say so myself, got here at 2:15 told the waitress we wanted our soup since we were waiting for friends never got it until 2 hours later. Waitress was very slow and unprofessional had to keep asking for drinks. Pasta was not cooked all the way. Will never go here again read more

Consistantly good , great service family owned restaurant . I have been going there for years and gave never gad a complaint

A really good place from ambiance to service and the food is great! Every person at our table was fully impressed with there order and amazing to note the pasta seems to be homemade.... Can't say enough about how good everything was. read more

Recently went here for lunch, and while the food was average at best, the service was slow and frequently our order was incorrect. I have been here twice with the same issues. I would rate this place a zero if possible read more

My mother in law lives in Easton, so whenever we visit we stop in for some homemade pasta. La Bella Via is a quaint family owned Italian restaurant with great homemade pasta dishes as well as a variety of non-pasta options. The service is unbelievable and the portions are very large! The broccoli rabe with cavatelli is a must and our waitress Megan was a doll. read more

Ordered three pizzas to be picked up, spent over $50, and they were terrible. The pepperoni was completely soaked in grease. The mushroom was only cooked around the edges so that when you tried to take a slice you only got half off it, and the rest was stuck to the box. The sausage was the only edible pie, and I've had much better. I don't know about the rest of their food, but after that experience I wouldn't bother to go back and possibly waste more money. It's just not with it read more

Ate at La Bella Via 6/25/2020 3:15 p.m. outside sitting with a friend who been craving pizza. Ordered Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza while eating Pizza discovered a long human hair swimming in the oil of pizza. Immediately lost appetite, called over waitress. After showing her the hair in Pizza she apologized, but then asked if we needed us to wrap up the rest of the pizza to take home. No I did not have her wrap up the Hair Pizza. I asked for Bill paid and yes I did leave the waitress a tip. (She was friendly and did her job) During visit cook (his clothing had flour and stains as if preparing food) and probably owner had come to table to talk when arrived. As we waited for food cook and 2 waitresses were prepping restaurant: our waitress even assisted pulling weeds with gloved hands by roadway sign as the cook adjusted the sign. After being asked if I would like to take home a Pizza with hair in it home I'm replaying all the events of my meal. Did the waitress change her gloves after pulling the weeds or just grab our food when it was ready. The cook had been messing with the roadway sign and doing other cleaning. He did not change his clothes after working on sign but went back to kitchen and plated up Pizza. I support local and especially small businesses but in the mist of Covid-19 cleanliness is a necessity. This restaurant need to make changes to ensure safety of their customers. I cannot see in kitchen but by what I experienced and was able to witness I do not feel safe eating at this restaurant. Besides hair in food I truly believe probably not wearing mask and/or gloves when preparing food. Also cross cross-contamination if going from cleaning to food interaction without changing gloves. read more

Have been coming to this restaurant for a few years... However the service tonight was horrible. 20 minutes to get salad 20 more for dinner. Glasses sitting empty on the table for about 15 minutes while the owners wife sits at the bar (3 feet away from our table). Not sure where the service has gone. Other tables have gotten served before we did even though we ordered before. Last time we eat at this restaurant. Please make sure you have ample time of dining here. read more

We love La Bella Via! Never a bad meal, from pasta to pizza to fish and veal. Our family has been going years. The service is prompt and friendly. It is family owned and operated. Sal and crew also do a great job catering. read more

This place came personally recommended to me by a chef. I dunno, maybe it was an off night. It took more than 1/2 hour to receive our pizzas. Our server did not come and tell us anything about the progress of our order; it felt like she was avoiding us. Finally, she brought us plates and told us "this oven takes longer than most ovens," by way of explanation, but don't brick ovens get crazy super hot? I don't buy it. It's not her fault that it took a while, but she could have managed the situation much better. The pizzas were just okay, after all that wait. The cheese was greasy on my son's and the crust was crispy but tasteless. I'm going back to Sette Luna for my thin-crust pizza needs. read more

not impressed , ive eaten here 4 times in the past couple of years , its ok, but for the money i think ill go another mile down the street to sette luna read more

great food and great service would recomend for anyone looking for good itialain food. the soup was amazing

I've eaten here twice, the first time my boyfriend and I had the brick oven pizza. It was great. The second time we ordered out and i had the shrimp scampi and he had the lasagna. The lasagna was good but the shrimp scampi was not. It didn't taste like restaurant quality. it was more like I tried making it myself. It didn't have any flavor and I was sadly disappointed. I think I will just stick to the brick oven pizza in the future. read more

We've given this place more than enough chances. Every time we come back the same issues arise. Pasta is often way over cooked and mushy, and service is inattentive at best. The owner seems rather indifferent when problems arise and never cares to visit tables who have complaints/issues with the food. While some things on the menu are decent, there is definitely better Italian food in the area read more

After passing La Bella Via many times over the past 4 years on our way to the Free Bridge to get to Lafayette College, three of us decided to dine here last Sunday afternoon. I wished we had stopped here sooner! We were promptly seated in their comfortable dining room. After our order was taken, we were served complimentary fresh rolls with seasoned olive oil, a great start to any Italian meal. Two in my party enjoyed a generous salad. Their balsamic dressing was especially delicious, while one opted for a terrific Italian Wedding soup. Two of us had eggplant rollatini which came with a very large side of angel hair pasta. I had broccoli rabe with sausage over linguini. Again, a very generous and delicious portion. They also have a full bar and decent wine list. The Chianti went very nicely with the main course. The wait service was pleasant, well informed and prompt, and on our way out, the chef greeted us and inquired about our meal, a very nice touch as it showed pride in their cuisine. read more

My boyfriend and I have been here several times. We enjoyed it so much that we celebrated Moms 75th birthday there. Cheryl is awesome; but the entire place has a friendly atmosphere. We had the Godfather Pizza which was amazing with the fresh Mozz, artichokes and my favorite fresh basil on a thin crust. Trust me you won't be sorry. read more

I try to eat here whenever I can! Home made pasta, gnocchis, home made red "gravy" (Marinara sauce), great pizza...What's not to like? I have eaten here with friends from central Jersey and they don't mind driving 70 miles to eat here! read more

Enjoyable place with good Italian food and service. The owner and staff are good people. Try the delicious food.

Taking the family on the Polar Express train in Phillipsburg. La Bella Via is one of the two restaurants recommended on the trains website. I called 2 1/2 weeks before the date and spoke to Sal. I told him we had a party of 24. He took our reservation but told me we would be scattered around the restaurant. I didn't object to this because the reviews I read were favorable. I told him we would probably be ordering some pizzas and would it be helpful if we called ahead of time to tell him how many. He said not really. Today, 2 days after Sal took my reservation, he called to tell me that he wouldn't be able to accommodate me and canceled my reservation. He said he overbooked and that a party he had booked called with their menu so he wouldn't be able to take us. He did offer to give me a name of another restaurant since we just wanted "a bunch of pies". This is really bad business. I am very upset that because he felt we just wanted "a bunch of pies" that he felt he could make more money with other tables. Sal also said hey I'm giving you 2 weeks notice and I said I also made my reservation 2 1/2 weeks before the date we needed. If his kitchen can't handle the customers, maybe he needs to rethink the business. I guess they just don't need our money. read more