Garlic Knotts were doughy and filled with flavor. Main entrees were fantastic, I am not a fan of chicken typically, and the chicken was cooked perfectly on both dishes. Moist and full of flavor. The chicken piccata sauce was EXCELLENT. Found myself eating it with a spoon when the dish was done. The special with seafood was also tasty. Seafood was cooked well, and was an enjoyable dish Lemon ricotta cheesecake was also delicious. Everything had a great presentation and staff were super accommodating answered all of our questions, and provided an excellent experience and 5 star service. I recommend giving this place a try. On top of everything else the dishes are reasonably priced! read more

Special was a Spanish stew with fabulous ingredients, lobster, fish, mussels, scallops, shrimp, etc. But then comes the bad news. It was in a red marina sauce!!! Total disaster. A nice seafood clear broth would have made the dish perfect. I ate it because it cost me $50.00. read more

It is always delightful to visit the Samoset resort. The decor is beautiful and every is in a happy mood. The staff at La Bella Vita keep up the tradition of making you feel like a special guest and do their best to ensure that you are happy. The food at La Bella Vita is rather simple lounge food, but it is very well prepared and delicious. Our table had the fish sandwich, which was very well prepared, and the vegetable soup with the coolest breadstick. Unfortunately it was eaten before I could snag a picture. We had a wonderful time looking out at the ocean. read more

Absolutely delicious!! My 85 year old Italian mother treated my sisters and i for the night. Food was incredible!

We have all had wonderful appetizers in front of the fire and were surprised to see the mixed reviews on the meals. So we hesitated before going this past Saturday evening. The food and service were both excellent! We had the garlic knots, chopped salad, the halibut with a risotto full of large chunks of lobster and the most delicious spinach, yes spinach! Haha My husband had the chicken parm. It was all excellent and the atmosphere so beautiful. Also wanted to shout out our waiter, ( I wish I could remember his name) At the end he told us it was his first night and we were surprised, he was great on top of everything and so kind. We won't hesitate next time! read more

Food was good. Very loud and the waiter said I was in on a quieter night. Harder for conversation . View is priceless! read more

From the authentic dishes, to the amazing wine cellar, La Bella Vita is hard to beat. When you add in the amazing staff that goes out of there way to accommodate requests, you have an experience that is worth having over and over. read more

La Bella Vita - Samoset Resort - Italian Near Me - Rockport, Maine

We had dinner here last night and I was a little disappointed in my main course, the Lobster and Crab Ravioli but absolutely loved the Lobster bisque. My ravioli was cold and very tough but yet the plate was warm. My husband had the Chicken Parmesan and said it was very good. Our first bottle of wine was skunky, the cork broke and from the date (2017) on the bottle it was old for a Chardonnay. The service and our server were excellent! She was very attentive and nice, apologized for my meal and I made sure she knew it wasn't her fault. Although I did not ask for it, they removed the ravioli from our ticket which was kind of them. The views were beautiful. The lush lawn, golf course and ocean views can't be beat. read more

La Bella Vita - Samoset Resort - Lobster and Crab Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Rockport, Maine

Food was good! But not a wow! Service was good! Ambiance was beautiful looking at the coast of Maine! read more

La Bella Vita - Samoset Resort - View from the restaurant. - Italian Near Me - Rockport, Maine

Always enjoyed the menu & meals on many occasions. Cannot wait for our next reservation.

Came in August. It's expensive to eat here, but you're at the Samoset so -- it's convenient. Their kid's menu steak (my stomachless self often orders from the kid's menu) made my eyes roll back into my head. They have great sandwiches too. Drinks are delicious. Obviously kid friendly. They have two different sections - one where you reserve your seat and also a first come first serve section we got lucky both nights we were there and scored nice tables. read more

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Service and the view were amazing. The food was cooked perfect and tasted even better.

This was a terrible experience from a very lackadaisical server who forgot silverware, to fill drinks, and food was served lukewarm, etc. I could not recommend this restaurant as there was such a lack of customer service and no attention to detail at all! read more

Consistently delicious. Nice variety from aps to dessert. Staff is knowledgeable and attentive. We've been eating here for years. It's a highlight of our annual visits. read more

Great food and staff! This place has the best view around and the resort is very well kept. Breakfast is the best meal here, imho. Nicely prepared eggs, bacon & more. The air conditioning is pretty strong so bring a sweater. Some suggestions... the view is the draw here! Pls remove bird nests from the awnings at patio dining, they dive bomb guests trying to eat. Add clear wire across the patio to keep the large gulls off the tables - it's quite disgusting and they are aggressive. They'll steal your food right off your plate if you're not looking. Have the staff use more than one small wipe when cleaning tables. Even though Covid is over, a proper table cleaning is appreciated especially since many young children eat here and messes abound. There's nothing better than clean! read more

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My wife and three friends scheduled and attended a birthday dinner. They sat outside so they could have a view of the ocean. Drinks were ordered that were tasty. They arrived in a reasonable amount of time. Brussels sprouts were ordered as an appetizer and came with a long black hair. The server just said, huh. We insisted it be taken off the bill. Waited more than a half hour to 40 minutes for pizza that must've been sitting out at least 20 minutes because it was stone cold. We live locally, and went there because of the reputation the Samoset used to have. We were so disappointed! read more

Our waitress was very nice and accommodating. The appetizer and crème brûlée were the best part of our dinner. The main courses were very underwhelming and we sent one back. It was not the greatest way to spend a Valentine's Day dinner, but I cherished the time with my beautiful lady nonetheless. read more

We go to Samoset whenever we are in Maine. The food and service is the best we have had anywhere. The staff is always very helpful and friendly. And we definitely enjoy the ocean views. read more

Great service by Paul and the food was excellent. Had a private room for the 6 adults and three children. Very nice and Paul even did a trick for the children to end the evening. read more

Great happy hour deals available in the lounge! $8 specials on one white, red and speciality cocktail per day from 4-6pm. Food specials are also available! I had the Brussel sprouts for $8 and the calamari for $10! Both were delicious! I was able to sit outside on the patio where it was serene and peaceful. My family also ate in the restaurant inside one night during our stay at the resort. Dinner was good. Average selection of food options. Chicken parm portion was on the smaller side. The burger was cooked correctly and fries were crispy. Pizza is personal sized; good for one person only or can be split between two as an app. The one thing lacking both times was the service. Many times we were wondering where our waitress was. Both waitresses also weren't very knowledgeable about the drink or food menu. Make sure to make a reservation especially on the weekend since it fills up quickly for dinner! read more

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Not aa good as previous visits. Service was slow and mediocre. Food was definitely a disappointment Booked reservation two months in advance for large group. read more

Food, service, and ambiance all top notch. Dine in style while overlooking an expansive coastal Maine harbor view - the breakwater and lighthouse top it all off! read more

Splendid restaurant, had my anniversary with them and had a incredible time 10-10 would recommend fancy/casual atmosphere and a great date night restaurant. The staff is exceptional and I can't wait to see them again. We started with the gnocchi, perfect for the two of us and then had our meals, I had the chicken Parmesan and my partner had the vegetable risotto and loved it. We ended our incredible night with the Tasting of Crème Brûlée. Definitely one of my top 10 places in the area. read more

La Bella Vita - Samoset Resort - Pizza oven and bar - Italian Near Me - Rockport, Maine

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Food and service is inconsistent. Have had great and not so great meals and service there. Atmosphere is lovely. Prices are on the high side. read more

Restaurant is beautiful, staff is ok, but the food is not great. The price of the food is very high for what it is. You're pretty much paying for the ocean view. Two of the dishes we had got sent back after we had waited for almost 2 hours for it to arrive. I would only recommend cocktails and appetizers. Any main dish I've had has been bad. Overall, WAY overpriced for the quality of food. There are better options in Rockland or Camden. read more

What a great experience again. They deliver on food, service and location. Great meal to celebrate a birthday. Every dish was innovative and fresh. Pricey-- yes. Worth it-- yes Go back--definitely read more

My wife and I are having a weekend getaway at the Samoset and decided to eat at their signature restaurant La Bona Vista. I ordered a chicken sandwich and my wife got a fried haddock sandwich.my chicken sandwich was excellent and came with parmigian truffle fries which also were delicious. read more

La Bella Vita - Samoset Resort - Haddock Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Rockport, Maine

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This place never answers the phone. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs room service and tasted horrible. The meatballs tasted like old frozen meatballs and were not cooked enough inside. I will never order or eat from this place. read more

Closed...set up a nice mid week trip to the hotel and when I had the only car in the parking lot I was informed the hotel was "seasonal" and my room was in a timeshare building. They still took their $40 resort fee per night, and all it really means according to the front desk is "the restaurants are closed" yeah and the hotel lobby, and the ability to gather there. I could have went to the holiday inn if I wanted to be relegated to my room, and have to go out for dinner every night. read more

Went here for my birthday 2 years ago and wanted to repeat it again this year (unfortunately we didn't travel in 2020 so no Bella Vita that year!). Tonight was again a FABULOUS meal! Maria, our server, was delightful and attentive. They have an extensive wine, beer, and cocktail selection. The menu is varied, and everything we ordered was delicious! We started with the zucchini and calamari which was a hit. The marinara and aioli dipping sauces were so tasty! Then our party of 4 had Garganelli Bolognaise, insalata di casa and mushroom risotto, Taglioni, and East coast Halibut. Very very good!!! Only slight criticism is that the garganelli came out a little too cold. It was sent back to rewarm but was remade entirely so we were finished with our meals by the time it arrived back to the table. No real worries though as we had more than enough delicious food and so we packed it up for lunch tomorrow! For dessert, Maria brought a delicious little fudge mousse for my birthday with a candle atop! Also so scrumptious! Overall a wonderful meal! read more

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This is a $17 wild mushroom risotto that was ordered for takeout at one of the Samoset timeshare units. It was listed in their website for $13. Pretty disappointing. read more

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4.8 out of 5 warrants rounding up. I skimped on the pictures but the service atmosphere and food were all above expectations. We shared Lobster Bisque as starter course, Lobster Roll as Second course. The bisque was very decadent and had plenty of lobster flavor and just the tight amount of lobster in the soup. The Lobster roll was very good, creamy and with a splash of lemon just a perfect second course. I had the ravioli and J had the Veal Picatta which BTW she hates capers. She absolutely loved it. The veal was tender and sauce perfect, pasta was al denti. My ravioli was just as perfect, sauce, doneness, flavor all spot on. I'll just say I don't know if an executive chef was there but if not the staff executed just as they should. We will go back and eat at the restaurant more than once during the next stay. read more

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Had breakfast at La Bella Vita. The place was really busy. In all the turmoil one server stood out. My wife and myself were not even one of her tables but we were so impressed we went back the next morning to give her a tip and acknowledge she might be the best server we ever saw. Her name was Layla or Lyla. She should be running the floor she was that good. Kim and Jim. read more

La Bella Vita is a solid eatery for atmosphere and service, but fairly expensive resort prices make for this being a special occasion type of place. We ordered the Sicilian Style garlic knots to start off the meal & a margherita pizza as one of the main dishes. Coming from a state with great Italian food, these would probably rank a 2/5 at best, but both were perfectly edible and prepared well without any sort of discernible wow factor. The lobster bisque soup was a hit, which is expected given it's a Maine specialty. The chicken & pasta dishes were fresh & well prepared, but also lacked any sort of special flavor to set them apart. The dessert chocolate cake & mousse were a great way to finish off the meal. If I had to break it down on a comparison to other meals in the state of Maine, I'd rate it 3.5 stars for food, 3 stars for price (considering restaurant is located within a resort), and 4.5 stars for service and ambiance. Service was very friendly and cordial throughout the meal and atmosphere is pleasant with great views before the sun sets. No regrets since we were celebrating a birthday, but given the prices and so-so food experience, I would visit again only if staying at the resort or if celebrating a special occasion. read more

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I was very exhausted after hours of driving. But this restaurant gave me such an awesome fresh feeling! Nice view, very good quality food (I got pizza) and super nice and very beautiful staff! Absolutely recommended! read more

La Bella Vita - Samoset Resort - Italian Near Me - Rockport, Maine

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Spent a week at the Samoset, ate breakfast and dinner via room service, breakfast outside at the restaurant, and then another night had drinks on the patio. The room service food was good. Not great. Served in cardboard take out boxes in paper bags. Plastic cutlery. But the food itself was solid. I will share a funny story about my first night's order. I called down and got a young woman who took my order. I could tell she was new. A few minutes later, I got a call from either the cook or a manager. She asked me what kind of pasta I wanted. We hadn't ordered pasta. For the youngster, "Antipasto" got written down as pasta... (In the end the order was correct. Kudos to the second person for calling and making sure the order was right!) Our drinks on the balcony were fantastic. Great staff, great view. Happy. One of the highlights of the menu is actually breakfast! It's a little spendy (you're eating in a resort, after all) but they give you good portions and well prepared food. I especially enjoyed the home fries. So not perfect, but averaged out over 4 different times, I give them a positive 4 stars! read more

I wish I could leave no stars. This place is absolutely disgusting. The floors are literally sticky, our utensils were dirty, and the bathrooms were DISGRACEFUL. The service was okay but the food wasn't worth a quarter of what we paid. There are SO many other really great places to eat in Camden and Rockland that aren't nearly as expensive or inconvenient and the food is WAY better. Don't waste your money. read more

Couldn't even rate this place 1 star! But had to or I couldn't write my review. My wife and I ordered two pasta dishes at $50.00 per plate. Complete culinary joke!!! Not only did it lack flavor it had maybe 2 oz of nasty poached chicken. I could go to downtown Portland and get the same dish for half the price and leave very satisfied with quality and flavor. I don't mind paying for good quality ingredients and plate presentation. About 21 miles south look for Moodys diner we'll be off a lot better. Chef and managers at this restaurant should be very embarrassed!! read more

I assume I've given this restaurant a 4 or 5 in past reviews, and my wife and I have been enjoyably coming here when vacationing, about twice a year for the past decade. Tonight? Slow service, mediocre food. A bummer, hopefully only a bad night. read more

We had high hopes for this restaurant and were truly disappointed by the experience. My boyfriend and I visited on a Thursday evening around 7:30. We ended up leaving after 40 minutes due to the poor service (at which point we still had not even placed a drink order). After we sat down, it took 20 minutes for our server to even bring us the drink menu, after which he was gone for another 20 minutes. The server was rude and patronizing when he did finally show up, and did not acknowledge the long wait. When we tried to place a food order, the server told us he had accidentally given us the wrong menus and disappeared again, at which point we decided to leave. We were looking to treat ourselves here for a nice date night, but we felt this experience was just unacceptable. We went to another restaurant in Rockland and had a wonderful time. read more