We had a party of 8, tried to get into another place but they had over an hour wait. Having 3 16 year old boys that had been on the baseball field all day, waiting was not an option!! Called around and La Vita E' Bella said "no problem, come on". We got there, got seated and ordered our food. The servers were fantastic, and the food was even better. The owner took time to chat with us for a bit, and everything was as good as can be. Everyone raved about their food and how good it was. We will be back in a few weeks for another tournament and we will definitely be back. read more

La Vita E' Bella - Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken - Pizza Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

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The food was delicious! The Sicilian Merlot was delightful, the owner brought it out himself and was so nice. Our server was a nice high schooler and a great kid who checked on us about the right amount of times. The ambience was nice We went early as it was Valentine's Day and it was a spontaneous decision to go out. So we missed the crowds and it was a nice leisurely dinner! We will return! read more

Great place! Food is always fresh and portions are very generous! Will continue to come back to this place

A year or 2 ago this place would get 5 stars, but the quality of food has decreased a lot!! I get my go to pasta vodka or Alfredo pasta every-time pretty much. Lately, the pasta has been very oily and less tasteful. For now I am not returning to this restaurant until I hear from friends and family they had a better experience with the food. I'm willing to give it another chance because they are nice people and price their food very fairly, but they need to hero their food quality back to what it was when they first opened. read more

Really great "hole in the wall" Italian restaurant. Super friendly staff, very affordable and tasty wine. The stuffed shells are incredible!

We've ordered from this establishment on multiple occasions but this time service is TERRIBLE. We ordered online and our pickup time was 45 minutes later. We arrived 45 minutes later to find our pizza was not made so we had to wait another 30 minutes. Ridiculous. read more

Hands down the best Italian food I've eaten in Richmond. My table got the pasta alla vodka, fettuccine alfredo, and garlic knots. The pastas came with bread, and salad. Food is delicious. Staff is friendly and attentive too! Ambiance is cute, nice for a date if you sit in the back, casual if you sit in the front. read more

La Vita E' Bella - Garlic Knots - Pizza Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

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On a whim, we stopped into La Vita for lunch one day. The Brushetta was tasty and fresh. Absolutely delicious. I would have liked to make a meal out of it, but then my steak and cheese sub arrived. I love lightly toasted Subs with plenty of meat and cheese. It was very good but I was delightfully surprised that the french fries we're much better than I would have expected. They were crisp and then wilt. I ate every one of them which is unusual for me because I don't care for fries. I would go back just for the fries. LOL we will definitely try other menu items next time. This restaurant is a hit!! read more

Today was our first time visiting and we will definitely be back. Even with them being busy we were still sat and waited on very quickly. All the servers we interacted with were very friendly. Our food was great. Can't wait to return and try even more great food! read more

Ordered a pizza. A frozen pizza would have been a much better purchase, tasted better and could have saved money. Very disappointing

Food and service are outstanding. My personal favorite is the carbonara. Always quick and friendly. Great neighborhood staple.

Don't read any more reviews and get in the car and go to La Vita E' Bella! My husband and I were looking for an Italian place for New Years Eve and our Anniversary and the other places were booked. I called and made a reservation, but it wasn't necessary. We were greeted by the very friendly and attentive staff and got to choose where we sat. There aren't too many tables, but we got one in the front. The menu was a little overwhelming, but I don't think I could have picked a bad choice. I got the meat tortellini with red sauce and my husband got the penne a la vodka. Both were incredible. The meal came with a basic house salad and garlic bread straight from the oven. Everything was very fresh. There were a lot of people ordering to-go pizzas. It was nice to see a couple come in order to-go and stay for a glass of wine. They were getting away from the kids for a minute and celebrating the new year a little bit. Another woman ordered to-go and stayed for a beer. The owner was very nice and so was the staff. They were attentive but not annoying. The prices were reasonable too! We had a great experience and will definitely be back! read more

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Their pizza is great. Go for the pizza there not the pasta. Lovely freshly Made warm New York style pizza! They use fresh mushrooms so bonus !!!! read more

La Vita E' Bella - bowl of soup with noodles - Pizza Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

Can't believe these are only $8.50 . Can we be busy during the lunch or dinner rush hour but their service are really fast read more

La Vita E' Bella - Sausage green pepper subs - Pizza Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

Nothing like a home town Christmas joint grinding away on Christmas Eve. We had a bunch of family in town and wanted something quick and easy. "Lou" in a welcoming and friendly tone took a call and had our 3 pies on order and ready 30 minutes later. Cheese, Pepperoni and Everything were quickly devoured and sugar plums fairies came upon us in short order. Thanks La Vita. We'll be back again. Merry Christmas! read more

Love the Pizza...Sicilian is very NY style! Customer service is always prompt and nice! read more

I went here on a Friday night and it was quite busy. Service was a bit slow, and our waitress didn't check on us during our meal. We ordered the chicken wings and garlic knots. The chicken wings were average - they just weren't hot enough. The garlic knots only had weak flavor since there was a just a light coating of parmesan cheese on top. While the appetizers weren't outstanding, I really enjoyed their pizza. We ordered a build-you-own extra-large pizza. The toppings were added generously, and the dough was both soft and crispy on the bottom. The extra-large size was enough for two meals for two people (keeping in mind that we ate appetizers/sides both times). The flavor profile of the pizza was great, and this place is now one of my preferred places to order pizza. We didn't try the pasta dishes since we didn't find the other patron's pasta dishes that appetizing. But overall, I recommend place specifically for their pizza, which seems to be other people's preferences since there were a lot of to-go pizza orders when we went. read more

We were down here for a soccer tournament and needed a place for a team lunch. I called the day before, asking if they could accommodate a party of 20. They worked together with us and the whole process was streamlined and very enjoyable. I emailed in the orders a few hours ahead of time, and they had food and tables ready when we arrived. Since the orders were sent In, separate checks were a breeze. Our server was very kind and got us everything we needed. All the orders were correct. The food came out hot and fresh. It was delicious- the gluten free pizza was thin crust and crunchy. The pasta was cooked well and had tasty sauces. The grilled chicken was flavorful and not at all dry. The food did come out at different times, but there were over 20 of us, and half of us were kids who didn't care. They did a great job, and we would highly recommend this location! We're very grateful they could accommodate us. read more

Food is okay. Some of it tastes great, and some is bland. I have little kids so it is good for them.

Good food, excellent atmosphere, wonderful staff. The food is much more authentic and homemade than you tend to find in most reasonably priced restaurants. The pasta was good and the coffee delicious, albeit stronger than I would normally drink. Expect to pay between 12 and 20 dollars per person depending on the entree, drinks, deserts, and tip. It is owned and operated by a local Italian family. Would recommend for a moderately nice dinner, not super expensive and extravagant, nor is it incredibly affordable, but if you do want to pay around 15 dollars for a meal, you can't go wrong here. read more

Good food the owner is a cool Italian guy and I must come back because it is very very very good read more

La Vita E' Bella - Sicilian Cheese Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

We tried an Italian salad with Italian dressing that was delicious. Also, ordered a medium pizza with pepperoni all around with mushrooms on one side and ham on the other side and it was delicious. Restaurant was nice and very clean. Had great service. read more

Great pizza and pasta The owners are always there and will make things off the menu.

I wanted to go a bit more in-depth on the Pizza. It's New York style, but they've done a great job keeping the crust light and fluffy. One of the best neighborhood Italian spots in town, in my opinion. Also the prices are surprisingly affordable considering the median household income in the area. The staff is very friendly, it's run by a husband/wife who clearly have passion for their business. The decor is modest but clean and unpretentious. read more

I don't often leave reviews but I love this place. Came in for a casual birthday dinner my son's birthday. Theirs was our 2nd visit. The wine sauce in the mussels is flavorful. I had meat tortellini Ala Panna (cream sauce, ham and mushrooms). Awesome! Our party also had baked Ziti and fettuccine with shrimp. The food here is "swing your feet happy" good. Will be in our regular rotation when we want quality authentic Italian. The staff is also so friendly and accommodating. read more

So happy to see a Mom and Pop type of pizzeria open in Short Pump, especially now that Nonna's in no longer in business. We tried their Sicilian pie. It was almost on par with Tony's. Turns out, it appears La Vita E' Bella is affiliated with Tony's. Nice! Limited wine selection. All Italian wines. Nice casual place for the family. We'll be back. read more

I have eaten here twice. The first time I got pasta. Stuffed shells and the vodka pasta neither were good but edible. I wanted to give them another try based on all the great reviews so this time I ordered the bruschetta pizza and mushroom sauce pasta. The pasta was again not good but edible kind of. The pizza was absolutely horrendous we couldn't even eat it after 1 bite. It tasted like the tomatoes were rotten! So gross. We ended up throwing out the food and going to Wawa which had better food! Do not go here yuck! read more

Awesome pizza spot. I had a small pizza, which was actually medium sized. On it, I put spinach, sausage and broccoli. I know, its not girls everyone and I'm OK with that. But the broccoli was slightly crispy and def not soggy. A def plus. The sausage was too small for my taste, but still tasty nonetheless. The spinach was seasoned just right and not watery. Awesome. If my stomach hadn't told me I was full after two pieces, would have wanted to eat the whole thing. Makes you wanna keep eating, IT WAS THAT GOOD!!!! And j got an italian salad for lunch the next day and that,was amazing fresh and tasty. Go to this place, you won't be disappointed. Oh and during covid-19, you can get carry-out where they bring it to your car, just pull up along the curb or you can go in and get it. Mask up though. They are required. read more

Absolutely love their pizza! We live downtown but drive to Glen Allen every few weeks for their pies. Our favorite is half bbq chicken and half Hawaiian. Owners are from Italy and super sweet. read more

Little restaurant with excellent service. Gets busy at times and the eating area is a little small in the front with a few extra tables along the side. The parmigiana sandwiches are great, pizza is very good and the calzones were excellent. read more

What a Short Pump Gem! I ordered the lasagna and it was delicious! The pre dinner bread with butter and olive oil really hit the spot. I ordered the Chainti red wine. I definitely recommend this restaurant. If you like Sicilian Pizza, then this is the place to visit. Although this restaurant dress code is very casual, the food is akin to a 5 star restaurant. I definitely will be coming back! Great food and great service!!! read more

La Vita E' Bella - Lasagna and red wine. - Pizza Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

This is a quaint neighborhood restaurant with great food, friendly staff and serving sizes that provide leftovers for those of us who enjoy them. The sauces he uses have a great flavor and just enough seasoning not to overpower the rest of the dish. They are known for great pizza, but I really like their pasta and traditional Italian dishes. If you have room at the end of the meal, order some tiramisu which is homemade and really great!. Prices are reasonable in today's economy. Highly recommend this business. read more

Best place. People are great working here and have even better food. Can't recommend enough

I heard about this place via word of mouth, but didn't pay it any mind given its location. Boy was I wrong. La Vita E'Bella is the definition of a hidden gem. My fiancé and I eat here atleast twice a week, alternating between lunch and dinner. My go-to order is the Veggie Sub. I know what you're probably thinking -- "who goes to an Italian spot and orders a veggie sub?" I get it. But trust me - don't think twice - ORDER THE VEGGIE SUB. Hands down the best sub I've ever eaten, no cap (isn't that what the young folk say). I've also tried their pizza which gives other Richmond pizzerias a run for their money. If you're ever in the Glen Allen area, work in Innsbrook, or in the mood for authentic Italian food, La Vita E'Bella is worth a visit. read more

Yum yum yum yum! I am ecstatic to have finally found a delicious, affordable Italian restaurant in Richmond! A hidden gem. I am super picky about Italian food and this place is my new go to. My family has already been 4 times since it opened 2 months ago. As I said, it's new so the service is still a work in progress but everyone is very nice and clearly doing their best so that's not a bother. I expect that to be great in a few weeks as well. FYI it's small (I almost don't want to write this review for fear of not being able to get a seat) but you can easily sit bigger parties if you call ahead. Highlights: Penne a la Vodka- I cannot rave about this enough!! I wish I could buy this sauce bottled (we actually suggested that). Delicious and flavorful. Our favorite thing on the menu Eggplant parm- very good, great size, not too thick which I appreciate Eggplant Caponata- a favorite appetizer, basically some veggies on toasted bread that is full of flavor. Ate it all up in 2 seconds Calamari- cooked perfectly, heavy breading, also disappeared fast :) Manicotti- fairly small plate for what I normally get when I order it but still very good Margherita pizza- yummy! Love the fresh taste that the pieces of mozzarella add. Makes me excited to try different kinds next time. I've also found it difficult to find good pizza so very thankful for this place. Pro tip: you can add baked mozzarella to any dish for $1.50. Yessssss TLDR: Everything is delicious, you cannot go wrong, go here! read more

Absolutely delicious pizza, wings, cheese sticks, and Greek salad. Will be coming back!

I'm not kidding, best Italian food in Richmond. The prices are great and the service is incredible. Their bread that they use for their calzones and pizza is divine! Bruschetta and caprese have such a wonderful taste, you can tell the food is super fresh. I always love fresh crisp tomatoes. Incredible food here. read more

La Vita E' Bella - Bruschetta - Pizza Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

We stopped by for lunch/pizza and ordered minestrone soup, a pizza Margherita for me and a pepperoni, black olive pizza for my wife. The soup had tons of veggies and pasta in a light tomato broth. To our surprise, we actually had to add salt to the soup. More on that in a bit. The pizzas were very good! Good high quality ingrediants and the flavors were excellent. Again, we had to salt ours some, My wife is on a low sodium regimen and we took it as a plus that we could actually control the sodium content. That alone was a plus. We live about an hour away from the restaurant so we won't be visiting much. It is worth visiting often. read more

I ordered from here because someone said it was the "best New York style pizza in Richmond." I have to assume this person's experience was limited to ordering from Domino's somewhere in the state of New York ‍ I won't say the pizza is disgusting, but it is far from good We ordered a Sicilian pie and a medium cheese pizza. The Sicilian was awful and the plain cheese hardly had any sauce and tasted like cheese on dough. read more

We needed 15 pizzas on short notice for an outdoor group event and the owner and his staff came through for us! The pizzas were just delicious and everyone loved them, everyone at the restaurant was so accommodating and kind, and they even included some panettone which the guys ate and loved. I've also had their pasta before as well, ordered for takeout, and their Pasta Alla Vodka is maybe my favorite pasta dish in Richmond--the flavor in the sauce is just awesome. Whether it's catering for a golf tournament when you want to socially distance but still have great food, or dinner at home for your and your family, seriously you've got to try this place. I want them to be here for years and years! read more