Bella Pasta & Wine — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

Our visit to Bella a week ago was an experience… just not in the way we had hoped. We ordered the crab ravioli, truffle cream pasta, prawn caviar dip, raw fish carpaccio, and beef cheek ragu, but let’s just say, the meal left more questions than satisfaction.

Food:

If you were hoping for a pasta revelation, keep hoping. The truffle cream pasta and crab ravioli were just… there, neither offensive nor exciting—like a guest at a party who nods politely but never joins the conversation. The beef cheek ragu tried to redeem things, but the real kicker? Our appetizers arrived AFTER the mains. Yes, you read that right. At this point, we weren’t sure if this was a fine dining experiment or just really bad timing. To top it off, the carpaccio arrived warm, which is like expecting an ice-cold beer but getting lukewarm tap water instead—just wrong.

Ambience:

The restaurant seems to be suffering from a serious identity crisis. They clearly want to be an elegant, dimly lit wine-and-pasta haven, yet right in the middle of it all hangs a disco ball, throwing chaotic, nightclub-style reflections across the walls. It’s like someone wanted a Michelin-star experience but also really, REALLY loves 80s dance parties.

But the pièce de résistance? They turned off the lights above our table while we were still eating. Apparently, after 10 PM, the restaurant transforms into a moody bar, and we were politely (read: abruptly) informed that, yes, the vibe is more important than our ability to see our food. At this point, we were half-expecting them to hand us candles and tell us to just "go with the flow."

Overall, this place tries hard—maybe too hard—to be upscale but ends up feeling like a high school play where everyone is trying their best, but the props keep falling over. With mid-tier food, confused decor, and lights-out dining policies, it’s safe to say this won’t be on our must-return list. For the price, you’re better off going somewhere that doesn’t serve your carpaccio like it just came...

This restaurant is overrated, and I am very disappointed. This was the first time in my life that me and my family left a birthday celebration dinner so quickly. We arrived at 6:00 PM and left by 7:15 PM—not because we ate fast, but because the staff rushed to clear our table, making us feel unwelcome, as if we were being chased out.

The first impression was already off. Their booking system requires you to lock your card and choose a table type. I specifically selected a table instead of a booth because I prefer the extra space with family. However, when we arrived, the staff gave us a booth instead. When I asked why, they simply said, “Tables are for two persons, like couples.” If that’s the case, why even offer the option to choose? This immediately left a bad impression.

As for the food, I ordered the basil pesto pasta, and it was extremely salty, and mom can't take it. The staff took it back to check with the kitchen, only to return with the same dish and tell me that the chef said it was because of the cheese—then walked away without even asking if I was okay with it or offering a replacement.

Throughout our time there, we felt rushed and uncomfortable. The restaurant wasn’t even full, yet the staff kept coming over to clear our plates. At one point, they took my plate while there was still food left, and I had to stop them, telling them I was still eating. My sister asked why they were rushing us, and the staff responded that they were short-staffed because someone had to go back to school. But why should that be our problem?

For this price price (RM68-98 per pasta), service, and food quality, this place is completely overrated. I will not be returning. If you’re planning a birthday celebration here, be prepared for...

Started off strong — service seemed on point, the prawn caviar and fries were great — we were enjoying ourselves… until everything went downhill.

We waited 45 minutes for our mains while table after table who came way after us — and also had appetisers — got theirs served minutes after finishing starters. We asked three different waiters where our food was, and all they just said, “let check, it’s coming.”

Then they started saying the delay was on us for requesting course-by-course service. The thing is, the waiter who took our order never even asked how we wanted our food served. And even if we had requested that — how is 45 minutes between appetisers and mains even acceptable?

To top it off, one of the waiters came over to ask if we wanted to make a last order before the kitchen closed. We were like — hello? We’re waiting on our mains? Then a bartender-looking staff member came over, repeated the same excuse, with the assumption that all our foods have been served and we that we made the complaint after we have finished. It was only when we pointed out that we were still waiting on our mains in the middle of explaining our complaint — that he paused, looked confused, and realised the mains had never even come out. He apologised and said he’d check again.

But by then, we were done. We paid for what little we got and walked out. No real apology, no accountability. Honestly,...