Bella Italia - Exeter — Restaurant in Exeter

Thoroughly enjoyed the food here. Both had plates of pasta, with garlic bread and bruschetta as starters. Usually not the type to have pasta at a restaurant as, being from an Italian background, I feel that you're often times better off cooking a pasta dish at home. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the dish and the flavours present.

The bruschetta was one of my favourites as the taste was extremely refreshing and flavourful. With fresh mozzarella and diced tomatoes, this was a delicious starter. Complements to the chef for ensuring that this dish was as fresh as it could have been. I cannot vouch for any of the other dishes but I look forward to visiting again.

Criticisms are that the atmosphere could be better. I feel that the decor was very basic and, from the outside looking inwards, we almost didn't pick this restaurant as the bar and seats looked as if taken straight out of a Wetherspoons pub. I highly recommend to the owners that the decor inside is revamped as it will entice visitors much better. Additionally, service did not feel very warm and welcoming, although it was not necessary bad - this could also be improved.

I do, nonetheless, feel that the quality of the food outweighs any cons of this restaurant and was thoroughly surprised to see that this is a little more than a simple chain restaurant trying to emulate authentic Italian food. Prices are in line with competitors - set menu was well-priced with two...

AVOID! We have been regulars for quite some time and the food is always lovely. However since our last encounter we will never be stepping foot in there again.We had been suck behind traffic and held us up for about 10 minutes on the way to Exeter. We walked in at 10:08 (had a reservation for 10pm) we apologised that we were late. But the lady at the counter turned around to us in such a horrible tone asking "what time is it?" We said around 10:10pm, she then said "yeah 10:10 kitchen is closed" instead of disputing this we just walked out. But felt i needed to make others aware. I understand fully that yes we were late and I completely take full responsibility for it and have no problem to have the consequence of that. However there was no politeness whatsoever. If you were able to book at table for 10pm I'm sure that kitchen is not suddenly shut down 10 minutes after that! Does it mean that we would of only of have 10 minutes to decide our main and not get the chance for desert because the "kitchen is closed". In my opinion I believe she lied to us and was just annoyed due to showing up late (by 8 minutes). There was no need for the rudeness and not a care about the situation. I have worked in hospitality of 3 years and not once would i have even approached the situation like that. We have become so disgusted by the behaviour we were shown that we will never be going back. So please be aware of...

Definitely would not recommend, we turned up earlier in the evening to take a look at the menu before we booked, the waiter pointed us to the menus and told us to help ourselves (we didn’t even get greeted at the door or given the menus). Once booked online, which was an easy process, we arrived at the restaurant to the server sat at the table on his phone. Once he realised we were there he told us to pick whichever table we wanted. Once Seated we browsed the menu and ordered, when ordering we we’re told the draught that I had chose wasn’t actually available at that location and I had to chose another. So I asked for a further 5 minutes to decide what I wanted and the waiter sounded annoyed that I wanted some more time. Once choosing from the set menu, we got our starters after only about 10 minutes and they were cold, but I let it slide. Then our mains came out and the pizza was undercooked, I asked for another one to be cooked properly this time, we got it after another 10 minutes and it was undercooked for a second time. We decided to leave and eat else where. Would not recommend, service was bad and the server was rude and the food was not good :( will not be...