Bella Italia - Mansfield — Restaurant in Mansfield

This isn't my first disappointing visit to this Bella. Normally the drinks take 30 mins to arrive. This time the general customer service wasn't great. Started off well enough. Restaurant was quiet when we arrived with a groupon voucher. Seated quickly and asked what we wanted to drink. We were then given one menu and advised it came with a drink (bonus) but only specific drinks so we changed our drinks to suit. Then we were told we only got a choice of main and desert. The voucher said starter or main. When I showed this to our server, he was really sweet and got the manager, who was quite rude saying we had the wrong menus. The other menu she gave us had exactly the same name but had more options. However we were also now told our drink wasn't included. We said we'd changed our drinks to meet this and she grumbling walked off. Our server said he'd remove the charge and not to worry. Our drinks came quickly but it was a good 20 mins before someone came to get our menu and an hour to finally get some food. The food was okay, but we were surprised to find the pizzas very sparse in toppings compared to other visits. Also, the meatball starter plate was piping hot. No one mentioned this, so luckily when I touched it I left go immediately. No one asked for the food was okay or asked if we wanted any more drinks. We'd also booked a film with 2.30hrs to spare. Good thing too because by the time we'd actually had our food and processed our voucher, we had 30mins to wait. It felt you're looking for a nice meal and friendly staff, this is not the place you're...

Decided to book a table here at 5.30pm prior to our cinema trip with my partner and our friend. We were aware we didn't have a lot of time so decided to share a pizza and two starters between us. We choose the Garlic Lasagne Pizza because we thought it sounded exciting and wanted to try something new, alongside the Garlic Dough Balls and the Mozzarella Sticks. We also ordered regular juices each for drinks.

Unfortunately, there was a larger party in at the time and therefor the wait to order food and for it to be delivered to us was long but the waitress did apologise for the wait.

Upon our food arriving we were eager to try the pizza but were dissapointed because it had literally dried, hard pasta on it. We each attempted to give it a go but all of us just ended up picking it off. It was also difficult to cut with how thin the toppings were which in the end looked like a big, greasy mess and didn't look appetisingly pleasing.

The Dough Balls were litterally tasteless and bland, with the addition of a weird cheese sauce and some diced spring onions.

We then had to chase down a member of staff in order for us to pay our bill and get to the cinema on time. We were then struck by how expensive the bill came to.

In total, two starters, a regular pizza and five glasses of fruit juice came to over £50.

I don't think we'll be returning anytime soon as we were very dissapointed. It would be a one star review if it wasn't for the pleasent members of staff and how friendly and apologetic they were in regards to...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bella Italia Mansfield – Where Lisa Runs the Show and the Pasta Practically Sings

If you’re wandering Mansfield wondering where to feed your face and your soul, stop right now and march yourself into Bella Italia. Not just for the food (which is banging), but for the real star of the show—Lisa, our server, hostess, hype woman, and low-key national treasure.

From the moment we walked in, Lisa greeted us like long-lost cousins at a family reunion—minus the awkward hugs and with 100% more garlic bread. She’s got that rare combo of charm, speed, and sass that makes you feel like you’re in a rom-com set in Tuscany, even though you’re just off the A38.

The food? Bellissimo.

• The carbonara was so creamy it could’ve had its own skincare line. • The pizza? Crispy, cheesy, and big enough to make you question your life choices (in a good way). • And don’t even get me started on the Gelato —it was like a caffeine hug from an Italian grandma.

Lisa kept the drinks flowing, the laughs rolling, and somehow managed to remember everyone’s order without writing it down. I’m convinced she’s part magician, part hospitality goddess.

Final verdict: If Bella Italia Mansfield were a movie, Lisa would be the lead, the director, and probably the person doing the soundtrack. Go for the food, stay for Lisa, leave with a full belly and a new appreciation for Italian carbs and customer service done right.

Grazie mille, Lisa—you absolute...