Bella Italia - Portsmouth Gunwharf Quays — Restaurant in Portsmouth

Upon arrival the greeting by what appeared to be management wasn't the best by no means bad, just could have been better! We were unable to eat downstairs due to there being no space so I've taken a star off because although upstairs was full and bubbly, the music and atmosphere is really downstairs.

However the service we received from Suni was second to non. He was super quick and efficient at taking our order, in fact this was the quickest I have ever had someone take my order in any restaurant and I reeled off many items one after the other. the food came super quick and Suni appeared to be completely carrying the entire place on his own because as others walked about slowly and at leisure, Suni was almost running at times and did so back and forth with condiments, parmesan, drinks and food while serving the entirety of upstairs which was full and yet still everyone was happy and served super quick. He was super polite, friendly and still found time to engage with everyone despite his workload and speed. Had it not been for him, I know without doubt that I would have left a bad review, would be very unlikely to return, would have requested that the service charge be removed and put in a serious complaint. GIVE THAT MAN A RAISE! I would have tipped him more than anyone I ever have if I had been carrying cash. I only ever review for extremely poor or exceptional experiences. I even went back in to ask for his name after we paid to personally address his worth ethic because it was the best I have ever seen in hospitality and I have worked in this sector for many years in my youth and no stranger to eating out all over the world at the age of 39. If I had a business with a position in this sector I would have offered this man an insanely good wage to leave and come work for me. I would actually share lottery winnings with this guy although he is a complete stranger because NEVER have I ever seen someone so deserving, I am not sure of his wage but I will assume its national minimum, yet he takes this role to levels I have never before seen. I cannot praise him enough and could sit here typing all day. Seriously......... FAO the highest level of management in this company, promote this man, give him a raise, buy him a house even and keep hold of this man at all costs, without him you wouldn't have a very good return rate in this location, that much I...

We recently visited Bella Italia Gunwharf, and it was an absolutely fantastic dining experience. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with a warm welcome and given the option of indoor or outdoor seating. Since it was a beautiful sunny day, we chose to sit outside, enjoying the fresh air and the lovely waterfront views. The outdoor seating had a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere—perfect for soaking up the sunshine while watching the world go by.

Now, onto the food—everything we ordered was fresh, full of flavor, and cooked to perfection.

I had the Cheeseburger, and it was one of the juiciest, most flavorful burgers I’ve had in a while! The beef patty was thick and cooked perfectly, staying tender and succulent. The melted cheese on top added a creamy richness, and the soft, lightly toasted bun brought it all together. Served with crispy golden fries, it was a hearty and satisfying meal.

The Carbonara was another highlight. The pasta was perfectly cooked, coated in a creamy, silky sauce with just the right balance of richness. The pancetta added a delicious smoky flavor, and the Parmesan on top gave it a lovely finishing touch. What made it even better was that our server kindly offered to grate extra cheese on top, which made the dish even more indulgent and delicious!

The Chicken Milanese was equally impressive. The crispy, golden breaded chicken was tender and juicy on the inside, but what truly made the dish outstanding was the buttery garlic sauce—rich, fragrant, and bursting with flavor. It paired beautifully with the crispy coating of the chicken and made every bite absolutely irresistible. The side salad added a fresh contrast, making the dish feel perfectly balanced.

The service was top-notch, with friendly and attentive staff making sure we had everything we needed. They were happy to accommodate any requests, and their attention to detail made the experience even more enjoyable.

With delicious food, excellent service, and the perfect outdoor setting, our meal at Bella Italia Gunwharf was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We’ll definitely be back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for tasty Italian food in a...

Bella Italia was a nice restaurant, we were approached and seated quickly, wasn't too busy as expected on Wednesday evening. We ordered our drinks and they arrived promptly, after which we ordered starters and mains which came in a timely fashion. One issue that I noted after we had received our mains is there was no side order bought to us. 😞 I called a waitress and pointed this out, she quickly admitted she had forgotten it and set about getting it to us, very admirable, no problem there.

The food was pretty good, mushroom soup thing was really good (sorry, can't remember what is was actually called) pork meatballs were 'meh' but sauce was great. The macaroni cheese was lacking the cheese part, a considerable amount of pasta was just plain. There is no such thing as too much cheese. 😜

The atmosphere was mostly good, chilled, relaxed, it was someone's birthday so they got a birthday song and some gelato. That was really nice. Shortly before we left however, there was a young man that came in and did not wait to be seated by a host but walked to the bar and spoke to staff before being shown a table. Once he was seated and even before he was constantly talking on his phone and fidgeting without ordering, stumbling and swaying to the toilets and back. It was quite evident he was drunk or on drugs, this made it very uncomfortable for us as he was seated close by.

P.S. To the people reviewing, expecting good fries and/or burgers at an Italian restaurant - it's not Italian food...