Ciao Bella — Restaurant in Bloomington

“Not that kind of place” That’s what the wait staffer said to someone in my party.

I want to give them a 4 so bad but comments like that make you feel unwelcome.

In a classic tradition leading up to one of my family members birthday we go out every Friday up till their birthday. This was a place my family member and their spouse really wanted to try. With a solid 4.7 review, I could see why. We arrived towards the end of the dinner rush for our reservation the parking lot was still packed. 4.7, packed parking lot GOOD SIGN! Inside someone in my party witnessed a glass get broken at a table a bit away from us and a man in the party yelled out something pretty loud like ‘I CAN PAY FOR ALL OF IT!’ that party left shortly after this outburst. The interior design was very nice I watched tables be reset for next guest in what felt like less than a minute which was pretty impressive for the amount of people dinning in. The paintings were interested my favorite hangs above the fire place. Might make for a good photo opp during your trip.

Food: The table got warm bread and a creamy fluffy butter if that’s what you like, ask for balsamic vinaigrette, as there’s only olive oil at the table. The bar staff gives very generous pours in cocktails and wine. Not drinking? the mocktails are good too. Make note of any wine you may like. I had a sweeter riesling at the recommendation of the wait staff called “Dr. L”, I have purchased it for home since. The table got the Crab Cakes twice, if you like Brussels Sprouts on the sweeter side like me get them. I would skip the Caesar salad I wasn’t a fan but ate in anyways, maybe try one of the other salads. The entrées at our table were the Classic Lasagna, Spicy Crab Spaghetti, fettuccine substitute the lamb for shrimp and chicken wild mushroom risotto.

Service: Here’s where we kinda had an issue every thing was good. Till the person who ordered the risotto request it be sent back and they would take the spicy crab spaghetti. The risotto was a bit too mushy for them. They literally took one bite and knew they wouldn’t enjoy it. When they asked the wait staff about switching to something else the comment was made “we are NOT that kind of place”. The request was fulfilled the item was taken off the bill. As patrons we believe there was no need for that statement especially when the request was fulfilled. Looking around everyone that left for the most part was leaving with leftovers the portion sizes were substantial enough for you to have food to take home.

We felt uncomfortable at that point, we all took a couple more bites of our food had it packed up to go and ask for the bill. The person in my party that ask for the bill was given just their portion of the bill as if the ‘assumption’ was that the bills to be split. it was just an assumption that was made no conversation was had about the bill. The wait staff brought the whole bill to the person who requested the bill at that time they paid the bill we tip the waiter. We left, we won’t go back. I mean after all it’s not that kind of place I guess. To have a staff member stand over you and say something so steep in implicit bias and treat you like you are inconveniencing them isn’t worth visiting again for our family . So we will go to the place that treats you like family, thats the KIND of place we like after all.

Pros: Great portions for the cost

Cons: Don’t go off the cuff and order anything that might be new to you. I would even maybe say skip the salad and risotto all together. Just to avoid eating something that you didn’t like. Since you can’t send it back. If you found my review helpful give it a...

Things to know: 1) the atmosphere is terrible for a date. It is ridiculously loud which was a restaurant trend about 20 years ago until everyone realized how annoying that it was and 2) they have adopted the more recent annoying trend of providing menus that use a microscopic and faint font while also keeping the lighting just dim enough to make it impossible to read it.

The staff was friendly, which is the only reason that this place received two stars from me. The food was incredibly bland. I ordered the "dry aged pork chops porcini black pepper crusted and wild mushroom butter." They tasted like air. They even looked like they had some visible charring which they somehow removed any taste of charring. I had my date try some just so I could rule out that I didn't have covid coming on, robbing me of my ability to taste. The waiter said that they didn't taste too "mushroomy" but I didn't expect that the mushrooms that it wouldn't taste like was the only spicing that was used. Hence, why they tasted like nothing at all. The chops were just the average size pork chops that you pick up at the store but we're locally sourced, which I now presume we're also "grass fed" which is basically an assurance that the meat itself won't have any character. The dish was $37 and the only thing on the plate besides the pork chops were overly salty french fries. I brought home one of the chops thinking that I would salvage it with some recipe of my own but it was so uninspiring that it still sits in my fridge waiting for garbage day. The $100 bottle of wine that was recommended was also pretty meh. It was uneven to the point that I question at what temperature that they store their wine. I honestly can't remember if I have ever had a meal at this level pricing that I wasn't simply so disappointed in but actually felt like I was being insulted by having it served to me.

I have no idea how it ever received 4.7 stars but my guess is that these are one of those businesses that bribe people to remove bad reviews. If you want a great pork chop meal at about the same price, go to Cov. If you want better modern Italian for even less, go to ie -...

Found this place online through findmeglutenfree.com to meet a friend for dinner. I had not heard of it before but was excited by the prospect of fresh gf pasta.

Made a reservation even though it was the middle of the week and when I arrived I was told it would be a few minutes longer or I could find a high top in the bar. This surprised me, a restaurant in the burbs is so busy on a Wednesday night that the reservation wasn't enough? I decided to wait since my friend was late and was seated within a few minutes, really not a big deal at all.

Okay so the important part. The food!

We had the scallops and brussel sprouts to start then I had the fruti de mare with the gf pasta and a white sauce. My friend had the short ribs and an old fashioned (or 3) and then we shared the budino. The food was FANTASTIC. Gluten free pasta tends to be either chewy raw or mush and they managed to balance a tricky cook keeping it perfectly al dente. The scallops were delicious and all of the sea food in the main was excellent. The brussel sprouts were a particular treat as they are caramelized in maple and delicious. Dessert was also fantastic.

Overall I was so appreciative of an amazing meal especially with my gluten allergy but the best part was actually how attentive, considerate, and effective the staff were. I believe our waiters name was Jerome and he was helpful at navigating the menu with me, offering suggestions and detailing ingredients, and he was attentive to fill drinks before they ran out. The other bus staff were polite and prompt whisking empty dishes away and boxing leftovers in a flash. Truly lovely experience.

My only complaint was that this place was LOUD. I'm not sure that it could be mitigated since the restaurant was also PACKED and with good reason. We were there for over 2.5 hours, spent over $200, had an amazing meal and wouldn't change any of it.

Can't...