Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders — Restaurant in Cookeville

Perhaps the best pizza in the Cookeville/Sparta area. This isn't pizza like you get at most fast delivery places like some of the national chains but more like what I grew up eating on Long Island. Having grown up on Long Island I am a bit picky when it comes to my pizza and Bellacinos is the only place in the area where I will eat it. There crust is like a crust should be, chewy but crisp on the edges. Their sauce is very tasty and smooth, the way pizza sauce should be. You can taste the tomatoes as well the basil and oregano, each complimenting each other but not overpowering. Then there is the cheese! They use a liberal amount so that it melts evenly across the top of each piece and it is gooey but has the "snap" a good mozzeralla blend should have. The one drawback to their pizza is it can be a bit too oily. I'm not sure if that is because they add some olive oil to the sauce or the top of the pie or if they just use a very oily cheese, but it can be a problem. However you can simply sop it up with a napkin and drive on. They don't cut their pies in a traditional "pie" cut but rather into small squares, which in my opinion is a big mistake. It means only about half the pieces will have a crust to hold and the pieces without the crust tend to have their cheese slip off much too easily. You can ask them to do a pie cut and they happily oblige.

They do have a diverse menu for those who don't feel like pizza. From calzone to grinders and many other items, you can find it on their menu. The one other item our son really likes is their French fries. They are crisp and crunchy on the outside but smooth and light on the inside. They would go well with a grinder.

As for the staff. They are some of the friendliest you will come across and they'll do their best to ensure your visit is what you expect. They go above and beyond each time and if there should be any issues, they'll make sure you're satisfied before you leave. While we love their pizza, it is really their friendly staff that keeps us coming back.

This is a place you really should check out if you haven't had good pizza. For those who have been eating from those national chains, you need to check out what you have...

My family has been coming to Bellacino’s almost every Saturday for the past 3 years. We’ve easily spent $100 a night, $400 a month, thousands every year. And until now, we’ve never had a single issue. The service has always been amazing, the staff friendly, and it’s always been a place we enjoyed coming to.

But this past Saturday changed that. I was sitting outside by the tables, vaping before my family arrived. I didn’t see a no-smoking sign — not something you really go looking for when you’re outside. An employee came up and told me it wasn’t a smoking area and I needed to be 50 feet from the door. Fair enough. I immediately said “okay” and put my vape away. Yet, he kept going on about it even after I complied.

A few minutes later, when my family arrived, I walked inside with my vape still in my pocket. The manager walked in at the same time and immediately accused me of vaping on the way in, even claiming he “saw me blow smoke.” That’s flat-out false. And instead of listening, he went as far as to ask me to leave the restaurant entirely.

After years of loyalty, spending thousands of dollars, and never having any issues, I was humiliated and treated like a problem. Why would I blatantly disrespect a place my family has supported every single week? It ruined our night and left me shocked.

Bellacino’s has always been a great spot, but after this experience, it’s hard to look at it the same. One manager’s poor judgment just cost them loyal,...

Was debating giving one star. Gave two cause the place is still putting in an effort amid Covid.

That being said I used to come here maybe 3 months ago. Before all the shutdowns and restrictions and get takeout. Being from NY my expectation for Pizza is high and Bellacino's was a pretty good substitute.

Sadly as of late the quality has just dipped. A lot. An advertised grilled, hot sandwich comes wet and soggy with chewy chicken. The pizza comes dry and often overcooked. When ordering online the establishment seems to ignore any "special instructions" placed on the order. 3 separate times I've put in special instructions. The first time simply mentioning it, the second time explaining in detail and today? I spammed it. Repeatedly. Knowing there was no way they could miss it if they bothered to check and yet they still failed.

Could just be the current staff but who knows. Regardless, I'll be taking my business to Marco's or Big Tony's...