Bella Vista Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Florida

Let me just say that Italy has moved a little closer to Jacksonville, FL as dining at Bella Vista is like being back in Italy and is a true testament to Italian culinary excellence!!!

From the minute you step into their welcoming doors, you are greeted with a warm family vibe and the smiling face of owner Aylsha.

Once inside the restaurant, you are transported to a world of authentic Italian flavors and genuine warmth.

The fun begins with owner & chef Giovanni, and his cousin Paolo, together infusing their passion for Italian cuisine into every aspect of the dining experience. Their overall dedication to quality and to creating a memorable experience for each guest is evident in each dish and every interaction with the entire Bella Vista staff.

The menu at Bella Vista is a concerto of classic Italian flavors, each expertly crafted with fresh, and locally sourced ingredients. Every dish is a work of art, highlighting the culinary prowess of the entire kitchen team.

On our most recent of many visits, our party of 6 recreated the past magic with a stroll through the great appetizer selections; the creamy burrata, eggplant rollatini (best ever!), baked clams oreganata (truly special!!) were all accompanied by the homemade focaccia and the fantastic bruschetta. Most parties would have asked for a cappuccino and the check but not our group. Now it was time to dive into THE BEST PIZZA in Jacksonville, FLORIDA!!

Since in our mind, pizza is an extension of the appetizer selections, we continued our quest but because of so many great choices, why stop at one? The Margherita, The Burrata, and the special mushroom with truffle oil were all fantastic!

After a few glasses of Aqua Panna & a great Italian red to cleanse our palates, it was time for the one and only Alessandro who in his unique way took us through the signature dish: cacio e pepe! The introduction and presentation of what was about to happen was the highlight of the dinner (so far).

Once again, he didn’t disappoint, using the right amount of pepper, he created a silky-smooth taste & flavor, not to mention we laughed throughout the entire presentation!

As we were contemplating whether to risk a food coma, we decided to meet the challenge head-on and tried the risotto with scallops for the table, and one individual could not pass up the veal Milanese, both were awarded high praise.

Finally, everyone got their second wind it was time to enjoy the delectable desserts and cappuccino.

Is this a long review? YES, but Bella Vista is more than just a restaurant; it's an experience where culinary artistry meets fantastic hospitality, creating an unforgettable dining experience.

I highly recommend Bella Vista for anyone seeking an authentic Italian dining experience that will please your taste buds and bring a smile to your face!

Torneremo...

I lived in Italy (Pozzuoli) for the past two years and I FINALLY found a place that makes doppio café! Using Italian coffee. It. Was. Perfetto! I didn’t have time to eat today, but had to post a review because the service was awesome and they were accommodating even though I didn’t eat. I’ll post again when I go back for dinner, but have to say, place smelled great. So excited to go back.

Editing to add TWO great dining experiences: Yes, I came back folks. And the food was as good as it smelled. On the first dining experience, my husband and I went for dinner at 8 pm (with reservations). I had the parmigiana de melanzane entree and my husband had the bolognese. Both were delicious, but the bolognese was our favorite - you can tell that Giovanni and Paolo slow cooked it for hours. The flavor profile of the sauce tasted like Italia, made from scratch. We also enjoyed a bottle of Greco di Trufo (one of our favorite vino biancos typical of southern Italy that you cannot find in stores in the U.S.) highly recommend you try it if they have some available. This was a wonderful meal all around.

For second dining visit, I booked a reservation for 12 for a work event at 6:30 pm. The place was packed but we had a reserved table so no wait. This time I had the cacio pepe, which was really good. It is a creamier dish than what you may find in Rome, but I think the massive cheese wheel had everything to do with that (no complaints here whatsoever). Other folks got the salmon and steak dishes, which looked amazing. We also had special bruschetta (the appetizer version on pane (bread) which was so good! I could just eat that and be happy). Despite how husy they were, we had excellent service and everyone was happy. Alysha and Giovanni both stopped by the table to see how things were (nice touch to know they want to see people happy, many places don’t have owners greet you during the meal).

Overall, we truly enjoyed all experiences. I am happy to have a place that brings a taste of Italy here because let’s face it, Olive Garden is not Italian food. But Bella Vista is...

Provisimo!

First a shout out to our waitress Ellette, she was not only professional, but she radiates warmth and is the kind of person you want to hug as you are leaving because she makes you feel like family. Her suggestions helped us navigate the menu perfectly.

Second the pizza chef learned his art at a pizza school in Naples Italy (not Florida) and the pasta chef went to culinary school (sorry, I forgot where).

The location, it is .4 of a mile from Racetrack Road and SR 13, just down the street from the Publix shopping center. But here is a secret, you can get yo it from the Publix shopping center by an access road that runs behind McDonalds. Parking is plentiful in a private lot and reservations are accepted and suggested on busier nights.

Second, this spot believes that cleanliness is next to Godliness because everything was spotles.

So enough of my ramblings, what about the food:

Bread service - delightful and complimentary, a good combination the bread is denser, so it does not absorb the dipping oil like you may be used to. It is like a soft pizza crust. Dipping oil - oil, balsamic and herbs the perfect compliment to the bread. Cherry peppers - my wife asked for something spicy, they brought her these and later I looked over and she was sweating, so beware Caprese salad - my favorite fish of the night, fresh Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella (sourced from New Jersey) unbelievably good. Veggie Pizza - good but not amazing, I will choose something different on our next trip. Capricciosa Pizza - my wife loved this pizza Things I want to try: Eggplant Tower - I mean, who doesn’t like a good tower? Eggplant Parmesan - I like eggplant, okay. Calamari - they ran out over the weekend, so you know it must be good.

This is a solid restaurant, not only for Italian cuisine, but for food in general. Well worth a visit or a small wait on...