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Bistro Bella Vita

United States Michigan Grand RapidsBistro Bella Vita

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Airy spot filled with warm woods offers farm-to-table homestyle Mediterranean dishes & patio dining.

Description

Airy spot filled with warm woods offers farm-to-table homestyle Mediterranean dishes & patio dining.

Posts

Bistro Bella Vita is a nice, professional, and super cozy place. When I first came in, I was pleasantly surprised on how everything looked professional (which kind of made me feel bad about wearing short pans and a white shirt.) However, this didn't ruin the experience, and I still enjoyed the food and the beautiful interior of Bistro Bella Vita. My waitress, Anna, was super sweet and attentive to my table. The appetizer which I ordered, the tomato bruschetta, was really good (especially since it was hot outside, and bruschettas are usually served cold.) On the other hand, the entree which I ordered -- the four cheese ravioli -- wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. I felt like it was missing something, I just didn't know exactly what that 'something' was. Despite of this, you should still try it out since it is high quality and, you might like it. 🙂 For dessert, I got the Apple Tart Tatin and The Dark Chocolate Mousse. Both of them were ridiculously good (especially the Mousse.) The Apple Tarte Tartin is basically an apple pie with ice cream and raisins on the side. I suggest you gave this cake a try if you like pies or tarts. Now, the Dark Chocolate Mousse. This. Cake. Is. So. GOOD. It's very light, so it's a perfect dessert after a heavy meal. If you craving something not too sweet, this cake will definitely satisfy you. Also, I think it's a great cake to give to a child which doesn't have enough strength to cut the crust with a spoon (or fork if your fancy.) To summarize; the Dark Chocolate Mousse is a 10/10 and I recommend it. The Apple Tart Tatin is a solid cake for you to try. The four cheese ravioli is okay. Additionally, the look, the atmosphere, and the people are welcoming and professional.

Cathy PCathy P

10

Went for our anniversary on a recommendation, atmosphere was not what we were intending for. We were looking for more of an intimate setting and that you could talk to one another without shouting. We quickly realized this is a perfect restaurant for large gatherings where you can be loud and still get decent food. I got the 4 cheese ravioli, it was undercooked along the edges of the pasta, sauce was watery and had random celery, carrots and cauliflower on top which made no sense to the dish. Husband got the filet mignon, he asked for medium rare and found it was closer to medium well the more he cut into it. The BEST PART of this restaurant was our server she was professional and super accommodating. She walked by and noticed my husbands steak and immediately offered to either take it back for a fresh steak or remove from the bill. My husband didn’t want to be a pain and so he said if it’s no trouble he would take a new steak, which came back cooked perfectly. They also offered either a free champagne 🥂 toast or deserts on the house for our anniversary, we opted for the tiramisu to go, had for breakfast the next day. Also they offer a cork fee of $25 a bottle so we were able to bring a nice bottle of Amarone in which cost would’ve been much different otherwise.

Michael KulpaMichael Kulpa

10

We've been wanting to try this place for a while and finally did. It was so good, I wish I would have come here a long time ago. I didn't realize it was such a large place! Even with as big as it is, the atmosphere is still quite cozy. Edward was our server and he did an outstanding job. The food was incredible, but my wife said the shrimp in her Seafood Spaghetti was really over done. It happens... it's not the mistake that's the issue, it's how they correct it that can make or break a restaurant. Edward swooped in and had the shrimp replaced right away. Even though my wife said he didn't need to. I enjoyed the Rigatoni Bolognese and it was outstanding! It had a lot of flavor and a hefty portion of meat sauce. There was enough there, that I had my leftovers for lunch the next day. It was my birthday, so they gave me a complimentary Tiramisu. I really never order Tiramisu, but this one is so good, I probably will the next time I come back. It was very moist and had a lovely coffee flavor. I also thought the prices were very reasonable for what they had to offer. I'm really looking forward to my next visit!

Keith RenchKeith Rench

30

An exceptional night out! Service was excellent, food was divine, drinks were lovely. My guests were big fans of the cauliflower soup and the Brassicas were a surprising mix of flavors that came together impeccably! My steak melted in my mouth, frites were perfect. The risotto was reported as delicious and the serving was quite generous. My daughter was pleased with the brisket, and went home with leftovers. We shared a sampling of desserts and they were delightfully assembled and tasted as good as they looked. Everything was just right, aaaand! Both of my guests have celiac disease, neither were glutened! This was our second visit, the first missed the mark but patience and grace go a long way. If something's not right, talk to them. I promise you they want your night to be exceptional too! Communication was beyond expectation. Tristan was an absolute pleasure to talk to and so understanding. 10/10 do recommend!

Dawn TallentDawn Tallent

20

I was invited to dinner at Bistro Bella Vita. Upon arriving I noticed that the restaurant does have an upscale feel, as others have noted. I am more of a no frills type of guy, so I opted to order a pizza. The table next to us got a couple of pizzas, so I thought that they looked good. I ordered the sausage and fennel pizza and found the flavor to be pretty good. I sampled some of the dishes that others in my party ordered and was not overly impressed with those. I thought the rigatoni bolognese was undercooked and lacked in flavor. I enjoyed the deserts. I tried both the gelato and the tiramisu, and both were very tasty. I did not think that the service was as quick or attentive as I would have expected for this upscale of a restaurant, but it wasn’t horrible either. If you are looking for a somewhat upscale restaurant for authentic Italian food in the Grand Rapids area, this is a good bet.

Brandon's Equipment VideosBrandon's Equipment Videos

00

BISTRO BELLA VITA provides casual fine dining at its best. The portions are generous to share. We ordered mussels (which were gigantic!) and salad as an appetizer to share aoung 3 people which left us completely satisfied, however we didn't stop there. We each ordered a main... branzino, salmon and a ribeye. The fish was seasoned well(also gigantic) and the ribeye I ordered was one of most cooked to order/juiciest steak I have had outside my house perfectly seasoned. It's a farm to table place so I asked where they found such large mussels and branzino. The mussels were from the New England area and the branzino, imported from Greece. :) even though we were super stuffed we had to try dessert... sweet way to end the meal. pictured below. Altogether, great service, atmosphere and food. I would definitely go back when in grand rapids.

Kareisha Questel-GordonKareisha Questel-Gordon

00

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Overview

4.6

(965 reviews)$$

Phone

+1 616-222-4600

Call

Website

bistrobellavita.com

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