Mia Bella Trattoria — Restaurant in Houston

I fell in love with their food the first time I went here for happy hour. The octopus is outstanding as are other items on the menu, the Caesar Salad, The Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad, and the Lamb Ossa Bucco. Emilio is an amazing waiter. The kitchen will do special orders too without blinking an eye. That is at first. The service has slowly gone downhill. The customers have started thinning out. Emilio has not been there on our regular Saturday night dinners. Worst of all, the new staff has started cleaning the dining room while we are still eating, even though they don’t close till 11:00pm and it is well before that time. I understand doing some side work, but closing the entire restaurant down while customers are still dining, ruining their dinner that they are paying quite a bit of money for is uncalled for. One of the bus people was yelling at the other’s across the large dining room from in front of our booth in the back, oblivious to our presence. They start sweeping the floor, dragging chairs across it, not lifting them appropriately, dragging them making a dreadful noise, and instead of starting on one side of the enormous restaurant away from the customers, they start sweeping on all rows aggressively coming towards us. Now if that was my table and those were my busboys that were getting tipped out from my last big table of the night and they were making all that ruckus around them, I’d tell them to stop or lose their tip out. Same for the kitchen girls starting to mop next to us almost ruining my delicious Ossa Bucco with the overwhelming smell of Pine-sol. It was 10:50pm. The sweeping had started earlier. If customers had walked in they, would have had to serve them. That or turn them away for closing early. I would like to know who trained the staff to operate this way. This is more encountered at fast food restaurants than one you are spending $150 in. I had to get up and move the smell was of Pine-Sol mopping coming from the wait station was so overwhelming. I know from experience, there are many other things a server, bus boys, and kitchen staff can do for closing duties while waiting for that last customer to leave, especially if it isn’t even closing time yet and they aren’t drinking alcohol or lingering. I also had to flag our waiter down several times to get things like basics; bread, salt and pepper, no dessert menu was offered. Things that our regular waiter Emilio brings without asking. This is the second time he has not been there, but our waiter before him was very good, however the rest of the staff was about the same. Not impressed with Mia Bella anymore. It’s gone from a 5 star to a 2 star. The noise level has always been bad, hence the reason for going later when it was less crowded. I did not know I would have to contend with the restaurant staff too. Great food does not a...

A Memorable Culinary Adventure at Mia Bella in Greenway Plaza

I have had the pleasure of experiencing numerous dining venues in Houston, Texas. However, Mia Bella Trattoria, nestled in Greenway Plaza, has truly captured my heart with its exceptional fusion of friendly service and great food.

From the moment I set foot in Mia Bella, I was enveloped by its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Their attentive service continued throughout the evening, as they meticulously ensured that every aspect of my meal was impeccable. The servers were not only well-versed in the menu but were also eager to provide personalized recommendations based on my preferences.

My culinary adventure at Mia Bella began with the delightful Calamari appetizer. The tender squid boasted a perfectly crispy exterior, accompanied by a tangy marinara dipping sauce that truly elevated the dish. The delectable combination transported me to a charming Italian piazza, where I could envision sharing this delightful starter with loved ones.

For the main course, I savored the unique Cilantro Jalapeño Fettuccine with Shrimp, a dish that showcased the restaurant's creativity and skill. The pasta was cooked to perfection, with the cilantro jalapeño sauce striking a delicate balance between spicy and savory. The succulent shrimp added a delightful layer of flavor and texture, making this dish an absolute standout.

To conclude my meal on a sweet note, I indulged in the luscious Crème Brûlée. The dessert featured a creamy, velvety custard topped with a thin layer of caramelized sugar that provided a satisfying crunch. The contrast between the silky custard and the crisp sugar made for a truly indulgent experience, serving as the perfect finale to an extraordinary meal.

In summary, Mia Bella Trattoria in Greenway Plaza offers an unforgettable dining experience. The combination of friendly service, great food, and a heartwarming atmosphere left me thoroughly satisfied and eager to return. If you find yourself in Houston, be sure to visit Mia Bella – your taste buds...

Food: Very good to great to excellent! Service: Excellent! Ambiance: Very good! Prices: reasonable for the quality.

Last minute booking for my family, with like 10 people, so options were limited. Luckily, this place had availability.

Waiter was very patient while my family members straggled in. Explained that the did way Italian with influences of Mexican, like cilantro and jalapeño, and that chef brought in his Moroccan heritage as well. Sounded like a great combo. Again, the waiter was very responsive and attentive, and we were all impressed with his level of service!

Based on his recommendations, several family members commented on how good their plates were and that they'd like to come back here again. In particular, my sister spoke wonders off the duck tortelloni. I was between the truffled eggs Benedict on grits and the Pizza Modo Mio, which was a pizza with one's choice of 2 vegetable toppings and 4 fried eggs in the corners on top of the tomato sauce. Waiter recommended the latter, and it was good. That said, I was expecting a bit stronger flavors and spices. Given the chef's provenance, I was hoping for more like a Shakshuka on a pizza. Could've used a bit more salt/seasoning for my tastes as well, but I did enjoy it. Not sure I'd try it again as there were so many other amazing sounding dishes on their lunch menu.

I had a $3 mimosa with my brunch item, that was tasty and a great value. At the end of the meal, I also wanted to try one of their cocktails, and our waiter spoke highly of their Smoked Old Fashioned. It certainly won style points coming in a small treasure chest one would open to allow the smoke to waft out, however, it was a bit pricy for the actual balance of flavors. Again, likely wouldn't order it again.

Overall a great find, and we'll be back. Totaled about $25/person with tax and 20% tip already included, which was well earned by our very professional, Venezuelan-born,...