Bella Vita — Restaurant in Johnson City

Best authentic Italian cooking in the area. Above and beyond customer service. Staff is always polite; the owners and head chef make you feel like family, ensuring your food is to your liking and always full of recommendations. If they have the ingredients, they’ll cook you the dish of your dreams.

The menu, while extensive, does not comprise quality for quantity. They can just cook so many incredible and memorable dishes.

Relaxing atmosphere, smells words fail to describe, pizza and calzones cooked to utter perfection, and the best pasta I’ve ever had the pleasure to taste.

A true “hole in the wall” gem that everyone should take the opportunity to experience.

You will not leave hungry nor disappointed. In fact, you’ll likely leave planning your next meal and when you’ll be returning to indulge in truly “homemade” made-to-order classic style Italian deliciousness. I highly recommend their Alfredo for the less adventurous eater, as it tastes nothing like any Alfredo I’ve ever had. The term “secret sauce” can be used very literally in this context. Linguine Vongolio, however, is my favorite pasta dish here. Slightly spicy, delicious al dente noodles, and can be prepared with shrimp, scallops, and clams for the seafood lover. Chicken is also available and never dry or undercooked.

Located by mellow mushroom on N. Roan - Bella Vita is putting Mellow’s pizza to shame all day, everyday… and I quite like Mellow’s pizzas, for some perspective. For pizza and calzones, they have any ingredient one could desire, always served hot and fresh straight from the visible pizza ovens. Easily the best dough I’ve ever had. Delicious medium thickness hand tossed dough baked to bubbly perfection and never greasy. You can taste their New York roots in every bite.

And the bread. Oh lord, the fresh bread. It’s delivered to you via tongs straight from the oven. I recommend having it with a side of olive oil and spices, though it’s equal in flavor ecstasy with just a coating of butter.

If you enjoy whiskey, order their old fashioned. You will NOT be disappointed. Boozy, perfectly bittered, and my favorite Old Fashioned in Johnson City. I believe my last one was made with Woodford Reserve, a phenomenal distillatory producing bourbon and rye varieties suited perfectly for Whiskey dominated cocktails. Smooth and flavorful with a lovely scent and mouthfeel. Treat yourself.

This joint has treated my family and myself like their own family for years now, leaving me looking forward to every meal I have here, for both the food, imbued with sincere love and care the owners put into their true Italian soul food passed down through their family for generations; as well as the feeling of being a part of their extended family. I cannot stress their customer service enough. There are few things better in this life than both good food and feeling like you’re part of a family. You know a chef cares when they come by your table to ascertain that everything is to everyone’s liking.

This is the spot to bring the cherished people in your life whilst spending no more than you would on the numerous generic chain Italian spots in the area, serving up inferior frozen food for $20+ plate that you could just purchase in your local grocery’s frozen isle and prepare at home for under $10.

Treat yourself to some Italian heaven because you deserve it. Amal and his crew of excellent cooks and service staff will make sure you leave fully satisfied. If you leave here in a poor mood, that’s likely on you, as staff and the delectable food will most certainly not be the cause.

Also, try the garlic bread appetizer with cheese - it’s like $5 or $6 for a large plate of perfectly seasoned and crispy without feeling dry bread, all covered in gooey mozzarella with a large cup of their divine marinara sauce.

Truly a gem of the Tri-Cities. Hands down in my top 5 restaurants.I have been eating here for years and still try and go for a meal every month.

Great spot for family dinners, dates, or a night out with friends/coworkers.

Love...

We visited about a month ago, sat at the bar (arrived at 5:10 - only my husband, myself, and one other at the bar the entire 1.5 hr we were there). Yesterday we were advised that there is NEVER an open seat at the bar. (?)... We had a male seat us, take and deliver our wine (Asked us for our drink order before I even sat my purse down - I had to ask if they had a wine list! He also tried to take our food order right away as well (again - it was our 2nd visit - not familiar w/menu). About 10 min later a girl is at our table - no 'Hello', not one pleasantly, only 'are you ready to order?' It/she was bordering on the rude side... She NEVER ONE TIME asked how our grk Sal was (the bowl was put on table - had to ask for plates so we could share (after I told girl when ordering, we were splitting, we would need plates) - only got one plate. -- really? Not raised in a barn (and, yes, we love farms). NEVER ONCE DID SHE ASK IF WE NEEDED ANYTHING. We told girl we had been once, had a good pizza, will do it again. We BOTH asked for pizza to be crispy - she took order (we arrived at 5:05-ish, we rc'd pizza about 50 min later. The toppings - VERY GOOD (sauce, meat, - all flavored just right). The crust was like a crepe - not one bit of 'crisp' except at the rims of the crust) We ordered a large on the premise, the pizza would be crisp, edible and we could take it with us... I ate one piece - toppings only. My husband ate 2 - he said to make them not feel bad- I told him it was obvious they don't care -- the pizza sat and sat - server walked past 9 times going to other tables (she did ask how pizza was less than 60 Sec after it was delivered - I had to advise her - while pointing to the pizza that we hadn't had a chance to taste - she said she would check back). Server checked back when we had a LARGE pizza w/3 pieces missing - one of them rolled like a crepe - in the hopes server would CARE enough to ask what was wrong - & we were talking w/host advising pizza was NOT what we asked for... - this is ONLY time she stopped. She has NO CLUE on professionalism. The host hmmd and hawed then offered to make us another- I said we had been there over 50 min waiting now and not interested in staying the night... HORRIBLE. - girl said, "I wrote 'crispy' on ticket"... I just looked at her - she just walked off - honestly, this was a ridiculous excuse for dinner out. AND, OH MY GOD!! - pepper grinders, fresh parm 5his would be nice - (think Italian & 2024 maybe). & PLEASE, PLEASE, CLEAN YOUR INSIDE FRONT DOOR a good painting might be in order for the kick plate area and where your GUESTS put their hands to leave - it is disgusting!! Just look at it, --and we were sitting in a dimly lit room - GROSS! Is the rest of the restaurant like this - door lends us to think so... you should be proud enough of your business to at least clean your front door. Sad, we enjoyed the 1st visit (pizza was on crispier side - bartender actually carried on small conversation, made sure food was good). Not even close this trip. The host did take the toppings off the crust while he mumbled about the police being outside... From one restaurant manager to another - dude, pay attention...

This place was pure heaven after endless chains and fast food on the road. This is an independent family restaurant. I ordered a lot of food so I would have some left to bring back to my hotel room. Everything was delicious. The cream based garlic and herb soup was thick and rich. They make it from scratch. The garlic bread had medicinal levels of garlic to supplement health, cure whatever ails you and to heighten the flavor of the marinara it is served with. You get real butter with the customary bread loaf. The croutons on the salad are homemade, too. Yep- I am going down the list. The chicken Marsala is fork tender with fresh wine sauce that is multi layer. You get a light flavor of the wine and as you eat the pasta the meat rests on, the flavors of the browning in the pan, the fresh mushrooms and onions come to light. Everything is freshly made. The tomato sauce, marinara, is not made as meals are ordered. It is made from scratch with substantial ingredients several times a week, which, if you know a good marinara or tomato sauce, is far better than anything made as ordered. The sauce is given time to breathe and the flavors of the ingredients are given time to marry. Why do you think left over spaghetti is so much better than the pot you created the night before? My waiter was Bes and is a cousin of this family. He makes the tomato sauce. His delight in your enjoyment of the food is genuine and family pride of the good food is evident. Everyone takes personal pride in their work. I don’t think they would be able to sleep at night if their customers did not roll and waddle out the door after a great meal! Brandon works there as needed and he was needed tonight! He bussed and served. He really cares about the diners, too. They were so busy but Bes and Brandon still found time to treat me like family with conversation and family style service. I was the grandma aged woman dining alone with a table covered in food! I did not feel alone! The decor is modest, but I can tell you it was a sight for sore eyes. After decades of travel, I will swear by the simplicity of sparse decoration and the color of the walls. When you see this stateside, you are definitely in a family restaurant owned by an immigrant or a generation removed from the old country with recipes chain restaurants can’t copy. There is a difference in the foods we have here and that which is grown over there, but the lineage prevails. You will eat well. The prices are affordable and fair. Go early enough in the evening if you want lasagna. It sold out. I will get there in time for...