Bella Luna Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

If you're a parent considering dining here with your little ones, my advice is: DON’T. This place doesn't know the meaning of family-friendliness and should be avoided.

During a pouring rainstorm, my family (including myself, my husband, our 4-year-old, and our 21-month-old) met up with my husband's mother and aunt who were visiting from out of the country. We never take our kids out to dinner for fear of being judged, but we thought, "It's a Monday, it's raining, we can do this."

Upon arrival, my husband informed the host that we had two young kids and asked if it was okay to use the outdoor canopy seating, as to minimize disruption to other diners. Unfortunately, the best suited area had a slight leak and they weren’t comfortable seating our party there, our only option would be inside. The host, with his insistence that, “kids are welcomed”, assured us everything would be fine.

While waiting for my late-arriving mother-in-law and aunt (thanks to the downpour), I ordered food for the kids and whipped out coloring supplies, stickers, and a whiteboard - the works. Our 4-year-old and 21-month-old were happily engaged, eating and amusing themselves. We eventually ordered our own meals and settled in to wait.

However, our 21-month-old grew bored and a tad fussy, so I handed her my phone. She gleefully explored the camera, giggling and saying "No" repeatedly, while she looked at her cute self. It's worth noting that she wasn't screaming or crying. As our daughter continued to be verbally expressive, we were suddenly confronted by the host. He told me that she was being too loud and she needed to quiet down. I partially smiled because I thought it was a joke (considering the earlier conversation with my husband), but his stone-cold expression revealed he was serious. I replied, "Are you serious?" To which he responded, "Yes, she is loud, and she needs to be quiet." I asked, "How does one silence a 21-month-old?" He continued to insist she had to be quiet.

This absurdity was seconded by the owner, who claimed her innocent excitement was disturbing other diners. Feeling left with little choice, (it was downpouring and I couldn’t just walk around outside) abruptly, I stood up, packed our belongings and expressed our frustration. I told the host that it felt like he was kicking us out.

My husband stayed behind to pay the bill for the kids' food and our drinks. The owner refused payment and even shoved the cash back into my husband's pocket, stating, "We are not asking you to leave." It felt like an attempt to buy our silence.

This experience was beyond disappointing and upsetting. Was their expectation that we reason with our child? That we further animate her by handing her a tablet? I've never felt the urge to leave a negative review before, but if you're dining with young kids this place may not be fit for you. If you are a person who believes in socially active children, not silent children, this place isn’t for you. I would never characterize this establishment as family-friendly. We were left hungry, frustrated and unnecessarily embarrassed. And yes, this awful experience made me cry.I left feeling unfairly mom-shamed. I rarely dine out with my kids due to these fears and this place brought them to life. At this restaurant it is obvious that kids should be seen but not heard.

This restaurant should be ashamed of its behavior towards a family with young children. If you are a family with happy and verbal toddlers, save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere. There is no room for them...

I’ll start with the food because that’s the most basic thing to do: I had the mussels and they were absolutely fabulous. Simple, wonderful tomato sauce done impeccably. Flavor was great. Perfect consistency distinguished the sauce. Once I finished the mussels, I ladled that sauce into my gullet like Popeye and spinach. The mussels themselves were perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. But be sure to order bread to help mop up the sauce.

Atmosphere/vibe was comfortable, casual, and laidback but sophisticated and classy as one might expect in the upper westside of NYC. No dress code or anything like that.

There’s a beautiful interior here as well as outdoor seating under the trees. But the interior is extra special. A brick wall on one side and an old mural on the other side. Beautifully painted and restored, the mural was hidden from view until the owner peeled back four layers of paint wallpaper and wood paneling to discover these rich, beautiful wall paintings in three panels. The mural itself is almost enough to justify a visit to this wonderful restaurant.

Equally outstanding was the service. Everyone, from the bartender to my server to the wonderful owner, made me feel like I was some sort of special person. But in a very easy, comfortable fashion.

I’ll be back and...

Bella Luna used to my UWS catchall, and then it changed. It’s not that the new Bella Luna is bad, it’s just not the same.

6 months ago, I would have described Bella Luna as an all-purpose, community-oriented restaurant; a bit trattoria with a healthy splash of ristorante. Perfect for dates, get togethers, afterschool celebrations, and the like. But their new direction is full on ristorante: they updated their aesthetics, raised their prices, shrunk their portions, and put more effort into their dish presentation.

Essentially, my once coveted eggplant parmesan now costs more, no longer comes with a free side, and is noticeably smaller — but it sure looks pretty on the plate.

The staff at Bella Luna are nice and the presentation is lovely: I'm sure they'll find their new audience, but Bella Luna isn't a fit for me or my family anymore.

On a side note, I enjoyed what I sampled from my friend's dishes, which included the newly added roasted vegetable napoleon. However, I did not enjoy the new eggplant parmesan. It was textureless and...