La Bella Vita Kitchen and Bar — Restaurant in Orleans

Dropping rating by one star after a mediocre dinner tonight. By itself, tonight only ranked 3 stars but will gibe them the benefit of a great wine list, and nice hostess and servers. However, bar service was inattentive…. Yes it was busy tonight but that’s no excuse for not even being acknowledged or greeted or given menus to ponder, for 10+ minutes Table was ready early so we abandoned the bar sans any service at all. Menu seems to have really shrunk from last Fall. The seafood chowder was great, tasty and nice and stocky, and the salad was fresh and nicely sized. But the big disappointment was the bolognese, which we both had, and both of which were overly saucy and soupy, and lacking much meat. The sauce was overwhelmingly cheesy and filling. Hoping this was just an off-night, but frankly a restaurant that’s trying to be on a higher level needs to be more consistent in service and food quality.

Had wonderful evening at Bella Vita with superb service and an amazing meal for all in our party of six. The appetizers were fresh and hot, the bread excellent, and the entrees wonderfully prepared and served (including the Bolognese, Chicken Scarpariello which was superb blend of boneless chicken breast and sweet Italian sausage in a nicely balanced tomato and red pepper sauce), veal Milanese with moist and perfectly cooked veal, and a very tasty large-portion chicken Parmesan. A wonderful option that we gladly took was the price-fix special menu of $60 for two entrees and two appetizers, which has a very nice variety of both for the picking. Also on special are three highlighted $20 bottles of wine, from their very extensive and high quality selection. The paced service was perfect for our party, and servers were easily accessible and responsive for in-between requests. The outdoor enclosed deck is a perfect socially-distanced setting, with just entail flow, plenty of heaters, and lots of room between tables. All in all a great evening and a well needed night-out break...

The good the bad and the inedible. I had the calamari as an app, something that I have had at a host of Cape restaurants. This is one of if not the best calamari dishes on the Cape. Tasty, beautifully cooked, crispy with a delightful sauce on the side. My wife ordered a house specialty cocktail she loved and I enjoyed some wine. She had the garden salad to start and ate some/left some - not all that happy with it. Did not complain but left most behind. Entrees were pasta primavera for her--- did not like the taste overall and the sauce was supermarket quality - if that. Reviews I read said that the food was OK but to try the the chicken parm - so I did. It was a 3x5 chicken breast about 3/4 of an inch thick covered with a smattering of sauce and the world's thinest slice of cheese - hardly visible or noticeable when eaten. The chicken was somewhat better than something in a high school cafeteria. The spaghetti was cooked well (not a generous portion) but the watery tomato sauce lacked any flavor and in no way would any of the so called tomato sauce cling to a noodle. The service was excellent and given a well deserved generous tip. No coffee or dessert. Price for dinner, tax, and tip. $163.00. Sorry to say that other than the calamari and drinks - I am better off in the freezer section of my...

Every time I think I've had the best meal on the Cape, I go out to dinner again and another restaurant is just as fabulous! From the start, the hostess was extremely friendly. We started with a manhattan and a mango habanero margarita. They were perfection. The Focaccia and olive oil that Bryanne brought to the table while we waited for our meal was mouth watering. What a perfect set up for what was to come. I ordered the brown butter cod over risotto. Dad ordered the scallop special with roasted cauliflower and corn. Kudos to the chef. Both were creative and as Dad says, "dynamite." The manager came to check in and see if everything tasted ok, of course it did, but I always appreciate the gesture. The outdoor patio was packed and the inside was filling up on a Wednesday. Make sure you get a reservation! This place is a hot spot! You will not be disappointed at La Bella Vita. It has quickly become a family favorite. I highly recommend any of the specialty cocktails, scallops if they have them, and the brown butter Cod if it's on the menu when you get there. If Bryanne is your server, you are...