Bella Roma Tuscan Grill — Restaurant in Panama City Beach

Delicious Food, but Disappointing Credit Card Surcharge at Bella Roma Tuscan Grill

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

I recently dined at Bella Roma Tuscan Grill and while the food was undoubtedly delicious, there were a few aspects of my experience that left me disappointed. Let me start with the positives.

The culinary offerings at Bella Roma Tuscan Grill were truly enjoyable. The flavors and presentation of the dishes were top-notch, capturing the essence of Tuscan cuisine. From the perfectly cooked pasta to the flavorful sauces and delectable desserts, the food itself met my expectations and left a favorable impression.

However, one aspect that fell short of expectations was the portion sizes. Some dishes had smaller portions than anticipated, leaving me feeling slightly unsatisfied. While this may be a matter of personal preference, it would have been nice to see more generous servings to match the quality of the food.

What truly disappointed me, though, was the restaurant's policy of charging customers an additional 3.5% fee for using a credit card. In this day and age, where credit and debit card payments are a common and convenient method of payment, it felt unreasonable to pass this cost onto the customer. It's understandable that businesses incur transaction fees, but it is typically expected that such costs are absorbed by the establishment as part of doing business. Requiring customers to pay an extra fee for the convenience of using a card felt inconvenient and unfair, especially considering not everyone carries substantial amounts of cash.

While I understand that businesses need to manage their expenses, it would have been more customer-friendly if Bella Roma Tuscan Grill had factored in the transaction costs within their pricing structure, rather than imposing an additional fee. This approach would have provided a more seamless and transparent experience for patrons.

In conclusion, Bella Roma Tuscan Grill offered a delightful dining experience with its tasty cuisine. However, the smaller portions and the credit card surcharge were notable downsides that detracted from an otherwise enjoyable visit. I would recommend potential diners to be aware of these factors and plan...

The food and atmosphere was impeccable. Beautiful food that was not overly seasoned with salt, the manager was friendly and caring, and the atmosphere was very inviting. The only issue was our server towards the end. We ordered 2 wines, calamari, lamb and broccolini, and also a seafood pasta.

Calamari was perfect but one of our wine glasses still had a lip mark from the previous guest which was pretty disgusting so we asked for a new one. No problem. The rest of the food came out beautiful. Once we were finished the bill came out to +$120 which is pretty standard for a date. I don’t normally give 20% for the tip, UNLESS the occasion calls for it, this occasion did not. So I only left 10% because the server didn’t go above and beyond and they just did the bare minimum including the glass lip mark and also leaving us with one fork when all the food arrived.

The attitude I received from the server was unexpected. I never felt so much privilege from a server just because they worked in an Italian restaurant. I have been a server, cook, food prep, plus many different jobs in other fields so I understand what the restaurant industry is like. Looking back, now I’m glad I gave that amount for the tip because now it feels well deserved for that server.

The server did not know what wine was great with certain foods, she just recommended what wine was always ordered and popular. She ordered me a wine that is $9 in the restaurant for a GLASS, but outside the wine costs $8 for the BOTTLE. She was friendly at first but at the very end being upset and having a sarcastic attitude DOES NOT make people want to return.

This server spoke as if she knew of the word “generosity” when she had her last words as we were walking out the door, maybe next time you should do OVER the bare minimum to ensure you secure that generosity you so badly want.

No negativity towards the manager, chefs, and other servers that work so hard to make this restaurant run. Thank you to everyone else for the...

Can't describe how terrible our experience was. Bland. Frozen foods. Nothing fresh, Overpriced. Service is crazy bad. They will try and scam you on your meal prices and a supposed mandatory 20% gratuity on to-go orders. I have lodged a complaint and reported them to the city, state, and regulatory bodies. I promise, just go to Ferucci’s. Best Italian in town, hands down. Great service and great quality. (Read below to understand more)

6/19/25 - Called and placed a large to-go order ($175+). I asked to sub Alfredo for a dish instead of marinara (allergy issue) and they refused to make it. Their excuse was the dish was premade in the mornings. (Meaning the chicken parm is breaded, cooked, and topped with sauce and cheese before they open in the morning?). So because they couldn’t accommodate, I didn’t place an order but placed my families. Went to pick it up. They brought me a ticket and it had an automatic 20% gratuity added (20% of $175). I asked why that was added, and they said it is mandatory for all orders. I refused and I asked for a manager and further explained to him why I don’t feel a tip is deserved. He then surprised me and asked me why they wouldn’t place my order. I told him his staff refused and stated it wasn’t an option. He then proceeded to go have the meal I wanted made because THEY COULD DO IT. (I was surprised but grateful). They made the order and the manager took the tip off, reluctantly because his bartender was complaining about it. This is where it turned shady, again. They charged me for a different meal ($7 more) than the actual order I just placed. I pulled up their menu and asked, and the manager tried to play dumb with me. Couldn’t give me an explanation so I told him I would pay for the meals I received or I can refuse and walk out. He brings a ticket with the right amount. I pay, and leave. I believe he was trying to inflate prices to cover the tip for his employee (that didn’t deserve one). Watch out...