Bella Mia Cucina Italiana + Bar — Restaurant in Richmond Hill

We are very disappointed in our experience after hearing how highly recommended this restaurant was. My husband and I made reservations for a special birthday meal and were looking forward to finally getting to try this restaurant. This was also supposed to be a special time as we anticipate the arrival of our first baby within the next week or so and this would be one of our last nights out before his arrival. As we walked in the front door we were greeted by the hostess but almost shoved out of the way by another staff member who was returning menus to the stand. We were escorted to our table but not greeted by our waiter for around 15 minutes. Another waitress walked by numerous times without eye contact or engagement during this time. Once greeted by our waiter we placed our orders and I ordered a mocktail. My husband was good with water at the time but was thinking about placing a drink order after asking our waiter a question the next time he came by. Our waiter did not come to check on us while we were waiting, did not refill our waters, or check in if we wanted to order any other drinks, or to update us about the progress of our meal. Someone from the kitchen eventually delivered our food and noticed we didn’t have bread yet so she brought that out afterwards to us. Once after we had started eating our waiter (who appeared to be the only bartender making drinks and serving those there) did ask how things were as he was walking by without waiting for a response or giving time for an answer. My husband never had the chance to order a drink even though he probably would have if the waiter and checked on us at all earlier on. As we were eating my husband’s water glass was completely empty even though the other waitress had walked by numerous times with a pitcher as she was serving her tables. We were finished with our food but both thirsty as both of our waters were empty and looking around hoping someone would come by to check on us. Handfuls of different staff had rushed by throughout this time without making eye contact or engaging with us and our waiter had not been back to check on us for over 30 minutes at this point. When he finally did swing by (not to the edge of our table but peering over my husband’s shoulder leaning as in a rush and not expecting to engage much) he asked if we wanted dessert. My original plan was that I wanted dessert but was going to need to look at the menu or hear options as this was our first time here. But for this birthday celebration I was looking forward to a special treat. However, after the very poor and almost nonexistent service it just wasn’t worth it anymore. Our waiter brought the check hurriedly over my husband’s shoulder before rushing back to the bar. While the food was good, our overall experience was very lacking and would not choose to return. We left very thirsty, sad we didn’t get to celebrate with dessert, and frustrated that what should have been a fun birthday dinner and pre-baby date night was...

This is our go to Italian restaurant . Me and my husband go the local quite often and the server there told us their sister restaurant is Bella Mia, ever since we went to Bella Mia we have been regulars. The meatballs are amazing! And have consistently been amazing every time. We have probably tried everything on the menu, and there isn’t one thing we didn’t like! The atmosphere here is very quiet and an intimate setting. Which we love! I love that they play Italian music . Give you the feels like you’re in Italy. My husband is half Italian and this is his favorite Italian restaurant, which says a lot! The steak here is to die for, I don’t know how they do it but they literally cook the steak PERFECT every time, I’m a big red meat eater which I’m soooo picky when it comes to my steak. And I love it here. It’s also VERY affordable! You get a filet and risotto for a little under $30 you can’t beat that especially for the quality you get here! And omg don’t get me started with the chicken Parmesan! That’s my husband’s favorite! The chicken is literally as big as the plate, they don’t skip out on portion! You will never leave hungry! Haha. Anyways I don’t want to get carried away, you will have to come in the restaurant to see for yourself!

Last but not least I have to speak on the experiences I have with the girls here! Jessica and Brittany have both waited on us several times and they always know how to make me feel special by remembering what I like. And that means so much to me and my husband that they go above and beyond. EVERYTIME. I have never had a bad experience here. Especially since Brittany went on maternity leave for a couple months she still come back on her game and works so hard, I just witnessed her single handedly waited the whole restaurant by herself with several tables and did a fantastic job. She even remembered me only waited on me twice before. Just wow.

Lastly Brittany the manager wow, she is amazing and surely knows how to run this restaurant. The appreciation we get from her makes us want to come back everyday, she has thanked us for our support to the restaurant and that’s taking it above and beyond. We absolutely love it here and will continue to show our support to this small business. You can have all the great food in the world but with out amazing staff and great customer service the people will not come back. But this restaurant...

I was very excited to go to this place since living in Richmond Hill I haven’t been able to find a place that has great food that I would recommend people going out of their way for or to take family to when they visit. Unfortunately, we will continue to have to go down into Savannah because I left this place extremely disappointed. First impression we walk in and it’s a small location in my mind that is good but for some reason they had Christmas music playing so loudly that everyone was having to yell in the place like I was at a frat house party. After about a 45 minute wait the bartender came from the behind the bar to get our app and drink order he eventually took our full order as well. This was baffling to me because they had an abundance of staff for how small the location was. The bartender did a great job though and the only reason I gave two stars instead of one he was friendly and very apologetic. Randomly another waitress came over halfway through dinner and filled our glasses with the wrong drinks as well not sure why that happened never got fixed but ordered wine at the same time so just didn’t remind the staff that it needed to be changed.

notes on our order:

Apps: Crab ravioli: average wasn’t good wasn’t bad had a good sauce for bread dipping. Gnocchi: large not what was expected to much potato for a dish of that size. Soup of the day: pretty good would order again if I went but idk what it was called and/or when it would be the soup of the day again. Dinners Pork belly carbonara: would not order taste comparable to scooping the filling out of a microwavable pot pie. Ate one bite and asked for it to go so the dog could eat it. The meatball dish(don’t remember the name): average sauce nothing notable but meatballs were over cooked and dry.(also taken home) Alcohol: Wine is wine so they poured it into a glass nothing to really mess up there. They have a normal selection for an Italian restaurant is all I can say about that. My company also got a mixed drink with peaches and said it was good, another win for the bartender.

Skipped dessert didn’t want to waste anymore money on the food there. Total cost of meal for 2 was around $130ish and I just didn’t see the value if I can drive down to Savannah and get an excellent meal and service for...