Bella's Italian Cafe — Restaurant in Tampa

This literally is my first review ive ever left... that is how chill I am when things dont go great at places.... but I have to leave one for this experience. The owner told me I wasnt allowed to have my laptop out... after I ate dinner... but I was ordering drinks every 30 mins (I was not just sitting there like u would at a coffee shop; I was just alone and it was 6:15 pm and finishing clearing emails) spent $100 and tipped 30 percent. I then get approached by the owner while finishing my last drink... He said I cant sit at the bar after 5 pm with a laptop. Mind you.... i have a full drink not drank... (mind u as his wife and 2 old drunk women wont stop talking to me as im working and minding my own business... the lady beside me was hammered and friends with the owners wife sitting 2 seats down and she had zero self awareness to stop talking but me minding my own business and allowing this lady to annoy me and slurs her words and not stop talking... but me with a laptop open is an issue).... Beyond laughable and odd when I start companies and help them with profit margins/ROI.... i didnt want to watch football which was all that was on the tv and I was alone and needed to clear emails and continuously ordering not just sitting there. ive been and lived in the nicest cities and restaurants and have never had to deal with such illegal actions/laughable simpletons #tampa (as a tip of advice is to have ppl like me who are business professionals and tip well and spend money at ur place... not 2 drunk women who are friends with the owners wife getting free drinks and talking to anyone sitting beside them for longer than wanted)... could of had my team from NY every week there spending 1k but ur so dumb u will never have that and we will be going somewhere else). You just lost a 5k a month potential client for my team to be at...

I have always enjoyed my experiences at Bella's Cafe; however, last night will certainly be my last. As it was Valentine's Day and Bella's has my girlfriends favorite Italian food and my girlfriend works until 8:00, I called to place a curbside order around 6:15 with a pickup at 8:00. A man answered the phone and informed me that Bella's does not do takeout with a set time, but rather it goes into the kitchen and is processed shortly after. He recommended I call back around 7:30. I began calling at 7:15 to ensure enough time given that it was a holiday and the restaurant would be busier than normal, by the time I was able to speak to someone it was 7:30. I was transferred to a lady who was extremely rude and sarcastic. She is the sole reason I will not be going back to Bella's and would not recommend this place to anyone. She told me that they were done with curbside orders for the night because of how busy it was. I told her that I called at 6:15 and was instructed to call back at 7:30. She proceeded to laugh at me saying there's nothing they could do and the kitchen is closed to pick up orders. She continued her mockery and sarcastically wished "you two" a happy Valentine's Day even after I explained to her my girlfriend was at work and I was trying to order her favorite meal for her. This person has no place working in a service industry. I understand if the kitchen was closed and no exceptions could be made but I did not have to deal with her sarcasm and rude comments after. I sadly will not be going back to Bella's again. This is the first and only restaurant review I have ever left and it is simply because the person I spoke to was so rude. I would not recommend this place to anyone if you want to...

Our first time at Bella’s was about a week ago and we brought friends who were visiting from out of town. We were quickly seated even though it was a busy night. We enjoyed all of our food and our friendly, attentive waiter. 🙏🏽 The bruschetta we received minutes after seating — PERFECTION — it made my palette excited to be there 🍅

🍝 Bella’s has a nice neighborhood feel without being overly casual. I wouldn’t call it a high end dining experience but it is absolutely a nice and high quality experience — the food is straightforward and well made, the atmosphere is intimate with a classic “old-school” Italian family feel, and you feel welcome and well taken care of. Being welcomed was ESPECIALLY important to us in that moment because we had just left another local Italian restaurant with the most disappointing welcoming I have ever experienced and my boyfriend cancelled our reservation on the spot because of how the hostess treated me — he immediately found Bella’s as our alternative ❤️

Oh! I have to note a major bonus to the experience. Though it was busy when we were there, it wasn’t too loud. We could all happily enjoy our conversation over a good meal. We love connecting with people over meals whether gathering for family, friends, or business meetings and can’t stand when a place is so loud that even with good hearing you have to yell and lean in to hear one another😅👂🏼🎶 I GREATLY appreciate that Bella’s had gracefully avoided that common issue ✅.

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