Bistro Bella Vita Review

Great to eat in or drive through. Right off 99 Pelandale Exit. If eating in once you order find a sit quick and get your extra napkins, ketchup etc while waiting for your number to be called.

To. Die. For. The calamari alone is a reason to go once a week.

came here with my friend for Valentine's day and everything was excellent!

3 desserts for 15.99? How can you beat that. The Tiramisu and Creme Brulee are the two staples. Use the third to experiment.

Best food in town, has great staff and laid back atmosphere that makes you feel at home.

What can you say except:
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.....Duck!!!!
Fantastic!!

Amazing food, atmosphere and our server was the BEST!! Would HIGHLY recommend

My husband and I decided to go to this restaurant to celebrate our anniversary. The inside setting is rustic meets elegant. Service is fast and very friendly! We went on a Saturday night with no reservations and was told we would have a 45 minute wait. Thankfully someone cancelled their reservation and we were seated within ten minutes. I would highly recommend the calamari! Also the handmade pasta is out of this world!

Bistro Bella Vita
great food !

This is one of my favorite places to dine. You can valet or park on the street with meter parking or there is a large parking lot across the street. The food is amazing!

Amazing atmosphere, food is great, staff is very friendly

It was our first time dining at BBV and It was great food but the portions were small and the pricing was large. We were given a small two top table near the rail by the kitchen and ther was constant traffic past our table on both sides of us and many times people were waiting for seating and standing near the rail by our table. It was like having dinner in the median of a highway. Service was great and the waitress was friendly. It was very noisy in there and hard to have a conversation. Not the romantic new years eve dinner I had in mind. The food was tasty but not good enough to ever go back for.

Our waitress was awesome!! Very kind and helpful!! We will definitely be going back there kallee was awesome!!

Great place to spend your evening! Good food and wine

Everything about Bistro Bella Vita was amazing. Fantastic food, a great wine list (with affordable options), and stellar service. From the moment we walked in we felt welcome and our server (Harrison) was attentive and knowledgeable. I had the Faroe Island Salmon, which was perfectly seasoned and prepared, but the star of the evening was my husband's seafood Vadouvan! Bistro Bella Vita now holds the top spot on our favorites list for GR.

We made reservations here to celebrate my graduation. Everything about our night was exceptional. Our waitress Kallie was phenomenal! She even offered vegan options that weren't listed on the menu (mushroom risotto, vegetable fusilli, homemade sorbet to name a few). The wine and food were some of the best we've tasted, which isn't surprising considering it's a farm-to-table restaurant. We will definitely be back!

Multiple orgasms!
Appetizer: susci ... liano: raw and mouth-watering fish .. sublime oysters and spatial sardines!
First courses: Linguine with courgette cream, clams, toasted crumb prawns; bucatini with toasted crumb flavored with lemon tuna pine nuts; delicious

Impeccable service (Michela the super nice owner)
Location wanted
Perhaps too modest in relation to the quality of the experience as a whole
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Not only is their food amazing, but the atmosphere is like nothing else.

The food here is horrendous. The tiramisu comes with extra water or some other terrible liquid that leaks out of it. Tastes like a sponge, the meat is charred or old, very noticeable. If you re looking for a nice dinner in downtown Grand Rapids, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

The appetizers were superb with mussels in a leek and caper sauce that I could have drank straight from the bowl, and duck rilletes that were a nice combination of spreadable fatty deliciousness. There could have been some more bread for dipping and spreading but we just got some more added on to finish the plate off.

Wonderful restaurant! Service staff are amazing. They paid attention to the table and only approached us when it appeared we were ready. My friend and I were able to have a wonderful conversation and did not feel rushed

Great atmosphere, excellent food and fantastic service.

There is not a bad dish here. Be sure to check the specials as there is always something interesting that will leave you wanting more. Check out their wide range of local beers to pair with your meal as well.

I ordered the duck ravioli. And my wife ordered a veggie version. She thought hers was ok. I honestly disliked mine very much. I usually love the many duck dishes i have had but i was not feeling it. Personally i would try here again since it was a very nice place i just ordered the wrong thing i guess. Next time.

Amazing food, great atmosphere. Would definitely recommend!

My go to spot for great upscale food. Always great specials and staples that I can rely on.

Expensive lunch but it was good I had a beer after a meeting & they had a good selection

We came for a family dinner and thoroughly enjoyed our time here. The menu includes a variety of Mediterranean inspired dishes, including pastas and pizza, beef and chicken entrees. I had a delicious Poulet de Provence, moist and tender enough to fall off the bone. The peach cobbler desert was the perfect finish to a tasty meal. Service was excellent with attentive and helpful staff. They easily accommodated the people in our group with food allergies to ensure their dinners were safe to eat. Although prices are above average for the area, they are reasonable considering the kinds of freshly prepared upscale dishes they are serving and the service is great.

Best restaurant in Michigan. I, and my wife, moved from Chicago to Michigan 2 years ago and have been trying to find a quality restaurant since. This is it. Staff were awesome. Food was awesome. Dessert was awesome. I recommend the Spicy Meatball appetizer. It's not that spicy, but the flavors were amazing. Calamari was top shelf. Wife bought Chicken Rotini (Confit) - omg. Just do it. Go. Relax. Get some wine. Waitress was extraordinarily friendly and engaging.

Saffron Risotto was awesome. Bistro Bella Vita never disappoints.

Love this place. Food is delicious, serve is great and they have the BEST martinis!

The place looks really good, the food is amazing, the service is fast and the staff is very kind to customers!

Our waitress Brianna was amazing. Thanks for a great evening!!

For the price and cooking quality, I'll never go back. Staff was great though.

Food is good, service was good. Only downside was it was loud inside so hard to have a conversation

Had a Bachelorette party here, wait staff was amazing! Great food!

Excellent food and service. Moderate prices and a wonderful ambiance.

A really nice cocktail list, delectable cuisine, and impeccable service have made every experience here a delight. Lots of space and the open wood fire oven adds a charming touch to the atmosphere.

Food is amazing!! Highly recommend the fusilli. We went here for my MIL birthday with reservations my husband made through Open Table. He mentioned her birthday and they had a cute card and everything for her at the table. Service was good. Only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 is the lack of children menu items. The selection is good but is doesn't come with anything or even an option to add fruit or anything. I get their clientele is centered around adults but a Sunday dinner is more family oriented. And I do recall the bread and dipping oil used to be complimentary, now it's $2 on the appetizer menu, kind of disappointing. This will always be one of our favorite downtown spots for a special occasion.

Never had a bad meal here. When my mom comes to town, this is the one restaurant she wants to go to.

Reasonable pricing and amazing dishes. Nothing too outlandish, but just good food. Pizzas are a staple, as well as their martinis.

Can't go wrong here.

Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly service. Good variety of meals and drinks list is extensive.

This is what "Restaurant Week" is all about! The food was absolutely amazing. It had combinations and pairings that sounded risky, yet were impeccably prepared! If the brisket pizzette does not continue as a regular feature on the menu, then this rating may take a hit...

Bistro Bella Vita is classic restaurant with a contemporary feel. You will receive 5 treatment here; fresh cutlery with every course, never an empty glass of water, and attentive service, focused on ensuring the finest of dining experiences for you and your party.

Sat at the bar an enjoyed their restaurant week menu along with the pairings. Good food for the price. The bartender made good drinks as well.

Delicious. Great spirits menu and lots of beers, some on tap and others in bottles and cans. I had the Saffron Risotto and it was fantastic. The desserts are amazing, we shared some coffee drinks and some dark chocolate mousse. It's pricey but it's amazing.

Had the BEST girls night out last Saturday! The food was delicious, the drinks were fabulous and the service was spectacular!!! Heather was one of the best servers that I have had in a very long time, she made our night special and her suggestions were spot on. Thank you Heather for a really great night.

Absolutely astonishing food,wine,desserts and the service is outstanding!!! nothing but exceptional!! great job staff and chefs. you will see us again!

Excellent service! Waiters checked on us very often and quick to refill drinks. Food wait was about 12-17 mins. Delicious Tomato bruschetta, I recommend. It s pricey but the taste is amazing.

I have been many times. The food is great as is the staff, I only wish there menu changed and offered me things to try on occasion.

Lovely bistro downtown with delicious Italian style dishes. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. The best are the entrees, the brussel sprouts app weren't my favorite. I lived the dessert. Our waiter was kind and had great recommendations. A little over priced in my opinion but the pasta is outstanding.

The food was good, but not good enough to support the price point. I would go back in for just the desserts.

Hands down legit! Great food, great service! Way better than Ruth Chris, Bonefish Grill or any other place we have visited. Its always a treat to go here.

Bistro is always a safe bet for happy hour drinks, comfortable but creative cuisine, and good people watching. The atmosphere is typically loud weekend evenings, but it's a jovial, good type of loud. In the 10+ years I've lived here in GR, I have never, ever, had a bad meal or experience. It's consistently good and there's a lot to be said about that.

I'm giving it the highest rating because it's a great place for everything from a business lunch meeting to a date or a family gathering. They have lots of seating options. If you want a banquette or a hightop, let them know. Paid parking is directly across the road.

For any occasion, but special occasions are remembered when you dine at Leo's. The atmosphere is spectacular as well as the menu. Fresh food and great selection for your taste buds. Wonderful with a group and service meets my expectations. Family's will enjoy the dinning as well.

This place is a favorite for work events, however I find it a little ritzy for those types of events. The appetizers are very good and the wine selection is excellent.

My boyfriend and I had dinner here a couple weeks ago and I was less than impressed. I saw our waiter 3 times (drinks, order and bill). We both ordered the filet and I could have made it better myself! For then price, I should have went down the road to Ruth's Chris.

Travis was awesome! My husband loved his birthday dinner!

This restaurant has great food, but likes to sit Minorities in the back by the kitchen. When we was being sitted, we were taken straight to the back, to sit in front of kitchen. I asked, can we have a booth, she tried the booth right by the kitchen. I said no, I want to sit at the booth in the middle of the restaurant. The hostess look stupid, but said okay. I looked up 20 minutes later and guess what, she sat a Latin couple in the same spot in front of kitchen, even though the place was half empty. We spent over $200. Look where you are sitted when you go to this restaurant, if you are non-white.

For my first dish, I choose the Smoked Pork Tenderloin Salad. It s a salad of fresh farm greens topped with olive oil poached potatoes, sweet corn, snap peas, and a charred onion vinaigrette. Slices of marinated and smoked pork tenderloin hide playfully amongst the contents of this cornucopia. The veggies are all very fresh and crisp, and the dressing adds a soulful tang. The Abarino-Grenache Blanc by Trenza (Edna Valley, CA) is too sweet for my usual taste, but pairs very nicely with the pork.

Potato Gnocchi follows, with little fluffy pillows drenched in a ragout of local meats and smoked tomato over farm beans and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. Each bite melts in my mouth. The beans are still a tad firm, which contrasts nicely with the succulent and seductive meat sauce. They select a Montepulciano d Abruzzo (San Lorenzo, Italy) to pair, and it s bold, licorice-tinged body wraps around the meaty textures as if the two had been in love for ages.

My eye is on the Braised Pine Crest Beef (the same beef they used in their Grandwich entry), but Juliet beats me to it. And there s no way I m ordering two identical dishes! So I veer against the grain and get the Pine Crest Ribeye instead. Ribeye is not my favorite cut a bit too fatty and rich but I figure we ll split the dishes and we ll all be happy. My steak, medium-rare of course, comes with fingerling potatoes, snap peas, sweet corn, romanesco (a kind of brocolli), and house-made steak sauce. The beef does not give way to the fat, and all the vegetable components go nicely (if somewhat recycled from my pork salad course), and the sauce is solid steakhouse quality. My few bites of Juliet s polenta and braised beef make me wish I d ordered first, but I m happy with my dish as well. A Shiraz by Shoofly (South Austrailia) matches the richness of the rib eye perfectly.

No room for dessert, unfortunately (and this time I mean it!) so we pay the very reasonable bill and head back out to wade through festival-goers once more. Bistro Bella Vita has always been a reputable eatery for authentic modern Italian cuisine, and this tasting menu has definitely put them a notch above any competitors, in my book. Fresh preparation, excellent wine pairings, and friendly, thoughtful service. I can t wait to go back.

Always have a good time here. And great kids menu. My 6 yr old devoured the rigatoni bolognese.

Welcome to Bistro Bella Vita!

This modern French and Italian cuisine restaurant is sure to wow you with its extensive drink menu and fantastic food options. Seriously, look at those martinis!

We had the loveliest time celebrating a friend s birthday at Bistro Bella Vita! The staff was so friendly and happy to celebrate with us as well.

We started the night off with a magnificent plate of frites and ended with a birthday tiramisu. From start to finish our time spent at Bistro Bella Vita was absolutely splendid!

Pssst... make sure to check out the Thanksgiving Family Feast Deal they have going on right now. Especially if you aren t particularly great in the kitchen... you know who you are!

We haven t visited the Bistro in years and were not disappointed. The bruschetta was delicious. As was the Fusilli and the Ravioli. The dessert special was spectacular. Service was awesome. I would highly recommend a visit in downtown GR.

Our food was incredible. I mean, really really incredible. The next day I could not stop talking about how delish my dinner was (Beef Brisket Bourguignon - so tender and amazing glaze). Cocktails were perfect (gimlets) and the wine was also a great pairing for all of our dishes. Definitely going to make this a holiday tradition!

Always delicious. Wait staff is always friendly. You will never be disappointed with the taste of their beef brisket or 4 cheese ravioli dishes. We visit here every time we go to Grand Rapids!

Wonderful beer selection. Great menu for the day, very well prepared and delicious but it was not hot. Exceptional service. I will return every time I'm in town.

Super awesome service! An excellent atmosphere AND good food! All around a great place to spend your evening!

Food is spot on - you pay for quality, you get quality. Beer selection for being in the hub of town is limited. Service has always been efficient and pleasant.

Spacious and has nice decor. The service was fine too. Friendly Midwest staff. Nice location with plenty of street parking and walking distance from the stadium. The food was just ok and cocktails pretty weak. Perhaps, they're use to watering it down for the college kids. So nice space but pricey for the ok food and not so great cocktails

Very nice decor and fast service for busy night. Interesting selection of dishes with pleasant variety on costs.

Excellent food and a delightful wine selection. I paired a Seafood dish over black campanelle pasta (dyed with Squid Ink) with an effervescent white wine from The Basque region of Spain called Txakoli. Both were surprising and delicious!

Breakfast as it was meant to be! Eggs, meat, potatoes, biscuit - plenty to eat, friendly and quick service, nice size portions, good prices. One caution - it is cash only, no credit cards.

Awesome service (thanks Luke) and food! Not your typical italian restaurant. Their wine selection is great too. My husband is particular about his wines amd he wss quite pleased. We'll definitely be back.when we visit Grand Rapids.

Great food, accommodating service, and a pleasant environment even on a busy concert night. Was also impressed by the extensive gluten free menu.

Awesome food. Great staff. Not overly expensive. Great place for large family events, graduation parties, business get togethers or for your special date.

Just a great place to eat. Food was well portioned and delicious. Service was spectacular. Can not say enough good things about our visit!

Service was good, food was good, martinis poured tableside---nice touch! The whole experience was a bit quick for dinner (food in 10 minutes, barely after drinks?) but I can see the appeal. Overall nice experience, will return!

Amazing food! Can't wait to come back. Highly recommend. Pasta was perfect. Turkey sandwich with blueberry was excellent.