I was so pleased with my experience at Bella Luna this past weekend. The service, atmosphere, and food were all deserving of 5 stars.
Since it was my first time at this restaurant and because it was a Saturday, I decided to make reservations ahead of time and I was thrilled to see I could do that online using Open Table. I'm very happy I did this because the place was packed! Even though they were slammed, we were greeted by a smiling hostess who promptly seated us.
This cozy little restaurant had a great "homey" feel. The lighting and funky furniture made for a warm and inviting environment. The walls were covered with photos and other art work that made it feel welcoming. While the restaurant was very packed, our little table still managed to feel intimate.
I had the Buffalo Mozzarella appetizer, which was tasty, but nothing special. After the appetizer came the salad and bread. Wowza, the bread and garlic butter it was served with was amazing! I could have eaten the bread and butter for dinner and been happy. Ok...not really, but it was so, so good.
For my entree, I ordered the Portabello Ravioli with the sweet red pepper sauce on the side. I also order a side of the Arrabbiata sauce. I'm not a fan of red peppers, that is why I ordered the sauce on the side, but man was I wrong. The sweet red pepper sauce was very tasty! They've converted me! The arrabbiata sauce was also delicious. Two very different sauces, but equally tasty. I would recommend both!
I ordered tiramisu for dessert (my favorite) and had high expectations for this Italian treat. It was just as good as I had hoped for and the portion was just right.
Phenomenal dinner! Â The food was superb, from the calamari to the succulent meal and outrageously scrumptious bread pudding. Â And the service was also spectacular--we were treated like family (just what you want at an Italian restaurant). Â It was our first time there, but we will be back!!
Review Source:Food at this place is awesome but after the waiter commented 3+ times about how much I was eating and how quickly I ate it. Â "Wow - you are like Kobyashi!" - "Clean Plate!".... "Are you sure you don't want another one?" - I decided that it was my last visit to Bella Luna. Â Shockingly, as a woman, it's not awesome to have a guy comment non-stop about how much you're enjoying a pasta dish.
Review Source:I wish I could give this 2.5 stars, but I had to go with a 2 instead of a 3... My hub and I intended on trying some Italian food downtown but we found the place closed at 8:30 on a Fri night (it was 8:45 when we cruised by) so since Bella Luna was close to home & we'd been talking about trying it -we stopped in.
For a Friday night at about 9pm we had a 10min wait, which was fine. Bar service was quick. We were promptly sat at a table in the middle of the dining room & politely requested the empty booth just behind our table, which staff was happy to oblige. Our server arrived with a smile & cheerful attitude asking if we'd ever been in before. I told her no, so she went into a little bit of the history of the restaurant & a few details about their 'famous' entrees. While this was nice, I almost regretting telling her we hadn't been in since after about a minute of her going on and on, I just wanted her to stop. I've eaten food before, I don't need every detail about a tomato or fresh basil. It got to be a little much.
Upon suggestion from the waitress & our liking of calamari we ordered the calamari app which was listed as sauteed in a arribbiata sauce. The waitress advised it wasn't breaded as one might expect but was "to die for"... we're in. Â The calamari arrived in a large soup bowl & was very....well, soupy. No kidding.... No crusty bread.... or smaller bowls.... hmmm. What do we do here? So we each too a forkful of rings & squiggly tentacles only to be disappointed by straight.up.rubber. Like.... really.... coulda been rubber bands. This was a bummer because the arribbiata sauce was wonderful. It was spicy & flavorful & just screamed for a piece of crusty bread. Alas, we just asked for it to be sent back -very unlike us- but the waitress was great about it. We asked for bruschetta instead which, while tasty, lacked depth & really needed a pinch of salt or a dash of balsamic.
Entrees arrived: I ordered prosciutto wrapped scallops w/ apple-risotto & the hubs got the saltimbocca. I must say, I enjoyed the scallop dish -it alone is what earned Bella Luna more than 1 star-. The scallops were cooked well & the apple-risotto had crumbled Gorgonzola which pared very well with the rest of the plate. I was pleased. The saltimbocca was disappointing and unfortunately we found ourselves describing it as "flaccid". I suppose we were expecting a lovely rolled up veal w/ prosciutto and spinach but it was a lackluster flop of said ingredients onto a plate. I thought my small taste was fair. It seemed a little dry. Hubs ate the entire plate but -he says- mostly because he was hungry.
So, for ordering three of the most expensive meals on the menu (calamari @ $11 for an app, Scallops $25.99, Saltimbocca $25ish) we were very underwhelmed. While not totally outrageous in pricing... I should have been VERY satisfied & I left generally disappointed.
Overall, we've concluded we probably won't  be giving Bella Luna another go.
I've eaten at Bella Luna a couple of times and both times the food was good, but service was a little off. The first time was on a weeknight and the second time was late on a Saturday. The weeknight wasn't busy, so that wasn't the service issue. The server was very friendly, but service was a little slow. It was just the BF and I, so we really didn't mind too much. The Saturday night visit was later, so we were at the tail end of the busy time. The BF and I were with another couple and we all got different dishes. Everyone really enjoyed the food, and it was absolutely delicious. The service, again was the issue. The server was a little inattentive and there was always a good deal of time between visits. Overall, I'd still go back though, because it's a nice little romantic restaurant with some very tasty dishes.
Review Source:I was excited to try this place because I love Italian food, and because of the reviews, but I must say, I was not impressed with the food.
Service: We went on a Sunday night and were promptly seated. Â I had an odd request, and they were very nice about it and complied, so that was good. Â I would say overall, they were pretty attentive.
Food: Â I got the lobster and crab ravioli. I did like that they were filled generously, and there were chunks inside, but overall, it left something to be desired. I would not order it again. Â I also tried some of the New York Strip steak and chicken parm. The chicken parm was crispy and flavorful. Â The salads were delicious. Â If I were to go back, which I am not sure if I will, I would like to try the prime rib cannelloni.
Decor: cozy, feels like someone's house. Â comfortable.
Not sure if I'd go back-- probably not worth the $$.
Overall I would say our experience was good, not great. It's a nice place and the staff was very friendly. Even the owner stopped by our table to welcome us. Based on the other reviews my expectations on the food were pretty high. In reality the food was just okay. I had the prime rib canalloni and there was so much cheese that you couldn't taste the meat. Which is a shame because when you shave off all the layers the meat was fantastic. My wife had the scallops and she said they were fine but not exactly jaw dropping good. After an average meal we decide we would try our luck elsewhere for dessert. Â Based off of the prices alone I would have expected a better meal. Â Like I said, good not great.
Review Source:Had dinner here on a weeknight after this place was highly recommendation by a friend. Well, I was thoroughly disappointed! The parking situation was ridiculous; they have their own parking lot, but there weren't any spots. They should paint some lines or something because people were parking their cars however they wanted!
We made reservations ahead of time and we were quickly seated. Top notch service from the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out. We were seated in a cozy corner area with a street view. The decor was simple. I think they're going for a homey feel, but to some extent it just felt like they weren't trying: stains on the curtains, wires behind the seat, lack of matching plates, and Christmas tinsel? Yah...
Anyways, moving onto the food! I love prosciutto and I love figs so when I saw Prosciutto with Grilled Figs on the menu, I thought to myself dinner is looking good already! I was happy with this appetizer choice, yummy! Texture was perfect and just the right amount of olive oil. The sweetness of the fig and the saltiness of the prosciutto, perfect combination. For the main courses, we ordered the much raved about prime rib cannelloni and the lobster & crab ravioli. I was not feeling the cannelloni, there was just too much cheese, too much sauce, too much salt! The lobster & crab ravioli was better, the lobster sauce was creamy, flavorful and not too heavy with fresh ingredients. So dinner was perfectly filling and not wanting to be disappointed anymore, we opted out for dessert. I don't think I would come back, it's pretty pricey and the food isn't THAT good.
I've been to Bella Luna a few times and I have always had good food and good service. Â The last time I went I arrived around 8 on a weeknight in which the restaurant closed at 9. Â The rest of my party didn't arrive until at least 8:15 and we spent the first 20 minutes or so catching up before ordering drinks. Â By the time we finished dinner we it was after 10 and we were the only ones in the place except for staff, but at no point did we feel rushed by our server or anyone else. Â I hadn't seen the friends I was with in close to a year, so I really appreciated the no pressure atmosphere even after closing time.
Review Source:We arrived about 15 minutes before our reservation and were seated immediately. Â Our server promptly greeted us and was very nice. Â The restaurant was less than half full at this point. Â My husband ordered a beer and I a water which the she quickly brought. Â Now this may seem like a minor for some but it is a huge pet peeve for me. Â If I am having dinner at a nice restaurant I want water brought or at least offered to me, even if I order a drink. Â
The prosciutto wrapped asparagus appetizer was okay, very salty, swimming in olive oil with herbs and topped with shaved parmesan. Â It made an excellent dipping sauce for the homemade focaccia.
My husband had the pork osso bucco, and while the meat was deliciously tender the dish overall lacked flavor as the sauce was rather bland. Â I had the prosciutto wrapped scallops with apple risotto and gorgonzola. Â The scallops were cooked perfectly but the risotto had no flavor at all and the gorgonzola was overpowering. Â The red zinfandel the server recommended for my husband was good, but again he wasn't offered water, even with red wine! Â Finally, he requested a glass and was happily obliged. Â The server checked on us once after our meals were delivered and pretty much disappeared thereafter. Â The restaurant had picked up, but halfway through my meal I really could have used a refill. Â The decor is eclectic, fun, and has a Mediterranean feel. Â By the end of our meal the noise level was quite high, despite a lack of background music.
We were too full for desert, so maybe I will return and try a pasta dish and desert. Maybe.
Delicious brunch for Mother's Day. Fabulous buffet with breakfast items, salad, tons of Italian entrees, freshly-carved roast beef and delicious desserts. Highlights were goetta strata, eggplant parmesan, shrimp baked ziti, cannoli, and bread pudding with amaretto sauce. Kids and adults both loved it. Extremely kind and attentive service. Can't wait to go back!
Review Source:I don't like going to Italian restaurants here in the US. I'm almost never impressed. Italian food is something that is part of my heritage, and something that my mom and grandma made for me as a kid.
Belle Luna almost has it. it's cozy and the interior is like that of an old house with lots of decorations. The service was cheery and helpful. The wine was pretty good as well, but I don't profess to know much about wine.
The food is where I was mainly conflicted. It was good, but it had its issues. It looked like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for a bit, and was smothered in cheese, seemingly to hide something.
I had the prime rib cannelloni, And my fiancé had the lamb rago. My dish had good favors, but again it was smothered in far too much cheese. I like cheese. Quite a bit in fact. But this much cheese just ruined the dish. Her lamb rago was lacking in a sauce, but the lamb was flavorful. The whole dish didn't flow well, though. It seemed like you were eating pretty good lamb on top and then just a bunch of noodles.
The price for the size was also disappointing. $21 for two medium sized cannelloni? Â Hmm....
I'm not sure if I'll be back here, but I won't complain if its somewhere someone else wants to go.
Set up: Ten of us when to Bella Luna to celebrate three birthdays and an anniversary.
My partner and I arrived a little late, so the party had already started. We were quickly welcomed and offered drinks. Before I get to the food I have to say the wait staff was amazing, although they did get a few items mis-delivered. I understand the owner welcomed everyone from the party that arrived on time except my brother-in-law. It was naturally in jest and from what I hear is was a great deal of fun. He later came to the table and asked my nephew's five year old to keep an eye on and let him know if my brother-in-law started creating a raucous.
We started with a sampler appetizer. I wasn't looking at the menu at that time and the "sampler" was recommended for our group. I tasted a meatball, which was out of this world, the asparagus, which was also very delicious and a fritter (?) with a pea sauce, which didn't impress me. There were a few other items on the platter I didn't try.
The bread was fine. Flavored butter was good. Balsamic vinegar and oil with the bread is always a nice touch.
Everyone raved about the food. I had the lobster and crab ravioli. The taste was very good, but the meal left me wanting more. The ravioli tasted like pasta. I suppose it should, but I tasted more pasta than I did lobster or crab. The sauce was very good. I wanted to lick the plate, but I didn't. Many things on the menu sounded great, so when we return I will have a lot to choose from.
Others at the table had the prime rib cannelloni. This was a HUGE crowd pleaser. I didn't get a taste, but I will order it next time.
Dessert was out of this world. Most of us either had a serving of the bread pudding or a trio sampling. All three were amazing... really amazing.
So A+ on the food and A+ on the service. The atmosphere was very cool and homey. There was live music in the front room, which I would love to take in during dinner with just the two of us.
Big group dinners are not the norm, so it's hard to really rate a restaurant on just this experience. An easy, solid four stars for this visit. I'm betting another visit will up this restaurant to as good as it gets!
Restaurant Week marked our first visit to Bella Luna. It did not disappoint. Â We were greeted by our bubbly server. Â She gave us plenty of time to peruse the beer and wine lists. My friend went with an Italian Dobbelbock. Â No, that is not a misprint. La Rossa - and it was delightful. I had a recommended glass of red wine, medium bodied. After we ordered we enjoyed all the family pictures, citizenship papers, and marriage certificates posted on the wall. It was truly charming.
First course for me was the crab and asparagus crostini. I was underwhelmed by it. The mustard over-powered the crab and asparagus such that there was just one flavor. My mozzarella and tomato salad was right on with the basil and balsamic. And the best was yet to come - asparagus-stuffed eggplant. There were plenty of yummy mushrooms included. It was amazing. Everything was so wonderful that we had failed to save room for dessert. Â It would have to wait for our next visit, hopefully not too far in the future.
Bella Luna offers fabulous food in a charming atmosphere where they treat you like family. Go!
We had a really great meal at Bella Luna over the weekend. Â We had read on Yelp that the parking situation can suck and we were prepared for that, and we were not disappointed. Â It did suck, however, I managed to snag a spot on the street right in front of Terry's Turf Club, so we felt pretty lucky. Â Other people were parking really far away, so even though we had to drive up and down a few times, it wasn't too bad.
We arrived early for our reservation and the bar was packed (a Saturday night), so we just tried to stay out of the way as much as possible. Â We were seated about 10 minutes later than our reservation time, which was great considering how busy they were. Â There was some confusion re: who our server would be, and we were greeted by 2 different servers, and then we went from having 2 servers to having no one for about 15 minutes. Â It just seemed like there was some miscommunication re: who would be taking care of us. Â We also had to wait on a wine list for awhile, and I finally got my first glass of wine after my husband had already finished his first cocktail, but ultimately it was no big deal. Â They had a nice selection of wines by the glass. Â I would have given the restaurant 5 stars if the service had been a bit smoother. Â Once we ordered, the courses came out so fast that we hadn't finished our salads before the entrees arrived. Â Service was just a bit inconsistent.
The bread is soooo good, with balsamic and olive oil and their garlic herb butter. Â I had to be careful not to fill up on it! Â I got the Bella Luna salad with their house dressing, which was delicious, but my husband's wedge salad with proscuitto was better. Â It was so good that I was stealing from his plate the entire time.
For entrees, I went with the lobster and crab ravioli, and was not disappointed. Â The sauce is amazing, the server warned me that I would want a straw for it, and she was right. Â However, once again, my husband one-upped me on the ordering when he went with the prime rib canneloni. Â OH. Â MY. Â GOD. Â There is a reason this dish won "Best Damn Dish" at Taste of Cincinnati. Â It's incredible. Â It was funny that my husband didn't realize what he was ordering and thought it would be a steak! Â When it arrived, I could see the confusion on his face. Â There is no description on the menu, only the Best Damn Dish title, so he apparently wasn't expecting pasta, but after one bite, he was sold. Â He went on and on about it. Â I snagged a few bites and I don't think I would ever be able to order anything else at Bella Luna. Â It was wonderful.
For dessert, we got a flight of tiramisu, cannoli, and bread pudding. Â It was perfect because we got to sample a little bit of everything, and the tiramisu and bread pudding were awesome. Â The cannoli was our least favorite dessert we tried.
We will absolutely be back soon. Â I can't believe we waited this long to try Bella Luna, but we won't wait long to go back!
Bella Luna is a favorite of mine with some of the best Italian food in the Cincinnati area. Â Both in the restaurant and year after year as they continue to impress the judges at the Taste of Cincinnati. Â
Nothing has changed at Bella Luna and that is good and bad. Â The good is that the food and service is excellent as always and the wine list is impressive. Â The value is there as well, as the meal will fill you up and yet not leave your wallet empty.
The bad is that the dining room itself could use some updating. Â The benches and throw pillows are looking tired, and the dimly lit room I fear hides a space badly in need of a thorough cleaning. Â While sitting at our booth hearing about the specials the lamp shade at our table separated from its wire frame and fell to the table. Â As the server spoke of finding another lamp I wiggled it back into place only to find what appeared to be tape left behind from its last repair. Â Not a big issue, but if they're not careful the restaurant could start to get a bad reputation.
As I said above, incredible food as usual, excellent service, and a wonderful wine list all at an exceptional value. Â However, I hope the folks at Bella Luna will take some time and a little money and give the dining room a little attention. Â I would be willing to pay an extra dollar or two per entree, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Â Thank you.
Had an amazing, wonderful, insanely good dinner here with friends during Restaurant Week this fall! Â Enjoyed every item that we ate! Â
So why 4 not 5 stars... Felt like the prices were a little high, especially on a mediocre bottle of wine. Â We enjoyed all of the food that came to the table, but the desert was the highlight! Â
Also, the place was so busy and cramped that the atmosphere was pretty much ruined. Â This should be a great place for a date, but instead it felt like a zoo. Â Of course, this might have been because it was Restaurant Week. Â
I feel like if I went back another time I would bump this place up to 5 stars. Â I think that it would feel more special and worth the additional cost over more standard Italian fare.
Hands Down the Best Italian food in Cincinnati. With their seasonal menu, you can go four times a year and never have the same experience. This family owned and operated eclectic hole in the wall restaurant will ignite your taste buds. Â Go for a birthday, anniversary, or just for some really good food. Just make sure you make a reservation if you go to enjoy on a weekend night- this place is happening. The service is great. The first time I went, I was with my parents. I wanted them to experience some real Cincinnati personality and food. Our waitress delivered, with her up beat and bubbly personality. She knew it was our first time and recommended amazing dishes. Their wine selection is supreme as well.
Each time I have gone back I have found something new and wonderful. With a consistently friendly staff this is a great place to enjoy quality family time!
I struggle on what to write about Bella Luna. Â We've been multiple times and the experience is always consistent, which is important for sure!
I really think part of my struggle is I hate the parking situation. Â Bella Luna is a block or so from Terry's and they have a small parking lot. Â So between these two super busy restaurants you are locked in an epic death match street fight to see who gets the 1 parking spot that opens up; but you are never close enough and the guy who just showed up slides right in; even though you've been driving in circles for 10minutes. Â So I always start my dinner off annoyed which is never good.
The inside space is cute with the little bar and their selection of wines and cocktails. Â They are always slammed, we never show up without a reservation, and you usually don't have to wait long to get your table. Â I have never been here when it was "quiet" or "intimate." Â It is always loud and lots of people are talking, laughing and having a great time. Â It's not a bad thing, it's just a warning for those people who want to sit on the same side of their table and play kissy face... its not that kind of Italian restaurant! (go to primavista if you want to do that...)
The food is intriguing. Â Many interesting combinations of flavors and choices. Â Table bread is interesting and not just boring white bread and the house salad dressing is a honey vinagrette that is thick and delicious! Â That being said for the main course I always seem to order the boringest thing at the table, but that's probably me. Â In particular, I am a man of firmer noodles and I feel like they always cook their noodles a bit too long and I didn't find their bolognese sauce to be very flavorful (just meat... you can add spices dude... it'll be ok I swear...). Â However, my wife got a smoked chicken ravioli that made my taste buds tingle, lots of interesting flavor and the sauce was a nice touch with a few mushrooms. Â Someone always orders the baked ziti in 4 cheese sauce... holy mac'n'cheese on steroids batman! Â That is some good stuff! Â
The staff is very busy and appears to be working hard and bustling. Â It is a slower food experience that you tend to expect in a "high-end Italian" restaurant so just don't expect to pop-in and out in 35minutes or anything.
Overall, if you want a nice italian meal in the anderson/mt.lookout/mariemont area, this is a good bet!
Long story short: Bella Luna is me and my boyfriend's favorite Italian restaurant in Cincinnati. (But somehow we didn't realize that until the past year or so!)
Now that we've been 7 or 8 times, the owner has started to recognize us. If that doesn't make you feel welcome, I don't know what will. And even if he doesn't know you, he's always at the front podium to greet people as they come in, and he often stops by tables to chat. He obviously takes pride in his family-owned restaurant, and well he should.
The atmosphere is sort of funky and eclectic, with purple walls, tall booths, rambling rooms, and mismatched chairs and silverware. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and timely, and we've always had good service.
As for the food, well, the complimentary bread is so amazing and addictive, it may as well be an illicit drug. And that's just one of many Bella Luna specialties. The house honey balsamic dressing is great, as is the award-winning bread pudding (both the regular kind and the blueberry chocolate chip variety). For dinner, my boyfriend has a hard time ordering anything other than the chicken parm, because it's "just so good!" For me, the irresistible dish is scallops with apple risotto. My mouth waters just thinking about it. I also like the cheesy raviolis, sweet potato gnocchi, and eggplant (vegetarian) lasagna.
(Confession: I didn't much care for the first dish I ever had at Bella Luna, which was the cannelloni. I was just expecting more pasta! But maybe all cannelloni pasta is thin? There was a ton of meat, though.)
Anyway, the combination of great food, good atmosphere, and friendly people is a big winner for us. Bella Luna is perfect for date nights and weekends, and they do private parties too.
Tip #1: If the parking lot is full, sometimes Bella Luna has permission for their overflow to go into the lot of the warehouse across the street. Be sure to check for the sign before you drive up to where Terry's Turf Club is.
Tip #2: It CAN be hard to find if you're not familiar with that area. Definitely get directions or use a GPS, and watch out for the hidden left turn that keeps you on Linwood (right before the intersection with US 50).
I've passed by Bella Luna many times but had never eaten there until last night. I went with a friend who had bought a $40 gift card for $20 from groupon. (As of now, they are still available on Cincy Savers) I was happy with the number of Veggie dishes but I really wanted the Marsala mushroom sauce that I saw on their smoked chicken ravioli. Our waitress was very nice and she subbed the chicken ravioli for mushroom ravioli- a mushroom-a-holic's dream!
My friend got the lobster and crab ravioli. Both were so good that we ended up asking for spoons to get every drop of the sauce. The sauce on both dishes was amazing! That alone will make me go back. The salad dressing appeared to be homemade and also was very good.
I ended up buying my own Cincy Saver coupon to go back again. Definitely worth checking out!
Bella Luna must be doing something right because it's always packed. The few times I've been, I've been content with the food, but never wowed. On my most recent visit, the restaurant was booked when I called, but I Â was offered lounge or outdoor seating for my desired time. Since the lounge had tables and full menus & service, I picked that, but once we arrived, it was so, so loud from the live jazz band that we opted for outside.
The patio doesn't have the best ambiance--separated from a busy road by a fence and smokers hanging out on the other side of the door. Service was friendly and attentive though and the owner even stopped by for a chat. The bread basket with foccacia was tasty, but the salads that came with the entrees was a bit skimpy.
I got baked ziti, which looked different than expected (no red sauce), but was really, really rich and quite good. It isn't something I'd order again because it was sooo heavy, but I certainly can't say it tasted bad (nothing with that much cheese in it possibly could!) Still, a little acid from some tomato sauce would go a long way to making that dish more balanced and enjoyable.
I finally got the chance to try this out during Yelp Eats week. We made a reservation for 4 on a weekday night and were seated promptly. The server, Roger, immediately told us they had parties of 35 and 40 that hadn't ordered yet, so we shoud get our order in quickly. We had to specifically request the Yelp Eats menu, as he hadn't heard of it, and he came back later to ask us more details about the different restaurants. Overall, Roger did a good job taking care of us throughout the night.
Between the 4 of us we ordered stuffed mushrooms for appetizers, lasagna, pork shank osso bucco, and eggplant pie for entrees, & bread pudding and tiramisu for dessert. The highlights were the pork shank osso bucco and bread pudding - I highly recommend them.
The atmosphere was a good mixture of loud conversation coming from other tables but still being able to hear each other in the booth. The owner even stopped by a couple times and made small talk and joked with us. Very nice guy.
Parking note: they have an adjacent lot that fills up quickly, but there's plenty of street parking if you don't mind competing with Terry's Turf Club-ers.
I would definitely come back for a special occasion or if they did another promotion week. Cheers to them for partnering with Yelp twice... hope they do it again!
Last night my g/f and I wanted to try Bella Luna out. Â Neither of us had ever been before and we'd both heard good things about the place. Â She bought a half price certificate online somewhere so we decided to go on "half price bottle of wine night".
We were seated promptly as we had a reservation and our waitress asked if we had ever been there before. Â We told her no and she explained to us the history of the place and brought some bread for the table. Â After perusing the menu, and asking a few questions, our server helped us decide on a wine to go with our entrees:
Bread:
Herbed Foccacia
I love foccacia, but it was not what either of us expected. Â The bread was very soft and didnt' hold together well when dipped in the olive oil balsamic mixture at the table. Â Would have been better suited with a nice crusty Italian loaf.
Appetizer: Â
Calamari Polpi
The calamari was cooked well, all was tender. Â The arrabiatta sauce was the best I've ever had. Â Spicy, garlicy, delicious. Â I sopped some up with my bread out of the bowl.
Entrees:
Pork Shank Osso Bucco (Me)
Again, delicious. Â The shank was fall off the bone tender and was able to be eaten with a fork. Â The sauce was sweet and acidic and acted well as a gravy on the mashed potatoes it came with.
Chicken Breast stuffed with Asparagus and Fontina (g/f):
This was...not delicious. Â The dish came with potatoes and vegetables, which was not mentioned on the menu. Â We both assumed it would come with pasta. Â The chicken wasn't so much "stuffed" as it was folded over. Â The breast had been butterflied and grilled...and that too long. Â The chicken was tough and dry and had to be sawed through with a serrated knife. Â There was VERY little cheese on the inside and also had tomatoes inside (not described on the menu). Â I think my g/f ate more of mine than she did her own.
Dessert:
Sampler Plate (Chocolate chip mini-cannoli, bread pudding, tiramisu)
I'm not a huge fan of cannolis and my experience here hasn't changed that opinion. Â The shell for the cannoli tasted HEAVILY of flour and the filling was not sweet enough to balance it out. Â The tiramisu was fair. Â It tasted like it had Hershey's chocolate syrup on top. Â Kinda disappointing. Â What was even more disappointing was the bread pudding. Â It tasted mostly of sugar and seemed a bit too eggy compared to others I've had in the past. Â Not to mention my g/f ended up with a PIECE OF PLASTIC in her mouth from it.
Our waitress came back to retrieve the bill, and we mentioned the piece of plastic. Â A manager came over and removed the dessert from the bill. Â When we then went to use the certificate my g/f puchased online (for $40), they wouldn't accept it saying it couldn't be used for half priced wine night. Â We then had to pay full price for our bottle of wine (which we wouldn't have ordered if we knew they wouldn't accept our certificate), in order for them to take our certificate. Â I'd hoped, since they KNEW we were first-timers, they'd make an exception since we got free dental floss with our dessert, but my hopes were shattered.
The overall experience was sub-par. Â Some of the food was good, but $19 for dry, tough chicken. Â $11 for dessert with plastic in it. Â And an overall bill of over $90 for two people. Â I think I agree with a fellow Yelper in saying I'd rather spend half that and go to Pompilio's. Â At least they don't serve anything inedible.
Will not return.
I'd like to make you an offer you can't refuse.
And that offer is to go with me to Bella Luna. While my Godfather impersonation is terrible, Bella Luna's cuisine is immaculate. I love me some Italian food, and THIS is how Italian food is done.
I had come here quite some time ago, and regrettably forgot about how good of a meal I had. Now recently, the Yelp event reminded me about what a fantastic place Bella Luna is. The service is always stellar, the food delicious, with enough charm to make it stand out among the rest. I would probably kill for their mushroom ravioli. (Not really. Hello FBI!)
Just know that Bella Luna is not your fast food Italian joint (there should be such a thing!). Come early, stay late, and bring out the plastic. It's worth every penny.
My friend and I slipped into Bella Luna during the Yelp Restaurant Kickoff (sorry Alex). The menu was just too enticing, and we figured since we were already at the restaurant, and the owner Harry was so nice, that we might as well have dinner there, too.
What a cute restaurant! It has a nice bar with TVs, many rooms with cozy booths (with pillows!) and tables. I meant to just get Italian wedding soup since I wasn't that hungry. But then I saw the make your own pasta option with gnocchi... and then the super sweet waitress recommended it with their carbonara sauce... and it sounded too good to pass up. It was delicious. It came with a fresh salad and a little basket of fresh foccocia. Mmm.
If you want good Italian, this is the place to go. Don't go to Brio or Olive Garden or Maggiano's or whatever trendy italian chain restaurant is out there. It's pretty close in price range, and way more interesting and local! Plus, rumor has it on Wednesdays, it's half off bottles of wine. Score!
4.5 Stars - and would love to go again!
Pros: Fantastically delicious food with great portion sizes. Quaint, eclectic, low-lit, colorful atmosphere. Table varieties range from large group settings to intimate low-lit nooks. Servers were friendly, polite, and helpful. Live music! :D
Cons: A little pricey. $47+tip for 2 people with no alcohol. We ordered two ice teas with 2 basic main entrées which includes a bread basket and salad. It was a very nice experience and wonderful food but just a little on the high end of price. Also it's located in kind of a slummy area. Not bad, just kinda run down. Fortunately it's right next door to Terrys Turf Club, a happenin' burger joint that keeps a busy crowd so the whole block feels kinda hip and lively.
Conclusion: Loved it. On my top 10 list. Will definitely go again. Call ahead for a reservation on busy nights. We went at 9pm on a Saturday with no reservation and had to wait a few minutes for a table to open up. I think we may have got lucky. :)
The decor is super kitschy. Â The menu is large. Â The service is immaculate. Â And despite inconsistent reviews, the food seems reliably good. Â They have fun wine deals too :)
In brief...
-The calamari with arrabiatta sauce was largely a pass. Â Mediocre.
-Salads (come with the meal) were awesome. Â Some of the best house dressing I've had in a long time.
-All of our entrees were home runs. Â Two Clean Plate Clubbing women (at an Italian place with whopping portion sizes) is an accurate indicator of that! Â My friends had penne with vodka sauce, meat lasagna, and mannicoti. Â I had spaghetti with arrabiatta sauce and shrimp. Â I LOVED it.
It means a lot to me when the owner stops by for a chat. Â Bonus points there!
I visited Bella Luna for restaurant week, and wasn't disappointed! Â While the interior reminded me of visiting a crazy aunt's house, the service was relatively good. Â We had to wait a bit between our salads and appetizers, but the waitress was nice. Â My favorite thing was the owner coming around and talking to us. Â Not once, but twice! Â It says on the front of their menus, "come as a stranger, leave as a friend". Â I felt very welcomed! Â
Since restaurant week is totally awesome, I obviously decided to order off of the restaurant week menu. Â To start with, I ordered the spring mix salad with raspberry poached pears, goat cheese and candied almonds with blueberry vinaigrette. Â The salad was very fresh, and it was dressed well. Â It was very good, dressed well, and a perfect portion. Â All the appetizers were pasta, and I decided to order the salmon and ricotta stuffed ravioli with cream of saffron sauce. Â I really liked the the ravioli; they were cooked very well, and the sauce was light and not over bearing. Â
I do have to say I was actually a little disappointed with my entree. Â There was only one vegetarian entree, and no fish. Â I obviously went with the grilled portabella stuffed with broccolini and shaved caciocavallo cheese with white wine and garlic. Â It also came with asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes. Â My asparagus was a little over cooked, and I felt like the portabella mushroom had been sitting there a while before it was served. Â The cheese was not warm, but instead was so cool, it made it difficult to cut my mushroom and eat it. Â I really enjoyed the potatoes though! Â
I was entirely too full to get any wine or try any of the desserts, but I would love to come back again and perhaps get to those. Â I would certainly like to try some pasta selections from the regular menu. Â All of the restaurant week selections are not on the regular menu, so get them while you can! Â
I enjoyed my dinner. Â I can't say it is my favorite restaurant, but I will certainly want to make a return visit!
I had heard about Bella Luna from a number of friends. Â It had gotten mixed reviews (some of my friends loved it, some...not so much). Â I had never given the place much thought, until a number of friends from work decided they were going to head here for a drink. Â I was in.
It took a little while to find the place. Â Unless you are very familiar with Cincinnati, and more specifically the Mt. Lookout/Linwood areas, it can take awhile to track it down. Â And when you first arrive, you cannot help but raise an eyebrow in trepidation. Â The restaurant is surrounded by what at first glance appears to be a huddle of dilapidated buildings. Â Only after further review to you realize these dwellings are occupied. Â Bella Luna itself is distinguishable from its neighbors only by the glaringly tacky sign and atrocious paint job. Â I don't know what they're going for here...but it ain't working. Â The same goes for the interior. Â To describe it as bad taste would be too kind. Â No taste is more like it. Â I mean, come on. Â At least try to match.
However, the poor location and the even worse décor is the only real negatives.  Each time I've been here the wait staff has been stellar.  Very friendly with the customers, they always seem to be there when you need them without coming across as being suffocating.  The drinks are good (although a bit on the pricey side).  And the food is passable.  They advertise as being authentic Italian.  I'll give them an "A" for effort, but they certainly miss the mark.  But at least it's digestable.
I would recommend sitting outside if you come here. Â I've eaten both inside, and drank outside. Â There is something relaxing about being outside, sitting back, tossing back a few drinks. Â But beware. Â If you're sitting outside with the hope that you can enjoy a smoke while you eat or drink...not gonna happen. Â The staff will actually make you walk fifty feet away from the building in order to smoke. That sucks!
All things considered, a decently average restaurant that's a nice place to get together with friends or co-workers for a night of drinks to wash away the stink of the workday.
Mahalo, and enjoy.
I love Bella Luna!
Harry and his family are some of the best people ever. Â I used to go "Harry's Diner" which was previously located in Alexandria, KY. Â And I loved every minute of that place. Â Although it's a bit of a change in pace from the diner, Harry knows what he is doing, and he does it right. Â The food is great, and the staff is friendly. Â Bella Luna is always a recommendation for out-of-towners
I had a lovely, romantic, and tasty dinner at Bella Luna on Valentine's Day. We didn't do the set price dinner so that we could go "off road" and taste what we wanted. I tried the Bella Luna salad for the 1st course and it was a good little mixed greens salad with dressing in a cup on the side which I wish had not been the case. It would have been much better to toss it and then serve but they make them up ahead of time and it was just fine.
The homemade focaccia bread was a bit too fluffy but it was fresh.
I had saltimbocca and it was very good. Not too sagey, not overdone. Not floating in cheese. Piping hot and just cooked. Very good. Â I make it the best, but it was far better than the stuff I had at a much pricier restaurant.
Desert was a cannoli which was very good. Not perfect but pretty darned good.
The service was great, the atmosphere was hard to beat. Fun "mystery wine bucket". We were impressed. Go there and have fun. It isn't as pricey as many restaurants around town, but it is more fun.
My family went to Bella Luna for a get together. My family was all there already, waiting for my wife and I to arrive. Needless to say, it was a little difficult to find at first. Showing up fashionably late, we all ordered fairly quickly and found the service to be great. Our waitress was very quick to give a few of her favorites and any tips she had about the menu. The salad I ordered was great, and the steak I ordered was large and seasoned great.
The whole table enjoyed their food and it's definitely worth a repeat visit. I would also like to mention it's easier to get home than it is to get there!
It's down home Italian - but at twice the price of Pompilio's.
The service was good and the food wasn't bad by any means - it just wasn't anything special.
The chocolate chip bread pudding is to die for. My recommendation is go to Terry's Turf Club for dinner and then Bella Luna for dessert.
This is such a classic example of a local Italian restaurant with an American family twist.
The most iconic thing about this restaurant and my favorite piece of their decor is this piano they have that is painted sky blue with clouds. It's so unique and gives you a sense of the restaurant as you walk in.
The service here has always been excellent, they are very attentive and always very kind and helpful. My favorite dishes are their seafood combinations. They are delicious! I also enjoy the classic spaghetti and meatballs.
This cute place is in an odd location. It's not really around anything except for some industry, storage spaces, and some houses. It's definitely worth the visit!
Regardless of what I say, it's not going to stop the hordes from descending on this Linwood standby every weekend. That said, Bella Luna is pretty good, albeit a safe, Italian restaurant.
I say safe because it's sure to satisfy pretty much anyone in your group but also because there's nothing mind-blowing going on here, it's just decent Italian food prepared and served well.
Service is friendly, but can be hit or miss - they have had some really attentive and intuitive servers, but there are also had some real dingbats mixed in.
Good for a nice romantic evening for two, but also great for big groups. The bar is a nice place to stop for a nightcap and a slice of chocolate Vesuvius cake before heading home for bed.
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