Fantastic experience. We came here on successive Saturday and Sunday nights and it was an incredible experience. Tonight I had the Cioppino and it was substantive, hearty servings of fish, shellfish in a savory tomato stew with just the right amount of spices. We started...with the calamari, meatballs and a nice serving of bread. Our party also had the short ribs ravioli and chicken parmigiana, excellent. The wine was great. The service was exemplary, well done!More
During this summer of COVID Bella Via has been our Go-To. A delightful patio, dependable service and delicious food. They have done a remarkable job during a challenging year. Grilled salmon with vegetables is always perfectly cooked, the red sauce dishes are flavorful (eggplant parm...is a particular standout), and the cocktail & wine pour are generous. Each time here the service has been prompt and thorough.More
The menu selection is complete with ,as expected, extensive pasta dishes along with veal and chicken selections. There are several fish dishes and nightly specials. All there selections are pared with a great wine list. The noise level is somewhat high but it is still...fine for conversations. The only downside to this restaurant is that the tables are very close together making it difficult for servers to reach the customers.More
It is an intimate neighborhood restaurant that serve home quality meals. It is a small restaurant so the noise level can be very high on weekends. Better to dine in during the week if one does not feel like cooking at home.
Food here has gone way down and the last time I came here I had a chicken dish that tasted reheated and the sauce was plain gross. I came one summer afternoon and asked for an outside table and was told it would be 30...min wait. Mind you the outside was near empty with only one diner outside so we walked out and said fogettaboutit! I decided to call the restaurant back and told them my experience with the ill-trained hostess and they asked me to come right back because they could seat us right away. By then it was too late and I didn’t want to deal with the place any longer bcoz I already was annoyed and I never looked back or came back. There are way better restaurants in HP to deal with mediocre food and worse service? Ciao Bella as they say in Italian!More
Went on recommendation of a friend and did not disappoint. Nice ambiance, fairly quiet, good service and wonderful food. My wife had the seafood salad which was flavorful with a very generous portion. I had the Veal Parmigiana which was as good as I have...had anywhere. The veal was tender, the red sauce was flavorful with a touch of sweetness just how I like it.More
The Risotto Pescatore was a small amount of rice swimming in a pool of sauce, and the rice may have been Minute-Maid's instant rice because it certainly didn't seem to be arborio rice. The seafood was generous although heavily weighted toward calamari rings and light...on the shrimp (2) and the clams (3).More
Fabulous and authentic Italian food that delights the senses but doesn't weigh you down. Very comfortable, neighborhood feel, yet classy and upscale. You won't be disappointed!
Returned here after too long an absence and the food and wine were as great as we remember. Friendly and efficient staff. Noto crowded or noisy even at the weekend - I really appreciate that.
Bella Via is a long standing staple of downtown Highland Park dining and they still 'get the job done' when it comes to comfortable Italian dining.
We like to go in the winter, before or after a movie. Good thin pizza and salads, eggplant parm is pretty good too. Also a great place to hang-out, outside and watch the world go by with a drink in hand.
Bella Via Ristaurante offers better than average traditional Italian food. The large menu offers pizza, pastas, fish and seafood, veal and vegetarian options. My puttanesca pasta was flavorful and came with a small house salad. I also enjoyed stracciatella (like chocolate chip) gelato. The main...dining room is noisy and crowded on a Saturday night. The tables are rather close together. Service is a little casual. Your waiter may not remember your drink order. This is a nice place for a casual dinner with friends. The restaurant also has private banquet rooms for special functions.More
Was there with 50 other guests in a private room, celebrating the birthday of a friend who sadly was not going to see another. For such a large group, the food was extraordinarily good and the service was first rate. The room was large enough...for dancing if required. On the way in, we saw the regular restaurant which was charming and cosy and relatively quiet so one could talk over dinner.More
There are few places that have true Italian food across the board, Bella Via in Highland Park, Il., definitely does. They spice their food just right. From Veal Marsala, to Chicken Limone to their delicious lasagna, every dish is outstanding. Portions are generous and service,...though harried due to their popularity, is good. Drinks are done well and they have a great bartender. Overall, this is one of our favorites with prices reasonable for the quality of food you will get. It is always busy so be sure to make a reservation. The food will not disappoint. Ciao!More
I have visited this restaurant many times and am never disappointed. Service is good, food delicious and the owner Mauricio more than gracious. Try the "mama's meatballs" appetizer!
