Ciao Bella

I don’t typically do negative comments, but I am really disappointed with Ciao Bella. Usually I would give Ciao Bella a 5 star all around, but our experience there last night was really disappointing. We went there to celebrate my Mom’s birthday. Our server was nice but she made us feel very rushed. We ordered our apps and meals at the same time. We expected to get our apps first, have some time to enjoy them, then our meal served on a cleared off table. Instead we got our apps and within 5 minutes (more like 2 – 3 minutes) we got our dinners. All of it was crammed onto the table at one time. Fortunately one of our apps was poorly made so we were able to send that back, freeing up some room on our table. It was so crammed we had dishes on top of dishes. In the past they’ve been so much better about being on top of clearing the table and offering a nice presentation and service. Definitely not the case last night. Shortly after dinner was served, the server came by asking if we needed boxes or «are you done with that». We felt like we had just gotten started! In the meantime there were random workers walking around with IPads. It appeared as though they were checking the status of tables for turnover, which could’ve been done a bit more discretely. Instead they literally were standing over our table looking down at what we had on our tables, then back to their IPad to report. That added to our feeling of being rushed. It was actually very annoying! Also, I called ahead to tell them it was a birthday, asking if I could bring a cake. I was told I could OR they would make a note of it being a birthday and put a candle in one of their deserts. So we went that route. I did have to tell the server to put a candle in the treat because she had no clue. I understand they’re a busy place, so just one of these would have been no big deal. But all of it in one night was just bad. No class in what I always considered a classy place to enjoy a good meal. The food, overall, was okay. The server was a nice gal, but the service was awful. And the IPad thing needs some tweaking. My husband and I drove down, with our 8 month old son, from Hinckley. We were looking forward to what is usually a great experience. Very disappointed last night.

Absolutely fabulous. Upscale yet not too dressy. I got the small spaghetti and meatballs. The portion size was perfect for my appetite. I hardly clean my plate and I cleaned it tonight. The bread is fresh and hot. The molten lava cake is to die for. We will be back next year.

We’ve been to Ciao Bella three times to celebrate special occasions. From front door to back, the service is phenomenal — attentive, helpful and very friendly. The wine list is amazing, and the fresh pasta is oh, SO good. Highly recommend the tortiglioni rossa!

I can’t say enough good things about this place. Be prepared to spend a little more, but the service you get and the quality of food is excellent. When our server was going over the daily specials, she emphasized that the ingredients were locally sourced, apart from the seafood, of course, and took pride in the menu. I ordered the fettuccine with spinach and almonds, with shrimp instead of chicken. I have to say it was pretty great! We also ordered a variety of desserts — the budino, the limonetta, and the tiramisu. The limonetta was by far the best!

Absolutely my FAVORITE place to eat. If it’s my birthday, I’m at Ciao Bella. If it’s someone else’s birthday, I suggest we celebrate with dinner at Ciao Bella. If it’s a completely random and otherwise insignificant Tuesday and there’s no good reason, I’m usually trying to find a way to convince someone to take me to Ciao Bella.
I have been here for birthdays, anniversaries, dates, and just-​because kind of occasions and they have a menu that fits every kind of craving. Great for groups that have a wide spread appetite but also tables that are a quieter/​cozier option for something more romantic.
I’m a sucker for their pastas but have had bites of their various «sea» plates (walleye, salmon, etc.) and they always blow my mind. The chef’s here are very talented and they are always shaking up their specials to keep things fresh :)
Have I mentioned I love Ciao Bella? Well, if I didn’t already hint at it enough, I’ll just say one more time so it’s crystal clean, I. LOVE. CIAO BELLA.

Outstanding service and wonderful food. Our wait was a little long and the manager swung by to apologize and took care of us. She was wonderful and I can’t say enough about how great this restaurant is. It’s not just the food but also the exceptional staff and service.
Thank you again for another great meal!

I want this place to stay in business.
Shrimp app and brownie dessert are my go-​tos.

Went 3 times. 2 times I was turned away… no seating for one person… the host pointed to the bar which was packed and extremely noisy and said that was my only choice… on a week night… Front end host persons almost snooty…
The meal I got the one time they seated me was terrific.

Best Italian food in mn, meat balls are so good, every thing tasted fresh and flavourful. Service was great. Good out door searing option. Chocolate lava cake is must have

I was alone and came about 7pm, the dining hour. There were tables open, but I was put into a table 2 feet from the kitchen door. Several tables were available the whole time I was there. The waitress and food were good. Nothing exceptional.

The best atmosphere and food quality available, excellent service and wine selection too

*Wonderful* Italian place which is also a super place for office gatherings. They definitely know how to handle crowds well. We came looking for something a little bit more than a happy hour, and this place fit the bill perfectly. I’d definitely come back, and will hopefully bring the team back at some point.

The ambiance is really nice, softly lit and slightly romantic. The food was rich but not upscale. I would go there again but would pick Broders’ Pasta Bar over this place ANY day!!!

Made open table teservations and glad I did. The hot bread and olive oil was a great start. I ordered the red pepper linguini with scallops which the server had the chef make woth a garlic white wine instead of the cream sauce. It was fantastic. I found my favorite Italian restaurant when i am in the twin cities for work

I sincerely loved the atmosphere… you could almost think you’re truly sitting in an Italian trattoria sipping wine and enjoying a beautiful afternoon with friends.
The service was phenomenal. The server was very friendly and upbeat and on the ball.
The food was great! I didn’t really care for the mushrooms in my AWESOME chicken and wild mushroom risotto as they were pretty large groups that should’ve been cut up better. I tasted a bit of my friend’s pasta and it also was good but the asparagus could’ve been left out.
I will come back and try this many more times. Perfect spot for a girls’ night or a nice date.

You must get the crab cakes! Pure crab and little to no fillers here. I got the seafood linguini also. This was just average. They could have used more salt and cooked the pasta less. The dish was abundant with seafood though.

I used to eat here a lot when I officed nearby and I always appreciated the great service and consistent experience. Today the service was great, as usual. There were quite a number of newer menu additions that looked great. I tried the baby kale with mushrooms and an egg. My dining companions had risotto and the organic grilled salmon with salad. The food today was just ok. Sitting outside on their lovely patio on a 75 degree sunny day with good service did make it an enjoyable lunch. What’s to complain about that equation, right?

This place is tucked away so well I never noticed it before. It’s surprising that I never noticed it, because it’s quite large. The décor is, in a word, sumptuous. The interior is roomy without being empty. I was there just after the dinner rush, but I can definitely see it being noisy in there. Fortunately, there’s a nice patio you can sit out on instead.
The service is outstanding! Our server kept an eye on us without being overbearing. My friend has a laundry list of food allergies, so when I ordered something that had nuts on it, he made sure to specifically point out to her where on my dish the nuts were so she knew not to sample it. That’s a lot more thoughtful than she and I have experienced on other outings! Our server was always there when we needed him. He’s very good at his job, and very attuned to his customers. I’m very impressed.
I’m gonna echo everyone else and recommend you get the pesto sea bass, because that is de-​li-​cious. The crispy kale with lemon and parmesan is also a good starter. They bring you fresh, warm bread and whipped butter regardless and refill it as you want it.
The taste of the fettuccine my friend ordered (sans things she’s allergic to) was also delicious, so I suspect it’s hard to go wrong on this menu.
They also let us sit and talk for about an hour after paying our bill, so thanks for not throwing us out!

First day as a Unilocal Elite and I’m blessed to celebrate it at a very nice Italian restaurant!
This place is classy but you can come in wearing casual clothes, just like the regulars. They also have patio seating but I’m not much for the outdoors. I don’t like fighting bugs for my food. Very well priced for the quality of food as well. By the way, they have smaller portions for almost every meal — even dessert!
Our server, Jerome, provided excellent service and a great wine recommendation! I like full bodied wines and he recommended a Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon blend made by Ferrari-​carano called the Siena — the 2012 was excellent — full bodied, aromatic and slightly sweet — perfect for me!
Good for a romantic date or a casual get together. Truly a good place to try for those first timers or aim to be a regular!

Price = 4 stars
Food = 5 stars
Service = 5 stars
I was going to give this place 4 stars because it is SUPER BOOJIE (sp?) and a little pricy. Almost ALL of the clientele were in suits and dresses at 11:15 AM. However, the food was delicious and the service was probably some of the best I have EVER HAD. Melissa’s presentation of the specials and recommendations, was articulate, entertaining, and professional. It’s easy to tell that she loves doing what she’s doing and is a great asset to the company. Had the Walleye Milanese and it was fork tender, flavorful and just plain delicious. Even the potatoes and the tomorrow’s that came with it were prepared with detail and love and it is easy to taste it bite after bite. Awesome find!