Bella Trattoria Reviews

Best Italian I've eaten including my Italy trips and felt very invited/expected to this family owned restaurant. Fantastic food and ambiance. We started with a glass of prosecco and prosciutto at the bar while we waited for our reservation time. We ordered the gnocchi and it was the best. Upon leaving the owner stepped out to wave goodbye to us as we crossed the sidewalk. I will for sure make an effort to visit my new favorite restaurant in San Francisco on my next trip to the city.

Interesting "three in one" spot: a restaurant, a large bar, and an ice cream parlor. I'm only writing to declare my love for the tomato sugo, which is available on pasta and on gnocchi. I am a 65 year old Italian-American. This is the best tomato sugo I've ever had.

We were visiting family in Pleasanton and we wanted to have a special meal and they suggested Bella Trattoria. We did not realize we would have to drive an hour to find the place but it was well worth it. We started off with Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil, Polentun a' Bella, and meatballs. Everyone was in agreement to have gnocchi, then we discovered two types: "Sorrentina" - a Potato Gnocchi, Fennel Seed Sausage (delicious), San Marzano Tomato Sugo, Fresh Mozzarella; and the "Gnocchi Verdi" - Spinach Gnocchi, Shitake Mushrooms, Radicchio, Gorgonzola Bechamel. This is the best gnocchi I have tasted since a trip to Tuscany in 2005, and believe me I have search high and low for something that good. Both were delicious as we shared the experience. The dinner was finished in style with gelato and a creme brûlée, great way to finish a delicious meal. Will remember this place on next trip to the Bay area.

Good Food ... Service could use a little love.

100% recommended place! The servers were amazing with me and my girlfriend! The food was perfect too! Amazing place to go!

Wow, wow, wow! We just got home from an amazing meal at Bella Trattoria. We were there early evening and were treated like old friends by the entire staff. We were given the menu and noticed there were no bone marrow for appetizers, which we were looking forward to having. When we asked about it, our waiter went to the kitchen and came back and said they would fix them for us! OMG, they were so good and so rich! My hubby had the special of lasagne, which is something of his specialty whenever he makes it at home and it was chock full of meat and so delicious! Equal to my husband's version. I ordered the Gnocchi verde with spinach gnocchi and a gorgonzola cremini mushroom sauce. Oh dear god, it was so rich, and the gnocchi melted on your tongue,not some chewy, tough gnocchi you usually get at lesser Italian restaurants. They really should charge the same and make it an appetizer. Brought half of it home.We asked for a wine suggestion and the Barbera our waiter chose was perfect. The panna cotta they serve complimentary at the end of the meal is quite delicious as well. I'm so happy we've found a nice neighborhood Italian restaurant again, although we live in Daly City, but will happily make the easy trip to get there. I had to give our waiter a hug when we left, it was such a nice meal.

We had a deeply concerning experience at Bella Trattoria despite the fantastic food and charming ambiance. While the setting and dishes were wonderful, the service fell short in a critical way. We informed the server about our child's severe nut allergy, yet she assured us that the dessert she recommended was nut-free. Unfortunately, this turned out to be incorrect, as the ice cream did contain nuts. This led to an allergic reaction, and we had to rush our child to the hospital. Mistakes like this can have serious consequences, and I urge the restaurant to ensure their staff is properly trained to handle dietary restrictions with care and accuracy. While we appreciated the quality of the food, this incident has left us hesitant to return.

Bella Trattoria is a wonderful find in the Inner Richmond neighborhood. For the past three years, we've come for a holiday dinner prior to attending Chanticleer's Christmas concert at nearby St. Ignatius Church. The ingredients are fresh and of the highest quality and the dishes are well-execuited, well-priced and tasty. Service is warm but can be a bit slow on a busy night.

This place was easily one of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever experienced. The food, service and vibe was off the charts! I’ll definitely be coming here again when we’re in town

Unfortunately, I don’t have much good to say about this place. I was hoping it would be a nice Italian spot, but as soon as we walked in, it was the wrong environment from the start. Nothing wrong with it yet, just club music playing when we were expecting an Italian ambiance. We were told to wait up until our reservation times when we got there early (not complaining, I just know some places let you in early if they have room). We were brought to a different room with a better atmosphere. Our waitress was fairly pleasant. We ordered Risotto Balls and they had cold, unmelted cheese in the center. The Bruschetta was decent, a bit garlicky but I enjoyed it. I ordered the Amatriciana dish. It took some time which I was fine with, but at this point I was not too impressed. When my meal came, it was hot and smelled quite good, but I noticed the Pancetta bits were very fatty. It left an odd flavor in the sauce and I couldn’t eat it after one bite. I’m really disappointed because I was really trying to make the best of it, but my family agreed and we only took a handful of bites total. On top of this, it was quite pricy for the overall quality and experience. This could definitely be bad luck, but personally I will not be returning. Again, I’m sorry I have to say these things and I don’t usually leave reviews when I have a bad experience, but I just thought I’d let future tourists and visitors know about this.

I had the pleasure of enjoying a fabulous experience at Bella Trattoria, San Fran. The food was fabulous: refined and elegant in preparation, presentation, quality and flavor. I strongly recommend the Aqua Pazza. Wine: Go with the owner’s wine recommendations: knowledgeable, pleasant and appropriate to the menu choices. Bon a petit! Comfortable, friendly, warm, cozy atmosphere. Could stay there all night.

A fantastic experience and meal. The service and food were incredible. The personal attention, menu suggestions, and overall experience made this one of my most favorite visits of all time. Exceptional value to boot. My gratuity base starts out at 20% and adjusts based on experience. This is the first time I've ever gotten to 50%! Strongly recommended.

The BEST POLLENTA MUSHROOM in town !!!! This is not American Italian cuisine that you mostly eat, but this is An AUTHENTIC Italian. Everybody Italian there, very original. Love the fish, bruschetta, spinach w cheese and moree....Oh you gotta try the DOLCE as well, can;t be missed esp pannacotta, cheesecake, everythin, so yummy. Worth the trip if you come to San Fran.

We arrived without a reservation and were lucky to get a seat on midweek. Bella's is not located in "mainstream" touristy San Fran but rather the Richmond neighborhood near our daughter's apt. We had the special; fresh pasta ragout, bruschetta and delectable meatball appetizers. Every seat was filled when we left. Complimentary desert plate came with our meal. Nice wine selection, great service. Would go back in a heartbeat if it wasn't 3,000 miles away. Corner location right on Geary Street.

Fun atmosphere with very friendly knowledgeable wait staff. Restaurant features homemade pastas and breads along with fish/meat dishes. Comfort Italian food.

We had a birthday celebration here with several family members. My first time here. WOW, I was very pleasantly surprised by the service, ambiance, and the quality of the food. Outstanding. We will be back!!!!

Searching the internet one night looking for an Italian restaurant, I came across Bella Trattoria. What a great find! My husband and I had such a pleasant experience at this small, intimate, family-feeling restaurant. The waiter, Robert, and the rest of the staff were very friendly and helpful; the food was delicious and the wine suggestion was perfect. All at a reasonable price. What more can you ask for? We'll be back....

We were into catch-up conversation, not especially food, so the recommend special-of-the day, salads, a split dessert, and a nice bottle of wine hit the spot. A quiet table, service was good, background music a little high. We'd go back although on a weekend might be pretty noisy when full. Parking easy on Tuesday evening. Convenient to Laurel Heights, California Pacific Medical center

It was a windy February night when, after walking for several blocks after finally finding parking, we arrived at the tiny foyer of Bella Trattoria. Our reservation was for 7pm, and half of the party was present at 655pm -- one had arrived early and was sitting at the bar. We could not be seated until the rest arrived; and we could not join our other dining partner at the bar because there was not enough room. We were told to wait outside (cold, windy and not dressed for standing outdoors) or go to the bar next door for a drink and return. What? Fortunately , as we were contemplating what to do (and I serviously considered leaving for good) the rest of our party arrived and we were seated. It is true that what happens before you eat can leave a bad taste in your mouth. Service was very slow. It was a Friday night, full tables. As far as the food it was all fine. The gnocchi was fantastic. Linguini was well liked as was the special of the day, the lasagne. I had the trout, which is probably not their signature dish, but was good. The bruschetta was enjoyed by all. I think had we not had the awkward start to the meal and had quicker service it would have been a more enjoyable , memorable meal. I did see a couple next to me with kids, enjoying a nice meal after work. It might be a nice place to go for a date. Parking is difficult, and as noted, if you have a bigger party, make sure everyone synchronizes their watches.

My wife and I were looking for a nice sit down meal and I found Bella Trattoria on Google. Fantastic meal and service! I had the Pasta Norcino and the wife had the Arrabbiata. Both were perfect and the service was excellent!

Had my birthday dinner here last week and Restaurant Week was on simultaneously. I did make reservations and we were seated promptly at our designated time. The wait staff all speak Italian so it is lovely to try to converse in my limited Italian. They make their pasta in house and a note on the menu mentions that is is vegan! We had the minestrone soup with lentils as a starter. Advertised for two and it was more than enough for two and some left over. Their bread is made in house and is served with a sundried tomato and olive oil dipping sauce. Delicious. We ordered the Carbonara pasta which was apparently delicious, and I had the house made rigatoni with sausage, a lovely tomato cream sauce and peas. It was amazing. They brought around bruschetta to the table to try and while we were too full for dessert we were given the panna cotta with berries to share. We also ordered a bottle of wine to enjoy.

A few weeks ago my adult son, who lives in San Francisco, and I were looking around for good Italian restaurants. By googling he found Bella. What a find!! It is small, has a nice ambiance as well as fantastic wine and food. Since then he has gone with a roommate and we went again tonight. He loves the gnocchi and I love the eggplant parmigiana. It is now my favorite restaurant in SF!!

Excellent neighborhood restaurant, we came here somewhat at random. The bone marrrow was heavenly...Now that fois gras is banned, I think this is my new favorite fatty thing to spread on toast :)

Called in on a Saturday night without a reservation and fortunate to secure the last available table. A small but nice wine list, Pasta was excellent, service outstanding and they did the little things that make us want to return. Highly recommended.

The first time I visited the food was awsome. The second time my sis got really sick from the food. Not a very nice neighborhood and the atmosphere is ok for lunch.

All 4 of us were disappointed with our dinners, especially since we had been there a year ago & we liked it then. One of the first hints that something was missing was the total lack of cooking smells of olive oil, garlic, oregano, etc. that you normally find in Italian restaurants! What should be the easiest dish for an Italian chef to cook would be Olio Aglio pasta, & even that was a failure. No hint of nice olive oil and only an uninteresting form of garlic added. Of course no red pepper flakes to be seen. I ordered the most expensive item on the menu (about $30) which was a lacklustre seafood mixture on pasta. It included a weird form of scallops which were super greasy & did not taste of scallops at all. A friend ordered a steak, which turned out to be thin and uninteresting, and was not even totally consumed. The fourth dish was also not a hit. We were all disappointed. Of course it is a nice place, and very busy, but what’s the point unless the food is up to par?

Terrific experience all around. The food and wine were outstanding. The owner and our waitress were kind and welcoming. Highly recommend this place!

The food was really good, and the it was a decent dish. Furthermore the wine glasses were filled with generosity and we also got starters on the house. I will say that the food with regards to its price is 4, but including the great great service and the good atmosphere of the place my overall rating is 5.

Food, service, ambiance are all good qualities when looking for a fine dining restaurant. ‘Bella Trattoria’ has all this and more. The staff go out of their way to ensure your evening is perfect and for me and my friends, it was.

Another satisfying dinner at a neighborhood treasure. The large bowl of vegetable minestrone was very savory and filling. We enjoyed two of the specials; a mixed meat ragu over broad noodles and a pork "Osso Buco" style sauce over thin noodles. We arrived to a packed, and very noisy, house at 9:30 PM on a Saturday evening, but as we left at 11:00 it had completely cleared out.

Food is Southern Italy and portions a large. The owner and staff always makes us feel welcomed to enjoy this Trattoria.

We happened upon this lovely restaurant by chance and were happily surprised. There was a nice buzz of activity. Service was excellent. My wife was exceptionally impressed with the hanger steak. My lasagna was quite good. Our friends were also pleased with their choices. Very nice!

We live in Marin and wanted to find a place to meet friends who were coming from the East Bay. We read about Bella Trattoria online. WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED! The chef/owner David was amazing, the food was delicious and rivaled some of the best meals we have had in Italy. The chef finds recipes from around Italy and brings his own special twist to them. The antipasto plate was a great start (for four of us the small size was MORE than plenty!) and the bruschetta was delicious. Each of us had a different pasta and all of us loved them. The wine options were delicious, Italian and lovely. The service was over the top and attention to every detail was made. It was a Sunday night (we arrived at 4 PM) and by 7:30 they were packed so make reservations or go early. Street parking is usually easy to find.

Cannot say enough about how much we have loved the 2 dining experiences we have had here. It is now on our list to top places to go for a great meal, great atmosphere, great service and a great night. Really fabulous food (the 4 -6 things we have had so far have all been excellent) We look forward to going again and again.

after several days if seafood as you have to in sfo, it was nice to have a break and eat some great pasta, we really enjoyed the carbonara which is often hard to find a good one

Amazing italian food! Bruscheta with burata, pasta and dolce just like from Italy. Very nice service, everyone speaks italian. The place is owned by a passionate guy who is entertaining guests with and answear their needs. Fully recommended!

Great food at affordable prices and exceptional service make for a memorable meal! Parking is a challenge but don’t let that deter you!

It is a small place with warm environment. They provide full range of pasta with good quality and taste which worthwhile trying.

My 2nd visit here and it was still open at 9:30PM. My daughter and I shared the romaine salad , enough for two, and the veal bone marrow for an appetizer. This is a real treat and reminds me of a place in Paris that specialized on roasted bone marrow. Pared with Parsley Caper Salad and crostini's an excellent choice. Then the main event. I had the special of Pappardelle with Osso Buco. It to was enough for two , but I couldn't stop eating it yum, yum. We shared one of the house recommended reds, a nice inexpensive Cabernet which went well with our entire meal. Then our waitress brought us a desert "on the house" which was not quite a flan, but more like a smooth Cheesecake of sort. I can't remember the name, but what a way to end the meal. It will be one of my stops every time I visit San Francisco

This is not your average touristy Italian restaurant where the menu is heavy with chicken/veal/eggplant parmigano, or any of the above pizziaola. The dishes here are more authentic and each is well prepared and very tasty. We were here with a young child and the staff couldn't have been nicer or more accomodating. Our group had a selection of pastas, chicken and I had the pork cutlet, which was outstanding. In fact, all of the sauces were excellent. The dessert gelatti was offered in a range of flavors, and all that we tried were fresh and had that home-made taste. Bella will be on our list for a return visit soon.The only thing I want to warn you about is parking. Street parking is hard to come by. Leave time to find a space, and expect to do some block circling. Hope this review was helpful.

They offered a $90 Pre Fixe NYE Menu. It was definitely NOT worth $90 per head, the service was very slow, not because of the Servers but because Management did not have enough staff. Plate portions were extremely small and very inconsistent in size and servings. The table next to us ordered the same Main/Entree of the Pork Osso Bucco and received a much larger portion than we did. The beef saltmbocca was also inconsistent in the plating compared to others that came out of the kitchen, no attention to detail at all. Food was good, however if you want to make the Big $$$ on NYE offer decent servings for the money you charge. Three small ravioli on a plate is not a course, it is a rip off. Drinks were also way over priced AND they charged $25 per bottle for BYOB corkage - who does this??? They also said once the booking was made that there would be a $50 cancellation fee at anytime leading up to NYE, No Wonder It wasn’t fully booked. Definitely would not return.

6 adults before a show. We all have different pasta dishes and we ate every thing. Service is great and so is the atmosphere. Hard to say which pasta dish was better. I had the Bucca and it was excellent. Chick marsala was excellent. All the appetizers are good as well, Bruschetta, caprese.. We were there on a friday night, parking is tough, rather than going around in circles go back two blocks.

We are locals and have been going to Bella for years for both impromptu dinners and special occasions. The owner is a perfectionist and always coming up with new classics on his trips to Italy. It is on the southern edge of the vibrant inner Clement neighborhood. Eclectic Italian dishes that don't disappoint.

Bella looks unassuming from the outside, but provides an excellent experience all around. The menu is a combination of tried and true Italian classics mixed with some adventurous options. The wine list is also extensive and excellent. Beyond the great food, the service here is really outstanding. I have always been treated warmly and attentively here, and am often offered a complimentary menu item or glass of wine. This is a great little restaurant that shouldn't be missed if you're in the Inner Richmond.

My group of 7 arrived on time for our dinner reservation. It took awhile for the waiter to acknowledge us (probably due to arguing with people at adjacent table). When he did arrive, he did not introduce himself and even when we asked him later in the evening he said "Fred" with a wry laugh. We ordered drinks and wanted to order our food when they were delivered but "Fred" dropped and disappeared. He finally reappeared, not mentioning any specials, took our orders. We waited more than 45 minutes to get our food!!! That might be somewhat understandable if the restaurant were full which it wasn't even close to being at capacity. Even with the food being delicious, none of us plan on returning unless "Fred" is replaced.

It was our first full day in San Francisco, and we decided to cap off our great day at Golden Gate Bridge at a local restaurant. Fate steered us to Bella. Server Hayelei treated us like we we're faithful regulars. We enjoyed the Amatriciana and Puttanesca accompanied by a bottle of their house red. We struck up a conversation fascinating with a young couple seated next to us, and proceeded to share experiences as freestyle travelers.

We dined here based upon all the great TA reviews. It was busy and seems quite popular. While we had a pleasant time, it wasn't particularly noteworthy. The interior and ambience is dark and fairly nondescript. Menu is your typical range of Italian dishes. Partner had trout which was nice, I had shrimp and pasta which had a bit of an off-taste. Tiramisu was average. Service was average. Coffees came out late and had cooled off by arrival. We've had better mid-range price Italian at Jackson Trattoria and Via Veneto both on Filmore St, wouldn't bother to head out here again.

We were staying at a friends in Sunset and my daughter wanted to celebrate her birthday with Italian cuisine. Lucky to have picked Bella, waitress with authentic Italian accent and the menu was diverse. We each had a different item and shared. Everything was excellent, and we'll go back again. Definitely would give most restaurants in San Francisco a good run for their money. Would go back again!!!

The staff in the restaurant was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable about gluten intolerance. They recommended the gnocchi for my partner which were delicious and a great red wine from Italy. The size of the portions are very good. Would definitely come back!

We can't wait to go back to Bella. I was looking for a restaurant near the De Young Museum and TA helped me find this place. Even my in-laws were impressed, so I scored some points here. The five of us all loved our food, and the highlights were the Sorrentina, gnocchi and sausage, Cotoletta, breaded pork, and the baked Polenta which were all amazingly good. The service was very good and friendly and they even had gluten-free pasta.

Had the opportunity to eat with my entire family at this small, quaint restaurant. The food was much better than average and although there is no separate kids menu they made a delicious Alfredo type cream sauce and put it over spaghetti. My 10 year old loved it. They also offered small pizzas and spaghetti with meatballs. The staff was outstanding attention to detail, piping hot food and great conversation. I would highly recommend this establishment to anyone.

The best overlooked Italian *lunch* and dinner in San Francisco! This teeny trattoria, on Geary at 3rd Ave., is a bit forbidding, what with shiny white linen tablecloths and no menu posted in the window but it's an amazing lunch find! Great food, great ambiance, awesome staff, and great food (I said "great food" twice). More down-to-earth than Osteria, my other ristorante Italiano favorite, and a completely different style of food. Don't miss this!

Small, popular restaurant that serves traditional and very good Italian food. Nice wine selection as well.

My husband and I went with a couple who had been there before. They suggested it as they frequent it with their young son because the restaurant is casual. When we arrived the regular restaurant was under construction/remodeling, so we ended up next door in the osteria. Even with construction, the place was clean. Big plus. Better yet, the food was OUTSTANDING. Everything we ordered was a surprise to our taste buds: everything was fresh with twists on the traditional that made for a foodie's delight. We WILL go back...and bring friends.

I had my first (and last) date with a guy here... the guy was boring but the food was amazing! The butternut squash ravioli was absolutely amazing! There was also this dessert that is a cream with strawberries.. I don’t remember the name, but I would go back just for that. I’ll definitely be going back!

We were seated on time for our reservation for 4 people. Drink order taken quickly, by the way, beer and wine only. Specials explained and our order placed. Food was wonderful and all four entrees were delicious. My only comment is that we were seated near the door and each time it opened we were hit with a blast of cold air. Before we were seated, I asked for a different table but was told it was reserved for 5. Next time I will reserve a table away from the door.

Came for a family style experience. We had some meats to start and a great natural sparking wine! Followed by some truly memorable gnocchi and the carbonara was great. We had the pork cutlet which was perfectly cooked. To end 3 deserts on one plate and to say the tiramisu was good is to be reserved. Great evening, good food, good wine and great company. What more can one want! Thank you!

Fabulous meal as good Italian fare as I have had in the US including New York and better than many in Italy. Friendly service and reasonably priced. House red is good too.

I loved this restaurant! Not really Italian atmosphere but amazing food!! I ate the spinach gnocchi and it was the best I have ever eaten! (And I have been to Italy as well) also great spinach salad with Gorgonzola cheese!! Amazing! Really would recommend it if your on the way back to the city from suthro baths!

This was a restaurant that I have been meaning to try on my monhtly trips here for a client. Finally I did. The service was great; the salad was large and spectacular; and the pasta with salmon was perfect. The dessert was grand. I will do this again.

I loved this place. Food was marvelous. The meatballs and pizza were my favorite. Very home-like atmosphere, but very accommodating waiters Kudos to Robert and Juv who made our visit a great deal of fun.

Everything about this place made for a perfect dining experience, from the cozy atmosphere to the food that was on par with the best Italian I've ever had. The bread was so good it didn't need butter or oil. Each of the seven dishes sampled was amazing (so good, in fact, that each of us in turn said, "You need to try this."). And the dessert....."

Came from Berkeley for excellent Italian meal. Carbonara was fantastic, a flavor journey on the palette. My friend had the trout and loved it. Desert were to die for. Ambiance and service top notch!

First of all I love Italian food and have eaten it all over the world. I got to say, this is one of the best places I have ever eaten. I had a pasta dish that was to die for. My daughter had one equally as well. We traded off between us because both were so good. The deserts and just decadent. The flan. You have to try the flan with strawberries and their special topping. I won't tell you here what it is, would have never thought to put it on there but it made the taste one that I want to have again and again.....and I don't eat flan typically. If you in the area and have a few minutes to enjoy your food, stop here and try it out. You need to savor your food though. It tastes so good you almost wish they were refillable. I can't give enough stars for this place. My daughter asks me every other day or so when we are going back to San Francisco and can we eat there again. Also this place has now ruined our local Italian eatery for us. Every Italian dish we eat now is compare to the taste of this food. I personally told the chef about how good his food tasted. He was very happy and super friendly as well. We shared a laugh and few minutes of his time telling me some of the spices he used to get the taste that I wished would never leave my mouth.

Having lived in Italy, I am very picky about Italian food and was very pleased with my experience here! You could tell that the pasta was freshly made. I was happy that the antipasto misto had a good variety of olives, meats and veggies and that the "small" size was a very generous portion that was more enough for two. The service was very good and they even gave us a complimentary serving of panna cotta, which was delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone.

My friend and I decided to select a restaurant 1/2 way between us. A quick bit of research and an Open Table reservation brought us to Bella Trattoria in the Richmond District. Yes, it is small. Yes, it is easy to miss from the road. And a big yes, it is worth the effort to find. A very comfortable "neighborhood" feel as you walk in, the lighting was sufficient to read the menu and the noise level quite acceptable. A shared venison carpaccio was our first course: simple in presentation, it was a delightful dish. Then a pasta course and the breaded pork cutlet picatta with baby arugula. The pasta was cooked a perfect al dente and the sauce (a "rustica" or "salsiccia") light, clean flavored and fantastic. I ordered the breaded pork cutlet since I hadn't had that dish in years. This preparation resulted in one of the most tasty breaded pork cutlets I can remember having. I would come back just for this dish. We wrapped up with the sorbet and a cappuccino. A great finish. Service was attentive but unobtrusive. Loved the feel of this restaurant. Loved the quality of the food. Hope to become a regular.

Tripped over this unexpected place a year or so ago. Been back close to 20 times. Never a disappointment. Is a funky little corner spot - butter yellow outside paint - lovely soft clear small globe lights - dark wall colors...wood floor - in an Asian neighorhood on Geary. Make a res or you'll wait. You like Italian - they got Italian. I love good Gnocchi - hard to find - always 'tough' - solid. Not here. Stuff melts in your mouth like butta - all made right there - all sauces made right there - fresh bread - right there. Try the Spinach Gnocchi with the gorganzola cream sauce...try ANTHING - you shant be sorry. These folks could not be more hospitable. Don't need to confuse busy with rude. The fly and bend over backwards for you. Desserts...heaven....so save room. Headed there this week - cannot wait....neither should you.

Best tip was to call ahead for restaurants. We actually arrived 30 minute early, and were sat within a couple minutes. Food and drinks were great. Their Elderflower and mint soda was worth the price, and hope I can recreate at home. Their Bruschetta was great, and I don't like tomatoes. Maccarune Cu Salsiccia was excellent. The best is to have great food, and not leave feeling stuffed. We certainly did.

I had the squid ink pasta. It went really well with a couple Peroni Beers. Service was descent. I would go back.

We tried the polenta and it was awesome, for main course we share the gnocchi and they were really good, to end our meal we ordered the panna cotta and it was superb. Service was good even though not fantastic

Bella Trattoria is a classic San Francisco neighborhood Italian restaurant with outstanding food and service. The waiter's dry wit in responding to our comments added to our evening and he steered us to a delicious wine. Best gelato we ever ate.

Forget the tourist traps of North Beach or the pretentious spots of SoMa. This places blows the competition out of the water with exceptional service and remarkably tasty culinary creations. Every dish we tried was as good as it gets! The salmon crostini must be the best I ate in SF and the pork piccata was remarkably perfectly balanced acidity, tenderness and freshness. Well done to Bella. It's a success story not to be missed!

In the Richmond District there are all kinds of restaurants. I settled on Bella for a Christmas Eve dinner with family. I did not enjoy the Gnocci at all, too gooey and chewy. The Italian ice-cream though was delicious. The place was packed but we were seated quickly. It would have been helpful if we didn't have to wait by the bathroom door (it was cold out), but have a heated area outside. The food was moderately priced, which is typical of the area. My other family members did enjoy their seafood plates. Would recommend for a short stay, during a time other than the holiday season! The staff were friendly and very fast and accommodating.

We travel in Italy a lot, and this restaurant serves truly Authentic Italian. The gnocchi is perfection. Service is spot on friendly without cloying. Panne cotta some of the best I've had. And their espresso is the best in the City IMO. I was put off at first when I walked into the bar side, but the dining room is simple and pleasant, though we opted for an outside table. Amazing neighborhood spot.

Omigod. So well-priced and the best gnocchi ever. Attentive service, a great Primitivo by the glass, and lots of extras like bread with sun dried tomato oil and a mini-pannacotta free gift at the end of the meal made this very memorable. Book ahead and enjoy!

Just a short walk from Golden Gate Park is a slice of real Italy that mostly only the locals know about. We were feted there by locals, and it was a great experience, both for cuisine and visual experience. This is a classic small intimate Italian bistro with and impressive menu of Italian favorites. Hearty portions, great prices, full bar and home-made desserts are offered, and an intimate venue of locals in a classic bistro setting sets the atmosphere. Amazing food cooked fresh: no Chef Mike here ! Suitable for families, children, romantic couples, affairs or small parties. Best make reservations for prime time: it's really really popular.

Just had dinner here and the food was very good along with the friendly wait staff. Great menu assorted choices. Small but quaint place which was clean. Lights dimmed for your dining pleasure.

We spent a few days staying in the Richmond area, a Chinese neighborhood alongside Golden Gate Park, where non-Asian restaurants are few and far between. A local resident recommended Bella Trattoria to us one night. We loved it so much, we went back for a second visit the next night. Bella's menu, written in Neapolitan dialect, is Southern Italian for the most part. The chef makes a point of using organic meats and produce from local farms and freshly caught fish from local waters. The cooking is superb, equal to and even surpassing many of the restaurants I've experienced in Rome. Bella's wine selection is well chosen and fairly wide ranging for a restaurant this size. I particularly enjoyed two selections (also available by the glass): a Valpolicello RIPASSO and the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo IL GUERCINO. Bella's interior is dark, but warm and intimate. Their clientele is casual... mostly thirty-ish couples and small groups of friends. The noise level is comfortable. Service was attentive (without hovering), friendly and discreet. Recommended dishes: among the antipasti the PARMIGIANA was sensational... baked eggplant topped with mozzarella, housemade sugo (intensely tomato) and a garnish of chopped basil. The POLENTUN A' BELLA was another winner... baked polenta topped with gorgonzola and Crimini mushrooms. Both of these were unbelievably, weep-for-joy good. Among the entrees (it was difficult to choose with so many tempting selections) a special item available both evenings we were there, the PAPARDELLE CON RAGU was incredible with its slow-cooked sauce of beef and pork. This awesome "nonnina" sauce is the same grandmother-style ragu that the chef uses for Bella's lasagna. Their PUTTANESCA was amazing. Based on a tuna conserva (not quite as lusty as the traditional anchovies, but deeply satisfying nonetheless) and chock full of mixed Italian olives, this spaghetti dish was still earthy, very tasty and elegant. The GNOCCHI VERDI were fabulous... spinach gnocchi with Crimini mushrooms and radicchio covered with a gorgonzola bechamel. The BURRO E SALVIA also made a hit... butternut squash ravioli browned in sage butter and garnished with sundried tomatos and pecorino romano. The house's ZABAIONE (zabaglione) was a wonderful dessert. We had it the first night served over fresh berries, and the next evening, combined with vanilla gelato and crumbled biscotti. Seriously yum! Reservations are necessary at this popular place, unless you arrive early. Bella opens for dinner at 5:30pm and is also open for lunch. We are used to New York prices, so we were pleasantly surprised at the modest check, especially given the pleasure of Bella's food and atmosphere.

I grew up eating my grandmother's gnocchi and regard it as comfort food. The gnocchi at Bella is superb--probably the best I have ever had. (Sorry, Gram!) Affordable prices and good service.

This is for the sister restaurant next door, Osteria Bella, it is more like a pub that serves good pasta. Food is very good, the Spinaci Caldi, Menestra A' Verdure are very good starters, La Vera Carbonara has only 3 ingredients and it is very good, TIramisu and Panna Cotta are also good. Will be definitely be back next time for sure.

Wonderful little Italian Trattoria. It's like a trip to Little Italy in NYC or Brooklyn. The food was great, and the service even better. I highly recommend this warm and friendly family owned restaurant

We had a very nice Christmas Eve dinner at Bella. Nice Italian family atmosphere restaurant. We enjoyed the minestrone soup and brussels sprouts appiteziers. For the entrees we had the fish special and the Osco Busco special. All of the food was excellent. Bella has a short, but very ice Italian wine list. Highly recommend.

I was searching for a restaurant close to the place friends were renting an AirB&B. Found this little gem. Our party included 3 adults and 4 teens and everyone was very happy. We especially liked the spinach gnocchi which was air light! They had nice, well priced italian wine by the liter. Parking on side streets is ample - not always the case in SF. However, don't blink or you will miss it. It is on a corner with a very nondescript exterior. It is a little noisy but the service is great, food is great.

This neighborhood restaurant is in the Richmond near where we live. The area is OK but it is all street parking, Don't go for the area or atmosphere, go for the home made authentic Italian food, Our polenta cakes with mushroom topping were excellent, my wife's trout and my polenta with sausage were outstanding, and the desert was stunning. It was tiramisu with the lady fingers soaked in expresso. The bread served is house made Italian egg-based bread. We brought our own wine as Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have free corkage making this a very good value. This fact is written in Italian on the menu.

Service was spot on and our GF requests were respectfully accommodated. Fried polenta instead of bread was mouthwateringly good!!! Best GF pasta ever and panacotta was soooo good ❤️Absolutely would return.

Bella Trattoria is our go-to spot for an Italian fix! My son refers to it as "my meatball place" We have dined in and had take out, the food is always rock solid. The meatballs are flavorful without being "spicey" the pasta are perfect and I enjoy the Mork N'Duja as well. The Burrata is always a pleasure and the servers teat us like royalty.

Cute Italian place in the Richmond district.

This place was excellent. We had a reservation for 8 at 10pm (thats what happens when you reserve last minute I guess) but they were able to accommodate. We started with the specialty appetizer of soppressata and burrata on crostini and the bruschetta-both were delicious but I have to say that was the best bruschetta i've ever had. For main course I chose the pasta with fennel sausage, bread crumbs and truffle butter-wow just wow. I don't see it on their menu online so they must have updated their menu but this was out of this world. They have a large variety of choices though and everyone got something different which they all raved about. Highly recommend this Italian spot, great experience

My husband and I are foodies! We thought this was the best meal ever! Wonderful, fresh and unique menu. Great wine list and such a wonderful, cozy atmosphere! It is a must if you visit San Francisco!

We waited too long to make reservations so could not get in until 10 pm; however, it was well worth the wait. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal and the biggest hit was the bruschetta. We will definitely be back!

If you are not vegetarian then it’s very good. The vegetarian dishes were rather uninspiring, just average, lacking in taste. The pastas with seafood & meat ragout were very good. Service excellent - friendly & professional Ambiance, very pleasant, maybe just a little too dark.

Excellent service and a nice Italian meal. Wine was exceptionally expensive and menu was confusing when it came to wine pricing. 1/2 litre of house wine was $28.00

Review for Bella Trattoria Bella Trattoria in San Francisco offers excellent pizza with fresh ingredients and a deliciously crisp crust. One standout feature is their goat cheese option, which adds a unique and flavorful twist to the pizzas. The service was friendly and efficient, making the dining experience pleasant. That said, the prices are quite steep for what it is. While the flavor and quality are good, it might not fully justify the cost for some. If you’re looking for a great-tasting pizza and don’t mind splurging a bit, Bella Trattoria is worth a visit.

Jon Luca was very courteous and really knew how to speak about the dishes with love. The servers were on top of their job and really cared about the customers. The main dishes were excellent, especially the braised oxtail and beef tongue dish with pasta😳WOW! Two Thumbs up to Bella Trattoria👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Went to Bella based on Trip Advisor and Check Please Bay Area reviews. Made a 7 PM reservation for 4 which was a good thing as it was full. Great experience, friendly staff, nice wine selection was reasonably priced (we chose a Burchino Chianti). We started with the antipasto platter which was delicious, accompanied by their house bread and tasty dipping sauce. For entrees we enjoyed the seafood spaghetti special (excellent sauce flavor and the seafood/clams/etc were prepared just right), the gnocchi, and Pasta Norcina (baked rigatoni, chicken, crimini). Everyone raved about their entrees. Will go back again to try the Arrabiata & sausage pasta and more gnocchi! Service was not rushed but not slow either, and we were in no hurry because we were with visiting friends from Australia. Great little cafe without the hassle of North Beach crowds!

We chosed this restaurant because it was nicely ranked in Trip Advisor and once again, it was a good advice. Quite far from the downtown area but close distance of the Presidio what is making sense if you are touring the city. You won't be impressed by its external looking and it is not easy to find this small place on a corner. However, it worths searching to find it Opening at 05:15, it was completely full by 06:15 what was making sense given that we were on a Saturday. So I would strongly suggest to make a reservation ahead of time to avoid being deceived, at least during the week-ends. The first thing we really enjoyed was the service. A lot of small attentions and the pleasure to talk with everybody there. They have been helpful all the way and especially in the wine selection. A very good Sangiovese at a reasonable price. What can you ask more? The menu though is not that elaborated but you will find there all the classics you can expect in an italian restaurant. We chosed first the beef carpaccio. Tasty without being fantastic. Just the right combination of everything and a good complement to our wine choice. Then we had carbonara pastas and scaloppine. Once again, the carbonara was very good without being fantastic. However, they may have the real sense of a carbonara compared to all the people that prefer the creamy sauces. The scaloppine was our best selection. Tender without loosing the delicate taste of mushrooms and a delicate sauce. We simply adored it. To add to the pleasure, we had dried tomatoes in olive oïl with bread as apetizer and we added a very good tiramisu to end the evening in beauty. If you are looking for good italian meals with fine wine and excellent service at a reasonable price in San Fran, it is one of the places to go. Just the right combination of everything with such a relaxing atmosphere.

Very well attended and received. Nice and spacious atmosphere. Homemade food with pasta and pizza options! Very good! We highly recommend it!

We ate here for the fifth or sixth time in several years. The food is always good. We ate early and the service was a bit slow. But the quality and value of the food was outstanding.

This is a real gem in the Richmond district of San Francisco. We've enjoyed several top notch meals here and always keep it in mind for a special occasion. With a choice wine selection, homemade pasta, fresh ingredients, and a revolving menu, I'd recommend this to anyone seeking a special Italian dinner.

This was the best Italian meal I've ever had in the city. In a neighborhood not necessarily known for it's Italian food, this came as a wonderful surprise. The service from beginning to end was outstanding. They were genuinely friendly, not forced. My Campari Appertivo was delicious and has now made me a fan of the pre-dinner coctail, the tricolore salad was perfectly seasoned, BUT, the best part of the meal was the gnocchi topped with fresh fennel sausage and mozzarella. Everything was homemade. The gnocchi melted in your mouth, the potato was so fresh it exploded in your mouth. The sausage was perfectly seasoned and the mozzarella brought everything perfectly together. I had the orange sorbet for dessert that was really good and refreshing until I found the freezer-burned middle. Everything else was so perfect, that the sorbet didn't turn me off of this place AT ALL. I guarantee you that you won't be disappointed.

great food, great service, great bar. very welcoming and hospitable. wonderful dinner experience for us with 91 year old grandma and disabled grandson, all tended to with care and consideration.

People were great, service was attentive, the food was wonderful. We started with the bruschetta, had the rusticanza salad, both were very good. For entree we had the pasta no Ins and I'd was the best! Chicken with a creamy mushroom sauce that we loved. Finished with tiramisu which was just right, no bitterness to it. Overall just an awesome night.

The place, when you look from outside, doesn't call your attention but when you enter it is a pleasant environment. Excellent Italian food and service!

If you're looking for fresh authentic Italian food in San Francisco look no further. Service was fast and attentive and the food was amazing. The carbonara was one of the best in or out of Italy and the pasta al sugo di pomodoro and the eggplant Parmesan or fresh and bright. With excellent wines and delicious panna cotta, Osteria Bella was one of the most memorable dinners during our vacation.

We had a reservation here and our table wasn't ready (there's no waiting area) so they told us to have a drink at the bar next door, that they'd come get us when it was ready. We were totally fine with that, but it was funny that the bar next door, Buckshot, has a completely different type of atmosphere, and apparently isn't linked to Bella in any way. We ordered drinks, and less than 5 minutes later, the man from Bella comes in to tell us to head over whenever we're ready..had to finish our drinks first, of course. Once we got into Bella and shown to our table, the hostess dropped our paper menus on the table and walked away, and before we had even sat down, one of the menus had caught fire from the candle on the table. Some of the staff looked over at the table, then carried on doing other things, as if this was of no consequence. Nobody apologized, asked if everything was all right..one server later joked about us being "fire starters." It was all fine, just slightly annoyed they seemed not to care. This is what I mean about the service being slightly odd..it wasn't so much off-putting as just a bit awkward and confusing. It's a really small restaurant, and my first impression was that it's a bit over-crammed with tables. Once we were seated though, I didn't feel as cramped as it looks when you walk in. Everything we ate was delicious -- the eggplant parmigiana, venison carpaccio, oricchiette pasta with candied almonds..at the end we were in a slight hurry because we were running late to meet friends, and we were pretty full, so passed on dessert and asked for the check, and they brought us a little panna cotta with fruit, on the house. A pleasant surprise. Overall, the food was delicious and quite reasonably priced, and the servers were great when they were at our table, just seemed a bit inattentive whenever something happened at a table -- like when our menu caught fire, and when another table dropped a glass on the floor and nobody went to them for ages even though everyone in the restaurant had definitely noticed. That said, I'll definitely be back.

The pasta will make you think you are in Italy. It is close to Golden Gate park, and makes for an excellent dinner after a day at the park. I would make reservations though because it is a little small

The food is quite good. However, for an early dinner only the adjoining "Osteria" was open for seating. It is a former sports bar, and looks like it or like a converted garage. Service was also sketchy. So, next time we will wait until the restaurant is open for seating. It is not a deluxe ambience, but is acceptable.

The kitchen forgot about my order while the bartender kept saying it was coming. I had to wait for 50 minutes to only learn that my food would never come.

I had the pasta and the seafood stew. pasta is ok, but the seafood stew. only has 3 shrimp and small pieces of calamari, a lot of mussel and claim. my normal seafood has to have fish , or maybe scallop or crab. for $32.00 is little too much, also $4.00 for a can of cook.??? but the service was excellent

Kind of poor service, no effort from staff to make us feel welcome and the so called Italian food was far from any Italian standards we got used too.

My 2nd time here was as good as the first visit. I had the special (again) which was Osso Buco with fresh pappardelle noodles.. My daughter and I went there late at 9:30pm and the wait staff sat us quickly and happily given the late time on Wednesday. We shared the romaine salad which was plenty, and the roasted veal bone marrow was the highlight of the meal and just like a place in Paris, just as good and a lot closer. Our waitress recommended one of the house red wines and we were extremely please with the wine and price. Then our waitress brought us a desert 'on the house' it was not quite a cheesecake, and not a flan but something in-between. I can't remember what it was , but when I return to San Francisco later this month, I'll be sure to order it again.

A long stay in Italy made us look for good Italian food in San Francisco... the best we have found is at an unassuming corner spot on Geary Street. The food is delicious, and they often give us a little extra (like a small plate of sweets when we don't order dessert). I can't recommend any dishes because every one that we have had was excellent.

Came here for a special celebration and had booked the reso a month prior. We were shunted over to the adjacent restaurant which was like a sports bar with zero atmosphere. We were told the menu was the same, but we had seen it while waiting and it wasn't. So they lied to us. We asked to be back in the main restaurant and were met with almost hostility that we challenged the manager on their service, or lack of it. Luckily we had printed the reso so he had to fulfill it. We never got an apology - only the offer at the end of one desert amongst 7 people. Food was ok, but nothing to write home about. In a foodie city, this type of service isn't acceptable, and hence the review to warn others to take your dollars elsewhere.

Bella is a wonderful little restaurant with a warm ambience, wonderful freshly made food, and great service.

After years of having this as “our place” for a college friend and me to catch up a few times a year, I figure I should review this excellent neighborhood restaurant whose food not just rivals but often exceeds that which one gets in Italy. I’ve recommended Bella to friends, students, and family – and none has been disappointed except the one who got the name wrong and went a few blocks away to a pizza place with a similar name. It’s time to sing Bella Trattoria’s praises to a broader audience. Most recently my friend and I came from our respective homes, one crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and the other driving up the coast a bit, for our relaxing and flavorful catch-up at Bella. We always reserve for the precise time they open and always open with drinks and appetizers, but his time we decided to branch out from our usual selections, which we adore, to try something new for our meal. For starters, the brown sardines served with cracker rings and olives were our choice—and I don’t like sardines ordinarily, but these were wonderful treats. Still, we did have to order one of our favorite starters: the ostrich carpaccio—yum! As usual, bread and a flavored dipping oil had been brought to the table also. We nibbled on all these as we sipped our drinks (wine and beer are usually our choices). One of us opted for the night’s pasta special (a housemade pasta dish with a meat sauce), the other for the orecchiette with sausage in a cream sauce. Although chatting about what’s been going on in our lives, we also noted to each other how delectable our pastas were—excellent and worth deviating from our usual order of gnocchi (which, I should mention, we both say is comparable or better than that which we’ve had in Italy). We finished with their wonderful zabaione for dessert—light, heavenly as usual. We were just talking leisurely to do our catch-up as we do once to twice a year, never being rushed for a quick table turn-over: the Mediterranean habit of letting diners linger and enjoy their meals and the company of their dining companions is practiced at Bella. The servers are attentive but never intrusive; we never had to ask for our water glasses to be refilled since they just were when needed. The smiling, gracious wait staff and the warmth of everyone at Bella definitely complement the authenticity of the food. If you wish to enjoy authentic atmosphere and food – and food that is stellar, by the way – then head to Bella Trattoria. Mangia!

Amazing experience at Bella Trattoria! An art form of perfection - combining fresh food with flavor and passion.