My wife and I were winding down a little weekend getaway and decided to stop in for dinner on the way home. It would appear that Sunday afternoons are potentially a great time to visit this place as we didn't even have to pay for parking. The room is bright with lots of natural lighting and very comfortable furniture. It's clear a lot of care went into the design of the space. Our server was an energetic polite fellow who checked on us several times throughout our visit. Other servers could be observed similarly energetic and taking care of their tables. It's always a good sign when the crew is engaged in what they're doing. The menu is wide and varied, but my wife and I decided we were ready for something simple and straightforward. We began with a shared meatball appetizer. A very generous serving, and don't let the name fool you they're not all that spicy. Rather they are dense and delicious! We ordered a pair of pizzas for our entrée. The carbonara pizza was magnificent. The Formaggi pizza was not quite to my taste but my wife indicated she enjoyed it. If we're ever in the area again I wouldn't hesitate to come back.

We celebrated my brothers high school graduation dinner here this past month! It was a great option for a larger group and though they do have private rooms and ample space throughout the restaurant, we were tucked away in the back in a relatively private area perfect for our group of 12! They do not offer validation or have their own parking lot in downtown Grand Rapids, but are across the street from a paid lot, so still super accessible. The main dining room is definitely lively and loud, but with our secluded area the volume was perfect for our group, though I can imagine it being tougher to have conversation in the main area. It's a unique blend of cuisine with italian and french, but a lovely menu with ample offerings for everyone. We started with bruschetta for the table, which was great for sharing and delicious! I believe they blanch the tomatoes, which created a really loved flavor and texture. This is the only dish that took a oddly long time, but after that everything else was paced perfectly. Overall, the experience was very good! We all enjoyed our various dishes. I shared a few with my family including their Rotini con pollo, a chicken pesto pasta dish, parisian gnocchi, saffron risotto, the arugula salad and surprisingly the simple but delicious pesto dish was the winner for me! We ended the meal with tiramisu and some espresso, which was a perfect sweet treat to wrap things up. Prices were overall reasonable and to be expected for an elevated restaurant.

Bistro is a romantic, classic spot for dinner. The service feels old school in the best way, the staff is so attentive and always has added extra "pizazz" to my experiences. The birthday card signed by staff, complimentary creme brûlée dessert and table-side shaken martini's, it's just exudes fine dining without being pretentious. Photos are from a visit over a year ago, I will equate this specific visit to my partner (now ex) rekindling our relationship at the time. Without that romantic dinner, we may not have made it another 4 months...literally . The love for my ex may be long gone, but I will forever love bistro. Such a GR staple.

This was my second time visiting this restaurant for dinner and it was just as great of an experience as the first. We had a very big group (16 people) and they were very accommodating. Great apps, great drinks and great service! I had the saffron risotto and it was very tasty. I was told that the beef bourdignon was incredibly tender too. Overall great experience and I will certainly be back next time I'm visiting Grand Rapids!

Another great GR restaurant. We've been in twice now. If you find seats at the bar while waiting for your table expect prompt friendly service. They are definitely on top of things. Table service has been a bit mixed. Sometimes it's great sometimes you wait 15 min for salt and pepper when it's not busy enough to warrant that. On our first visit we had a delightful server, Jordan. She was a great help to me communicating with the kitchen and exploring some dinner options that I could have with my allergies. We started with the Focaccia. For dinner I decided to go with the Rigatoni w/the sauce from the Ravioli as it was allergy friendly. The sauce was nice and not sweet thankfully. I've had this dish a few times and the only thing I can say is that the Pasta is a little too Al Dente even for this Italian girl. My husband went with the Rustica Pizza. He liked it but wasn't blown away. He also ordered the Bolognese on a different night. He thought it was more of a meat sauce than a traditional Bolognese which has less tomato to it. He did enjoy it though. Cocktails and Wine selection are good. Definitely going to keep this in our rotation

First time here and I loved the great service! We booked a reservation for our group and got a room all to ourselves. The service was impeccable, whenever my glass of water got low, someone would refill it without me even asking and they got our food out in a good time frame. My only thing is I would probably only go here for special occasions because it's sooo expensive. Everything except a bowl of soup is $20 or more.... I wish they had a menu with cheaper prices so I just went with a bowl of tomato - basil bisque. My friends got black spaghetti and rotini con pollo. They said the black spaghetti was good, but the rotini con pollo could have been better. They weren't expecting the chicken to be shredded and felt like grilled chicken strips would've been better.

Consistent as ever, I'm back to reiterate my adoration for this staple Italian restaurant. I've recently ventured into the world of Negronis and the bartenders here are able to really appreciate the art of the drink. They have a few on the menu, but don't be afraid to ask for a special gin or ratio here; I love a staff that's willing to accommodate. The linguine Norma (specialty item) should be a staple on the menu, particularly because I have not found a proper eggplant dish in all of GR. The eggplant was perfectly cooked and I crave this kind of caramelized italian specialty sans breading. I love that they accommodate my requests for veggie sides. They're more than willing to bring broccoli, asparagus, peas or green beans along with an entree for some extra greens! They have a wide selection of amaros which I highly recommend trying for an after dinner enjoyment. BBV has not disappointed me and this type of consistency is astonishing, particularly in the restaurant industry. Keep up the fabulous work!

I was visiting family for the holidays, and we had decided to do dinner one at at Bistro Bella Vita! After reviewing their menu, I had decided on the Ravioli and a small arugula salad. So I'm not a goat cheese fan...and for some reason I had missed that the ravioli was stuffed with goat cheese. (Internally cries) So I wasn't too much of a fan; however...the ravioli sauce was absolutely delicious!!! The arugula salad was good, but not great. The white smear on the plate is also goat cheese...also didn't expect that lol I think Bistro Bella has better dishes these, so I was slightly disappointed when I realized I didn't care for either of these dishes. But that's okay! You live and learn! I would definitely return, but I would go with the pesto pasta instead. The seating is plus size friendly! Yaaay

I've only been here a few times, but it has been a good experience each time. My husband and I really like coming here for celebratory meals, too. They have really nice cocktails, and an ok beer selection. Parking can be tricky if there is a hockey game or a concert at Van Andel, but we've never had longer than maybe a 5 minute walk. On our most recent visit my husband ordered the filet mignon and I had the Faroe Islands salmon. Both were cooked well, and were filling portions. The sides that come with each are really tasty, and really highlight the protein. I've also had the pizzas before, and have no complaints! Overall I think it's a nice date place or celebratory spot. If you want somewhere you can get a bit dressier and have some really good food they are definitely one to check out! There are a bunch of other entrees on the menu that I'm looking forward to trying, so I can't wait to go back soon!

Bistro Bella Vita is nestled in downtown, but brace yourself for the parking challenge - you'll likely have to pay for parking in a nearby lot. Once inside, the restaurant boasts a beautiful ambiance that sets the stage for a delightful evening. Now, onto the food journey. The service was a tad on the slower side, but the wait was worth it. We decided to try a little bit of everything, starting with the pizza and the braised beef dish. Kudos to the staff for kindly splitting the pizza for us, a thoughtful touch! The pizza was the star of the evening for me. It had that perfect blend of crispy crust, fresh toppings, and light cheesy goodness that I crave. On the other hand, the braised beef dish left me wanting more. It needed a bit extra sauce to elevate the flavors. But oh, the creme brulee! It was pure perfection and worth the visit all on its own. Creamy, sweet, and with that satisfying crack when you break through the caramelized sugar on top - it was heavenly. In summary, Bistro Bella Vita offers a lovely ambiance and a decent food selection. While the service was a bit slow, the pizza and creme brulee made up for it. If you're in the mood for a classier night out, some delightful dessert and good pizza, this might be your spot!