A good place to eat after the movie. With a party of 9, they couldn't seat us right away. But after waited 10-15 minutes, we were told they can only seat us in split tables... two round tables next to each other. The food was good for the most part, chicken for the salad was on the dry side. But the sandwiches and pasta were good! A bit pricy for lunch but was expected with the inflation and everything.
R R.
This used to be our "go to" place for Italian food in Monrovia. After today we will not be returning. We were there about noon and there was only 2 other patrons. That should have been a sign. We ordered fried calamari which was quite salty, The Cesar salad was just ok. We split the chicken piccata. The chicken was dry and the sauce was very bland. We had to ask for bread. It was old bread! Nothing fresh about it. I used the restroom and there were not towels in the dispenser, but rather a roll of towels on the counter. The soap dispenser on the wall was empty. There was a dispenser laying flat in the counter. It was sensored, so when you waved your hand the soap ended up on the counter. The place had just opened yet the restroom was not stocked?? This was our last visit to Bella Sera; it is just not the same.
T5803BIjamesh
Tonight my wife and I went to the Restaurant ordered food to pick up, we ordered two Lobster reduction sauce with Scallops W/Angel Hair Pasta, which we ordered before, and we showed the image to the waiter. After waiting 20 minutes, we got our food, but no bread included, I asked waiter, the waiter said "Sorry, No!", But before included. After we went back home and found the pasta even no any Lobster and a piece of Salmon! Only Scallops!!! It's getting dark, we can't go back to the restaurant. After spent over $55 all the food we brought back we can't eat at all!
Maggie S.
I've been here twice and each time was wonderful! Old town Monrovia is so charming, I'm really happy we've found yet another great restaurant here. First time there was around November 2021, loved it. Second time was yesterday early evening, we celebrated mother's day and my birthday with my husband and my mom. Both time the staff was on point, not a ton of waiting for our order to be taken, drinks, or food. Both times we all loved our chosen dishes and even shared with each other because we all thought we got the best thing. I can't understand why there's so many reviews on here complaining about the food! We really loved ours, plus the ambience is great. It's upscale enough without being uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to give this place a try! We love it and will definitely keep coming back!
Robbie B.
Monrovia, what? I must be the last Yelper on earth to discover this awesome Italian spot in old school, easy to park and stroll around, downtown Monrovia. A very pretty dining room and, though I usually don't like eating outside, the outdoor patio here is delightful (in the back, away from traffic and bugs, I didn't even see one). Friendly and fairly-priced wine list, so go for a bottle. And I'm definitely going to find out where they get their glassware -- it's awesome. All the Italian fare you want -- our lunchtime group had calamari, caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp scampi (he even asked for, and got, extra shrimps, but he's a moneybags) angel hair pasta, pizza-for-one -- and within an hour, all the plates were empty. Don't fill up on bread, as my mother would say, but at that price (free), bring it on. I'm coming back for lasagna, which our neighboring table had, and it looked good. After your meal, take a stroll ... to San Diego -- you'll need to go that far to work off this lunch. But. So. Worth. It.
Huan X.
Bella Sera Trattoria is my go-to Italian restaurant in Monrovia! Food and drink never disappoint, and there is plenty of seating (not a lot of waiting). The ambiance is next-level; both indoor and outdoor seating areas are super charming. Highly recommend the carbonara!
Pauline T.
I dont know what happened to this place, it used to be delicious but now it's barely edible. We had a bad experience and tried one more time and it still was terrible. We really wanted to believe it was a one off but it seems that they have cut corners and fired the good chefs. Bad food, bad service, bad everything. Cold bread, flavorless food, overpriced, and absolutely disgusting. Do not waste your money here, I beg you!
Christian F.
A unique Italian cuisine in the heart of Monrovia. The service is excellent and the food takes you back to Italy. Highly recommend.
Nicole G.
Delish and always satisfying. I love the anti pasta salad and the lasagna and the paperdal Alfredo (pretty sure I spelled that wrong) By far my favorite Italian spot
Miko C.
A lovely little place in downtown Monrovia. I've sat both inside and outside and definitely prefer the back patio. It's a wonderful place to indulge in great conversation over enjoy a bottle of wine and food.
The worst! I don't know what has happened to this place over the last few years. Came maybe six years ago a few times and liked it, even though it was not amazing. I don't know if they went downhill before or due to the pandemic, but everything except the service was abysmal. The martini I got tasted sour instead of smooth, so I think the mix was off. The calamari was fine. The mussels and frites appetizer was okay in flavor, but I don't know why you would have fries in an appetizer. Also, the meat in the mussels was pathetic. They might as well have been tiny clams. The entrees were far less pleasing. The shrimp scampi had zero flavor. It was one of the blandest things I've ever tasted. No lemon. No butter. Just tasteless. I had to send it back. I asked for the lasagna, but that was just as awful. Instead of using ground beef, they use sausage. The sauce is unspectacular, so it ends up tasting like a microwaved sausage roll buried in cheap red sauce. The gnocchi was not bad, but wasn't good either. My kid got his favorite - carbonara. However, he hated the flavor and the runny egg put on top. He didn't even finish it. He also hated the gnocchi, lasagna, and scampi. I didn't even eat the lasagna past one bite. Got it to go and threw it out. Won't be coming back, and I no longer recommend this place at all.
Phil S.
Hello, we went to Bella tonight for my birthday. It was my first time there and probably our last. I know we're supposed to be understanding of the effects of covid and adjust our expectations but I have to be honest here and say I'm not impressed at all with the restraunt. The food was overpriced, overcooked and sloppy. I had the "carbonara" which turned out to be a bowl of overcooked goop that tasted like fish. No fish in carbonara. Not good at all. The server did the absolute minimum expected of her by taking the order, dropping the plates on the table and bringing the bill. Not a welcome or a thanks to be had. Sometimes a bad server is just a bad server and this was the case for us. Honestly if the manager of this restraunt is going to let someone like this represent them then I'll give my business to someone else. So anyway, food sucked, service sucked and we won't be going here again.
Kurt K.
Never again. Over priced pasta, combined with a filthy restaurant. No thanks. Rude hostess. I hope someday we can get a authentic Italian eatery on Myrtle. This is not the place to spend your hard earned dollars folks. Generic at best.
Charlotte H.
I love the cozy atmosphere. Families with young children are welcomed. It's lovely to see families enjoy their time together there. The service, food, atmosphere and drinks are fabulous. I can't wait for our next visit.
Felicia S.
This restaurant is a Lil hole in the wall, part of downtown monrovia.. but it's decorated so beautifully inside and out. The food is delicious, except the salads, the oil that they toss their salads with is too powerful that I could barely taste the pepperoni in my anti-pasta salad. I couldn't do anything to save it. Same with my mother's Caesar salad, unfortunately we couldn't taste the cheese or romaine lettuce. This is the second time we have gone and we always order at least 5 items and they are never disappointing.. I highly recommend this place.
A good place to eat after the movie. With a party of 9, they couldn't seat us right away. But after waited 10-15 minutes, we were told they can only seat us in split tables... two round tables next to each other. The food was good for the most part, chicken for the salad was on the dry side. But the sandwiches and pasta were good! A bit pricy for lunch but was expected with the inflation and everything.
This used to be our "go to" place for Italian food in Monrovia. After today we will not be returning. We were there about noon and there was only 2 other patrons. That should have been a sign. We ordered fried calamari which was quite salty, The Cesar salad was just ok. We split the chicken piccata. The chicken was dry and the sauce was very bland. We had to ask for bread. It was old bread! Nothing fresh about it. I used the restroom and there were not towels in the dispenser, but rather a roll of towels on the counter. The soap dispenser on the wall was empty. There was a dispenser laying flat in the counter. It was sensored, so when you waved your hand the soap ended up on the counter. The place had just opened yet the restroom was not stocked?? This was our last visit to Bella Sera; it is just not the same.
Tonight my wife and I went to the Restaurant ordered food to pick up, we ordered two Lobster reduction sauce with Scallops W/Angel Hair Pasta, which we ordered before, and we showed the image to the waiter. After waiting 20 minutes, we got our food, but no bread included, I asked waiter, the waiter said "Sorry, No!", But before included. After we went back home and found the pasta even no any Lobster and a piece of Salmon! Only Scallops!!! It's getting dark, we can't go back to the restaurant. After spent over $55 all the food we brought back we can't eat at all!
I've been here twice and each time was wonderful! Old town Monrovia is so charming, I'm really happy we've found yet another great restaurant here. First time there was around November 2021, loved it. Second time was yesterday early evening, we celebrated mother's day and my birthday with my husband and my mom. Both time the staff was on point, not a ton of waiting for our order to be taken, drinks, or food. Both times we all loved our chosen dishes and even shared with each other because we all thought we got the best thing. I can't understand why there's so many reviews on here complaining about the food! We really loved ours, plus the ambience is great. It's upscale enough without being uncomfortable. Don't be afraid to give this place a try! We love it and will definitely keep coming back!
Monrovia, what? I must be the last Yelper on earth to discover this awesome Italian spot in old school, easy to park and stroll around, downtown Monrovia. A very pretty dining room and, though I usually don't like eating outside, the outdoor patio here is delightful (in the back, away from traffic and bugs, I didn't even see one). Friendly and fairly-priced wine list, so go for a bottle. And I'm definitely going to find out where they get their glassware -- it's awesome. All the Italian fare you want -- our lunchtime group had calamari, caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp scampi (he even asked for, and got, extra shrimps, but he's a moneybags) angel hair pasta, pizza-for-one -- and within an hour, all the plates were empty. Don't fill up on bread, as my mother would say, but at that price (free), bring it on. I'm coming back for lasagna, which our neighboring table had, and it looked good. After your meal, take a stroll ... to San Diego -- you'll need to go that far to work off this lunch. But. So. Worth. It.
Bella Sera Trattoria is my go-to Italian restaurant in Monrovia! Food and drink never disappoint, and there is plenty of seating (not a lot of waiting). The ambiance is next-level; both indoor and outdoor seating areas are super charming. Highly recommend the carbonara!
I dont know what happened to this place, it used to be delicious but now it's barely edible. We had a bad experience and tried one more time and it still was terrible. We really wanted to believe it was a one off but it seems that they have cut corners and fired the good chefs. Bad food, bad service, bad everything. Cold bread, flavorless food, overpriced, and absolutely disgusting. Do not waste your money here, I beg you!
A unique Italian cuisine in the heart of Monrovia. The service is excellent and the food takes you back to Italy. Highly recommend.
Delish and always satisfying. I love the anti pasta salad and the lasagna and the paperdal Alfredo (pretty sure I spelled that wrong) By far my favorite Italian spot
A lovely little place in downtown Monrovia. I've sat both inside and outside and definitely prefer the back patio. It's a wonderful place to indulge in great conversation over enjoy a bottle of wine and food.
Restaurantji Recommends
The worst! I don't know what has happened to this place over the last few years. Came maybe six years ago a few times and liked it, even though it was not amazing. I don't know if they went downhill before or due to the pandemic, but everything except the service was abysmal. The martini I got tasted sour instead of smooth, so I think the mix was off. The calamari was fine. The mussels and frites appetizer was okay in flavor, but I don't know why you would have fries in an appetizer. Also, the meat in the mussels was pathetic. They might as well have been tiny clams. The entrees were far less pleasing. The shrimp scampi had zero flavor. It was one of the blandest things I've ever tasted. No lemon. No butter. Just tasteless. I had to send it back. I asked for the lasagna, but that was just as awful. Instead of using ground beef, they use sausage. The sauce is unspectacular, so it ends up tasting like a microwaved sausage roll buried in cheap red sauce. The gnocchi was not bad, but wasn't good either. My kid got his favorite - carbonara. However, he hated the flavor and the runny egg put on top. He didn't even finish it. He also hated the gnocchi, lasagna, and scampi. I didn't even eat the lasagna past one bite. Got it to go and threw it out. Won't be coming back, and I no longer recommend this place at all.
Hello, we went to Bella tonight for my birthday. It was my first time there and probably our last. I know we're supposed to be understanding of the effects of covid and adjust our expectations but I have to be honest here and say I'm not impressed at all with the restraunt. The food was overpriced, overcooked and sloppy. I had the "carbonara" which turned out to be a bowl of overcooked goop that tasted like fish. No fish in carbonara. Not good at all. The server did the absolute minimum expected of her by taking the order, dropping the plates on the table and bringing the bill. Not a welcome or a thanks to be had. Sometimes a bad server is just a bad server and this was the case for us. Honestly if the manager of this restraunt is going to let someone like this represent them then I'll give my business to someone else. So anyway, food sucked, service sucked and we won't be going here again.
Never again. Over priced pasta, combined with a filthy restaurant. No thanks. Rude hostess. I hope someday we can get a authentic Italian eatery on Myrtle. This is not the place to spend your hard earned dollars folks. Generic at best.
I love the cozy atmosphere. Families with young children are welcomed. It's lovely to see families enjoy their time together there. The service, food, atmosphere and drinks are fabulous. I can't wait for our next visit.
This restaurant is a Lil hole in the wall, part of downtown monrovia.. but it's decorated so beautifully inside and out. The food is delicious, except the salads, the oil that they toss their salads with is too powerful that I could barely taste the pepperoni in my anti-pasta salad. I couldn't do anything to save it. Same with my mother's Caesar salad, unfortunately we couldn't taste the cheese or romaine lettuce. This is the second time we have gone and we always order at least 5 items and they are never disappointing.. I highly recommend this place.