Food tasted very good! We had calamari, burrata and the meatballs for appetizers. And for dinner I got the Short Ribs Pappardelle which was delicious! We also had the sangria and it was very large and were each able to get about 2-3 cups from it. The waitress and staff were extremely kind and accommodating to the 3 children that were present.
Regina S.
I wish I could give them 0 stars -- What a disappointment! We had a reservation for a Saturday evening; the place was half empty and they told us we had to sit at a table for 6! Meanwhile there was a table for 4 available and when we asked the hostess, she said no can't do it! Do yourself a favor and go to a restaurant that really wants your business!!
Grace P.
Ambiance - large bar and light music on a saturday night. Not very crowded. Some people dining at bar and a few tables filled. TVs playing sports and one had on turkey hunting. Service - super kind, but felt like we were battling for their attention a bit when trying to get more water / the bill. Lots of talking in the back. But other than that they were super kind and sweet. Very personable. Food - started with the crostini which was pretty good but it could've used more of the truffle honey, could barely taste or notice it. Had two pasta dishes as a main, the pesto and the rigatoni. Pesto was a bit oily and lacked taste for my liking but it was pretty good. Rigatoni was delicious. Overall, felt like pretty standard Italian fare. Would've loved to see a traditional pasta vodka on the menu! Meat prices were very high but would be interested to see how they taste. Overall - 3.5, good experience, food wasn't out of this world but it hit the spot on a cold Saturday night where some comfort food was needed.
Amanda B.
I can not speak highly enough about my experience with Bella Luce. I just had my second event there, and everything about my experience was wonderful. The owner makes the process of planning for a larger party so easy. He worked through the menu with me to ensure I was getting everything I wanted at a price I could work with. At the last minute, I had to cancel and switch my party date because my son got sick the day before, and it was a smooth transition, and the owner even reached out to see how my son was doing. The dinner itself was delicious and the service was top-notch. I will absolutely return to Bella Luce for another party, celebration, or simply to have dinner with my husband.
Rachel Malpica
Love the food and the service is great. The music is also just my taste.
Translated from the Italian meaning Beautiful Light, this establishment opened in March 2015 and is located on a busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley. Bella Luce has a trendy yet casual vibe and serves authentic Italian cuisine. My partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made via Open Table. Upon entering, we had to wait a few minutes for the host and got to look around the dark and classy interior, with a well-arranged bar area in the middle dividing the two dining rooms. We were promptly seated on the quieter side to the right and could hear the upbeat music playing throughout the restaurant. The menu comprised all of your typical Italian dishes along with several tasty daily specials. As starters, we opted for the Crispy Calamari and their special, the Bruschetta. For our main meal, we decided on Short Rib Pappardelle, Grilled Pork Chop, Chicken Oreganata, and Rigatoni Bolognese. Complimentary warm bread with softened butter started our meal. The food was fresh, delicious, and well seasoned. The short-rib pappardelle pasta, which I had, was outstanding. Cooked al dente, just like it has to be, is served at the perfect temperature with an excellent ratio of pasta, sauce, and meat. The portion was perfect. During our meal, the owner, Joe, walked to all the tables to greet everyone, making sure everything was to our liking. The service was perfect, not overbearing but always there and our server was Cali. We had a great dinner, which we can recommend.
Translated from the Italian meaning Beautiful Light, this establishment opened in March 2015 and is located on a busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley. Bella Luce has a trendy yet casual vibe and serves authentic Italian cuisine. My partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made via Open Table. Upon entering, we had to wait a few minutes for the host and got to look around the dark and classy interior, with a well-arranged bar area in the middle dividing the two dining rooms. We were promptly seated on the quieter side to the right and could hear the upbeat music playing throughout the restaurant. The menu comprised all of your typical Italian dishes along with several tasty daily specials. As starters, we opted for the Crispy Calamari and their special, the Bruschetta. For our main meal, we decided on Short Rib Pappardelle, Grilled Pork Chop, Chicken Oreganata, and Rigatoni Bolognese. Complimentary warm bread with softened butter started our meal. The food was fresh, delicious, and well seasoned. The short-rib pappardelle pasta, which I had, was outstanding. Cooked al dente, just like it has to be, is served at the perfect temperature with an excellent ratio of pasta, sauce, and meat. The portion was perfect. During our meal, the owner, Joe, walked to all the tables to greet everyone, making sure everything was to our liking. The service was perfect, not overbearing but always there and our server was Cali. We had a great dinner, which we can recommend.
EloyY
Translated from the Italian meaning Beautiful Light, this establishment opened in March 2015 and is located on a busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley. Bella Luce has a trendy yet casual vibe and serves authentic Italian cuisine. My partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made via Open Table. Upon entering, we had to wait a few minutes for the host and got to look around the dark and classy interior, with a well-arranged bar area in the middle dividing the two dining rooms. We were promptly seated on the quieter side to the right and could hear the upbeat music playing throughout the restaurant. The menu comprised all of your typical Italian dishes along with several tasty daily specials. As starters, we opted for the crispy calamari and their special, the bruschetta. For our main meal, we decided on Short Rib Pappardelle, Grilled Pork Chop, Chicken Oreganata, and Rigatoni Bolognese. Complimentary warm bread with softened butter started our meal. The food was fresh, delicious, and authentic. The short-rib pappardelle pasta, which I had, was outstanding. Cooked al dente, just like it has to be, is served at the perfect temperature with an excellent ratio of pasta, sauce, and meat. The portion was perfect. During our meal, the owner, Joe, walked to all the tables to greet everyone, making sure everything was to our liking. The service was perfect, not overbearing but always there and our server was Cali. We had a great dinner, which we can recommend.
Maggie B.
amazing seafood and pasta, and the atmosphere + service was great too! definitely would come back again! If you're looking for a romantic night this is perfect :)
Maria A.
Food was very good - not too much BUT as a lot of people have mentioned, the service is slow.
It's really 3.5, but I'll round up. Bella Luce is right on Franklin Ave, next to a municipal parking lot. The decor is very attractive , and there is a large very nice bar. The service was not particularly welcoming, but was efficient. As for the food, we ordered Antipasto, Caesar Salad, Pork Chop w/ Peppers and Potatoes, Stuffed Shrimp w/ Lobster and Crabmeat in Lemon Sauce, and Mixed Chocolate Cheesecake. The best dish was probably the Antipasto. This was a beautiful selection of meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Except for the oddly bland olives, this was delicious. The Caesar Salad was pretty standard. The Pork Chop looked very impressive. This was a very hearty portion. My husband thought it lacked a bit of flavor, but was otherwise fine. The Shrimp were a bit disappointing. The stuffing was rather bland, and the sauce had no acidic punch from the lemon. Honestly, I feel like I could have had the same dish at a diner, and not paid $39 for it. The Cheesecake was very rich and tasty. Overall, the meal was fine, but it is quite pricey. I'm not sure that it was worth the money, so I would hesitate to return.
goran vucenovic
Always great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Octopus Bone Marrow Strigoli, Fried Calamari
Sahaboob Yassin
The food is always delicious, I have been enjoying the food for years.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Linguini and Clams, Fried Calamari
LisaI
This was not my first time at Bella Luce. I am pretty much a regular. Their food and cocktails are outstanding. However, this was the first time I went out for a holiday dinner, Thanksgiving. Their 5 course TG dinner consisted of soup, salad, pasta, Turkey entree with all the fixings, pumpkin cheesecake and coffee. DELICIOUS!!!! Cocktails were on point as always and service was excellent. The owner welcomed us in with open arms and holiday greetings. He made us feel like family!
Carmen R.
nice place clean and friendly but there drink prices ruined it all !!!! 15$ a drink out of contro coudnt taste the vodka if there was any..never again!!!
Food tasted very good! We had calamari, burrata and the meatballs for appetizers. And for dinner I got the Short Ribs Pappardelle which was delicious! We also had the sangria and it was very large and were each able to get about 2-3 cups from it. The waitress and staff were extremely kind and accommodating to the 3 children that were present.
I wish I could give them 0 stars -- What a disappointment! We had a reservation for a Saturday evening; the place was half empty and they told us we had to sit at a table for 6! Meanwhile there was a table for 4 available and when we asked the hostess, she said no can't do it! Do yourself a favor and go to a restaurant that really wants your business!!
Ambiance - large bar and light music on a saturday night. Not very crowded. Some people dining at bar and a few tables filled. TVs playing sports and one had on turkey hunting. Service - super kind, but felt like we were battling for their attention a bit when trying to get more water / the bill. Lots of talking in the back. But other than that they were super kind and sweet. Very personable. Food - started with the crostini which was pretty good but it could've used more of the truffle honey, could barely taste or notice it. Had two pasta dishes as a main, the pesto and the rigatoni. Pesto was a bit oily and lacked taste for my liking but it was pretty good. Rigatoni was delicious. Overall, felt like pretty standard Italian fare. Would've loved to see a traditional pasta vodka on the menu! Meat prices were very high but would be interested to see how they taste. Overall - 3.5, good experience, food wasn't out of this world but it hit the spot on a cold Saturday night where some comfort food was needed.
I can not speak highly enough about my experience with Bella Luce. I just had my second event there, and everything about my experience was wonderful. The owner makes the process of planning for a larger party so easy. He worked through the menu with me to ensure I was getting everything I wanted at a price I could work with. At the last minute, I had to cancel and switch my party date because my son got sick the day before, and it was a smooth transition, and the owner even reached out to see how my son was doing. The dinner itself was delicious and the service was top-notch. I will absolutely return to Bella Luce for another party, celebration, or simply to have dinner with my husband.
Love the food and the service is great. The music is also just my taste.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Oreganata, Fried Calamari, Crispy Calamari, Rigatoni Bolognese
Translated from the Italian meaning Beautiful Light, this establishment opened in March 2015 and is located on a busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley. Bella Luce has a trendy yet casual vibe and serves authentic Italian cuisine. My partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made via Open Table. Upon entering, we had to wait a few minutes for the host and got to look around the dark and classy interior, with a well-arranged bar area in the middle dividing the two dining rooms. We were promptly seated on the quieter side to the right and could hear the upbeat music playing throughout the restaurant. The menu comprised all of your typical Italian dishes along with several tasty daily specials. As starters, we opted for the Crispy Calamari and their special, the Bruschetta. For our main meal, we decided on Short Rib Pappardelle, Grilled Pork Chop, Chicken Oreganata, and Rigatoni Bolognese. Complimentary warm bread with softened butter started our meal. The food was fresh, delicious, and well seasoned. The short-rib pappardelle pasta, which I had, was outstanding. Cooked al dente, just like it has to be, is served at the perfect temperature with an excellent ratio of pasta, sauce, and meat. The portion was perfect. During our meal, the owner, Joe, walked to all the tables to greet everyone, making sure everything was to our liking. The service was perfect, not overbearing but always there and our server was Cali. We had a great dinner, which we can recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Burrata, Chicken Oreganata, Fried Calamari
Translated from the Italian meaning Beautiful Light, this establishment opened in March 2015 and is located on a busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley. Bella Luce has a trendy yet casual vibe and serves authentic Italian cuisine. My partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made via Open Table. Upon entering, we had to wait a few minutes for the host and got to look around the dark and classy interior, with a well-arranged bar area in the middle dividing the two dining rooms. We were promptly seated on the quieter side to the right and could hear the upbeat music playing throughout the restaurant. The menu comprised all of your typical Italian dishes along with several tasty daily specials. As starters, we opted for the Crispy Calamari and their special, the Bruschetta. For our main meal, we decided on Short Rib Pappardelle, Grilled Pork Chop, Chicken Oreganata, and Rigatoni Bolognese. Complimentary warm bread with softened butter started our meal. The food was fresh, delicious, and well seasoned. The short-rib pappardelle pasta, which I had, was outstanding. Cooked al dente, just like it has to be, is served at the perfect temperature with an excellent ratio of pasta, sauce, and meat. The portion was perfect. During our meal, the owner, Joe, walked to all the tables to greet everyone, making sure everything was to our liking. The service was perfect, not overbearing but always there and our server was Cali. We had a great dinner, which we can recommend.
Translated from the Italian meaning Beautiful Light, this establishment opened in March 2015 and is located on a busy Franklin Avenue in Nutley. Bella Luce has a trendy yet casual vibe and serves authentic Italian cuisine. My partner, our friends and I came as first-timers for dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made via Open Table. Upon entering, we had to wait a few minutes for the host and got to look around the dark and classy interior, with a well-arranged bar area in the middle dividing the two dining rooms. We were promptly seated on the quieter side to the right and could hear the upbeat music playing throughout the restaurant. The menu comprised all of your typical Italian dishes along with several tasty daily specials. As starters, we opted for the crispy calamari and their special, the bruschetta. For our main meal, we decided on Short Rib Pappardelle, Grilled Pork Chop, Chicken Oreganata, and Rigatoni Bolognese. Complimentary warm bread with softened butter started our meal. The food was fresh, delicious, and authentic. The short-rib pappardelle pasta, which I had, was outstanding. Cooked al dente, just like it has to be, is served at the perfect temperature with an excellent ratio of pasta, sauce, and meat. The portion was perfect. During our meal, the owner, Joe, walked to all the tables to greet everyone, making sure everything was to our liking. The service was perfect, not overbearing but always there and our server was Cali. We had a great dinner, which we can recommend.
amazing seafood and pasta, and the atmosphere + service was great too! definitely would come back again! If you're looking for a romantic night this is perfect :)
Food was very good - not too much BUT as a lot of people have mentioned, the service is slow.
Restaurantji Recommends
It's really 3.5, but I'll round up. Bella Luce is right on Franklin Ave, next to a municipal parking lot. The decor is very attractive , and there is a large very nice bar. The service was not particularly welcoming, but was efficient. As for the food, we ordered Antipasto, Caesar Salad, Pork Chop w/ Peppers and Potatoes, Stuffed Shrimp w/ Lobster and Crabmeat in Lemon Sauce, and Mixed Chocolate Cheesecake. The best dish was probably the Antipasto. This was a beautiful selection of meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Except for the oddly bland olives, this was delicious. The Caesar Salad was pretty standard. The Pork Chop looked very impressive. This was a very hearty portion. My husband thought it lacked a bit of flavor, but was otherwise fine. The Shrimp were a bit disappointing. The stuffing was rather bland, and the sauce had no acidic punch from the lemon. Honestly, I feel like I could have had the same dish at a diner, and not paid $39 for it. The Cheesecake was very rich and tasty. Overall, the meal was fine, but it is quite pricey. I'm not sure that it was worth the money, so I would hesitate to return.
Always great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Octopus Bone Marrow Strigoli, Fried Calamari
The food is always delicious, I have been enjoying the food for years.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Linguini and Clams, Fried Calamari
This was not my first time at Bella Luce. I am pretty much a regular. Their food and cocktails are outstanding. However, this was the first time I went out for a holiday dinner, Thanksgiving. Their 5 course TG dinner consisted of soup, salad, pasta, Turkey entree with all the fixings, pumpkin cheesecake and coffee. DELICIOUS!!!! Cocktails were on point as always and service was excellent. The owner welcomed us in with open arms and holiday greetings. He made us feel like family!
nice place clean and friendly but there drink prices ruined it all !!!! 15$ a drink out of contro coudnt taste the vodka if there was any..never again!!!