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Bella Luna

233 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301-1712
Phone: (650) 322-1846
Bella Luna
Price:
$$

Message from Bella Luna

Bella Luna

Authentic, affordable, and absolutely appealing

  • Private Parties, Group Dinners
  • Come join us for Lunch today
  • Northern Italian Cuisine

Bella Luna first opened its doors in 1999. Since then, it has enjoyed rave reviews for its authentic, appealing and affordable cuisine, warm and astute service, rustic yet elegant decor, and warm ambience, with the experience of dining in Italy. It quickly earned the reputation as one University Avenue's most Bella restaurants for serving delicious, attractively presented Northern Italian cuisine. For you next business lunch, casual dinner with friends or family, or romantic dinner with someone special, you can count on Bella Luna.

Paid advertisement by Bella Luna.

Editorial Review for Bella Luna – by

Serving Cal-Ital favorites in Palo Alto.

The Food
Prices are fair (maybe a bit high at lunch given all the competition), portions are generous, and presentations are appealing. Top honors go to the simple insalata Bella Luna of baby arugula and other pungent greens dressed with a balanced balsamic vinaigrette, the pansotti filled with spinach and ricotta in a buttery sage and tomato sauce, and a rustic fusilli dotted with tomato, capers and black olives.

The Scene
Opened in March, 1999, Matt Demirkol's new outpost of Northern Italian greatest hits has made steady progress. Service was fumbling and tentative at the start and pastas were uneven. The only thing unimpeachable was the decor--lush blues and mustards, the intimate dining room was luminous with delicate stained-glass crescent moons and sparkling front windows thrown open to University Avenue. Since then, the waitstaff has come up to speed and the menu of Cal-Ital favorites is more in hand.

--Laura Reiley



Restaurants and Bars | Home )

Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.

Insider Tips

Pre-dinner in Paly

Go for a walk, roam around Downtown Palo Alto, hang out with the kids, catch a flick, or play a round of golf.

Also Try

These Italian restaurants in Palo Alto:

User Reviews for Bella Luna

Citysearch (8), ChefMoz (1 ), All (9)

2 Star Rating: Below Average

03/09/2007 Posted by jledd

My hustband and I went here for dinner and were fairly disappointed with the quality of the food. I rarely send food back, but the mussels that I ordered were bad. They tasted spoiled and fishy. The pasta dish (fettucini with sausage) that my husband got tasted cheap and as if it was made with low quality ingredients. The prices are decent, but not considering the quality of food (also, the online menu prices are lower than actual). I would not recommend this restaurant.

Pros: Nice atmosphere

Cons: Poor food

3 Star Rating: Average

11/03/2006 Posted by battlemaiden

The money spend on a Bella Luna dinner could buy a much better dinner (or dinners even) elsewhere. I've been here twice, and both times the food was good, but not as good as we've found at some other Italian restaurants in Palo Alto. I didn't think the taste was worth the high bill. The decore is nice, the service average. I think its very telling the the second time I ended up here, we had decided at the last minute we wanted to go to an Italian restaurant in Palo Alto on a Friday night, and this was the first one on our list that had availability. Next time we'll plan further ahead and get reservations elsewhere.

Pros: Decore

Cons: Prices

Related Searches

Editor's Review

Serving Cal-Ital favorites in Palo Alto.  See the full editorial review.

Insider Tips

Pre-dinner in Paly

Go for a walk, roam around Downtown Palo Alto, hang out with the kids, catch a flick, or play a round of golf.

More Insider Tips

Restaurant Information

Cuisines

  • Italian

Meal Price

  • $$

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