Ciao Bella

littlevegemite

Delizioso 29th January 2009

2 found this helpful

A real London classic - very traditional Italian restaurant, where you should book to avoid disappointment. A date night classic at our place, the food is simple and delicious, the staff friendly and the atmosphere homey and intimate. The sort of place where three generations of a family can all eat together happily, a group can meet and celebrate, or a couple can have a romantic time.

The house red is a good cheeky drop, and the lemoncello for dessert is a fave.

mazphd at 30/01/09

i love this pavement cultured place! splendid!

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bevally

Fantastic food! 24th November 2008

2 found this helpful

This place is always packed and often has people queuing outside waiting for an available table, whatever day of the week – booking is highly recommended. Despite this, once you have got your table you never feel rushed to complete your meal and vacate your table, enabling you to have a relaxed and enjoyable meal. The atmosphere is very lively and the staff extremely friendly, exuding the usual Italian charm! There’s also live music most nights from the piano, which just adds to the charm. The food is extremely reasonably priced, particularly for central London. The menu offers a good selection of pizza and pasta dishes, along with meat and fish dishes, with olives and parmesan to nibble on whilst making your choice.
One not to be missed!

fivestarfrankie

Boring I know - it gets 5 stars from me as well ! 17th September 2008

0 found this helpful

I've stayed quite a few timeson business in a hotel on Great Russell St. near the British Museam and there are a lot of nice places to eat and drink in the area. I found this little cafe on my last visit and I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed my Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toast with real Italian coffee. It is a bit of a stereotypical Italian cafe but when it's this good who cares. This is the first place I've seen on this site with a full set of 5 star reviews. Well done to them !

realalelass

My favourite restaurant 3rd September 2008

0 found this helpful

I aree with a previous reviewer - you MUST book to get a table here, or you risk being disappointed. It is worth being organised. The food is yummy, the house wine is perfectly palatable (especially after a few ales at the Lamb, next door), and the atmosphere is great.

I try to come here with all of my friends and for special occasions. Bread sticks, olives and tasty chunks of parmigianna cheese or served while you peruse the menu. If you love Italian food, you will love Ciao Bella.

A word of warning - some of the waiters have a very dry sense of humour!

mazphd

favoloso 2nd July 2008

4 found this helpful

favoloso as the Italians say. This place is a great little venue in such an upcoming and 'trendy' part of town. Overspill onto the street to people watch. But best of all before you even set sights on this eaterie as you turn down Guilford Place there's a wonderful aroma in the air, spices, garlic and tomatoes. All the best of home cooked Italian.

Best of all the menu's a sweet treat of the mostly sterotypical made just like mama dishes. Pasta and Pizza feature heavily and everything is freshly prepared and with such zeal ! I saw one waiter so charming with his service that the couple who had come only for coffee stayed for a three course luncheon, complete with a bottle of wine. If only we were all so easily swayed.

Wine here could be better. But prices are so reasonable that one can overlook this.

I'm looking forward to being in this part of the city again, so i can follow my nose and catch the real italian spices in the air again. Yum

Litro_K at 03/07/08

A fantastic place. Have been coming for years, since I had a wonderful birthday dinner here. Well done for reviewing it first! :)

mazphd at 03/07/08

Ms LK,

you absolutely must must must add your own review. As youve been coming 'for years' You are the aficinado on this place! :-)

I\m really looking forward to finding excuse to return soon!

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qwghlm

27th July 2007

4 found this helpful

I like this place a lot - yes it does dive slightly into Italian stereotypes but the food is wonderful and very reasonably priced. Sitting out on the street on a summer's day enjoying meatballs and a glass of wine - heaven. Plenty of choice and tasty enough to keep even my picky relatives happy, so they must be doing something right.

janie_lou

YUM! 21st July 2007

6 found this helpful

Cheap and cheerful Italian food. Great atmosphere provided by the staff, the owners and the clientele. You almost feel like you're part of some big family party.

I've been there lots of times with a variety of people and its always been enjoyed by all. Its fairly standard Italian fare but the portions are huge, the prices low and the quality isn't half bad.

It has a fiercly loyal customer base, and I suggest if you fancy a meal here then you book at least a few days in advance! Only once have I been lucky enough to 'drop in' and get a table for two, and that was at 7.30pm on a Wednesday.

You can get take-out though....

sue at 23/07/07

Sounds like a great find! Thanks for reviewing it.

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