Bella Vita Ristorante
11699 Fall Creek Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46256
Bella Vita Ristorante Menu
-
Appetizers
-
Salads
-
Pasta
-
Broiler
-
Sandwiches
-
Burgers
-
Sliders
-
Specialties
-
Sides
Diabetics at Taco Bell
The biggest concern for diabetics is to find healthy food with less sugar at restaurants. The hunt for the right food becomes even more challenging for diabetics when dining at a fast food restaurant. Well, Taco Bell changes that with Fresco style. Simply ask or order an item from the Taco Bell menu in Fresco Style.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Taco Bell:
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Fresco Steak Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 4g Fat (1.5g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 17g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 10g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco – Shredded Chicken
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco Beef
Nutrition Fact: 160 calories, 6g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 480mg sodium, 18g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Bean Burrito
Nutrition Fact: 380 calories, 11g Fat (4g Sat. Fat), 1060mg sodium, 55g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 9g Fiber, 14g Protein
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for Diabetics:
You must avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes at Taco Bell if you have diabetes. Almost every beverage offered at Taco Bell contains high sugar content.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Healthy Meal suggestions for Bella Vita Ristorante
-
Appetizers
-
Salads
-
Pasta
-
Broiler
-
Sandwiches
-
Burgers
-
Sliders
-
Specialties
-
Sides
High Blood Pressure at Taco Bell
People with high blood pressure must avoid food with high sodium levels. You can either ask the people at Taco Bell to add less salt in your food or choose the food items with less sodium content or customize your order using Taco Bell's own nutrition calculator.
Food Suggestions to Control Blood Pressure at Taco Bell:
Fresco Chicken Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Grilled Breakfast Burrito - Sausage
Nutrition Fact: 340 calories, 17g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 730mg sodium, 36g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 11g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Blood Pressure:
Taco Bell offers a wide range of Grande Scrambler Burritos, Crunch wraps, and Quesadillas which are high in sodium. It is important to limit the sodium intake at Taco Bell and avoid any meal with over 750-800mg sodium.
Visit below restaurant in Indianapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Visit below restaurant in Indianapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a haven for Mexican delicacies such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and other specialty items. Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. Taco Bell is one of the fastest growing American chains of fast food restaurants. The restaurant operates from 7,072 different locations which are mostly run by independent franchisees and licensees.
The background story of Taco Bell is interesting and inspiring for budding entrepreneurs. The fast-food brand is the brainchild of Glen Bell, who started his first food venture as a hot dog seller in San Bernardino, California. The year was 1948. After witnessing long queues outside a Mexican restaurant called Mitla Café across the street, Bell saw the opportunity and demand for hard-shelled Tacos. He reverse-engineered the recipe and later started selling Tacos and called the venture Taco-Tia.
Later, the name changed from Taco-Tia to El Taco. Eventually, Glen Bell sold the company to his partner and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey in 1962. By 1964, the restaurant also got its first franchise in Torrance. The 100th Taco Bell restaurant was opened by 1965. PepsiCo acquired Taco Bell from Glen Bell in 1978 and the restaurant brand is currently a subsidiary of Yum! Brands which looks after the restaurant business of PepsiCo.
Healthy Food Options at Taco Bell
You may believe that a healthy lifestyle doesn't go well at a fast food restaurant. Well, that's not the case with Taco Bell. Surprisingly Taco Bell offers a variety of healthy options, thanks to the in-house registered dietician who monitors the whole menu. The dietician ensures that each item on the menu is free from additives and preservatives, colors, and artificial flavors. The dietician also ensures that the food served at Taco Bell doesn't contain high-fructose corn syrup, low sodium levels, and reduced use of partially hydrogenated oil.
More than 75% of food items served at Taco Bell falls under 500 calories. Taco Bell also features the Fresco Style option which helps the customers to maintain healthy diet plan without missing out on taste. In Fresco style option, Taco Bell switches pico de gallo with cheese, sour cream, guac, and mayo-based sauce. Taco Bell takes care of almost every health preference of its customers.
Tips for Dining at Taco Bell
Diabetics can also try other Fresco styled Taco items such as Fresco Crunchy Taco, Fresco Grilled Steak, and Fresco Soft Taco Beef. These are other healthy alternatives of Tacos for diabetics which contains an adequate amount of starch and minimum or no fat content. Switch the regular sauce or cheese with pico de gallo and you can easily reduce the sodium intake and fat content for your body. It will help maintain blood pressure levels and control high cholesterol.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
-
Address :
11699 Fall Creek Rd
Indianapolis, IN, 46256 - Phone (317) 598-9011
- Website https://www.bellavitaatthemarina.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Larry S.
I have been to Bella Vita several times. It's nice to sit by the water of Geist Reservoir during the summer time. During the off-season the place is very slow, like other outdoor restaurants. In February, I stopped by there on a Saturday night and there were only two people upstairs with the DJ. The food is satisfactory, I have had a pasta dish that was good as well as a low-priced pizza. The pizza was a little dry and slightly burned on the edges. The beer selection is so-so, I am a conosieur of beer and the only beer on their list that caught my eye was the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. For the service, I had a bartender upstairs that was awesome but also had a waitress while dining outside who looked like she was 16. I had to scratch my head wondering if she was old enough to serve me alcohol. The traffic should be considered as well, I was there last summer and the friend I was meeting was 25 minutes late due to the traffic. This is a consideration for dinner during the work week. I enjoy the nightlife at Bella Vita, the small sand beach and electric palm trees are cool. Also, I saw Andrew Young play upstairs on a Saturday night. These are good times.
(2)Cara E.
Whether its a nice dinner you are looking for or Sunday Rehab out back Bella Vita is the place to be in the Summer Months on Geist. Not to mention the Pollo alla Romano is the best meal on the planet.!!!
(4)Debra T.
What has happened to the food? 21/2 in sq of gray tuna when we ask for rare..my heart is broken Henry, I know this could not be your standards! I am done, we have ate there for 8 yrs..and spend alot of money there, But it is time to move on..it is so sad.maybe in a month or 2 will try again. Bar service was great, Diana is the BEST
(2)Dylan E.
This was my first visit here, and while I probably won't be a frequent visitor due to the distance it is from me, I would certainly recommend it to someone looking for some good food in a nice setting. Getting here was difficult for the majority of our party. Following your phone GPS is going to have you across the bridge before you realize you drove past it. The turn to get here is off of Fall Creek Road on the WEST side of the reservoir immediately before/after the water depending on which way you are coming from. Once you turn, there are some small signs that navigate you through the marina area to ample parking for the restaurant. Inside the big wooden doors is a hostess stand with a nice big waterfall type display. If you end up waiting for a table, there is a bar inside that you can grab a drink from, although it didn't look like there was a wait at all when we got there at 6:30 on a Thursday. We had reservations and were seated when we asked to be. We were fortunate enough to get a large table outside, and I would recommend doing the same if the weather allows for it. Their very large wooden patio outside overlooks the reservoir, so you get a good view of both the water and all of the boats parked there and on their way in and out. I didn't really notice any traffic noise from the bridge, even though it is close. Along with another large bar in the outdoor area, they regularly host live music over the summer. This is a great setting to take in some live music with you adult beverage of choice as the sun sets over the water. Our waiter was ok. I'm not going to factor that into this review because he had only been there a few weeks and one waiter from one visit should not make or break any restaurant. We were taken care of well enough though. The menu isn't huge, but does have a lot of offerings. You can look at it online on their website, but as of 6/6/14 their online menu prices are NOT accurate with their actual menu. I'm hoping this is an oversight and they update it, and not a tactic to pull people in. Most items are about $1 more than what they have online. A few may be more and some probably are the same. Salads or sandwiches are $10-$15, pastas are $15-$20, and specialty entrees are around $20-$30. It's a little pricier of a place than your average restaurant, but they earn it not only in the atmosphere, but also in the serving sizes. Be prepared to take some home for a second meal. The highlight here seems to be pasta. The water-side setting is one you would expect to find a menu full of fresh fish entrees at, and while they have some offerings, it's still central Indiana seafood so it's probably best to focus elsewhere. Their pasta does not disappoint though. I got the rigatoni quattro formaggio, and while I'm in debt many miles of running after eating it, it was definitely worth it. In combination with the warm herbed bread that is served with oil before the meal, that dish had me stuffed and with a full to-go box. They have their drink menus on an iPad instead of a paper menu. It probably makes for an easier time adding or subtracting items, but is certainly not more convenient to the customer. This just isn't the kind of place that is constantly changing taps or getting new drink menus that would make the investment necessary. I would much rather have a handful of old fashioned paper menus to share with the table than 1 iPad we got to share between 10+ people. That's about the only thing I would change. It would be great, and probably get me back more often, if they had menu options that were lower priced and smaller sizes because there isn't a ton to get here if you just want to grab something smaller to eat and enjoy the location, but I don't foresee that happening. The last thing I will leave you with is that this is a great place to go people watch. The crowd or 40-50 somethings that accumulated on deck was very interesting and provided our group with a lot of laughs as we observed their interactions and overheard their conversations. We chose to laugh at them over giving awws of pity, but it could probably go either way.
(4)Angie M.
Let me start by saying the food here is extraordinary!! My visit has been delayed by, years, literally. I've wanted to go for a while now. My health prevented it and when this improved, I avoided it after reading some bad reviews about service. I followed those and dared give it a try when they improved. Bummer....we got a wonderful server, Emmie. Kind as can be and quick on her feet, GO EMMIE! There were a good number of her coworkers equally as efficient. Unfortunately, from a customer stand point, what I experienced and could see were a good number of employees critically *slacking.* Folks, I'm talking they were movin like molasses in the summer time. Where by Emmie was red in the face, winded and taking tables that were not hers, her team members, well they were making sure to shuffle about and collect their tips. I had to ask for our food and then the manager. Tyler was quite a gentleman. He heard me out and thanked me for the input. He understood well that I felt this was in no way a reflection on Emmie or the staff he had hustling. There's always staff that slacks when management isn't looking. Do your favorite establishments a service. Don't critique a good server or ridicule the manager, help them out. Report the fallacies, help them serve you. I believe Tyler will use the info I provided to clean up his team, or I at least hope so =) I'll go back...because that fettuccine, zzzzzomibob! And if you go here, ask to sit in Emmie's section, and tip her well!
(4)Craig M.
Sunday buffet review: Two stars: for (1/2 star atmosphere), (1/2 star location to our residence), (1/2 star service), & (1/2 star for food flavor.) The buffet tasted fine, but the food was mostly cold / room temperature (eggs, French toast, & warned syrup was just room temp syrup). Meats were fine. Service was a mix of constant delays, apologies, and mishaps. Coffee service lacked too, as they were completely out of coffee (1 hour into the buffet and need to brew a fresh pot). Once we received our coffee it took 5 minutes to get creamer. The whole experience was a comedy of errors. They could improve the service with better training on customer service / attention to details, management could be better prepared (ex. heat the food buffet food at consistent temps, provide coffee carafe for tables that order coffee because the cups are tiny and the staff doesn't ask if you want a refill.). Our understanding that Bella Vita is now under new ownership & management, and it shows. We haven't been to buffet ever and have much better experiences under the old management during dinner. We weren't the only table voicing our opinions back to our server & the management.
(2)Sean L.
This will be the first of several posts after our awesome night with old friends turned into a nightmare because of the staff and a bus boy. i cannot belive the way we were treated after spending 4 hours in the restaurant and spending over $500 not including the $150 in tips we gave to our waitress who by the way was not the issue here. food was great slow but very good. Atmosphere was fun until 11:30 pm when we were out side an accosted by the white manager telling us to get the fuck out.....then the bus boy who thought he was some kind of tough guy security guard put his hands on me and pushed me while cussing at us telling us to get the fuck out out. we had done absolutely nothing to receive treatment like this and in fact were 2 minutes from leaving and were simply saying goodbye to each other when the manager screamed at us saying get the fuck out and then throwing a chair in my direction. The bus boy then proceeded to grab me which was not going to happen!!!! it wasnt until my son who was very close to knocking this asshole out stepped in and the bus boy backed off but still chirped at us all the way out the door and then tried to start more trouble outside with 2 more half pint bus boys. sounds crazy i know but im telling you that we were not drunk and had not been loud, we payed our bill and tipped very well and our waitress was awesome and appreciative. I have no idea what the hell this manager and bus boy thought. I lived in geist for 4 years and had a boat in a slip and always frequented the blue heron and would go to bella's afterwards. it is very sad that this place has turned into what i saw tonight. if the owners of this place do not call me by 12 noon tomorrow i will take matters further. Please read all of the posts here and the other sites as it is clear that this not as unusual as it sounds with this place. i do not think this place deserves your business and hope that posts like this serve their purpose and at least force places like bella vita's to have to change their ways or go out of business.
(1)Frankie S.
A few people I follow Instagram were posting photos of this place on Sundays. I looked it up and found out about their "Rehab Sundays". My friend and I jumped at the opportunity to try something new. We got there, took a deep breath and said "This Is The Life!" It was bright, breezy, refreshing! The soundtrack the DJ giving to our wonderful after noon was perfect. We were low on cash so we got salads and we tried their "Crab Bread." Our mouths watered with every bite! We knew from then in this would be put down in history as one of the best days of our lives. Viva la Belle Vita!!!
(5)Craig B.
Came off the lake stated patio not open for service from 3to5 . On top of that the beach bar was likely stacked over legal capacity. Just horrid bad service for supposedly fancy restaurant . Highly disappointing went next door to eddys at Geist . Drinks half the price and excellent service
(1)Judy K.
We are new to the area and were excited to try a new, local establishment. The view, decor and ambiance are nice but the food and service lack quite a bit. There is nothing special about the food, in fact it's very generic in menu and flavor. Our family spent an average amount on dinner (2 kids, 2 adults), the bill was over $100 so we have a certain expectation for service...all I can say is we have had more enthusiastic and genuine service at fast food restaurants than here. They weren't rude but definitely served with a certain chip on their shoulder and pompous attitude. One would also think that a simple "thanks for coming" as you leave would be courteous but that seemed like too much of an effort for them. As a family who eats out a lot, I would recommend saving your time and money. This establishment is probably best for a nightcap or happy hour stop versus a dining out experience.
(2)Heidi C.
Just had a wonderful Easter Brunch. The food was delicious, our server was fantastic (Brian), and the view/atmosphere can't be beat. Great experience!
(4)Susan B.
The. Worst. Service. Ever. I only give 1 star because by some miracle the food was hot. Took an hour for entrees. Salads came quick enough but with wrong dressings. No bread at all until we complained. No wait staff back asking for drinks, not once. Horrible service and slow kitchen service. Great spot. You would think they would do better. Will not be back.
(1)Donna P.
We have been to Bella Vita several times over the years. We met friends there last night for dinner. Upon arrival I was told there would be a 30 minute wait. We followed up a few times with the hostesses and finally after waiting over 1.5 I requested to speak with a manager because the hostess said she couldn't control how it was 3 times longer than quoted. Next, a female manager said she had no control either, nor did she care. A male manager came with menus and then took us immediately to a table. We ordered appetizers and entrees. They were out of balsamic dressing. Given the fact that they only offer 3 salad dressings, I would've imagined this would be available. The waiter, Will, did a nice job. It took our entree (different pasta dishes, a filet, and more) a very long time and not once did any managers come to our table and follow up on the long wait. We were there for over 3 hours. This is why we don't go to Bella Vita regularly, it's too unorganized with people running it that don't care.
(1)Paul D.
Food was really good. I had a chicken breast that was breaded and pan fried over pasta with white sauce. The service was kinda crappy. Slow and inattentive. He was a nice guy but either had too many tables or lazy. I'll go back when it's warm and hope for better service.
(3)Amanda F.
Service is always a little spotty but the pasta dishes are phenomenal. I always get the pane granchio and the tortellini Michelangelo, except for this last time. They had a filet stroganoff and so I switched it up a bit. It was amazing. The filet was cooked medium rare and the stroganoff sauce was creamy and not too heavy. Add some fresh, cracked pepper and it was perfection! We were undecided on a couple of wines, so they let us sample a couple before we settled on a bottle of pinot noir. They have a pretty decent wine list, however nothing on draft and really no craft beers. Ended the meal with the key lime pie and it was one of the best I've eaten. They have made their outdoor patio into a all seasons room for the winter and that is where we sat. A little drafty by the windows, but when we moved toward the middle and the gorgeous, modern fireplace we were just fine.
(4)Kathy T.
Love the outside patio!
(4)Christina J.
Being on the water with no competition is the only thing this place has going for it. The price is too high for snobbery and mediocre food. Loved it when it was The Blue Herron. This place has gone downhill. Bldg. is dilapidated for Geist, the trees in the parking lot will sap all over your car and there is a really grotesque serving/bussing station outside at the far end of the deck. Pray you don't get seated there because the constant noise from the dishes is disturbing. It is also just gross.
(1)Leyna K.
The patio is nice, the music and people watching is fun. The food is OK. The service was so terrible is was hilarious. I can only assume they are understaffed, undertrained, and the kitchen is a disaster. We had reservations, when we arrived they said it may be an hour wait. We ordered tall drinks, received short. Sent back the one that should have had a 7-up mixer but had coke. Waitress told us it was 7-up. It's brown. One of us ordered off of the daily specials menu. It was the wrong menu. She took the order, the runner brought the wrong food to the guy that ordered the special seafood cannelloni. She didn't return until the rest of the party was finishing their meals. Manager was extremely apologetic and gave a $30 gift card. We submitted the gift card with our credit card for the bill. The gift card was not deducted and the receipt returned charged for the original amount. Are we on candid camera or punked? $200 dinner for 3 of the 4; three hour funny ordeal.
(1)Jonotthan H.
Trash....... Soooo disappointed. Place has gone downhill BIG TIME! Cold food... 20 minutes for a water...5 more minutes for 2 wedges of lemon... 35 minutes for appetizers that where cold upon arrival... Main course 3 mins after the appetizers so there was a rush of food at the table... And no silverware for the entire shenanigans until I asked after the main course came out!
(1)Alex C.
Omg should have listened to the reviews. This place is scored low for a reason the food was cold and not even that great. For the price we should at least have had warm food... The service sucks too. I think everyone working was on their first day. Yuck yuck yuck I won't come back.
(1)Haley C.
The bartender was rude and not professional.. rude rude rude rude... Did I mention the bartender was rude??!
(1)Sandra R.
I was here (dining) in May, once in June and July each, and then again 8/23/15 with friends. Nothing had improved. Still slow & poor service, when you could someone's attention. Dirty floors, and restrooms, chipped plates, no ice at one of the bars, Sunday afternoon entertainment (area is 21+ but viewable by children dining on patio) more suited to a Saturday night downtown/Broadripple location, Facilities in need of maintenance, etc. All I can say is that the new owners need to close this place down for a couple of day and thoroughly clean it from top to bottom and pay attention to business while they still have some. This used to be such a nice place.
(2)Crystal H.
Hostesses were dressed inappropriate. Horrible service. Average food for such a high price. This place used to have some class back in the day. Now it's just trashy. The only thing keeping it open is the location.
(1)Derek M.
Whenever I know I'll be waiting a long time, I like to use that time to write a review ... and given the experience I've had so far this evening, I'm sure I have some time. We had a large party, so some delays are reasonable and to be expected. What's not expected: 1. Half hour for drinks 2. 45 minutes until the bread baskets showed up. 3. Did I mention we didn't see menus for twenty minutes after sitting down? 4. An hour and forty minutes into the show we had our food. 5. We sat outside, which was alright until they turned the lights out on us shortly after receiving our food ... luckily there was a flood light halfway down the side of the building to kinda light part of our end of the table, feel sorry for the assholes at the other end. 6. Multiple people ordered multiple drinks that never showed, some ordered appetizers that never showed. I had the chicken parm and it tasted pretty bad. For comparison Fazoli's has better chicken parm and I can't eat that garbage without shitting myself. The chicken tasted like it had been left in the deep fryer too long and the kitchen staff hadn't changed the oil in quite some time.
(1)Tara Q.
Went here for an early Mother's Day dinner for my mother-in-law. Made the reservation through Yelp on Open Table and it was great! Upon arrival, the waitress sat the four of us in a booth/table in a corner. It was very small, so we requested to be moved to a regular table. Because it was a Saturday evening in May, there were lots of prom-goers and graduation celebrations happening at once. The staff consists of primarily young students (at least that's what it looks like) and they were running around all night looking very overwhelmed. Not sure if this is an ongoing thing when they are busy, but our waitress apologized for what seemed like 5 times during our meal for not paying attention to us. The food was good, nothing I'd boast about. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli and the sauce was a bit sweet and the ravioli was too thick and doughy. Lobster was good though. It's really nice in there and right on the water at Geist. Next time I go, I'd rather sit outside on the patio by the water and enjoy a nice beer and an appetizer. Good for special occasions, but make sure you have a reservation and be prepared for an overwhelmed wait-staff.
(3)Brad P.
The old gray mare just ain't what she used to be. New management has taken several of our favorite items off the menu. The staff is just not the quality it once was. They are now just turning tables.
(3)Daniel L.
3 words.... WORST SERVICE EVER! This afternoon we just had lunch here with my entire family for my Grandmother's 80th birthday. We were hoping for a pleasant dining experience because my Grandmother is in a wheelchair and she doesn't get the opportunity to go out much. Unfortunately, her 80th birthday was marred by poor service. We were there for an hour before we received our appetizer. They did not even right down my father's order and totally forgot about it and then when I asked the server about she refused to remedy the situation. Everyone had finished their entire meal before my father received his meal so he was forced to take it to go. Also, this place was not busy at all during this time. Only a few tables in our section were filled. After a long wait..... The food was delicious, the restaurant ambience was very nice, and prices were good for the quality but the service was so incredibly poor! I wanted to cry but couldn't because I was so frustrated all I could do is walk out the door while shaking my head utterly flabbergasted and dejected.
(1)Ashly K.
I am very impressed by the customer service I have received with the new general manager! He made a bad situation better and we will now be returning due to his attentiveness to our situation!
(4)Chris R.
An absolutely stunning late summer evening-sundown meal coupled with well timed and delicious food made my trip to Bella Vita one of the most enjoyable I have had on the planet. All the more impressive since this was a business dinner. I heartily suggest dinner on the deck/patio. At times the vigorous conversation plus music can be a bit loud. But then I also take that as a sign everyone is happy they came. Much better than going to a place where people come to watch other people in near silence, or just to ogle the food and the way it was prepared. In coming to Bella Vita you will be arriving at a place that that presents life and eating in a way that will leave you wanting return to enjoy more good company and more good food. For the record my meal consisted of Insalata Mediterrano (As described from from their web site) "Our version of chopped salad includes feta cheese,red onions, kalamata olives, cucumbers, sliced salami,shrimp, diced pancetta, banana peppers, roasted red peppers and pinenuts tossed in our house dressing" And for the main course was Farfalle Primavera (As described from from their web site) "Fresh cut vegetables sautéed in a olive oil and garlic tossed with Parmesan and bowtie pasta" All of this was paired with my favorite type of wine, a pure and delicious ruby-purple-red Zinfandel. I wish I could remember the name of vineyard to relay it on you. Just having a straight Zin on site was blessing enough. But to have a good one as even better! Service was excellent! As stated by others the view when sitting outside is the best and can be romantic as the sun creates warm tones and feeling when dipping into the horizon in the evening. Just remember Bella Vita is to be experienced with a casual attitude and not rushed through. You'll have a great time. Reservations are mandatory in my opinion. But there is a bar area for the quick minded fools. I would say bringing your kids to this place may be better for lunch than dinner. Dinner looked to be for the adults. Even during the weekdays. I will be coming back here the next time I am in the area when a summer or fall evening beckons......
(5)Matt D.
We came here for a wedding rehearsal dinner and had a blast. Granted we had a limited menu, the steak was delicious. My girlfriend had the chicken with asiago topping which was even better than my steak! I'm not sure what it cost but the bar was extentive, the view was great and the small band they had did a good job as well. If I'm ever in Fishers again, I will definitely stop by.
(4)miles c.
This place continues to disappoint. I live in the Geist area and the restaurant selection is limited. My husband and I have been here numerous times because of the convenience. It is a great place to go and get a glass of wine or a beer (nothing that the bartender has to mix) and sit outside. However, if you are paying over $12 for a martini, it better have some alcohol in it! They taste like water. After complaining to the server, he just brushed it off and said if the right manager was there, he would have been able to help us out. It should not matter who the manager is on duty, the service should be consistent. The food is just so-so, and a bit over priced for the quality of some of the entrees.
(2)Kat S.
I really like the atmosphere at Bella Vita. Recently I was there and I ordered the scallops with risotto. One of my scallops was almost raw so, naturally, I told my server. He assured me that he would bring me cooked scallops to replace the uncooked one and I was happy. The only thing that bothered me was that then the manager came by and was trying to tell me that the original scallop that I had complained about was not raw. I was a little annoyed that he tried to argue with me. Since then, I have been there for drinks with friends but have not had dinner. It may have been my bad luck that one time, but I will be cautious in what I order next.
(3)Candace Z.
Restaurant location is beautiful. It sits right on the Giest Reservoir. The food is good. I would have given 4 stars but every time we go here the servers forget something. Last time the server forgot to bring our salads that paid extra to upgrade. She didn't even take them off the bill then sent them home with us when we reminded her (with dressing on them). Another time we went and they forgot to put the order in for our daughters dinner. They tend to also miss the little things like putting silverware on the table. Usually when you walk into a Resturant your greeted immediately. The hostess carried a conversation on about seating a table without looking up and greeting us as we stood there. For what they charge I think managements needs to train more on the details.
(3)Colin G.
Bella Vita has a view that is second to none in Indianapolis. Eating dinner overlooking geist resevoir on a summer afternoon really cant be beat. When it comes to the food, they have a large selection of fresh seafood that is sure to fit the bill if youre looking for something that was swimming a day ago. The servers are usually younger, and it seems as though its sort of a trendy hangout for high school age geist kids and their trying-to-hard-to-be young parents. Its kind of a place to see and be seen on giest which kind of turns me off about it. The food is decent although a little overpriced but if you want ambiance you cant do much better than Bella Vita
(3)Eric M.
New BELLA VITA LAKESIDE Reviewed: After reading this article atgeist.com/blog/lakesid… I was very excited to give my old fav another review shot. Before I share my experience I'll share that Bella Vita WAS a 4.0-5.0 star review back when it was located at the corner of Fall Creek and Brookschool road. When they moved into the old Blue Heron the service fell big time and with it my ratings. OK, here we go. New experience in detail. Tuesday, March 19th 7 pm. After reading this: northsidenightsindy.com I thought it would be a good time to give the new Bella Vita Lakeside another shop. Surely the Northside Nights Restaurant week with 3 courses for $30 would allow a restaurant to be prepared for the offered specials. My intent was to order off the Northside Nights menu and get what I beleived would be a great meal at a fantastic price---the cards would be stacked in favor of the restaurant because I was going to order the special. Pulled into the parking lot. Not a lot of cars. This is a good sign as I'm certain the kitchen and staff will not be slammed. Sit in the new bar (I like it). Lots of new TV's. Interesting decorative large scale items hanging from the ceiling. Feels more comfy. Sit in a booth. Bummer----no Northside Nights menu. Hmmm..... Strike 1. Should have brought my stop watch because we waited too long for an uneventful salad. Our server needs salad training becuase ours looked like mix greens thrown on a plate w a tom slice. Not appealing at all. Trust me, I'm not a snob. I have and will eat anything but whoever makes the salads needs training. So strike 2 for waiting a while for the long crappy looking salad. We are not at 3 out of 5 stars and I've yet to get my entree. Entree comes. Nice and hot. Tastes great. Same for my dates entree. So there you have it. I gave my fav a second chance and the salad wait was very lengthy and it was lame. No Northside nights offering which had me spend more than I had planned for. 2 out of 5 starts. Get it right owners. You don't get a second chance to get a second, second chance.
(2)Ted G.
Great food but once again very slow service. If the place won't hire enough wait staff to cover the tables don't seat the patrons !
(3)David B.
Sit outside, great atmosphere. Menu is good and not $$$.
(4)Anne J.
I have long thought Bella Vita to be mediocre, overpriced food. Frankly, I only go because there are so few choices in Fishers, and the view is pleasant. Tonight, however, I found that the proprietress is rude and argumentative. Along with Cheesecake Factory quality tuna, I paid for one of the owners to be condescending and rude to me. My advice is if you want chain-quality food, go to a chain and pay the lower price. The view isn't worth it. My "ahi" tuna was tasteless (and was served in small pieces, like an appetizer--not a tasty, meaty piece like you expect in an entree). The sauce was incongruent. It was served with a scoop of plain, sticky white rice and preceded by a tiny salad. The bread isn't even good, crusty Italian bread. Stay away.
(1)Cliff H.
Always a favorite. Thanks for going non smoking!!!
(5)Celeste B.
What this restaurant has going for it: its location and its cocktails. That's it. It's probably one of the most lovely locations to dine at on a summer evening, as it sits right next to the water and you can be seated outside for a gorgeous view. That, and WOW the cocktails are amazing (at least the ones I've tried --razzmopolitan and pomegranate mojito). I've returned to the restaurant just for those reasons. HOWEVER, as far as the food goes, an overall "meh" would suffice. I ordered the Chicken Piccata ($17.99) and having been tantalized by the delicious description, was expecting something great. Unfortunately, what I got was mediocre. There was nothing that felt authentic, or freshly made, which is surprising for a restaurant that is clearly trying to come off as a high-end dining spot. The person I was dining with had one of the pasta dishes (I can't recall which), and was equally disappointed. The wait staff was friendly, but not very attentive. It took a while to get our orders in and our waiter didn't come back to check on us until we were mostly finished with our meal. My recommendation: Go on a summer night for cocktails with friends, but for an actual good meal... save yourself the money and go somewhere with food worth paying for.
(3)Stephen M.
First thing first. The restaurant manager obviously was educated in the public school system. The first menu thrust into my hands featured: Martini's. Was that in the possessive or a contraction of the verb "is"? Real sophisticated. Which is the image Bella Vita is trying to project. The parking lot is full of high-end German and Japanese imports, and the Yacht club on the water is populated with pleasure cruisers and professional ski boats. Most tables feature very made-up women drinking wine with fashionably shabby husbands drinking imported beer from bottles. I prefer mine from tap. There's usually live music on weekends and a small dance floor that populates occasionally when the band hits a chord. The outdoor bar is endlessly fascinating, with the Indiana Sophisticates at the bar acting sophisticated. What am I to say? It must work, because when they're finished, they head down to their yachts and play their radios loudly. The food is some of the best within a five mile radius. Sure, Peterson's is top-shelf, but it costs $100/person and is on the other side of I69. And it doesn't have a lake. Order almost anything at Bella Vita, and it'll be good, especially the appetizers. Decent wine selection, but I'd like to see a better selection of beers, especially on tap. The cappuccino machine has been broken for MONTHS. Please fix it. The waitstaff is spotty. I've had good service. Other times, I've had the type of waiter you had to chase around the premises trying to get eye contact to fill your water glass. If you get one of these, ask for your check at the same time when ordering your food, because it may be your only chance.
(4)Jay C.
Great food and the porch on the lake is awesome.
(4)Marcie M.
Well, I just could not wait to get home and explain how ridiculous I think this place has become. I have been here every summer since I moved to Indy. It has consistently been terrible in the service arena. They only hire great looking people who are forced to work by their mommies and daddies to ensure they get SOME work experience before graduating college. If you don't have a nice ass, you can't work here. So, imagine my surprise when our service from Kevin last night for 20 Hip Mamas was outstanding! He was the best part of the meal - and cutie patootie to boot. The food in my opinion is OK. It's not over the top, and it's not horrible. People go here for the atmosphere, which used to be a more laid back, relaxing and even romantic place... Um, not so much now. I was shocked and appalled to see they have put in a POOL about two feet deep with a smallish beach and created a VERY TACKILICIOUS hooters-esque bar area for those looking for a "girls gone wild" scene. They have actually installed several plastic neon fake palm trees! I could not believe how you could go from a low lighting, relaxing, reggae music inspiring place to this spring break-esque nastiness!! We were also treated like teen-agers sneaking into a concert when we arrived through the outdoor entrance. My friend and I were carded (which is fine - thank you very much!) but then asked to open our bags to search for ....wait for it....beer!! Yes, I was shocked that this an issue. Forgive me, but this is Bella Vita on Geist, right? One of the most high class places in Indy, right? Well, since they put in this god-awful pool area, I suppose they would have a problem with people SNEAKING IN BEER!!!! WTF. Seriously, people. Nothing like bringing the WT into Geist. Anyway, beyond that, appetizers came out SUPER fast and wine/beer orders were also fast...however, drink orders and entrees were horrendously painfully awfully slow. This was not Kevin's fault and he was always around to take more orders to the bar, but it was frustrating. We ordered food at 8:30 and it had still not arrived at 9:15. I left at 9:30 with my salad (yes, salad) in a bag to go....I couldn't be there all night waiting for the upcoming wet t-shirt contest that I heard was almost nightly. Sorry, just not my cup of tea anymore. UGH.
(1)Benjamin R.
Very nice setting looking out on the lake, and the food quality has recently improved from so so to downright good at times.
(4)Gary E.
Food was great as always as was the service. The salad left something to be desired. The core of the lettuce was left in. It was hard and bitter. The staff did everything they could to make it right, including comping a free desert for all 4 of us. That is the way you keep customers. We will go back.
(4)Bada B.
Ready for the summer. Ice tea is cold and the women here are hot. Service at the bar is very good. I have the antipasto everytime and the Romano Chicken. Life is good. Unfortunately no more smoking my cigar. Damnit.
(5)Victoria B.
Worst service ever! Definitely will not ever be going back because the food wasn't good either, payed way too much for it! Also the place seemed dirty. Will not ever recommend this place to anyone
(1)Neal C.
Bella Vita only exists because of Location, location, location. I have come back here for dinner at least a couple times a year because you can dock a boat and have dinner and drinks. This year was the last time. Long story short, the night of the bandstand collapse at the State Fair, we moved form outdoor tables to inside because of the thunderstorm bringing our stuff, including some cookies in a bag from the boat. The said that it was illegal for us to have food in the restaurant. We we allowed to wait inside for a few minutes longer until she heard one if us explaining to another that we had just been told that it was illegal for us to have the cookies in a bag in the foyer of the restaurant. So because we made fun of her we were thrown out of the restaurant into the storm. It wasn't a reasonable response to this scenario. Beyond the personality issues, the menu is average at best, you can find decent entrees, but after wasting my dinner and money on their bland 'upscale' attempts, I typically don't try anymore and stick with the pizza. It's consistent. Drinks are overpriced. Mixed drinks are not strong and the beer and wine menus are limited.
(1)Megan C.
I have very divided feelings about Bella Vita. I have had some wonderful experiences here, and some terrible experiences here. First, the view on the patio is killer, and IF you can get a table outside when the weather is nice (without being upset about waiting an hour or more), it's divine. Next, the food and drink. I have had a few things I really, really liked. I would go back again for the lobster ravioli, pizzas, and wide noodles with meatballs and tomato basil sauce. However, some of the other foods (ahem spinach bruschetta appetizer, truffle fries and salads) were less than stellar. Also, their selection of wines by the glass is very limited, especially for an "Italian" place. I have also had issues here occasionally, like some of the other reviewers, where we have put our name in with the server and been told it will be 10 minutes, only to still be sitting in the lobby 45 minutes later, wondering if they had forgotten about us. This was especially annoying one time when we came in for a special occasion and had to wait almost an hour for a table inside. This didn't count the wait for our food, which was another hour to get our SALADS. At one point, the owner breezed by, asking "how is everything tonight?" and then did not even bother to wait for our response, which needless to say, would have been an unhappy one. During off-peak times and especially during off-peak months, I've had no problem getting in and getting seated right away, however. So if you come at the right time and order the right food, this place can be wonderful. But beware those warm summer nights where you want to sit and enjoy the water and relax, because it can be quite a hassle to make that dream a reality at this place.
(3)Amy M.
I wish I could give this restaurant no stars! Since I live in the Geist area I wish I could like this place but after repeated visits over the years, I just can't. Bella Vita never fails to disappoint. I visited the restaurant on Friday evening. After waiting 40 minutes, which was to be expected on a beautiful Friday evening, my fiance and I were seated outside at a table smashed between a door and the wall where we could barely see the view. Shortly after receiving our drinks, which were very light on the alcohol, a crazed wait staff employee slammed a chair into mine, barely apologized, and then proceeded to yell at me, "Well, what do you want me to do? I have to seat these people." She then grabbed our table and dragged it about a foot away from us, nearly spilling our drinks. Seriously?! Perhaps you could take better care of the patrons you've already seated. She then recounted her side of the incident to another staff member while standing right beside our table. Classy! We ordered the lobster mac and cheese appetizer which was delicious and our waitress was very good. My fiance's dinner of halibut was tasty. My shrimp scampi tasted terrible! I only took a few bites because it tasted so salty and strange. An employee visited our table to inquire about our meal and when I told him it was "ok" he asked for details. I explained that the other two dishes were good but mine tasted terrible. He said, "sorry" and promptly walked away. Why bother? My fiance took a small bite of the shrimp and didn't think it was that bad, but he tolerates salty food better than I do, so we had it boxed and took it home with us. My son tried a few bites of the scampi when we arrived home. He also pronounced it terrible and we promptly threw it in the trash. Later that night my son and I were both violently ill. I shudder to think what would have happened if one of us had managed to choke down the entire meal.
(1)E S.
Pretty disappointed in my visit to Bella Vita. Although the server was nice and pleasant, the service itself was slow and spotty. The server was not knowledgeable on the food when we asked her questions about it. The server was very slow in taking away unused plates and I had to ask several times to take items away because our table was getting too crowded with unused and finished plates. I put my order in for a particular item, and then she told me that the item was unavailable AFTER she brought out appetizers for other people instead of telling me on the spot or telling us in the beginning so that I could have selected something else right away. The food itself was just meh. I had much higher expectations for this place.
(2)Bridget W.
I love the idea of this restaurant, nice outdoors eating on the lake, which is really scarce here. Actually I think it's the only one in this area. The only problem and the reasoan I never go is because of the ridiculous prices for only ok food. Last time I went with my husband and two friends who each got a glass of wine (debated the bottle but didn't do it) and each glass was literally about a half pour. They couldn't believe they paid 9 bucks for a half glass of wine. We ordered appetizers which were even more expensive and hardly big enough to share. Not to mention, the calamari was cold and flavorless. I have no qualms dropping a few hundred bucks on a meal, but this place isn't worth the cost at all. So my suggestion is: if you want a nice place to eat outside, suck it up and drive to ricks boatyard!
(1)Kasey J.
I have to totally agree with another reviewer on this one. I didn't know if I should give it another try before basing a review on my experience, but since my experience was so SIMILAR to the other person's, I'll go with it. Bella Vita WAY missed the mark on what I was expecting. My husband and I supposedly had a reservation or had our name on the list or something, but then we got there and waited forever. The place was packed. We sat in this teeny, tiny table along a long wall that was next to a pillar in a high-traffic spot. I looked at my husband as if we were just stuck in a spot that wasn't even supposed to be a table. He was going to complain but I wouldn't let him, since it took so long to get seated. Then we had a couple drinks, which were fine. Then we got the food. I must agree that the food was NOT what we expected, especially for the price. I won't get into detail about how bad the rest of the night was after eating here, but let's just say my husband will NEVER eat mussels again.
(1)J. W.
You need to have proper expectations if you decide to go to Bella Vita. If you are looking for outside dining with a beautiful view and your willing to overlook most other facets of your dining experience, then you might be satisfied. It's not a coincidence that our local paper panned this restaurant. The food is mediocre and overpriced, the service is worse. The servers are usually pretty young and inexperienced, at least the staff in the summer. I can deal with the fact that the restaurant is often busy, but it's not uncommon to wait 10-20 minutes between being seated and receiving your drink order. You may wonder why a restaurant that has mediocre, overpriced food and poor service is always busy? Well, it really is a beautiful place to eat (outdoors) in the summer. However, I can't imagine why anyone would eat there in the winter. Note - some people suggested that this is a dressy restaurant, but if you're eating outside in the summer, don't worry about dressing up. Boaters are always dining with very casual clothes.
(2)Carey D.
I haven't went to Bella Vita for dinner so I can't say I have had bad experiences with the food there like the other reviewers, but... it is a great place to go for drinks on a sunny afternoon. Sit on the patio & sip a mojito! The atmosphere is perfect for casual afternoon drinks with friends!
(3)Shaindel K.
I have no idea how this place stays in business. My husband and I went here for my birthday after hearing how great and romantic it was, it looked nice enough but holy moly the food was atrocious. The crab dip appetizer was made of fake crab, the mashed potatoes were out of a box and my pasta consisted of a sauce that was the equivalent of a glass of cheap white wine dumped on top of it. By far, the worst meal we have ever had. Please do not spend your money on this place. I want to recommend it for the show Kitchen Nightmares. It's really too bad too, it's such a great location.
(1)Gigi G.
Party of 13, celebrating big Colts win, and we were treated really well, enjoyed the foods from pasta to eggplant, steaks, and tilapia. Spinach salad was special. That space in Circle Center needed this! It's not our best Italian, but a welcome addition.
(3)Jon A.
There's a reality of living in Indiana: outdoor dining is a commodity. And, outdoor dining on a patio overlooking water... is simply a rare thing, and we wanted it. We drove up to Geist under the assumption that Scotty's Lakehouse was indeed a Lakehouse... Welp... it's in a strip mall and nowhere near water. So our journey carries forth... what's that o'er yonder... there's a grill... there's people... oh wait... that's a wedding at a private Yacht Club. So Belle Vita it is. I read Marcie M's review in the past & knew it's going to be interesting. And it was! I didn't have much expectations though... I mean... we got a good laugh of the neon fake palm trees and Palm Beach Spring Break pool thing... I mean no one was down there and the DJ was spinning Jacko. Works for me. The service was awful. I'm on water though; whatever. I'll just create a little pile here below my feet of everything they won't clear from our table and they can deal with it later. The wait for drinks wasn't that bad, so the rest of the service was manageable considering we have our beer & wine. The food... well... don't order the Truffle fries! I'm a bit of a frites affic' and this was a joke... there were maybe 12 fries laid out on a plate and melted in truffle cheese that was more fried than truffle and um, 12 fries laid out not like 50 fries in a basket? Do you think we're uneducated time travelers from 19th century Ireland? Um, no. Oh, and no beer on tap? Que? Why? How? Lame to the core. The menu is Italian... and well... the servings are large and totally par for the course, which means doable but expensive yet enough flavor to not haggle too much over cost. The crowd on the patio was lively. A double-dating baby-booming quartet showed up to rile the night... when he realized it was mi compadre mi amor's birthday... he orchestrated a full patio singing of Happy Birthday! Good form Geistites!
(3)Keith C.
The food quality was marginal at best and presentation was nonexistent. Not worth the price. Olive Garden probably has a better menu. We took our kids to take up their offer of kids eating free and getting a prize by spinning a wheel. My wife needed to change a diaper and went to their restroom to make the change. Unfortunately, they didn't have a changing table or station. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else for a water view.
(2)Tracy O.
Walked in. Was told we would have a little wait. So decided to have a drink at the bar while we waited. Sat at the bar for 15 minutes and no one even asked if we would like to look at a drink menu or so much as said hello. So walked out.
(1)Jason G.
Food has greatly improved, always a great atmosphere.
(4)Meg H.
Wow! WIsh I could give this place a 0 star rating! I have never had a such a horrible time at a restaurant! I have been in the hospitality industry for many years and normally would chalk this up to someones bad day, but the manager (overheard the name Kelly or Shelly) was so incredibly rude to her employees! I could NOT believe it when I heard her cuss at a server right in front of me. The food was severely over priced and mediocre especially due to the hostile atmosphere. I will not be returning! And you should save your self the trip, or at least until they get new management.
(1)Candace R.
we had the BEST time here tonight! Our wait person Mike was terrific! Just had appetizers, sitting out by the lake which were very good but a great wait staff can make a meal! thanks Mike!
(4)shanna r.
The location is great! The patio is the place to sit but if you are impatient like me then you might want to settle for the dining room. The cocktails are strong! I could not even finish my apple martini. I would recommend it for people that are looking for a nice place to enjoy a laid back evening.
(4)Patricia N.
View over food. Best to least... Rortellini Carbonata - A special of the night. Rich, but full of flavor. Calamari Thai Lettuce Wraps Linguini Meatball - Disappointed. The pasta wasn't al dente and it was kinda sorta flavorless. Penne Rustica
(4)Geoff C.
Seems like every time I come to this place they have a new General Manager, as far as I've counted they've had 6 in the past 2 years. The problem seems to start at the very top and hasn't been sorted out in a very long time. Although some of the food is decent at times, ive found that the kitchen is extremely inconsistent and you never really know what you're going to get. The bartenders are the best part about this place, but its hard to want to come back and see them when you know everything else is going to be horrible.
(1)Donna P.
Wonderful little ristorante with a patio overlooking the lake. I suggest the Salmone grille it is divine. We enjoyed the restaurant and had wonderful service but was turned off when they automatically added 20% gratuity and the waiter stated he would be upset if we didn't add to it. Well buddy you would have gotten much more than 20% if you would have not added the gratuity automatically.
(4)Craig T.
I only go to Bella Vita "Ristorante" to people watch. Today was no different as there is always some eye candy. I decided to sit at the outside bar around 3:45PM, there were a handful of people dining outside and only 2 other gents at the bar. The place is just run down, no money is ever placed back into the upkeep. It's just obvious. The staff could care less if you were there or not. There is never a welcome or smile from the hostesses or the bartenders. It's like we are doing them a favor for stepping in the door. The outside bar has 2 flat panel TV's that are for indoors and not outdoors so when the rain came in around 4:30PM the bartenders were covering the TV's with black trash bags...not classy. The only reason the place has any business is because it is on Geist Resevoir. If this place was in Carmel or Keystone Crossing they would have closed years ago. I will continue to go back to people watch, but that is the only reason.
(1)Scott S.
I happen to be from Indianapolis, IN and grew up about 1 mile from the restaurant. I have had the pleasure of eating here on several occasions. The food is generally very good however the service is terrible especially for a large party or special event! I'm currently sitting at an extremely nice wedding rehearsal dinner for a great friend and the service flat out sucks!! There are about 52 guests at this rehearsal dinner and guess how many servers/bar tenders we have??? Yes servers and bar tenders together we have 2!!!!! That is completely inexcusable under any circumstances especially for a restaurant that claims to be high end....hardly...I'm terribly disappointed in the lack of service for such a special event!! That is all!
(1)Bryan W.
Food was excellent, but service was a little slow. The IPAD wine list is an okay idea, but for 30 minutes one wasn't available and we couldn't order drinks, which seems a bit ridiculous. Also, it took 3 waitresses to find out where the oysters came from and none of them knew which day they arrived. Big no no when serving raw product like this. They also weren't shucked properly and I had to cut them out of the shell with my own knife. Aside from the oysters, a good experience
(3)Don K.
very bad service, the waiter was so slow and did not tell me that they are going to split my steak and charge me 2.00 extra on top of 34.00 steak that had no taste and plain , They should train their service staffs again to be better service in order to expect tips, very rude !!! Just the view on the lake only.
(1)Michael C.
Luke our waiter was hands down the redeeming factor for this review saving it from being a 1 star. He was funny, knowledgeable, and responsive. Otherwise, we were greeted by about 8 rude and incompetent hostesses who all seemed to think the sky was falling with the way they ran around aimlessly and failed to help anyone or provide reasonable answers to basic questions. The food was ok but I would steer clear of getting any cocktails.
(2)Joanna B.
Something about this place reminds me of a used car salesman. It seems slimy and out of place. Normally, I would never venture so far north but I was meeting a group of friends for a birthday dinner. Its located right on Geist, which makes for a nice view while having a drink but thats about all the positive I got. The crowd is weird: Older men and women who seem to be reliving their college party days. The food is ok: overpriced and mediocre The staff was attentive: Our waiter kept telling us what was "gross" on the menu and what DEFINITELY not to offer. Helpful but not very tactful. Overall this is not a location I would choose, but I am glad I gave it a shot.
(2)Jon C.
Okay, so it's been awhile since I've been around Geist, but I can honestly say I've never seen this place before. Apparently most of the people I was dining with hadn't either.. Several drove right past it, and another almost had a mental breakdown on the side of the road because their GPS failed them. Listen up.. Here's how to get here. 96th Street to Fall Creek Parkway. Through the roundabout and right at the Geist Marina. Drive past the strip mall and you'll see it. Okay, whew.. Now that we've established that.. Some notable items: -lovely outdoor bar and seating area. Live music often -the cocktail menu is on iPads. They seemed to be running out so the table of 14 had to share. -portions are quite large. I ordered a sampler and couldn't eat much of it at all. Delicious though The bar area seemed to have a lot of women hanging around.. And it appeared they were looking for a man. For how long? Idk.. Maybe the evening.. Maybe permanent?
(4)Roseann S.
I took a large group, 20 people, to dinner on July 4th. Not only was the staff accommodating in making sure we could all sit together and by the windows but they were very patient when we decided to rearrange the tables ourselves. The new manager and the event coordinator were excellent to work with. Our server, Honor, was extremely efficient throughout the entire evening. She kept everyone's food order straight even when we changed seats. The only issue we had was the food was delayed in coming out. The general manager apologized for the problem and gave each table free dessert. Needless to say the food itself was outstanding. I will definitely bring my friends back again for what I am sure will be another great experience.
(4)Amy S.
Went for my birthday. The wait staff was dressed completely inappropriately in workout attire- very unprofessional. We waited over an hour for our food and it was cold when it arrived. We also requested outdoor seating when we made or reservations. When we arrived we were told that outside setting is not guaranteed, and there was no wait to sit inside and that they would comp a free appetizer. That was nice but did not make up for anything. Never coming here again!
(1)Meru R.
Bad all the way!! Our first visit there to celebrate friend's wedding anniversary. Given that it was Friday night, it was not very crowded. The waiter took an hour to bring out kids meal. Really slow service, had to keep looking for our waiter for food. And then waiter suggests that dont order the house soup (clam chowder)tonight, since its just weird tonight, go for salad...!!! Thanks for the heads up...any good food hopes crushed right there...Food was just so so...actually worse than even chain Italian restaurants. Really bland with no real taste! I felt so weird paying exorbitant prices for mediocre food and pathetic service. Please spend your money somewhere else! $2 just for splitting an entrée! ! Really?? It was an unforgettable night for all the wrong reasons!
(1)Leslie H.
The view is terrific specially during the summer. I love seeing the huge homes with their speedboats. The food however, is questionable. I ordered their lobster Mac n cheese and there was no macaroni in it. They use ribbon like pasta. The calamari was so salty that we had to send it back. The chicken wings was soggy. The spaghetti from the kids meal looks sad. The presentation for all of my ordered food wasn't there and the taste... Don't even bother.
(2)Amrit B.
Top Notch As a resident of Austin, TX and visiting my old home town Indy, I was really surprised to see this. To be honest, I lowered my expectations in terms of food. The appetizers to drinks to main course and dessert was excellent. Service was great and had a manager who checked up on us twice. Get the Fried Rock Shrimp. Great appetizers. And get the Chocolate Dessert. Overall. Great place and I would go there again.
(4)Melissa K.
A spot that my family and friends have enjoyed so many times in the past has gone downhill- quick. My family and I were very disappointed with our recent dining experience. An experience that should have been a celebration with my family for a birthday was ruined by the actions taken by management. My niece's car seat was sitting on the ground underneath our table. When our food was delivered, the waitress accidentally dropped a plate of hot food (fish) into the car seat. What was an accident that could have quickly been fixed, turned into a mess that the waitress made US clean up. They made us wait for them to cook the dish again without offering anything to compensate for the filthy car seat and delayed meal. We called to notify the manager that we had to purchase a new car seat because the current one smelled awful of fish and would not clean even after dry cleaning. The manager that we spoke to said to mail him the receipt for the car seat and he would send us a check. It has been two months, and we have yet to receive a check to reimburse the $200 car seat. We recently called to speak to the manager after they stopped replying to emails, and they said the best they could do is give us $50 for the dry cleaning bill. Completely appalled that they did not take responsibility for the actions of their staff. Needless to say, we will never return to the restaurant and we will be telling our friends to do the same.
(1)Sarah P.
I'm currently visiting my sister from out of town, so this was my first experience at Bella Vita. My sister and I spent most of our evening laughing at the incompetence and unprofessionalism of the staff. It was a very slow evening, yet it took 10 minutes to catch the attention of the bartender for another drink. This is a restaurant that obviously struggles with internal drama amongst the staff; they're close-knit, which seems to lend itself to the drama. I will not be visiting this establishment, again.
(1)Erni M.
Every once in a while I show back up and remember why it's just a weird atmosphere. Very stereotype but I have to admit can be entertaining if you're up for it two people watch and sit and just be shocked at what others say. The food was acceptable and the variety reasonable. If your expectations are not that high it really can be a nice place to eat. Certainly a nice bar to sit around and watch TV. This really is a good weather location and just a big empty box during other times of the year. I will likely be back but probably only two or three times a year max and I live within walking distance
(3)Annette S.
Perfect sunny afternoon spot looking over Geist. Great fish tacos and perfect margaritas. Ask for Honor, she will your experience.
(5)Ashley S.
Very cool location and vibe but the food is just mediocre in my opinion. Bella Vita sits on Geist reservoir and will literally bring food out to you on your boat - how fancy! The have a huge outdoor dining / party space. Several tables and umbrellas are set up and a separate lounge area with a bar, small shallow pool, and couch space makes for a great summer location. Inside is quite nice too and they can accommodate large parties upstairs. The food is mostly Italian style but is just bland. The chicken parmigiana is flavorful but avoid the lobster ravioli. Usually I'm a fan of this dish but this place has chewy lobster and the sauce tasted watery. Worth checking out if you're in the area but I recommend this place as more of a bar setting rather than a place for a good meal.
(3)Tonya G.
Terrible, terrible. Went there on Thursday with four other people and they were so understaffed that they were only able to use a few tables. We opted for the inside bar thinking they would eventually call us for our table. They never did, so we ate at the bar. Servers were running around delivering food to the wrong tables and one of our group never got their meal (nor an apology). If you are looking for a place to have a cocktail outside and watch the boats and the people, this is the place. But, if you want to eat there I suggest you reconsider.
(1)Mitch M.
The owner reached out after my experience from Valentine's day, asking to make it better by sending us a gift card. I agreed and was looking forward to seeing what Bella Vita really had to offer. That was over a month ago. I reached out again with no response. Of coarse yet again Bella Vita didn't deliver. It is clear that the problem is from the top down. A lot of promises but no execution. They clearly don't care about their word to the customer, that was shown by reservations and follow up.
(1)Timo P.
I've dined at Bella Vita numerous times over the years and the quality has gone down consistently. Years ago Bella Vita was a great restaurant, with good food, great service and at a truly wonderful location. These days (2012) the only thing that remains is the location. The thing I have the biggest issue with is the food. Everything tastes the same. The whole menu is built using three ingredients: cheese, marinara sauce and bread. Yikes, not good. For example, there isn't a single appetizer in the menu that is worth ordering. Also, the pasta dishes used to be very good, but now the complete opposite. Since the quality of the food has gone down, there has also been a significant change in the clientele of the restaurant. Before many of the diners were from the more affluent households around Geist, but now all of those people are gone. I'm sure this has affected the tips of the waiters and now the restaurant cannot keep a good staff. It is sad what has happened to Bella Vita. Unfortunately I have to say that I won't be back.
(1)Erin M.
I'm only giving them two stars because the lobster Mac n cheese was great. Otherwise, they wouldn't have received any stars. There were bugs in our oil for the bread and one of our drinks. Service was ridiculous slow. There was also some sort of plastic in one of our drinks. We never figured out what it was. That's just a fee of the bad things that happened. It was just an over all bad experience.
(2)John P.
Over priced for average food and mediocre service. Not a value for the dollar will probably not return I expected more for the price.
(1)Cherri W.
Have to agree with most of these reviews. You are paying for being on the water. The food is okay, but not what brings you back. We tend to go during an afternoon, but never during busy times. And we have seen barefooted boaters go in to use the restroom, so no matter what you wear, you should fit right in.
(2)Brandon P.
My girlfriend and I stopped in for brunch. We got lobster mac n cheese for an appetizer. It sounded a little weird, but it tasted amazing. That was where the good experience ended. We each ordered a drink and got them 15 minutes later. They either had no alcohol in them or were the weakest drinks ever made. My girflfriend's "lemon freeze" tasted like watered down lemonade rather than lemonade with any alcohol. 30 minutes after we ordered we got our salads. About 60 minutes after ordering we got our entree...the place was not that busy. We weren't very hungry when we ordered (but were pretty hungry by this time) so we split an entree. The server said they could split it for us in the kitchen. Unbeknownst to us, this came with an extra $2 charge. I'm not broke because of it, but it was just a bit ridiculous. The cheese and sauce was good (and was the same as was used to make the lobster mac n cheese), but the ravioli was not great. Below average service, decent food, terrible drinks, and prices that don't get you much in return in the way of taste or service---I doubt I'll return.
(2)Jennifer H.
Took my family to Bella Vita for Easter brunch buffet. After seated it took awhile for anyone to take our drink order. The buffet was pitiful. They did not replenish food as it ran out, the biscuits were as hard as rocks, broccoli so tough it could barely be cut with a knife and pasta that had been sitting so long the sauce had hardened on it in the pan. Granted we arrived an hour before they stopped seating for the buffet, and that was the reason given for some of the issues, we didn't get a discount for the "what's left in the pan" buffet. Only one dessert was left, some banana cake that clearly was no one's choice. The fruit plate was sparse and never refilled. The floor around the buffet was greasy and slippery/dangerous. When we spoke to our server she offered to get us "fresh biscuits" 45 minutes into the meal. When she let us talk to the manager she offered to "get us some fresh dessert to go". By this time we were ready to leave--if there was "fresh dessert" why wasn't it on the buffet? The manager reduced our total bill by $30.00. The meal was 29.45 per person with a soda not including tip. Was not the servers problem but I would recommend this "brunch" to no one.
(1)Robin P.
This place isn't my cup of tea...if you are coming here you are coming and paying for the atmosphere and view. The food is not good. I've eaten here for dinner a couple of times and most recently for lunch. Why do restaurants think that toasted bread can be called a panini? Steer clear of the paninis. It's a $4 sandwich with a $12 price tag ... $8 of that is for your view of Geist Reservoir. They do, though, have weeknight jazz musicians. The weekend crowd tends to be a bit of "see and be seen" down by the beach and bands, etc. If that's your thing, skip the food and focus on their drink menu.
(2)Christie M.
It has been at least a year when I went and don't know if it has changed that badly according to all the reviews I'm reading. We had a bachelorette/bridal shower reserved there for about 16 people. I thought the service was awesome considering we have a huge group of women all hungry and thirsty. The servers all came out to greet us and even the head something or rather came out to greet us and see if we had everything we needed. They were all very charming and nice to all of us. I remember the food being pretty good and the drinks were awesome. They even took a picture of us in front of the waterfall thing. We were a rowdy bunch and the guy in charge invited us upstairs and gave us complimentary champagne and strawberries if we stay and hang out at the bar upstairs. OF COURSE we agreed. It was awesome. champagne wasn't my thing but the strawberries dipped in chocolate was hard to resist. We all had a blast...in our private booth/room. A few of our girls were flirting with the server. Very embarrassing but all in all it was a good time. Oh the band even sang a song for our bride to be.
(4)