Whenever I walk in here there is an enormous lack of hospitality. Essentially their behavior makes you feel like you're putting them out. It is almost just awkward. I've only had ice cream here, but it would be a lot more inviting if they learned basic graciousness.
(1)
Stacey S.
Had a lovely evening with a delicious apple caramel cake and a cup of coffee. Friendly service, intimate ambiance. I want to come back and try their more savory offerings.
(4)
Tom E.
In my opinion, a definite no-go. Went for breakfast. I ordered an egg white omelette and was told they were to busy to make an omelette with egg whites. Pretty bizarre. Waitstaff was pretty poor at basic communication. In the hour I was there for breakfast I saw 2 other groups get seated and leave as a result of being ignored. Not sure how this place survives with such poor customer service. Food was just okay. Go somewhere else.
(1)
Mark H.
I agree with Dave B. on this one... DO NOT ORDER FOOD HERE. I ordered scrambled eggs, potatoes, and sausage, and I'm pretty sure it was all heated up in a microwave (or at least tasted like it did). In 10 years of living in Boston, this was the worst food I've ever been served at a restaurant. My wife got a hot drink with whipped cream on top and the whipped cream had gone sour. I really hate to be negative, but I feel like it is important for the world to know how bad the food is here. This is a good place to go if you want to fully realize how good all the other food you've been eating is. I didn't realize how good I had it until I ate here. The servers were friendly though.
(1)
Paula B.
Nice warm cafe to duck into. Delicious latte and satisfying breakfast! Wait staff is Slow and you're not Sure whether you're searing yourself or not.
(4)
Ed K.
Location is great, that's why we walked in. Stuff has a vague idea of what they are doing, bread was very hard to chew on, I would be embarrassed to serve that at home. On the good side both soups - minestrone and chouda - were delicious and probably made from scratch.
(2)
Daniel D.
This place makes no sense. Is it a sit yourself cafe or table service? Don't think even the owners know. The bathroom is a war zone and reeks like a porta potty. Avoid at all costs.
(1)
R. M.
Avoid the breakfast. Came here purely by chance on a weekend. The pancakes, sausage and eggs are clearly pre-made and microwave-cooked. Weak coffee. The service while friendly was also neglectful and slow.
(1)
Tammy K.
Caffe Bella Vita has the potential to be so great with its central location, wide array of coffee and desserts, as well as the fact that it's open late. Unfortunately, it's not quite there yet- their pies and pastries don't taste as good as they look, and their coffee/tea offerings leave a lot to be desired. Please improve! We need a tasty late night dessert place in Beacon Hill :)
(2)
Sharra C.
Caffe Bella Vita was recommended to us by a gentleman at our hotel. Our initial plan was to stop some place for a traditional Irish breakfast, but we were still on Pacific Standard Time. So lunch it was! First opinion was that the spot was very quaint. The menu was pretty basic. Soups, salads, sandwiches (for the most part). I asked my waiter for a recommendation, and that was the Chicken Symphony Salad. My friends went with various soup/sandwich combinations. When my salad came out, it was HUGE! Crisp greens topped with large slices of mozzarella, tomatoes, onions, and a perfectly grilled/seasoned chicken breast. It definitely was a 'symphony of taste'. I know, I know... cheesy, but the dish was aptly named. I ended my lunch with a large espresso w/ orange, and was very pleased. The downside was that it felt as though there were not enough people working at the caffe that day. We sat for a while waiting for our bill and then, waiting for it to be picked up. Maybe things just move at a slower pace in MA? All-in-all, it was a good experience. I'd return for an encore lunch!
(4)
Robert C.
Here's the thing: I wish I could love this place. The decor is like a perfect Parisian cafe, the gelato is not bad, and the wi-fi is free. The food and service, however, are horrible. I ordered a bowl of chili that seemed like it was bought en masse from a restaurant or catering supply company. Likewise, the salad was made with vegetables less than fresh and cut into super-huge chunks. You would be better served going elsewhere.
(1)
Elizabeth H.
After a lovely day in boston, My boyfriend decided it was time for a bite to eat. We thought this place would be great because it was casual dining.. as we sat, the server brought us menus and water.. not once introducing herself nor offer to explain the menu. Anyway, we proceed to order... I order a root beer and she asked what twice before i decide it would be easier to point. we ordered a salad to start, followed by chicken parmesan and lasagna.. we waited for about 15min. then, ALL the food was brought at once. Whatever!! The salad was okay.. it had what they said was fresh mozzarella, but tasted far from it. My boyfriend proceeded to eat his Chx. Parm. witch was HORRIBLE!!!! I couldn't even swallow it, It tasted like it sat in the freezer for a month or two! WTF!! He took the chicken off and just tried to finish the pasta. I had the Lasagna witch was definitely microwaved( I witnessed this as I was on my way to the restroom). I highly recommend just don't waste your time or money here!!! YUKKKK!!!
(1)
Jeff F.
I've been here twice. Although the Veggie Soup was decent, both sandwiches I've had at Bella Vita have sucked. It's easy to get duped in here... you see that every other place on Charles Street is packed and there's cute little place on the corner that could be good. Well, it's not. There's a reason it's not packed. Pass.
(1)
Jen K.
Friendly service, great location. Seafood sandwich was sparse on the seafood, tough chewy bun. Clam chowder was mostly cream, very little clam or anything else. Expected better quality for the price. Oh, and heads up- Restroom is down a steep narrow spiral metal staircase. Be careful! Overall, not impressed. Won't go back.
(2)
Matthew H.
It's Boston. So many good options, this isn't the one.
(1)
Greg H.
TOTALLY DISGUSTING BREAKFAST. All microwaved food - note there are no eggs on the menu beyond scrambled or omlette - all made in microwave. They don't deserve this one star rating.
(1)
Lori S.
What a cute little place! Great tasting, fresh salads. Visited there on the 4th of July with a friend. Restaurant was quite crowded but they seemed to be keeping up quite nicely with the crowd. Gelato was wonderfully delicious on such a hot day. Would absolutely recommend!
(4)
Alyssa J.
This place really is A-Ok. It almost got the fourth star but due to some weird indiosyncrasies (can a location be idiosyncratic?) I am leaving it at three. Likes: Waitress was attentive but not overbearing. I was studying so she sort of gave me some space which I appreciated. Clam chowda. Yum. (definitely needed salt though) Chili. Yum. Coffee chocolate gelato. Double Yum. They have been totally cool with me going in there with books, spreading my stuff out and hunkering down to soak up some legal knowledge. Dislikes: Bathroom in the basement??? I felt really weird walking through the kitchen to use the loo. This ends up being a pretty pricey place to study or read for a long period of time. So the likes outnumber the dislikes, so I am now in an open relationship with Bella Vita. This place also rocks a pretty antiquated set of the Massachusetts Annoted Legal Code which is pretty damn awesome.
(3)
Doug G.
Was there on July fourth. Was very busy and still service and food was very good. My friend and I each had a salad and was very pleased. It was priced just a little high for what you got, but all in all I would eat here again.
When hungry at 11am in Chestnut Hill... you might want to skip this place. We stopped in for something to satisfy our growling stomaches, and split a tuna melt. For a $10-something sandwhich, I was kind of expecting more than an open-faced crunchy toast with tuna and semi-warm cheese. Free wifi, that's a plus... Anddd, that's all I got.
(2)
Dave B.
If you want a coffee, espresso drink, or gelato - this place is fine. DO NOT ORDER FOOD. When you look at the menu and the prices, it seems like this is an upscale brunch and lunch place - but look around and you will notice that this cafe does not have a kitchen. The $10 brunch items are cooked in a microwave! The pancakes are bisquick! The side of fruit is a slice of apple. I can only imagine how miserable the lunch items are.
(1)
Maggie B.
We stopped in for a lunch on Sunday, walked in and there was no one to greet us or a sign to indicate whether we seat ourselves or not. A server then told us to sit where ever, we did and 5 minutes later we still didn't have menus so I went and got some from the behind the dessert bar. Another 10 minutes passed before we had our order taken, we got two sandwiches and a soup(clam chowder). The soup had chunks of cornstarch or flour that had been used to thicken it but not mixed well and the chicken salad sandwich had no flavor what so ever. No salt, seasoning, just over cooked chicken and mayo. The bread was good but everything else was such a disappointment. We were going to order their cheesecake but decided against it after the main meal. We should've known better than to stop by, whenever we had previously walked by it was never busy. Not worth it.
(1)
assaf k.
On the plus side, It's the only place on Charls St you can actually have a seat on a Saturday Morning without waiting. The rest is pretty bad. I ordered a mozzarella sandwich which consisted of a dry plain white bread roll and some tasteless cheese. no herbs, no tomato, nothing. It seems like it was every ones first day. The waitress, while nice was completely clueless and had to come back each time for the coffee, spoon and milk. Which wasn't actual milk, but one of those "no need to refrigerate cream capsules" you have in the office. To top it all, they charge just like any decent restaurant around it was probably like $15-13 for the sandwich and coffee . They can probably carry on and make a living of the tourists but as a local I'm not coming back.
(2)
Kathy A.
This place is a decent lunch spot or better yet you can grab an ice cream/gelato treat. They offer a few different sandwiches, but I prefer the different soups they have. The chili is pretty tasty. I find most of the other food options to be a bit over priced (but I guess this is Beacon Hill....). In addition to the gelato they have some cakes and pastries, which all look pretty good. I wasn't too fond of their coffee so I'd go somewhere else if that's what you are looking for. I did like the used bookstore kind of atmosphere that this place has. It made it easy to just sit there for hours enjoying some grub and light reading.
(3)
Jonathan D.
Yawn...this is how I can best describe Cafe Bella Vita. I just signed up for Yelp specifically to share my distaste of this Charles Street establishment. We had initially looked at eating at the Paramount a couple of doors down, but the seating looked horrific and was very busy. Thus, like I'm assuming is the case with most Vita patrons, we went a couple of doors down and settled for a better seating situation. This was a mistake. There was only one waitress serving the entire restaurant. She was great about immediately clearing off a table for us, but then we were ignored for about 20 minutes until my girlfriend went up to the counter to order, figuring this was the procedure since no one had come to help us. Let me be clear, the restaurant was in no way packed or busy. I initially felt bad for the waitress, but that quickly turned to anger at a cheap owner who doesn't hire enough staff. I chose their featured salad that came in at a whopping $17. It was bland and terrible. It was basically a couple of handfuls of iceberg lettuce, some pieces of tomato, some awkwardly large pieces of carrot, and vinaigrette dressing. They then cut up the tinniest ball of mozzarella and dispensed the slices over the top. The final touch was a large, rubbery piece of grilled chicken over the top (of course this wasn't sliced or anything). My girlfriend and her little brother got the roast beef sandwiches. They were much better but they didn't come with anything, even though they were $10 a piece, and I found them on the bland side as well. In conclusion, avoid this overpriced dump. If you want Gelatto, go to the North End. If you want a decent sandwich go anywhere else. I'm not sure about their coffee, but I'm sure it's overpriced as well. I wish I had to sets of hands to give this place 4 thumbs down.
(1)
Cc R.
Such a cute little place. Perfect for coffee, tea, or dessert, and an especially nice place to go when it's cold outside!
(3)
Jennifer D.
I'm a regular, because it's a good halfway point for a friend and I to meet. I probably eat there ten times a year. It is not fancy, it is not upscale, or gourmet. They may indeed be making a lot of stuff in the microwave. But the hot cocoa is great, as are all the desserts in the display case. The gelato is great. The house salad with chicken and apples on it is super. I like that the veggies and big and chunky. I have never had a problem with freshness. The chowder is good, and the tomato basil sandwich is good as well. I haven't been for breakfast or ordered big meal type things like lasagna or pasta...I've kept it light and "bistro" like on the ordering and have never been disappointed. It's a great place for a cup of tea and a cookie. They don't rush you out - a pleasure in that part of town. The bathrooms are a disappointment and like most public bathrooms in Boston - could be nicer for sure. But I go there for the unrushed chance to catch up with my friend and convenient location, not the bathroom. The staff is always, without exception, pleasant.
(4)
Jenn S.
My friend and I randomly chose this cafe one day for lunch while wandering around Beacon Hill. From the outside it looked cute and quaint and there were many sandwiches on the menu so we decided to stop in. The waitress was friendly and the sandwich selection was alright. My friend and I both ordered sandwiches and iced coffee. I was extremely disappointed by both the items I ordered. The sandwich was something I could have made out of my own fridge and the coffee should not have even been called coffee. The price that was paid for the sandwich was completely ridiculous for what it was, and upon leaving we immediately went to Starbucks for some real coffee. Safe to say we will not be eating here again.
(1)
Sarah S.
While this place isn't terrible, it definitely isn't a must go, considering all the great food possibilities in Boston. My friends and I wandered in here for a late lunch, afternoon snack on a recent trip to Boston. It was kind of confusing on how you do the ordering. We sat for awhile but when no one came, we finally went up to the counter to ask and were told that orders are taken. We waited a few minutes longer, and finally asked if it would just be easier to tell her the orders, but she said that they don't do that. So we ended up waiting till she had the time to come and take our orders (in her defense, she WAS the only one taking orders and bringing the food out so she was kind of busy) My clam chowder was just alright. It was pretty thick with lots of cream, but the clams weren't that great. Pretty disappointing since Boston is known for their chowdah.
(2)
DeAnna D.
Absolutely disgusting! NEVER eat at this place. What was touted as "fresh seafood" was tinned shrimp. The bread tasted stale. the "homemade cannelloni" is certainly NOT. the owner leaves the unfilled shells out on display. Speaking of the owner, he is a very unpleasant man and bound to drive any sensible diner away. If you are on Charles St. and have not booked a restaurant, try self-catering at the local market. The sandwiches are much better and you'll save money!
(1)
Taryn R.
The service was awful. We waited 5 minutes to be greeted after we were seated, were checked on only once and had to ask for our check. The food was awful. Don't waste your time here.
(1)
Megan M.
I was disappointed by this place and won't be going back. My biggest complaint is the high price for what you get, which isn't much. The cappuccino I ordered for $3.50 was good tasting but was so small. Cappuccinos are supposed to come in those huge soup bowl mugs but this was smaller than even your average at-home coffee mug. Then I ordered a $9.50 mozzarella sandwich was was also pretty bad. I was expecting fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and a few leaves of basil. What I got was a huge hunk of bread, a ton of melted part-skim, grocery store, Kraft mozzarella type cheese, two measly thin slices of tomatoes, and a sprinkle of dried oregano. $10.00 didn't even get me any sides with that sandwich! Paid way too much for crap "Italian" food.
(1)
Helen L.
cute place for desserts and wifi access. i got the mint chocolate chip and to my pleasant surprise the chocolate pieces were so big and looks like whole chocolates! i'm not too sure about their soups and other foods though. they are a little on the pricey side though but a good place to relax in the afternoon or on a weekend.
(3)
Meghan R.
It hurts me to give this place 3 stars, because I actually come here a lot. I want to give 4 stars for dine-in and 2 stars for take-out, though, so I guess this is the next best thing. Like: panzanella salad, lemon sorbet, all their desserts, gelato!, nice waitstaff Dislike: poorly made take-out sandwiches, food that is supposed to be hot served ice cold for take-out, failure to give us what we ordered and paid for (you owe me a cookie!) I'll keep going here, because I'm in the neighborhood, but you have no idea how mad I was to realize, after closing time, that they didn't give me the cookie I've been waiting for all night.
(3)
Aboud Y.
Review is for gelato and dessert only. Both are outstanding and CBV is a regular stop when I'm n the area. Their gelato is DDDDelicious!
(4)
Lex M.
It was a cool summer day and all I wanted was a little something warm to hit the spot while I did some computer work. My boyfriend and I, both with laptops, saw a sign on the door that read 'wifi available.' Perfect, we thought. As we brought our computers onto our table, and after we ordered two drinks and lunch, our waitress* said to us, "You can use the internet, but you can't stay here for ten hours." Hospitality/tip fail. I'm sure she's not the mascot for Bella Vita, but she's a face nonetheless. *Dark hair, resembles the actress Nancy Downs from 'The Craft."
(1)
Kat L.
I'm going to err on the side of generosity and call this restaurant merely lackluster instead of actively offensive. But that's mostly just because I haven't tried any of their dessert offerings. Came in because of its great Common-adjacent location, tons of tables and promise of free WiFi. Then ended up spending ten dollars (not including tip) on a sublimely uninspired bowl of lentil soup and a Diet Coke. Soup had obviously never been introduced to the influence of any seasoning whatsoever -- not even salt. The whole shebang tasted like nothing more than dirty water. The slab of white bread that accompanied it was significantly LESS gourmet than frozen Sara Lee dinner rolls. It might succeed as a gelato stand or purveyor of stiffly priced desserts, but as a cafe, it fails.
(3)
Rosemary C.
I don't normally go out of my way to report a negative, but I must agree that this is no place to order food. I remember it from years ago when it was (apparently) under different ownership: it was always a nice place to have a cup of something warm & enjoy the views of Charles Street passersby. Last Sunday my husband & I were searching for breakfast and made the HUGE mistake of "eating" here. Except for one waitress, who seemed to be the only one actually working, the other servers were mostly standing by staring at the ceiling. The service was HORRIBLE. The place was half-empty, yet the wait was eternal. The food - some kind of rubberized egg substance? - was worse - I'd call it inedible, but by the time it arrived I was starving, so ate about half of it - and on top of that, it wasn't inexpensive. I mean, insultingly bad. I had the feeling that the owner is actually trying to see how much abuse customers are willing to take. Never again! Too bad, because it is in a great location. Should have joined the line at The Paramount.
(1)
Katherine J.
This place is not worth the money. I came in here for some take-out dessert. There are no prices on anything but I'm thinking it can't be more than $3. Wrong! $6 for a TINY piece of carrot cake. Mediocre carrot cake at that. If I'm going to pay $6 for a piece of cheesecake at a little walk in restaurant it better either taste amazing or be an oversized slice of cake. This was neither. Needless to say, I will never go back to Cafe Bella Vita. The only nice thing I can say is that the girl who works here was very nice and understanding.
(1)
Dani S.
Yep, "Meh" pretty much says it all for me. The food at this place is awful. I, like many others it seems, was drawn in by the "authentic italian" sign they display. Honestly, the ice cream is good, great even, but the rest of the food - I was kind of appalled, actually. I ordered a Caprese sandwich when there with my dad, and basically it tasted like plastic cheese and frozen tomatoes. Of course, I'm slightly biased having grown up with fresh tomatoes from the garden, but even so, this was just an unacceptable level of food quality for what they advertise, and for food in general. IF you do go here, help yourself to some ice cream and maybe something to drink, but beyond that, spare yourself the pain and the money.
(2)
Carol A.
I went last night because it was the only place with an open table on the street, and we were starving. We walked in the door no one greeted us, we stood there for 5 minutes and finally asked a waitress if we could seat ourselves, she handed us two menus and we sat at the only table available and it had dirty dishes on it. 10 minutes later still no service. I was beginning to think it was counter service only, but then a waitress brought food the table behind ours and did not acknowledge us sitting at a dirty table or give any indication she noticed us at all. I went to the counter and was told someone would be there in a minute. The waitress arrived and immediately asked for our order....without clearing the table, I had to ask her to do it. Then she brought out water and I had to ask her to wipe the table down as it was covered in crumbs. I assumed it was her first day but after reading the reviews for this place I think they have no manager and no training for the staff. The owner(?) just stood around behind the counter doing nothing while two waitresses and a busboy meandered around the place with no sense of urgency. It blew me away that the guy in the nice shirt and dress pants (who possibly had invested his own money in this joint) was just standing around while dirty dishes piled up all over the place. Crap rolls downhill, and if the owner/manager won't break a sweat then neither will the employees. I felt as if no one in the cared if we ate or ever came back. What a shame because the food was not bad at all. The salad was delicious, the soups were good and the sandwiches were enormous and very fresh. I wanted to love this little place. It was pretty, in a great spot and it was a beautiful Saturday evening. The owner should be ashamed to have such an awfully run establishment. I have had better customer service at McDonalds.
(2)
Danielle K.
This cafe was a wonderful find after a long charity walk. Today the restaurant was understaffed for the flood of walkers, but the food was definitely worth the weight. The sandwich I had was delicious and the soup was quite tasty too. They also had a nice desert selection, w/cakes, cookies, and etc. I highly recommend for a casual bite to eat.
Perfect place for a quick bite to eat on Charles Street. Always good always consistent
(3)
Christina G.
I'm not really a fan of this place. I came in today and ordered two cups of soup and a slice of pie.... all of that cost me $20. It's definitely overpriced considering the quality of the food, and the atmosphere here leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion. The pie was good, but the soups were nothing special. I'll stick to Cafe Vanille.
(2)
Rudy R.
The staff is delightful enough, but the coffee is terrible. Such a missed opportunity!
(1)
Samuel F.
Wandered in here for a late lunch one day. Had soup, salad, and espresso con panna. The soup was great, the salad was okay, the bread served with the soup was so poor as to detract from the meal, the espresso was quite tasty. Overall, okay, but the prices were quite high.
(3)
K G.
Cute place in Beacon Hill. Tried the Italian ice cream they make in Mississippi Mud. Coffee flavored with almonds and Oreos. Excellent taste and texture. Almonds were at the point of beginning to be chewy and I prefer the crunch. Full size cookies were nice. $7 for a medium is a touch higher than I would like. I will return to try some of the cake.
(3)
Angelina C.
Bella Vita deserves a 1/2-star upgrade for the best cannoli in Boston. Seriously. Its creamy not-too-sweet stracciatella filling was absolute heaven -- HEAVEN. See ya, North End. My thanks go out to the girl on Boston Common last night who told us where she got her take-out container of delectable-looking goodies.
(4)
Hannah H.
I'm seeing a trend of very mixed reviews for this cafe and I'll admit that this review probably won't help tilt the scale. I've been in twice and really enjoyed my experience both times, yet observed that other diners were having hard time figuring the place out. The first time I went was a grey, drizzly day and my friends and I needed a place to get warm and cozy. We chose Bella Vita because they have a pretty good reputation for the desserts. We all ordered coffee and two of my friends ordered slices of cake. We were all very happy with our service and the food. The place wasn't too busy so the waitstaff wasn't stressed out at all and I made a mental note to keep Bella Vita in mind when I need lunch or coffee downtown. I went back recently on a beautiful spring weekend for a full meal. Charles street was super-busy and the sun was brilliant, so business was obviously much busier in the cafe. I went alone so it wasn't hard to find a place to sit, I tucked myself into one of the small tables right in the middle of the cafe. The waitress that served me was handling her tables well and gave me perfectly decent service. I ordered the chicken salad and asked her to check with the cook to make sure that it was gluten free. She returned with a piece of paper that had all of the ingredients written down (all of the ingredients in the mayo, as well as all of the whole ingredients in the salad) and asked me to check them. She apologized for making me check, but I was happy to know that the cook, though he or she may not be familiar with gluten, was using caution. The salad was a fantastic plate heaped with salad. There were big slices of green apple,lots of walnuts, and just the right amount of dressing. I'd been walking a lot that day and had worked up an appetite, so tucked right in and nearly finished the whole thing. People around me had great-looking food as well though some people were obviously having a hard time attracting their waitress. A few people had to wave an arm or go up to the counter to ask a question, and some people walked into the cafe and were not greeted (though some were). The man who looked like a manager, maybe owner was friendly with me but a little gruff with some people asking questions. He also opened the door of the cafe halfway through the meal which made the place quite cold. I put on a scarf and my jacket and saw a few others do the same. It seemed like he wasn't very aware of his customers. The bill for a salad and soda was over twenty dollars, more than I usually spend on lunch and more than the decor and atmosphere would suggest. The portion was large and the food was good, but I will probably only go back to the cafe once in a while. Another note is that they have lots of wifi signs in the windows, but inside there are signs asking people not to use the wifi on the weekends.
(3)
Chris A.
How could anyone honestly give this place any kind of decent rating? I had been without power for almost a full day so just about any decent place to sit down with a warm soup or decent food would have gotten rave reviews. I ordered the soup+sandwich with clam chowder and roast beef. My girlfriend ordered the chili. Her chili had no beans and very little meat - it was like she was drinking spaghetti sauce. My clam chowder was decent, but my roast beef sandwich had ONE slice of roast beef on it. I'm 100% dead serious and wish I had a camera on me.... my "sandwich" was ONE slice of roast beef, ONE piece of iceberg lettuce and ONE slice of tomato. They typically charge $10 for a whole one of those. I kid you not. To top it off, our waitress was horrible. One girl covering four tables. That's it. At one point she grabbed my plate out from under me while my chowder was still half full. Not once did we get a refill on a water and we were there for over an hour. But she sure had time to hurry the check over to the table! It wasn't just us either; she was completely oblivious to what was going on. The internet wasn't working, so I asked her about it and she replied with "oh, it's working just fine" and walked away. Two minutes later a girl a few tables over asks her what's up with the internet and the waitress says "I haven't gotten any complaints all day, it is working fine for everyone else." Before walking away from her, too. SHE LITERALLY JUST HAD ME TELL HER IT WASN'T WORKING! Finally another customer informed myself and the girl that the internet wasn't working but that we could use his hotspot. That the internet at the cafe hadn't worked for basically anyone all day without a ton of hassle. Once I got set up some guy came from back in the kitchen and made me unplug my computer so he could plug in a lamp that was about 6 inches tall. Oh, and it was the middle of the day so you couldn't even tell it was on! But he was adamant that it be plugged in. Not that I could tell because he couldn't speak English. It'd be nice if he did, but I don't really care about that. It's just really annoying when he stands there and grunts and points at the wall like you're supposed to know what that means. Then grunting louder, upset because I'm not catching on to his impromptu game of charades. I desperately tried to give this place zero stars, but Yelp wouldn't let me submit the review without at least one star. Just know that this place doesn't even deserve that.
(1)
Hubert H.
Most of my previous comments still stand, but will add that it is a nice place to sit and observe the wonderful sunset while in downtown Boston. Their soup chowder is pretty good as well.
(5)
Leighann F.
Nothing warms you up better and pairs more readily with a long walk home than a nice up of hot tea, a few scoops of gelato and setting that reminds you of a small cafe in Italy. Staffed with nice people offering tea, coffees, gelatos and various other sugary delights, Cafe Bella Vita became the break in our jaunt from The Liberty Hotel to the T at Park Street. Here, you can sit for a spell, warm your belly (in the winter), cool your jets (in the summer) and feel truly welcomed into an atmosphere of cafe culture that seems miles away from the hustle and bustle of an American city. Recommendations: the turtle and strawberry gelato. Especially after a big meal, skip whatever the restaurant is offering and take in a cup of coffee or herbal tea and scoop of this sweet stuff. For those who come with the mobile office in mind, this cafe does have outlets. But with all that sweet stuff on display and a window view for people watching on Charles Street, it may be tough to concentrate!
Sign on the door says breakfast 9am til noon. Come in at 11:30 and its lunch only. Worthless.
(1)
Tony P.
I went here last summer. We came across this place while walking around the city. The wait was pretty long to get our order in. The ice cream was delicious. I think we got the coffee or toffee flavored ice cream. One thing I do remember that is was pricey for what it was. Location was awesome, a block or two away was a park. Many activities going on to enjoy it.
(3)
Rob C.
It's nice to know there's such a quiet, unassuming, comfortable spot in Beacon Hill. A nice place to spend some quality time with a warm beverage and a laptop or your homework, or whatever. There are nice windows to watch people slip and slide on the ice outside, while you sip your delicious hot chocolate. i also had a cannoli for dinner (that's right, mom, for dinner! mwahaha!) which was quite tasty. i'm told the rest of the food is good, too. Unfortunately, i've got to ding them a star; after we were the last folks left there, the proprietors/employees gave us a real 'are-you-still-here?' vibe and we eventually left. Not the sort of thing that you want in a coffee shop type place, but one hopes it's an aberration, because the hot chocolate is awfully darned good.
(3)
Max T.
Went there with some coworkers. I had Coffee Mocha and Teramisu. Coffee was great, Teramisu so so.
(3)
Ashley A.
I love this little cafe, it has great cannolis, cappuccinos and other Italian treats. Their sandwiches are also great, quick service and it is usually pretty quiet. Prices are a little high for a sandwich, but it is on Charles Street in Beacon Hill.
(4)
Maria F.
Caffe Bella Vita: You have a great spot, your decoration is so cozy and I love your classical music. Your place is open late and you're friendly. But you're a restaurant/cafe after all and you're in the business of serving FOOD. I live around the corner and have been there at least 20x. I'm sad to say that your food is really lacking in terms of taste. I don't mind the basic menu, but if you're doing only a few things, at least do them well. Your soups are way too salty and once I had to send it back because it was obvious that it had been seating out for too long. Your sandwiches are *bland*. Your pastas as the previous reviewer said, are below Chef Bayardee standards. The only redeeming point is your ready-made (and not home made) ice cream. You have such great potential, please step up and serve tastier food. Look at Paramount only a few doorsteps away, serves basic food, lacks the ambiance that you have, yet it's always packed (lines out the door on weekends). Would you hire one of their cooks?
(2)
Jo B.
I've never had a real meal here, just ice cream, but the ice cream I am in love with. They don't have a huge selection, maybe 10 flavors at most, but what they have is divine. The texture is so smooth and creamy, and not overly sweet and artificial. My favorite is the chocolate chip mint, but the other flavors are amazing as well. The pistachio has huge chunks of pistachio. The turtle flavor is oozing with caramel, chocolate and cashews. $5 gets you a small cup, which is actually a pretty generous portion for being a small. Just be aware that they only take credit cards for $10 and up. Also, free Wi-Fi and and a bright open space with lots of natural light make this a good place to hang out and get some work done. Signs said no computer use on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am -7pm.
(4)
KoreanSoup S.
OK lunch place. Internet access. Wouldn't come out of my way for the food or ambience.
(3)
Kelly W.
Don't let this cafe fool you, it is way more than just an ice cream & dessert spot. They have great dinner selections. Plus the desserts are excellent. We stopped there for a pre-marathon dinners and couldn't have asked for a more perfect dinner. Lasagna is yummy! took the desserts and they also did not disappoint.
(4)
Maria V.
Wonderful casual spot with totally reasonable prices. Ger and I were looking for a place that would feed us after she went sailing and I went biking -- we were both in our "gear" as it were and wanted to go somewhere casual but still decent food-wise. This place was so down-low chill, really lets you linger as long as you like, looks like they are totally okay with laptop workers staying a while as well. I had an awesome classic mozarella sandwich with a generously sized mint mocha cappucino, and their paninis looked very enticing as well. A great little spot to drop in on when you're in the neighborhood or just coming off the Esplanade!
(4)
Ger T.
A cute place for Italian-inspired sandwiches, soups, and desserts for a pretty decent price, considering its prime location on Charles St. in the midst of Beacon Hill goodness. Their sandwiches are served on crusty baguettes and I have to say that their soup has that hearty homemade taste that I love in chunky soups. One sandwich and a cup of soup was enough to fill my tummy for the night. They have a great selection of ice creams and coffees too, and according to my friend, their mocha cappucino was delicious. I would recommend Bella Vita for wanderers around Beacon Hill/Charles MGH who just want a bite in a casual atmosphere.This is not fancy food, but as I had just finished sailing and was walking around Charles St half-soaked in ratty sneakers, that was a good thing. "PEOPLE IN T-SHIRTS AND SHORTS! LET'S GO IN!"
(4)
Candace P.
Stopped in quickly to this little spot to check out the ice cream selection. It looked delicious as well as other sundry desserts. However, I had not had dinner so thought I'd grab something quick to go. I ordered the Stuffato. It had a lot of spices but was pretty salty for my liking. I will most likely hit up the ice cream next time!
(3)
Tom E.
Location Location Location... Caffe Bella Vita gets one star for each of those words - it has a lovely atmosphere and is a great spot to spend an hour or so sitting in the window people-watching the Charles St set. Extra stars? I'm not sure - the service was good and the ambience also but the food was below par and outrageously expensive. And water was served in disposal plastic glasses. Hey - I know we're a little cheap just asking for water but don't make us feel like we're just hanging out at a water cooler - especially after we've paid twelve dollars for a bland sandwich with fillings that look like they were bought at the 7 Eleven.
(3)
Bryce S.
3 1/2 stars for solid food: no nonsense, no frilly extras and reasonable prices, especially for Beacon Hill. Yes, Star K's TFM was there... could he be the owner? We were surprised when we were greeted by our "waitress"-- a kid who I swear was no more than 12 years old. We ordered a bottle of San Pellegrino, which came to our table capped off with a stack of plastic Solo cups. Surprisingly good salads; the greens were fresh, they weren't chintzy with the mozz and tomatoes. Our panini sandwich was comfort food grilled cheese: stuffed with a heap of mozz plus 2 slices of tomatoes. FYI, I'm not kidding about no-frills. The sandwich came on a bare, white platter. No fries. No sides. Not even a little iceburg-lettuce-leaf thingy to add a little color. But then again, that's not what I came here for. Overall, it's a good casual eatery amidst some of the priciest real estate in Boston. The best part is trying to guess who's going to be your host: TFM, the Little Kid, or God knows who else.
(3)
Alison E.
I highly recommend the minestrone soup! =d We also quite enjoyed the mozzarella sandwiches (though wish they had some basil and/or pesto involved...), and the chocolate gelato. The place is kind of small, but cute. A nice place for cheap food if you find yourself in Beacon Hill.
(4)
Shotzi S.
Good little place. Soup was good - lentil. Didn't have a dessert, but they looked fantastic. Price is very reasonable.
(3)
Joy F.
My boyfriend happened upon this place while waiting for me to meet him, and it's quite a find. Especially considering the dearth of appealing places to relax anywhere in the greater Park Street station area. I had the lentil soup and he had chicken/vegetable: both were soup like someone's mom would make. Chunky, light hand on the salt, chock full of tender veggies, flavorful. The prices are high-ish, but your $5.50 bowl comes with an enormous hunk of bread, so definitely worth it imho. Also tried a sandwich (various options, most are $8.95): very generous portion as well, more like a sub. Bread was fresh and chewy, toppings fresh and tasty. There are various pasta options as well--they looked good on other people's tables, but were all over $10 (what is with Italian food in Boston??). The Cafe Mocha ($3.50) was superb: strong, perfect mix of chocolate and coffee. The desserts (fresh-filled cannoli, tiramisu, various cakes/pies) looked tasty, but that will be another trip. Atmosphere was the best part, especially after trying hard to like the S**bucks down the street and failing due to constant deafening brewing/grinding noises. Soothing wine-colored walls, b/w prints for something to look at, friendly and patient waitstaff, not too crowded.
(5)
Robyn L.
"Home of the sweet moment." That's the little slogan Caffe Bella Vita includes on its business cards. It's fitting. Basically, if you're wandering around Beacon Hill, aimlessly looking for dessert while trying to get through to Free 411 to get the address for Finale, just stop, close the phone and walk over to this place. You won't regret it. I would spend the evening here just noshing on ice cream, cake and cannolis, though I'd also have to roll myself home afterward. . . It would be worth it. They make a great mild coffee, too.
(5)
Ashley S.
We just stopped in for coffee and pastries and what a nice change from the Starbucks up the street (at the corner of Beacon and Charles)! The cafe was doing a brisk ice cream business -- they have real Italian ice cream -- but there were as many diners sitting at comfortable tables eating lunch. The music was a pleasant level and not your typical classical fare, and of course, the tira misu was to die for -- HUGE portion, not soaked in rum, the creamiest, thickest pudding on top. The iced cappucino was as good as the cafe mocha latte, and all was reasonably priced: $16 and some change. Very on-the-ball waits staff, too. Can't wait to go back and try the fresh gazpacho, which perfumed the air beautifully.
(4)
Ann H.
Three of us stopped in one afternoon after touring the neighborhood. We wanted some coffee and maybe a light dessert. We were told to sit anywhere and then nobody brought us a menu or asked what we wanted. Probably 10 minutes went by before we were able to flag someone down. They didn't have decaf on the menu but when I asked for it she said they had some. My friend ordered a drink but when the waitress came back she said they didn't have what she ordered and instead made her something completely different. Although it was nice of her to bring her another drink, my friend didn't like it and finally had to go up to the cash register to get her attention and to order something else. I must have asked our waitress for a glass of water three times and not once did she bring me one. Nobody ever came by our table again and we probably could have just walked out without paying and no one would have noticed. We didn't though and instead flagged down a check and paid (sorry, no tip) and left. Can't comment on the food because we never got the chance to order any.
(1)
elizabeth l.
BEST CLAM CHOWDER IN BOSTON. absolutely wonderful gelato - best i've had outside of italy. sandwiches are delicious and satisfying. great coffee and espresso. the decor could be homier, but the random groupings of old legal textbooks give the place some interesting character. prices seem a little steep, though understandable, considering the cafe's beacon hill location. i recommend that you sit at the window and gaze onto quaint and bustling charles street to feel like you've stepped back in time.
(4)
Kristina D.
Love the adorable atmosphere. I cannot get over how adorable Beacon Hill is, even in the rain. The pitter patter of the rain provided gentle accompaniment to ice cream chomping (strawberry and pistachio are the bees knees, by the way) and people-watching. Sitting in here is like sitting in an Italian postcard.
(4)
Matt L.
I visited here to grab a snack and a coffee in a quaint section of Boston. The place is okay inside, not so small for the neighbohood and not so upscale that you could not afford the prices. The place was quite slow for the holiday and the service was disorganized and slow. The menu has an eclectic array of creative sandwiches and drinks and some baked goods. The prices are moderate and it was just okay, nothing to rave about. I would probably keep waling down the dtreet to the bunches of other places to eat and skip this one...its not worth it!
(3)
Mairead J.
Cute interior and nice staff. I had a hot chocolate and a buttered bagel. They toasted it perfectly which is a huge plus in my book. I was fine going alone for a bit but there were also families and couples. Excellent spot for people-watching, too.
(4)
Jenna H.
This place is just a few doors down from my apartment and I have spent many an evening writing law school essays and hanging out at this cafe. The cafe mocha drinks, soup, and chicken salad sandwich are my favorites. The cake is to die for and while I haven't had the ice cream, I see people come in for it even in the dead of winter. The atmosphere is warm and the staff is nice - you can sit forever and no one will mind. I like having this as my little hiding place when I feel like getting out of my apartment and for those who don't live in the neighborhood, it is a little bit cozier than than the Starbucks on the corner of Beacon. I will admit that their dinner isn't that great - for the money you can definitely go elsewhere and get a better meal. I'm pretty sure they just microwave frozen lasagna, for example. More the type of place to chill w/ some coffee or catch up with a friend.
(4)
Jun S.
the food etc here is not that great, but it has a great atmosphere in the evening if you just want to sit and read your book, sort of reminds me of those european cafes (except that sometimes i wish i had a glass of wine).
(4)
Arestia R.
My secret rainy day spot! Beacon Hill is so charming, why not head over when the weather is less than? On lazy Sunday afternoons, I'll sit with my book or do some writing over a bowl of clam chowder...mmmm. Or why not sit and enjoy the afternoon with friends over a cappuccino and a palmier? It's the perfect blend of romanticism and delight.
(3)
Melissa C.
I like little cafes with hand-written signs stuck in the window as well as places with home-made soup. I found this place to be just ok. The home-made clam chowder was creamy and buttery... but surprisingly... Campbell-esque. I've seen some chowder recipies where they start of with a cream can soup base... that's what this reminded me of, I'm not saying that's what it is, but that's what it reminds me of. The tuna potato salad is yummy, over $9, but yummy. I did not try the desserts, but the cakes/pies/tiramisu look pre-fab, and I'll basically bet money on that. Most of the other baked goods(cookies/cannolis) are baked in house, except the biscotti. You can snake wireless off the Starbucks if you sit by the window. You can eat lunch here for under $10, but there are other places I'd rather go on Beacon Hill. However, if you need speed, this place was darn fast!
(3)
Seth P.
Its a little bit of Italy, maybe? I am not such a huge fan of the prices here, or the decor, but the icecream, the icecream is unbelievable. Its the best gelato east of italy. Just stop in and try some limon, or straccietella. Its so good!
(4)
Julie S.
Okay, so I can't comment on their food food. But the desserts are DIVINE. The cannolis are fresh filled, and the filling has little bits of chocolate in it...my mouth is watering just thinking about it. It stays open late-ish - I just went there Sunday night at 10 p.m. The atmosphere is very cute and romantic. Although the management has apparently not decided whether you order at the counter or from a server, it's a nice place to relax - I savored that cannoli for a solid 30 minutes. Good first date spot.
(5)
Casey R.
Terrible service, one of the rudest waitresses I've ever encountered. Food was mediocre. I will not be going back and hope to not see that nasty witch ever again.
(1)
Jen R.
I enjoy the sandwiches here-- I especially like the soup and 1/2 a sandwich combo. Try the tuna-- it is served heating high and is very good as a melt. I think the inside has a North-end type feel to it.
(4)
Rebecca M.
Where to begin? My two friends and I stopped in here the other night after my friend who lives in Beacon Hill said this was one of the only places she had never eaten. Now I know why. The service was awful. First, we went up to the register, and they sent us with menus and told us to sit at any table. After a long wait, a waiter appeared and informed us it was his second day. Understandably, he struggled. A lot. He didn't even understand what diet coke was. However, attempts to work with the seasoned waitress didn't lead to any better success, nor with the man who seemed to be the owner. Our salads were good but not worth the wait or trouble. My friend ordered a coffee that never arrived and was still on our bill, and trying to get it removed was extremely difficult. We were finally able to get it off the bill but the shady arithmetic and taxes worked out that we still overpaid. The food was decent, but not for the price or the hassle. Better places to go on Charles St.
(1)
Nicole M.
i can only speak to the gelato, but it was HEAVENLY. a bit pricey (as is everything on beacon hill), but my god is it good. the location is phenomenal... right off the common with great people watching.
Eggs are rubbery Overpriced Ran out of sausages when I went Not a pleasurable experience
(1)
Jasmine C.
Past worker here... Most of the menu isn't made fresh or even in our restaurant. All of the baked goods (pastries, cakes) are all store bought. The only reason why some of the pastries like croissants and muffins taste soft and "fresh" is because we microwave them. Don't believe the owner's lie that the cakes are "baked by my grandma every week". The cheesecake literally comes out of a box labeled in "CHEESECAKE FACTORY". Most of the entrees (pasta, lasagna, stew) is made in the pathetic little "kitchen" we have. But they're made at least a few days in advance. When they're ordered the chef just microwaves it. Serving the breakfast menu was the absolute worst part of my job there. The only fresh food is the fruit. Everything else is made in the microwave. All of the eggs are pre-beaten together into a large bowl. An omelet is simple some of these pre-beaten eggs microwaved in an "as-seen-on-TV plastic easy omelet maker". And when scrambled eggs are ordered we simple smash the omelet up after microwaving it. The French toast, pancakes, and sausages are all frozen and most likely from BJs or Costco. Same goes for our "fresh" seafood. The only things made fresh, as they should be, are: sandwiches, salads, soups, and drinks. These are the only food items I've seen made as the customers order them. The waiters also all made the coffee drinks fresh. But be warned, the OJ is only fresh in the sense it's freshly poured from a carton. Tl;dr Except for the lunch menu of sandwiches, salads, and soups, everything is either: 1) frozen 2) pre-made days in advance 3) or bought from BJs/Costco Our kitchen does consist of stoves and ovens. But they are only used to make our pre-made food (lasagna, stews, and pastas). Our most commonly used kitchen appliance is: the microwave. As a worker, the only foods Id eat on lunch breaks were the fresh ones: sandwiches, salads, and soups. And that's the only thing you should eat if you ever DARE go there. Even if you're tired and impatient from waiting in line for the Paramount, a popular nearby restaurant we feed off of, just go anywhere else. Eating at here is the same as eating microwaved food at home.
(1)
Ranjit G.
This breakfast restaurant is possibly the most horrid I've been in my entire life. They're unwilling to accept group of 7. Very uncourteous service. Food was bad! Potatoes weren't even done when served. I wouldn't go here again. Ever!!
(1)
Augustus B.
Cannoli was ish. Can't comment on the food because I didn't eat. Didn't have a great vibe overall. Not sure if I'd want to eat here to be honest. I was passing by and craved a night time treat. See for yourself if you like this places food though 2 star for the cannoli only
(2)
Mike B.
How do I even begin? Despicable. I could get better clam chowder from a can. The bread isn't fresh! The service stinks! Dirty beyond belief! Never again! And don't even try it unless you want to feel like jumping off a cliff right after.
(1)
Katee F.
Great service; Fruit was fresh /portions were small / Coffee was weak / cheese & spinach omelet was OK / pancakes were thin and rubbery while the French toast was also institutional - However the croissant was excellent !!!
(2)
Nick L.
Questionable menu, edible food not worth finishing. I got the French toast - which was incredibly dry, even drenched in the amber corn syrup - and I didn't dare to try the off-grey, shriveled sausages that accompanied the toast. Coffee also drinkable, but not worth finishing.
(1)
Jessica L.
This would be a cute place to come for dessert, definitely not somewhere to come for breakfast. We only came here because Paramount was so busy and we are a group of impatient hungry girls during a holiday brunch time. The breakfast menu honestly doesn't look bad, however as soon as the food came out, I tried hard to hide my horror...I should have known when they said that they couldn't do eggs any other way than scrambled. I wouldn't be surprised if all they had in the back was a microwave. The two eggs, potatoes, and sausages I ordered was exactly what I ordered lol - scrambled(?) egg that looked....interesting, potatoes that weren't too bad, but were pretty soggy, and finally sausages that were...straight out of the freezer. I'm pretty sure I have the same sausages at home in my freezer actually. Anyways, it was my fault for not checking yelp before walking in. I wanted real breakfast food, not something that would look fitting on a paper plate. All in all, I wouldn't mind coming back for just dessert since the dessert menu seemed great. But for breakfast? Nope, never again.
(1)
Daryl M.
I don't like to bash businesses but this one I made an exception. This place only survives because of its location. I've been here 3 times (all out of necessity - paramount's line was half way down the block). Each trip the food was terrible and on my last trip I had quite a epiphany. If anyone goes to this place check out the kitchen or lack there of. You will notice no exhaust vents which are required under a building code for restaurants. I don't believe they are breaking the law but instead they don't exactly have a real kitchen!!!' No flat stove top or open flame stove top to speak of. EVERYTHING IS COOKED IN A MICROWAVE OR TINY Subway oven. How in the world do they expect to make a good breakfast without a stove top?? Well don't worry they dont and that's why the restaurant is usually empty and paramount's is always packed. Microwaved egg omelettes yummy!!! And I agree with most other posts - bad service usually one waiter for the entire place that has 15-20 tables. Avoid and go to paramount further down the street towards Cambridge. paramount is pricey but the breakfast is amazing.
(1)
Alexandra S.
If I could rate this as a zero I would. I encourage all those who are in the neighborhood to boycott this restaurant. I've visited several times for their mediocre food (always as a last resort, as nothing they serve is nearly on par with anything else on Charles Street) as my parents own a home just up the street. Every other visit has been fine. Nothing spectacular but service was decent and food was edible. I visited just a week ago. I walked in, was dressed nicely as was my breakfast date. We were told to seat ourselves and did. There were maybe three other groups dining in the entire restaurant. We sat for maybe eight minutes before we had to ask for menus. No water, no silverware, nothing else. Two other parties walked in, were greeted warmly and received menus, water and silverware immediately. After we were scoffed at for asking for water (nearly 20 minutes had passed). Both couples near us were ordering their meals from our seemingly very attentive waiter. We decided then and there to leave. I've been several times and never had a problem with service, but did I mention the man with me was African American? Dressed in chinos and a polo shirt, walking out of a $4.5 million dollar home in Beacon Hill. And still, in 2015, RACISM is alive and well at "Caffe Bella Vita".
(1)
Kedar V.
Poor service. Ordered vegetable omlet and got unseasoned scrambled eggs. Not worth the 10 dollar price.
(1)
Jim Z.
If I could give this place no stars I would. Cold, unfriendly staff, disgusting school cafeteria food, no bacon (wtf), sausage was the texture of a raisin, and scrambled only egg choice - seriously. And significantly overpriced, even for this neighborhood. No wonder it was empty. Took my 2 little boys with me: over $50.
(1)
Cynthia G.
We went there for brunch on a Saturday morning because there was no line. It turned to be our worst restaurant experience ever. Everybody in there received the same microwaved eggs and microwaved pancakes, with cheese or sausage depending of what you had order. The staff was a bunch of young students who were all nice but not exactly on top of things. But again, worst food ever. Those eggs just tastes like plastic... Wish I could give NO star!
(1)
Patrick L.
Amazing desserts! Grabbed a few to go after ordering a pizza from Upper Crust Pizza (a few doors over - amazing pizza!) The young lady (Emmy) who helped us was super sweet. I didn't stay long, but my brief stop was fine...and the desserts were delicious! 3.75 stars - thank you, Emmy (Emmie, sp?)
(3)
Leena C.
Very disappointed with the service. We were there with friends and we both have toddlers. We were there just after 11 and asked for a grilled cheese sandwich for the kids and they would not accommodate because it was not lunch time menu yet. The atmosphere otherwise is ok, nothing special. We ended up leaving so I can't comment on the food, I am commenting just on the service. Will not be coming back.
0 star breakfast. Microwaved eggs, microwaved pancakes, and microwaved sausage. Only positive was the refreshing ice water
(1)
Ilana O.
Worst service ever. Didn't know if we were supposed to wait to be seated or not after waiting for a while so we seated ourselves, kept waiting and eventually got menus. No service after that. Even when we got our food- eggs pancakes etc, they didn't give any appropriate condiments so I had to ask for syrup for the pancakes and ketchup for eggs. As well as water. And the check? Never got it. Had to go up and ask. Then wait. Then only received a total amount scribbled on a piece of paper. Worst place I've had breakfast in Boston.
(1)
Dina A.
Is one the lowest? Can I go lower? This restaurant seemed inviting and warm but we were extremely disappointed. The food was not good and extremely overpriced. We eat out pretty often so prices don't usually shock me, but I almost lost it when I got the bill. I will not return and suggest any other place over this one.
(1)
Heather G.
Overpriced breakfast that would have been too small for a starving child. $8.50 for two links of mediocre sausage, 3 scrambled eggs, and 5 small pieces of potatoes. Plus, the rest of the options on the breakfast menu were terrible and overpriced (most likely because of the restaurant's Charles St. location). They also informed me they couldn't halve the muffin and put it on the grill because they use a George Forman-style grill. Coffee was ok. Should have waited at the long line at the Paramount.
(2)
Angela Z.
I really don't think this place is as awful as some of the previous reviews have dramatically stated. The hot drinks like chestnut st. drink and chai latte were a little sweet but good, the soups were good (the calm chowder especially), the sandwiches are okay. Service was timely and fine. None of the food was of the best quality or price, but that's what's expected of a cafe in a tourist area. I ate here without seeing yelp reviews beforehand and I was really surprised by some of the horrible yelp reviews. Can't tell if my experience was better than the average customers or if people are just really cut throat about this place.
(4)
Andrew L.
Good food and great service, I had a great Apple and chicken salad. Large portions. The pastries are good too.
(5)
Peter M.
Best lasagna I ever ate! Excellent chicken parm and extremely fresh and delicious Greek salad. Recommend highly.
(4)
Susan B.
Awful. Literally the worst place I've eaten. Actually, I didn't really eat much, it's not even real food. The only reason this place gets any business is because there's only a couple other options close by and there's always a wait.
(1)
Simon T.
Nice location in beacon hill. Lasagna wasn't bad, prices were decent and service was decent. Not a bad second or third option
(3)
shary m.
Totally disgusting, no kitchen, entirely microwaved breakfast. This place should be shut down.
(1)
Amy G.
I'm not sure how this place manages to stay in business in such a central area. We were there today: all the air conditioners were broken, the food was bland and seemed to be heated up in a microwave, and the service was strange.
(1)
Ngan N.
The breakfast was horrible. I don't typically write reviews but I'm pretty sure I could have bought frozen sausage and French toast at a grocery store, heated it up myself, and it would have still tasted better than the French toast and sausage I had here. I literally saw them microwaving our food when the bf and I went here for breakfast. Only giving them one star because the coffee was decent.
(1)
Ebrambil B.
A real life restaurant impossible!!! Do not come here!! Horrible service and not real food!! Came in Bc the place we really wanted to go to had a long line... Yuck 0 stars if I could
(1)
Laura D.
If I could give negative stars, I absolutely would- without a doubt, 100%. From what I've learned, Paramount is the place to be, but the line is typically out the door and down the block. With no desire to stand in line for an hour, we moseyed on down the block and came across this place. Save your time & money, because it is a miserable experience. Upon entering the restaurant, we took a seat a two-top and waited for the waitress to come around with the menu and waters. 20 minutes later, we were greeted by someone (not sure if she was a hostess, waitress, cook) letting us know that "It's very busy right now so it will be awhile before we will be able to help you." Right. Receiving our water 15 minutes after that, we ordered our breakfast. My boyfriend gets up to use the restroom, which is through the kitchen and down the steps. When he returned, he told me that he will not eat here and we had to go. The reason(s) being are as followed: THEY DON'T HAVE REAL FOOD. THERE IS NO KITCHEN. THERE IS NO STOVE. THERE IS NO OVEN. My boyfriend witnessed the "cooks" pull frozen pancakes and eggs out of a box and shove it right in the microwave. Also, the "cooks" that are preparing the food are also handling all the dirty dishes - no gloves. Absolutely disgusted, we cancelled our breakfast and left. What a wretched place. We wasted over an hour of our short day for a quick breakfast.
(1)
J I.
If I could give no stars that is what it should get ! It was so bad micro wave eggs and pancakes !!!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dessert Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Lulu T.
Whenever I walk in here there is an enormous lack of hospitality. Essentially their behavior makes you feel like you're putting them out. It is almost just awkward. I've only had ice cream here, but it would be a lot more inviting if they learned basic graciousness.
(1)Stacey S.
Had a lovely evening with a delicious apple caramel cake and a cup of coffee. Friendly service, intimate ambiance. I want to come back and try their more savory offerings.
(4)Tom E.
In my opinion, a definite no-go. Went for breakfast. I ordered an egg white omelette and was told they were to busy to make an omelette with egg whites. Pretty bizarre. Waitstaff was pretty poor at basic communication. In the hour I was there for breakfast I saw 2 other groups get seated and leave as a result of being ignored. Not sure how this place survives with such poor customer service. Food was just okay. Go somewhere else.
(1)Mark H.
I agree with Dave B. on this one... DO NOT ORDER FOOD HERE. I ordered scrambled eggs, potatoes, and sausage, and I'm pretty sure it was all heated up in a microwave (or at least tasted like it did). In 10 years of living in Boston, this was the worst food I've ever been served at a restaurant. My wife got a hot drink with whipped cream on top and the whipped cream had gone sour. I really hate to be negative, but I feel like it is important for the world to know how bad the food is here. This is a good place to go if you want to fully realize how good all the other food you've been eating is. I didn't realize how good I had it until I ate here. The servers were friendly though.
(1)Paula B.
Nice warm cafe to duck into. Delicious latte and satisfying breakfast! Wait staff is Slow and you're not Sure whether you're searing yourself or not.
(4)Ed K.
Location is great, that's why we walked in. Stuff has a vague idea of what they are doing, bread was very hard to chew on, I would be embarrassed to serve that at home. On the good side both soups - minestrone and chouda - were delicious and probably made from scratch.
(2)Daniel D.
This place makes no sense. Is it a sit yourself cafe or table service? Don't think even the owners know. The bathroom is a war zone and reeks like a porta potty. Avoid at all costs.
(1)R. M.
Avoid the breakfast. Came here purely by chance on a weekend. The pancakes, sausage and eggs are clearly pre-made and microwave-cooked. Weak coffee. The service while friendly was also neglectful and slow.
(1)Tammy K.
Caffe Bella Vita has the potential to be so great with its central location, wide array of coffee and desserts, as well as the fact that it's open late. Unfortunately, it's not quite there yet- their pies and pastries don't taste as good as they look, and their coffee/tea offerings leave a lot to be desired. Please improve! We need a tasty late night dessert place in Beacon Hill :)
(2)Sharra C.
Caffe Bella Vita was recommended to us by a gentleman at our hotel. Our initial plan was to stop some place for a traditional Irish breakfast, but we were still on Pacific Standard Time. So lunch it was! First opinion was that the spot was very quaint. The menu was pretty basic. Soups, salads, sandwiches (for the most part). I asked my waiter for a recommendation, and that was the Chicken Symphony Salad. My friends went with various soup/sandwich combinations. When my salad came out, it was HUGE! Crisp greens topped with large slices of mozzarella, tomatoes, onions, and a perfectly grilled/seasoned chicken breast. It definitely was a 'symphony of taste'. I know, I know... cheesy, but the dish was aptly named. I ended my lunch with a large espresso w/ orange, and was very pleased. The downside was that it felt as though there were not enough people working at the caffe that day. We sat for a while waiting for our bill and then, waiting for it to be picked up. Maybe things just move at a slower pace in MA? All-in-all, it was a good experience. I'd return for an encore lunch!
(4)Robert C.
Here's the thing: I wish I could love this place. The decor is like a perfect Parisian cafe, the gelato is not bad, and the wi-fi is free. The food and service, however, are horrible. I ordered a bowl of chili that seemed like it was bought en masse from a restaurant or catering supply company. Likewise, the salad was made with vegetables less than fresh and cut into super-huge chunks. You would be better served going elsewhere.
(1)Elizabeth H.
After a lovely day in boston, My boyfriend decided it was time for a bite to eat. We thought this place would be great because it was casual dining.. as we sat, the server brought us menus and water.. not once introducing herself nor offer to explain the menu. Anyway, we proceed to order... I order a root beer and she asked what twice before i decide it would be easier to point. we ordered a salad to start, followed by chicken parmesan and lasagna.. we waited for about 15min. then, ALL the food was brought at once. Whatever!! The salad was okay.. it had what they said was fresh mozzarella, but tasted far from it. My boyfriend proceeded to eat his Chx. Parm. witch was HORRIBLE!!!! I couldn't even swallow it, It tasted like it sat in the freezer for a month or two! WTF!! He took the chicken off and just tried to finish the pasta. I had the Lasagna witch was definitely microwaved( I witnessed this as I was on my way to the restroom). I highly recommend just don't waste your time or money here!!! YUKKKK!!!
(1)Jeff F.
I've been here twice. Although the Veggie Soup was decent, both sandwiches I've had at Bella Vita have sucked. It's easy to get duped in here... you see that every other place on Charles Street is packed and there's cute little place on the corner that could be good. Well, it's not. There's a reason it's not packed. Pass.
(1)Jen K.
Friendly service, great location. Seafood sandwich was sparse on the seafood, tough chewy bun. Clam chowder was mostly cream, very little clam or anything else. Expected better quality for the price. Oh, and heads up- Restroom is down a steep narrow spiral metal staircase. Be careful! Overall, not impressed. Won't go back.
(2)Matthew H.
It's Boston. So many good options, this isn't the one.
(1)Greg H.
TOTALLY DISGUSTING BREAKFAST. All microwaved food - note there are no eggs on the menu beyond scrambled or omlette - all made in microwave. They don't deserve this one star rating.
(1)Lori S.
What a cute little place! Great tasting, fresh salads. Visited there on the 4th of July with a friend. Restaurant was quite crowded but they seemed to be keeping up quite nicely with the crowd. Gelato was wonderfully delicious on such a hot day. Would absolutely recommend!
(4)Alyssa J.
This place really is A-Ok. It almost got the fourth star but due to some weird indiosyncrasies (can a location be idiosyncratic?) I am leaving it at three. Likes: Waitress was attentive but not overbearing. I was studying so she sort of gave me some space which I appreciated. Clam chowda. Yum. (definitely needed salt though) Chili. Yum. Coffee chocolate gelato. Double Yum. They have been totally cool with me going in there with books, spreading my stuff out and hunkering down to soak up some legal knowledge. Dislikes: Bathroom in the basement??? I felt really weird walking through the kitchen to use the loo. This ends up being a pretty pricey place to study or read for a long period of time. So the likes outnumber the dislikes, so I am now in an open relationship with Bella Vita. This place also rocks a pretty antiquated set of the Massachusetts Annoted Legal Code which is pretty damn awesome.
(3)Doug G.
Was there on July fourth. Was very busy and still service and food was very good. My friend and I each had a salad and was very pleased. It was priced just a little high for what you got, but all in all I would eat here again.
(4)NR H.
I want to share that this is the first place that left me determined to sign up for a yelp account. Funny enough, I saw that someone else wrote this too before me... great minds do think alike.. My fiancé & I were visiting his friend in Boston last year and we got lured in by the "authentic Italian ice cream" sign and our undeniable hunger. We obviously did not know the area and just walked in to the closest place that was open. What a big mistake that was... This was the low point of my Boston trip and I'm not a big foodie (though I have friends who are) so when I rate this with 1 star, it speaks volumes. We ordered pasta from a waitress who seemed to be on her first day of the job. We were understanding of that as she stumbled to take our order and came back several times as she forgot the basics (water, utensils, part of our order). The 1 star is for the food. The exact words out of my mouth after my first bite were "This is worse than Chef Boyarde." I couldn't believe the price we paid for such poor quality food. If it was cheap at the least then I would have justified it to that but when it's so bad that you feel that your money was wasted, that's just a horrible experience (and money) you will never get back. I don't know what their "authentic ice cream" tastes like as we were too turned off to try anything else. I hope they have replaced their chef since our visit last year or they started taking cooking 101 lessons. I hope this review saves someone else from a bad eating experience. Perhaps people in Boston are more generous with their rating but when I did check at the time, it was 3.5 stars. I'm hoping my honest feedback serves someone well....
(1)Aubri L.
When hungry at 11am in Chestnut Hill... you might want to skip this place. We stopped in for something to satisfy our growling stomaches, and split a tuna melt. For a $10-something sandwhich, I was kind of expecting more than an open-faced crunchy toast with tuna and semi-warm cheese. Free wifi, that's a plus... Anddd, that's all I got.
(2)Dave B.
If you want a coffee, espresso drink, or gelato - this place is fine. DO NOT ORDER FOOD. When you look at the menu and the prices, it seems like this is an upscale brunch and lunch place - but look around and you will notice that this cafe does not have a kitchen. The $10 brunch items are cooked in a microwave! The pancakes are bisquick! The side of fruit is a slice of apple. I can only imagine how miserable the lunch items are.
(1)Maggie B.
We stopped in for a lunch on Sunday, walked in and there was no one to greet us or a sign to indicate whether we seat ourselves or not. A server then told us to sit where ever, we did and 5 minutes later we still didn't have menus so I went and got some from the behind the dessert bar. Another 10 minutes passed before we had our order taken, we got two sandwiches and a soup(clam chowder). The soup had chunks of cornstarch or flour that had been used to thicken it but not mixed well and the chicken salad sandwich had no flavor what so ever. No salt, seasoning, just over cooked chicken and mayo. The bread was good but everything else was such a disappointment. We were going to order their cheesecake but decided against it after the main meal. We should've known better than to stop by, whenever we had previously walked by it was never busy. Not worth it.
(1)assaf k.
On the plus side, It's the only place on Charls St you can actually have a seat on a Saturday Morning without waiting. The rest is pretty bad. I ordered a mozzarella sandwich which consisted of a dry plain white bread roll and some tasteless cheese. no herbs, no tomato, nothing. It seems like it was every ones first day. The waitress, while nice was completely clueless and had to come back each time for the coffee, spoon and milk. Which wasn't actual milk, but one of those "no need to refrigerate cream capsules" you have in the office. To top it all, they charge just like any decent restaurant around it was probably like $15-13 for the sandwich and coffee . They can probably carry on and make a living of the tourists but as a local I'm not coming back.
(2)Kathy A.
This place is a decent lunch spot or better yet you can grab an ice cream/gelato treat. They offer a few different sandwiches, but I prefer the different soups they have. The chili is pretty tasty. I find most of the other food options to be a bit over priced (but I guess this is Beacon Hill....). In addition to the gelato they have some cakes and pastries, which all look pretty good. I wasn't too fond of their coffee so I'd go somewhere else if that's what you are looking for. I did like the used bookstore kind of atmosphere that this place has. It made it easy to just sit there for hours enjoying some grub and light reading.
(3)Jonathan D.
Yawn...this is how I can best describe Cafe Bella Vita. I just signed up for Yelp specifically to share my distaste of this Charles Street establishment. We had initially looked at eating at the Paramount a couple of doors down, but the seating looked horrific and was very busy. Thus, like I'm assuming is the case with most Vita patrons, we went a couple of doors down and settled for a better seating situation. This was a mistake. There was only one waitress serving the entire restaurant. She was great about immediately clearing off a table for us, but then we were ignored for about 20 minutes until my girlfriend went up to the counter to order, figuring this was the procedure since no one had come to help us. Let me be clear, the restaurant was in no way packed or busy. I initially felt bad for the waitress, but that quickly turned to anger at a cheap owner who doesn't hire enough staff. I chose their featured salad that came in at a whopping $17. It was bland and terrible. It was basically a couple of handfuls of iceberg lettuce, some pieces of tomato, some awkwardly large pieces of carrot, and vinaigrette dressing. They then cut up the tinniest ball of mozzarella and dispensed the slices over the top. The final touch was a large, rubbery piece of grilled chicken over the top (of course this wasn't sliced or anything). My girlfriend and her little brother got the roast beef sandwiches. They were much better but they didn't come with anything, even though they were $10 a piece, and I found them on the bland side as well. In conclusion, avoid this overpriced dump. If you want Gelatto, go to the North End. If you want a decent sandwich go anywhere else. I'm not sure about their coffee, but I'm sure it's overpriced as well. I wish I had to sets of hands to give this place 4 thumbs down.
(1)Cc R.
Such a cute little place. Perfect for coffee, tea, or dessert, and an especially nice place to go when it's cold outside!
(3)Jennifer D.
I'm a regular, because it's a good halfway point for a friend and I to meet. I probably eat there ten times a year. It is not fancy, it is not upscale, or gourmet. They may indeed be making a lot of stuff in the microwave. But the hot cocoa is great, as are all the desserts in the display case. The gelato is great. The house salad with chicken and apples on it is super. I like that the veggies and big and chunky. I have never had a problem with freshness. The chowder is good, and the tomato basil sandwich is good as well. I haven't been for breakfast or ordered big meal type things like lasagna or pasta...I've kept it light and "bistro" like on the ordering and have never been disappointed. It's a great place for a cup of tea and a cookie. They don't rush you out - a pleasure in that part of town. The bathrooms are a disappointment and like most public bathrooms in Boston - could be nicer for sure. But I go there for the unrushed chance to catch up with my friend and convenient location, not the bathroom. The staff is always, without exception, pleasant.
(4)Jenn S.
My friend and I randomly chose this cafe one day for lunch while wandering around Beacon Hill. From the outside it looked cute and quaint and there were many sandwiches on the menu so we decided to stop in. The waitress was friendly and the sandwich selection was alright. My friend and I both ordered sandwiches and iced coffee. I was extremely disappointed by both the items I ordered. The sandwich was something I could have made out of my own fridge and the coffee should not have even been called coffee. The price that was paid for the sandwich was completely ridiculous for what it was, and upon leaving we immediately went to Starbucks for some real coffee. Safe to say we will not be eating here again.
(1)Sarah S.
While this place isn't terrible, it definitely isn't a must go, considering all the great food possibilities in Boston. My friends and I wandered in here for a late lunch, afternoon snack on a recent trip to Boston. It was kind of confusing on how you do the ordering. We sat for awhile but when no one came, we finally went up to the counter to ask and were told that orders are taken. We waited a few minutes longer, and finally asked if it would just be easier to tell her the orders, but she said that they don't do that. So we ended up waiting till she had the time to come and take our orders (in her defense, she WAS the only one taking orders and bringing the food out so she was kind of busy) My clam chowder was just alright. It was pretty thick with lots of cream, but the clams weren't that great. Pretty disappointing since Boston is known for their chowdah.
(2)DeAnna D.
Absolutely disgusting! NEVER eat at this place. What was touted as "fresh seafood" was tinned shrimp. The bread tasted stale. the "homemade cannelloni" is certainly NOT. the owner leaves the unfilled shells out on display. Speaking of the owner, he is a very unpleasant man and bound to drive any sensible diner away. If you are on Charles St. and have not booked a restaurant, try self-catering at the local market. The sandwiches are much better and you'll save money!
(1)Taryn R.
The service was awful. We waited 5 minutes to be greeted after we were seated, were checked on only once and had to ask for our check. The food was awful. Don't waste your time here.
(1)Megan M.
I was disappointed by this place and won't be going back. My biggest complaint is the high price for what you get, which isn't much. The cappuccino I ordered for $3.50 was good tasting but was so small. Cappuccinos are supposed to come in those huge soup bowl mugs but this was smaller than even your average at-home coffee mug. Then I ordered a $9.50 mozzarella sandwich was was also pretty bad. I was expecting fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and a few leaves of basil. What I got was a huge hunk of bread, a ton of melted part-skim, grocery store, Kraft mozzarella type cheese, two measly thin slices of tomatoes, and a sprinkle of dried oregano. $10.00 didn't even get me any sides with that sandwich! Paid way too much for crap "Italian" food.
(1)Helen L.
cute place for desserts and wifi access. i got the mint chocolate chip and to my pleasant surprise the chocolate pieces were so big and looks like whole chocolates! i'm not too sure about their soups and other foods though. they are a little on the pricey side though but a good place to relax in the afternoon or on a weekend.
(3)Meghan R.
It hurts me to give this place 3 stars, because I actually come here a lot. I want to give 4 stars for dine-in and 2 stars for take-out, though, so I guess this is the next best thing. Like: panzanella salad, lemon sorbet, all their desserts, gelato!, nice waitstaff Dislike: poorly made take-out sandwiches, food that is supposed to be hot served ice cold for take-out, failure to give us what we ordered and paid for (you owe me a cookie!) I'll keep going here, because I'm in the neighborhood, but you have no idea how mad I was to realize, after closing time, that they didn't give me the cookie I've been waiting for all night.
(3)Aboud Y.
Review is for gelato and dessert only. Both are outstanding and CBV is a regular stop when I'm n the area. Their gelato is DDDDelicious!
(4)Lex M.
It was a cool summer day and all I wanted was a little something warm to hit the spot while I did some computer work. My boyfriend and I, both with laptops, saw a sign on the door that read 'wifi available.' Perfect, we thought. As we brought our computers onto our table, and after we ordered two drinks and lunch, our waitress* said to us, "You can use the internet, but you can't stay here for ten hours." Hospitality/tip fail. I'm sure she's not the mascot for Bella Vita, but she's a face nonetheless. *Dark hair, resembles the actress Nancy Downs from 'The Craft."
(1)Kat L.
I'm going to err on the side of generosity and call this restaurant merely lackluster instead of actively offensive. But that's mostly just because I haven't tried any of their dessert offerings. Came in because of its great Common-adjacent location, tons of tables and promise of free WiFi. Then ended up spending ten dollars (not including tip) on a sublimely uninspired bowl of lentil soup and a Diet Coke. Soup had obviously never been introduced to the influence of any seasoning whatsoever -- not even salt. The whole shebang tasted like nothing more than dirty water. The slab of white bread that accompanied it was significantly LESS gourmet than frozen Sara Lee dinner rolls. It might succeed as a gelato stand or purveyor of stiffly priced desserts, but as a cafe, it fails.
(3)Rosemary C.
I don't normally go out of my way to report a negative, but I must agree that this is no place to order food. I remember it from years ago when it was (apparently) under different ownership: it was always a nice place to have a cup of something warm & enjoy the views of Charles Street passersby. Last Sunday my husband & I were searching for breakfast and made the HUGE mistake of "eating" here. Except for one waitress, who seemed to be the only one actually working, the other servers were mostly standing by staring at the ceiling. The service was HORRIBLE. The place was half-empty, yet the wait was eternal. The food - some kind of rubberized egg substance? - was worse - I'd call it inedible, but by the time it arrived I was starving, so ate about half of it - and on top of that, it wasn't inexpensive. I mean, insultingly bad. I had the feeling that the owner is actually trying to see how much abuse customers are willing to take. Never again! Too bad, because it is in a great location. Should have joined the line at The Paramount.
(1)Katherine J.
This place is not worth the money. I came in here for some take-out dessert. There are no prices on anything but I'm thinking it can't be more than $3. Wrong! $6 for a TINY piece of carrot cake. Mediocre carrot cake at that. If I'm going to pay $6 for a piece of cheesecake at a little walk in restaurant it better either taste amazing or be an oversized slice of cake. This was neither. Needless to say, I will never go back to Cafe Bella Vita. The only nice thing I can say is that the girl who works here was very nice and understanding.
(1)Dani S.
Yep, "Meh" pretty much says it all for me. The food at this place is awful. I, like many others it seems, was drawn in by the "authentic italian" sign they display. Honestly, the ice cream is good, great even, but the rest of the food - I was kind of appalled, actually. I ordered a Caprese sandwich when there with my dad, and basically it tasted like plastic cheese and frozen tomatoes. Of course, I'm slightly biased having grown up with fresh tomatoes from the garden, but even so, this was just an unacceptable level of food quality for what they advertise, and for food in general. IF you do go here, help yourself to some ice cream and maybe something to drink, but beyond that, spare yourself the pain and the money.
(2)Carol A.
I went last night because it was the only place with an open table on the street, and we were starving. We walked in the door no one greeted us, we stood there for 5 minutes and finally asked a waitress if we could seat ourselves, she handed us two menus and we sat at the only table available and it had dirty dishes on it. 10 minutes later still no service. I was beginning to think it was counter service only, but then a waitress brought food the table behind ours and did not acknowledge us sitting at a dirty table or give any indication she noticed us at all. I went to the counter and was told someone would be there in a minute. The waitress arrived and immediately asked for our order....without clearing the table, I had to ask her to do it. Then she brought out water and I had to ask her to wipe the table down as it was covered in crumbs. I assumed it was her first day but after reading the reviews for this place I think they have no manager and no training for the staff. The owner(?) just stood around behind the counter doing nothing while two waitresses and a busboy meandered around the place with no sense of urgency. It blew me away that the guy in the nice shirt and dress pants (who possibly had invested his own money in this joint) was just standing around while dirty dishes piled up all over the place. Crap rolls downhill, and if the owner/manager won't break a sweat then neither will the employees. I felt as if no one in the cared if we ate or ever came back. What a shame because the food was not bad at all. The salad was delicious, the soups were good and the sandwiches were enormous and very fresh. I wanted to love this little place. It was pretty, in a great spot and it was a beautiful Saturday evening. The owner should be ashamed to have such an awfully run establishment. I have had better customer service at McDonalds.
(2)Danielle K.
This cafe was a wonderful find after a long charity walk. Today the restaurant was understaffed for the flood of walkers, but the food was definitely worth the weight. The sandwich I had was delicious and the soup was quite tasty too. They also had a nice desert selection, w/cakes, cookies, and etc. I highly recommend for a casual bite to eat.
(4)Rich S.
This place is Horrible! I wish I could give it less than one star. The rude and inconsiderate behemoth of a man who served my fiancée and I two small cups of ice-cream had the nerve to give me a hard time because I handed him a credit card. Apparently there's a $10 minimum to use a card - which I'm totally fine with. On a side note, I'm somewhat perturbed that this place gets away with charging over $9 for mediocre ice-cream! However, there was no need to roll the eyes and scoff at me for being unaware of the policy. So I bought a can of diet coke to make it $10. Here's where it gets interesting: He runs my card and it gets charged $1.85. I sign it, no receipt was offered. I figure, good! here's a case of instant karma, this guys is a dick AND an idiot. I leave with two ice-cream cups and a coke for $1.85 - I consider we're even now. The next day I find a second charge has been made for $11 and change. Now I'm over $13 in the hole and pissed off over what I consider fraudulent charges considering my card went through only once. For what? a small amount of ice-cream? all in all I am boycotting this business and suggest you do the same. There are PLENTY of better places to go in Beacon Hill and trust me, you're not missing anything.
(1)John D.
Perfect place for a quick bite to eat on Charles Street. Always good always consistent
(3)Christina G.
I'm not really a fan of this place. I came in today and ordered two cups of soup and a slice of pie.... all of that cost me $20. It's definitely overpriced considering the quality of the food, and the atmosphere here leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion. The pie was good, but the soups were nothing special. I'll stick to Cafe Vanille.
(2)Rudy R.
The staff is delightful enough, but the coffee is terrible. Such a missed opportunity!
(1)Samuel F.
Wandered in here for a late lunch one day. Had soup, salad, and espresso con panna. The soup was great, the salad was okay, the bread served with the soup was so poor as to detract from the meal, the espresso was quite tasty. Overall, okay, but the prices were quite high.
(3)K G.
Cute place in Beacon Hill. Tried the Italian ice cream they make in Mississippi Mud. Coffee flavored with almonds and Oreos. Excellent taste and texture. Almonds were at the point of beginning to be chewy and I prefer the crunch. Full size cookies were nice. $7 for a medium is a touch higher than I would like. I will return to try some of the cake.
(3)Angelina C.
Bella Vita deserves a 1/2-star upgrade for the best cannoli in Boston. Seriously. Its creamy not-too-sweet stracciatella filling was absolute heaven -- HEAVEN. See ya, North End. My thanks go out to the girl on Boston Common last night who told us where she got her take-out container of delectable-looking goodies.
(4)Hannah H.
I'm seeing a trend of very mixed reviews for this cafe and I'll admit that this review probably won't help tilt the scale. I've been in twice and really enjoyed my experience both times, yet observed that other diners were having hard time figuring the place out. The first time I went was a grey, drizzly day and my friends and I needed a place to get warm and cozy. We chose Bella Vita because they have a pretty good reputation for the desserts. We all ordered coffee and two of my friends ordered slices of cake. We were all very happy with our service and the food. The place wasn't too busy so the waitstaff wasn't stressed out at all and I made a mental note to keep Bella Vita in mind when I need lunch or coffee downtown. I went back recently on a beautiful spring weekend for a full meal. Charles street was super-busy and the sun was brilliant, so business was obviously much busier in the cafe. I went alone so it wasn't hard to find a place to sit, I tucked myself into one of the small tables right in the middle of the cafe. The waitress that served me was handling her tables well and gave me perfectly decent service. I ordered the chicken salad and asked her to check with the cook to make sure that it was gluten free. She returned with a piece of paper that had all of the ingredients written down (all of the ingredients in the mayo, as well as all of the whole ingredients in the salad) and asked me to check them. She apologized for making me check, but I was happy to know that the cook, though he or she may not be familiar with gluten, was using caution. The salad was a fantastic plate heaped with salad. There were big slices of green apple,lots of walnuts, and just the right amount of dressing. I'd been walking a lot that day and had worked up an appetite, so tucked right in and nearly finished the whole thing. People around me had great-looking food as well though some people were obviously having a hard time attracting their waitress. A few people had to wave an arm or go up to the counter to ask a question, and some people walked into the cafe and were not greeted (though some were). The man who looked like a manager, maybe owner was friendly with me but a little gruff with some people asking questions. He also opened the door of the cafe halfway through the meal which made the place quite cold. I put on a scarf and my jacket and saw a few others do the same. It seemed like he wasn't very aware of his customers. The bill for a salad and soda was over twenty dollars, more than I usually spend on lunch and more than the decor and atmosphere would suggest. The portion was large and the food was good, but I will probably only go back to the cafe once in a while. Another note is that they have lots of wifi signs in the windows, but inside there are signs asking people not to use the wifi on the weekends.
(3)Chris A.
How could anyone honestly give this place any kind of decent rating? I had been without power for almost a full day so just about any decent place to sit down with a warm soup or decent food would have gotten rave reviews. I ordered the soup+sandwich with clam chowder and roast beef. My girlfriend ordered the chili. Her chili had no beans and very little meat - it was like she was drinking spaghetti sauce. My clam chowder was decent, but my roast beef sandwich had ONE slice of roast beef on it. I'm 100% dead serious and wish I had a camera on me.... my "sandwich" was ONE slice of roast beef, ONE piece of iceberg lettuce and ONE slice of tomato. They typically charge $10 for a whole one of those. I kid you not. To top it off, our waitress was horrible. One girl covering four tables. That's it. At one point she grabbed my plate out from under me while my chowder was still half full. Not once did we get a refill on a water and we were there for over an hour. But she sure had time to hurry the check over to the table! It wasn't just us either; she was completely oblivious to what was going on. The internet wasn't working, so I asked her about it and she replied with "oh, it's working just fine" and walked away. Two minutes later a girl a few tables over asks her what's up with the internet and the waitress says "I haven't gotten any complaints all day, it is working fine for everyone else." Before walking away from her, too. SHE LITERALLY JUST HAD ME TELL HER IT WASN'T WORKING! Finally another customer informed myself and the girl that the internet wasn't working but that we could use his hotspot. That the internet at the cafe hadn't worked for basically anyone all day without a ton of hassle. Once I got set up some guy came from back in the kitchen and made me unplug my computer so he could plug in a lamp that was about 6 inches tall. Oh, and it was the middle of the day so you couldn't even tell it was on! But he was adamant that it be plugged in. Not that I could tell because he couldn't speak English. It'd be nice if he did, but I don't really care about that. It's just really annoying when he stands there and grunts and points at the wall like you're supposed to know what that means. Then grunting louder, upset because I'm not catching on to his impromptu game of charades. I desperately tried to give this place zero stars, but Yelp wouldn't let me submit the review without at least one star. Just know that this place doesn't even deserve that.
(1)Hubert H.
Most of my previous comments still stand, but will add that it is a nice place to sit and observe the wonderful sunset while in downtown Boston. Their soup chowder is pretty good as well.
(5)Leighann F.
Nothing warms you up better and pairs more readily with a long walk home than a nice up of hot tea, a few scoops of gelato and setting that reminds you of a small cafe in Italy. Staffed with nice people offering tea, coffees, gelatos and various other sugary delights, Cafe Bella Vita became the break in our jaunt from The Liberty Hotel to the T at Park Street. Here, you can sit for a spell, warm your belly (in the winter), cool your jets (in the summer) and feel truly welcomed into an atmosphere of cafe culture that seems miles away from the hustle and bustle of an American city. Recommendations: the turtle and strawberry gelato. Especially after a big meal, skip whatever the restaurant is offering and take in a cup of coffee or herbal tea and scoop of this sweet stuff. For those who come with the mobile office in mind, this cafe does have outlets. But with all that sweet stuff on display and a window view for people watching on Charles Street, it may be tough to concentrate!
(4)Mike G.
no need to troop to the north end for this famous sicilian pastry. i prefer the freshly filled "little tubes" here than mike's. thinner, less sweet. much like i remember from my first in napoli many cannolis ago. love them any which way. w/ pistachio, vanilla and shells dipped in chocolate. the faded, warm look and feel of this café could be an any collegetown-nyc, san francisco, cambridge, paris. a perfect spot to watch charles st. go by.
(4)Adam F.
Sign on the door says breakfast 9am til noon. Come in at 11:30 and its lunch only. Worthless.
(1)Tony P.
I went here last summer. We came across this place while walking around the city. The wait was pretty long to get our order in. The ice cream was delicious. I think we got the coffee or toffee flavored ice cream. One thing I do remember that is was pricey for what it was. Location was awesome, a block or two away was a park. Many activities going on to enjoy it.
(3)Rob C.
It's nice to know there's such a quiet, unassuming, comfortable spot in Beacon Hill. A nice place to spend some quality time with a warm beverage and a laptop or your homework, or whatever. There are nice windows to watch people slip and slide on the ice outside, while you sip your delicious hot chocolate. i also had a cannoli for dinner (that's right, mom, for dinner! mwahaha!) which was quite tasty. i'm told the rest of the food is good, too. Unfortunately, i've got to ding them a star; after we were the last folks left there, the proprietors/employees gave us a real 'are-you-still-here?' vibe and we eventually left. Not the sort of thing that you want in a coffee shop type place, but one hopes it's an aberration, because the hot chocolate is awfully darned good.
(3)Max T.
Went there with some coworkers. I had Coffee Mocha and Teramisu. Coffee was great, Teramisu so so.
(3)Ashley A.
I love this little cafe, it has great cannolis, cappuccinos and other Italian treats. Their sandwiches are also great, quick service and it is usually pretty quiet. Prices are a little high for a sandwich, but it is on Charles Street in Beacon Hill.
(4)Maria F.
Caffe Bella Vita: You have a great spot, your decoration is so cozy and I love your classical music. Your place is open late and you're friendly. But you're a restaurant/cafe after all and you're in the business of serving FOOD. I live around the corner and have been there at least 20x. I'm sad to say that your food is really lacking in terms of taste. I don't mind the basic menu, but if you're doing only a few things, at least do them well. Your soups are way too salty and once I had to send it back because it was obvious that it had been seating out for too long. Your sandwiches are *bland*. Your pastas as the previous reviewer said, are below Chef Bayardee standards. The only redeeming point is your ready-made (and not home made) ice cream. You have such great potential, please step up and serve tastier food. Look at Paramount only a few doorsteps away, serves basic food, lacks the ambiance that you have, yet it's always packed (lines out the door on weekends). Would you hire one of their cooks?
(2)Jo B.
I've never had a real meal here, just ice cream, but the ice cream I am in love with. They don't have a huge selection, maybe 10 flavors at most, but what they have is divine. The texture is so smooth and creamy, and not overly sweet and artificial. My favorite is the chocolate chip mint, but the other flavors are amazing as well. The pistachio has huge chunks of pistachio. The turtle flavor is oozing with caramel, chocolate and cashews. $5 gets you a small cup, which is actually a pretty generous portion for being a small. Just be aware that they only take credit cards for $10 and up. Also, free Wi-Fi and and a bright open space with lots of natural light make this a good place to hang out and get some work done. Signs said no computer use on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am -7pm.
(4)KoreanSoup S.
OK lunch place. Internet access. Wouldn't come out of my way for the food or ambience.
(3)Kelly W.
Don't let this cafe fool you, it is way more than just an ice cream & dessert spot. They have great dinner selections. Plus the desserts are excellent. We stopped there for a pre-marathon dinners and couldn't have asked for a more perfect dinner. Lasagna is yummy! took the desserts and they also did not disappoint.
(4)Maria V.
Wonderful casual spot with totally reasonable prices. Ger and I were looking for a place that would feed us after she went sailing and I went biking -- we were both in our "gear" as it were and wanted to go somewhere casual but still decent food-wise. This place was so down-low chill, really lets you linger as long as you like, looks like they are totally okay with laptop workers staying a while as well. I had an awesome classic mozarella sandwich with a generously sized mint mocha cappucino, and their paninis looked very enticing as well. A great little spot to drop in on when you're in the neighborhood or just coming off the Esplanade!
(4)Ger T.
A cute place for Italian-inspired sandwiches, soups, and desserts for a pretty decent price, considering its prime location on Charles St. in the midst of Beacon Hill goodness. Their sandwiches are served on crusty baguettes and I have to say that their soup has that hearty homemade taste that I love in chunky soups. One sandwich and a cup of soup was enough to fill my tummy for the night. They have a great selection of ice creams and coffees too, and according to my friend, their mocha cappucino was delicious. I would recommend Bella Vita for wanderers around Beacon Hill/Charles MGH who just want a bite in a casual atmosphere.This is not fancy food, but as I had just finished sailing and was walking around Charles St half-soaked in ratty sneakers, that was a good thing. "PEOPLE IN T-SHIRTS AND SHORTS! LET'S GO IN!"
(4)Candace P.
Stopped in quickly to this little spot to check out the ice cream selection. It looked delicious as well as other sundry desserts. However, I had not had dinner so thought I'd grab something quick to go. I ordered the Stuffato. It had a lot of spices but was pretty salty for my liking. I will most likely hit up the ice cream next time!
(3)Tom E.
Location Location Location... Caffe Bella Vita gets one star for each of those words - it has a lovely atmosphere and is a great spot to spend an hour or so sitting in the window people-watching the Charles St set. Extra stars? I'm not sure - the service was good and the ambience also but the food was below par and outrageously expensive. And water was served in disposal plastic glasses. Hey - I know we're a little cheap just asking for water but don't make us feel like we're just hanging out at a water cooler - especially after we've paid twelve dollars for a bland sandwich with fillings that look like they were bought at the 7 Eleven.
(3)Bryce S.
3 1/2 stars for solid food: no nonsense, no frilly extras and reasonable prices, especially for Beacon Hill. Yes, Star K's TFM was there... could he be the owner? We were surprised when we were greeted by our "waitress"-- a kid who I swear was no more than 12 years old. We ordered a bottle of San Pellegrino, which came to our table capped off with a stack of plastic Solo cups. Surprisingly good salads; the greens were fresh, they weren't chintzy with the mozz and tomatoes. Our panini sandwich was comfort food grilled cheese: stuffed with a heap of mozz plus 2 slices of tomatoes. FYI, I'm not kidding about no-frills. The sandwich came on a bare, white platter. No fries. No sides. Not even a little iceburg-lettuce-leaf thingy to add a little color. But then again, that's not what I came here for. Overall, it's a good casual eatery amidst some of the priciest real estate in Boston. The best part is trying to guess who's going to be your host: TFM, the Little Kid, or God knows who else.
(3)Alison E.
I highly recommend the minestrone soup! =d We also quite enjoyed the mozzarella sandwiches (though wish they had some basil and/or pesto involved...), and the chocolate gelato. The place is kind of small, but cute. A nice place for cheap food if you find yourself in Beacon Hill.
(4)Shotzi S.
Good little place. Soup was good - lentil. Didn't have a dessert, but they looked fantastic. Price is very reasonable.
(3)Joy F.
My boyfriend happened upon this place while waiting for me to meet him, and it's quite a find. Especially considering the dearth of appealing places to relax anywhere in the greater Park Street station area. I had the lentil soup and he had chicken/vegetable: both were soup like someone's mom would make. Chunky, light hand on the salt, chock full of tender veggies, flavorful. The prices are high-ish, but your $5.50 bowl comes with an enormous hunk of bread, so definitely worth it imho. Also tried a sandwich (various options, most are $8.95): very generous portion as well, more like a sub. Bread was fresh and chewy, toppings fresh and tasty. There are various pasta options as well--they looked good on other people's tables, but were all over $10 (what is with Italian food in Boston??). The Cafe Mocha ($3.50) was superb: strong, perfect mix of chocolate and coffee. The desserts (fresh-filled cannoli, tiramisu, various cakes/pies) looked tasty, but that will be another trip. Atmosphere was the best part, especially after trying hard to like the S**bucks down the street and failing due to constant deafening brewing/grinding noises. Soothing wine-colored walls, b/w prints for something to look at, friendly and patient waitstaff, not too crowded.
(5)Robyn L.
"Home of the sweet moment." That's the little slogan Caffe Bella Vita includes on its business cards. It's fitting. Basically, if you're wandering around Beacon Hill, aimlessly looking for dessert while trying to get through to Free 411 to get the address for Finale, just stop, close the phone and walk over to this place. You won't regret it. I would spend the evening here just noshing on ice cream, cake and cannolis, though I'd also have to roll myself home afterward. . . It would be worth it. They make a great mild coffee, too.
(5)Ashley S.
We just stopped in for coffee and pastries and what a nice change from the Starbucks up the street (at the corner of Beacon and Charles)! The cafe was doing a brisk ice cream business -- they have real Italian ice cream -- but there were as many diners sitting at comfortable tables eating lunch. The music was a pleasant level and not your typical classical fare, and of course, the tira misu was to die for -- HUGE portion, not soaked in rum, the creamiest, thickest pudding on top. The iced cappucino was as good as the cafe mocha latte, and all was reasonably priced: $16 and some change. Very on-the-ball waits staff, too. Can't wait to go back and try the fresh gazpacho, which perfumed the air beautifully.
(4)Ann H.
Three of us stopped in one afternoon after touring the neighborhood. We wanted some coffee and maybe a light dessert. We were told to sit anywhere and then nobody brought us a menu or asked what we wanted. Probably 10 minutes went by before we were able to flag someone down. They didn't have decaf on the menu but when I asked for it she said they had some. My friend ordered a drink but when the waitress came back she said they didn't have what she ordered and instead made her something completely different. Although it was nice of her to bring her another drink, my friend didn't like it and finally had to go up to the cash register to get her attention and to order something else. I must have asked our waitress for a glass of water three times and not once did she bring me one. Nobody ever came by our table again and we probably could have just walked out without paying and no one would have noticed. We didn't though and instead flagged down a check and paid (sorry, no tip) and left. Can't comment on the food because we never got the chance to order any.
(1)elizabeth l.
BEST CLAM CHOWDER IN BOSTON. absolutely wonderful gelato - best i've had outside of italy. sandwiches are delicious and satisfying. great coffee and espresso. the decor could be homier, but the random groupings of old legal textbooks give the place some interesting character. prices seem a little steep, though understandable, considering the cafe's beacon hill location. i recommend that you sit at the window and gaze onto quaint and bustling charles street to feel like you've stepped back in time.
(4)Kristina D.
Love the adorable atmosphere. I cannot get over how adorable Beacon Hill is, even in the rain. The pitter patter of the rain provided gentle accompaniment to ice cream chomping (strawberry and pistachio are the bees knees, by the way) and people-watching. Sitting in here is like sitting in an Italian postcard.
(4)Matt L.
I visited here to grab a snack and a coffee in a quaint section of Boston. The place is okay inside, not so small for the neighbohood and not so upscale that you could not afford the prices. The place was quite slow for the holiday and the service was disorganized and slow. The menu has an eclectic array of creative sandwiches and drinks and some baked goods. The prices are moderate and it was just okay, nothing to rave about. I would probably keep waling down the dtreet to the bunches of other places to eat and skip this one...its not worth it!
(3)Mairead J.
Cute interior and nice staff. I had a hot chocolate and a buttered bagel. They toasted it perfectly which is a huge plus in my book. I was fine going alone for a bit but there were also families and couples. Excellent spot for people-watching, too.
(4)Jenna H.
This place is just a few doors down from my apartment and I have spent many an evening writing law school essays and hanging out at this cafe. The cafe mocha drinks, soup, and chicken salad sandwich are my favorites. The cake is to die for and while I haven't had the ice cream, I see people come in for it even in the dead of winter. The atmosphere is warm and the staff is nice - you can sit forever and no one will mind. I like having this as my little hiding place when I feel like getting out of my apartment and for those who don't live in the neighborhood, it is a little bit cozier than than the Starbucks on the corner of Beacon. I will admit that their dinner isn't that great - for the money you can definitely go elsewhere and get a better meal. I'm pretty sure they just microwave frozen lasagna, for example. More the type of place to chill w/ some coffee or catch up with a friend.
(4)Jun S.
the food etc here is not that great, but it has a great atmosphere in the evening if you just want to sit and read your book, sort of reminds me of those european cafes (except that sometimes i wish i had a glass of wine).
(4)Arestia R.
My secret rainy day spot! Beacon Hill is so charming, why not head over when the weather is less than? On lazy Sunday afternoons, I'll sit with my book or do some writing over a bowl of clam chowder...mmmm. Or why not sit and enjoy the afternoon with friends over a cappuccino and a palmier? It's the perfect blend of romanticism and delight.
(3)Melissa C.
I like little cafes with hand-written signs stuck in the window as well as places with home-made soup. I found this place to be just ok. The home-made clam chowder was creamy and buttery... but surprisingly... Campbell-esque. I've seen some chowder recipies where they start of with a cream can soup base... that's what this reminded me of, I'm not saying that's what it is, but that's what it reminds me of. The tuna potato salad is yummy, over $9, but yummy. I did not try the desserts, but the cakes/pies/tiramisu look pre-fab, and I'll basically bet money on that. Most of the other baked goods(cookies/cannolis) are baked in house, except the biscotti. You can snake wireless off the Starbucks if you sit by the window. You can eat lunch here for under $10, but there are other places I'd rather go on Beacon Hill. However, if you need speed, this place was darn fast!
(3)Seth P.
Its a little bit of Italy, maybe? I am not such a huge fan of the prices here, or the decor, but the icecream, the icecream is unbelievable. Its the best gelato east of italy. Just stop in and try some limon, or straccietella. Its so good!
(4)Julie S.
Okay, so I can't comment on their food food. But the desserts are DIVINE. The cannolis are fresh filled, and the filling has little bits of chocolate in it...my mouth is watering just thinking about it. It stays open late-ish - I just went there Sunday night at 10 p.m. The atmosphere is very cute and romantic. Although the management has apparently not decided whether you order at the counter or from a server, it's a nice place to relax - I savored that cannoli for a solid 30 minutes. Good first date spot.
(5)Casey R.
Terrible service, one of the rudest waitresses I've ever encountered. Food was mediocre. I will not be going back and hope to not see that nasty witch ever again.
(1)Jen R.
I enjoy the sandwiches here-- I especially like the soup and 1/2 a sandwich combo. Try the tuna-- it is served heating high and is very good as a melt. I think the inside has a North-end type feel to it.
(4)Rebecca M.
Where to begin? My two friends and I stopped in here the other night after my friend who lives in Beacon Hill said this was one of the only places she had never eaten. Now I know why. The service was awful. First, we went up to the register, and they sent us with menus and told us to sit at any table. After a long wait, a waiter appeared and informed us it was his second day. Understandably, he struggled. A lot. He didn't even understand what diet coke was. However, attempts to work with the seasoned waitress didn't lead to any better success, nor with the man who seemed to be the owner. Our salads were good but not worth the wait or trouble. My friend ordered a coffee that never arrived and was still on our bill, and trying to get it removed was extremely difficult. We were finally able to get it off the bill but the shady arithmetic and taxes worked out that we still overpaid. The food was decent, but not for the price or the hassle. Better places to go on Charles St.
(1)Nicole M.
i can only speak to the gelato, but it was HEAVENLY. a bit pricey (as is everything on beacon hill), but my god is it good. the location is phenomenal... right off the common with great people watching.
(4)J L.
Came to Café Bella Vita to study for a midterm exam. I only got a cappacino but the food looked decent and seemed reasonably priced. The waitress had to be flagged down when I needed her but where I was studying I didn't mind. I can see why other reviewers were annoyed by this. The music was at a good volume for studying and free wifi. I'll probably come back this semester to study. Con: Most of the plugs were taken up by lamps and christmas lights that decorated the windows. I arrived with 9% battery and had to scurry to find a plug. The waitress was helpful.
(4)Brandon K.
Eggs are rubbery Overpriced Ran out of sausages when I went Not a pleasurable experience
(1)Jasmine C.
Past worker here... Most of the menu isn't made fresh or even in our restaurant. All of the baked goods (pastries, cakes) are all store bought. The only reason why some of the pastries like croissants and muffins taste soft and "fresh" is because we microwave them. Don't believe the owner's lie that the cakes are "baked by my grandma every week". The cheesecake literally comes out of a box labeled in "CHEESECAKE FACTORY". Most of the entrees (pasta, lasagna, stew) is made in the pathetic little "kitchen" we have. But they're made at least a few days in advance. When they're ordered the chef just microwaves it. Serving the breakfast menu was the absolute worst part of my job there. The only fresh food is the fruit. Everything else is made in the microwave. All of the eggs are pre-beaten together into a large bowl. An omelet is simple some of these pre-beaten eggs microwaved in an "as-seen-on-TV plastic easy omelet maker". And when scrambled eggs are ordered we simple smash the omelet up after microwaving it. The French toast, pancakes, and sausages are all frozen and most likely from BJs or Costco. Same goes for our "fresh" seafood. The only things made fresh, as they should be, are: sandwiches, salads, soups, and drinks. These are the only food items I've seen made as the customers order them. The waiters also all made the coffee drinks fresh. But be warned, the OJ is only fresh in the sense it's freshly poured from a carton. Tl;dr Except for the lunch menu of sandwiches, salads, and soups, everything is either: 1) frozen 2) pre-made days in advance 3) or bought from BJs/Costco Our kitchen does consist of stoves and ovens. But they are only used to make our pre-made food (lasagna, stews, and pastas). Our most commonly used kitchen appliance is: the microwave. As a worker, the only foods Id eat on lunch breaks were the fresh ones: sandwiches, salads, and soups. And that's the only thing you should eat if you ever DARE go there. Even if you're tired and impatient from waiting in line for the Paramount, a popular nearby restaurant we feed off of, just go anywhere else. Eating at here is the same as eating microwaved food at home.
(1)Ranjit G.
This breakfast restaurant is possibly the most horrid I've been in my entire life. They're unwilling to accept group of 7. Very uncourteous service. Food was bad! Potatoes weren't even done when served. I wouldn't go here again. Ever!!
(1)Augustus B.
Cannoli was ish. Can't comment on the food because I didn't eat. Didn't have a great vibe overall. Not sure if I'd want to eat here to be honest. I was passing by and craved a night time treat. See for yourself if you like this places food though 2 star for the cannoli only
(2)Mike B.
How do I even begin? Despicable. I could get better clam chowder from a can. The bread isn't fresh! The service stinks! Dirty beyond belief! Never again! And don't even try it unless you want to feel like jumping off a cliff right after.
(1)Katee F.
Great service; Fruit was fresh /portions were small / Coffee was weak / cheese & spinach omelet was OK / pancakes were thin and rubbery while the French toast was also institutional - However the croissant was excellent !!!
(2)Nick L.
Questionable menu, edible food not worth finishing. I got the French toast - which was incredibly dry, even drenched in the amber corn syrup - and I didn't dare to try the off-grey, shriveled sausages that accompanied the toast. Coffee also drinkable, but not worth finishing.
(1)Jessica L.
This would be a cute place to come for dessert, definitely not somewhere to come for breakfast. We only came here because Paramount was so busy and we are a group of impatient hungry girls during a holiday brunch time. The breakfast menu honestly doesn't look bad, however as soon as the food came out, I tried hard to hide my horror...I should have known when they said that they couldn't do eggs any other way than scrambled. I wouldn't be surprised if all they had in the back was a microwave. The two eggs, potatoes, and sausages I ordered was exactly what I ordered lol - scrambled(?) egg that looked....interesting, potatoes that weren't too bad, but were pretty soggy, and finally sausages that were...straight out of the freezer. I'm pretty sure I have the same sausages at home in my freezer actually. Anyways, it was my fault for not checking yelp before walking in. I wanted real breakfast food, not something that would look fitting on a paper plate. All in all, I wouldn't mind coming back for just dessert since the dessert menu seemed great. But for breakfast? Nope, never again.
(1)Daryl M.
I don't like to bash businesses but this one I made an exception. This place only survives because of its location. I've been here 3 times (all out of necessity - paramount's line was half way down the block). Each trip the food was terrible and on my last trip I had quite a epiphany. If anyone goes to this place check out the kitchen or lack there of. You will notice no exhaust vents which are required under a building code for restaurants. I don't believe they are breaking the law but instead they don't exactly have a real kitchen!!!' No flat stove top or open flame stove top to speak of. EVERYTHING IS COOKED IN A MICROWAVE OR TINY Subway oven. How in the world do they expect to make a good breakfast without a stove top?? Well don't worry they dont and that's why the restaurant is usually empty and paramount's is always packed. Microwaved egg omelettes yummy!!! And I agree with most other posts - bad service usually one waiter for the entire place that has 15-20 tables. Avoid and go to paramount further down the street towards Cambridge. paramount is pricey but the breakfast is amazing.
(1)Alexandra S.
If I could rate this as a zero I would. I encourage all those who are in the neighborhood to boycott this restaurant. I've visited several times for their mediocre food (always as a last resort, as nothing they serve is nearly on par with anything else on Charles Street) as my parents own a home just up the street. Every other visit has been fine. Nothing spectacular but service was decent and food was edible. I visited just a week ago. I walked in, was dressed nicely as was my breakfast date. We were told to seat ourselves and did. There were maybe three other groups dining in the entire restaurant. We sat for maybe eight minutes before we had to ask for menus. No water, no silverware, nothing else. Two other parties walked in, were greeted warmly and received menus, water and silverware immediately. After we were scoffed at for asking for water (nearly 20 minutes had passed). Both couples near us were ordering their meals from our seemingly very attentive waiter. We decided then and there to leave. I've been several times and never had a problem with service, but did I mention the man with me was African American? Dressed in chinos and a polo shirt, walking out of a $4.5 million dollar home in Beacon Hill. And still, in 2015, RACISM is alive and well at "Caffe Bella Vita".
(1)Kedar V.
Poor service. Ordered vegetable omlet and got unseasoned scrambled eggs. Not worth the 10 dollar price.
(1)Jim Z.
If I could give this place no stars I would. Cold, unfriendly staff, disgusting school cafeteria food, no bacon (wtf), sausage was the texture of a raisin, and scrambled only egg choice - seriously. And significantly overpriced, even for this neighborhood. No wonder it was empty. Took my 2 little boys with me: over $50.
(1)Cynthia G.
We went there for brunch on a Saturday morning because there was no line. It turned to be our worst restaurant experience ever. Everybody in there received the same microwaved eggs and microwaved pancakes, with cheese or sausage depending of what you had order. The staff was a bunch of young students who were all nice but not exactly on top of things. But again, worst food ever. Those eggs just tastes like plastic... Wish I could give NO star!
(1)Patrick L.
Amazing desserts! Grabbed a few to go after ordering a pizza from Upper Crust Pizza (a few doors over - amazing pizza!) The young lady (Emmy) who helped us was super sweet. I didn't stay long, but my brief stop was fine...and the desserts were delicious! 3.75 stars - thank you, Emmy (Emmie, sp?)
(3)Leena C.
Very disappointed with the service. We were there with friends and we both have toddlers. We were there just after 11 and asked for a grilled cheese sandwich for the kids and they would not accommodate because it was not lunch time menu yet. The atmosphere otherwise is ok, nothing special. We ended up leaving so I can't comment on the food, I am commenting just on the service. Will not be coming back.
(2)Bonnie C.
This café is so cute and offer a vast variety of coffee and pastries. I ordered a vanilla latte, tiramisu, and turtle gelato. Coffee was great and the tiramisu was even better! The turtle gelato was really satisfying. It's also a great place to study because they have a huge space with a lot of tables. They have free wifi, which is a plus. The staff is super friendly and will deliver the pastries to you at your table. Love it and can't wait to come back!
(3)Running B.
0 star breakfast. Microwaved eggs, microwaved pancakes, and microwaved sausage. Only positive was the refreshing ice water
(1)Ilana O.
Worst service ever. Didn't know if we were supposed to wait to be seated or not after waiting for a while so we seated ourselves, kept waiting and eventually got menus. No service after that. Even when we got our food- eggs pancakes etc, they didn't give any appropriate condiments so I had to ask for syrup for the pancakes and ketchup for eggs. As well as water. And the check? Never got it. Had to go up and ask. Then wait. Then only received a total amount scribbled on a piece of paper. Worst place I've had breakfast in Boston.
(1)Dina A.
Is one the lowest? Can I go lower? This restaurant seemed inviting and warm but we were extremely disappointed. The food was not good and extremely overpriced. We eat out pretty often so prices don't usually shock me, but I almost lost it when I got the bill. I will not return and suggest any other place over this one.
(1)Heather G.
Overpriced breakfast that would have been too small for a starving child. $8.50 for two links of mediocre sausage, 3 scrambled eggs, and 5 small pieces of potatoes. Plus, the rest of the options on the breakfast menu were terrible and overpriced (most likely because of the restaurant's Charles St. location). They also informed me they couldn't halve the muffin and put it on the grill because they use a George Forman-style grill. Coffee was ok. Should have waited at the long line at the Paramount.
(2)Angela Z.
I really don't think this place is as awful as some of the previous reviews have dramatically stated. The hot drinks like chestnut st. drink and chai latte were a little sweet but good, the soups were good (the calm chowder especially), the sandwiches are okay. Service was timely and fine. None of the food was of the best quality or price, but that's what's expected of a cafe in a tourist area. I ate here without seeing yelp reviews beforehand and I was really surprised by some of the horrible yelp reviews. Can't tell if my experience was better than the average customers or if people are just really cut throat about this place.
(4)Andrew L.
Good food and great service, I had a great Apple and chicken salad. Large portions. The pastries are good too.
(5)Peter M.
Best lasagna I ever ate! Excellent chicken parm and extremely fresh and delicious Greek salad. Recommend highly.
(4)Susan B.
Awful. Literally the worst place I've eaten. Actually, I didn't really eat much, it's not even real food. The only reason this place gets any business is because there's only a couple other options close by and there's always a wait.
(1)Simon T.
Nice location in beacon hill. Lasagna wasn't bad, prices were decent and service was decent. Not a bad second or third option
(3)shary m.
Totally disgusting, no kitchen, entirely microwaved breakfast. This place should be shut down.
(1)Amy G.
I'm not sure how this place manages to stay in business in such a central area. We were there today: all the air conditioners were broken, the food was bland and seemed to be heated up in a microwave, and the service was strange.
(1)Ngan N.
The breakfast was horrible. I don't typically write reviews but I'm pretty sure I could have bought frozen sausage and French toast at a grocery store, heated it up myself, and it would have still tasted better than the French toast and sausage I had here. I literally saw them microwaving our food when the bf and I went here for breakfast. Only giving them one star because the coffee was decent.
(1)Ebrambil B.
A real life restaurant impossible!!! Do not come here!! Horrible service and not real food!! Came in Bc the place we really wanted to go to had a long line... Yuck 0 stars if I could
(1)Laura D.
If I could give negative stars, I absolutely would- without a doubt, 100%. From what I've learned, Paramount is the place to be, but the line is typically out the door and down the block. With no desire to stand in line for an hour, we moseyed on down the block and came across this place. Save your time & money, because it is a miserable experience. Upon entering the restaurant, we took a seat a two-top and waited for the waitress to come around with the menu and waters. 20 minutes later, we were greeted by someone (not sure if she was a hostess, waitress, cook) letting us know that "It's very busy right now so it will be awhile before we will be able to help you." Right. Receiving our water 15 minutes after that, we ordered our breakfast. My boyfriend gets up to use the restroom, which is through the kitchen and down the steps. When he returned, he told me that he will not eat here and we had to go. The reason(s) being are as followed: THEY DON'T HAVE REAL FOOD. THERE IS NO KITCHEN. THERE IS NO STOVE. THERE IS NO OVEN. My boyfriend witnessed the "cooks" pull frozen pancakes and eggs out of a box and shove it right in the microwave. Also, the "cooks" that are preparing the food are also handling all the dirty dishes - no gloves. Absolutely disgusted, we cancelled our breakfast and left. What a wretched place. We wasted over an hour of our short day for a quick breakfast.
(1)J I.
If I could give no stars that is what it should get ! It was so bad micro wave eggs and pancakes !!!
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