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Name: Ciao Bella
Address: 236 S High St, Baltimore, MD, 21202
Telephone: (410) 685-7733
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.48

Ciao Bella

236 S High St, Baltimore, MD, 21202

(410) 685-7733
Store is closed

Ciao Bella Menu

Appetizers

Chicken Tenders

Grilled Bruschetta

Fried Calamari

Cheese Stix

Mussels Alla Diavola

French Fries

Homemade Soup Of The Day

Fried Ravioli
Insalata Salads

House Salad

Fresh Spinach Salad

Greca (greek) Salad

Caesar Salad

Toscana Salad

Arugula Salad

Shrimp Salad

Spring Salad
Panini Sandwiches

Chicken Sandwich

Chicken Cacciatore Sandwich

Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich

Bella Chicken Panini

Italian Sausage Sandwich

Steak Sandwich

Meatball Parmigiana

Italian Sub

Panino Alla Caprese

Veggie Panino

Steak Cacciatore Sandwich

Ultimate Gyro
Pastas

Spaghetti & Meatballs Or Sausage

Meat Or Cheese Ravioli

Manicotti

Lasagna

Cannelloni

Penne Carbonara

Penne Pesto

Penne Cacciatore

Fettuccine Boscaiola

Pasta Alfredo
Ciao Bellas House Favorites

Capellini Toscana

Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Marsala

Tuscan Chicken Special
Gourmet Pizzas

Bianca

Del Pescatore

Marchigiana Alla Vincenzo

Margherita

Ortolana

Piccante

Suprema Pizza

Monte Bianco

Meat Lovers Pizza

Pizza Rustica

Deep Pan Pizza Alla Siciliana

Pizza Del Pastore

Bella Pesto Pizza
Pizza Traditional

Cheese Pizza

Deep Pan Cheese Pizza

Calzone
Pizza Traditional - Toppings

Traditional Toppings

Gourmet Toppings

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ciao Bella

Appetizers

Chicken Tenders [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Stix [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels Alla Diavola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Homemade Soup Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Insalata Salads

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Spinach Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greca (greek) Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toscana Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arugula Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shrimp Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Panini Sandwiches

Chicken Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Cacciatore Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bella Chicken Panini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Sausage Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meatball Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Sub [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panino Alla Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Panino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Cacciatore Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ultimate Gyro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pastas

Spaghetti & Meatballs Or Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Or Cheese Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manicotti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cannelloni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne Carbonara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne Cacciatore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fettuccine Boscaiola [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Alfredo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ciao Bellas House Favorites

Capellini Toscana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Marsala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuscan Chicken Special [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Gourmet Pizzas

Bianca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Del Pescatore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Marchigiana Alla Vincenzo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ortolana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Piccante [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Suprema Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Monte Bianco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meat Lovers Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza Rustica [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deep Pan Pizza Alla Siciliana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pizza Del Pastore [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bella Pesto Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza Traditional

Cheese Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deep Pan Cheese Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calzone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza Traditional - Toppings

Traditional Toppings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gourmet Toppings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Max R.

Great Italian restaurant in Little Italy! Went on a date night with my fiance here a couple weeks back and had such a romantic lovely evening. The service was great. The fried calamari was delicious. We both got the Frutte de Mare, which was amazing. We couldn't finish it all. Best leftovers I've had in a long time. Highly recommend. We did use a groupon deal.
(5)
JohnandPenni L.

There is just nothing to recommend this restaurant in our opinion. First the Food...we tried the Veal Parmesan, the Lasagna and the Ravioli Marinara, as well as the Caesar salad to start. First off, both the Lasagna and the Veal had a red sauce that tasted like, I can't believe I'm going to say this, Spaghetti-O's!! No Lie....SPAGHETTI-O'S!!!!!! The Veal was over fried and looked grey...yuck! The Rav's could've been from a box. The Ambiance....1980's run down and DIRTY, not to mention the smell...old basement...yuck! The Service was adequate, but considering there was no one else in the restaurant (to be fair it was 3 o'clock in the afternoon) it wasn't very friendly. All in all, with so many other choices in Baltimore's little Italy, we would avoid this one.
(1)
Mike C.

Second Trip Update: So we went back to Ciao Bella and had a better experience. We went here on a Saturday night before going to The Four Seasons for a magic show. I love that I can walk from Little Italy to Harbor East. Makes going out for dinner and a show/movie really easy. The owner met us a the hostess stand and was very nice. He got us a table quickly (we actually sat at the same table as the first time). The food was as good as the first time However, I wasn't a big fan of the creamy tomato soup. It had a very harsh cream flavor to it as if it they had just mixed marinara and cream. The entree was delicious though. I had the spaghetti and meatballs. My only regret was not being able to take my left overs home with me. The service this time around was a lot better. She was very attentive the whole night and made us feel very welcome. All in all, it was pretty decent the second time around. It didn't exactly wow me (except for the meatballs!!), but I did enjoy my visit.
(2)
Victoria S.

Do you ever go to update your review on Yelp, and realize you didn't write one in first place? Shame on me! I went here for the very first time last winter. It was a cold and snowy night and I sat at the bar because there were no tables available on a Saturday. The bartender was friendly and very helpful with finding us great things to try. We had clams casino which were great! I remember having the Chicken Milano and not being super crazy about the sauce. It was too thick and rather bland. Oh well... Fast forward to this weekend, popped in here with a restaurant.com deal for $25 (thank goodness), on a Sunday afternoon around 3:45. It was an off time and we were the ONLY people in the restaurant. Kind of funny but I enjoyed it. Figured it would fill up when the Raven's game was over. Anyway, was told to try the sangria, so I did. It was great, not too strong but not too sweet and tons of fruit! Really good. Our waitress was sweet and rattled off the specials. We tried the lamb meatballs - AWESOME. Great sauce I wanted to lick the plate. For dinner we had the meat tortellini - and asked if they had any rose sauces available. She came back and asked if we wanted them to make that, or a vodka sauce. Umm.. obviously the vodka won that argument. We also ordered the Chicken piccata (learning from my mistake last time). I really really loved the chicken piccata.. the sauce again was a little too thick but at least it was flavorful. Love the tang of the capers. I wish it had come with some vegetables I felt as though I was missing lots of green from my plate, oh well. Too full for dessert but they did seem tempting. I really love this place. Cozy atmosphere and really friendly staff. It's not overly pricey for Little Italy and there is also a more casual dress code which is nice if you were hitting up different areas of the city and want to stop in.
(4)
Christina M.

Absolutely love Ciao Bella! My favorite is the Penne Carbonara! My husband loves the Frutti De Mare. Great Fried Calamari. The owner is usually there and checks on the table, which is nice. This is my favorite Italian Restaurant in Maryland. I always bring my Italian family here when they visit!
(5)
KC S.

First 5 stars I've given yet!!! Sooooooo Good!! We had Bread and their wonderful dipping oil, we had Chicken Parm (FAB), more bread & marinara, Lasagna & great wine!! David our server was FUN and fit the Little Italy role!!! Price was great, seating on sidewalk awesome!! Everything made our eve great!!!
(5)
Chantelle J.

The food was great and so was the atmosphere. We went mostly because I had a $25 restaurant.com coupon. They give u large portions of food which is good and their prices are very reasonable. They start you off with fresh bread and olive oil. It was so tasty.
(4)
Asia G.

Kudos for Ambiance! Had a table for four, two of them ate their meatballs and didn't touch their spaghetti. I couldn't finish the tomato based seafood pasta. The last person had a large salad. All in all the food was pretty disappointing. The decor and ambiance was very romantic, its a nice place to bring your date.
(3)
Liz J.

This was a huge disappointment for our first experience in Baltimore's Little Italy: poor service and underwhelming food. We had a restaurant.com gift certificate, otherwise we would have left within our first ten minutes of arriving. Short version? Not going back, period. Why? Keep reading. When we first walked in, there was no one to greet us, and servers kept walking by without acknowledging us. We were there long enough that I walked into the dining room to try to flag someone, and noticed some servers running around, and about a half-full restaurant. Finally, someone came over and asked us how many were in our party. He told us we could be seated in about 10 minutes, and that we were welcome to sit at the bar. The host also turned out to be the bartender, as well as food runner. This place is clearly understaffed if there is one person doing three people's jobs. We ordered cocktails, and immediately noticed that one of them had a bug floating it it. The bartender made a new drink as soon as he could (he was busy doing so many other things, that it took him more than a few minutes.) My drink was fine, but that just eeked me out so much that I didn't order another drink. While we were sitting at the bar, the bartender gave a drink to a man who appeared to be the owner, or at least the manager. The bartender wanted to seat us at a table, and the other party sitting there, but the owner/manger said, "I don't give a s***, don't seat anyone." Apparently the kitchen can't handle a half-full restaurant on a Friday night. But that's really inappropriate to speak that way in front of customers, let alone be drinking while on the job. The bartender knew we had overheard, and told us that he would seat us in a few minutes anyway and get us some bread, water, and another drink if we wanted. So at least someone here cares about this place and its customers. We were seated at a nice little table by the window, and as we watched, the people outside at the restaurant across the street clearly enjoying themselves, we regretted our choice even more. When we were seated, our server was pretty slow to get us water and bread, but I'm guessing it may not have been his fault based on the conversation we overheard earlier between the bartender and the manager/owner. When we overheard another disgruntled customer approach the bartender and say he had been waiting for two hours without food, we figured we should order a simple appetizer to tide us over while we waited for our meals. The bruschetta did come pretty quickly, but it was nothing special. I'm not a fan of packaged sprinkle cheese at restaurants - even the Olive Garden has freshly shredded Parm cheese. My gnocchi was fine - too much sauce, and way overpriced (a reasonable portion, but no sides, veggies, salad or anything). My fiancee's meal was bad though. Watery marinara sauce on top of overcooked linguine, served with "chlorine" tasting shrimp. "Chlorine" flavor was my fiancee's description. We didn't take home the leftovers. Service, terrible. Food, yick. Definitely going elsewhere in Little Italy.
(1)
Gregory S.

Had dinner with friends (party of 4) here several years ago...and boy, did we pig out. I started out with appetizers, then to the main course. I had the veal cutlet, and it was to die for!!! We went through two bottles of their house chianti, which was excellent. The owner even came out and chatted with us for several minutes, which I thought was a special touch...it won us over, as if the food wasn't enough. Finished with dessert and coffee, and all said, the bill came close to $300, but no complaints from us. It was well worth it and then some. I highly recommend Ciao Bella if you're ever in the B'mo Inner Harbor or Little Italy area. Even worth going out of your way.
(5)
Jeff C.

This place exudes old time Italian charm, and Tony is the master showman. He brings a slice of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra to everyone's table. It is just like something out of the Sapranos, except no one is getting whacked. The atmosphere is matchless here, and this place is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner, family get-together, or an amazing wedding reception. My friend had her rehearsal dinner here, and she said that Tony and the staff made her feel like a queen. The only thing that could top the atmosphere at Ciao Bella is its authentic Italian cuisine. Delicious pasta in rich red gravy and mussels in cream sauce were the highlight of our evening; however, the meatballs in marinara sauce are just like Grandma used to make, providing your grandmother is or was culinary matriarch from somewhere in the heart of Italy. So, if you want to treat yourself to meal that is straight out of the Old Country, I'd stop by Ciao Bella today, foodies.
(5)
Carly P.

I have been going to Ciao Bella for years and it is my favorite place for Italian food. The atmosphere is so nice and Tony (the owner) is hilarious. My favorite foods are the house salad, with the amazingly delicious house dressing, the clams casino (my favorite) and the pasta bolognese. YUM! I would recommend Ciao Bella for intimate dinners and bigger groups too!! 5 stars in my book!
(5)
Allen R.

Food is fresh.. of course with the options in BMore it better be,but what really brings the food alive is Tony. Perfect place for a date. Came here on a Saturday night with friends and loved the experience. Service was awesome. Matt made sure everything was right. Will be back for sure.
(4)
Chris V.

If loving this place is wrong, I don't want to be right! Amazing amazing amazing food, the greatest sauce and an unbelievable staff. This reminds me of being at my grandmas but with better wine. Seriously, it's that good! Tony the owner is at the door always ready to meet and greet and seat!
(5)
Andrew A.

Was looking for a nice dinner late night on a Wednesday. We were the only ones there at 9:15pm. Clams Casino is really heavy on the stuffing, light on the clams. Wasn't feeling very adventuresome so i tried the Fettuccine Alfredo. It was dry, not very fresh, maybe because it was so late at night. The server was very nice and the place felt pretty classy. I'll go again.
(3)
Bob D.

Tony the owner ripped us off on the "specials". $40 for a small portion of the Osso Bocco. $6.75 for small tiny pieces of garlic bread. This guy is a thief, go somewhere else for better food and fair prices.
(1)
Sarah P.

had the chicken cesar salad and reisling wine. was all very delicious. the staff and owner were so friendly and fun. had a great time!
(5)
Anastacia B.

The food is awesome. And if that's the only thing you're looking for, go. But if you care about hospitality, or if you're considering bringing a group/doing an event at Ciao Bella, read on. We planned an event there, were promised the back private room, and Tony decided to pull that from us because he got the opportunity to host a bigger group. Unfortunately, we had to really struggle to get him to agree to put us in a different, and only semi-private space large enough for our group. If it had been left up to him, we would have been in that really small space between the front entrance and the main dining room on the right. And if my event coordinator hadn't gone to the restaurant to meet him the day before the event, we wouldn't have known about the switch till we showed up for dinner the next night. Not cool. I can understand that he felt it was a good business decision for the restaurant, but I can't bear the fact that he didn't think it important to let us know about it at the time the decision was made, he felt ok about letting us walk into a situation that was going to be radically different than had been agreed to, and that he made us fight him for an appropriate second option once we found out. He was also rude and snide to our photographer, and laughed at her when she tripped in the front entrance. My overall opinion of him as a result? He's a jerk, and deserves reviews like this one. It was good that he stayed in the kitchen most of the night. And Herb and Nick took amaaaaaaazing care of us. They get my undying gratitude. And they should get Tony's--they saved his bacon that night.
(3)
Juliana C.

My favorite italian restaurant. Delicious FRESH fish (if you want to be healthy) and my favorite white clam sauce . Also highly recommend the house salad. The owner Tony Gambino is always there and treats everyone like family! The bar area is nice to grab a bite to eat and is a little more casual...or you can sit in the cozier middle dining room for a date night. Back room is also great for private parties as i have celebrated birthdays back there. The food is always delicious, you can tell the owner takes pride in his cuisine.
(5)
Kathryn H.

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I have been here now several times. With friends, on a date and with my parents and every time the food is spectacular. My favorites are the pasta seafood dishes. They accommodate gluten free so well and have a great wine list!
(5)
Angela V.

Forget the food---GO for the SHOW from the owner Tony Gambino---he has to be related to the Mob...this place is filled with characters but the star is TONY. Two Thumbs UP to Ciao Bella and an Italian Kiss!
(5)
Tony C.

I'm from Long Island. This place passes muster. All courses were very good and the chicken parm was crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. The clams casino were very amply sized and tasted wonderful. I would certainly go again.
(4)
Jazmin B.

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! I've loved every dish I've tried. Last night I had Shrimp Scampi with a lemon butter reduction over Risotto. OMG!!! So delicious. The owner, Tony Gambino, always makes me feel like I'm valued by stopping by to check on my dining experience.
(5)
Allison L.

My previous Little Italy favorite, Sabatino's, hasn't been as impressive the last few times I've been, so my fiance and I had dinner here a few Friday nights ago. We also had a Groupon because I've pretty much decided if I have a Groupon or LivingSocial deal, that it's almost like not spending money... right? Nope, not at all, but that rationale works for me. Anyway, I would agree that Ciao Bella's menu isn't terribly exciting but for some reason that's generally what I want when eating at an Italian restaurant... fettuccine alfredo, spaghetti with meatballs, lasagna... all Italian comfort food that I expect to be there. They bring out homemade bread, which was good, and olive oil dip, which was really good, but the bread would have been substantially better had it been warm. My fiance and I both got typical Italian food... spaghetti bolognese for him and fettuccine alfredo for me. If I'm going to eat that, it's typically at an Italian restaurant and typically not often since there's 853708120933 calories. It's extremely disappointing when I consume all those calories and the fettuccine alfredo isn't even good, but, that luckily wasn't the case here. If there's one thing I would suggest ordering, it's house Italian salad. I read the other reviews about this that said the dressing was unlike anything they've ever had, and was kind of skeptical but I totally agree. I'm not used to having lightly creamy, sweet Italian dressing, and I am definitely a fan. I have been feverishly Googling and scouring Pinterest for creamy, sweet Italian dressings to try. Service was friendly and pretty quick, as was the valet attendant. Valet parking on Friday's is $10, so, pretty much on par with any parking you're going to get in the area if you don't find a street spot (which was non-existent when we were driving around).
(4)
Pascal P.

Like a lot of other Yelpers I decided to check out Ciao Bella because of an offer they had on Groupon. I haven't been all that amazed by a lot of the restaurants in Baltimore's Little Italy but I was pretty happy here. Prices were a little high for what you get but the food was good, service was great and the atmosphere in the restaurant was very pleasant. The biggest weakness that Ciao Bella has it that their menu isn't all that exciting. There are lots of staples like shrimp scampi, eggplant parmesan and fettuccine alfredo. I ended up having a seafood pasta dish that was their special that night. It was basically pasta with crab & shrimp with a pretty typical cream sauce. I don't want to sound like I'm ragging on it because it was very tasty, just not particularly exciting or different. My girlfriend had the eggplant parmesan which was also good but not a standout. The antipasti menu looked significantly more interesting. We split the grilled calamari salad to start and it turned out to be quite good. I was surprised to see so many negative comments about the service here. Our waitress Paula was really top-notch, very friendly and always on the ball. The interior of the restaurant was attractive and cozy. My only real issue with Ciao Bella is that the prices seem a little high for what you get. There seems to be a bit of a "Little Italy premium" in Baltimore though so I can't complain that it's a surprise. As I said earlier the food is very good but kind of standard. If you want tasty Italian-American staples you'll be very happy here, just don't expect anything too exciting or different.
(4)
Jamie F.

I came here with a business colleague and after surveilling little Italy for a few moments, we chose this place. I was terrified when we walked in. It was small, empty and run-down. It looked as though nothing's been updated in 13 years and the table we were lead to had a stain on the tablecloth. The server moved us to another table which was fine, but in the passing lanes so it was constantly busy. I ordered wine, which was a typical cheap house wine. Nothing to write home about. I then ordered a caesar salad and Fettucine Alfredo. It was so good that I really could of ate a second portion. I was so relieved the food was excellent despite the atmosphere. The next trip I took out here, I went back and got food to go. Definitely a strong recommendation. Just don't bring a date or clients - the look of this place isn't cozy or impressive.
(4)
Jason W.

The food was just okay and was beneath the usual standard, however, what really soured our experience was that our waiter really sucked tonight. He was very rude and cold and we had to ask for bread at least three times before we got any, and by then our entrÃ©es had already arrived. While our entrees were decent, the caprese salad was extremely lacking as it only had 3 tiny tomato wedges. To make matters, we paid using a groupon, which seem to turn the waiter off. We always tip 20% prior to the discount, but this waiter was compelled to include a 20% tip to our bill, and the 20% he added included the tax. We were just a party of 2, not 6 or more where you would expect such an addition. Once we asked for the bill we never saw him again and he didn't return to refresh our water or ask if we needed anything else while we finished our bottle of wine. There are too many restaurants in little Italy to be treated like this... I doubt we'll be back anytime soon.
(2)
Jade B.

This place wasn't on our radar--we have another place in Little Italy where we usually have dinner when we are in the mood but forget about that--this is our new place! We went because we had a restaurant.com certificate but we'll go back because the food is wonderful. It was a slow night--probably because it has been snowy and icy enough to cause school cancellations and delays. Because of this, it's hard to speak to the service. Our server was very attentive but also wasn't juggling a bunch of guests. Everything we ordered arrived in good time. We ordered pinot noir and chianti by the glass (whatever the house selection was) and were not disappointed. My pinot noir was better than some $50 bottles I've purchased at the store. We started with the calamari which was classically good--not extraordinary but fabulous all the same. For entrees we ordered the lobster ravioli and New York Strip. Both were incredible! The ravioli portion was generous and the steak was a great cut, cooked on the rarer side of medium, luscious and perfect, and came with a side of impeccable risotto (actually I think it was polenta but the server said this dish came with "mashed potatoes or risotto") with one of the best sauces I've ever had. Do not pass on dessert. The tiramisu was also the best I've ever had and this is something I order everywhere when it is available. I ordered a split of prosecco (don't remember the brand) to go with dessert. You should too. Perfection. We will definitely go back soon.
(5)
Dave F.

Not the best Italian food I've had and the service was extremely slow. Only reason we went was because had a group on. Couple next to us wasn't very happy with their food/service as well.
(2)
Erin E.

I was in Baltimore on business and wandered into this place for a solo dinner on a Friday night. I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by the owner of the restaurant, Tony, who was super friendly and accommodating. I had a glass of the house Riesling, which was not as sweet as I usually like my Riesling but still good. I was brought over fresh bread and oil with garlic and red pepper flakes, and the bartender suggested I order the house salad - they make their own creamy Italian dressing, and it is OUT of this world. For my entree I had the shrimp scampi over linguine in a garlic butter sauce. The pasta and sauce were delicious, although the shrimp tasted a bit too fishy, overall the dish was still good. I didn't stay for dessert, but did have a second glass of wine while chatting with Tony, the bartender, and some of the other staff. The company here is great. The second you walk in the door, you're family. I will definitely visit again on my next trip to Baltimore.
(4)
Kevin K.

Overall: Dull and dated, the blandest of Little Italy experiences so far. ____________________________ Ambience (2/5): Sparse two-room setting, quiet and emptying at 9 on a weeknight. At once upscale with table clothes, white and beige lighting everywhere, and then gaudy posters of sopranos. ___________________________ Service (3/5): Present, efficient, and helpful, yet also distant - no name, small talk, jokes... Food orders took time, but spacing between courses was good - no overlaps, minimal time in between. Then 15 minutes went by waiting for the check. Accomodating - reservation changed from 8 to 845 only hours before. Groupon honored, no questions or concerns. Oil was plated, but no bread ever arrived? ___________________________ Drinks: (2/5) Variety of table wines but mediocre quality. Bottle list ok. Cocktails looked uninteresting, no beer on tap at bar(?). ___________________________ Food (2/5): Olive Garden blandness enhanced by oily richness, each dish drenched in butter that leaves one feeling bloated, thirsty. Potion sizes inconsistent with dull plating. Not enough to return. Clams casino - 5 shells full of heavy buttery bread crumb, almost no clamb, light spice from pepper. Faintly gritty texture, shells too deep to eat without a fork and too hot to hold. Bruschetta - Large tomatoes, sandy, flavorless, prefer cherry for skin crunch. Mozzarella slightly watery, balsamic stronger by comparison and acids help all elements, though still rather bland, overly sweet, more salt and pepper needed. Lobster brandy ravioli - 6 large ravioli's drenched in sweet cream sauce, brandy lightly noticeable, lobster also, sweet contrast makes it fishy. Noodles lightly mushy, ricotta sticky, lobster lost in this. Preference for a lighter sauce, very full, sick feeling after due to richness.
(2)
Miranda T.

We all enjoyed our food; the lamb meatballs were really good! Everyone enjoyed their meal and Tony was so very charming. The server, Charles, clearly made a bad career choice. It seems like he hates his job. Lucky for him that my husband tips regardless of service. We would absolutely return (and ask for a different server).
(4)
Vicky D.

Disclaimer: the BF and I came here on a Tuesday night the day before their Groupon expired, apparently. I get the feeling that their service isn't always so slow, but I have seen a few other reviews that say otherwise. We waited in line for about 20 minutes just to be acknowledged by the host, but we were also 15 minutes early for our reservation. Apparently they were understaffed for the dinner rush and the Groupon thing, because there were people who were waiting longer than us and didn't get seated for their 7:30pm reservation until after 8. A few people from the 7pm dinner rush left looking dissatisfied about the service, so I'll say this: MAKE A RESERVATION and get there early. Luckily the wait didn't really bother us and we were seated about 10 minutes after our reservation time. Now on to the food. We got bread for the table, although we had to ask our server for it since she was so frazzled. It came just wrapped in a napkin, no bread basket, which was sort of weird. (My BF commented "Is bread illegal now or something? This looks like contraband") The food was great once it came out though. We shared mussels with marinara and a caprese salad which was AMAZINGly fresh. I wanted tilapia but they were out, so I got veal saltimbocca after seeing some reviews from fellow Yelpers about it. The BF got seafood tetrazzini but said he like my entree more. It was definitely tender, and not as heavy as it looked/sounded. I think I would order something else if I came here again though. And next time, I'll try not to come on a heavy Groupon night (although hopefully they learned to overstaff right before a Groupon expires).
(3)
Amy Z.

Really enjoyed their chicken marsala. They were able to seat 8 of us right after Italian festival on a Saturday night. Everyone loved their meal!
(4)
Laura T.

I came here on a groupon and we got there right before they were closing but they let us in. I was at first taken back at the piss poor lighting but the server made up for that with his wonderful presence. I ordered the house salad which had the best and sweetest creamy italian dressing on it. I loved the bread as well. FOr my entree i ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. This was soooo good and I cannot wait to go back an try some more dishes. Very delicious!
(4)
Katie D.

Owner got us seated ahead of our reservation time during crazy busy army-navy crowd demand. Meal selections were perfectly prepared plus more. Special lamb meatballs, lobster ravioli were over the top.
(5)
Momo N.

This place is classy, authentic, and has great waiters. It's easy to find restaurant with great food, but it's not easy to find waiters who go above and beyond. Rich who waited on us tonight was everything, and this sort of comment is very rare to hear from me, because I was a full time waitress before at a very micro managed establishment. I am definitely going back there, for their food and the service,
(5)
Heather K.

My friend and I went here to use a gift certificate I had purchase some time ago. We came in with running clothes on, I felt a bit underdressed but we were treated with respect and not made to feel out of place. Our drink order was taken and we were brought fresh bread and oil with garlic and red pepper flakes. She order the house salad ($6.00) in which they make their own creamy Italian dressing. She said that the dressing was amazing and I'd need to agree as I stole a cucumber off her plate and dipped it. This dressing is beyond anything I've ever purchased in a store or made myself. I order the escargot to start ($9.00). It was well cooked, perhaps a bit under seasoned. I'm a bit picky about my escargot, but who wouldn't be when eating snails as a delicacy? I prefer my escargot with more garlic and parmesan encrusted topping. My friend ordered the lasagna ($18.00) and she ate ever bit of it. The sauce was one similar to that I make at home from scratch (I was taught from an Italian's family recipe) I'd say that it was spot on. My starter was shrimp and linguini ($19.00) with a creamy garlic butter sauce. They must have used a sour bit of wine (or the last of the bottle) in it because it was overflowing with a crisp lemon very citrus flavor which really over powered the dish. The sauce had separated when it was delivered to me by the waiter. I'd order it again, if not to see it this was a fluke or if this dish needs some adjusting. The service: Our waiter was ok. He was attentive. He brought us our food and drinks in a timely manner. He was a funny character and made us feel welcomed although we sat in their dining room in our work out clothes durning evening meal. The decor: Needs to be updated or redone. The art is perfect for this type of a place, however the ceiling tiles could use a coat of spray paint and the wallpaper looked as if it was bubbling. Overall: I'd return in a heart beat.
(4)
Dawn R.

This review is a little late, but better late than never, right? I (as many others have said) discovered this restaurant through Groupon, with a $40 for $20 deal. But to be honest, it really didn't matter, as our bill came to over $350 by the time we were finished. I realize we had six people in our party and had a couple bottles of wine, so it really wasn't that bad, all things considered. We had a reservation for 7pm on a Thursday. When we arrived, there was only one other patron in the place....not a good sign. We were taken immediately to our table with no wait, but once our drink orders were taken, it did take a while before anyone got back to us. When she came back, she brought some bread and oil for dipping which was OK but not great.....the bread would have been better if it was warm, but since we were getting pretty hungry, we didn't complain. There was a special that evening of some kind of seafood dish (can't remember exactly what it was), and three of our six ordered it and said it was "glorious" (my son in law's best compliment). I had the chicken marsala, which was OK, but to be honest the marsala that I make at home is better, and there was no pasta or any other side with it, just a small (no really.....SMALL) piece of chicken. A few other patrons came in while we were eating, and a couple stopped by to chat and play with my granddaughter, who was beginning to get a little fussy, so that was a nice distraction. The wait staff, however, made themselves scarce once the food was on the table. In fact, my son in law had to go to the bar to request another bottle of wine, as we hadn't seen our server in quite some time. Overall, the food is good but you can get better at some of the other places in Little Italy. And you can DEFINITELY get better service.
(3)
Michele P.

MUST READ: Absolute WORST service we've EVER experienced at a restaurant.... good food though! Hash. Soho... this weekend was our first trip ever to Baltimore. It was recommended to us to try some food in the section of the city known as "little Italy." Sounded great to me because I love Italian food and the trip to this area was only about a 3 minute drive from our hotel and free parking! We bought a group on for Ciao Bella ($20 dollars for $45 worth of food, I believe). When purchasing the Group on, you have to make a reservation in order to us it. We called and asked for a 9 PM. reservation, which was not a problem to fit in. We got there at exactly 9 PM., had to wait about 5 minutes and were seated at a table for four, right behind a party of nearly 20. Ciao Bella was very loud due to the multiple large parties, which was not a problem. Our waiter came over within a few minutes and took our drink orders. He told us he would be right back with our drinks and some bread. We continued to look at the menus and loudly shouted across the table to discuss what we would be ordering. 5 minutes pass.... 10 minutes pass... (I wish I were kidding but I'm not...) 15 minutes.... Our waiter shows back up into the room, doesn't acknowledge us, but brings the table of 20 their checks... SEPARATE! He handed out each bill one by one and exited the room right away. Having a good sense of humor, we laughed it off making comments about whether or not we were dressed nice enough to be there and maybe that was why we were not getting any service. We talked together and said if we did not receive our drinks within 5 minutes we were leaving. 10 minutes pass and another waiter brings us our drinks that were completely watered down from sitting out for so long. The ice was melted completely in each drink. Our waited came back into the room and we flagged him over. He immediately stated "I'll bring you more bread" and stormed out. Wait... we never got bread yet.......... He comes back in the room and starts to collect each bill which he still had to ring up. Why haven't we left yet you ask? It was nearly 10:15 and we didn't know if anything else was opened on a Friday night! Little did we know that we were in an area filled with restaurants, we would of been out of there a half hour before, screw the groupon! The waiter comes over at least 10 minutes later, no bread, and asks if we've ready to order. We didn't freak out at him because point blank, we didn't want our food spit in, but we did let him know we were truly annoyed. I forgot to mention that another couple and their baby were seated about 10 minutes after us, had their orders in, fresh drinks and bread, and were on their second round of bread when our order was FINALLY placed. Once our order was in, the food took about 25 minutes. Fortunately, our food was amazing but the disrespect and wait time was not worth it, nor was our groupon. We wouldn't have cared about the wait had our waiter come over once or twice to apologize and say hey I have a huge table and it's gonna be a while. He could have also passed us to another waiter. With so many restaurants near by, especially Italian ones, skip this place! I only gave 2 stars because of the food. It would get zero if possible and I never ever say that!!
(2)
Mike H.

I went to this crap hole this past weekend. I was thinking that it was going to be a very good experience especially because all I heard was nothing but great reviews. The waiter that we had was terrible....he ignored what one of the ladies that I was with had to say when she went to order which pushed me the wrong way, especially when I called him out on it and after me saying it to him he told me that he heard her (but he never acknowledged her). Then, it took an hour and a half to receive our dinner. And on top of that the owner is a pervert do to him gazing over my girl. The only reason why I gave this place a 2 stars and not a 1 star is because the food was pretty good. But if you want a bad experience this is your place
(2)
Natascha Z.

I am only pushing past 3 stars because the customer service I experience while dining was nothing short of perfect. The entire staff were helpful, properly trained, all smiles, and right on point. Always ready to check up on dishes and drinks, but without being too pushy or overbearing. No hesitation at all while asking what they would recommend for the evening. I had talked to multiple staff members because I accidentally arrived way too early, and way too underdressed (Jeans and a T-shirt). The bar tender kindly joked with me that the staff were actually the over dressed ones, and held a friendly, sincere conversation while I waited for my party to arrive. I started the evening off with a grey goose and tonic for $10.90 (yikes!) cocktails are very expensive. My appetizer was the simple, but very fresh Bruchetta. My main entree was the Gnocchi, which didn't meet up to my expectations. The creamy vodka sauce was in my humble opinion, more delicious than the Gnocchi itself. I don't feel that the pink/red sauce complimented the flavors of the Gnocchi. But that could just be me! I agree with other Yelp reviewers. While the olive oil dip was good, the bread would be better if it was fresh hot.
(4)
Willard K.

The food is ok. Understaffed. Waited long time for food. The worst part. I'm having some words with my 70 year old mother about the tip of all things. . The owner's idea of dealing with that. Is to come out yell at my mother and then proceed to threaten to assault me on front of her. I'm disgusted by this animal.. Never again. . Owner has zero class. A nut.
(2)
Lesley G.

Among all of the restaurants in Little Italy, it is difficult to decide which is best for dinner. My family had visited Ciao Bella before and had really enjoyed their food, and the food was truly excellent! My favorite part was perhaps the bread before dinner. The spices used in the high quality olive oil were delicious and the best I can remember! I must have eaten a whole loaf of bread on my own! I had the penne bolognese, which was a bit too saucy, but nonetheless delicious. The only downside was that it did take a little while for our food to come. Other than that, it was an excellent dining experience!
(4)
Elliott D.

This is a solid Italian restaurant in the Little Italy neighborhood of Baltimore. When we went there recently there was a firemen's benefit going on which made for some great people watching out of the window. The dÃ©cor is slightly dated with your expected fake frescoes and vines. It's quaint but also a little tired. I'll get the unpleasantries out of the way first. The biggest issue was service. Our waitress was clearly a little out of her element. She was very slow at times and forgetful at others. We asked for a knife at one point and it never came. She finally mentioned something towards the end of our meal but at that point it was already too late. When I pay for a good meal I expect good service, and while the service was decent it was not up to snuff. That said, the food was good. We started out with a shrimp appetizer that was in a kind of basil sauce that was absolutely delicious. We devoured it quite quickly. I also had a bowl of the tomato soup which was incredibly creamy and tasty. It was a generous portion but I managed to eat the whole thing because it was just that good. For my main meal I had the steak ravioli which was in a cream sauce with mushrooms. It tasted quite a bit like beef stroganoff and I have to admit that I was underwhelmed. The ravioli was bland and the sauce uninspired: given that it was a special I'd had high hopes but they were dashed. My friend really enjoyed his veal and it came in tasty marinara which I was able to try. Given the quality of the first two courses, I'm going to say that my dish was a quirk; however, I usually expect specials to put in a bit more effort, but that was not the case here. I'd go back and try something else but don't recommend the steak ravioli.
(3)
Helen A.

I stumbled on to this place after searching for a place to eat.. I had the veal marsala, it had a hint of maple syrup taste, which delightful and unexpected .. The server was attentive with a nice Italian accent.. I will be back to try something else.. Yum
(5)
Jen K.

This was my first time at Ciao Bella and it was amazing! We were greeted and seated immediately. The bar tender, server and manager (I believe) was incredibly knowledgable of my Gluten Free needs. They even have GF pasta and it was fantastic. She checked with the chef, who was willing to do whatever he could to allow me to eat safely. I had the chicken parm with grilled chicken and did I mention GF pasta? Yum! I tasted the cannoli cream and now, I want more! But the house Italian dressing was so fabulous I was literally using my fingers to clean it up. It took a lot of restraint not to lick the plate! Go there. Enjoy and order a cannoli!
(5)
Naomi S.

Pretty darn good. And kid friendly waiters. Pricey
(4)
Scott E.

2 stars. If the restaurant were in some small town in the middle of no where maybe I would give it Agee more stars but being in Little Italy the food should have been much better. What a shame.
(2)
Brandi P.

I think these Yelpers are being a little too nice in their reviews about this place. My roommate and I decided to spend a night out in Little Italy. We decided that Ciao Bella's looked like a nice atmosphere and it was Wednesday, so it really wouldn't be too packed. Upon entering, we noticed about 10 tables in the seated dining area and there were about 5 available. The hostess informed us that we could sit down but they weren't going to take our order for about 10-15 minutes because they needed to give the kitchen some time to "catch-up"... errr, ok? We got seated, were given bread to munch on and had some water. The server approached us and asked if we wanted an appetizer but we weren't interested. He stated that he was sorry that we had to wait and that "she thinks its too busy, but I think she's being over dramatic". Probably not a good thing when the own staff is bad talking the boss to the customers. It was then that the hostess/manager began placing people whom walked in the door on a 15 minute wait. Are you kidding me? There were about 6-7 tables open! Just an FYI restaurant owners.. placing people on a wait, where there are clearly tables open is a sure way to turn people off from returning to your restaurant. Now, a this point I haven't even gotten to the food and Bella's has already appalled me. I guess I'm just a firm believer that service is the key to any successful business. My hope was that Bella's was just having an off day and that maybe the food would make up for the lack of good service. I ordered the Penne Bolognese (alla vodka) with a house salad and my roomie had the Eggplant Parmigiana with a house salad. When the food arrived (within 15 minutes of placing the order) I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation and serving sizes. The prices on the menu typically range between $16-$20.. so i wanted to make sure I was getting my bang for my buck. The house dressing was sickly sweet - was more of a creamy dressing that I would put on a fruit and nut salad. Oh well.. moving on. The eggplant was delicious so I had high hopes for the pasta I ordered because it looked just as delectable. I scooped a big fork full and BOOM... that's when it hit me. While I had originally hoped to have a drink with my dinner, I didn't expect my dinner to BE my drink! The vodka was so strong that it literally tasted as if the cook had poured an entire bottle of alcohol on my pasta. There was no hint of spices, tomato or even the beef. And let me say that beef filled vodka is probably the worst thing I have ever tasted. The aroma of the vodka was lingering on my breath and I couldn't even attempt to try and eat the rest. Literally.. I had a hard time swallowing the food. Once again.. lets move on. When it came time to pay, I told the server very nicely that he needed to inform the cook's that there was too much vodka - to not enough sauce for future reference when cooking it. He apologized and told me they could make it again, but I just told him to box it up and I would try and fix it myself later. I gave him a gift certificate I had and he applied it to the bill. I then asked him to split the difference between two credit cards and he told me that he couldn't do that because he applied the credit. Again, I'm not sure why this whole process has to be difficult? But this was about all I could handle and I wasn't going to stick around. Poor Service, Poor Management, Poor Quality Food (unless you like to get drunk off of it). Essentially, the name of the restaurant speaks for itself... CIAO Bella, I will most definitely not be back.
(1)
John H.

Our party of 3 arrived on a Saturday with the use of a groupon. I had average expectations after reading the reviews on Yelp. The mussels app were opened mussels in a delicious broth. The salads were tasty and I enjoyed the dressing. We were not offered bread prior to our meal. My chicken parm was interesting at best. The chicken was beaten flat and had a greyish color, all most chewy. The lobster ravioli was good but came with just 6 ravioli however portion size was not commesurate with the price. The gnoccii was very good. My biggest gripe was our service. Water had to be refilled after a reminder. Our waiter forgot a few items and drinks were brought after a few more reminders. We had better service with the valet. The host / owner was creepy and seemed like he was eye-raping the girl in our group. The ambience was quiet and romantic and the tables were awkwardly close to one another. Everyone seemed to talk in a whisper since the place was so quiet on a Saturday, I probably won't be back. 3 appetizers, a bottle of wine, and 3 meals were 159 dollars. Service was mediocre at best. This is not an Italian restaurant where you'd linger and have a drink and talk. Food was good but service was just strange,
(3)
Vinit A.

I live in Little Italy, so I thought I would give this restaurant a try. We ordered Ravioli Marinara and Shrimp Fra Diavolo. Both of our orders came wrong and it wasn't even that they mixed up our order with some other table. I got a meat ravioli and being a vegetarian, it was definitely not pleasant. I can see that this could have been a rare incident but the server was not even apologetic about it. Also the bread served was cold and dry and the wine we ordered was okay. There are tons of good restaurants in Little Italy and save yourself from this one.
(1)
Jen W.

Our friend, the bride-to-be, chose this restaurant as the launching pad for our night out. She chose the restaurant based on the name, Ciao Bella! Hello, Beautiful! As we were waiting for our table, the owner chatted us up. The restaurant was booked for the night. We ordered Shrimp Scampi, Portobello Ravioli (special), Lobster Ravioli, Aglio et Oglio and Chicken Cutlet with Broccoli, Mushroom in Brandy sauce. Everything looked beautiful and looked like a twist on the classics. Everyone enjoyed their dishes. My sauce could have spent a little more time over the heat to cook out the brandy a bit more. The brandy overwhelmed the chicken and mushrooms. The atmosphere was nice and relaxed. The low lighting and candlelight makes it a great place for a group of friends or a dinner for two. The service was very attentive and pleasant. Overall, a nice experience with good food.
(3)
Lauren G.

When I first signed up to Groupon way back....last month...I bought a bunch of Groupons for restaurants in Little Italy. I've now used a few of these Groupons and I've come to realize...my mother in law is an outstanding cook. That said, the food is OK, but not worth me driving into the city and circling the block for parking.
(3)
Sharon L.

We took a chance on using our Groupon for Ciao Bella tonight and I admit to being hesitant because of the many mixed reviews that I read on many sites. So glad that we took the chance and tried it out. Ciao Bella is decorated in a Mediterranean style, much like you would see in many of the homes of the Baltimore Little Italy. Oil paintings adorn the walls and the windows all have beautiful window treatments that complement the style. For those who are looking for chic and minimalistic furnishings, this may not be for you. I'm not sure how the style of a restaurant affects the dining experience to begin with. I care about the presentation and taste of the dishes that I order. Besides, many of these places in Little Italy were someone's home at one time and that's what makes them special. It's almost like you are being warmly welcomed into someone's home. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the host and promptly showed to a table for two facing the sidewalk. We were brought ice water, bread and a saucer of olive oil dip with a spicy seasoning very promptly. LOVED the olive oil dip....much better than butter! Our server who was very personable, not to mention attentive throughout the whole meal explained the specials and gave us some time to figure out what we wanted to dine on. We finally decided on Shrimp Oreganato as an appetizer, two house salads because of the positive reviews about the house dressing and two orders of Veal Saltimbocca. To drink, we started with iced tea and with dinner we had a Pinot Noir. The Shrimp Oreganato was delicious. For eleven dollars, a few more than three shrimp would have been nice, but they were a fair size and very tasty. It was garnished with some fresh greens (looked to be arugula) and a light sauce. Four shrimp would have been a better number here, but other than that, they were fantastic! On to the house salad. In a word, wow! Salad was very fresh, nice, crisp and cold and a decent size. The house dressing was very tasty and did not overwhelm the salad. It was a mix of lettuces and better than the tired iceberg lettuce salads that we have experienced elsewhere. We both ordered the Veal Saltimbocca which was accompanied by a small saucer of linguine and a fresh tomato based sauce. Server brought a surprise of Romano cheese, rather than the normal offering of Parmesan which added extra flavor, not that it needed it. The veal did not disappoint. It was tender and flavorful and the sauce was a perfect accompaniment. Even though it was a lighter meat, we selected the house Pinot Noir to have with it. While it would have tasted much better out of my Riedel crystal, it had a nice bouquet and for six dollar a glass, a fair sized pour. Probably the only thing I would have changed is the pasta sauce....while it was very tasty, the red sauce did not lend itself very well to the delicate sauce of the veal. An offering of risotto would be a better choice here. Just the opinion of an amateur gourmet chef. We were offered dessert which we declined as our favorite place is Vaccaros, however I have to say the homemade Limoncello was very tempting....maybe next visit! We were very happy with our service and the friendliness of the establishment. The prices for Little Italy are pretty standard. We did notice upon leaving that there were people waiting to be seated with many empty tables and not sure why that is, but it looks like they might be trying to spread people out for the servers to keep it fair. All in all though a good experience....we would definitely dine there again.
(4)
Jennifer M.

Love love love Ciao Bella. We stumbled upon it three years ago and now it is our go to in Little Italy. The seafood pasta is amazing and the owner is a gem.
(5)
Nadia K.

I am not sure where some of the bad reviews come from, or perhaps the owners read the reviews and made some changes either way we had a wonderful experience tonight. The restaurant must have been updated because I saw complaints about the decor. It was nice in there. I won't say upscale but it was as nice as what you may get at a chain. The place was packed with people also. I had the house salad, the dressing was sweeter than I expected for an Italian dressing so I wasn't a big fan even though the reviews said it was great. I ordered the clams in white sauce over linguini and I must say it was quite flavorful. I enjoyed it and the whole top layer was covered in clams. All I have to say is go there and check the place out for yourself and form your own opinion. I am so glad I did. The service was great and the staff was very friendly. I would definitely go here again. They do make it easy with Valet parking and it was only 10 bucks.
(4)
A. C.

(11/06/2013) Visited Ciao Bella as a stop on a 4-restaurant Dishcrawl. They pride themselves on family, tradition and consistency. An intro to the restaurant mentioned they were using the same family recipe for the tomato cream sauce we tried for the last 140 years. I can appreciate tradition, but sometimes you might want to recognize where there might be some room for improvement. Chicken Marsala was overly sweet. sparse on the mushrooms and chicken breast was dry while swimming in sauce (like it was pre-baked and then tossed in sauce later on, understandable if you're using the same plain chicken to be sauced in many other dishes). The famous house penne in tomato cream sauce with vodka was overcooked (to the point of mushy) pasta in a chafing dish of bland sauce. I'm wary of making such statements, was told if we said anything bad about the Gambino family's food there was a pair of concrete shoes waiting for us in the back kitchen. Not entirely sure they were kidding.
(2)
J B.

Everything was fresh and good this time. Last time must have been an off night. I LOVED the lamb meatballs that they had as an appetizer special. PLEASE add them to the regular menu and we'll be back often!
(4)
Ryan G.

I have only been to a handful of restaurants in Little Italy but so far this has been my best experience. The food was very good, portions were good size, and the price was reasonable. I came here with my girlfriend for a nice night out on a Friday and will come back again.
(4)
Naomi L.

My family came to eat here on Saturday July 7, 2012. It appeared as if the restaurant had previously added on another section. They were terribly short-staffed. We were a family of 6 people with a reservation. It took us 30 minutes to receive drinks. Thirty more minutes for our salads and soup. Those who ordered salad said it was warm. Then we did not receive our entrees until well over an our later. The entire saga took 2 hours and 42 minutes. It was entirely inappropriate.
(2)
Aaron J.

A great choice for Italian food in Baltimore. Sure, it can feel overly kitschy, but this really isn't to the place's detriment. The food is very good, if not great, and service is attentive and friendly. Prices may be a tad high, but not prohibitively so. Definitely a solid selection for dinner.
(4)
Justin K.

So we went here because we snagged a Groupon deal online and we never really go to Little Italy. I am very biased on Italian food. I am not Italian but living outside of Philly and going to Philly often, you get some of the best Italian food in the country. With that said I will begin my review. We went on a Wednesday night and walked in around 6. We were greeted and seated by the front window. We were THE ONLY people in the restaurant. We were given menus and we began peruse. The menu looked ok, they had a lot of seafood dishes which is cool by me. So, as we sat and looked out the window...yeah that is what we did for like 20 minutes because no one came back to us for that long. It was pretty awkward being the only people in a restaurant and no one is paying attention to you. More people came in and were seated and given the specials and drinks were taken, but we sat and waited....and waited what felt like an eternity. Finally a waiter came over and said, "Let's turn off the TV before we begin." He motioned turning off a TV. Crickets...I had no idea what he was talking about, because there was no TV! Oh, he meant the window, ooooof that was a bad joke. First off I am annoyed for waiting that long; second don't come at me with an awful joke! Whatever, moving on to the food. FOOD: We were given bread wrapped in a napkin to start with spicy oil for dipping. The oil was good, the bread was not. It was definitely burnt on the bottom. Started with the bruschetta, mediocre at best, definitely could have made this at home. The pasta: my wife had the Gnocchi Alla Vodka and I had the Shrimp Fra Diavolo. My wife dish was pretty good, but the portion was very small. She doesn't eat a ton but was still hungry when we left. My dish was also good with the shrimp being cooked nicely. The downside to my dish was it wasn't spicy enough for my tastes. I like my pasta sauces spicy, especially when I order a Fra Diavolo. Overall the meal was OK. I don't think I will be coming back, mostly because of the service in the beginning, which really bugs me. For me there is no excuse for that. Service in a restaurant is just as important as the food.
(2)
Cindy C.

I give it four stars because the service was great, the atmosphere was romantic, and the portions were huge. Bread is served after you order, and its warm and toasty! Food was not only plentiful, it was also quite good. The gnocchi had excellent flavor (sweet and cheesy...). The White Clam Sauce was too watery for my taste, otherwise it was also quite delicious. Prices were okay.
(4)
Lauran S.

Try the veal saltimbocca and crab toast. YUM. Tony G. Always makes his guests feel like a VIP.
(4)
Sondra P.

My husband and I went toCiao Bella last evening for dinner. From the moment we walked in until the end of our meal it was a delightful experience. One gets to dine in a relaxed leisurely way with the waiters taking excellent care. I started off with a grilled calamari over greens with fried capers that gave you just enough of the "saltiness". I then had chopped fresh clams over linguini that was terrific. Loved the experience and will go back again.
(5)
Kelsey F.

It takes a while for the food to come out but everything is made fresh and it is delicious, so it is worth the wait!
(3)
Janice L.

Saturday Night reservations for 830pm. Only came here to use a groupon. Granted we showed up 15 minutes late to our reservations as we got stuck in Baltimore traffic. Located in the Little Italy part of Baltimore. Owner greeted us after 5-10 minutes of standing there...there was quite a few people standing, sitting around. He finally came and asked if we had reservations. We weren't seated until 9:30pm. There was a group waiting after us of 5 and he told them 5 more minutes..and came up to me and said 2 more minutes... 2 minutes later, the table of 5 was seated...and we waited longer than 2 minutes... We already knew what we wanted by the time our "waiter" busboy Dave came to the table... but, to start off olive oil mix and bread...we were seated at a table for 2, there was an extra napkin rolled up we thought with silverware...it wasn't...it was the bread...needless to say, it was cold, not fresh tasting, and not good to start off my meal and first experience here. Sangria was iced wine in a water glass with a cut lime, orange, lemon on the rim...for $10....they made it to order I guess...but not worth $10...house wine was $6.95. No fruits inside or anything. Mostly ice. Appetizer: Escargot with garlic and butter....tasted bland...didn't know what was the chewy thing at the bottom...the escargot did not taste plump and full of meat...they tasted soggy and small... was not excited for this... Entree: I'm expecting the most wonderful pasta dishes because this is an Italian joint in Little Italy with Italian owners...boy was I wrong... I had the Seafood Tetrazzini, something like that. "large gulf shrimp and jumbo lump crab in a lobster brandy cream sauce" ...it was more like boyfriend's attempt to make some fancy pasta...a mess. The plate came with 3 shrimps which were not fresh tasting and overcooked...I'm sure they were frozen or not fresh. "Jumbo lump crab" more like specks of crab meat randomly in the pasta...not worth the market price of $30 dollars... the cream sauce was also really bland...I had to put plenty of fresh blacked pepper and salt and cheese to make it somewhat edible...I was truly disappointed... Boyfriend had the Veal Saltimbocca. He said it was good but for 22 dollars, it was a rather small portion on a huge dish...weird presentation...the meat was on a hugeeeee casserole looking dish...and his pasta was on a smaller than appetizer plate... Anyway, we didn't have dessert which I overheard was cannoli anyway. "Their night special"...doesn't sound exciting. Since we used groupon, they automatically added on 18% gratiuity. Which was fine because our poor waiter was the busboy... Was it worth it, no. The dinner was twice the amount of the groupon...and I could have fulfilled my appetite somewhere else for way less. Tables were awkwardly close to other tables too. Good luck with your experience.
(1)
J L.

Service speed is incredibly slow at this location. Be prepared to stay awhile. Food is good. Stay away from the sangria
(2)
Rob M.

The food here is not that great but the attitude is spot on. I was with a very big group, looking for dinner just before a rain storm. The owner came out and flagged us in. They could not do enough for us. A new chef and this place is diamonds!
(4)
Kristina R.

Lobster Ravioli... Fabulous!!!!!
(5)
Michael C.

My son and I loved our food - it was soooo old school. Beaten up decor, but nice staff and good overall experience. A taste of the old world....
(4)
Steve C.

I've had terrible experiences in the Little Italy restaurants of any city, but for some reason I thought that this time might be different. Ugh. Not so much. It really boils down to the food. It had all the charm and complexity of Olive Garden. I'm pretty picky when it comes to Italian food as I am Italian myself and have been taught how to cook by my family. So I know what makes a good sauce and can immediately taste when the quality is low. I had the gnocchi in a vodka sauce, and it was the worst vodka sauce I have ever had in my life. Vodka sauce is so easy to make, and I'm not sure I understand what precisely went wrong here. To make matters worse, there was hardly any gnocchi on the plate and I had to fish through 4 gallons of this nasty sauce to find my not-so-tasty gnocchi. And this monstrosity was $18. $18!!!!!! I could have made a far superior sauce to that for half the price and had the leftovers for a week. Instead I paid $18 for the McDonalds of vodka sauces. I really can't possibly overstate how nasty this sauce was. It really had no redeeming qualities. Service was very good, I'll give them that. But I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere if you've got an itch for Italian. If you don't mind bad quality, save your money and go to Olive Garden.
(2)
Miriam B.

This review is not based on the food at this establishment but the lack of service we received. Tonight my husband made a 7pm reservation for dinner. It was to be our first time dining at this restaurant and we were looking forward to trying another Italian place in little Italy. We arrived on time for our reservation only to be greeted by someone who told us that the restaurant was closed to the public and reserved for a private party. Three other couples standing near us were told the same thing. I don't mind that they had a private party if they would have taken the time to call us back and cancel our reservation. Luckily little Italy is full of restaurants and we enjoyed a nice meal at Ceasers Den. But I believe everyone deserves a second chance. So we will return to Ciao Bella and try the food.
(2)
Ningxi X.

Lovely, lovely family-run place in Little Italy. I visited with a friend two months ago on a Friday night and had a good time. Despite the somewhat limited menu selection, service is courteous and ambiance is intimate. My friend was 45 minutes late and I had to sit by myself while waiting during that entire time. The server was patient and didn't make me feel uncomfortable. The menu is simple and short, consisting of mainly classic pasta dishes, salads, and house wines. I had the chicken marsala and pinot grigio; both were decent although the creamy sauce in the entree was too heavy for me. The restaurant is dimly lit and not too crowded on the weekend when I went. I would suggest as a nice date place, although groups can also expect to have a good experience in the booth section.
(4)
Phil B.

Don't ever go to this place. The service was poor. We showed up and weren't seated for 15 minutes even though we had a reservation and there were open tables. The waiter was extremely slow and didn't respond well to requests. He took forever to take our order or to even acknowledge we were there. They didn't accept my Groupon and the manager was EXTREMELY rude. When I told him that it as unacceptable that he was refusing to accept my Groupon, he said I was being a dick. Don't ever go to this restaurant, it sucks.
(1)
Joe S.

This restaurant came as a recommendation from a couple of my friends so I decided to give it a try. It has a good atmosphere, a little tight, but it works. Our service was incredibly slow, taking almost an hour to get our food. The food was OK, nothing spectacular. We went as a party of four, and they brought us out 5 small slices of bread, which were cold. One of my beefs with this place is they don't give you a salad or much of anything to hold you over while they cook your food (for the prices they charge, you should get something along with the entree.) We got the calamari as an app.. it was a little chewy but good. I ordered a beer, and I guess they brewed it in there because it took an eternity to get to me. (It was a Sam Adams). The wine came out pretty quick tho. The table that sat behind us were seated about 10-15 minutes after us, yet received their food first. I am attributing that to our waiter. When we did finally get our food, mine was less than excellent (for the wait, I was expecting to be blown away). I ordered the Steak Pizziola. The description on the menu was: Flawless 12-ounce choice cut marinated and grilled, over Chef's risotto and topped with roasted peppers, onions and a homemade tomato sauce. I ordered my steak medium (who doesn't love a hot pink center) and what I actually got was an almost well done steak served over a small portion of risotto, topped with marinara sauce and two small slivers of pepper. For the price, I think the dish should've had more to it. (i.e. a veggie) The others in my party seemed to enjoy their food, and the wait staff was very quick to pack up our meals and get us out of there (if only that same speed was applied to serving us). I'm not sure I'd go back to this place, as I'm sure Little Italy has much more to offer.
(3)
Alan T.

went here with the lady for our date and it was excellent! I bought the Groupon and I'm glad I did because otherwise I wouldn't have known about this place. I had the chicken marsala and my gf got the seafood pasta. It was very fresh and flavorful.
(4)
Amanda C.

Having just recently moved to the Little Italy area, my husband and I were excited to try the local restaurants. Ciao Bella was delightful. We were greeted warmly by the owner whose father started the restaurant. He was so nice and the service throughout was good. I had the gnocchi which was excellent! This is just a warm, inviting, intimate and classic Italian restaurant and we'll be regulars!
(4)
Barbara D.

The food here is reliable, but nothing special. I would not go out of my way to come back here. The people who work here are very pleasant, and smile at you like you're family. But other than that, there's nothing that makes this restaurant different than all the other pasta-serving places in Little Italy.
(3)
Sarah P.

I was impressed with the food and service we received here. The owner, Tony, met us as we walked in the door and seated us immediately...on a Sunday night. The waiter was very attentive, but had a little difficulty remembering all the details of the specials, but I won't hold that against him. :) We brought my three year old to this restaurant and I really would not suggest this restaurant to families with small kids. It is a fancy restaurant, but they went out of their way to accommodate my daughter, which I was VERY impressed by. The food was phenomenal! I would go back again and again!
(5)
Trevor B.

Visited this restaurant with the $20 for $40 Groupon on a weekday night. It was about half full and we were seated pretty quickly by the owner Tony, who was a ball full of energy. Throughout the time we were there, he was constantly running around the restaurant chatting up and joking around with the customers while seating them. Overall, the food was pretty decent. Bread seemed a little stale and was served cold, but the EVOO dip was pretty awesome. We ordered calamari for appetizer, which was served with a huge portion of owner Tony Gambino's "signature marinara." The marinara sauce was actually pretty good, but the calamari itself was a little overbreaded and a bit chewy for my taste. The veal parmigiana entree was a good-sized portion of lightly breaded veal surrounded by a plateful of marinara, plus a side of spaghetti and sauce. A good dish and I had one whole veal filet leftover to bring home. Fiance ordered the pasta carbonara which was pretty tasty (slightly sweet) but a little heavy with the cream sauce. Service was pretty attentive overall, with quick water refills and multiple waitstaff taking care of the table. One annoying little thing - the lights in the dining room (by the entry door) kept flickering about every 10 minutes - not a huge deal but it seems like they're just resigned to let it be instead of fixing it. Kind of weird.
(3)
Ramina H.

I think the owner Mr. Gambino (not even joking) truly believes he's in the Sopranos. Parking is a bitch on weekends and had to spend $10 for valet which was a hassle. Even though we made reservations on opten table, there was a wait, for which Mr. Gambino apologized and then directed me and my friend to the bar where Herb (again, not even joking) made us really strong drinks and joked around with us. Like 10-15 minutes later, Mr. Soprano, i mean Gambino, comes over and whispers to my friend, while looking around the place as if someone was watching, if we'd be alright with sitting at a table next to the window. I know he didnt mean that to be funny but i just about died. I didn't realize the ilicit business of seating restaurant customers and how those things need to be kept on the dl. I LOL'd hard once he left us. Appteizers - juicy delicious flavorful (soooo much flavor) shrimp in some kinda basil sauce. Entree - i had the gnocchi a la vodka and my friend had the veal ciao bella or what he called "the veal rollatini." i didn't taste his, as I don't eat meat, but he finished his whole plate and said it was incredible. I tasted just the sauce on his plate with pasta and seriously to die for. My gnocci was awesome too and the perfect portion. Waiter (young tall bald man) was really nice and patient especially considering how long it took us to make a decision for food. And also i forgot to mention my groupon in the beginning but he said it was no problem and took care of it when our bill was ready.
(4)
Michele W.

The seafood Tetrazzini 2 words: heavenly and divine! The brandy cream sauce could not have been more perfect! Veal osso bucco: tender and juicy sitting atop a rich and flavorful broth. The house salad was also magnificent with exquisite house creamy italian. The antipasta salad was presented well and satisfactory. Clams casino were good but not traditional as expected. Sufficient wine selection. Quaint and romantic lounge area. The service was friendly, professional,and attentive
(4)
Janelle M.

I met my cousin for dinner last night at Ciao Bella for her birthday. We met up with 4 of her friends. I ordered the Chicken Masala, which was two skinny chicken breasts (probably a large breast cut in half) plated with a delicious marsala wine sauce. You could definitely taste the wine. It was yummy. It was served with a side of fettucini and tomato sauce. I would have preferred mashed potatoes, but hey! This IS an italian restaurant. There was a wet wood/moldy-like smell in the back of the restaurant which made it a little uncomfortable to enjoying my meal, but the delicious fried calamari made up for that. Yum! The waitress and hostess were both very pleasant, and the owner stopped by and spoke to me twice! That's always nice. Authentic Italian Food. Voted most romantic, but I didn't see any candlelight. Dim lighting and soft music added to the romantic ambiance, I guess. I'd visit again.
(4)
Janelle M.

Our family is, collectively, a huge fan of Italian food. My reactions to this place were a bit mixed. For starters, they seemed to be having some sort of local politician fundraiser event going on. That would have been nice to know when I made the reservation. I would have changed to a different night to avoid that. We ordered Mushroom Caprese as an appetizer. My husband and I decided to split it. According to the menu, it is "Baked portabella mushrooms stuffed with fresh mozzarella cheese and Roma tomatoes, Finished with a port wine sauce". Mushrooms. Plural. What came to the table was *ONE* mushroom. I nicked a star just for that. Their wine list is limited. And pricey. There is only one barolo on the menu, for $64, and it's a $24 bottle at retail. I took off another star for the wine selections and price. Incidentally, there are many restaurants in Baltimore that will let you BYO, often with a modest corkage fee. This is not one of them. The food though, was quite nice. I ordered the Veal Osso Buco, which was good. I had to explain what a marrow fork was to the server, who not only had never heard of such a thing, but was also sure the restaurant didn't have. Really? A chef worth his salt wouldn't serve osso buco without making sure marrow forks were available. Another word of caution - the osso buco is listed on the menu as being market price. I should have asked first. $40 is a price I might be willing to pay in NYC, at a restaurant with a stellar wine list, staff who had a clue as to how the dish should be eaten (never mind having the proper utensils), and appetizers that do a little more than just taunt your taste buds. $40 for osso buco in Baltimore, under these conditions is ridiculous. All in all, it was an overwhelmingly "meh" experience. We don't return for "meh".
(3)
Alison L.

Fairly complete menu though not incredibly authentic. Solid food and service though, so I give it 3. Ordered the following: Calamari- fresh, not chewy!, well battered, and served with their excellent marinara sauce Pasta Carbonara- good sauce, nice amount of bacon and mushrooms Gnocci- a bit over cooked as it was almost on the mushy side. But almost perfect. Good sauce, and I believe their Gnocci is made by them, fresh? Chicken Piccatta- plain and simple. Nothing too crazy of a restaurant, but for simple italian food, it's decent. The prices are ok. Though for what I paid I may have expected a tad bit more...more food, and more substance to the food (not as simple).
(3)
Anthony T.

Very good, standard Italian menu. We enjoyed ourselves. Although pricey, it's in line with other Little Italy restaurants.
(4)
Chris G.

Ciao Bella is a good restaurant but certainly not the best fir you dollar in Little Italy. Their menu is pretty complete and atmosphere is nice. Prices are pretty good. Now the food is good but to be honest, I can make better sauce and some if the dishes. My chicken Parma was average..a bit dry cause it was so thin. However, the minestrone soup was quite nice. My wife enjoyed her chicken piccata and grilled calamari app. The nice thing is that you can buy discount certificates on restaurant.com and they have been in Groupon in the past.
(3)
Kimberly L.

Pretty good service and very good food. My boyfriend got the lobster ravioli and I took a risk and got the tilapia with spinach and risotto. Both were delicious!
(4)
Manda G.

Absolutely horrible food. 2nd bad experience here in the past 2 months. Ordered chicken parm to go... It was a thin hard piece of rubber chicken with barely any cheese and no sauce. I looked at it and wondered how someone could call it food, especially in little Italy! 2 time too many. Go to Amiccis or Sabs instead. So much better all around.
(1)
Nancy B.

My sister and I experienced this charming restaurant Wednesday evening, June 12, 2013. Located in quaint Little Italy, we were searching for authentic pasta dishes. it did not disappoint. Our server was Connor, attentive and knowledgeable. I enjoyed the cesear salad and penne bolognese...so good! My sister also loved her choice, the linguini with meatballs. Everything about our dining experience was lovely.
(4)
F. O.

Great Italian food.
(4)
Shannon S.

Ciao Bella is a exactly what you expect from Little Italy. The food is Northern & Southern Italian cuisine. It is the best combination of quality and price I have found in Little Italy. The food is perfectly prepared, served on time, not rushed, the rooms are cozy and yet private enough that you are not into your neighbor's conversation. There is a great selection of wines to choose from of all varieties and prices. Suggested: Clams Casino and Veal Ciao Bella.
(5)
Kim E.

The service was great. I tried the shrimp oregato appetizer. It was a bit bland and I wouldn't order it again. For my entree, I ordered the special, which was a mushroom ravioli. It was excellent! I will definitely return and hope it's on the menu again.
(4)
Betty R.

The food we had was good, but...it took FOREVER for us to be greeted and order a drink (I heard that Ray Lewis was in the house, so maybe that's why the regular people were being ignored), THEN they were out of prosecco (an Italian restaurant, out of prosecco???), THEN they were out of meatballs (an Italian restaurant, out of meatballs!?!?!?!). Definitely a little sloppy.
(2)
Scaggsville S.

Rarely am I at a loss for words. But this place has got me stumped. Reservations were not easy, as I was told he could squeeze me in at 7:00pm I showed up early to check out the bar. I saw plenty of open tables. But Herb the bartender was the great. Great drinks, good pours and even though he was swamped showed great attention and kept a good conversation going with us and two other parties without missing a beat. The service bad but the food above par. The owner who was seating everyone had a Christopher Moltisani attitude, giving the place a bit of Sopranos like Italian feel. After making us wait for quite a while he came over and gave me a tap letting me know he had a table ready. Even when we sat down there were plenty of open tables. He did the same to others I noticed. The service through out dinner was inattentive. Now to the food! I had the Lobster Ravioli which was great! The sauce was on the ravioli had a good flavor and didn't overwhelm the filling. My wife had the veal parm, which she said was delicious. My daughter had the chicken parm, she said it was good but Facci in Fulton was better and it is cheaper. End result - I will go there again if someone suggests it, but there are plenty of other places to try in Little Italy.
(3)
Bruce D.

Had lunch on Tuesday at an almost empty restaurant. Owner was standing at the bar and eating pasta while acting as host and dressed in jeans and t-shirt (very unprofessional). While looking over the menu the owner came by and grabbed the menus from our hands indicating that he could choose better for us - he didn't really ask if that was OK but we let him anyway- - Big mistake. Salads were OK - very good dressing but greens were not well chilled. Chicken Marsala was acceptable but the Steak Pizziola was terrible. Overcooked, tough and both the steak and sauce had a burned flavor. Did not come with roasted peppers and risotto as described on the menu and certainly a much smaller portion. Even though the waitress (very polite) asked how we liked our meals, when I told her of our disappointment she made no attempt to make amends. Will not go back.
(2)
Julaine N.

The waitress was friendly. The service was a bit slow but the food was fresh and our drinks were continually refilled without having to ask. The salads were the best part of the meal. The mozzarella and tomato salad is tasty with a great balsamic vinaigrette. The entrees, however, were mediocre. The marinara sauce is too sweet and thick. It tastes more like ketchup than marinara sauce. The lasagna noodles and other ingredients were tasty, but the sauce was very disappointing. Also, the bread should be warm. The dipping oil they serve it with is tasty, but cold stiff bread doesn't cut it.
(2)
T C.

Visiting this restaurant after a boring day at a trade show was a fantastic treat. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly without being tooooo much so. Then came the food....holy cow! Even plain jane minestrone was a special experience. Our mixed seafood pasta special didn't disappoint. I would highly recommend it.
(5)
Pito S.

I was in Baltimore for a conference. I stumbled across this restaurant. It was absolutely delicious!
(4)
David B.

Love the food and atmosphere. Tony, the owner is down to earth and takes the time to stop by your table and check on you.
(4)
Todd P.

This is a great place in the heart of Little Italy. I had the Veal Saltimbocca and it was fabulous! Good food & good prices... a great mix.
(4)
Ann R.

I had my 45th birthday dinner at Ciao Bella while in town for the weekend with friends. Everyone loved their meal, the prices were reasonable, food was delicious and the service was excellent. I would recommend Ciao Bella and definately return next time I'm in Baltimore.
(4)
Courtney B.

Positives: great menu selection, amazing salads, dipping oil for bread is pleasantly seasoned, valet parking available (important in Little Italy), serving assistants are attentive on refilling drinks/bringing more bread, server was also very attentive and helpful Negatives: waited 15 minutes for a table even though there were several open tables in the restaurant (could have been due to available staff or other factors, but it still never looks good), bread comes wrapped in a napkin but isn't warm at all, entrees were decent but seemed a little overpriced, we waited a long time for entrees even though the restaurant wasn't packed, owner was a little strange...
(3)
Cerridwen F.

I've pretty much visited and dined at most of the restaurants in Little Italy and other Italian places and tonite's dinner pretty much topped them. We ordered the Calamari for appetizer and was very surprised that my husband actually ate more than 2 pieces (he's not a fan of calamari at all!) and he thought it was very good. He had the Lobster Ravioli and he LOVED it! The ravioli were big pieces and the sauce was divine! I had Frutte Di Mare and asked if I could substitute risotto for the linguini. Our server went to check and came back to tell us that they will substitue but for an extra $2.00. I said that would be fine and a few minutes later our appetizer came. We wanted to get a Rose' from their wine list. Unfortunately they were out so my husband ordered Moscato instead. That was a great choice, just that it was rather expensive. The server did ask me to taste it first to check if I'll like it and I did. Going back to my dinner, I really loved it! The risotto was authentic and creamy and a good variety of seafood (large gulf shrimp, scallops, calamari, and clams) with marinara sauce. The wait staff were pleasant and our server was very attentive. Finding a parking spot is definitely a challenge here. They weren't offering valet parking tonite as they're already short-staffed. Our dining experience was great, there was a bit of a wait but we're in Little Italy, I've never been to any restaurants here that there wasn't a wait.
(5)
Dontae W.

Ciao Bella was a pleasant surprise. The exterior gave the impressive of relatively space restuarant. However, the inside revealed a spacious facility complete with roomy dining areas and a private room for parties or receptions. The setting was cozy and nice for a romantic outing. In terms of the food, it was delightful with reasonable portions. I enjoyed the Shrimp Puttanesca, although it was a little overpriced. If you are looking for a nice alternative to the overpacked restaurants on the harbor, Ciao bella is worth a visit. Also, it is only a 5 or 10 minute drive from the rest of the sites on your trip to the harbor.
(4)
Looti H.

Terrible food, does not worth even with groupon. Will never go back
(2)
katy b.

when i visited my boyfriend in maryland we spent a day in baltimore, and finished it off with dinner at ciao bella and 4th of july fireworks. we had to wait a little while, but they seated us at the bar, got us some drinks, and that was absolutely fine because i hadn't seen him in about 2 months so any time together was fine with me. when we sat down, the owner said something about us reminding him of him and his wife (him/ian being italian and the wife/me being not italian, and instead swedish or something) and then he took over our table. he was charming, laughed at my pronunciation of the word "parmigiano" and treated us very well. the food was really good in my opinion, a little pricey, but the overall experience was definitely a good one.
(4)
D M.

My boyfriend and I went here with a groupon and we will not be returning! We arrived at 6:25 for a 6:30 reservation and were told we would be seated at our reservation time, so could we please wait by the bar. The man who told us this was really rude about it... I'm pretty sure he was the owner also. We were a little confused, as there were open tables and we were like 4 minutes early, but we waited. Then we were seated and the rest of the experience was similar in that we did NOT feel welcome at all. I don't know if it's because we had a groupon or what, but the server was unfriendly and we received our food way after tables around us that arrived AFTER we did. It was a very strange and uncomfortable dining experience the entire time. It felt like we were an annoyance to the waiter. Additionally, had we not had the groupon, the price would have been outrageous for the food!! The total bill was like $65 for the two of us and the food was completely average and the portions were small. I would choose any Italian chain restaurant over this place any day of the week!!! Carrabba's is about half as expensive, with better food, bigger portions, and friendlier wait staff!! We were so disappointed as this was our first trip to Little Italy. Bummer. Oh well, I guess it's good to know where not to go out to eat also!
(1)
Risa B.

I tried this restaurant with a friend for the first time last night, having recently moved to Baltimore from Boston, where I loved the north end. Pros: we were seated right away, my water glass was always full, the wait staff was very friendly, the olive oil that comes with the bread is quite good, and they brought us extra bread Cons: The food was not so great. I had the calamari, a special shrimp bisque, and the shrimp Fra Diavolo. The calamari was fine. The shrimp bisque was VERY spicy, and the waitress did not even mention that when describing the dish. While the sauce for the Fra Diavolo was good, the shrimp were quite overcooked. My biggest con had nothing to do with the food. As poor graduate students, we went into the restaurant with a $50 budget in mind, and carefully chose our dishes to reach $55. The waitress said the special soup was the soup du jour, which is listed on the menu as $7. It actually turned out to be $10 on the check, and both of us had ordered it. Additionally, my friend wanted to order the tortellini with al fredo sauce, but the waitress "helpfully" suggested that she switch to the carbonara sauce, because it was more exciting, and of course, "they make everything to order." It turned out that little switch cost us $2 extra for the sauce, plus $4 extra to keep the tortellini that she would have had originally! Needless to say, our check came to much more than we were expecting, and neither of us will be going back. I guess if you are willing to pull tricks like that to make a few extra bucks, you must have an endless supply of new clients.
(2)
D G.

visited last night with the gf as we had purchased a restaurant.com coupon, and we were not disappointed. the interior was very intimate and with our early reservation we got a nice window seat so we could people watch. the wait staff was also very helpful, the owner even came over to introduce himself after we had told our waiter that this was our first time there! The food was the best we have had at any place in little italy. we split the ceaser salad and that was pretty good, but the entrees were amazing. my gf ordered a crab stuff shrimp pasta dish that was amazing. I settled on the lobster ravioli and that was very good as well, I could have used a few extra raviolis, but I eat a lot more than the average person so I wasn't offended. Lastly, we devoured their bread and whatever kind of dipping concoction was set at our table (we guessed that it was a simple blend of olive oil, garlic, basil and cheese?). overall, we had a great experience all for not really that much money considering the quality of the food.
(5)
Eric P.

The food is good, but not great. The other restaurants in Little Italy will give you a better quality/price ratio.
(3)

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Address : 236 S High St
Baltimore, MD, 21202
Phone (410) 685-7733
Website https://www.cbella.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Ciao Bella

236 S High St, Baltimore, MD, 21202

Ciao Bella Menu

Appetizers

Insalata Salads

Panini Sandwiches

Pastas

Ciao Bellas House Favorites

Gourmet Pizzas

Pizza Traditional

Pizza Traditional - Toppings

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ciao Bella

Appetizers

Insalata Salads

Panini Sandwiches

Pastas

Ciao Bellas House Favorites

Gourmet Pizzas

Pizza Traditional

Pizza Traditional - Toppings

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