I came here the first time after looking for new restaurants in Conshy. We ordered the mussels, beef skewers, octopus and ribs. We also got the roasted corn and bacon pizza. The food was all delicious but service did take awhile. We returned for Restaurant week last Saturday. They were able to accommodate my last minute request to change to a 4 top from 3. Food came out relatively quick, although the service was a little off. They usually describe what you're getting, but no one did except for our main waiter. The food was still pretty good, but tasted different than before. The mussels were on the tasting menu but the broth didn't taste as good. Beef skewers were not as tender. Overall, I understand that you're cooking up in bulk for everyone so it explains the difference in quality.
(4)
Nikki C.
I go here after work for happy hours. It's a great place for a one-on-one. It's kind of quiet and small, so I don't suggest large groups. I can see it also being a cute place for a date.
(3)
Tim C.
I really enjoy this place. The drinks are always good and the food is excellent. Tonight I had the Gorgonzola and fig pizza which was beyond good. I've gone several times and am never disappointed.
(4)
Erica S.
The first time I came to Isabella I was extremely impressed. All of the tapas we ordered were fresh and interesting. We ordered two pizzas - both were delicious! The crust was crispy and thin, and the flavor combinations were unique. My husband and I decided to take our two out-of-town guests to Isabella this past Tuesday for dinner. We had such a great experience on our first visit, that we figured this would be the perfect place to take our guests. During our second visit, we were told that there was an hour wait for pizza. Strangely enough, the restaurant was not even 1/2 full as it was 9:00 on a Tuesday night. When we asked for a reason for the long wait, the waiter blamed a "new pizza guy" and a faulty oven. We were pretty disappointed because we had wanted to order pizza. Instead, we ordered 4 tapas - camarones, mussels, lamb chops, and steak kebobs. All were very good and came out right away. Instead of the pizzas, we each got our own entree. Two of the entrees came out first, and the other two did not come out for another 10 minutes. I'm not sure of the reason for this poor service, but that coupled with the pizza debacle made for a disappointing experience.
(3)
Tom S.
I'd been meaning to check in on this Conshy newcomer for a while, and made it about a week ago. Their menu features a swath of tapas, and after recent Dionysian feasts at places like Tinto and Verdad, you could say I'm pretty sold on the whole tapas thing. Around six in the evening, my lovely lady and I walked past a group of three waiting, and snagged the last two-top with no wait. I selected Duvel Green from the short beer list, which featured some very good beers but felt just slightly... disjointed (for lack of a better word). That theme continued. Each plate we tried seemed really good at first, and after a few moments seemed to dissipate in our memories. The thing I remembered most was the stark contrast between this somewhat dry pork belly, and the rich, juicy plate I enjoyed at Verdad. Something seemed to be missing here. We shared three small plates and split a steak for an entree. On the whole, this place was not half bad. But something made me set my expectations to a level that just wasn't quite reached. I think with some tweaks and twists, this place could be a real winner.
(3)
Ed B.
Comfortable friendly neighborhood place. Fig and Gorgonzola pizza , octopus, mussels all excellent. Salads well done. Wish there were more places like this.
(4)
Andrea L.
Really starting to look forward to stopping in this place whenever i'm in in the area. Never was a muscle fan, but these muscles have changed me....the sauce is so good. Definitely try them. And i also wouldn't look forward to going back if they didn't know how to make a good drink here. Can't beat happy hour specials either. Good selection of the tapas menu is offered at half price and i'm pretty sure so are all drinks(or maybe drafts). But FYI, you have to sit in the bar area to take advantage of hh special. .
(4)
Stephen P.
I work in Conshohocken on a regular basis and this is one of my regular places. It is an easy walk from the Residence Inn. The service is great and friendly. They have a wonderful bare and the atmosphere is warm. I like all of their food, but they make a great wood fired thin crust pizza that I keep coming back for.
(4)
Megan M.
The weather was beautiful on Friday...a fluke 70° day in February!!! I thought it would be the perfect day to meet my honey on the way home from work for happy hour. I've been driving by this place for over a year now & from the outside it looks so damn inviting. Not so much on the inside, sadly. When I walked in there at 5pm you would have thought I had 3 heads by the way the bartender looked at me. I tried to make small talk until my hon arrived, about the weather, how long they've been open, business, etc......got the cold shoulder. But the sun was shining & nothing could get us down so we stayed. The sangria tasted like fruity iced tea. The croquettes resembled tater tots. We ordered 3 sangrias & 2 apps for a grand total of $41 (wo/tip) Will we be back? it would have to be a cold day in ... well, you know what.
(1)
Stu G.
I think the place has great potential. I've been here a few times and I'm happy to go back. My wife and I took our son (9 year old) for dinner last night. The menu is a bit overwhelming with many small plates, we weren't up for that complicated of a meal. My wife got an arugula salad which was good, I got the kobe burger which I enjoyed with a glass of pinot noir (a well poured glass, not the measured crap some restaurants do). We also got a pizza, which I thought was fine, my son didn't like it. Too thin he said... Overall I liked it and they seem to be doing well. Everything was fine, they need to get something that will really stand out as a signature dish. The owner was very nice and stopped by to see how we were which I always think is a great touch.
(3)
David N.
Place is small but very cute and trendy. Dishes are very SMALL so don't come here if your starving. We should of gotten the pizza because thats what it looked like everyone was into. Service was pretty solid,waiter was friendly
(3)
Ryan M.
It's a Tappas restaurant. So if you're not happy with small plates, get a few plates and a pizza or 2. They make the pizza in a brick oven on the back patio. We were welcomed to go out and take a look. They have about 6 types? We got sausage & spinach. This review is several months late, so I can't get too specific on the quality of the food. But I remember it being above average. I definitely wasn't disappointed. One of the highlights of our night was the sangria. They have white & red so we had to try both. The white was great and the red - amazing. The small plates are mostly $5-12 with a few up towards 19. The salads are 7-11, I remember loving our salads. The main plates are 14-25. I believe the pizzas were 12-15. Not bad for quality and atmosphere! As we were leaving, the owner was walking through to check in and walked around and mingled with a few guests. He was sincerely interested in people's impressions of the quality of the food and service, and pricing. They were great. And since we also like the atmosphere, we will be back.
(4)
Vince R.
Food was very subpar. The most disconcerting part of the meal was when 3 of the 4 of us received our meals within 30 minutes of ordering with the last person getting theirs 1 hour after ordering. They the server had the audacity to tell us that we would have to be moved to the bar if we wanted to order another round of drinks after our meal. Mind you that we haf just finished eating so it wasn't like we were loitering. The server seemed new so I can't place the blame on her. Whoever is managing this place does not have a clue.
(1)
Sara M.
Isabella is still fairly new and working out their kinks. The atmosphere is Spanish/trendy - excellent decor. The clientele is mature and fun. Their new bartender, Malik, is very friendly and helpful. On our first visit in 2010, we walked by the pizza ovens outside behind the restaurants which made for some very legit flatbread! We also enjoyed the mussels - topped with a mountain of crispy shallots, very memorable, as well as sangria. My husband tried the white, I the red. I was happiest with my choice, although the white did not fall too far behind. A brief chat with the mildly-snobbish manager left us a bit weary, but did not let it affect our night. Their recent addition of happy hour has always beckoned me on my commute home along Elm Street, so I decided to drag my husband and neighbor out for a happy hour this past Tuesday. We enjoyed their new specials, as well as a new manager! Draft specials of many of my favorite craft beers on tap, half price small plates, and wine specials. They also have two Smirnoff cocktails for $5 - a martini and cosmopolitan. The Ommegang or Allegash on tap was enticing, but not being in a beer mood, I tried the Albarino. I was happy I did - it was a perfectly dry white wine that accompanied my small plates rather well. I sampled the cosmopolitan but I am a bit of a vodka snob and would recommend staying away. A well-made martini or cosmopolitan should never be made with middle-shelf vodka, IMO. We spoke, perhaps a little slurred-ly due to the several happy hour cocktails, to the owner who was a very personable man. He asked our opinion of our experience, and being a foodie - I gave it to him straight. The shrimp croquettes were sub-par - the tomato/cumin dipping sauce was delicious but the shrimp just didn't work for me (to be honest, I think a simple chickpea would have worked much better). He agreed with me and actually remarked "I am taking it off the menu!" This really impressed me that he was so willing to listen to a diner's opinion. The calamari was very good, as were the mussels (again), but my favorite was the frites with truffle oil, which can be smelled immediately when entering the restaurant. Not to be missed! All-in-all, Isabella is a welcomed addition to Conshohocken. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for its potential and my confidence that all kinks will be worked out and this unique dining spot will surpass all of my expectations. I look forward to trying the Tango lessons they offer upstairs on Tuesdays and hope to make it a regular dining/happy hour destination!
(4)
Cate L.
Muy Bien! I've been here now almost to the point of a 'Regular' self-proclamation. I cannot stay away! First, it must be noted, that their Happy Hour can't be beat. The house wine ($5) actually doesn't taste like vinegar and the half-priced appetizers leave you full! The last two times I happy houred here, I got a seat at the bar, great service and left full! Now, onto the food. Tapas never tasted so good! I've legitametly had dreams about the Isabella salad...figs, dressing to die for, valdeon cheese....I have to stop, for fear of drooling! Delicious! Mussels, phenomonal, with the perfect amount of tomato flavor and crunch from the potatoes... Beet Terrine....refreshing, with flavors that completely wake up your tongue. Chuletas de Cordero...wow, the cherry just explodes in your mouth. I could go on and on, but I will spare you. Go. Tapas yourself! The plates aren't tiny, are well-priced...and delicious! Only think I didn't like was the Camarones...the shrimp just didn't seem to have a lot of flavor and I LOVE garlic. Just didn't do it for me. Everything else was superb!
(4)
Lisa S.
Absolutely delicious, but one of the best things about Isabella is Lance! He is seriously the best waiter, makes every visit fun and special! Definitely one of the best restaurants in Conshohocken. The pastas and pizzas are fantastic.
(5)
Timmy M.
We started off pleasant. The owner came in complaing about no music as he should have, this let us know he was the owner. He sat at a table with 4 people and great service , no one else one restaurant got the same experience. They however left all 4 coats piled on the bar stool next to us as if it were a coat rack. The bartender was mediocre at best knowledgable of the menu was her only savings grace. Took our order then off to the owners table as well as the rest of the brown nosing staff. Food came and was eaten and waited for a to go box for a half of pizza. 15 minutes later with no drinks or service the waiter was behind the bar at the register. We got his attention to ask for a to go and check and to let him know we were unhappy. He tried to make amends but by this point I told just the check and get back to the owners table. The female bartender came back and asked if the bartender was hitting no us( us two males, and server male) offended I replied " no he's doing your job". We got our bill and paid never to return again. Do yourself the favor read some of the other poor reviews and don't bother. To many other fine restaurants in the area.
(1)
Melissa V.
One of the worst service experiences I've ever had. We got sat immediately on a Wed at 7pm and the waiter (tall, skinny, bald guy) was sitting down talking to the table next to us, which implies leisure. After about 10 minutes, he took our cocktail order. Then he disappeared for at least 10 more mins. He came back and set the drinks down and complained that we would 'have to come back in about two mins because he had a table of needy old people'. That's just unprofessional and rude. So we said that's fine but could we have some bread. To which he replied by throwing his hands up in the air and saying 'why not you before others'. He stormed off. And so did we! First time I've ever left a restaurant after ordering. Awful service. Too bad, we wanted to find a new place.
(1)
Stacey P.
Went on a quiet Thursday night. The service was attentive. The food was delicious. we enjoyed a pizza, mussels, lamb chops and figs. will definitely return to this classy neighborhood bistro.
(4)
Samantha T.
I like this place. So far I have only been for drinks but I really like the bar. My friend goes all the time for brunch and says the food is great. The menu is pretty big, something for everyone. Parking can be an issue on weekend nights, but on a nice night who minds a little walk? S far the staff has been very nice, not overbearing but attentive. I will be back for dinner soon.
(4)
KT L.
Came here for happy hour and it was good but warning don't come for lunch only one waitress waiting on all tables! Got there at 12:10 didn't get my lunch till 12:50 and she got my lunch wrong! I ordered burger with side salad and I got it with fries...food was ok but service made for a bad experience.
(2)
Nicholas W.
Isabella's is a great place ofr a fun night out. They offer a great craft beer selection, and they also have a good wine list. The menu is tapas based and meant to be shared. Go there with a group and order as much as you can. The big table in the middle of the dining room is the best.
(4)
Jesse B.
This was my first time at Isabella's based on a recommendation of a friend. We had a cheese plate, pizza, a few cocktails and a dessert. The service was exceptional, knew the menu and made recommendations...good recommendations! The place fills up quickly, so make a reservation. Great spot for a small group get together.
(4)
Jane S.
wish I read the reviews before I visited this restaurant. We arrived at 5pm, first seating. The table was dirty, when we asked to have it cleaned, the server spilled candle wax to demonstrate that the dirt may have been spilled wax, but there were crumbs... ordered pizza, 10 minutes later the server told us that the pizza maker did not show up and that the oven only held 2, so was subject to uneven cooking. He also told us that the dishes we ordered could show up at any time in any order since they used 3 kitchens. And they did, without any consideration. On the positive, the gnocchi was amazingly good.
(2)
Brenda J.
Service is excellent, foods changes weekly with relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Unique drinks!
(5)
Christine M.
My friends from work and I like to go out for happy hour. This is by far my favorite place in Conshy. The interior is very nice the service is always friendly and professional. The bartender Malik makes amazing concoctions. My philosophy is that bathrooms are the shoes of a restaurant, and their bathroom is amazing. The happy hour specials are great. $3.50 Tapas and $5 drinks is an amazing deal. If you are in the area, defiantly stop by.
(4)
Amy M.
Great food, great Sangria. The service was fast and friendly.
(4)
Sabrina D.
I thought this place was great! When I walked in I was surprised to see how small it was, yet the ambiance and decor was great and I instantly wanted to settle in for a nice dinner and some wine. This is a great date place and they have a nice wine selection. We ordered several of their tapas and all of them were unique and delicious. The calamari was a generous portion served with a pesto sauce. We also order the gnocchi which was so buttery and yummy. Looking around at the other dishes, the pizzas looked delicious also, but my tummy was too full. Overall I would recommend this place for a nice date or dinner with a friend, I don't think it's ideal for large parties as it is more of a romantic kind of place. The service was awesome and our waitress was very helpful. Overall a wonderful experience!
(4)
Glenda P.
I went here last night with some friends and my husband because I heard about their Tapas Tasting Menu (8 courses for $27). It was nice because you could choose to get the tasting menu, or you could just order off of their regular menu. I know with some places that offer prix fixe menus, either the whole table has to order that, or you won't get it at all. I've been to this restaurant before and was happy with my experience, which is why I decided to organize this dinner to go back with different people so that they could taste the goodness of Isabella. Here is the Tapas Tasting Menu: Isabella Salad - local mixed greens, valdeon cheese, marinated figs and toasted almonds tossed with a pedro ximenez vinaigrette House Mozzarella - lavender honey and spiced marcona almonds Tuna Niçoise - olive oil blanched sushi grade ahi tuna with olives, capers, quail egg and caper berry Cochino Frito - chili-dusted crispy pork belly with a sweet pea puree and pickled onions Intermezzo - mojito sorbet Mussels - mussels in a roasted tomato jus with a crisp potato and arugula salad Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi - house made ricotta, brown butter, reggiano parmigiano, nutmeg Pinchos de Carne - chili and roasted garlic marinated beef skewers with a porcini mushroom crema and charred onion Dessert Trio - espresso creme, chocolate mousse and pear ginger sorbet I must say that the Isabella Salad was incredible. I'm a big fan of figs, and all of the ingredients really complimented each other. Also, the House Mozz was to die for! I've never had mozz with honey before, and it was amazing! Melts in your mouth! I also loved the Cochino Frito. It was a little fatty, but it's pork belly, so what do you expect? The flavor was so good, and I liked that it was a little bit crispy around the edges. My other favorite were the mussels. I've never had mussels like this before. The crisp potato on top of them truly gave them a special uniqueness because of the texture. The gnocchi was buttery heaven. It was nice to have a taste of that. It's good that there were only two gnocchis in the tasting, because I think too many of those would be too filling. Last but not least, the dessert trio was really yummy. Who doesn't love chocolate mousse?! It's my absolute favorite. All in all, a very good dinner. Service was good, and everyone was happy with their meals...the people who didn't get the tasting menu ended up getting a pizza, the kobe burger, and the snapper. Not a complaint from anyone. Also, if you go here, you have to get their Red Sangria. So good! And I loved the music in the background too. Made me want to get up and salsa!
(4)
Paul PJ Y.
Isabella is a pleasant suprise in Conshohocken. The restaurant is a suburban tapas oasis for those that don't get into the city that often. They offer one TV at the bar and have a wide selection of micorbrews from Ommegang to Great Lakes. The plates are small but very flavorful. We enjoyed the mussels, cheese plate, beef skewers, and lamb lollipops which were all excellently prepared with great presentation. Bottles of wine (start at $22) are the way to go since glasses are all $9 plus. Great food at a decent price will be sure to keep this place crowded on the weekends for months to come. 66 dollars after tax for the four courses mentioned, 2 beers, and a glass of red.
(4)
Maura G.
We tried to go to this place last night for Conshy restaurant week. let me just say that it was the first time in my life that i have ever walked out of a restaurant. my friend who made the reservation specifically asked when she made the reservation if we could order off the regular menu (her boyfriend "R" doesn't eat a lot of things that were on the RW menu). they said yes, of course. she asked this again when they called to confirm her reservation. but when we get there, the story changed. half of us got there early, so we had some drinks at the bar. i had a cucumber lime martini-delicious, not sweet, and very refreshing, but this was the only enjoyable thing about our visit. once all of us were there, we sat at our table. the owner gave us the restaurant week menu and said we could order off of the $20 side or the $35 side. once our waiter gets to the table, we ask for a regular menu. he told us no, you can only order off the restaurant week menu...uh, what? on top of that, everyone has to order either the $20 or the $35; everyone has to agree. thats not what the owner just told us. we asked if R could just order off the regular menu and the rest of us would do the RW menu, and he went to ask the owner. when he comes back, he tells us that everyone would have to pay for the RW, including R, and then we get charged on top of that for whatever we want off the regular menu. WHAT?! that makes NO SENSE! that means R would be paying $35 for food he would never touch in addition to his order. what happened to pleasing the customer? they would have been making a good deal of money off us in drinks alone; why not compromise? they said it was their first time participating in RW, and obviously they don't understand the concept. the place is super small. the fact that it was crowded made it feel even tinier. there is barely enough room for the servers to walk around let alone the customers. there is no hostess station, so when you walk in you feel like you don't know where to go or what to do. needless to say, we walked out and went to another place around the corner and had a great meal with great service. best decision we made all night. i'd like to give this place another chance, but i'm not so sure after this experience. maybe just for happy hour, because they do have a nice bar selection. but that's the only good thing i can say about this place.
(1)
Tanya R.
Great place! Good service, great food, strong drinks for a normal price. Good date place.
(4)
Daniel G.
Went to Isabella for Valentines Day dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Utilized open table to make the reservation and was pleased that when we arrived there was only a brief wait. The menu had a set selection and was a bit on the pricey side at $40/person, however the amount and quality of food that was presented made the entire night worth it. The element that set the night aside as a success, however, was the service. Even with a packed house our waitress was helpful, enjoyable to talk to, and most importantly attentive while being overwhelmed with tables. I look forward to coming here again on a day to try their nighly menu which looks very promising.
(4)
Andrew P.
Still a few items that seem out of place on the menu, but, importantly, the service element here has most definitely improved.
(4)
Melissa S.
So far I am a fan! Just went in and had a few drinks with my friend... Sangria to be exact! It was fantastic! Michelle is the best bar tender, and really makes you feel welcome! We also tried the Calamares, and it was pretty good. Its very beautiful inside too! Went in for a full dinner on new years eve, and we were seated right away, no wait. it was around 530. The small plates were just ok...we had the lamb, shrimp croquettes, and octopus. The octopus was fantastic, but our ultimate favorite was the PIZZA. thin crust, tasty, delicious. i can see myself going here for sangria and pizza specials in the near future.
(3)
Kevin A.
My review is for Happy Hour only. During this time, they have drink and appetizer specials, making this a bar to keep in mind after work. The bartenders have been top quality and charming. I've never sat at a table during this time so cannot comment on the service there. There are not a ton of draft beers to choose from, but what is there is tasty and one of the offerings should appeal to most beer drinkers. The house wine is good; the mixed drinks are tasty. For food, generally, friends and I get the fries which are good, mussels, which are very good, and something else. We have a good time there, the atmosphere is friendly, and the place has a warm sunny feeling. This all makes for a good happy hour out. More special because of the ambiance, bartenders, and my friends than for anything particularly outstanding about the restaurants' offerings.
(3)
Beth G.
Loved this restaurant. It's a terrific find for the suburbs, especially on a Sunday evening. Good food and bar, friendly atmosphere and good service.
(4)
Jen A.
After eating at Isabella, we had mixed reviews. The restaurant has a great homey atmosphere off the main stretch in Conshohocken. We were there on a wednesday night and there were only a few other tables there. Our server was attentive enough, but our waters were never filled, there was not much suggestion about the items on the menu and he brought the check and stood it up on the table while we were still eating dessert (even though we had planned on ordering another glass of wine). There were no tables waiting and we were not eating late in the evening so I'm not sure why there was such a rush but it was unwelcoming. For dinner, we ordered a number of small plates (figs stuffed with blue cheese, mussels, calamari, lamb) and a sausage pizza. The figs were good but you could not taste much of the blue cheese. The mussels were fantastic. The calamari was over-cooked, which was surprising considering it was at our table less than 5 minutes after we ordered. All the food came out quick...almost too quick which made us wonder whether everything was prepared fresh. The highlight of the night was our dessert - a banana bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. Isabella has some growing pains to overcome but I could certainly see myself giving it one more shot in a few months, especially because of its close proximity to my home.
(2)
Bob S.
I went to Isabella for my birthday with my parents and my fiancee and it was delightful. We started with the cheese plate (four cheeses, each paired with something tasty to go with them... truffle honey may be the greatest thing ever), charcuterie (very nice... nothing fancy, just good cured meats presented simply and elegantly... the duck prosciutto wasn't quite as good as DiBruno's but the serrano was perfect), and albondigas (which were perfect... nothing fancy or special, just well made, tender, perfectly spiced little balls of veal... tender and tasty). Entrees were wonderful. My dad's pizza margarita was, like so much else, not terribly original (but he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy anyway), but perfectly executed... just the right amount of crispiness in the crust... My mom's bacon and tomato pizza was even better. My fiancee got paperadelle with truffle oil and it was outstanding... very strong truffle (perhaps too much for some people, but I can't imagine ever have too much truffle) and coming across little slices of truffle in every few bites was heavenly. I had scallops with a meyer lemon compote and caviar. The scallops were tender and nicely seared and I could get a bucket of that meyer lemon stuff and eat it like it was Ben & Jerry's. Truffle Parmesan frites were redolent with more truffle, but clearly hand cut since they you could actually taste potato, and not just "fried" and the cauliflower hash with anchovies was a little bowl of fishy awesomeness. Our server Brent was attentive, personable, charming, and very accommodating, especially since my parents aren't as adventurous, culinarily speaking, as some other folks. This is a great place for a mixed crowd like ours... Coors light and some straightforward dishes for the meat-and-potato crowd... Craft beer (not a great selection, but a few decent choices) and somewhat daring selections for the more adventurous. My two complaints are the bar service (the bartender knew nothing about the beers they had and refused to give me a bottle list... insisted there wasn't one, even though when we got to our table there was) and the bacon-infused Maker's Mark tasted a little muddy. We had a great time and we'll be back.
(5)
Alex S.
Great tasting small dishes. Attentive staff. No complaints. Will be back. Alcohol is OK nothing special.
(4)
Lil T.
Went here for dinner and thought it was delicious. Also liked the atmosphere of the place - fun, cool vibe! Our waiter was great, extremely attentive, friendly and funny! Our favorites included the parpadelle, risotto and the beef skewers. Also got the tomato and mozzarella pizza for our 2 yr old which was very good. We shared the Isabella salad which was generously portioned for a tapas place. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Megan K.
had lunch here with a friend. service was friendly enough. place is cute. I have no idea what it's like at night. Its right next door to my work which is why i checked it out. i had a grilled cheese and soup. the soup was luke warm and it was cold and crappy out. i thought that was a perfect lunch for the day. I make it a rule never to send food back to the kitchen. you never know what an angry cook will do. so i ate my less than hot soup. it was a little on the expensive side for lunch. im not ruling it out. but im trying other places before i go back
(3)
Lisa H.
I first tried to come to Isabella in October, but left without eating because they wouldn't accept reservations and we came in to cramped and utter chaos. My Sister and I still liked the look of the place and overheard other diners complimenting the food, so we decided to try it again tonight. I was very pleased to find a website for them and that they now take reservations. We had a 7:30 pm reservation and it was not very crowded when we got there, but it was still bustling. We really enjoyed the warm and inviting feel and look of the place and the bar looked like a great place to get together for some wine and appetizers. Unlike other reviewers, we actually had a good experience with the staff. They were friendly, knowledgable and attentive. I was very impressed that they offered single oysters because I have never had one and was excited to try it. That was pretty good and it seemed like we were off to an excellent start...it all started to go downhill from there. The house red wine was described as bold and robust similar to a cabernet, but it was closer to drinking red wine vinegar. It was very tangy and it lacked body. We decided to do all Tapas because we wanted to try a lot of different things. We ordered the cheese plate, Calimari, pork belly, fries, gnocchi & the Isabella salad (with the stuffed figs). We ordered everything at once, but indicated we wanted it staggered. We started with the Calimari & the salad. The salad was rich, but pretty good balance. The calimari, while they were very tender, were not light and crispy at all. They were extremely "fried tasting." I felt almost instantly full. they were served with a pesto-cilantro sauce that was way to heavy to pair with them. First of all, the cilantro all sunk to the bottom, so the first taste I got was just oil on fried oil..it screamed for some brightness and contrast. Our cheese plate came next and it was very disjointed..four little piles of bite size pieces of cheese along with some almonds & some spreads/jellies. There was no vehicles to pair the items together. They came over with a bread basket at one point and asked if we wanted some, but it didn't seem to have anything to do with the cheese plate. Everything else came out back to back. The fries had good flavor, but would have benefited from an aoili dip or something on the side. The pork belly was literally like eating cubes of congealed, gelatin-like fat and the gnocchi was like little greasy dough balls with not much flavor aside from nutmeg. They were literally sitting in a pool of oil. Granted these are all rich foods, but they lacked flavor. It is hard to feel like you overindulged when you feel like you didn't enjoy the food. Maybe it was a bad night, but we were not impressed at all. We had a lot of food left and we didn't take it home..the waitress even commented that we were only there for 45 minutes and she felt bad that we were "uncomfortably" full. Maybe the pizza is delicious, but I don't think we will ever know. I think I will stick with 19 Bella if I want to get good tapas style food in the area.
(1)
Jim S.
We had dinner here earlier this week. The decor was pleasing and the outdoor pizza oven gave it a unique taste. They just opened this past weekend so staff were still ironing a few kinks. Owner & chief were observing but not soliciting input which I found disappointing as location off the beaten path so word of mouth is crucial for success. Enjoyed tapas & pizza for 3 along with bottle of wine for $65 plus tip. The mussels are a must!!
(3)
Patrick C.
Great food in a fun casual atmosphere. We were almost dissuaded from selecting Isabella based on several on-line reviews saying service was bad. Service was great - even though they were full and we had a party of 6. And they poor a good drink. Try it !
(4)
Lynn H.
Food moderately good. Avoid the figs, they're disgusting. The alcohol in them was over powering. Wine served in glass with lipstick visible. Pizza was delicious, server was helpful. However, hostess was absolutely terrible. We had been sitting there for 20 minutes prior to anyone bothering to take our order, and when I suggested to her that we were ready, she became quite snarky. Not my expected experience.
(2)
Jai N.
It's a great spot for date night with someone special! They have a lot of great wines and change up the specialty cocktails every once in a while. I always try something new and am never disappointed. The servers are great and keep an eye on you without being overbearing. The only reason for 4 stars is the owner. First time we came, he sat next to us and was just incredibly rude and arrogant. He made the recommendation to try the steak then made inappropriate comments when I told him I don't eat steak (I'm Hindu). He made rude comments about my boyfriend's job, when he wasn't ignoring him completely. He seemed very misogynistic and sexist, especially talking about some of the women in the restaurant. Since then, we have made it a point to avoid the owner when he's in the restaurant, which have been great experiences.
(4)
Darren A.
So.....waited an extra 45 mins after our reservation to find out they had a leak in the kitchen and cant serve most meals....leaks happen but tell the people waiting for a table! Cocktails very good and tasty cheeseboard though
(3)
Steve D.
What a bummer when they got a new chef and changed their menu! We used to love the tapas menu, the veal meatballs were our favorite! What a disappointment the night we went there to sample some of our favs and found a new menu and new chef. The reason I am giving three stars is that their wait staff is still wonderful! We've had the same waitress a number of times and she always remembers the drinks we liked in the past and what we didn't like so we don't make the same mistake twice. The service is wonderful!! The new menu is ok and the food was ok but we likely won't return.
(3)
Jay B.
We had pizza, beer and chicken thighs (appetizer). Everything was good. The atmosphere was nice. Was there during happy hour. I would go back again and try the mussels.
(3)
Ronnie D.
Excellent food, some of the best I've had in Philly, and most of the entrees are under $20! Small plates and apps are where it's at: pork pate with cornichon relish-- awesome. Mussels with bacon/gorgonzola broth--out of this world! great bar too.
(5)
Tanya M.
First the bartender LANA made first a white sangria that was so smooth and amazing I had two. Them she made me a s'more martini (see pic) that was the most amazing drink I've ever had. Then French fries is truffle oil. Hello I'm moving in then I had a pizza it was perfectly cooked, seasoned and I get to take some home for Tomo. This is my new place I just wish it was closer. A friend sent me in and wow she was right. Amazing all around. I hear they are redoing the menu next week. Can't wait to come back and try the new stuff. 5 stars from me
(5)
Doug R.
Really classy place in conshy. Happy hour had some decent food and beverage deals. Service was quick and friendly. I enjoyed the food and the beer selection was ok. This would be a good place to take a date.
(4)
Rachel P.
I was on my way back home and got hungry for some Mediterranean. I didn't think much would come out of my visit to this place from what I read on yelp but I was wrong. The appetizers were great and the seafood paella was okay. I didn't like the scallops too much but everything else was just fine. I didn't mind the decor too much either. They do seem to have some regulars so I'm sure it's a popular spot around here. The service was okay but they were busy. So I won't complain much but the food was good. That's what the matters the most in my book.
(4)
Kara S.
Great ambiance, good happy hour. The truffle fries were too overbearing for us but we've always enjoyed everything else. Especially the arancini!
(4)
Ashley W.
Isabella is the classy place to go for happy hour! It has a great location an super friendly, attractive staff. From 5-7 all drafts are half price, house wine on special, and a great happy hour menu. The truffle fries are phenomenal for the less carb conscious and the cheese plate is such a bargain we will definitely be back. I can't speak to the dinner but have always had a terrific experience at the bar. Couldn't ask for better service, they are on top of their game and very attentive. Can't wait for the next happy hour at Isabella's!!!
(5)
Debbie A.
Maybe we were there on an off night, but I need to post the following: - When we arrived, we were given a table smack in the middle of the room, yet the room was far from crowded. We asked for a banquette table but were told it was for 6 (we were 4). Within a short time, they had separated the tables and had seated a 4 and a two. - There was only one special to add to the very limited menu. When we went to order it, we were told they were sold out. (Then why didn't they erase it from the board? It was there all nght!) - The music was way too loud for the room. - The service was painfully slow, and it seemed there were only two waiters on board for a medium sized restaurant. On a happier note, which is why I gave three stars, the food is good. There is a wide selection of drinks and beers on tap and the food was better than expected, based on the ambiance. 'nuf said.
(3)
greg w.
Overpriced and portions are really small. The food is just ok... Atmosphere is nice and same with the crowd.
(3)
Josh J.
Overall great place. Tasty food, cool drinks and nice environment. But please....please...tell the creepy owner to stop lurking around, blathering to the customers at tables and at the bar and basically just being an annoying presence. He sat next to us at the bar and criticized the one bartender right in front of us. Tacky.
(3)
Amanda M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Conshohocken! Every time I come the food is excellent - the mussels, beef skewers, and lamb are my absolute favorites! The only con is that sometimes they are short staffed so you have to wait a little longer for your table. Other then that everything else is perfect!
(4)
Amanda M.
This tiny spot in Conshy offers city-class cuisine outside Philly. The other reviews about space are spot-on; it's very small, and fills up quickly. For dinner, especially on a weekend night, you absolutely have to have a reservation. I understand the complaints, but I thought it added to the atmosphere, which is dark and rather romantic. All that said, it's good food. The menu is kind of a strange mix, offering tapas, pizza, and full entrees. We went for two tapas as appetizers and followed up with an entree each. It was a ton of food, and pretty pricey; I'd probably go tapas and pizza next time. Still, everything we had, including calamari, scallops, and seafood pasta, was really good.
(4)
Adam F.
Decent place serving tapas, however, it is not Spanish tapas. Unfortunately it turns out to be more just Mediterranean/Italian/American small plates, which is a bummer (Conshohocken needs more diverse food options). Drinks are good though - great place to grab a cocktail at the bar.
(3)
Gautam T.
A Spanish/Mediterranean Tapas joint that is really an American tapas place. Its really hard to call yourself a tapas place and have ribs and chicken wings as options. We also got Pizza which was weird. This place reminds me of a restaurant without an identity. Isabella would be good if they prepared you for what type of restaurant it is. An american restaurant that serves small serving sizes. Do not call this place a Tapas place because its straight up not. Service was decent, company was awesome.
(2)
Lori D.
Terrible experience last week. Used to be a regular here because of the awesome bartender (Malik), but he is no longer working there unfortunately. Sat at the bar for happy hour and ordered a glass of Cava. I noticed the bartender added club soda to the champagne glass...when I asked her why she told me that the cava was flat and the club soda would add some fizz. What?????? I told her it wasn't good so she gave me a split of prosecco and did not honor the lower price of what I ordered. We ate mussels which were good, then a pizza. Our mussel shells and dirty plates were not cleared in between courses so we ate the pizza on dirty dishes. To top it off she (bartender) made a mistake on our bill that had to be corrected. Coincidentally, the same bartender seemed unable to ring up happy hour prices the last time we visited. She (and Isabella's) are out of chances. Malik...where are you???
(1)
C J.
I've had the opportunity to visit Isabella's several times as it is within walking distance of my home. The food was fairly decent and the service was prompt. It was always fairly empty during the week, so happy hour was never an overcrowded, uncomfortable evening. Why the one star? Approximately a week ago, I got what I believe to be terrible food poisoning. I eat pretty naturally/organically and minimize fried items so I thought perhaps my stomach was just sensitive; however, my girlfriend also had the same "complications" that I did (we shared our meals). I tend not to frequent establishments that cost me a day out of work - there's too many good restaurants in Conshohocken to waste my time here.
(1)
Claudia B.
The dinner was delicious! We had two different yummy soups that were flavorful but not overly rich, a great Caesar and good pasta. Nice waitress too.
(5)
Rob F.
Atmosphere was nice, priced right. I had the salad, cheese board was okay, and the New York strip slices were excellent, service was good. Seemed like a lot of people were eating the mussels. I met the owner who was extremely nice, and he offered us food from his table for us to Taste test.
(4)
Alex P.
Loooooooved this place! Wine list was small but comprehensive and delicious! We did the calamari and the cheese plate- also delicious! The spreads with the cheeses are all different and all yummy. I was catching up with an old friend and the waitress could tell we just wanted to talk so she came when necessary but definitely left us alone to chat, which we really appreciated. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Phillip M.
A small and loud but homey place. It is small, fills up quickly so I highly recommend a reservation especially Dinner. We had a mobility impaired dinner and the wait staff was fantastic helping her out. The food is very good. As Amanda M says: "The menu is kind of a strange mix, offering tapas, pizza, and full entrees. We went for two tapas as appetizers and followed up with an entree each. " I agree. We took her advice and had tapas and pizza. The food was very very good. A place to return.
(4)
Dana S.
Nice small restaurant tucked away in Conshy. It's a romantic and Mediterranean atmosphere. It has some entrees on the menu but its mostly small plates. I was there for Happy Hour, I enjoyed their cocktails and my boyfriend enjoyed the beer, a solid tap selection. Happy Hour had plenty of space but as happy hour winded down the place filled up really quickly for the dinner crowd. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Seinfeld J.
Tapas style "Gourmet pizza," was greasier than ten slices of boardwalk pepperoni cheese pizza. "Mushroom risotto" was actually Spanish long grain rice with 2 oyster mushrooms hiding in the bottom. NOT short grain arborio rice that one associates with risotto. Baby back ribs were amazing. Service was ok but wished I had more water to go with my greasy pizza. Not bad food but not worth the price to not get what you ordered. You are paying for the "fluff." Gets one star only because of the huge discrepancy between items' descriptions on menu and what was put in front of me! For example, would have preferred honest and up front that my plum whisky cocktail was going to be whisky on the rocks with a prune in it!
(1)
Toni C.
Great cucumber martini! Ribs fall off the bone. Sweet and smokey. Octopus also delicious. (Just an FYI, tiny octopus. Not piece of leg). Can't go wrong with the olive trio. gluten friendly here. Have not had any gluteny type problems.
(5)
Nick D.
My girlfriend and I arrived to an empty restaurant and were placed at a table right next to the door after being told that the place would fill up very quickly (strike 1)... We ordered what we thought was a fair amount of food to fill us both (1 appetizer, 4 small plates to share), not realizing just how small the small plates were (scallops were, literally, 2 small scallops for $10). Brussels sprouts were drenched in butter, mushroom risotto was good, scallops were just a taste, and gnocchi was great (albeit, again, small). (Strike 2). The restaurant itself is a very small room packed full of tables, and it did indeed fill up quickly after we had ordered. After eating, it took us 25 minutes to even get a chance to request our check (strike 3) Overall, we were unimpressed, and went down the street to Pepperoncini (much better place all-around) for a pizza and drinks (since we were still starving). 3 strikes = 3 stars removed.
(2)
Tina C.
I really wanted to like this place but after the appetizers, it just fell apart. Six of us celebrated a good friends birthday on a Thursday night. I had never been there but I liked the vibe when we walked in - young, intimate and a little edgy. The appetizers were really tasty - we shared the baby octopus, the wild mushroom with poached egg and the calamari. We were feeling very positive until the entrees came. Here's what went wrong. 1. My friend's vegetarian pizza arrived 20 minutes before others. 2. They brought my entree of seafood "paellla" 5 minutes after the pizza but took it back because they realized that 2 other people also ordered the same thing and they hadn't prepare it. 3. When they did bring out all three of the seafood entrees after 15 minutes, mine appeared to be the same one that they had brought out earlier, wilted sprout and all. 4. The mussels in the seafood entrees were horribly sandy and gritty. Worse part is that they did not smell or tasted fresh. 5. Within the 3 seafood orders, there were extreme variations in the amount of angel hair pasta. Bizarre.. 6. At the end when the coffee and tea were ordered, they brought out an enormous beautiful tea box which consisted only 3 different teas, of which none were non-caffeinated so I had to drink hot water. 7. My teacup had a distinct brown ring inside the cup that I had to ask the server to change. 8. They charged us 20% gratuity which was frankly not deserved. The seafood "paella" as they called it was $23. I have no idea why they called it a paella when it was served with soupy angel hair pasta. The taste was neither here or there. The server did send a quail dish over to compensate for our poor seafood entrees. It was ok, a little too sweet for my taste. The desserts were very good. We had the chocolate cake and the bread pudding. In conclusion, if you go there, stick with the appetizers and dessert, and skip the entrees altogether. Don't go with a group because the kitchen seem to be poorly managed to accommodate larger orders and they stick you with a 20% gratuity even with service that was very rough around the edges. However, unfortunately for me, I will not be going back.
(2)
Amy A.
Best friend and I went here for restaurant week. She had been before, while it was a first for me. It's small, but you don't feel like you are sitting on top of one another. We arrived for our 7:15 reservation. It was about at 75% capacity when we got there. We were greeted promptly and let him know we were there for the tasting menu. Ordered our drinks and waiting for the food to come our way. The only reason I'm giving Isabella 4 stars instead of 5 was the service was a little slow. It didn't bother me too much, but there were definitely some times when I wished it moved along a little bit faster. It also took about 15 minutes for our drinks to arrive and one was wrong so we went to the bar to have it corrected. Isabella put together 11 piece tasting menu. Just about everything was delicious. We started out with cold items that consisted of a small plate of chorizo, a tomato gazpacho soup, and a fig and blue cheese salad. All three were a hit. The soup was by far my favorite of the three cold tastings. Next up were three meat tastings. We were served veal meat balls, skewers of beef, and a pork belly. Again, they were a hit and I had wished the pork belly portion was a bit larger since they served with pickled red onions and a corn puree, I was practically licking off the plate. Next up was by far the highlight of the meal. It was a spinach ricotta gnocchi in a brown butter sauce. I could have eaten an entire plate. I kept cutting it into smaller pieces so that it wouldn't end. The next couple dishes were of the seafood variety. First up were mussels topped with crispy potatoes (think hash brown flavor). It was served in a roasted tomato jus. Mussels were great, though some were a little gritty. I don't mind, being from New England, grit is always good. However, my friend didn't feel the same way. Shrimp was up next, served in a garlic butter sauce. Shrimp had a nice flavor, but I favored the mussels. The final entree tasting was drunken figs, stuffed with blue cheese. My least favorite, but I'm not a huge blue cheese fan, so I think that was a matter of personal preference versus preparation. To end the meal we were served a trio of desserts. By that time, I was stuffed. Dessert isn't really my thing, but the expresso creme brulee (though it was more like a mousse), but my favorite and a nice way to end the meal. I'm definitely going to visit again. It was a great experience, minus the long wait, but I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Nicole R.
We enjoyed a Happy Hour smorgasbord of tapas which were perfectly portioned, but not memorable as "the best meal ever." I would definitely recommend the queso plate as a starter as you're going to get a good amount for a low cost. As one who loves frites, Isabella's are well cooked, but a bit heavy on the truffle oil (ask for it lightly). Now on to the best of the best Cucumber Mojitos I've ever had! The bartender, Mikey, mixed up the reason why I am definitely going to return to Isabella - it was the best mojito (even without the delicious cucumber, this was amazing!) I have ever had and was definitely memorable! Mojitos aren't the quickest drink to make, but Mikey knows his stuff :D
(4)
Chrissy M.
I am giving them three stars not because they don't have delicious food and drink because they absolutely do. If this review was based on food I would give them five no problem. Great wine list, specialty drinks are amazing ( try their s'more martini, the marshmallow comes lit!), apps and dinner menus were so great as well. The problem here is the service. We made a reservation for 8:15. We get there at around 8:17 at the very latest. It was crowded so we were asked to sit at the bar and wait. No problem. Had a round of drinks which were great. We see the hostess seat a party who had just walked in after us. Not so great. We were trying to be good sports so we ordered another round. At this point it is 9:00. My husband went and asked the hostess why other people were being seated and not us. She replied by telling him that they were "about to walk out on their reservation." By now it is 9:15 and we are starving and frustrated. We get seated a little after 9:20 and were given no menus, no apologies, no bread after drinking a few rounds at the bar. In fact the hostess said "I gave you menus at the bar," as if we should've taken the two menus the bartender gave us. Our waiter seemed annoyed to have us that late. We ordered quickly and attempted to make the best of it but as tables finished, the staff got more social with each other while cleaning as if to tell us "times up, get out!" As we left ( the last to leave by the way only because we weren't seated until 9:20 and served around 10:00) the staff all sat and drank at the bar looking at us like we were interrupting their good time. Bottom line: I would only go there again if it was crowded and NEVER will I bring guests from out of town there because I was totally embarrassed for bringing them to a place with terrible service. With so many amazing places to eat in Conshy, why bother going to some dark corner restaurant with bad service?
(3)
Jimmy J.
Don't quite understand the negative review of Isabella's. I frequently visit for happy hour on the weekdays. They have 5 and 7$ small plates for happy hour and drink specials. The bar area might get crowded after 6 PM on the weekdays, but for the most part you'll be able to find a stool or two to enjoy a drink and some good food! I highly recommend the calamari and the mussels!
(5)
Douglas W.
My first impression from the outside was a bit skeptical. Location is not near Fayette St and gives the impression of a corner dive bar in a residential area. Inside the place is very classy and I had high hopes when I sat down. They really need to be open later and work on their service. I was on an 8:30pm date and the first thing the server said was "Hey the kitchen is closing soon so we need to get your order in quickly if you want food." 9:00 is way too early to close first of all, but if that's the case the least you could do is provide full service to those of us that make it in. We decided to share a few small plates. We got the octopus, beef skewers, and truffle oil fries. The fries were good. The other plates were a joke. The octopus presentation was terrible. The two of us each had about one fork full and it was gone. The skewers were no more than 3oz of steak total. I get it. They are "small plates". But the portion size was literally akin to a grocery store sample. You will need to get dinner after eating here. I give two stars because it did offer a nice ambiance and I'd be interested in trying the pizza sometime.
(2)
Rich Z.
The truffle frites are seriously good and nice big portion too. Also recommend the chicken ceasar which has a creamy dressing and tasty grilled chicken.
(4)
Lauren W.
Isabella's is a really interesting, often overlooked (for right or wrong) restaurant off the beaten path in Conshohocken. The exterior doesn't stand out too much from the other older homes in the area; inside, the not too upscale vibe and nice decor really set it apart. I like that it's just the right size for the area: not too large at all, perhaps a dozen seats at the bar,and just enough tables for waiters to sometimes struggle getting to a back table without patrons feeling squished due to the comfy, oversized seats. I've had two visits at Isabella's over the past year. One was a casual dinner at the bar one weekday night. Each of us had a beer and split a few of their tapas, and really enjoyed all of the food. I remember the standouts being a cheese plate (because how do you go wrong with a plate of cheese?) and the mussels. Drenched in some kind of delicious, buttery garlicky awesomey sauce, with tomatoes and arugula (? I think?) and topped with a TON of these shoestring ish fried potato strings, these were really good. Good enough to make a reservation for Conshy restaurant week the other night. I loved the fact that they offered a pre-set tasting menu. Being chronically indecisive, I enjoy when someone else tells me what to order. It was a good deal for the amount of food given, due to having around a dozen courses. I think I was alone in this thought, but I kind of wished they had offered maybe 3 or 4 less courses, and upped the portion size instead. There were so many dishes that I really enjoyed, but only had two bites of. Highlights included the mussels (again), the spinach gnocchi (seriously amazing), and the Isabella salad with figs. Yawners were the desserts; not bad, not my cup of tea. Service definitely left something to be desired on each visit; however, the restaurant was very busy for restaurant week. The first regular visit was with an apathetic bartender. She was not particularly slow in service, but not super helpful when we told her it was our first time visiting. During restaurant week, service was super slow but you could tell they were trying. Took about 15-20 minutes to receive our drinks, and was still given the wrong wine. No big deal, and was easily and happily fixed by a nice bartender. For me, it was still a really great dinner, and I thought the ambience and food more than made up for the slow service.
(3)
Beryl H.
I was invited to join a friend and had never heard of Isabella. I walked in and sat at the bar waiting for the rest of the group and had a delicious cocktail ( many creative options). The staff was so friendly and sat us at a different table than they had set up for us because we wanted to be more in the back. Perfect. The food was great. Creative and tasty. We had a large assortment of the tapas style appetizers. The ribs, the truffle fries, beet salad, scallops, and others did not disappoint. We didn't have the pizzas....too full from all the delicious dishes. We did have desert. Around this time the chef, Mario, came out to join us and that was truly a treat. He was delightful and made the evening so much fun. We then tried the flan ( best ever) and lingered over great conversation. Enjoy! We really had a great time.
(4)
Michele P.
Lots of fun. Yummy bites to eat. a little tight but in a meet your neighbors kind of way. the scallops were absolutely fabulous! we also enjoyed the salad with figs!
(4)
Buffy F.
Wonderful to find a Tapas Bar in our area. Stopped here for the first time at lunch hour. Food was beautiful on plate and even more delicious then it looked. Service was friendly and very helpful. We will be back
Don't ask for ketchup with the fries God forbid. Have been here 5 times hoping it would get better each time... It has not. Very obnoxious. Bon a petit.
(2)
Tracy H.
The bartender, Lana, made an amazing rose petal martini! The food was pretty good, I had the happy hour fries and veal meatballs. My only complaint would be that the meatballs didn't have enough of the sauce.
(4)
Jess D.
.
(5)
Nick D.
To be fair, this place is more geared towards tapas and I did not order that. The actual restaurant is really cool. Nice big bar, real Mediterranean feel. It is tight though. We were almost sitting with the couple next to us. Started the meal with mussels which they are apparently known for. They were very good. We also had the beet side. It was pretty good but cold (on purpose). I really wasn't expecting that. For entrees I had the salmon, which I thought was good. My wife had a pork tenderloin dish. It was ok but was really doused in vinegar (for the slaw on top). It was good but was overkill on the vinegar. Again, tapas place and I ordered an entree, so I'll give the benefit of the doubt. I'd go back but would get a pizza and a few small plates. I hear the pizza are great, they certainly looked good.
(3)
Bridget M.
Well done tapas. Good variety. Solid options for vegetarians. We were a little thrown off by the Amada prices in Conshy. But would rather pay a little extra to have this type of place in our backyard, than have a neighborhood full of pizza joints. Service was attentive. Delivery of the plates was timed well. Favorite: Beet terrine, Burratta and Toasted Almond Chocolate Mouse.
(4)
Kathleen P.
It's ashame because this place used to be good. I'm not sure what happened to it. I used to go there a lot when it first opened and decided to go there recently on a whim. The once normal tapas menu which had classics like patas bravas (sp?) and flatbread is no longer. I ordered the paella and it came out over pasta!!! What kind of paella is that? I feel like its cheating. It had a small amount of seafood on top of a mound of pasta. Really not good! The sangria also used to be good now just tastes like grape juice. Was a waste of $. The only thing that was good was the cheese and the beet salad. It's too bad.
(2)
Regina F.
If it weren't for the stellar company I had the pleasure of dining with for over 2.5 hours on a bleak Saturday night, I would have marched out of Isabella somewhere between not receiving the bread basket until 20 minutes after being seated...or between the first 5 courses that came out like boom-boom-bam (30 minutes after the arrival of our drinks) and the forgotten 6 and 7th courses...and that second drink. No really, when the mushroom flatbread is touted as being one of the best menu items (it's truly a tasty treat), but is forgotten long enough for adults to put a metal pizza holder ring on their heads and start stacking plates like infants, there's something disturbingly wrong with service. And believe you me...I'm not one to harp on service ever...unless it's utterly inimical to all standards. Twice have the Isabella/Peperoncini folks made me loathe dimly lit, romantic atmospheres and perhaps great food due to painstakingly horrendous service. As a side note, if you do venture to Isabella out of your own self hatred or because you confessed something so awful your priest wanted to make you suffer, you'd better order the medium fat, perfectly Parmesan-ed, cilantro speckled truffle fries and a blood orange cocktail...then cross your fingers, say three Hail Mary's and hopefully you'll have a scrumptious, if not disastrously heathen, meal.
(2)
Steve T.
Like Salieri of "Amadeus," Isabella is the patron saint of mediocrity. Middle of the road tapas...nothing bad, but only a couple things noteworthy. We dined on a variety of fare, including the cheese plate, mussels, filet kabob, lamb, and calamari. The blood orange margarita was very good, and kudos for the cheese plate which was served with four different cheeses all matched to specific freshly made jams, including smoked apricot and sangria (both ultra fine)...one of the better tasting cheese plates I've had. iBella (props to Steve Jobs) has charming decor and is just off the main drag in Conshy. Also, there is plenty of on-steet parking nearby. The bar scene was hoppin' on Friday night, and I think iBella might be a great first stop for drinks and a tapas or two before you sojourne in Conshy. While not Mozart's "Requiem," the harmonious blend of tapas, atmosphere, and good margaritas will suffice for all but the most pure blood Hapsburg in you.
(3)
I C.
Finally, the right size tapas! Good food- recommend the scallops, cooked perfectly, no easy task! MICHAEL, our server had great drink recommendations. Great place to start the night....
(4)
Genevieve D.
I have lived all over the world. New York, Milan, Germany, Guam, LA, etc... And with those experiences comes a lot of travel and a lot of restaurants. But I have never been kicked out of a restaurant before. The manager claimed he had reservations for the 23 open seats! However, only 6 were filled after we left. this situation was not handled appropriately and even though I live around the corner, I am NEVER going back to Isabella's.
(1)
Lee F.
I've been here twice and always have exceptional service from knowledgeable, friendly wait staff. The people who work there are eager and pleasant, which makes the dining experience nice. Food is great, there is a nice variety. Also has a great beer selection. We consider this a Conshy gem and will go back!
(4)
Brian H.
My second upgrade and what a nice one. I love this neighborhood hangout, beautiful bar, lively atmosphere and great service, and the food has stepped up to the plate (get it?). The grilled octopus was tender, great grill flavor served with marinated fennel and pine nuts, superb. The pork belly was so tender, small delicate slices with the pickled onion being a solid addition with the sweet pea puree. The heirloom beet terrine with goat cheese and Serrano ham was very flavorful, I wish there was more. We finished off the evening with the sausage, caramelized onion, ricotta cheese and smoked tomato pizza, flavors complimenting each other, the thin crust kept extremely crisp with a screen on top of the serving platter, no sogginess here. What a delight from the first bite to the last. There was a very good wine, bottled and draft beer selection. I chose the Titan IPA on tap, excellent. Megan, our server was most pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable. This was a total very, very good experience. I am happy to see the attention to detail to make this restaurant a place which I want to return. And I am looking forward to it.
(4)
Susan S.
First time dining last evening.Lovely atmosphere, great waiter named Lance and TERRIFIC food. This is such a gem and we will definitely return. Very creative menu and the beet salad, homemade pasta and fig/ gorgonzola pizza were all delicious.Cannot wait to try dessert next trip.
(4)
Dana C.
I did a happy hour here with girls after work & overall, we really enjoyed everything. I couldn't find a beer included in the specials that I really liked but did like the apple martini which was also apart of the happy hour menu. I got prime rib & fries & was shocked that the rib was included on the menu at only $7! The portion was really generous. 2 friends got the gnocchi & their portion was pretty small - They ended up having to fill up on bread. The waiter was super friendly & attentive. I would definitely go back & have recommended to friends since going.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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Stephanie K.
I came here the first time after looking for new restaurants in Conshy. We ordered the mussels, beef skewers, octopus and ribs. We also got the roasted corn and bacon pizza. The food was all delicious but service did take awhile. We returned for Restaurant week last Saturday. They were able to accommodate my last minute request to change to a 4 top from 3. Food came out relatively quick, although the service was a little off. They usually describe what you're getting, but no one did except for our main waiter. The food was still pretty good, but tasted different than before. The mussels were on the tasting menu but the broth didn't taste as good. Beef skewers were not as tender. Overall, I understand that you're cooking up in bulk for everyone so it explains the difference in quality.
(4)Nikki C.
I go here after work for happy hours. It's a great place for a one-on-one. It's kind of quiet and small, so I don't suggest large groups. I can see it also being a cute place for a date.
(3)Tim C.
I really enjoy this place. The drinks are always good and the food is excellent. Tonight I had the Gorgonzola and fig pizza which was beyond good. I've gone several times and am never disappointed.
(4)Erica S.
The first time I came to Isabella I was extremely impressed. All of the tapas we ordered were fresh and interesting. We ordered two pizzas - both were delicious! The crust was crispy and thin, and the flavor combinations were unique. My husband and I decided to take our two out-of-town guests to Isabella this past Tuesday for dinner. We had such a great experience on our first visit, that we figured this would be the perfect place to take our guests. During our second visit, we were told that there was an hour wait for pizza. Strangely enough, the restaurant was not even 1/2 full as it was 9:00 on a Tuesday night. When we asked for a reason for the long wait, the waiter blamed a "new pizza guy" and a faulty oven. We were pretty disappointed because we had wanted to order pizza. Instead, we ordered 4 tapas - camarones, mussels, lamb chops, and steak kebobs. All were very good and came out right away. Instead of the pizzas, we each got our own entree. Two of the entrees came out first, and the other two did not come out for another 10 minutes. I'm not sure of the reason for this poor service, but that coupled with the pizza debacle made for a disappointing experience.
(3)Tom S.
I'd been meaning to check in on this Conshy newcomer for a while, and made it about a week ago. Their menu features a swath of tapas, and after recent Dionysian feasts at places like Tinto and Verdad, you could say I'm pretty sold on the whole tapas thing. Around six in the evening, my lovely lady and I walked past a group of three waiting, and snagged the last two-top with no wait. I selected Duvel Green from the short beer list, which featured some very good beers but felt just slightly... disjointed (for lack of a better word). That theme continued. Each plate we tried seemed really good at first, and after a few moments seemed to dissipate in our memories. The thing I remembered most was the stark contrast between this somewhat dry pork belly, and the rich, juicy plate I enjoyed at Verdad. Something seemed to be missing here. We shared three small plates and split a steak for an entree. On the whole, this place was not half bad. But something made me set my expectations to a level that just wasn't quite reached. I think with some tweaks and twists, this place could be a real winner.
(3)Ed B.
Comfortable friendly neighborhood place. Fig and Gorgonzola pizza , octopus, mussels all excellent. Salads well done. Wish there were more places like this.
(4)Andrea L.
Really starting to look forward to stopping in this place whenever i'm in in the area. Never was a muscle fan, but these muscles have changed me....the sauce is so good. Definitely try them. And i also wouldn't look forward to going back if they didn't know how to make a good drink here. Can't beat happy hour specials either. Good selection of the tapas menu is offered at half price and i'm pretty sure so are all drinks(or maybe drafts). But FYI, you have to sit in the bar area to take advantage of hh special. .
(4)Stephen P.
I work in Conshohocken on a regular basis and this is one of my regular places. It is an easy walk from the Residence Inn. The service is great and friendly. They have a wonderful bare and the atmosphere is warm. I like all of their food, but they make a great wood fired thin crust pizza that I keep coming back for.
(4)Megan M.
The weather was beautiful on Friday...a fluke 70° day in February!!! I thought it would be the perfect day to meet my honey on the way home from work for happy hour. I've been driving by this place for over a year now & from the outside it looks so damn inviting. Not so much on the inside, sadly. When I walked in there at 5pm you would have thought I had 3 heads by the way the bartender looked at me. I tried to make small talk until my hon arrived, about the weather, how long they've been open, business, etc......got the cold shoulder. But the sun was shining & nothing could get us down so we stayed. The sangria tasted like fruity iced tea. The croquettes resembled tater tots. We ordered 3 sangrias & 2 apps for a grand total of $41 (wo/tip) Will we be back? it would have to be a cold day in ... well, you know what.
(1)Stu G.
I think the place has great potential. I've been here a few times and I'm happy to go back. My wife and I took our son (9 year old) for dinner last night. The menu is a bit overwhelming with many small plates, we weren't up for that complicated of a meal. My wife got an arugula salad which was good, I got the kobe burger which I enjoyed with a glass of pinot noir (a well poured glass, not the measured crap some restaurants do). We also got a pizza, which I thought was fine, my son didn't like it. Too thin he said... Overall I liked it and they seem to be doing well. Everything was fine, they need to get something that will really stand out as a signature dish. The owner was very nice and stopped by to see how we were which I always think is a great touch.
(3)David N.
Place is small but very cute and trendy. Dishes are very SMALL so don't come here if your starving. We should of gotten the pizza because thats what it looked like everyone was into. Service was pretty solid,waiter was friendly
(3)Ryan M.
It's a Tappas restaurant. So if you're not happy with small plates, get a few plates and a pizza or 2. They make the pizza in a brick oven on the back patio. We were welcomed to go out and take a look. They have about 6 types? We got sausage & spinach. This review is several months late, so I can't get too specific on the quality of the food. But I remember it being above average. I definitely wasn't disappointed. One of the highlights of our night was the sangria. They have white & red so we had to try both. The white was great and the red - amazing. The small plates are mostly $5-12 with a few up towards 19. The salads are 7-11, I remember loving our salads. The main plates are 14-25. I believe the pizzas were 12-15. Not bad for quality and atmosphere! As we were leaving, the owner was walking through to check in and walked around and mingled with a few guests. He was sincerely interested in people's impressions of the quality of the food and service, and pricing. They were great. And since we also like the atmosphere, we will be back.
(4)Vince R.
Food was very subpar. The most disconcerting part of the meal was when 3 of the 4 of us received our meals within 30 minutes of ordering with the last person getting theirs 1 hour after ordering. They the server had the audacity to tell us that we would have to be moved to the bar if we wanted to order another round of drinks after our meal. Mind you that we haf just finished eating so it wasn't like we were loitering. The server seemed new so I can't place the blame on her. Whoever is managing this place does not have a clue.
(1)Sara M.
Isabella is still fairly new and working out their kinks. The atmosphere is Spanish/trendy - excellent decor. The clientele is mature and fun. Their new bartender, Malik, is very friendly and helpful. On our first visit in 2010, we walked by the pizza ovens outside behind the restaurants which made for some very legit flatbread! We also enjoyed the mussels - topped with a mountain of crispy shallots, very memorable, as well as sangria. My husband tried the white, I the red. I was happiest with my choice, although the white did not fall too far behind. A brief chat with the mildly-snobbish manager left us a bit weary, but did not let it affect our night. Their recent addition of happy hour has always beckoned me on my commute home along Elm Street, so I decided to drag my husband and neighbor out for a happy hour this past Tuesday. We enjoyed their new specials, as well as a new manager! Draft specials of many of my favorite craft beers on tap, half price small plates, and wine specials. They also have two Smirnoff cocktails for $5 - a martini and cosmopolitan. The Ommegang or Allegash on tap was enticing, but not being in a beer mood, I tried the Albarino. I was happy I did - it was a perfectly dry white wine that accompanied my small plates rather well. I sampled the cosmopolitan but I am a bit of a vodka snob and would recommend staying away. A well-made martini or cosmopolitan should never be made with middle-shelf vodka, IMO. We spoke, perhaps a little slurred-ly due to the several happy hour cocktails, to the owner who was a very personable man. He asked our opinion of our experience, and being a foodie - I gave it to him straight. The shrimp croquettes were sub-par - the tomato/cumin dipping sauce was delicious but the shrimp just didn't work for me (to be honest, I think a simple chickpea would have worked much better). He agreed with me and actually remarked "I am taking it off the menu!" This really impressed me that he was so willing to listen to a diner's opinion. The calamari was very good, as were the mussels (again), but my favorite was the frites with truffle oil, which can be smelled immediately when entering the restaurant. Not to be missed! All-in-all, Isabella is a welcomed addition to Conshohocken. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for its potential and my confidence that all kinks will be worked out and this unique dining spot will surpass all of my expectations. I look forward to trying the Tango lessons they offer upstairs on Tuesdays and hope to make it a regular dining/happy hour destination!
(4)Cate L.
Muy Bien! I've been here now almost to the point of a 'Regular' self-proclamation. I cannot stay away! First, it must be noted, that their Happy Hour can't be beat. The house wine ($5) actually doesn't taste like vinegar and the half-priced appetizers leave you full! The last two times I happy houred here, I got a seat at the bar, great service and left full! Now, onto the food. Tapas never tasted so good! I've legitametly had dreams about the Isabella salad...figs, dressing to die for, valdeon cheese....I have to stop, for fear of drooling! Delicious! Mussels, phenomonal, with the perfect amount of tomato flavor and crunch from the potatoes... Beet Terrine....refreshing, with flavors that completely wake up your tongue. Chuletas de Cordero...wow, the cherry just explodes in your mouth. I could go on and on, but I will spare you. Go. Tapas yourself! The plates aren't tiny, are well-priced...and delicious! Only think I didn't like was the Camarones...the shrimp just didn't seem to have a lot of flavor and I LOVE garlic. Just didn't do it for me. Everything else was superb!
(4)Lisa S.
Absolutely delicious, but one of the best things about Isabella is Lance! He is seriously the best waiter, makes every visit fun and special! Definitely one of the best restaurants in Conshohocken. The pastas and pizzas are fantastic.
(5)Timmy M.
We started off pleasant. The owner came in complaing about no music as he should have, this let us know he was the owner. He sat at a table with 4 people and great service , no one else one restaurant got the same experience. They however left all 4 coats piled on the bar stool next to us as if it were a coat rack. The bartender was mediocre at best knowledgable of the menu was her only savings grace. Took our order then off to the owners table as well as the rest of the brown nosing staff. Food came and was eaten and waited for a to go box for a half of pizza. 15 minutes later with no drinks or service the waiter was behind the bar at the register. We got his attention to ask for a to go and check and to let him know we were unhappy. He tried to make amends but by this point I told just the check and get back to the owners table. The female bartender came back and asked if the bartender was hitting no us( us two males, and server male) offended I replied " no he's doing your job". We got our bill and paid never to return again. Do yourself the favor read some of the other poor reviews and don't bother. To many other fine restaurants in the area.
(1)Melissa V.
One of the worst service experiences I've ever had. We got sat immediately on a Wed at 7pm and the waiter (tall, skinny, bald guy) was sitting down talking to the table next to us, which implies leisure. After about 10 minutes, he took our cocktail order. Then he disappeared for at least 10 more mins. He came back and set the drinks down and complained that we would 'have to come back in about two mins because he had a table of needy old people'. That's just unprofessional and rude. So we said that's fine but could we have some bread. To which he replied by throwing his hands up in the air and saying 'why not you before others'. He stormed off. And so did we! First time I've ever left a restaurant after ordering. Awful service. Too bad, we wanted to find a new place.
(1)Stacey P.
Went on a quiet Thursday night. The service was attentive. The food was delicious. we enjoyed a pizza, mussels, lamb chops and figs. will definitely return to this classy neighborhood bistro.
(4)Samantha T.
I like this place. So far I have only been for drinks but I really like the bar. My friend goes all the time for brunch and says the food is great. The menu is pretty big, something for everyone. Parking can be an issue on weekend nights, but on a nice night who minds a little walk? S far the staff has been very nice, not overbearing but attentive. I will be back for dinner soon.
(4)KT L.
Came here for happy hour and it was good but warning don't come for lunch only one waitress waiting on all tables! Got there at 12:10 didn't get my lunch till 12:50 and she got my lunch wrong! I ordered burger with side salad and I got it with fries...food was ok but service made for a bad experience.
(2)Nicholas W.
Isabella's is a great place ofr a fun night out. They offer a great craft beer selection, and they also have a good wine list. The menu is tapas based and meant to be shared. Go there with a group and order as much as you can. The big table in the middle of the dining room is the best.
(4)Jesse B.
This was my first time at Isabella's based on a recommendation of a friend. We had a cheese plate, pizza, a few cocktails and a dessert. The service was exceptional, knew the menu and made recommendations...good recommendations! The place fills up quickly, so make a reservation. Great spot for a small group get together.
(4)Jane S.
wish I read the reviews before I visited this restaurant. We arrived at 5pm, first seating. The table was dirty, when we asked to have it cleaned, the server spilled candle wax to demonstrate that the dirt may have been spilled wax, but there were crumbs... ordered pizza, 10 minutes later the server told us that the pizza maker did not show up and that the oven only held 2, so was subject to uneven cooking. He also told us that the dishes we ordered could show up at any time in any order since they used 3 kitchens. And they did, without any consideration. On the positive, the gnocchi was amazingly good.
(2)Brenda J.
Service is excellent, foods changes weekly with relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Unique drinks!
(5)Christine M.
My friends from work and I like to go out for happy hour. This is by far my favorite place in Conshy. The interior is very nice the service is always friendly and professional. The bartender Malik makes amazing concoctions. My philosophy is that bathrooms are the shoes of a restaurant, and their bathroom is amazing. The happy hour specials are great. $3.50 Tapas and $5 drinks is an amazing deal. If you are in the area, defiantly stop by.
(4)Amy M.
Great food, great Sangria. The service was fast and friendly.
(4)Sabrina D.
I thought this place was great! When I walked in I was surprised to see how small it was, yet the ambiance and decor was great and I instantly wanted to settle in for a nice dinner and some wine. This is a great date place and they have a nice wine selection. We ordered several of their tapas and all of them were unique and delicious. The calamari was a generous portion served with a pesto sauce. We also order the gnocchi which was so buttery and yummy. Looking around at the other dishes, the pizzas looked delicious also, but my tummy was too full. Overall I would recommend this place for a nice date or dinner with a friend, I don't think it's ideal for large parties as it is more of a romantic kind of place. The service was awesome and our waitress was very helpful. Overall a wonderful experience!
(4)Glenda P.
I went here last night with some friends and my husband because I heard about their Tapas Tasting Menu (8 courses for $27). It was nice because you could choose to get the tasting menu, or you could just order off of their regular menu. I know with some places that offer prix fixe menus, either the whole table has to order that, or you won't get it at all. I've been to this restaurant before and was happy with my experience, which is why I decided to organize this dinner to go back with different people so that they could taste the goodness of Isabella. Here is the Tapas Tasting Menu: Isabella Salad - local mixed greens, valdeon cheese, marinated figs and toasted almonds tossed with a pedro ximenez vinaigrette House Mozzarella - lavender honey and spiced marcona almonds Tuna Niçoise - olive oil blanched sushi grade ahi tuna with olives, capers, quail egg and caper berry Cochino Frito - chili-dusted crispy pork belly with a sweet pea puree and pickled onions Intermezzo - mojito sorbet Mussels - mussels in a roasted tomato jus with a crisp potato and arugula salad Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi - house made ricotta, brown butter, reggiano parmigiano, nutmeg Pinchos de Carne - chili and roasted garlic marinated beef skewers with a porcini mushroom crema and charred onion Dessert Trio - espresso creme, chocolate mousse and pear ginger sorbet I must say that the Isabella Salad was incredible. I'm a big fan of figs, and all of the ingredients really complimented each other. Also, the House Mozz was to die for! I've never had mozz with honey before, and it was amazing! Melts in your mouth! I also loved the Cochino Frito. It was a little fatty, but it's pork belly, so what do you expect? The flavor was so good, and I liked that it was a little bit crispy around the edges. My other favorite were the mussels. I've never had mussels like this before. The crisp potato on top of them truly gave them a special uniqueness because of the texture. The gnocchi was buttery heaven. It was nice to have a taste of that. It's good that there were only two gnocchis in the tasting, because I think too many of those would be too filling. Last but not least, the dessert trio was really yummy. Who doesn't love chocolate mousse?! It's my absolute favorite. All in all, a very good dinner. Service was good, and everyone was happy with their meals...the people who didn't get the tasting menu ended up getting a pizza, the kobe burger, and the snapper. Not a complaint from anyone. Also, if you go here, you have to get their Red Sangria. So good! And I loved the music in the background too. Made me want to get up and salsa!
(4)Paul PJ Y.
Isabella is a pleasant suprise in Conshohocken. The restaurant is a suburban tapas oasis for those that don't get into the city that often. They offer one TV at the bar and have a wide selection of micorbrews from Ommegang to Great Lakes. The plates are small but very flavorful. We enjoyed the mussels, cheese plate, beef skewers, and lamb lollipops which were all excellently prepared with great presentation. Bottles of wine (start at $22) are the way to go since glasses are all $9 plus. Great food at a decent price will be sure to keep this place crowded on the weekends for months to come. 66 dollars after tax for the four courses mentioned, 2 beers, and a glass of red.
(4)Maura G.
We tried to go to this place last night for Conshy restaurant week. let me just say that it was the first time in my life that i have ever walked out of a restaurant. my friend who made the reservation specifically asked when she made the reservation if we could order off the regular menu (her boyfriend "R" doesn't eat a lot of things that were on the RW menu). they said yes, of course. she asked this again when they called to confirm her reservation. but when we get there, the story changed. half of us got there early, so we had some drinks at the bar. i had a cucumber lime martini-delicious, not sweet, and very refreshing, but this was the only enjoyable thing about our visit. once all of us were there, we sat at our table. the owner gave us the restaurant week menu and said we could order off of the $20 side or the $35 side. once our waiter gets to the table, we ask for a regular menu. he told us no, you can only order off the restaurant week menu...uh, what? on top of that, everyone has to order either the $20 or the $35; everyone has to agree. thats not what the owner just told us. we asked if R could just order off the regular menu and the rest of us would do the RW menu, and he went to ask the owner. when he comes back, he tells us that everyone would have to pay for the RW, including R, and then we get charged on top of that for whatever we want off the regular menu. WHAT?! that makes NO SENSE! that means R would be paying $35 for food he would never touch in addition to his order. what happened to pleasing the customer? they would have been making a good deal of money off us in drinks alone; why not compromise? they said it was their first time participating in RW, and obviously they don't understand the concept. the place is super small. the fact that it was crowded made it feel even tinier. there is barely enough room for the servers to walk around let alone the customers. there is no hostess station, so when you walk in you feel like you don't know where to go or what to do. needless to say, we walked out and went to another place around the corner and had a great meal with great service. best decision we made all night. i'd like to give this place another chance, but i'm not so sure after this experience. maybe just for happy hour, because they do have a nice bar selection. but that's the only good thing i can say about this place.
(1)Tanya R.
Great place! Good service, great food, strong drinks for a normal price. Good date place.
(4)Daniel G.
Went to Isabella for Valentines Day dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Utilized open table to make the reservation and was pleased that when we arrived there was only a brief wait. The menu had a set selection and was a bit on the pricey side at $40/person, however the amount and quality of food that was presented made the entire night worth it. The element that set the night aside as a success, however, was the service. Even with a packed house our waitress was helpful, enjoyable to talk to, and most importantly attentive while being overwhelmed with tables. I look forward to coming here again on a day to try their nighly menu which looks very promising.
(4)Andrew P.
Still a few items that seem out of place on the menu, but, importantly, the service element here has most definitely improved.
(4)Melissa S.
So far I am a fan! Just went in and had a few drinks with my friend... Sangria to be exact! It was fantastic! Michelle is the best bar tender, and really makes you feel welcome! We also tried the Calamares, and it was pretty good. Its very beautiful inside too! Went in for a full dinner on new years eve, and we were seated right away, no wait. it was around 530. The small plates were just ok...we had the lamb, shrimp croquettes, and octopus. The octopus was fantastic, but our ultimate favorite was the PIZZA. thin crust, tasty, delicious. i can see myself going here for sangria and pizza specials in the near future.
(3)Kevin A.
My review is for Happy Hour only. During this time, they have drink and appetizer specials, making this a bar to keep in mind after work. The bartenders have been top quality and charming. I've never sat at a table during this time so cannot comment on the service there. There are not a ton of draft beers to choose from, but what is there is tasty and one of the offerings should appeal to most beer drinkers. The house wine is good; the mixed drinks are tasty. For food, generally, friends and I get the fries which are good, mussels, which are very good, and something else. We have a good time there, the atmosphere is friendly, and the place has a warm sunny feeling. This all makes for a good happy hour out. More special because of the ambiance, bartenders, and my friends than for anything particularly outstanding about the restaurants' offerings.
(3)Beth G.
Loved this restaurant. It's a terrific find for the suburbs, especially on a Sunday evening. Good food and bar, friendly atmosphere and good service.
(4)Jen A.
After eating at Isabella, we had mixed reviews. The restaurant has a great homey atmosphere off the main stretch in Conshohocken. We were there on a wednesday night and there were only a few other tables there. Our server was attentive enough, but our waters were never filled, there was not much suggestion about the items on the menu and he brought the check and stood it up on the table while we were still eating dessert (even though we had planned on ordering another glass of wine). There were no tables waiting and we were not eating late in the evening so I'm not sure why there was such a rush but it was unwelcoming. For dinner, we ordered a number of small plates (figs stuffed with blue cheese, mussels, calamari, lamb) and a sausage pizza. The figs were good but you could not taste much of the blue cheese. The mussels were fantastic. The calamari was over-cooked, which was surprising considering it was at our table less than 5 minutes after we ordered. All the food came out quick...almost too quick which made us wonder whether everything was prepared fresh. The highlight of the night was our dessert - a banana bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. Isabella has some growing pains to overcome but I could certainly see myself giving it one more shot in a few months, especially because of its close proximity to my home.
(2)Bob S.
I went to Isabella for my birthday with my parents and my fiancee and it was delightful. We started with the cheese plate (four cheeses, each paired with something tasty to go with them... truffle honey may be the greatest thing ever), charcuterie (very nice... nothing fancy, just good cured meats presented simply and elegantly... the duck prosciutto wasn't quite as good as DiBruno's but the serrano was perfect), and albondigas (which were perfect... nothing fancy or special, just well made, tender, perfectly spiced little balls of veal... tender and tasty). Entrees were wonderful. My dad's pizza margarita was, like so much else, not terribly original (but he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy anyway), but perfectly executed... just the right amount of crispiness in the crust... My mom's bacon and tomato pizza was even better. My fiancee got paperadelle with truffle oil and it was outstanding... very strong truffle (perhaps too much for some people, but I can't imagine ever have too much truffle) and coming across little slices of truffle in every few bites was heavenly. I had scallops with a meyer lemon compote and caviar. The scallops were tender and nicely seared and I could get a bucket of that meyer lemon stuff and eat it like it was Ben & Jerry's. Truffle Parmesan frites were redolent with more truffle, but clearly hand cut since they you could actually taste potato, and not just "fried" and the cauliflower hash with anchovies was a little bowl of fishy awesomeness. Our server Brent was attentive, personable, charming, and very accommodating, especially since my parents aren't as adventurous, culinarily speaking, as some other folks. This is a great place for a mixed crowd like ours... Coors light and some straightforward dishes for the meat-and-potato crowd... Craft beer (not a great selection, but a few decent choices) and somewhat daring selections for the more adventurous. My two complaints are the bar service (the bartender knew nothing about the beers they had and refused to give me a bottle list... insisted there wasn't one, even though when we got to our table there was) and the bacon-infused Maker's Mark tasted a little muddy. We had a great time and we'll be back.
(5)Alex S.
Great tasting small dishes. Attentive staff. No complaints. Will be back. Alcohol is OK nothing special.
(4)Lil T.
Went here for dinner and thought it was delicious. Also liked the atmosphere of the place - fun, cool vibe! Our waiter was great, extremely attentive, friendly and funny! Our favorites included the parpadelle, risotto and the beef skewers. Also got the tomato and mozzarella pizza for our 2 yr old which was very good. We shared the Isabella salad which was generously portioned for a tapas place. Will definitely go back.
(4)Megan K.
had lunch here with a friend. service was friendly enough. place is cute. I have no idea what it's like at night. Its right next door to my work which is why i checked it out. i had a grilled cheese and soup. the soup was luke warm and it was cold and crappy out. i thought that was a perfect lunch for the day. I make it a rule never to send food back to the kitchen. you never know what an angry cook will do. so i ate my less than hot soup. it was a little on the expensive side for lunch. im not ruling it out. but im trying other places before i go back
(3)Lisa H.
I first tried to come to Isabella in October, but left without eating because they wouldn't accept reservations and we came in to cramped and utter chaos. My Sister and I still liked the look of the place and overheard other diners complimenting the food, so we decided to try it again tonight. I was very pleased to find a website for them and that they now take reservations. We had a 7:30 pm reservation and it was not very crowded when we got there, but it was still bustling. We really enjoyed the warm and inviting feel and look of the place and the bar looked like a great place to get together for some wine and appetizers. Unlike other reviewers, we actually had a good experience with the staff. They were friendly, knowledgable and attentive. I was very impressed that they offered single oysters because I have never had one and was excited to try it. That was pretty good and it seemed like we were off to an excellent start...it all started to go downhill from there. The house red wine was described as bold and robust similar to a cabernet, but it was closer to drinking red wine vinegar. It was very tangy and it lacked body. We decided to do all Tapas because we wanted to try a lot of different things. We ordered the cheese plate, Calimari, pork belly, fries, gnocchi & the Isabella salad (with the stuffed figs). We ordered everything at once, but indicated we wanted it staggered. We started with the Calimari & the salad. The salad was rich, but pretty good balance. The calimari, while they were very tender, were not light and crispy at all. They were extremely "fried tasting." I felt almost instantly full. they were served with a pesto-cilantro sauce that was way to heavy to pair with them. First of all, the cilantro all sunk to the bottom, so the first taste I got was just oil on fried oil..it screamed for some brightness and contrast. Our cheese plate came next and it was very disjointed..four little piles of bite size pieces of cheese along with some almonds & some spreads/jellies. There was no vehicles to pair the items together. They came over with a bread basket at one point and asked if we wanted some, but it didn't seem to have anything to do with the cheese plate. Everything else came out back to back. The fries had good flavor, but would have benefited from an aoili dip or something on the side. The pork belly was literally like eating cubes of congealed, gelatin-like fat and the gnocchi was like little greasy dough balls with not much flavor aside from nutmeg. They were literally sitting in a pool of oil. Granted these are all rich foods, but they lacked flavor. It is hard to feel like you overindulged when you feel like you didn't enjoy the food. Maybe it was a bad night, but we were not impressed at all. We had a lot of food left and we didn't take it home..the waitress even commented that we were only there for 45 minutes and she felt bad that we were "uncomfortably" full. Maybe the pizza is delicious, but I don't think we will ever know. I think I will stick with 19 Bella if I want to get good tapas style food in the area.
(1)Jim S.
We had dinner here earlier this week. The decor was pleasing and the outdoor pizza oven gave it a unique taste. They just opened this past weekend so staff were still ironing a few kinks. Owner & chief were observing but not soliciting input which I found disappointing as location off the beaten path so word of mouth is crucial for success. Enjoyed tapas & pizza for 3 along with bottle of wine for $65 plus tip. The mussels are a must!!
(3)Patrick C.
Great food in a fun casual atmosphere. We were almost dissuaded from selecting Isabella based on several on-line reviews saying service was bad. Service was great - even though they were full and we had a party of 6. And they poor a good drink. Try it !
(4)Lynn H.
Food moderately good. Avoid the figs, they're disgusting. The alcohol in them was over powering. Wine served in glass with lipstick visible. Pizza was delicious, server was helpful. However, hostess was absolutely terrible. We had been sitting there for 20 minutes prior to anyone bothering to take our order, and when I suggested to her that we were ready, she became quite snarky. Not my expected experience.
(2)Jai N.
It's a great spot for date night with someone special! They have a lot of great wines and change up the specialty cocktails every once in a while. I always try something new and am never disappointed. The servers are great and keep an eye on you without being overbearing. The only reason for 4 stars is the owner. First time we came, he sat next to us and was just incredibly rude and arrogant. He made the recommendation to try the steak then made inappropriate comments when I told him I don't eat steak (I'm Hindu). He made rude comments about my boyfriend's job, when he wasn't ignoring him completely. He seemed very misogynistic and sexist, especially talking about some of the women in the restaurant. Since then, we have made it a point to avoid the owner when he's in the restaurant, which have been great experiences.
(4)Darren A.
So.....waited an extra 45 mins after our reservation to find out they had a leak in the kitchen and cant serve most meals....leaks happen but tell the people waiting for a table! Cocktails very good and tasty cheeseboard though
(3)Steve D.
What a bummer when they got a new chef and changed their menu! We used to love the tapas menu, the veal meatballs were our favorite! What a disappointment the night we went there to sample some of our favs and found a new menu and new chef. The reason I am giving three stars is that their wait staff is still wonderful! We've had the same waitress a number of times and she always remembers the drinks we liked in the past and what we didn't like so we don't make the same mistake twice. The service is wonderful!! The new menu is ok and the food was ok but we likely won't return.
(3)Jay B.
We had pizza, beer and chicken thighs (appetizer). Everything was good. The atmosphere was nice. Was there during happy hour. I would go back again and try the mussels.
(3)Ronnie D.
Excellent food, some of the best I've had in Philly, and most of the entrees are under $20! Small plates and apps are where it's at: pork pate with cornichon relish-- awesome. Mussels with bacon/gorgonzola broth--out of this world! great bar too.
(5)Tanya M.
First the bartender LANA made first a white sangria that was so smooth and amazing I had two. Them she made me a s'more martini (see pic) that was the most amazing drink I've ever had. Then French fries is truffle oil. Hello I'm moving in then I had a pizza it was perfectly cooked, seasoned and I get to take some home for Tomo. This is my new place I just wish it was closer. A friend sent me in and wow she was right. Amazing all around. I hear they are redoing the menu next week. Can't wait to come back and try the new stuff. 5 stars from me
(5)Doug R.
Really classy place in conshy. Happy hour had some decent food and beverage deals. Service was quick and friendly. I enjoyed the food and the beer selection was ok. This would be a good place to take a date.
(4)Rachel P.
I was on my way back home and got hungry for some Mediterranean. I didn't think much would come out of my visit to this place from what I read on yelp but I was wrong. The appetizers were great and the seafood paella was okay. I didn't like the scallops too much but everything else was just fine. I didn't mind the decor too much either. They do seem to have some regulars so I'm sure it's a popular spot around here. The service was okay but they were busy. So I won't complain much but the food was good. That's what the matters the most in my book.
(4)Kara S.
Great ambiance, good happy hour. The truffle fries were too overbearing for us but we've always enjoyed everything else. Especially the arancini!
(4)Ashley W.
Isabella is the classy place to go for happy hour! It has a great location an super friendly, attractive staff. From 5-7 all drafts are half price, house wine on special, and a great happy hour menu. The truffle fries are phenomenal for the less carb conscious and the cheese plate is such a bargain we will definitely be back. I can't speak to the dinner but have always had a terrific experience at the bar. Couldn't ask for better service, they are on top of their game and very attentive. Can't wait for the next happy hour at Isabella's!!!
(5)Debbie A.
Maybe we were there on an off night, but I need to post the following: - When we arrived, we were given a table smack in the middle of the room, yet the room was far from crowded. We asked for a banquette table but were told it was for 6 (we were 4). Within a short time, they had separated the tables and had seated a 4 and a two. - There was only one special to add to the very limited menu. When we went to order it, we were told they were sold out. (Then why didn't they erase it from the board? It was there all nght!) - The music was way too loud for the room. - The service was painfully slow, and it seemed there were only two waiters on board for a medium sized restaurant. On a happier note, which is why I gave three stars, the food is good. There is a wide selection of drinks and beers on tap and the food was better than expected, based on the ambiance. 'nuf said.
(3)greg w.
Overpriced and portions are really small. The food is just ok... Atmosphere is nice and same with the crowd.
(3)Josh J.
Overall great place. Tasty food, cool drinks and nice environment. But please....please...tell the creepy owner to stop lurking around, blathering to the customers at tables and at the bar and basically just being an annoying presence. He sat next to us at the bar and criticized the one bartender right in front of us. Tacky.
(3)Amanda M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Conshohocken! Every time I come the food is excellent - the mussels, beef skewers, and lamb are my absolute favorites! The only con is that sometimes they are short staffed so you have to wait a little longer for your table. Other then that everything else is perfect!
(4)Amanda M.
This tiny spot in Conshy offers city-class cuisine outside Philly. The other reviews about space are spot-on; it's very small, and fills up quickly. For dinner, especially on a weekend night, you absolutely have to have a reservation. I understand the complaints, but I thought it added to the atmosphere, which is dark and rather romantic. All that said, it's good food. The menu is kind of a strange mix, offering tapas, pizza, and full entrees. We went for two tapas as appetizers and followed up with an entree each. It was a ton of food, and pretty pricey; I'd probably go tapas and pizza next time. Still, everything we had, including calamari, scallops, and seafood pasta, was really good.
(4)Adam F.
Decent place serving tapas, however, it is not Spanish tapas. Unfortunately it turns out to be more just Mediterranean/Italian/American small plates, which is a bummer (Conshohocken needs more diverse food options). Drinks are good though - great place to grab a cocktail at the bar.
(3)Gautam T.
A Spanish/Mediterranean Tapas joint that is really an American tapas place. Its really hard to call yourself a tapas place and have ribs and chicken wings as options. We also got Pizza which was weird. This place reminds me of a restaurant without an identity. Isabella would be good if they prepared you for what type of restaurant it is. An american restaurant that serves small serving sizes. Do not call this place a Tapas place because its straight up not. Service was decent, company was awesome.
(2)Lori D.
Terrible experience last week. Used to be a regular here because of the awesome bartender (Malik), but he is no longer working there unfortunately. Sat at the bar for happy hour and ordered a glass of Cava. I noticed the bartender added club soda to the champagne glass...when I asked her why she told me that the cava was flat and the club soda would add some fizz. What?????? I told her it wasn't good so she gave me a split of prosecco and did not honor the lower price of what I ordered. We ate mussels which were good, then a pizza. Our mussel shells and dirty plates were not cleared in between courses so we ate the pizza on dirty dishes. To top it off she (bartender) made a mistake on our bill that had to be corrected. Coincidentally, the same bartender seemed unable to ring up happy hour prices the last time we visited. She (and Isabella's) are out of chances. Malik...where are you???
(1)C J.
I've had the opportunity to visit Isabella's several times as it is within walking distance of my home. The food was fairly decent and the service was prompt. It was always fairly empty during the week, so happy hour was never an overcrowded, uncomfortable evening. Why the one star? Approximately a week ago, I got what I believe to be terrible food poisoning. I eat pretty naturally/organically and minimize fried items so I thought perhaps my stomach was just sensitive; however, my girlfriend also had the same "complications" that I did (we shared our meals). I tend not to frequent establishments that cost me a day out of work - there's too many good restaurants in Conshohocken to waste my time here.
(1)Claudia B.
The dinner was delicious! We had two different yummy soups that were flavorful but not overly rich, a great Caesar and good pasta. Nice waitress too.
(5)Rob F.
Atmosphere was nice, priced right. I had the salad, cheese board was okay, and the New York strip slices were excellent, service was good. Seemed like a lot of people were eating the mussels. I met the owner who was extremely nice, and he offered us food from his table for us to Taste test.
(4)Alex P.
Loooooooved this place! Wine list was small but comprehensive and delicious! We did the calamari and the cheese plate- also delicious! The spreads with the cheeses are all different and all yummy. I was catching up with an old friend and the waitress could tell we just wanted to talk so she came when necessary but definitely left us alone to chat, which we really appreciated. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Phillip M.
A small and loud but homey place. It is small, fills up quickly so I highly recommend a reservation especially Dinner. We had a mobility impaired dinner and the wait staff was fantastic helping her out. The food is very good. As Amanda M says: "The menu is kind of a strange mix, offering tapas, pizza, and full entrees. We went for two tapas as appetizers and followed up with an entree each. " I agree. We took her advice and had tapas and pizza. The food was very very good. A place to return.
(4)Dana S.
Nice small restaurant tucked away in Conshy. It's a romantic and Mediterranean atmosphere. It has some entrees on the menu but its mostly small plates. I was there for Happy Hour, I enjoyed their cocktails and my boyfriend enjoyed the beer, a solid tap selection. Happy Hour had plenty of space but as happy hour winded down the place filled up really quickly for the dinner crowd. Would definitely go back.
(4)Seinfeld J.
Tapas style "Gourmet pizza," was greasier than ten slices of boardwalk pepperoni cheese pizza. "Mushroom risotto" was actually Spanish long grain rice with 2 oyster mushrooms hiding in the bottom. NOT short grain arborio rice that one associates with risotto. Baby back ribs were amazing. Service was ok but wished I had more water to go with my greasy pizza. Not bad food but not worth the price to not get what you ordered. You are paying for the "fluff." Gets one star only because of the huge discrepancy between items' descriptions on menu and what was put in front of me! For example, would have preferred honest and up front that my plum whisky cocktail was going to be whisky on the rocks with a prune in it!
(1)Toni C.
Great cucumber martini! Ribs fall off the bone. Sweet and smokey. Octopus also delicious. (Just an FYI, tiny octopus. Not piece of leg). Can't go wrong with the olive trio. gluten friendly here. Have not had any gluteny type problems.
(5)Nick D.
My girlfriend and I arrived to an empty restaurant and were placed at a table right next to the door after being told that the place would fill up very quickly (strike 1)... We ordered what we thought was a fair amount of food to fill us both (1 appetizer, 4 small plates to share), not realizing just how small the small plates were (scallops were, literally, 2 small scallops for $10). Brussels sprouts were drenched in butter, mushroom risotto was good, scallops were just a taste, and gnocchi was great (albeit, again, small). (Strike 2). The restaurant itself is a very small room packed full of tables, and it did indeed fill up quickly after we had ordered. After eating, it took us 25 minutes to even get a chance to request our check (strike 3) Overall, we were unimpressed, and went down the street to Pepperoncini (much better place all-around) for a pizza and drinks (since we were still starving). 3 strikes = 3 stars removed.
(2)Tina C.
I really wanted to like this place but after the appetizers, it just fell apart. Six of us celebrated a good friends birthday on a Thursday night. I had never been there but I liked the vibe when we walked in - young, intimate and a little edgy. The appetizers were really tasty - we shared the baby octopus, the wild mushroom with poached egg and the calamari. We were feeling very positive until the entrees came. Here's what went wrong. 1. My friend's vegetarian pizza arrived 20 minutes before others. 2. They brought my entree of seafood "paellla" 5 minutes after the pizza but took it back because they realized that 2 other people also ordered the same thing and they hadn't prepare it. 3. When they did bring out all three of the seafood entrees after 15 minutes, mine appeared to be the same one that they had brought out earlier, wilted sprout and all. 4. The mussels in the seafood entrees were horribly sandy and gritty. Worse part is that they did not smell or tasted fresh. 5. Within the 3 seafood orders, there were extreme variations in the amount of angel hair pasta. Bizarre.. 6. At the end when the coffee and tea were ordered, they brought out an enormous beautiful tea box which consisted only 3 different teas, of which none were non-caffeinated so I had to drink hot water. 7. My teacup had a distinct brown ring inside the cup that I had to ask the server to change. 8. They charged us 20% gratuity which was frankly not deserved. The seafood "paella" as they called it was $23. I have no idea why they called it a paella when it was served with soupy angel hair pasta. The taste was neither here or there. The server did send a quail dish over to compensate for our poor seafood entrees. It was ok, a little too sweet for my taste. The desserts were very good. We had the chocolate cake and the bread pudding. In conclusion, if you go there, stick with the appetizers and dessert, and skip the entrees altogether. Don't go with a group because the kitchen seem to be poorly managed to accommodate larger orders and they stick you with a 20% gratuity even with service that was very rough around the edges. However, unfortunately for me, I will not be going back.
(2)Amy A.
Best friend and I went here for restaurant week. She had been before, while it was a first for me. It's small, but you don't feel like you are sitting on top of one another. We arrived for our 7:15 reservation. It was about at 75% capacity when we got there. We were greeted promptly and let him know we were there for the tasting menu. Ordered our drinks and waiting for the food to come our way. The only reason I'm giving Isabella 4 stars instead of 5 was the service was a little slow. It didn't bother me too much, but there were definitely some times when I wished it moved along a little bit faster. It also took about 15 minutes for our drinks to arrive and one was wrong so we went to the bar to have it corrected. Isabella put together 11 piece tasting menu. Just about everything was delicious. We started out with cold items that consisted of a small plate of chorizo, a tomato gazpacho soup, and a fig and blue cheese salad. All three were a hit. The soup was by far my favorite of the three cold tastings. Next up were three meat tastings. We were served veal meat balls, skewers of beef, and a pork belly. Again, they were a hit and I had wished the pork belly portion was a bit larger since they served with pickled red onions and a corn puree, I was practically licking off the plate. Next up was by far the highlight of the meal. It was a spinach ricotta gnocchi in a brown butter sauce. I could have eaten an entire plate. I kept cutting it into smaller pieces so that it wouldn't end. The next couple dishes were of the seafood variety. First up were mussels topped with crispy potatoes (think hash brown flavor). It was served in a roasted tomato jus. Mussels were great, though some were a little gritty. I don't mind, being from New England, grit is always good. However, my friend didn't feel the same way. Shrimp was up next, served in a garlic butter sauce. Shrimp had a nice flavor, but I favored the mussels. The final entree tasting was drunken figs, stuffed with blue cheese. My least favorite, but I'm not a huge blue cheese fan, so I think that was a matter of personal preference versus preparation. To end the meal we were served a trio of desserts. By that time, I was stuffed. Dessert isn't really my thing, but the expresso creme brulee (though it was more like a mousse), but my favorite and a nice way to end the meal. I'm definitely going to visit again. It was a great experience, minus the long wait, but I highly recommend this place.
(4)Nicole R.
We enjoyed a Happy Hour smorgasbord of tapas which were perfectly portioned, but not memorable as "the best meal ever." I would definitely recommend the queso plate as a starter as you're going to get a good amount for a low cost. As one who loves frites, Isabella's are well cooked, but a bit heavy on the truffle oil (ask for it lightly). Now on to the best of the best Cucumber Mojitos I've ever had! The bartender, Mikey, mixed up the reason why I am definitely going to return to Isabella - it was the best mojito (even without the delicious cucumber, this was amazing!) I have ever had and was definitely memorable! Mojitos aren't the quickest drink to make, but Mikey knows his stuff :D
(4)Chrissy M.
I am giving them three stars not because they don't have delicious food and drink because they absolutely do. If this review was based on food I would give them five no problem. Great wine list, specialty drinks are amazing ( try their s'more martini, the marshmallow comes lit!), apps and dinner menus were so great as well. The problem here is the service. We made a reservation for 8:15. We get there at around 8:17 at the very latest. It was crowded so we were asked to sit at the bar and wait. No problem. Had a round of drinks which were great. We see the hostess seat a party who had just walked in after us. Not so great. We were trying to be good sports so we ordered another round. At this point it is 9:00. My husband went and asked the hostess why other people were being seated and not us. She replied by telling him that they were "about to walk out on their reservation." By now it is 9:15 and we are starving and frustrated. We get seated a little after 9:20 and were given no menus, no apologies, no bread after drinking a few rounds at the bar. In fact the hostess said "I gave you menus at the bar," as if we should've taken the two menus the bartender gave us. Our waiter seemed annoyed to have us that late. We ordered quickly and attempted to make the best of it but as tables finished, the staff got more social with each other while cleaning as if to tell us "times up, get out!" As we left ( the last to leave by the way only because we weren't seated until 9:20 and served around 10:00) the staff all sat and drank at the bar looking at us like we were interrupting their good time. Bottom line: I would only go there again if it was crowded and NEVER will I bring guests from out of town there because I was totally embarrassed for bringing them to a place with terrible service. With so many amazing places to eat in Conshy, why bother going to some dark corner restaurant with bad service?
(3)Jimmy J.
Don't quite understand the negative review of Isabella's. I frequently visit for happy hour on the weekdays. They have 5 and 7$ small plates for happy hour and drink specials. The bar area might get crowded after 6 PM on the weekdays, but for the most part you'll be able to find a stool or two to enjoy a drink and some good food! I highly recommend the calamari and the mussels!
(5)Douglas W.
My first impression from the outside was a bit skeptical. Location is not near Fayette St and gives the impression of a corner dive bar in a residential area. Inside the place is very classy and I had high hopes when I sat down. They really need to be open later and work on their service. I was on an 8:30pm date and the first thing the server said was "Hey the kitchen is closing soon so we need to get your order in quickly if you want food." 9:00 is way too early to close first of all, but if that's the case the least you could do is provide full service to those of us that make it in. We decided to share a few small plates. We got the octopus, beef skewers, and truffle oil fries. The fries were good. The other plates were a joke. The octopus presentation was terrible. The two of us each had about one fork full and it was gone. The skewers were no more than 3oz of steak total. I get it. They are "small plates". But the portion size was literally akin to a grocery store sample. You will need to get dinner after eating here. I give two stars because it did offer a nice ambiance and I'd be interested in trying the pizza sometime.
(2)Rich Z.
The truffle frites are seriously good and nice big portion too. Also recommend the chicken ceasar which has a creamy dressing and tasty grilled chicken.
(4)Lauren W.
Isabella's is a really interesting, often overlooked (for right or wrong) restaurant off the beaten path in Conshohocken. The exterior doesn't stand out too much from the other older homes in the area; inside, the not too upscale vibe and nice decor really set it apart. I like that it's just the right size for the area: not too large at all, perhaps a dozen seats at the bar,and just enough tables for waiters to sometimes struggle getting to a back table without patrons feeling squished due to the comfy, oversized seats. I've had two visits at Isabella's over the past year. One was a casual dinner at the bar one weekday night. Each of us had a beer and split a few of their tapas, and really enjoyed all of the food. I remember the standouts being a cheese plate (because how do you go wrong with a plate of cheese?) and the mussels. Drenched in some kind of delicious, buttery garlicky awesomey sauce, with tomatoes and arugula (? I think?) and topped with a TON of these shoestring ish fried potato strings, these were really good. Good enough to make a reservation for Conshy restaurant week the other night. I loved the fact that they offered a pre-set tasting menu. Being chronically indecisive, I enjoy when someone else tells me what to order. It was a good deal for the amount of food given, due to having around a dozen courses. I think I was alone in this thought, but I kind of wished they had offered maybe 3 or 4 less courses, and upped the portion size instead. There were so many dishes that I really enjoyed, but only had two bites of. Highlights included the mussels (again), the spinach gnocchi (seriously amazing), and the Isabella salad with figs. Yawners were the desserts; not bad, not my cup of tea. Service definitely left something to be desired on each visit; however, the restaurant was very busy for restaurant week. The first regular visit was with an apathetic bartender. She was not particularly slow in service, but not super helpful when we told her it was our first time visiting. During restaurant week, service was super slow but you could tell they were trying. Took about 15-20 minutes to receive our drinks, and was still given the wrong wine. No big deal, and was easily and happily fixed by a nice bartender. For me, it was still a really great dinner, and I thought the ambience and food more than made up for the slow service.
(3)Beryl H.
I was invited to join a friend and had never heard of Isabella. I walked in and sat at the bar waiting for the rest of the group and had a delicious cocktail ( many creative options). The staff was so friendly and sat us at a different table than they had set up for us because we wanted to be more in the back. Perfect. The food was great. Creative and tasty. We had a large assortment of the tapas style appetizers. The ribs, the truffle fries, beet salad, scallops, and others did not disappoint. We didn't have the pizzas....too full from all the delicious dishes. We did have desert. Around this time the chef, Mario, came out to join us and that was truly a treat. He was delightful and made the evening so much fun. We then tried the flan ( best ever) and lingered over great conversation. Enjoy! We really had a great time.
(4)Michele P.
Lots of fun. Yummy bites to eat. a little tight but in a meet your neighbors kind of way. the scallops were absolutely fabulous! we also enjoyed the salad with figs!
(4)Buffy F.
Wonderful to find a Tapas Bar in our area. Stopped here for the first time at lunch hour. Food was beautiful on plate and even more delicious then it looked. Service was friendly and very helpful. We will be back
(4)Julie M.
Food was tasty! Our server, Liz, was attentive and nice. We went for restaurant week and the food was superb. It was a bit of a longer wait between courses but that was because the food was freshly prepared. Got the Isabella salad, Mussels, scallops shrimp and linguine, and the espresso brûlée. All of it was superb but especially notable were the mussels and brûlée. Boyfriend got the charcuterie, calamari, and steak frites. He raved about all of them! Would definitely go back. Really want some paella!
(4)Daniel C.
Don't ask for ketchup with the fries God forbid. Have been here 5 times hoping it would get better each time... It has not. Very obnoxious. Bon a petit.
(2)Tracy H.
The bartender, Lana, made an amazing rose petal martini! The food was pretty good, I had the happy hour fries and veal meatballs. My only complaint would be that the meatballs didn't have enough of the sauce.
(4)Jess D.
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(5)Nick D.
To be fair, this place is more geared towards tapas and I did not order that. The actual restaurant is really cool. Nice big bar, real Mediterranean feel. It is tight though. We were almost sitting with the couple next to us. Started the meal with mussels which they are apparently known for. They were very good. We also had the beet side. It was pretty good but cold (on purpose). I really wasn't expecting that. For entrees I had the salmon, which I thought was good. My wife had a pork tenderloin dish. It was ok but was really doused in vinegar (for the slaw on top). It was good but was overkill on the vinegar. Again, tapas place and I ordered an entree, so I'll give the benefit of the doubt. I'd go back but would get a pizza and a few small plates. I hear the pizza are great, they certainly looked good.
(3)Bridget M.
Well done tapas. Good variety. Solid options for vegetarians. We were a little thrown off by the Amada prices in Conshy. But would rather pay a little extra to have this type of place in our backyard, than have a neighborhood full of pizza joints. Service was attentive. Delivery of the plates was timed well. Favorite: Beet terrine, Burratta and Toasted Almond Chocolate Mouse.
(4)Kathleen P.
It's ashame because this place used to be good. I'm not sure what happened to it. I used to go there a lot when it first opened and decided to go there recently on a whim. The once normal tapas menu which had classics like patas bravas (sp?) and flatbread is no longer. I ordered the paella and it came out over pasta!!! What kind of paella is that? I feel like its cheating. It had a small amount of seafood on top of a mound of pasta. Really not good! The sangria also used to be good now just tastes like grape juice. Was a waste of $. The only thing that was good was the cheese and the beet salad. It's too bad.
(2)Regina F.
If it weren't for the stellar company I had the pleasure of dining with for over 2.5 hours on a bleak Saturday night, I would have marched out of Isabella somewhere between not receiving the bread basket until 20 minutes after being seated...or between the first 5 courses that came out like boom-boom-bam (30 minutes after the arrival of our drinks) and the forgotten 6 and 7th courses...and that second drink. No really, when the mushroom flatbread is touted as being one of the best menu items (it's truly a tasty treat), but is forgotten long enough for adults to put a metal pizza holder ring on their heads and start stacking plates like infants, there's something disturbingly wrong with service. And believe you me...I'm not one to harp on service ever...unless it's utterly inimical to all standards. Twice have the Isabella/Peperoncini folks made me loathe dimly lit, romantic atmospheres and perhaps great food due to painstakingly horrendous service. As a side note, if you do venture to Isabella out of your own self hatred or because you confessed something so awful your priest wanted to make you suffer, you'd better order the medium fat, perfectly Parmesan-ed, cilantro speckled truffle fries and a blood orange cocktail...then cross your fingers, say three Hail Mary's and hopefully you'll have a scrumptious, if not disastrously heathen, meal.
(2)Steve T.
Like Salieri of "Amadeus," Isabella is the patron saint of mediocrity. Middle of the road tapas...nothing bad, but only a couple things noteworthy. We dined on a variety of fare, including the cheese plate, mussels, filet kabob, lamb, and calamari. The blood orange margarita was very good, and kudos for the cheese plate which was served with four different cheeses all matched to specific freshly made jams, including smoked apricot and sangria (both ultra fine)...one of the better tasting cheese plates I've had. iBella (props to Steve Jobs) has charming decor and is just off the main drag in Conshy. Also, there is plenty of on-steet parking nearby. The bar scene was hoppin' on Friday night, and I think iBella might be a great first stop for drinks and a tapas or two before you sojourne in Conshy. While not Mozart's "Requiem," the harmonious blend of tapas, atmosphere, and good margaritas will suffice for all but the most pure blood Hapsburg in you.
(3)I C.
Finally, the right size tapas! Good food- recommend the scallops, cooked perfectly, no easy task! MICHAEL, our server had great drink recommendations. Great place to start the night....
(4)Genevieve D.
I have lived all over the world. New York, Milan, Germany, Guam, LA, etc... And with those experiences comes a lot of travel and a lot of restaurants. But I have never been kicked out of a restaurant before. The manager claimed he had reservations for the 23 open seats! However, only 6 were filled after we left. this situation was not handled appropriately and even though I live around the corner, I am NEVER going back to Isabella's.
(1)Lee F.
I've been here twice and always have exceptional service from knowledgeable, friendly wait staff. The people who work there are eager and pleasant, which makes the dining experience nice. Food is great, there is a nice variety. Also has a great beer selection. We consider this a Conshy gem and will go back!
(4)Brian H.
My second upgrade and what a nice one. I love this neighborhood hangout, beautiful bar, lively atmosphere and great service, and the food has stepped up to the plate (get it?). The grilled octopus was tender, great grill flavor served with marinated fennel and pine nuts, superb. The pork belly was so tender, small delicate slices with the pickled onion being a solid addition with the sweet pea puree. The heirloom beet terrine with goat cheese and Serrano ham was very flavorful, I wish there was more. We finished off the evening with the sausage, caramelized onion, ricotta cheese and smoked tomato pizza, flavors complimenting each other, the thin crust kept extremely crisp with a screen on top of the serving platter, no sogginess here. What a delight from the first bite to the last. There was a very good wine, bottled and draft beer selection. I chose the Titan IPA on tap, excellent. Megan, our server was most pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable. This was a total very, very good experience. I am happy to see the attention to detail to make this restaurant a place which I want to return. And I am looking forward to it.
(4)Susan S.
First time dining last evening.Lovely atmosphere, great waiter named Lance and TERRIFIC food. This is such a gem and we will definitely return. Very creative menu and the beet salad, homemade pasta and fig/ gorgonzola pizza were all delicious.Cannot wait to try dessert next trip.
(4)Dana C.
I did a happy hour here with girls after work & overall, we really enjoyed everything. I couldn't find a beer included in the specials that I really liked but did like the apple martini which was also apart of the happy hour menu. I got prime rib & fries & was shocked that the rib was included on the menu at only $7! The portion was really generous. 2 friends got the gnocchi & their portion was pretty small - They ended up having to fill up on bread. The waiter was super friendly & attentive. I would definitely go back & have recommended to friends since going.
(4)