Bella Vita Italian Steakhouse

My sister, a girlfriend and I stopped by this cute spot for a “little black dress “ event. Very nice. We weren’t aware we needed reservations for the event, however, the young lady at the door told us we could sit at the bar. Lucky for us, there were three seats available at the bar. The event is only on one side of the restaurant where the piano is. Our bar host was great and very attentive. The restaurant is super cute and welcoming. As many times as I’ve ventured to The Villages, I have overlooked this spot on all occasions. The food and drinks were great! Fried eggplant and ravioli were great! The bread was delicious! Hot and fresh just how I like it😊Overall, nice experience. I will definitely return for date night with hubby❤️

My husband and I ate here for lunch today. Our waitress was Casey. She was friendly and attentive. The food was outstanding! I had the lobster bisque and lasagna. It was the BEST lasagna ever. There was plenty of sauce, meat and the noodles were perfect! My husband had the antipasta salad and chicken alfredo.Their delicious bread was served with both butter and oil. Even though we were full we ordered dessert, we shared their special cheesecake. We had plenty left over for dinner later. We will definitely go back! Oh, and I also had their Italian margarita which was very tasty🥂 These pictures do not give these dishes justice, we had already started eating before I thought about taking pictures.

This place gives the illusion of fine dining like I've never seen before. Honestly a scam for microwaved vegetables and instant mashed potatoes as well as reheated bread and dried herbs they probably got cheaply but serve and sell it for far more. $50 for a steak. The paintings are the definition of modern art (one I found particularly amusing in pic) and the place looks like it used to be an Asian restaurant. The menus are unnecessarily huge for how tiny the menu is, and why they make the servers wear such heavy aprons when they aren't cooking anything is crazy. They look uncomfortable walking and must make it even more difficult to carry serving trays. I wouldn't be as harsh on a place if it wasn't trying so hard to be something it absolutely isn't. It should be a crime to charge so much

If comfort food could be captured in a single dish, it would be the **Bolognaise Rustica**. This hearty creation takes the timeless flavors of Italy and layers them with rustic charm and depth. A generous portion of penne pasta arrives perfectly al dente, each tube catching the rich sauce in every bite. The sauce itself is a slow-simmered masterpiece: ground Italian sausage and beef form a savory backbone, while carrots, celery, and onion add subtle sweetness and earthiness. The tomatoes are bright yet mellow, balancing acidity with the richness of the meat. Fragrant herbs weave through the sauce, lifting it beyond ordinary red gravy into something soulful and layered. Topped with a snowfall of freshly grated Parmesan, the dish achieves a harmony that satisfies both rustic cravings and r

No reservation on a Sunday 4pm. Host was not friendly or polite. Shown to a table outside. Waited 15 min. No service. Asked someone if we could have service. Our waiter apologized. He was not assigned the table until we asked. Our meal was excellent. Bread was brought with seasoned olive oil but no bread plates. Oh well. It was delicious anyway. We had to help ourselves to a napkin/place setting as we were given one short. Eggplant rollotini, bruschetta with whipped ricotta and lemon cello cheesecake were all excellent.