Bread is freshly baked and yum but not complimentary. Meatballs appetizer is tasty, comes with 4 big meatballs. Combo: half salad and half sandwich are limited to a few options only. Asked the waiter if I can pay extra to select a different salad on the menu and they said No. Pasta is great, salad is average, the beet salad plate was cold, seems like it came straight from the fridge. Pizza took very long to make, it came towards the end of our meal. The waiter gave us some free fries and soups to make up the long wait time. Overall it's not a bad experience, I would go back for pasta dishes only. read more

Bella Luna - Beet Salad added salmon - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and service at Bella Luna. My wife and I are light eaters and enjoy sharing. We started off with the steamed mussels which were excellent - large meaty mussels in a roasted tomato garlic broth. The broth was so good we both spooned it down long after the mussels were gone. This was followed by the beet salad which was the classic pairing of bitter arugula with the sweet beets. The crab and lobster ravioli as our main course didn't disappoint - lots of sweet crab and lobster meat stuffed into each ravioli, all draped with a creamy rich sauce. We topped off our meal with another classic - crunchy cannoli fingers. Mmm, good! Our friendly server gave us excellent wine service and food suggestions. The back dining room was cheerfully noisy and gave off the vibe of eating at your Italian Grandmother's house. We had a great time, highly recommended. read more

I ordered the pasta bolognese via Door Dash and it arrived with the thinnest film of sauce and barely any meat. What a disappointment to have basically nothing on my pasta at such a high cost! I should have learned my lesson because they did the same thing to me with the same dish a few weeks ago in person at the restaurant (when two others who ordered the same dish at my table had plenty of meat and sauce). Where is the quality control!? If you are out of sauce, don't serve the dish. The picture is what I received--compare it to the sauce- and meat-filled pasta they display on their web site. read more

Bella Luna - The thinnest hint of sauce and almost no meat. - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

A Merced downtown favorite. A great place to get a sandwich or salad for lunch or a nice pasta dish or steak for dinner. One of my favorite things here is the free bread and dipping sauce before your meal. A few favorites of mine include the crab ravioli, chicken Milanese and for a starter, Arancini. They also make a delicious pizza. The service is outstanding. The servers keep the drinks filled and don't hide out in the back. The ambiance is really nice-exposed brick and wood. read more

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Stopped in for cocktails and dinner--Yelp referral. Was a perfect choice. Lively atmosphere, good music, delicious cocktails made by Sabrina, My chicken Marsala was tender, flavorful and delicious. The service from all the staff was excellent. read more

Bella Luna - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

8/29/25 Getting lunch!! First off, Really classy, beautiful restaurant !! Lots of seating and Great bar! Workers are kind and welcoming. I was given a tea to start. Given quickly. The bartender was Great! I asked if the Queens Melt was popular. He said it's the most popular. Ordered that with kettle chips & aioli on the side. Very much enjoyed the bar! GREAT atmosphere. Music playing too!! Tea to start was refreshing and great. Their cocktails, I was told, are popular and they have a Great variety!! Something to try next time. Lunchtime!! Fantastic!! DELICIOUS Queens Melt! 1/2 was plenty! Didn't even need the aioli, but I did try some and it was tasty to dip. Flavorful, thick turkey and a good amount! Great Kettle chips. I asked for ketchup & hot sauce and that was given!! Made the kettle chips even better!!! Great! Checked up on while enjoying! Appreciated!! Asked for to-go containers and given shortly later. Paid for order with good day wishes & left. Absolutely, GREAT service & DELICIOUS lunch with another meal of leftovers. Look forward to going back to try a drink soon!! Highly recommended!! They deserve every star! read more

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You know how they say to stick with what works? Shoulda listened. i usually get crab ravioli's (yum) but they are starting to be too rich for me. So. I switched to chicken marsala chicken with couscous and broccoli and ordered on door dash. Would have been better to have been there to return the dinner. Chicken is tasteless and tough and stone cold. Broccoli was literally raw, couscous blazing hot. Another lesson learned. Sadly, I opened the soup I ordered yesterday. Whomever felt it was appropriate to only fill the container half way. Insert super unhappy smile here. read more

We had lunch here today, as part of a Tauck tour. Today is Sunday and Mother's Day, when the restaurant should be closed, but they had staff come in especially for us. They were so pleasant, even though they worked on their day off. We had a soup, salad and sandwich buffet that was delicious. The include some great cookies. I loved the pastrami sandwich and red velvet cookie! The restaurant is an adorable, quaint place with a new Italian food market. Definitely recommend! read more

Everytime I come here I am so impressed with the food and service. We started with their yummy complimentary house-made bread and oil. Yum! The arancini are a must get! Crisp, creamy, spicy, just amazing and a HUGE portion! The bolognese was rich and filling. The caprese chicken salad was the perfect lunch entree. Light yet filling! read more

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Delicious gluten free options. The garlic bread was a seasoned pizza crust (I think) and was delicious. I had the chicken Alfredo and could not have been happier with it. My husband and son got the meatballs for an appetizer and they said they were delicious. Their main courses were great as well - crab ravioli and chicken Marsala. We will go back any time we are in Modesto! read more

Bella Luna - Fresh sourdough bread, gluten free garlic bread, meatballs, olive oil & vinegar - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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Such a cozy ambiance on Main Street. This is a great place for a date night or to escape into a a culinary experience unlike any other. All of the details in this restaurant are so well thought out, from the cloth napkins, the clay dishes, and dim lighting for dinner... you will really feel special. We always get the fig pizza. It's the best! read more

Bella Luna - Menu - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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This might be the best pizza we've ever had. The pizza is always delicious and cooked to perfection. read more

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Food is fire Service is wonderful. Ambiance is fabulous. Must try the chicken fettuccine

Great date night spot. Even better food and service! The drinks have a heavy pour and our steak was cooked perfect! read more

Bella Luna - Drinks - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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Wow! Where do I start? I contacted Bella Luna for a group reservation for my the parents of my son's water polo team. We were all visiting from out of town and there was a group of 38 of us. I called and left a message and Giancarlo called me back right away. Giancarlo is an amazing owner/manager and helped set up our amazing experience. We were able to sit in the back room on 3 separate tables. Our original group grew from 30 to 38 and they were still able to accommodate us. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful - exquisitely decorated with an Italian grocery store next door. I love this! You can dine and shop in their amazing little store! Our dinner was absolutely delicious - I ordered the margherita pizza and my husband ordered the gorgonzola and fig pizza. Of course I didn't get any pictures because I ate it too quickly and was having too much fun! Our servers provided us with the best customer service and took such great care of us. They were so patient with our large group and truly treated us like family. I want to thank Giancarlo and his wonderful staff for the excellent service and food and helping our team's parents enjoy a wonderful time together. It was so memorable and we will always be grateful for this phenomenal experience! I highly recommend Bella Luna if you are in town and want some delicious Italian food and feel like a VIP. The servers and their amazing customer service are one of the biggest reasons I would come back again and again! read more

Pizza is always good and I really like their chicken parm! The chicken breast is pounded thin and topped with just enough breading, tomato sauce & of course parm! The minestrone soup is also a great starter. read more

Great experience, great food too! Jose was the best server. He was very passionate about the food and everything Bella Luna. He gave us a lot of suggestions and recommendations on food and they did not disappoint. Will come back again! read more

I had a great experience at bella Luna. Our server Jose was amazing and attentive. He recommended food and drinks and they were delicious. We will be back for sure! read more

Finally made it to this restaurant. Had a girls dinner with the friends. Let me tell you my experience was fantastic. Ambiance is cozy and chill. Service was amazing. Joe was our server and he was fantastic! Hope we get him again, 10/10. He made some fine recommendations which were great! Food was amazing! I don't know why it took me so long to visit this place but will absolutely be coming back. Highly recommend this place read more

Popped into Bella Luna during the opening of The Goods and wasn't disappointed. They only had the bar opened, so I ordered a white sangria and got it fairly quickly. Great customer service and recommendation, made a great first impression!! read more

Bella Luna - White Sangria - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Always have had great service and loved what I've had so far every time I visit. The crab ravioli is my usual go to but the shrimp arrabbiata rec by our waiter was phenomenal. power microgreens gotta have the honorable mention too. homey ambiance and the drinks are always great as well read more

Bella Luna - Shrimp Arrabiata - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

I love Bella Luna. Everything I have had was great. Their pasta was superb, I had a calzone one time that was good. Their cannolis were really tasty. I liked their salad, their Arancini weren't my thing but they were still high quality. The servers have been super friendly every time. The inside is massive and has a lot of diverse seating areas. Super great place overall. read more

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Great meal at Bella Luna, even late just before the kitchen closed. The place was still busy, and the service never felt rushed. The ravioli were wonderful--shrimp and lobster, perfectly done. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in town. read more

Fantastic Italian spot in the city, don't let the front bar area fool you the back of the restaurant is really cute and has several sit down tables for large parties. The wait staff are extremely knowledgeable about the menu and they are willing to make change such as gluten free pasta and taking out meat for vegetarian. However we took off a star due to some questionable bill choices that I'll mention at the end. We shared the meatballs starters which were large and really flavorful. I had the bolognaise and each bite was truly a sterpwce of flavor profile with ample amounts of red sauce and meat. The meal really started off well except when the kitchen brought out two of the same vegetarian gluten free afredo instead of one Alfredo and one of the arrabiata. When we mentioned it to our waiter he checked and blamed the kitchen. He offered to remake the entire dish and we thought no need to make it go to waste and just asked for the Cajun dressing that comes with the arrabiata, which they were able to add. However on our final bill they charged for the original arrabiata really without any of the original base dish, and charged extra for the added vegetables while not accounting for the shrimp that was left out since it was a vegetarian dish. Definitely felt like there was no remorse for the kitchen mistake, and to add salt on the wound they added their 20% included tip to the bill for parties of 6 or more when our party was 5. All in all, a great restaurant for most food but lacking in customer service. read more

Bella Luna - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Snobby and their food was just ok at high prices not worth it! Seems like it was a pickup place! read more

They have gluten free options! I want to shout this from the roof tops! I have avoided this place for so long because neither their website, Yelp page nor in person menu list any gluten free options. Tonight, I joined friends there and assumed I would be getting a salad but took a long shot and asked anyway. Turns out they have gluten free pasta and pizza! I later found out they have gluten free bread as well (bummed it wasn't offered to me). I had the shrimp arrabiata and it was delicious! . The food and service were exceptional. It's a smaller business but not cramped at all. Simple, clean decor that is classic and doesn't feel like a cheesy Italian restaurant. I will definitely be back. read more

Loved!! Bella Luna! I had their hitman pizza and it was delicious!! Best pizza I ever had!! And the cocktails was amazing and refreshing! You can tell they use fresh ingredients! Our bartender was Miranda? I think? She was super sweet and amazing. I would definitely come back here again!! read more

Bella Luna - Menu - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Visiting Merced for the second time and we decided it was time for some Italian food, and we satisfied that craving at Bella Luna. We didn't have a reservation, but luckily. they were able to get us seated right away. We ordered a few dishes. Starting with the Arancini which came with this jalapeno aioli sauce, which was so damn good. I literally could drink that sauce by itself, and definitely asked for a side to dip my bread in it. Highly recommend getting this as starter. For our mains we shared a couple dishes. First was the chicken marsala which was hella good. Good breading on the chicken, tasty mushroom sauce, this was done really well and would 1000% order again every time I visited. The disappointing dish was the carbonara. Just lacked seasoning and overall flavor which was a bummer because it's my favorite pasta dish, but good to know for next time, stick with the chicken marsala for me. If you are visiting Merced, and need a solid spot for some Italian food, this a good option. Coming from the Bay, everything in Merced feels way more affordable and that applies here. Great for date night or dinner before heading out to the bars. read more

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Billy does a fantastic job bartending/mixologist and the Ambiance is great. Chicken Milanese was okay Service was very attentive. read more

Haven't been there in a while -- actually a few years. The last time I was there was for a work meeting. Food was good. Will have to try it again soon. Then can judge after that read more

Good food, service was excellent! Joe went out of his way to make sure we were well taken care of. I asked if they could put on TNF on Prime, they made it happen. Next time we are in Merced we will definitely stop by. read more

This restaurant is really a hidden gem in Merced tucked away on Main Street. We've had the pizza, parm ckn, meatballs and calamari. All 10 of 10 in taste, presentation and service. We had delivery and dine in. read more

The best atmosphere, the best food in Merced, always served by the owners with great quality in all their dishes, it could be said that it is perhaps the best place to eat in Merced, CA. Crab Ravioli, Chicken Alfredo, salads, pizzas, all the dishes are exquisite and the drinks are wonderful, the customer service is unbeatable. read more

What a cute experience! Located right in downtown Merced between the theaters, this Italian restaurant was classy, cozy, and offered great vibes. I came here on a Thursday night to celebrate my birthday with my mom. The restaurant is lined on both sides with brick walls; I think it's quaint and adds to the character of the restaurant without being overly tacky. When we got there, the host seated us right away. The restaurant is split into two seating areas: bar area with bar seating and high tables, and then a dining area with family-seating tables. The bar area is decorated with cute hanging lights (refer to my photos!). I ordered two drinks: a Oaxaca Old Fashioned (yassss Mezcal!) before my meal, and a Land of Saints Sauvignon Blanc during my meal. Both were delicious and the wine paired well with my raviolis. My mom ordered a margarita and it was also great. They have a full bar with drafts, bottled beer, cans, wine, and spirits. I ordered the Crab Ravioli. It was very delicious and savory without being too heavy, which I really appreciated. My mom ordered the Shrimp Arabiata and it was VERY filling! The sauce was good, and there was a supple amount of shrimp, which never happens at Italian restaurants. Plus, there was plenty to take home! Before our food, they also gave us some bread and an olive oil/vinaigrette dip. ProTip: if you're getting pasta, dip yo bread in yo pasta sauce! The servers were attentive, even with a full house. The only things I can complain about are that these dishes are slightly on the pricier side, and how small the water glasses are. However, the food was delicious, the service top-notch, AND I was pretty assertive about waving my server down to refill my water, which she quickly did. The other servers were helpful and willing to check in on us also, which has earned this local gem a well-deserved 5stars in my book. read more

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Awesome Italian spot in downtown Merced! My wife is gluten-free and our server was incredibly knowledgeable about which items would be safe for her. She went with the bolognese with homemade gluten-free penne and I had the crab ravioli! Delicious! read more

Bella Luna - Crab Ravioli Dinner - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Our favorite girls night out spot. Loved everything I've had here: short ribs(so yummy and plenty to take home leftovers, pesto salmon (i get this a lot), fig pizza (great share with an appetizer if not to hungry). Drinks are all great and the service is the best! read more

Bella Luna - Pesto salmon - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Great place to stop and enjoy great Italian food great service, nice and clean. Everybody was so polite great service

The food was amazing and service was great our waiter was very nice and made sure everything was going well often highly recommend. read more

Bella Luna - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

A great find ! This place is just amazing. The service is unparalleled. The food is top notch h quality. The lively environment adds to your experience. A nice selection of wines by the glass and special cocktails. I had the chicken stuffed with peaches and Brie wrapped in prosciutto. WOW. Wife had pizza. Outstanding. This place runs like a fine tuned watch, servers and helpers busily attending your needs, right down to your water glass never empty. All the things that make the difference between good and great. The service, food, environment. Bravo, Bella Luna read more

We made a reservation for our dinner as we planned to go on a Saturday evening. That reservation held no value as we had to wait 25 minutes to be seated. However - the management turned it around as they comped our desserts to apologize for their delay. I really appreciated that they would try to make things right. Our server was friendly and efficient, discussed the specials and menu, and was available to check in with us. The meal was served within a reasonable time even though the restaurant was busy. The pesto salmon was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed the risotto side. The shrimp in the Shrimp Arrabiata was a bit overcooked, but the flavor of the meal was good. The tiramisu was made with whipped cream instead of the traditional mascarpone filling. So overall, although I didn't like the long wait considering I had made a reservation, I enjoyed my meal AND appreciated their effort to make things better. read more

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