Great service and food, I recommend trying it for the deli shop experience. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The food was good but I'll get to that. They force a 20+% gratuity on the check with no notice. Sadly, since the server knew he was getting well compensated on a $300+ meal he felt entitled to treat my family like an annoyance. Note to servers: when you're asked for recommendations saying "everything is delicious" comes across as dismissive. We were give dishes of oil and balsamic with no bread. A server poured a pitcher of water that had hundreds of floaties into my daughter's glass. When I pointed it out she walked away leaving the glass. While trying to order we were made to feel like we were holding him up from other things. Instead of helping my daughter with her decision after learning the restaurant didn't have what we needed he suggested coming back (we had already given him the majority of the order). Dismissive. When one of my daughters was given pasta he asked if she wanted cheese on top. Another note to servers-bring the cheese with you. We don't want to wait for you to have to go find the cheese. We want to eat now. My daughter already received her food well after the rest of us. I tried asking a few servers for a straw as they passed by ignoring me. Finally I caught the manager who was helpful. He addressed the server about how we were being treated and the server came over and started arguing with me about how attentive he was. To his credit he improved. I got salmon. It was slightly over cooked but glazed nicely. The shrimp was tasty and the sauce was just right saltiness. Meatballs are so so. Bolognese was sweet. The shrimp pasta was amazing and the Alfredo was "fire" according to my son. The server recommended gelato. It's amazing. We got chocolate (almost a sorbet), vanilla, and spumoni. All 3 were incredible. Once again, it is criminal to force a gratuity on customers. It's disrespectful and inspires apathy and laziness in the employees. read more

My husband and I tried this place on a whim. The food was delicious and service was impressive. We will definitely be back! Highly recommend for a date night too read more

We don't have very many options in town, but this is definitely the highlight of Merced! The customer service is amazing ALWAYS, they have this spicy shrimp pasta chefs kiss.. I had my bday dinner here of about 15 we received our drinks and food pretty quickly. It usually gets booked up quick so don't forget to make reservations! read more

Atmosphere, service and food were all great! Loved that they had gluten free options. We will be back!

Are you looking for some traditional Italian food? This is the place to come and visit! The food is delicious and traditional If you're in the Merced area, come and check it out! read more

Bella Luna - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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Pasta cravings while passing through the city of Merced let us to this restaurant located in Downtown Merced. They offer a parking lot to the side of their building and off indoor dining and bar seating. We arrived right before the dinner rush, and our party was seated within 5 minutes. The servers were friendly, provided recommendations and constantly ensured we had what we need. The food was good, nothing striking. The steak was very good, a good size and very filling. The muscles were probably my favorite. This restaurant is good for families, get together and date nights (although I'd probably request a corner table since I noticed it got louder as the tables started to fill up). read more

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Haven't been here since the Reno. Ordered the loaded bloodY Mary. Looks pretty bitch is lackluster in taste Ordered the new shrimp scampi... stay far away. Boiled shrimp on top of bowl of soup noodles.. I had to use the bread (which we had to request although the table next tO us received without asking). No bueno. read more

Bella Luna - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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Super 5 stars for this place.. JJ made this an experience to remember! I come to town for work once in a while but this place is officially a staple for me! Surprisingly good Italian food (and I NEVER eat Italian food that's not my moms!), great fish, excellent house made cocktails, and superb service experience- what more could you ask for? See you all soon! read more

Bella Luna - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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Don't ever Go for your birthday. Food was good but a $20 6 oz glass of wine is a bit much also.

Gosh I thought I left my Yelp days behind me. Well, my dinner that taken place Friday 04/21/2023 here has brought me back to spill my tea. My friends were visiting from Oregon, thought good olé' Bella's would make them feel welcomed. Foolish me, it was the complete opposite; the water girl who serves waters to the high top tables (bar location) was super rude, didn't want to set four waters until the other two showed. The waiter (glasses dude) didn't put our first round of drinks until 20mins after ordering them or the bartenders were really just that slow. But from our view (right in front of them!) they had plenty of time to be on their phones, stepping out for a smoke break, socializing with coworkers which is fine, great, love to see it! But not when you had us waiting 30mins now for our first round. Then to top it off, the glasses dude forgot to put in the main course. We took notice when the kitchen shut down and the chef was wiping down his area and we still have yet to receive our pizza. SMH I've had my share of 8 years in the service industry and always give the workers the benefit of the doubt but this experience was purposely disappointing. Kuddos to what seem like the manager (white button up) for coming up to our table and apologizing for the forgotten pizza, as he slipped us our tab to get the hell out of there, due to closing time. Where were you when we were attempting to make direct eye contact as we waited some 30+ minutes for our drinks and you were busy socializing with your workers at the bar. You saw us and chose to ignore us. Now, two locals and two out of towners will never come back and forever have a bad taste in there mouth about this place. I miss the old Bella Luna (pre Rona). Enjoy the pic below, maybe the establishment will remember the round that "was worth the wait?" read more

Bella Luna - Apps arrived before drinks (not on purpose) - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

For a romantic dinner. Great wine and Italian fare. Yes! Bella Luna is a favorite stop in Central Valley downtown Merced Best service

Great food and service. Billy, the bartender, always amazing adult beverages. Wyatt, our server, was great with spot-on recommendations. Delicious chicken Milanese and halibut. read more

I went here for my 33rd birthday and I'm definitely going back. The food, drinks, and staff are all amazing. I had one of the best steaks of my life and everything tasted so fresh. It's truly a vibe and can't wait to go back! read more

Bella Luna - Bomb app! - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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I got a gift card. Normally, I can't afford this place. But it is very clean and great food.

Great drinks and fresh food! The service is always quick but they do get packed. Make sure to make reservations prior to attending.

Enjoyed another scrumptious dinner this past Friday. We had the new specials of the Arancini balls to start, the best lamb chops we have ever tasted and the clam linguine for dinner. The owners are seriously so hospitable. read more

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Loved this place. Great atmosphere. Easy parking. Food was excellent and our waiter was the best

The restaurant is very nice the food was very good. I recommend anybody that is in merced to go and try it out.

Holy Moly I'm stuffed! This was my first time at Bella Luna Bistro and it definitely won't be the last. We started with the sweet potato fries which are suuuper fresh and came with a delicious homemade dipping sauce. I got the short rib special and the beignets for dessert. The short ribs fell right off the bone and came with extremely yummy mashed potatoes and veggies. Truly some of the best short ribs I've ever had! The beignets were so amazing! You can't find beignets everywhere so I'm so happy I found my new spot for these treats! Staff was super friendly and service was great! Can't wait to come back! read more

Bella Luna - Cowboy Cut Shortribs - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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Amazing food, amazing ambience, couldn't be happier. Food was some of the finest Italian food i have ever had. Staff were attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and exceptional wines. read more

Thanks to Joe and all the staff at Bella Luna. The front staff was polite. We were seated after 2 mins on a busy Saturday night. Our drinks were constantly filled by people (tall lady, moustache guy, et al), waiter Joe was friendly and even the manager person in the Halloween shirt checked on us! True team! The food was amazing. We had the Spicy arrabbiata pasta, fig and Gorgonzola pizza, bolognese pasta with 2 extra meatballs and garlicky focaccia bread. It's a lot of food. We had extra plates and ate family style. Thanks everyone at Bella Luna! read more

Food is Excellent.. Service just as Excellent .. Best Italian restaurant I've had the pleasure of visiting in Merced for the 2000 years

Was out with the same beautiful young lady thank you Bella Luna for making it a wonderful evening. The owner and employee are the best thank you. read more

Bella Luna - Was out with the same beautiful young lady thank you Bella Luna for making it a wonderful evening. - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Jose is a great waiter. Food was delicious with great atmosphere and the staff were very nice. Looking forward to going back to and enjoying another tasteful dish. read more

I'm from Fresno and every once in a while my fiancé and I drive to Merced to meet his family for dinner. Tonight we came across this restaurant and it was a great find! It's a cute Italian restaurant and the food is amazing! We ordered a couple of appetizers. First the fried calamari which was okay and the spinach & artichoke fonduta, which super delicious! They're also serve fresh bread and butter My entree was Tracy's "Pasta 'Amore" which was a truffle gnocchi. I loved it! If you like truffle is a great dish. Although, I'm not sure if it's supposed to be swimming in cream. It was still good. For dessert they're we're out of cannolis and their torch was broken for the crème brûlée so I got the cheesecake. For my personal taste it was way too sweet. The only downside other than the missing desserts was the temperature of the restaurant. It was so hot and stuffy. I found it very difficult to focus on my meal and the conversation at the table because I was so uncomfortable. The waiter was kind and said that the bar and their back room feels better but at that point it was already too late. Great place, I will go back next time I'm in town! read more

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My mom had my baby shower at Bella Luna and wanted me to make a review because they did such a good job! Amanda and Mike were super flexible and amazing to work with during the process. Everything looked amazing and the food was incredible! Would definitely have more events here in the future. read more

Bella Luna - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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I haven't been to BL since the place had a makeover. I am so looking forward to dinning there again! TONIGHT!!!! I feel like Dolly Levi returning to the Harmonica Gardens after a long absents....but not so popular or spectacular. The dining was FANTASIC at the time and after surfing through all the pics posted on Yelp, it looks to be the same....if not better. I'm confident my little trio will not be disappointed. I will be sure to post a review afterwards letting all know our dining experience. Chow for now.... COVID-19 has done a lot of negative damage to restaurants at large. Sadly the Bella Luna was no exception. The items omitted (from the present stripped down menu) that I enjoyed in the past was upsetting. The menu has been reduced to one side for entrées and the flipside for an abundance of alcoholic beverages. I suppose if I was a drinker I would be extremely happy. But on the whole the service was satisfactory and the food as well. Will I go back? Of course I will. I am not ready to say arrivederci yet. read more

Great food. The chicken picatta was great. The risotto needed salt. Ask for the bread. It's yummy. read more

Bella Luna - Chicken Picatta - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Definitely had better. Next time they have a special on Rib eye i know not to get it. Service was great. Food is not worth the cost But great service. Menu is mis leading on what to expect as far as good food read more

Service was slow for our group of 14. We brought our own wine and had to ask three times for an ice bucket. The corkage fee was $15 for a screw top bottle and the waiter never opened the bottle or poured the wine. It seemed over priced. The $15 salads were generous and very tasty. The meal was not so good. Most likely won't go back We refilled our own water. Poor service . read more

I came to Bella Luna for the first time last week and we loved it!!!! The ambiance was perfect to clear rate a birthday and the food was amazing. We got a chance to meet the GM, Naomi and she was so warm and welcoming. We also got the opportunity to meet the owners who are husband and wife. They came over to our table, introduced themselves and chatted with us for a few minutes. It truly felt like we had been long tim family friends. The pasta was so delicious and the cocktails were great too. We can't wait to come back. read more

great place , great server and ambiance. We had ordered fried calamari and hitMan pizza. Yummy yummy .. everything was good. Our server Josh and John Carlo were nice and polite . Service is very good .. checked in every now and then to make sure if we needed anything. I would definitely come here again.. thank you for the wonderful experience . read more

I officially LOVE BELLA LUNA'S SHORT RIB! For the first time in many years I cleaned my plate! Because "I" wanted to eat EVERYTHING ON MY PLATE YES I did that! read more

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I ordered the shrimp scampi through door dash and was so disappointed when it arrived. There were six shrimp on top of a bed of vermicelli. It was dry no sauce no flavor and one grilled lemon sitting on top. Nothing like the menu explained. It said it was on a bed of fettuccine with butter garlic and lemon, it sounded so good. Well to my surprise it wasn't any of those! Never again! read more

Bella Luna - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Really disappointed in our recent visit. Party of 10 celebrating 3 birthdays. Food was mediocre and entrees took forever to come. They ran out of most of the specials by 7pm on a Saturday night so what's the point?? Probably needed two waiters to handle the back group room we were in since the 1 waiter was obviously overwhelmed with 3 tables of 8, 10 & 12 people. My salmon dinner was inedible. The calamari is usually great there but this time it was soggy. Other family members were happy with their entrees. Main complaint I have is when you get your bill and they charge 20% for a large table plus a kitchen tip???? You should not AUTOMATICALLY have a 20% tip highlighted. This can be very confusing. I used their QR code payment process encouraged by the grandkids. Also, it was very noisy throughout the meal. Maybe installing wall & ceiling buffer panels to absorb the sound and turn down the music would improve the dining experience read more

We had reservations, but were shown to a small table. When we asked for a larger table, waitstaff and manager were condescending and sarcastic. We ended up leaving without being seated. Why do older people always get short shrift in restaurants? read more

If you're going to create an app for your restaurant, know how to use it! We paid for an order through their app and an hour later, still received no notice the order was ready. We called and they had no record of the order! After a fuss with management, they told us it would be ready in another hour! So basically they told us we'd paid nearly $100 to wait 2 hours for dinner. (!?) When we arrived for pick up 2 hours later, the food STILL wasn't ready. The hostess actually hid from us when we complained. The manager was not working that night of course so the cook came to talk to us. His excuse: "Well, these are kids; they don't know what they're doing." Outrageous. They did not refund the order despite such a major inconvenience. (2&1/2 hours to get a meal) The cook went to the register and handed us $50 cash (even though we'd paid credit he made no attempt to refund the card) and not half the amount of the order. The food was so-so. At such prices, you'd expect decent Italian food. The chicken of the chicken Parma was dry. The ravioli were overcooked. The only decent thing they served was the charcuterie board; of course you could buy a comparable one for 1/2 the price at Raley's. Mediocre food, high prices and appalling service! Such a shame this place is so poorly managed now. read more

The service was awful, the food was mediocre, and the prices not good for what they had to offer

This place is usually closed on Sundays, but because there was a graduation at UC Merced, they thought that it would be good business to be open and they were right. Let me just start off by saying this place is in the middle of nowhere. All you see is a vast open space of greenery and cows then there's Main Street. It's literally the "downtown" of the area. And this is where Bella Luna is located. There is plenty of ample FREE public parking lots EVERYWHERE. If you don't pay attention, you could actually miss the entrance to this place. Once you get inside though, it's beautiful with tall ceilings. It's very light, bright, and open. It looks like you're dining al fresco, but you're not. We were greeted immediately by our waiter who was supremely nice throughout our whole dining experience there. I checked in on Yelp for the free check-in offer of a cookie, but at the end of the meal, we got more than expected, but I'll tell you more about that later. I ordered the mango iced tea... wow... so good. Probably the best mango iced tea I've ever had and I've had plenty. This iced tea actually had real chunks of mango in it. I was here two weeks ago and I already forgot what food I ordered... I've lost my mind. I know for sure my bf and I ordered the specials. One was an au jus sandwich, which was what I had and the other was .... was the other special my bf had. My sandwich was a little dry so I dipped it in the au jus, but the au jus was too salty. I think it's because they actually used the juice from the cooked tri tip. I wish I had remembered what kind of sandwich my bf had because I actually liked that one better than mine. The piece de resistance though was what came after our meal... dessert! Remember that free cookie I was talking about earlier? Well, we didn't get a free cookie... we got a plate full of delicious dessert! 2 identical plates of dessert for the table to be exact. There was cheesecake, tiramisu, bread pudding, and a decadent chocolate cake. Let me give you some math right now... bread pudding + chocolate cake = orgasmic! The tiramisu was light, airy, and not too sweet and the cheesecake was rich, but not in a really sweet way, but out of all the desserts, I just loved the crispiness of the top of the bread pudding and the smooth, dark chocolatey goodness of the chocolate cake together. It's literally making my mouth water right now just thinking about it. I think this place would do well in Los Angeles where I live because not only would I frequent it, but it has a really nice vibe and the service was really spectacular. If I'm ever in town again for some reason (maybe to tip cows or something... not really.. I'm an animal lover and I wouldn't do that...), I would definitely come here again just for the mango iced tea, the bread pudding & chocolate cake combo alone. read more

Bella Luna - Mango iced tea with real bits of mango! - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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