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

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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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

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

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

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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9/29/24, Italian Loaf was refunded by DoorDash as I received white COSTCO French Bread. Angry Crab ravioli was refunded by DoorDash because I received only 4 small ravioli for $24.00 The food tasted good, though!! I don't eat the COSTCO French Bread. read more

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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

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

The service was good here and the overall ambiance was welcoming. The food was pretty good, I tried a bit of my fellow diners' items too. For me, I ordered the mussels for appetizer and bolognese for the pasta. The meat sauce was what I was craving so it hit the spot. I liked the sauce for the mussels dish. read more

Bella Luna - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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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

First off, the food was good and the place looked nice but the service was awful, except for the guy with the tattoos and beard who kept refilling our glasses with water. Here's why: 1. I walked in and was not greeted by the hosts, they were chatting and then just stared at me and I had to greet them first, basically doing their job. 2. The waiter we got was essentially mansplaining to me trying to get me to pronounce the shrimp arrabiata correctly or he wouldn't bring it to us which made me feel very uncomfortable especially since English isn't my first language. He also didn't even introduce himself to us and was trying to get me to say something I can't pronounce like??? 3. My boyfriend got the alfredo pasta with chicken and shrimp but our waiter didn't mention the shrimp would cost extra. Our waiter asked if he wanted chicken or shrimp or both but never mentioned it would be $8 for basically 4 pieces of shrimp. 4. I had to wait for more than 20 minutes to get my bill because our waiter was nowhere to be found and another waiter helped us get our bill. 5. I had to ask for the bread that they give when you're seated. I didn't notice they hadn't given us bread until we noticed everyone else who was seated after us got bread right away. read more

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

Food was delicious Service was on point Ambiance was lively, elegant and romantic. Looking forward to future visits and trying more off the menu read more

Bella Luna - Caesar Salad - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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Food and ambiance was great. Had the Chicken Marsala Dinner and it tasted great. José was our server and exhibited excellent service. read more

Bella Luna - Chicken Marsala Dinner - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Came in from out of town and had an amazing time at Bella Luna. Met the owner Giancarlo and his wife who were helping servers, taking drink orders and chatting to many of the regulars. The vibe was a great mix of upscale food and fun entertainment with the music playing in the background. The lamb shank was amazing, the cocktails were tasty and the chocolate cake was a great way to end the evening. 500% recommend this place for a special night out or just a delicious meal mid week. read more

Bella Luna - Knob Creek with a single rock to finish the night at the bar. - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

Overall solid food- did takeout. Good portion size- quality ingredients. That said the flavors weren't over the top . Bolognaise had plenty of meat and Italian tomatoes but a bit bland albeit very fresh. Similarly, the fig prosciutto pizza was supposed to have gorgonzola -which would have taken the dish to the next level- unfortunately found/tasted a crumb at best. Again, tasty dish, but fell somewhat short of what could have easily been excellent. Meatballs were very good- tasted like Nonnas. Would definitely order from here again- the crab ravioli looks amazing. read more

Bella Luna - Pappardelle Bolognese and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Merced, California

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On our way to Yosemite, we stayed one night in Merced and we decided to try this restaurant for dinner on Saturday 24th. Everything was great. All staff, hostess, busser, and our server Curtis. Curtis was attentive and communicative. He answered all of our questions and recommended dishes. We had a tuna appetizer, the Milanese pasta and the hitman pizza, best pizza ever! I also tried a passion fruit cocktail, can't remember the name, and it was delicious. I am not a fan of Italian food but if all the Italian food tasted like the food from Bella Luna, I would crave Italian food every day. Thank you to the entire staff for an amazing experience. read more

Very disappointed with the restaurant. I placed an order to go (for 6 people), and when I came to pick my order, I was totally ignored for more than 20 minutes. When I tried to talk to the server, she turned her face and walked away. Very strange, I have never experienced something like that. I felt so uncomfortable. 3 people came after me, and she made sure that they got their table right away. Later, I found out that this person was the manager of the location. That surprised me; why would they be so rude with a customer? The restaurant was not busy; they had just a few tables. I know for a fact that I will definitely not be returning to this place. read more

Food good. Joe was good. The tall girl serving the vinegar and oil was maybe having a bad night no smile and when my friend asked for our bread she said you'll get it after you order. When reservations were made I said we were celebrating 2 birthdays a Mom and a daughter when I asked what they had for them they said a candle. We don't do birthday desserts anymore. Would have been nice to know that before we arrived. CHECK YOUR RECEIPT. We were taxed 2 different taxes the owner is trying to get over on you to help himself. I go to several beautiful places and restaurants and have NEVER SEEN THIS TAX!!! read more

My favorite Italian restaurant in Merced. I visit my 90 year old mother monthly and make it a point to have dinner at Bella Luna. The meat ball appetizers are over the top exquisite! The pizza perfectly dine, pasta dishes delicious. The staff is on point and the ambience perfect whether one sits at the beautiful bar or takes a seat in the lovely dining area. read more

Excellent service and food!!! Can't wait to go again. Definitely recommend with a group of coworkers or even a family outing. Prices are decent as well. read more

Amazing authentic food Service is always great! Nothing compares to the ambiance at Bella. Whether you're trying to have a nice sit down dinner or catch a quick bite and drink at the bar , this place makes you want to come back read more

I truly enjoy dining at Bella Luna. It's always one of the top options when deciding where to eat. Their drinks are the best in town in my opinion. I love ordering the Pompeii salad with the fig & gorgonzola pizza and it's always 10/10 for me! The owners and staff are always so friendly as well! read more

Best bartender in town:) good vibes good drinks!! Whatever your taste! Little pizza, pasta, salads, they got it! Great music wherever you are sitting. Finish with a fernet:) always! read more

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Loved this place. Food was great. Drinks were great. Service was 10/10 and the vibe was awesome.

Judging by the reviews I'm glad we've only ordered in...looks like dining in would ruin it. However, the food has always been great. My husband orders the chicken Alfredo, I order the Italiano pizza and we share. I also order a green salad to split but I make sure to ask for ice burg lettuce because their "greens" are more like bitter greens. read more

It was a lovely Ambiance and delicious meal. Joe is great giving recommendations based on our palate preferences. Will return.

food was burnt! waiter with reddish hair rude to lous and to expensive for the quality of food never will go there again read more

Great service, ambiance, and food! The owner John Carlo was a delight. Look forward to returning. Highlights: meatballs, chicken parm, mushroom risotto, shrimp arrabiata, and raspberry sorbet!! read more

I've been going to Bella Luna for over 10 years, and everytime I go it gets better and better. Bella Luna does a great job at making you feel at home and welcomed. The special "salmon en croûte" was incredible, the salads were beyond fresh, and the drinks were amazing. Tonight, we had Kerry, knowledgeable, attentive, and a top tier server. She anticipated my family's needs and was simply put... professional. I recommend everyone to Bella Luna if you want authentic homemade food like Nonna made. Ciao ciao read more

Amazing service and good food. Would highly recommend. Very kind staff. Bartender was great, and the owner is nice and very helpful. All around a great atmosphere to bring friends and family to. read more

Excellent food I totally recommend the beef bolognese it's my go to exotic dish with zing you can't find anywhere around here!

The service was an EPIC fail! Sadly our waiter seemed preoccupied with his ego over providing us with a great dining experience! We arrived and were seated almost immediately which was a welcomed surprise. Figuring at this point our evening was going to be smooth, it simply went downhill from there. Our waiter seemed rattled that I expected a glass of ice water with lemon vs. a glass of ice with lemon on top so I could pour the iceless, room temp water left for us over the ice myself, potentially making a huge mess! He came back to the table offering some excuse, then a not so sincere apology. Then be turned to staff at the bar and proceeded to what appeared to us, to whine. Long story short, we were pretty much ignored for the remainder of our time there. We were ready to leave and the waiter brought our check and pointed at the total at the bottom and out loud announced to my husband what the total was. That pretty much capped it for me. read more

My family took me to Bella luna for dinner for my birthday! I believe they are new owners, and i love it this time around. Wow, they have one of the best Rib-eye steak. Im a Bay Area girl who loves Alexander's steak house, and now there is no need to drive there for this gem we have here in merced. I'm picky with my Expresso martini and amazing the drink the bar tender made kudos. The service is fenomenal. Jose was our waiter, and he is very resourceful by recommending the best plates, very attentive, and most amazing customer service. KUDOS TO JOSE! We met the owner and he is very nice, we will definitely be coming back. read more

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Service, food and prices were great.. Joe was our server, he went beyond to make sure everything was perfect

"Let's go to the movies but first let's have lunch in Downtown Merced". Downtown Merced, on a Friday in July, why was it that almost all of the restaurants opened at noon? We tried several before coming to Bella Luna, which opened at 11. That gave us an hour to have lunch, should have been plenty of time. We ordered pizzas. What they failed to tell us when we ordered and not for at least 20 minutes after we ordered was that the pizza dough was too cold for them to make pizzas. By the time they told us, it was kind of too late to order anything else. They brought us soup, but by the time we got our pizzas, we barely had time to have a couple of bites, pay and then leave. The soup was delicious, but that's not the point. I guess I would have preferred that they let us know upon ordering that it would be a while, so that we could have ordered something different. It was not an enjoyable experience to watch the clock tick by as our movie time approached. read more

Food was delicious , we order pastas , pizza and fried calamari . The service was ok they took super long to sit us down , and even when we sat down they took forever to come take our order . They would just turn and looked at us . I guess they finally realized how we were treated because they did discounted us a couple things . The place is really cute and the ambiance was nice as well read more