This review is a long time coming but necessary! My wife and I got married in December having a small courthouse gathering. We waited until March then looked for a venue to renew vows and have a celebratory meal with family and friends. As we both had been to Bella Mia several times together it was a short search. We originally planned the event with a former employee who left the restaurant as the date, (March 21st), was approaching. Randy the owner then took over. He made several suggestions different from what we'd originally planned, including changing the area of the renewal of vows and where our wedding officiate would be in front of the guests, but they turned out to be perfect!! The event was nothing short of fantastic! My wife had tears in her eyes much of the service! The food was spectacular, and everyone raved about it! Randy and his staff gave us a wedding to remember, and we are eternally grateful for what Bella Mia did for us and couldn't be happier that was the venue we chose!!! read more

We came in looking forward to dinner and unfortunately left disappointed. The positives first: my wife's espresso martini was excellent -- easily the highlight of the evening. Her Chicken Vesuvio was very good, and the Shrimp DeJonghe appetizer was enjoyable, especially with the bread. Unfortunately, everything declined once the entrées arrived. My porterhouse steak was placed on the table rather abruptly, and the cut looked more like a T-bone, with the filet portion nearly nonexistent. The quality of the meat was poor and extremely tough -- barely edible. I rarely ask for A1 sauce with a steak, but it was the only way I could get through it. The baked potato was dry, and while the side salad was fresh, it felt more like cafeteria-quality than something from a restaurant at this price point. Shortly after dropping off the entrées, the waitress quickly asked how the food was. I responded, "just okay," but she immediately walked away, not giving the impression that she was interested in hearing anything further. That set the tone for the rest of the service. What made the situation more disappointing was seeing the table next to us receive the same porterhouse. Their steak appeared nearly twice the size of mine, had a clearly defined filet portion, and they were able to cut into it effortlessly. The inconsistency was very noticeable. After that, service was largely absent. We waited about 20 minutes trying to locate our waitress Dee with no success. The owner did stop by and was very friendly when we asked for A1 sauce, but overall the service remained slow. It took roughly 30 minutes to get a water refill and another 30 minutes to receive our check. The explanation given was that she had been in the back handling a difficult order. For the price and expectations that come with ordering a porterhouse, this experience did not meet the standard. While there were a few bright spots, the inconsistency in food quality and service makes this a 2-star experience at best. read more

Our annual holiday dinner moved to after the holidays to avoid conflicts. I am so glad we continue to celebrate at this restaurant. The food is outstanding, the owner and staff accommodating and exceedingly friendly, and the private dining area classic! I love the throwback vibe. read more

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Ambiance was nice and the service was okay. Even though our waitress disappeared periodically, others picked up on her slack. We found her out in front of the restaurant talking to people as we left. But the food was definitely not worth the prices. We had the chicken marsala and chicken Parmigiano. I can name 5 other restaurants in the Chicago suburbs where they're tastier and cheaper. One if those is Maggiano's which is a chain. This was our first and last visit. read more

Nice Italian place for dinner. Pluses: Beautiful interior ambiance as it's always decorated for the season; nice portion sizes for dinners as everyone had some to bring home; very nice food for some choices (for example, the veal marsala was excellent), and others had to do with a bit less quality (for example, the linguini that accompanied many dishes was swimming in sauce) ... the kitchen just seemed buried and rushed; and lots of runners to get plates out fast and hot (mostly), while still being able to clean the table quickly. Minuses: super loud, so much so that you pretty much had to yell at your table mates; for some reason they could not come up with the round table we requested when we made our reservation for our group of eight ... so half the table could not hear the other half all night; service was terrible as our waitress would disappear for long stretches ... they must be very shorthanded because she had too many tables to serve well; cold location right by the door ... to squeeze a few more people in they have some tables up near the door and they were on and off hot/cold all night; and one in our party ordered meat ravioli and got cheese ravioli ... and when it was mentioned to the server she said "oh well." All in all they seem very busy and probably don't feel the need to change much ... but putting a screen up by the entrance to not freeze out those upfront tables and investing in a few more round tables would be easy fixes to raise the stars. Another one or two waitstaff would also smooth things out. read more

Randy, and staff Great host delicious food my favorite is the pork chops. Festive welcoming time. Music on weekends and I think end of the week too read more

I took my husband here last week for his birthday. I am now back to enjoy the 6 COURSE MEAL AND WINE PAIRING EVENT. Our first course was a Caesar salad, paired with a Ca' del Sarto, Trenbiano d'Abruzzo. I thought the salad had too much dressing. The wine was a good Pinot Grigio. ************************* Second course consisted of crab-stuffed mushroom caps, blended with garlic fresh herbs and a touch of cream and citrus, topped with a light breadcrumb crust. I didn't taste any crabmeat..all cheese. Lol Good pairing of the wine BROTTE Viognier Bin De Pays d'Orc ************************* 3rd course Pasta in Vodka sauce..a silky smooth tomato cream sauce, with a touch of sweet cream and a dash of chili flakes and aged parmigiano-reggiano. Ca'del Sarto, Mangroves Terre di Chieti This is an excellent wine..on the line of a Chianti.. ************************** 4th course was a salmon cake over a bed of rice Brotte, Cotes du Rhone Espirit Red Blend I would not think of pairing a red blend with a salmon cake... ************************* 5th course was a tender center-cut filet mignon medallions with a caramelized crust, served with Vesuvio potatoes. Disappointed that the filet is overcooked..medium well! Vesuvio potatoes were excellent! Loved the red blend Bodegas Manzanos Nabarra 111 RED Blend ************************** Our experience ended with a cannoli. Very small.. paired with a Baron De Ley Rioja Semi Dulce Very nice dessert wine It was a great experience! This is my second year and I would do it again.. read more

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wow! what a hidden jem! Food was absolutely amazing, super fresh and sooo much flavor. From walking in the door to the table everyone was amazing, I can't rave enough about our waiter this young man new the menu forward and backward and was able to give some amazing recommendations. Live music was a nice touch not to loud so I could still hear my table conversations We left full and very happy with what we got and what we spent. One of the few times I will say money well spent. Can't wait to go back! read more

Bella Mia - restaurant - Italian Near Me - Midlothian, Illinois

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Impeccable service and ambiance for starters, Bella Mia never disappoints. We have had their steaks which are beyond expectations and pork chops that are absolutely divine and both were cooked to perfection. Their pasta has to be homemade because that was phenomenal as well. Don't let the outside of the building fool you because the second you get inside the door is like night and day. The portions are ample and the quality of food is exceptional. We showed up after a busy hectic work day and immediately felt like we have been swept up and taken to a vacation resort and we were treated with grace and respect despite being dressed casually. We go there whenever we feel like something elegant, delicious and consistent Highly recommended A+++ read more

The decorations in the restaurant were very nice. The owner was a really nice person. The food was definitely good. Go during the week early and make reservations otherwise you won't be able to get a table. read more

I really enjoy a fine Italian Restaurant not just a pizza place that also serves Italian food in this checked all the boxes. The food was truly well-made. The service was as professional as the best restaurants I've been in. It was clean and very well done in an Italian way. The artwork on the walls work was great. read more

We went to Bellamere Friday night with six of our friends whom we meet with once a month in a different restaurant. Everybody loved their food. The place is a beautiful restaurant very well appointed the owner is always on hand to greet you which is a nice touch the restaurant is huge and they just bought the empty space next-door so I look forward to an expansion. My wife and I shared the chicken Vesuvio and it was terrific. We started out with minestrone soup. she had a salad. The minestrone is very good. They give you a big bowl of it not a little cup for 599 which is a deal. The chicken Vesuvio came and Vesuvio sauce with peas and garlic, and came with a large round cut Vesuvio potato which we asked for well done and they did it well done they put bread on the table, which is warm Italian bread, which is great. My friend Mr. Canalini ate about 70 pieces of it and the waitress name was Shea was terrific and somewhat comical cracking jokes every now and then couldn't have been a better dinner. If you look you'll see the picture I posted of our night there. read more

Bella Mia - Granny and I with our six grands - Italian Near Me - Midlothian, Illinois

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I visited Bella Mia last night, and while the food was just average, the experience was what truly left a bad impression. The owner, Randy, made a point to greet every table in the restaurant except ours. Only after we mentioned this to our waiter did he come over, and by then it felt forced. As a Caucasian dining with Black friends, it was very clear why our table was overlooked in the first place, and that is unacceptable. Throughout the evening, it also felt like our table was being closely watched, which only added to the discomfort. No one should ever feel judged or singled out because of the color of their skin. That kind of treatment makes people feel excluded and unwelcome. A restaurant should provide not only good food but also an environment where every guest feels valued and respected. Unfortunately, Bella Mia failed at both, and for that reason, I cannot recommend it. read more

Austin was our server and he was great. Food was wonderful. Holiday decorations were lovely.

My wife's eggplant parmesan was tough and hard to cut. My peppers stuffed with cheese and sausage were mushy and tasted like they were prepared a week ago and warmed up. Overall I thought the food was terrible and the prices were high. Will not return read more

We attended Bella Mia on a Saturday evening and Shay was our server. She is by far one of the best servers we've had! Very personable, attentive, and great at offering suggestions if you're undecided. Our table started out with grilled calamari and bruschetta which were both delicious! The ambiance was perfect with Christmas decor throughout the restaurant. Our dinner entrees were all fantastic! We had Chilean Sea Bass, chicken francese with Angel hair pasta, penne ala vodka, grilled pork chops, and filet mignon. The portions were generous and some in our party had leftovers. If you want top notch quality service, you need to request Shay!! read more

We are from out of town. Found this place on yelp. Went with a group of 5. The food was amazing. the owner... he took the time to go to every table to ask how everything was. He went out of his way to assist his staff and customers in any way. You rarely see an owner that cares anymore. He is one of the good ones and it shows through the quality of food, the staff that works there and the over all experience. I have a feeling this will become a regular spot for us when we are in the area. Thank you for making this a great experience as that is a rare find! read more

We were a party of six, celebrating two birthdays. Although the restaurant was very busy and our table was way in the back, Shay never missed a beat. Our orders were perfect, she communicated with us every course and even remembered to bring a second rose to the table for the other birthday girl. Shay made our evening memorable and topped off with Randy making sure everything was great. read more

Austin was our waiter the service fantastic the food great Randy owner great they really give a lot of attention to the customer. Rocco vino's just ok maybe 2stars. Gatto's maybe 1.1 stars don't take reservations because of greed food is eatable at best read more

My friend treated me to this wonderful experience this past Friday. From the time we stepped foot in the door until we completed our meal was nothing short of spectacular. Our server Kevin was very attentive. We placed our order and it did not have to wait long for any course. We shared the shrimp cocktail appetizer, and it was delicious. I had the rack of lamb and it was ever so tasty accompanied with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes. This was my third time dining here. I enjoyed each time that I have dined here but I especially enjoyed my experience this last time. The owner, I think his name is Ron, came by to greet us. I thought this was very classy and impressive. I will tell everyone who will listen about this gem of the South Suburbs. Oh yea, and the place is beautiful. read more

Though I was in the Illinois area for a short amount of time, the foodie in me needed to explore before I departed last week. I stumbled upon an Italian restaurant called Bella Mia. The menu was very expansive & I wanted to try everything. To start off, I ordered a glass of wine (I think Zinfandel), which was quite delightful & beautiful in its romantic, yet historic ambiance playing Frank Sinatra. My waiter brought bread & butter to the table & to my surprise, had roasted garlic on the side. I have never in my life seen an Italian restaurant offer roasted garlic on the side with bread & butter. This may be a new standard I'd like to see at Italian restaurants I may visit in the future . Dinner: I ordered the Pasta Velencia (I am sure if this is the correct name of the pasta because it's not on the website. It was either the Velencia or Linguine Portofino) with Caesar salad. I was disappointed that they ran out of anchovies. The salad was pretty okay. The pasta dish itself was MASSIVE in a giant bowl. I must say I was overwhelmed. It was pretty delicious, but there was no way I could finish a massive dish like that in one sitting. I had to take it back to my hotel & finish it the next day. This dish would be ideal for two people. The pasta was cooked to perfection al dente, and the seafood in the pasta was very fresh/high quality. Overall, I recommend it. The ambiance is very romantic and intimate (a date night vibe for sure). Outside of the restaurant, it may not appear to be as such, but don't be fooled. Parking is easy & the staff are quite friendly and informative. read more

Bella Mia - a plate of clams on a table - Italian Near Me - Midlothian, Illinois

Amazing Chicken Marsala ! Great food portions. Stop and see Bill at the bar. He makes a great old fashion . Our server Donna was the best ! Will definitely be back ! read more

Bella Mia is great! We celebrated our 20th anniversary in their lovely patio and the accommodations, food, drinks and service were Awesome! Randy the owner is the nicest guys! Thank you for everything!! I recommend Bella Mia 100%!!! read more

Bella Mia never disappoints! The quality of food is always consistent. We have been patrons for a decade now, and the service and food has always been great. read more

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This is Kinda Long. I decided to have my 60th birthday at Bella Mia . I been there before and loved their back outdoor inclosed patio. It was beautiful. Anyway Randy the owner was extremely accommodating. My Bday was on Sat 23rd August. Though bella Mia opened in the evening,, he came in the a.m. to allow my party planner to decorate. I was told how kind and professional he treated them and funny. Randy called me to finalize everything from conversations I had with his staff. From the menu and drinks ( he also purchased champaign at my request) to total guests count etc. All my questions or concerns was answered and resolved if I had any. PARTY TIME!!! and the place was beautifully decorated, music playing. When my guest arrived, they were personally escorted through restaurant to the back to the guarded door( so other patrons won't randomly walk in) door opened for the party guest. The table cloth tented, glasses, plate setting, utinsels sparkling clean. The staff did a phenomenal job with my 35 guest. They were professional, fast, kind, knowledgeable, patient , answered guests sometimes annoying questions with a smile. I don't know how they remembered all the requests of my guests. Hats off to the talented bartender (delicious drinks) staff service was phenomenal: The hot fresh crusted bread w/olive oil, butter, freshly grated parmesan cheese, salad, the meal of 3 choices delicious well prepared Italian cuisine( the scrimp scampi was to die for) and last cake that i brought in. They staff also bag up take home food for you and place the bag by your chair ( love this) ta da! They waited for my que to bring out the cold Champaign for the toast. Last but not least, the party planner was told they would take down the decorations and not to worry ( so wonderful) however my planner (Pamela) insisted and they both took the decor down quickly. I was treated like a princess and loved Bella Mia. I just want to say THANK YOU for making my special day perfect!!!! Linda read more

Stopped here for dinner on a Friday night. Was seated right away. Baked artichokes were very good. The steak was tender and delicious! The pasta primavera was average. The sauce on the pasta reminded me of ramen noodles. The cheese cake was also average. I was in between 3 and 4 stars. The dont have an espresso machine (which I find very weird for an Italian restaurant) and my wine glass wasn't clean. It had smudges. We will be back to try some of their other food but for now I'm rating it a 3. read more

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Omg!! This place is a hidden gem. The quality of the food is amazing (steak). The price r affordable for the quality of the food. Staff r amazing they make you feel comfortable it's an amazing restaurant. The owner is alway checking on everything to make sure the customer r satisfied. Great Italian restaurant read more

We read so many great reviews about this restaurant that we were anxious to try it. The evening started out great until we got our salads. A few minutes after we started our salads our entrees were served. My husband got the baked manicotti which was delicious. I had the veal limone which totally lacked lemon flavor. I asked two different people for more lemon and it took at least 15 minutes to get it which by then it didn't matter. We ordered tiramisu for dessert and it was still frozen. I doubt we will return. read more

My wife and I choose Bella Mia for dinner tonight, 4/26/24. We had a five star evening and we would order the entire meal again without hesitation, it was that good! The inside is so nice you would never believe this place existed from the outside. It's located next to Berkot's and they share the parking lot. To start, they bring you this complimentary mini loaf of bread, delicious! I had a domestic beer, only $3.50. My wife ordered a cosmo martini, about $11. I loved the price of the ice cold bottle beer and she loved her martini. We tried the bruschetta as an appetizer, it was so good. At this point, our bellies were filling up so my wife switched her order to the Stuffed Rolled Eggplant appetizer. She said it was delicious, the perfect portion. I ordered one of their Italian specialties, Italian Giambotta. It's their version of sausage and peppers and it was amazing! The best I've ever had. We finished it off with their delicious coffee and our waiter suggested the lemoncello for dessert. It was unbelievable. You have to try Bella Mia. We'll be back for sure! read more

Tried this place on a whim last night and it was pretty decent. I'm not from the area, so not sure how it stacks up compared to other places but I wasn't that impressed. Cream of mushroom soup was runny and the ravioli was good, but not great. I ordered an espresso martini (a staple at Italian restaurants) but apparently the machine wasn't working. I mentioned it to the manager and there was no offer to make it right, which is fine but would have made me think better of the place. Probably won't be back. read more

We enjoyed our dinner here. The food, wine, atmosphere, and service were all very good. Would return, would recommend.

We were excited about dinner here but had an epic fail. Service was fine but food was about the worst Italian we've ever had. The lasagna was cold and cheese on top barely melted. Sauce tasted tinny and right out of a can. We also ordered linguine with garlic and oil with meatballs. The color of the dish was unappetizing, very dry and way too much garlic. Meatballs were dry and grey and unappetizing. This dish was inedible. Server never asked why it wasn't being eaten. It was painful to eat. Seated on aisle, we got continuously bumped by staff Desert was ok and drinks were generous. Very expensive for a disappointing overall Experience. read more

Food is outstanding. I have never had a bad special there. The service is usually great and the owner will come out to speak to each table and make sure everything is going well. One of the better Italian restaurants on the southside. read more

I decided to give this place a try. I regret my decision immediately. It's overpriced for extremely small portions that are not tasty at all. I really wanted to give this place a great review, but I am really disappointed. The management really needs to respect the customers with quality food. read more

Bella Mia - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Midlothian, Illinois

My mom, sister and I went to Bella Mia for a late mother's day dinner. I went on line looking for a italian restaurant. This one had excellent reviews. Upon approaching the parking lot, its was so unassuming that I was a little nervous. We got out the car and went in through the side door and that's when the magic happened. We were instantly greeted by the owner who put a smile on our face and giggle. We were immediately seated. The decor, white cloth table setting, chandelier lighting and don't forget the live music (piano) softly playing. The waitress and trainee introduced themselves and presented the menu, while water. delicious warm crusted bread, olive oil, parmesan cheese placed on table. The rest of the service was that of downtown 5 star dining experience. The cocktails top chef, appetizer(recommend) scrimps covered with inhouse red sauce- yummy. Dinner-fresh salad, I had gnocchi ( soft and delicious), sister-scrimp scampi with garlic, olive oil, lemon sooo good and Mom-eggplant parmesan- tender, rich sauce tasty yummy. The portion size required happy reheat leftovers and the waiter took our plates to the back and the next thing we know, he sat next to our chairs, our food wrap up and bagged. Wow!! we love.love love the expierece. We made sure the owner knew how the dining experience was wonderful (warm and welcoming) I will be back. A hidden gem read more

I said this before the best kept secret in Midlothian is Bella Mia service Is out of this world! food true Italian ambience is fantastic,easy parking all the stuff you're looking for in a downtown restaurant right here at Bella Mia. read more

The food is very good, but a little too pricey in actuality. Pretty sure you're paying for ambiance. But don't get me wrong, the ambiance is excellent. The "bowl" of soup is more like a cup. Bowls are wide but very shallow. Which would explain why it was barely warm upon arrival. We go here once a year to celebrate a birthday, as the birthday person requests Pasta Primavera, and this is the only place close, that has it on the menu. The service was okay. Our waiter insulted his co-worker by calling him a "waitress" and then said, just kidding, waiter. Not a good start. Our water was removed from the table and it took a few to find someone to refill our glasses. AND we were never offered a second drink (wine and a cocktail) so I can only assume we used up our time, as it was Valentine's day weekend and they needed the table. read more

I was looking for a restaurant open on Thanksgiving to help out a friend that needed a carry out for a sick relative. I called several places that were open but would not help out even for a carry out. Until I called BELLA MIA in Midlothian. They were professional, polite, understood my problem and were so happy to help out! What a difference from the ones that said "no more....it's too much work". I swear that's what some people said on the phone. I wonder what the owners would say if they knew their workers said that to a prospective customer. Bottom line...MULTO GRAZIE, BELLA MIA!! You came through for my friend !! read more

We had a hiccup when we were seated as a server was not assigned to us and we had to wait. We brought it the owner's attention who talked to the staff right away to see what the issue was. He did not charge us for our drinks or dessert which was more than fair. We had the chicken parmesan which was very good as usual and the seafood special which was outstanding. Our server Megan did an excellent job!!! read more

Very calming ambiance. Not loud. You can actually converse with your friends during cocktails and dinner.