This has been the best food we've had in the area after two years of visiting Cooperstown! Everything is made fresh to order, and you can absolutely taste the difference. The quality, flavor, and freshness were outstanding. Just a heads-up--this place gets busy, so I'd recommend making a reservation if you can. A special shoutout to our server, Anthony. He was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service that made our experience even better. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Cooperstown! read more

We had a great experience! Anthony was an amazing server--friendly, efficient, and with a fantastic sense of humor that made our meal even more enjoyable. He stayed on top of everything despite our larger group and provided excellent service throughout. We requested a vegan pesto option, and it seemed effortless for the kitchen and staff to accommodate, which we really appreciated. The food was delicious, and the restaurant has plenty of space for large groups, making it a great choice for gatherings. A big thank you to Anthony for making our visit so enjoyable!! read more

I can't say enough good things about Bella Michael's. I love the atmosphere, the service, and, of course, the food. I tried the Chicken Bella Michael, a delicious combination of tomato cream sauce, mushrooms, prosciutto, and mozzarella served over spaghetti. It was outstanding. The service at Bella Michael's is consistently excellent. Even when the restaurant is busy, which is often the case because it's such a popular local favorite, the staff remains attentive, friendly, and professional. I highly recommend it. read more

This is my second review. I was more than willing to give this place. Another try since the service was impeccable. Maybe the chef was just having a bad day. I went here for lunch again the other day with my friend. I have been here before we ordered the calamari since it is fantastic. The special was Bronzino piccata over roasted vegetables for $18. I have to say it was the best meal I've had since I've been up here and that's four years. The bread is also fantastic. This is going to be my new go to place. My friend love the calamari and said his meatball Parm was very good as well especially for the price. I will definitely be back. I'd rather eat here than eat overpriced barbecue or chain food. Everything is so overpriced in the area. keep up the good work. read more

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Super friendly staff. The most delicious warm bread. Huge servings. Had the eggplant parm and baked ziti. Both were good, piping hot. We were surprised to find the ziti was vegetarian but still good. Finished with a cappuccino and crème brûlée. The crème brûlée was ok just a little over brûléed as parts tasted burnt. Overall a decent meal. read more

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You bet this place is good Had the lasagna A little different but the sauce and lasagna were very good Wife had fried seafood and loved it Caesar salad was good too And a nice bar with Some good choices Martini was our jet fuel.... Nice job read more

We arived for dinner at 6:50 pm a Monday evening. The waitperson took our order for a bottle of wine fairly quickly. That was the last time we received the wine or additional water for 1/2 hour!! We then ordered our dinners also, but we did not get our meals for another 1 1/2 hrs!! I have never waited so long for a meal ever. I am surprised we did not walk out. No waitperson ever updated us or apologized for the wait. When the food came it was actually good. We ate and then left the restaurant 2 1/2 hrs after arriving! I wound not recommend this place to anyone! read more

We were able to get a reservation on a busy night for our large party pretty easily. The hostess and waitress were both very kind and attentive throughout the duration of our arrival and meal. The interior feels a bit dated, but has a certain old school charm. We ate in a back dining room, which was very different from the front room with the bar. The front part felt cozy, but the back room felt cold. The food was okay, prices were higher than I expected. We ordered a few appetizers, one was a special and the other was a bruschetta, both of which were delicious. Their bread is fantastic, and they brought a warm loaf to the table when we sat down. The entrees were okay; I ordered fettuccine alfredo with chicken. The chicken appeared to be boiled and lacked seasoning. The alfredo sauce was watery and also lacked seasoning. Other folks ordered tomato sauce-based dishes, and they seemed pleased with their meals, but also felt as though seasoning was light. All in all, we had a positive experience thanks to the staff, but the food was just okay and felt overpriced for what we ultimately got. read more

Best service excellent quality food we absolutely recommend them 5 star real Italian . Rarely do you find authentic food. This is the real deal read more

Old style Italian restaurant! Decorated very nicely and very clean. We were greeted promptly and seated immediately. Our server was very friendly,knowledgeable of the menu,and most of all very attentive! We had the special appetizers which consisted of crumbled sausage, broccoli robe and beans. Our dinners were delicious and perfect portions. They were their Seafood Risotto and Veal Saltimbocca. Looking for a great local Italian restaurant look no further. read more

Bella Michael's Restaurant - Seafood Risotto - Italian Near Me - Oneonta, New York

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I cannot say enough about Bella Michael's. I went a week ago with some friends and we loved the atmosphere, loved the service and loved the food! For the first time, I got the filet mignon. It was cooked to perfection, tender and flavorful. My friends got the lobster ravioli. The service at Bella's is always excellent--even when they are busy, which they often are because everything loves it there. Highly recommend! read more

Everything ! THE TOTAL PACKAGE ! ZFood , service and ambiance ! Couldn't ask for more !

High quality Italian dining. Simple,basic. The waitress was lovely. Dined there last week before attending a play in Franklin NY. The food was delicious. read more

Theresa is an excellent server - she was attentive and made excellent recommendations on the menu. The patio was fun with plenty of room between the tables. We had salads and the chicken parm. Salad was fresh and crispy with a light dressing. Chicken parm was cheesy with a great sauce and cooked perfectly. Hope you enjoy. read more

Food was incredible and the service was also great. A must try if you like Italian seafood or just delicious pasta.

Always delicious, my husband, I, and my service animal go and are treated with respect and dignity unlike some other places. The food is always delicious and service wonderful!!! read more

The food and personnel are beyond fantastic. We are snow birds and make a point to dine here twice a year. The crab taco's are amazing.

Went back to Bella Michael's last week. Last time I was there was about a year ago. I ordered a lunch special which was jumbo shrimp and chorizo and tomatoes with white rice. Very good dish and nice size portion for $16.00. I also ordered a fried Calamari appetizer which I've ordered in the past and it was very good last time and decent size portion. However, this time it still was very tasty but it was a smaller portion than previous times I've ordered it. It cost $15.00 I will not order this again because it was too small amount for the price. Cost me $42.00 with the tip for lunch. I don't mind paying high prices but I do expect a better portion!! read more

Bella Michael's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Oneonta, New York

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Food was delicious and priced right. We all enjoyed our meals. Drinks were delish too!

Disappointed in the food. The calamari was pale, and bland. The entrees were average. Not bad, but nothing special. The house vinaigrette was tasty, though!! Wait staff were friendly, but service was slow. read more

The food is pretty good for the area. I'm not gonna lie but the inside is pretty dated looking also there's a ton of Mexicans working there honestly I'd rather patronize a business that employees American born citizens. read more

In town searched for a cozy restaurant with a good menu. Even hotel staff said yes to Bella.Everything was excellent. Waitress was so kind. Atmosphere was quiet n relaxing and food was absolutely excellent. Lamb chop special, chicken franchise, mussels and French onion soup. Definitely glad we came. read more

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food was great I just got the spaghetti and it was awesome the waiters where nice and respectful great experience I would go and hope other people would go to read more

Bella Michael's Restaurant - The spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Oneonta, New York

NO FOOD PHOTO AVAILABLE, Sorry! But there just happened to be a seat at the bar. So I was able to finally sit without holding a steering wheel. Friendly staff, busy floor. I love to hear the clanking of dishes that means there's business. I kept it safe and got the ny strip it was cooked perfect, custom sides. My favorite thing about a hidden gem in a small town is the opportunity to hang with the regulars and towns folks. A received tons of suggestions from regulars felt like I was in my own town. What a great atmosphere! Bartender made the best surprise martinis! I love an on the spot mix, before winter go try the Autumn Martini. Very Nice Restaurant read more

Bella Michael's Restaurant - Autumn Martini - Italian Near Me - Oneonta, New York

If your visiting and want a legit sit down Italian restaurant look no further . Friendly staff and good food. Plain and simple ! :)

Ordered to go just prior to opening time on a Saturday night. Family of 8. Bill was 186 and only the 2 meals of chicken parm were edible. Experience probably depends highly on what you order. Seafood options not recommended. Calamari had zero taste -most bland thing I have ever eaten. The crispy seafood mix was not correct, no shrimp and served with red sauce (menu did not say anything about red sauce). Chicken Tuscana had large amount of Swiss cheese on it but menu indicates mozzarella. We are frequent visitors to this area and we will not be trying again. read more

Bella Michael's Restaurant - "Well done" kids cheeseburger... - Italian Near Me - Oneonta, New York

Good and services was great !! Chicken Marsala, spaghetti and sausage/ Meatballs, bake Ziti, Chicken Parmesan.!! All really good .

Food was amazing. Got take out and it was very prompt/ everyone was welcoming. Totally would try it again.

I was on a trip with a friend heading to New Hampshire from Elmira, New York and we stopped in Oneonta for a quick bite. We stopped at Bella Michaels because of the yelp review and I have to say it lived up to its name! The food was absolutely marvelous and our server, Anthony, was perfect. We showed up five minutes before they were supposed to close and they welcomed us and showed us to a seat there was a nice atmosphere with people still at the bar having fun. I was especially pleased to find that my clam pasta was not chopped clams from a can, but freshly steamed little neck clams that were cooked to perfection. My friend got the baked ziti and asked for it without cheese on top which they were happy to oblige. The quality of the pasta was perfectly al dente and tasted marvelous. We highly recommend this restaurant and thank everyone who worked there for a lovely evening! read more

It was my first time here and I was lucky enough to be seated right away without having a reservation. The service was outstanding. As for the food, this is what I ordered. Baked Ziti - The sauce was deliciously creamy. It was aromatic, refreshing, and tangy. Usually, I am not a fan of red sauce because most restaurants make it too sour for me, but this was perfect for my flavor preference. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The ratio between pasta, sauce, and cheese was perfect. Fettuccine Alfredo - Overall, I like this dish, but since fettuccine alfredo is one of my favorite pasta dishes. I am very particular about my alfredo. I think the seasoning was a bit underwhelming. This sauce could use more cheese and it was too watery for me. The chicken was kind of plain also. It could use more seasoning and coloring. read more

Bella Michael's Restaurant - Chicken Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Oneonta, New York

Stopped in Bella Michael's for dinner on a Wednesday night, and WOW. Usually if you go to a restaurant in the middle of the week you'd expect the meal to be maybe a bit lacking, but these guys seem to be on their toes every night. For my drink, I asked for a suggestion on a fruity frozen cocktail and the bartender did not disappoint, mixed me up something that tasted alongs the lines of a fruity creamsicle - amazing! Food wise we started out with the crabmeat nachos and stuffed mushrooms, and honestly I was skeptical of the nachos but they were so delicious. The stuffed mushrooms were also probably the best we've ever had, something about them was just different and delectable. Onto the entrees which were both specials, were the roast pork loin and rack of lamb which were also of course equally delicious as was the chocolate cake. Service was fast and friendly being that we sat at 7:45 and left at 9:15 after having 5 courses (bread, apps, salad, entree, dessert). Only room for improvement here would be the decor, it's a bit outdated and could use some tlc. Overall Bella Michael's is a near perfect establishment and I'd highly recommend anyone reading this to stop in and have a meal! read more

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Had a great meal here, we each ordered the Veal. Why the veal was a little tougher than I hoped for, the cozy ambience, friendly staff, free bread and great pasta+sauce Combo really made up for it. I'd like to return and Dine In (i ordered take out and picked it up myself) to get the full experience. The seafood smelled great! read more

We didn't think we could get a reservation for 10 on a Saturday night Memorial Day Weekend with the ongoing 2-day General Clinton Regatta but they took our last minute reservation. Food was delicious as was the warm bread and the salads. Service was great - thanks Tracy, our waitress, and the rest of the staff. We will be back next year!! read more

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The food was good! But the service me and my family had occurred at this was wasn't the best. We have ordered a hour and half earlier and sat in the corner having no checkups or being notice for a hour straight till we got our food. Our food was good, this place has good sauces in food but wait and waitress took as much time as she needs to get what we wanted. Three stars wasn't one of best place I've been. read more

I ate the food very good Anthony is a fire waiterI recommend this restaurant. very good

Food is fresh , hot , and wait staff were great and polite. Will return it's a good experience and are open when others are not !!

Delightful dining experience with great food, excellent service, and reasonable prices.

We are visiting the area for our son to play in Cooperstown but we wanted a nicer restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Bella Michael's had great reviews on Yelp so we tried it. From beginning to end, it was amazing! Our waitress was Theresa and she was so kind. The food was delicious! We had the caprese salad to start. My husband had the shrimp cocktail and dinner salad for his meal. The shrimp were plump and yummy. My daughter had a kids' pasta and the portion was big, she had leftovers. I had the seafood risotto and it had tons of seafood. All of the staff were attentive, kind and hilarious. The owner was also an incredible gentleman. We sat inside because we came in near closing time but the outdoor patio looked so inviting in the warm weather...next time. read more

In town for baseball. Last night 6 of us went here for dinner. We are from out of state but I ate here 4 years ago. The food is amazing at great prices. Seafood Fra Diavalo was huge. Great seafood on a pile of linguine. The best I've ever had. Others got chicken parm, shrimp scampi, baked haddock. Everyone was extremely pleased. And the waitress was top notch. Blonde lady with fairly short hair. Very nice, very welcoming. I can't say enough about this place. If it wasn't 4 hours away I'd be there a lot more often. read more

We don't live in the area but we visit several times a year to visit my daughter in college - whenever we are in town, we eat here - and several times we bring others (party of 6). Food is consistently good, and we appreciate the family atmosphere. The staff are generally very friendly and polite. This time, we (party of 3) arrived about 30 minutes early for our reservation and sat at the bar to have a drink or two. The bartender was immediately obnoxious to us, informing us that our table was already setup and practically demanding that we sit there instead of the bar. All 3 of us felt the icy cold attitude immediately - I have never felt more unwelcome in a restaurant, as if me spending my money at the empty bar was somehow going to impact the restaurant's economic viability forevermore. We watched as the bartender actually complained to someone at the cashier that we were sitting at the bar instead of our table, and that we were taking up space at the bar. BTW - there were plenty of seats, and it was not yet crowded - if it were crowded, we would have sat down at our table because that's the respectful thing to do. The cashier seemed to be trying to calm the bartender down on our behalf, telling her to chill. When she came back to serve us, she was rude and curt. We finished our drinks quickly and went to our table. Thankfully, our waitress was the complete opposite of the bartender - friendly, helpful, prompt, and treating our daughter so well because she was a starving college student and we were loading her up with takeout bags. Our waitress saved the night for us, and the food was exceptionally good this visit (thank you). We will come back next time we are in Oneonta, but I hope the owners of the restaurant speak to the bartender and make clear that her attitude needs to be corrected - it does not help the business to have staff treating loyal and repeat customers badly. read more