Wow, what a stylish cafe! I'm definitely a fan of this perfectly photogenic cafe in the heart of New Haven's Westville community. To be completely honest, I didn't even know this area of the city existed, but I'm glad I made the trek over here from downtown to try Bella's Cafe. I came for brunch on a busy Sunday midday, and needless to say, the food did not fail to impress. It was DELICIOUS! Despite coming on Sunday during peak hours, I was surprised that there was only about a 5-minute wait. After strolling in and admiring all the beautiful dishes out, the host took my name and number. Expecting a 30 minute wait, we had only just walked out the door before I received a call and prepared my stomach for the feast to come. The spiced apple crepes were far and away the highlight of my meal. Just looking at the photos while writing this review makes my stomach yearn to try them again, and the actual experience of devouring them can't be that far from my positive recollection of it. I came with a friend, and while she found the Baked Harvest French Toast to be a little bit too heavy to be a satisfying French toast texture, I can see its appeal to diners of a distinct palate, perhaps avid fans of bread and all things carbs? Just a thought. A general note, I think the restuarant's sweeter offerings far outdo their more savory offerings--not to disparage those at all though. The crepes I had were hardly too sweet, and the neutral cheesy filling definitely balanced it out. It was truly something unlike anything I had ever tried before, and I couldn't recommend it more, if they still have this for future brunch menus. As for service and seating (especially in light of COVID-19), the restaurant seems to be doing its best. The service was quite prompt, and I have no complaints there. There was definitely some room for improvement on the spacing end though; few of the tables in the side room looked to be any more than 6 feet apart, with no barriers to prevent party-to-party transmission, but I think this may have been the restaurant's adaptation to the newly implemented city protocols allowing restaurants to reach 75% capacity. Overall, great brunch experience -- 100% go for the apple crepes -- in a delightful atmosphere. Definitely coming back here in the future! read more

Bella's Cafe - Spiced Apple Crepes (Crepes filled with creamed cheese impastata topped with spiced apples and pecans in a butterscotch brandy caramel) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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One of my favorite places, their shrimp and grits always hits the spot. I've switched from mimosas to their sangrias, which tastes like summer and our server is always excellent. They have a forever fan in me!!!! read more

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This place is AMAZING. Their specialty waffles/pancakes are so good, friends have also loved their savory dishes. Will be praying the banana foster french toast comes back on the specials soon. The interior has a chic retro look, and the waitstaff have always been so kind & super helpful for those with allergies read more

Bella's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Very good brunch selections!! Definitely worth the wait!! Love the seasonal menu!!!!!

There is nothing more to say but that @bellascafect is one of the top breakfast spots in CT! Shrimp and grits, French toast, the homemade biscuits just absolutely amazing! read more

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Not sure why my breakfast cost so much ? Ordered Chicken and Challah French toast special once my order was placed then was told it wasn't available. A bit surprised at that since it just 930am and your already out of one of your specials. Ok on to the next item I ordered....a simple spinach and bacon omelet. 1st omelet came out incorrectly, ok no problem. 2nd omelet came out correctly but I had to wait for the English muffin which was served separately. My order just didn't seem like it was completely cooked. Well just seem like something was off this am at Bella's but any-who no one is perfect. But to top I was never offered water or even asked if my meal was ok. After a few bites I asked for a to go container and the bill and was shocked at the price of $26.62. I couldn't believe that an 2 ingredient omelet would cost 19.25. Well I guess I must have paid for the 1st mistake order. As I say everyone has an off moment and this may have been it for Bella's. Just did have a good experience this am and the price for this breakfast was just over the top. On a the best note of this experience the pumpkin chai latte was good. read more

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cute cafe in a quiet neighborhood with good food and decent service. sat outdoors and had a pleasant stay! food - coffee was good w/ free refills. got the seasonal fruit cup, the pineapple bacon sausage, corned beef hash, and the french toast. corned beef hash was great, potatoes well done , eggs done right, and raisin bread was tasty! would order again. french toast was amazing, would def recommend. sausage was decent, but nothing toooo special - would pass on it next time. def pass on the fruit cup **the fruit cup was a little disappointing - it was mostly banana, some strawberry, and 2 blackberries which were moldy. we brought it up to the waitress and she just picked the fruits off the cup and brought us two new blackberries on a dish - which we thought was questionable considering it touched the other fruit. quite comical** overall, good and hearty breakfast. would recommend to friends and family. they just need to be more wary with the fresh fruits and they will have one more 5 star review in their pocket. read more

Bella's Cafe - sticky bun french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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So freaking cute. The staff was friendly and efficient. They are clearly used to being slammed and even though I watched our server get triple sat he managed it with ease. I got the shrimp and grits which was served with a light, flakey, and warm biscuit. Highly recommend and we will be back! read more

Bella's Cafe - Shrimp & grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Delicious breakfast! If you order only one thing get the bananas foster french toast. It was fluffy, moist, creamy and amazing. The other items we ordered were the corned beef hash which had a crispy crunchy texture and full of flavor. The huevos rancheros was a unique twist in a clay bowl with the sauce on the bottom. We came here on a Wednesday before lunchtime and didn't have to wait. Parking was easy right in front. They don't allow strollers inside since the area is a little tight but they do have high chairs available. Menu items are priced from $12-$17 on average and there's plenty of extras and side items if needed. Our food came out fairly quickly and everything was huge portions and filling. Next time we gotta try the sticky bun French toast. read more

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My food was so delicious. Worth the wait. I had the banana foster French toast. Yummy in my tummy. In friend had the shrimp and grits and she enjoyed her food as well. I love shrimp and grits but most place always covered it in pork seasoning. The grits were firm and tasty but I was scared to try more than a spoonful. read more

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Bella's cafe has really great brunch food. I had been recommended this spot by multiple people and finally got around to trying it. It appears there is always a wait and I definitely see why! Love the shrimp and grits!! Super filing and hearty. I love how the grits are creamy and fluffy, but not too heavy. It mixes well with the flavors of succulent shrimp and andouille sausage. This can definitely be split among 2 people because it's quite heavy and best eaten hot!! The bayou omelet was also very delicious. It also had sausage and shrimp inside with cheese. The potatoes were still excellent and who doesn't love buttered rye with that? We tried the summer special soufflé French toast with rhubarb. I was a huge fan of the rhubarb and cream, but not so much the soufflé. It came out with the consistency of an eggy and dense bread pudding. This is one of my least favorite desserts. Some of my friends enjoyed this dessert brunch dish though. read more

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Did take out on a Saturday morning in early March 2021. As a visitor to the area, this came very highly recommended for brunch! Food was available promptly and was nice and warm by the time we got it home. Chicken and waffles were VERY good! The syrup that they provided had a nice bourbon flavor to it, must have either been infused OR a maple bourbon variety. Went super well with the EXTREMELY fluffy and decadent waffle!! Catfish po-boy was DELICIOUS! A big piece of fish with this delicious red sauce on top!! Fries were nice and crispy. Others in our group got the danish pancake which was great, very custardy! read more

Bella's Cafe - Chicken and waffles!! YUM!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We are new to the area and decided to try this place out. The greeter, should NOT be greeting customers. She's very rude and has no personality. We were immediately turned off by her dismissive demeanor. We don't bother to stay. Just hearing the way she speaks to people is disgusting. The way she spoke to us was very nasty. This place is very small and they pack it over capacity. No walk room and the seating is tight. Do better! Do NOT come here. read more

Nice atmosphere. Clean restrooms. Just paid for a meal I didn't eat. Told my server I would not eat my meal and her response was "sorry". Did not offer me any options or adjust my bill. Initially wanted to return but will not after this. read more

Loved the food here! Everything is so good. Shrimps and grits is always my first choice. Chicken apple sausage is my recent favorite. Also like all those different special French toasts. One star off for the long wait :( be prepared to wait for the seat for over an hour and sometimes another for the food to be prepared. read more

Bella's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Delicious, fresh brunch food. Cozy spot for a nice Saturday or Sunday brunch. Service was quick and effective and server was friendly.

Meh. Visited later on a Thursday morning... not a hugely busy time. Overall? Not great, not bad. The good? The buttermilk biscuit. Incredible. Had to ask for butter, but it was perfect. Pot of hot tea on a cold morning nice too. The not-so-great? The hostess who made me wait outside in the cold while the bar top got cleared off. But she seemed to be having "a day" anyway - she scolded the poor couple who came in and chose their own seats. There were tons to choose from and no one at the door when they arrived. The corned beef hash (my breakfast joint metric) oddly lacking any flavor other than the somewhat overwhelming green onion scattered over the top. Last turn off was the payment machine handed back to me with the 20% tip button already activated. Don't think I'll head back read more

I came back for a 2nd time and was not disappointed! They say our large party fairly quickly which was nice. I really wanted chicken and waffles but it was not on the specials menu anymore, so I got whatbI knew I loved (the shrimp and grits) and it was just as good as the first time. I tried the creme brûlée latte, it was delicious! I wanted to share their pumpkin dutch baby with everyone because it was so unique and scrumptious! Plus the tea pot they brought out for hot water was so cute too! The little details here go a long way! Everything is thoughtful. read more

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While we had hoped this would be the perfect LOCAL spot to celebrate a Birthday Brunch, unfortunately it became quite clear early on that was NOT the case. Timelines for both Drinks and Food were excessive. Our Drinks were ordered with our waitress, specifying that the Birthday Girl had an almond allergy and the non-dairy milk should be Oat Milk. The Drinks took over 20 minutes for the drinks be be brought back to the table, with one cocktail being served incorrectly. When I finally asked for a plain cup of ice to pour my cocktail over as it was initially ordered "iced", I was called a "Troublemaker" by the waiter who delivered the cup of ice. This was after we had informed them of the allergy oversight and felt like an additional attack on our table. We had to request for water and once the water was placed on the table, there weren't enough glasses for our whole party. We then had to ask another server to assist with more water and glasses. Food was ordered at the SAME time as the drinks. It took well over 40 mins for anything to be brought out. Once the food was finally brought out and the Birthday Girl served, there were shaved almonds COVERING her entire dish. Please scroll up to reference that we had already informed the Waitress of the allergy at the time of ordering the drinks. We immediately sent the dish back re-clarifying that there was an almond ALLERGY. She tried to re-order multiple options off their menu, but apparently 80% of the menu is dipped in Almond Extract - which is not listed anywhere on their menu. Once there was finally a dish she was able to order, the blueberry pancakes took an ADDITIONAL 30+ mins to come out, meanwhile the entire party has been served and is eating their meal. The waitress happened to also be the manager and denied any acknowledgment of knowing of the allergy. The entire table disagreed and we asked to speak with the Owner. The Waitress/Manager informed us that the Owner was unavailable and the only thing she could do was comp the Birthday Girl's Meal and (1) Drink (she ordered 2 as she was left sitting there with nothing to eat). I asked a separate waiter to see the Owner and she immediately came out from the kitchen. After expressing our disappointment in the comments made and concerns regarding the allergy being dismissed, she agreed to comp the 2nd drink. While we were grateful for the compensation, the overall experience was beyond frustrating and ultimately could've had a VERY different outcome and landed our crew in the ER. read more

Bella's Cafe is a Westville staple!! If you haven't tried yet, you're really missing out on delicious comfort food. We noticed each dish had a little spice to them, which we were obsessed with. The bloody mary even had horseradish shaken into it. Can't leave out the tahini rim. Delicious!! Our wait time on a Sunday around brunch was 40 minutes, but no problem really because you're steps away from Pistachio Cafe and the super cute General Store. We spent our time shopping for some gifts and then had a croissant to hold us over. They have an easy system that texts you when your table is ready. Loved that. Inside feels very homey and light. Our food was served incredibly quickly. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Usually, I've only ordered the CBH & EGGS, Tried something new - the burger patty melt special. It should be called the Big Mouth Burger Melt! Ok, it has two buttered & grilled texas toast bread. A huge 8 Oz burger, well seasoned, tasty & moist ground beef patty with cheese...cooked medium! Also, it is sandwiched with l&t, red onion, bacon, and a fried egg...WOW. DELICIOUS. Chipotle mayo on the side. I had to unhinge my jaw to grab a bite. Fries were well seasoned and crunchy, and they came out hot! I really enjoyed this burger! Here are a few suggestions: please don't serve sliced tomatoes if they are not firm (it created a little too much moisture), the fried egg was an afterthought (burger dish would have been fine without it), and lastly, please cut back on the amount of butter on the texas toast (it was competing with the moisture of the delicious beef patty and unripe tomato)! I would order this again!!! Thanks, Chef Clinton read more

Great food and worth the wait! The challah French toast and the Tuscan omelette are a MUST try. Great location in the center of Westville in New Haven. read more

Bella's Cafe - Challah French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This place is phenomenal!!! I've eaten here maybe 5-6 times now. I haven't taken a bad bite yet...Not...one...bad...bite... You'll love it! And if you truly don't enjoy the food here, it's your own fault! read more

Bella's Cafe - Fried Chicken with Challah French Toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Bella's never disappoints! The food is always outstanding. The shrimp and grits is my go-to and I have a hard time trying anything new (even though it all looks so amazing!) but we will get one of the French Toast specials for the table to share...like a breakfast dessert! All of the servers at Bella's are friendly and personable, despite being busy. This unassuming little cafe has the best breakfast in CT! Come hungry because you will leave with a full belly and a smile on your face. read more

Bella's Cafe - Shrimp and Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Easily the best brunch in the area! Huge portions, fluffy pancakes, flavorful savory options, and a nice seasonal menu. If you come on the weekends, expect to wait 1-2 hours. The area around the restaurant is a nice place to walk or sit though. Usually no wait if you come during the weekdays. Dishes cost about $12-20. read more

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Beautiful cafe, nice atmosphere. Delicious breakfast for reasonable price. House-made sausage was delish.

Best breakfast spot in New Haven!! The portions are big and so delicious. Only negative is how packed it gets in there.

What time do you stop accepting customers? It would be helpful to put up a sign so everyone is informed. I arrived at 1:20, and there's no line--just empty chairs. The acting manager told me they aren't taking any more customers because they're waiting for people they've texted who aren't here, even though the kitchen closes at 1:45. In the meantime, you're turning away customers right in front of you, despite having plenty of empty tables." read more

An epic disaster. Long line to get in. Hour wait for food. One entree arrived 10 minutes before the other. And when the other arrived, it was the wrong order. All of this chaos set to hideous opera music. Stay clear if this place if your sanity means anything to you. read more

Upscale breakfast with a small but adequate menu. My child and I came on a Thursday morning and seemed to be not so busy ,but our wait time for food was fairly long. I ordered challah french toast (10.oo) and he ordered a sausage/egg/cheese on a soft roll (6.00 cheese is extra) . When it arrived my French toast had a nice dollop of whipped cream with a orange sliver on top for decor. The challah bread definitely was a good choice for french toast absolutely delicious. His sandwich was very good (yes Mom had to try) it had fresh sausage and a melted white cheddar just trying to pour out of it. Nothing comes on the side . The water with lemon had a funny taste if you did order one . The inside is very nice great for a breakfast date . They have a long bar-type seating and plenty of tables (separate room). They sell mimosas in many flavors which is a plus at breakfast. read more

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Went here on a Friday for brunch and there was no wait! We walked in and sat in the room to the right place which was way less cramped than the first room. Service was super attentive. I ordered the eggs Benedict which came with a thick piece of Canadian bacon that was just shy of an inch think. I order this everywhere and it was great here. Breakfast potatoes are really good too. The boy ordered 2 farm fresh eggs with sausages and potatoes, he enjoyed it with some chocolate milk. We both split Cajun fries to snack on. We were stuffed and very pleased with our meals. It's not the cheapest breakfast spot but we felt like the food made it worth it. Everyone was ordered lunch sandwiches and burgers and they looked so yummy I plan on trying those next time! Only street parking FYI. read more

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Great place with great food. Massive portions, so go with a big appetite or ready to share to sample several of their options. The omelette with goat cheese was great, fluffy and tasty. The rhubarb French toast and chicken and waffles were amazing. The French toast is very sweet, more of a dessert to my taste. Service was great. Oh and def try the biscuits! read more

My husband and I had a fabulous and filling brunch at Bella's. We were nervous about possibly having to wait for a long time for a table, but we didn't have to wait at all!! We got there around 2:00, and they close at 3, so perhaps that's why the crowd was dying down. In addition, we had a friendly waiter who got our food and drinks quickly. We had the shrimp and grits, and the corned beef hash with eggs. Both dishes were well prepared, and we were pleasantly full by the end. I should also mention that both dishes came with the most wonderful fresh biscuits. This was a great experience...the only reason it it's not a 5 star rating is because they were out of the chicken and waffles dish that we really wanted to order :( It was a special, so hopefully we can catch it again next time. Looking forward to going back and also trying their French toast - it looked scrumptious!! read more

Bella's Cafe - Yummy shrimp, sausage, grits, and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Okay so it's my first time here, and I have to say EVERYTHING IS AMAZING. Melissa recommended the shrimp and grits (it comes with a biscuit which was super fluffy and delicious) and my partner got the shrimp special and oh my god....... Everything was amazing. If Melissa recommends it GET IT! The drinks were bomb too. I'm obsessed. Amazing food and equally as good service. Melissa was so much fun I felt like I was hanging out/talking with a friend whenever she came by and spoke to us. Definitely recommend this place and ask for Melissa if you come in!!!! read more

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Amazing and creative food in a bustling neighborhood Cafe. Service was excellent! Be prepared to wait for a table or first come first served at the bar. read more

Bella's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Bella's Cafe is a great breakfast spot! We came during the week and had no problem getting a table. My boyfriend and I each got OJ, coffee, and water - a perfect trio. The menu has many options to choose from. I got the two farm fresh eggs with bacon. Very good. I would get it again. My boyfriend got banana Foster French toast, which I think was a special. He also enjoyed it. Would easily go back again :) read more

We were a party of 10. Everyone ordered something different, and we all enjoyed it! We chose an outdoor table. Service was excellent. The food quality, flavor, and value is excellent. Some of us were from out of town and some were local New Haven residents who had not been there. We all agreed that we should return. read more

Ended our beautiful weekend in New Haven at Bella's for brunch. Loved the cosy feel to the restaurant , and the service was wonderful. Arrived around 11:30 am and was told it was about a 45 minute wait for a group of five, but to our surprise it was only 30 minutes ! Warning though , ensure your whole party is there when your table is ready or you forfeit and have to extend your wait. The food was well worth the wait and I highly recommend ordering the Sha Bang brunch. It consists of their take on baked French toast with scrambled eggs , potatoes, and amazing apple smoked bacon. What I loved most about the dish was the consistency of the baked French toast reminded me of bread pudding . It will melt in your mouth ! Other dishes I recommend are the Philly Steak omelette , and the Breakfast Burrito . Tip: Bella's Cafe changes up their menu on the regular , so If you had a favorite dish or want them to make an existing one they will if you ask . read more

Bella's Cafe - The Sha Bang Breakfast off Bell's brunch menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We, 4 women of color, will be taking our business elsewhere. Other responses to reviews mention wanting proof of racism. All we can do is share our account of the disrespect we endured trying to have a meal at a white-owned restaurant that has arguably capitalized on Black and Creole southern cuisine for over 20 years: Three of us arrived to several empty 4-person tables in the restaurant. The host (white appearing) stated she could seat the three of us but not if we were waiting for a 4th person. We were truly not sure if our 4th friend would be able to join at all, but took a table assuming it would not be an issue to have the 4th person take the last spot at our 4-topper **as is the case at most casual restaurants when they are not busy**. Once seated, we ordered 4 pumpkin spice mimosas from the very friendly server-in-training. His supervising server (white appearing) brought us only 3 drinks. When we updated her that our 4th friend confirmed she was on her way, this supervising server stated we would have to be reseated if she arrived, without being able to answer why it was an issue to have the 4th friend sit down at the empty spot at our table. We decided that if they were so insistent on enforcing this policy then we would simply pick up our drinks and coats when our friend arrived and wait at the bar to be reseated at another 4-topper. When our 4th friend arrived, unaware of this unconventional restaurant policy, she told the host that she saw her friends would "just go join them", coming to our table. My other friend immediately got up to explain that our 4th had joined, in case they needed to reseat us before taking our food orders. Again, despite the absence of rationale for this policy, we were trying our best to go along. The supervising server (still white appearing) raised her voice at my friend, called our 4th friend rude for passing by the host, and yelled at my friend to "just sit back down". This friend returned to the table looking a bit shaken and deflated. The young couple next to us who had seen the exchange agreed that it was messed up. At this point we decided to pay for our mimosas at the counter and leave. With the bad taste lingering, however, we returned to speak to the manager, expecting an apology about the hurtful disrespect from the supervising server and possibly a refund. Instead, the manager/possibly owner (white appearing) did not let us explain our side of the situation stating she had "heard it all", and doubled down by calling us rude, how she didn't tolerate "the kind of attitude these days", and that she would not have US disrespecting HER staff by walking past them (to locate a friends' table) or by disregarding their seating policy (even though we got yelled at when we tried to go along with it). Not only was there no apology, there was further demeaning. The only bright side of this story is it where it ended: across the street at the stunning Syrian artist/architect-owned Pistachio Café where we were treated by kind and attentive servers to sumptuous drinks and elaborate toasts and waffles. Go to Pistachio if you want to be treated with respect. read more

Always a top notch experience at Bella's! You can't beat the delicious and creative meals. They are always happy to accommodate for specific dietary needs, and everything comes out great! This place is a treasure in Westville. Friendly neighborhood vibes and great servers! read more

Bella's Cafe - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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