Located in the overabundant parking of the Orangeburg shopping center just off of Briggsmore and Oakdale Road Completely renovated absolutely stunning, intimate, romantic location for your next dining experience. Location does take reservations and they get very busy on holidays. They have a full bar they have bench seating and regular table styles. High-end cuisine with flavors that pairs, so great together. We started with the bruschetta while enjoying our cocktails. Then moved onto the absolutely perfectly cooked filet mignon coated, and garlic butter. Vegetables cooked to perfection.. Then, of course, we had to finish it with their crème brûlée, amazing vanilla flavor, perfect caramelized sugar top. This is not a cheap place to go to so make sure that you bring your wallet, and your appetite. read more

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So I went to Ciao Bella for dinner tonight. I've probably eaten there around 10 times over the past few years and have always enjoyed the food, which is why tonight was especially disappointing. The three of us ordered lasagna. It was Cesar's first time there, and I told him he wouldn't be disappointed. When the food came out, his portion was noticeably taller than the others, but I didn't think much of it at first. As we started eating, I noticed both Misha and Cesar pushing most of the pasta aside. When I looked closer, the majority of the dish seemed to be mostly ricotta cheese. Neither of them ate more than a few bites before stopping altogether. I politely let the waitress know the lasagna just didn't seem like the quality we were used to. She immediately took the plates to the back and brought us the bill, still charging for all three dishes. I asked if I could speak with the manager, and she told me she was the manager. I explained that we were simply disappointed with the meal and would have gladly shown what the issue was, but she told me the dishes had already been thrown away. She said she had shown the chef and that he makes it the same way every time. She eventually removed two of the lasagnas from the bill, but then came back and said the chef's response was, "If you never come back again, that's fine." That honestly surprised me more than the food itself. I've owned a business for 30 years, and I can't imagine ever responding to a customer that way, especially a returning one. I'm not writing this out of anger -- just genuine disappointment. We had always enjoyed coming here, but after tonight, unfortunately, we won't be returning. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Restaurant sign. - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

The last time I was here... it was only one room without the full bar. Wow what a difference. I enjoyed my Eggplant parmigiana so much... I forgot to take photos. The marinara sauce was perfect and the Eggplant was perfect. I always went to Chefs of New York and hadn't found anything I enjoyed better in Modesto until last nite! My company had the chicken pesto pasta. He said it was delicious. The bar was popping for Saturday with a lot of familiar faces. Anna, our server is amaaaazing. If you have not been, this is your sign to go. I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed. read more

Make sure you go in the daytime, if you want to be able to read your menu items, it is dark in there! I ordered the Fettuccini Alfredo, which was decent, but I had to ask for shredded Parmesan to give it some flavor...it was quite bland, but I LOVED all the extra sauce! I also ordered the calamari and it was delicious! I did not like, however, that I ordered a "house" Chardonnay, and it was more like a Sauvignon Blanc...then when I ordered another glass, it was completely different (and was actually Chardonnay). I asked the waitress why they were different and she said because my 1st glass was during "happy hour." I had no idea it was because there were NO signs, nor did she tell me when I sat down. That being said, I don't want to be served the "junk" wine, even IF during "happy hour." The waitress was a really sweet girl, Alaina, I think. I'm pretty sure she was newer but was on it, with coming to the table, quite often, which I appreciated! So, thank you Alaina :) The inside is clean but not inviting read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Fettuccini Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

Ciao Bella is one of my absolute favorites whenever I come home to visit -- it never misses and always delivers the best dishes! I have not been back since they remodeled and expanded and it looks amazing! Our server, Anita, was amazing -- so sweet, friendly, and incredibly helpful, especially when it came to picking the perfect wine for the table. Truly top-tier service. We ordered the lamb, and WOW... just look at the size of those chops! Insane. Cooked to absolute perfection and paired with a pesto chimichurri sauce that was chef's kiss . We order lamb all the time and have never seen portions like this -- such a pleasant and delicious surprise. My go-to is always the stuffed calamari, and it did not disappoint -- just as incredible as I remembered. We also tried the fried asparagus, and the entire table loved it. My dad went with the halibut and jumbo shrimp special, and those shrimp were massive -- honestly looked like lobster tails! From the appetizers to the wine to every entrée, the whole table enjoyed everything. So glad we were able to squeeze in a visit this trip -- Ciao Bella never lets us down! read more

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Came here on a Friday night with reservations at 5 pm for a retirement party of 10. We were seated to the far right on a long table. For it just opening at 5 pm, the bar was filled with patrons already. Hard to describe what everyone ate and ordered so I'll just focus on what I ordered and tried. So for appetizers- I ordered 2 calamari for the group. It was served with a bed of lettuce on the bottom with the calamari to appear more in the bowl. Came with a dipping sauce that was orange in color so I'm assuming it was sriracha and mayo. It was pretty good. Not too salty and had a crunch to it. I'd give it 5 stars though since it was definitely being gobbled by all. So my wife had the chicken fettuccini. I asked her how she liked it, her complaint was about the chicken. Something about it being a bit hard. She's not one to complain but she did notice something off with it. I won't rate that since I didn't try it but just sharing her comment to me. As for myself, I had the Ribeye - medium that came with vegetables and mash potatoes. Price $50. The steak was a thick cut with butter on top. I thought the steak was cooked to perfection, great flavor and the sides were seasoned good. 5 stars If there was one complaint I would have being a part of 10 was the serving of the food took a good 5 minutes for everyone to get their dish. Our waitress was the only one bringing the food so she would serve 2 dishes to my group. Then go to the kitchen to get others. There was a good wait time in between so to me, not all dishes were done simultaneously. Just from an etiquette standpoint, everyone waited til all our dishes were served to my guests before we started eating. There wasn't an extra server who helped our main waitress to bring everyone's dishes all at once. And for that, I give 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, if you have a large party like we did, I would recommend Ciao Bella since the interior was nice and had good lighting for photos. Would return with my wife whenever craving for that ribeye! read more

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Been there 3 times and have always been accommodated to mood and taste of dishes The severs are super nice and helpful and so far always been impressed and satisfied read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Halibut with jumbo prawns - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

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Ciao Bella exceeded every expectation. From the moment I arrived, the service, food, and atmosphere created an unforgettable experience. My surprise birthday celebration was handled with such care and attention that the entire evening felt truly special. I am deeply grateful to Anita, her team, and the chef for their professionalism, warmth, and dedication. Every detail was thoughtfully handled, and the level of service made me feel genuinely valued and celebrated. That kind of care means everything during a personal milestone. The food was exceptional. Each dish was beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and clearly made with pride. The chef truly outdid himself. Every course impressed, and not a single guest was disappointed. Several guests were visiting Ciao Bella for the first time and are already planning to return based on the quality of the food alone. The ambiance was elegant, comfortable, and welcoming. It provided the perfect setting for meaningful conversation, laughter, and lasting memories. Ciao Bella delivered outstanding food, gracious service, and a warm, refined atmosphere. I am sincerely thankful for such a memorable birthday celebration and look forward to returning again soon. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Food Menu - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

I heard good things about this place and was excited to try it out, but upon calling no one answered. We rang the line a few times and nothing. As a joke we wanted to see how many calls it would take for an answer, but after 20 calls and a full voicemail box, we gave up and decided to make a reservation elsewhere. read more

This is the best Italian food in Modesto Food Service Prices are the best. Don't miss out. John Metcalf. read more

It was our first time here. This food was great! We ordered the bruschetta as an appetizer (5/5), meat lasagna (5/5) and spaghetti with homemade meatballs and meat sauce (4/5). The service was good. Our server was very kind and gave us her opinion on what menu items were top picks. We were not disappointed. The ambiance was nice. It's low lit, modern and clean. There is also a bar area and additional seating outside for outdoor dining. Overall, great food. read more

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Four of us went to Ciao Bella for Valentine's Day. They offered a prefix menu with a generous selection. Everything from the welcoming greeting, to the wait staff who seated us, was smiling, welcoming and very attentive. Our food came out in a timely manner, it was beautifully plated, hot, generous and most of all, delicious. Thank you to everyone involved in making this a special evening. read more

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Ok I have to write a review bc yesterday was my second time back and the food does not disappoint. It's a cute little restaurant with a bar area and smaller dining area. The ambience is nice, whole restaurant is clean, and parking is ample. The hostesses are always friendly and welcoming. But Anna, our server, ok this girl has the memory of a magician bc she remembered us from A YEAR AGO, including where we sat and what we ordered! What a sweet gem of a person! She's a great server with a fun personality and good customer service! Let's talk about the food. DE-LI-CIOUS! Both times I've been here, food is spectacular. Meaty lasagna that I ate for two days. So hearty and flavorful! Spaghetti and meatballs were yummy. My bf got lobster ravioli and chicken Alfredo. That Alfredo was THEE BEST! We had the chocolate lava cake for dessert both times. It's decadent and moist and heavenly. I can't wait to come back! :) read more

So, my wife and I were mulling over some place to eat yesterday (Saturday) and I found this place on Yelp. We decided to give it a try for the first time. I called them up and "Dolly" answered the phone. I inquired about dess attire, if shorts and T-shirt were acceptable and if reservations were required. Dolly said, "the dress was casual, shorts and a T were acceptable.' Although reservations were not required, they were advised." So, I made a reservation. Upon arrival we were greeted promptly. The hostess seated us on what we learned later was the booth (bar) side. A wall at bar back seperated two sides of the restaraunt. The other side being the "table side". No sooner than we sat down, some obnoxiously loud baffoon strolls in and on his way to sit at the bar, begins shouting in greeting to another patron at the end of the bar. I thought, oh brother is it going to be one of those kind of nights? I got up, approached the hostess and asked if there were any seats open on the table side and we were seated immedietly on the table side. If being subjected to potentially loud atmosophere doesn't bother you then sit on booth (bar) side. If you want a more quiet and relaxing dining experience, sit on the table side. Now to my review. All in all the ambiance was very nice. It was a bit dark, but still nice. Our wait person named Prescious, was extremely helpful with our questions about menu items and was very attentive without hovering. Dolly, with whom I spoke to on the phone and not our wait person, was also a pure delight, and extremely attentive. My wife commented that she was "absolutely beautiful." On to our meal. We ordered the Fried Calamari as an appetizer to start and I must say it was cooked to PERFECTION! The seasoning was perfect with just a hint of heat (a toddler could eat it). The crunch was no less perfect and the bite melted in my mouth. We ate half of it before I remembered to snap a pic. This dish was 5/5. My wife ordered the Stuffed Calamari which are calamari steaks stuffed with crab, shrimp and mozzarella cheese and topped with a Rosetta sauce. Her dish also came with mash potatoes and veggies. Now, this isn't the type of dish my wife would normally order, but she wanted to try it. Nope, she didn't like it. Not because of the flavor, it was loaded with flavor, but because it was a bit to heavy for her. This would be more my type of dish to order. I tried it and it WAS THE BOMB! Give that 5/5 Finally, I ordered a House Special which is not on the menu, it should be, but it isn't. Blackened Halibut with Jumbo Prawns. It came with mashed potatoes and veggies like my wife's dish did. The mash and veggies could be a meal all in their own. Nothing but pure deliciousness. The jumbo prawns were butterflied, nearly lobster tail sized and came with a delicious butter sauce for dipping. The blackened Halibut melted in my mouth and was FULL of flavor. I give this dish a 6/5. All-in-all this restaraunt has Bay Area quality, freshness and taste. There is a Chef behind the scene that has mastered food consistency, not only in the quality and freshness, but also in the preparation. EVERYTHING was prepared and cooked to perfection. No inconsistencies like undercooked/overcooked to be found. The US and California in particular, is a melting pot of ethnicity. If you have mastered culinary skills in a particular food type, genre or culture, it doesn't matter your ethnic or, national background. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Pam. What a delight she was. Pam, you are doing it right. In closing all I can say is...WHOOOAAAAHHH NELLY THAT FOOD WAS THE BOMB DIGGITY BOMB! BACK IT UP AND BOMB AGAIN! read more

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I have posted about this place before. Ciao Bella's chef Ciao is the reason why this place is so good. I have been going for over 9 years now. Quality of the food has been on par every visit for me. His servers for the years are so good, this guy knows how to hire wonderful servers. Anita our server is the best of the best... kudos to her. You should call in to make reservations, and always try a special, I love his sea-bass fish (seasonal), Halibut, risotto, calamari Steak, mashed potatoes with any dish are so buttery and smooth. I don't eat steak, but I know from my friends who ate it, it was pretty good. I steal his mashed potatoes from my husband's plate too. Desserts are so good too. Ambiance is wonderful as well. Their recent bar edition has made it top notch. read more

Have always had their lamb. Tonight was a full meal pork chop with mushrooms, peppcorn, brandy sauce was anazing!! The wedge salad with blue cheese and balsamic delightful. Only had a couple of bites, but the chocolate cake was heavenly. 9th read more

Poor service. Brought wrong meals to table trying to say it was our fault but it couldn't be because of personal allergies. Then offered alternate plates- not what we wanted because they ran out. I accepted one and my frenzy ordered something different and it came long after our dinner party was finished. And then, if that wasn't bad enough, they didn't comp her meal. So, 4 meals ordered, 2 meals not wanted and nothing complimented. Bad form. Needless to say I will not be going back. read more

I was a little wary to check this place out because of the under 4 star rating, but my fiancé convinced me to try it out anyways. Went last night and I LOVED the food! The calamari was so tender. The flavor and quality of all the food we had was exceptional, especially for this area. Really glad I gave this place a shot. Our server was really nice and extremely attentive as well. Prices are a little high but worth it in my opinion for the quality. Yes, the place is pretty dim but it didn't bother us, personally. Would definitely come again for special occasions. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Fettuccine Alfredo, meatballs on the side, chicken parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

My husband and I were out running errands and decided to try this place. We weren't sure if there was a dress code; it's pretty much shorts and T-shirt attire. He ordered the ribeye steak with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The steak had no flavor, was tough, and had lots of fat. The mashed potatoes were delicious. The vegetables were delicious and cooked perfectly. The calamari was delicious with a nice light batter; the clams and mussels were so delicious, but my husband didn't care for the marinara sauce. Their warm bread is delicious, and they have a five-dollar drink special - a mango jalapeño iced margarita - which was delicious. Also, the service was great, the atmosphere was great, and the restaurant was very clean. We will definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

Great service and food is always fresh and on point. Portions are good. We love the bar specials.

Their food is simply wonderful! Well prepared, beautiful and authentically Italian. You can always count on having a great meal. The service as good as the food! read more

We were surprised to learn the chef refuses to cook filet mignon past medium--even when requested. Saying "we don't cook it medium well" is already a bit rigid for a non-steakhouse, but following that with "we won't make an exception because we're busy" is a red flag. It comes off as dismissive, and honestly, it's a poor excuse. If they're charging $55 for a filet, they should be able to accommodate a basic request--especially for something as personal (and standard) as steak doneness. We won't be back. read more

This is a classy setting nice ambiance inside place to eat. I am always on the hunt for the best of the best. I judge an Italian restaurant first and foremost on the bread you get with your meal. The bread was ok, not blow me away. Also the bread portions was skimpy, I understand you can ask for more and maybe they don't want to waste. The service was top notch, very friendly and accommodating. We didn't have reservations but they made room for us. I got the lobster ravioli to compare with my favorite lobster ravioli at another restaurant Bella Italia, to see which one was better. Bella Italia won that round with better taste and more portions. I felt that it was too expensive for the amount I got, that's just my opinion. Listen this is a nice restaurant and most people would have nothing but good things to say. I'm just more picky then most people haha. Also the tails were left on the shrimp that came with the lobster ravioli, I personally don't like that. I don't want to have to get messy to eat my shrimp in my pasta. That's just me, Mr. Picky haha read more

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First time eating at this restaurant last night for a couples dinner with some dear friends. Great vibes. Such a classy place. I'd recommend for a date night to celebrate special occasions since it's a bit pricey. The food however was amazing. The portions are huge! The quality of our food is excellent. My hubby doesn't care too much for seafood but he got the Halibut & Scallops and ate it all up. He said it was cooked to perfection. He gave it a 8/10! I had the salmon plate and it was cooked perfectly. My friends got the stuffed crab/shrimp scallops and those were delicious too. Our server was fun & accommodating! We had such a great time... I will definitely be returning! read more

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Probably the worst restaurant experience I have had in this town. We waited for over two hours with no service. I understand the restaurant may have been busy, but two hours without any attention is unacceptable. The only reason I stayed was because it was my friend's birthday. Very disappointing. I would never come to this place again. I know my review may not affect much, but you just lost one customer. read more

When you are a regular, the owner goes above and beyond for you! Sometimes he offers free appetizers for you to try out to see if it's something he wants to offer! Tonight....we had an amazing Tomahawk Steak! It was the best steak I have ever had!!!! read more

My wife and I have been coming here for many years for special occasions. This is hands-down the best restaurant in Modesto, especially if you love seafood. The service is always top shelf. And their recent remodel has this place looking like it belongs in the Bay Area. read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

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Buffetman Sez: This place was an amazing find for Italian food! Prices are reasonable and you get great value and taste. The stuffed calamari is my fave, but I tried the blackened halibut with butterflied jumbo prawns special and it blew me away! I couldn't stop ... it was so freakin' good. Will be back! read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Blackened halibut with butterflied jumbo prawns. Ono!!! - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

Not a fan of the renovations. My dinner was not great but my husband and his friend enjoyed the special.

I have been to Ciao Bellas Several times for special occasions and just for a night out. Last night was one of those special occasions. I threw a surprise birthday party for my wife with about 25 guests. Anita helped me plan and execute the party perfectly. She and her assistant also serve our servers. They kept the drinks and appetizers coming without delay. They were delicious and satisfied until the main course was delivered promptly. Everybody's food was delicious, fresh, and served warm. Several of our guests had never been to Ciao Bellas before and are planning to make a return visit very soon. Chau, the owner / Chef, is always on point. He designed the menu, and Anita and her assistant executed it perfectly. Thank you, Ciao Bella, for making our night so special. We will never forget this wonderful evening. read more

If you've never had the pleasure of dining at Ciao Bella restaurant, you should certainly get on board. The food is the best in all of Modesto and it's a beautiful restaurant. Try the chicken salad with Gorgonzola and walnuts or the seafood combination with linguine delicious. The servers are very cute and very attentive. We love this place. read more

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What an incredible place. I had the stuffed calamari with the Frank family wine, cab of course. . It was just delicious. Oh my gosh, to even express how exhilarating it is to eat at a restaurant with such a great chef and great wine! Vanessa, the bartender made a cucumber refresher that was off the hook. Felecia has five thumbs up and she's only got two. What is up with that!!! Anyway, I love this place! read more

Ciao Bella Ristorante - Chilean Seabass with scallops, mashed potatoes and veggies - Italian Near Me - Modesto, California

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Very upset, I called and made a reservation for two. I was told there would be a twenty minute wait. We got there and checked in and they did not honor our reservation, we waited 45 minutes and were disregarded when I asked about the status of our reservation. They sat others that had come after us and put us on the list as though we had just walked up. Not the place I have always raved about and recommended. read more

I have been to this restaurant several times. The food is absolutely phenomenal here. during the week he'll throw certain bar specials up that you can get a little variety. I have met the owner. Very nice guy. Great person to talk to. He is also the chef. highly recommend this restaurant if you want really good quality food in Modesto. Great place to hang out with friends. Have drinks while you wait for your food. The staff is knowledgeable and pleasant to talk to. They treat people like you're their only customer which is hard to find. read more

Not sure what happened tonight, service and food was just not up to par. Super long wait for food (1.5 hr), waitress was not attentive nor apologetic about the wait, some dishes were bland and some overcooked. Just very disappointing overall. The owner was walking back and forth/in and out of kitchen, out to the patio, drinking with guests. Come to find out it was his bday so people were drinking with him, however I feel he should've paid a little more attention to the kitchen and ticket time on food. read more

The service was amazing. The staff was so inviting and attentive. They kept checking in with all guest to make sure everything was going well. Anna and Pam were amazing. We got the crab cakes (8/10), lobster ravioli (9/10), and clam and mussels (8/10). Crab cakes were nicely sized and flavorful. I cant stress enough I was happy not to be biting into any shells. Lobster ravioli sauce was great. The shrimps were perfectly cooked. I only wished they put a few more ravioli pieces inside. (There was 4 or 5). The class and mussels were really nice and sauce was great. Looking at it is a bit overwhelming at first but great portions. If you like spicy then I recommend asking for peppers. read more

Couldn't even make a reservation because they don't answer the phone. Called multiple times.

Just have a great dinner with some friends and the service was excellent The service was excellent read more

Apparently, if you're a regular you get preferential treatment. We were made to wait 20 minutes, even though we had reservations. A couple came in after us and was seated in the dining room, while we were finally seated in the bar next to a family with kids. We were celebrating an anniversary and we just felt slighted. I don't think we'll return. read more

I've recently moved to Modesto from the Bay Area. Restaurant options are a little more limited. Found Ciao Bella cause it's close to home. So glad that I did. This place is awesome. Friendly staff, great ambience, and the food is amazing. Their everyday menu is good in itself but the bar specials menu is really great too. The owner do try to change it up and no matter what the dish is. It's really good cause he puts his own take into it. Definitely recommend this place for a nice date night or just dinner with friends. read more