We came here to celebrate my wife's birthday. It had been 2 years since we ate here and we were "blown away." We wondered how much they had changed since COVID and we hoped their food was still good; hint, it might be better! We like Cucina Bella because we can take our son and not "break the bank" for a nice dinner. We encouraged our son to get the linguine and clams because it has been our favorite there. The pasta is well prepared and the white sauce is delicious! He liked it but ended up switching with me as I love it. The "star of the show" was the Chicken Parmesan. You might think, Why order such a common dish that isn't a great Italian dish? Whatever you think about Chicken Parmesan this will redefine the meal for you. Our server (Susan) suggested I get the Vodka sauce instead of Marinara so I listened. The chicken was very crispy and you had two nice pieces. The pasta was good and tender. That sauce made it go from good to amazing. My wife and son both kept asking for more until I switched plates with my son. I enjoy Chicken Parmesan but this was at a level I have never had. The joke after dinner was we are coming back next year and getting three Chicken Parmesans worth Vodka Sauce! Susan made the end extra special by bringing my wife some Tiramisu with candles. It was very thoughtful and we really appreciated her thoughtfulness. If you have wondered if Cucina Bella is still good, they are even better. read more

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The dishes are huge, the service is efficient, and the ambiance is bustling. I love their sauce in their pastas, and you can purchase them on your way out! read more

It's very good, but it's changed quite a bit and the portions are half the size they used to be

It's been a couple years since we were last here (bad construction traffic in downtown Algonquin and then Covid quarantine; both of which have gone away). We came tonight as a family to celebrate my birthday. Parking is easy to find. We had reservations so our table was ready when we arrived. Covid: hand sanitizer dispenser is right when you walk in and head towards the check in desk. Tables are spread out for social distancing. Not many people were dining inside. Quite a few coming and going all evening for take out. Business is doing well. Our waitress, Susan B, was very nice and helpful. She suggested sauce changes that made our meals even better and she helped when I was tossed between two meal choices. Her suggestions were spot on. Teenage son ordered the little neck clams with linguine and white sauce, house salad. Hubby ordered chicken parmigiana with vodka sauce, house salad. I ordered stuffed eggplant and house salad. It came with a side of penne pasta and red sauce that we brought home for our son to eat as a leftover. The three of us fell in love with the chicken parmigiana and vodka sauce! We were blown away with the delicious flavors and great quality chicken. Next time we will each get that dish. Not that we didn't love what we ate tonight. After our meal, Susan brought out a generous slice of tiramisu and lit a candle for my birthday dessert. What a great surprise! Thank you Cucina Bella for your consistency and quality in both your food and service. Each time we return it is as good an experience as the last visit was. read more

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Was there for New Year's Eve. Nice to see they had a regular menu. We were sat 15 minutes after our reservation time and it was not full. Hostess was a little rude telling us we had to be finished by a certain time. ( while I understand that it was a holiday, but it was her delivery especially after we were seated late) In addition, the restaurant never filled up . Service was excellent food was good just a little flat. Drinks and dessert were excellent. Will try again on a non holiday. read more

Ambience and service is great. Highly recommend calling ahead and making a reservation because of how popular it is. Everything is delicious--the fried calamari is ridiculously good! read more

Ahmazing food and service! Huge portions of authentic Italian meals made like your grandma did!!! You won't go hungry leaving here! Fabulous wine menu too!!! read more

This is a great Italian Restaurant that isn't overly expensive, service is always friendly, I love their meatballs with spaghetti and bolognese sauce. My wife loves the clam dish over some sort of pasta. read more

Great place & great food!! Service was good as well . Ambiance is great!! I recommend for a very pleasant dinner or even a good lunch if they are open for lunch. And the commuter train is just steps away from the place. A NW/UP LINE to & from Chicago is very convenient. (Cary. IL station) read more

I am a frequent diner at Cucina Bella. My favorite dish is Zuppa Di Mare. Again I ordered the same dish. New menu with an increase in prices. Oh, I get it. Came chuck full of my favorite seafood but a little short on the linguine side. The red sauce is succulent. Superb. Another new touch is the special dishes. My wife got the shrimp risotto. It was a little undercooked. Risotto was crunchy not creamy. After setting my stop watch after ordering it took over 1 hour to receive our food. In the meantime we were content to wait and have a few beers and chat. Only one problem, it is extremely loud on a crowded Saturday night. I regretted not being seated outside on a beautiful evening where it isn't loud at all. Maybe next time. Some sound proofing is in order for this environment. Seriously. Also, service is not up to par. Waiters took a long time to check up on drinks during a long lull between ordering and delivery of our food. Drinks were often empty waiting for refills. Including water. The food is excellent. Always. read more

We are long-time customers. It has been our go-to place for over 5 years. There have been a few glitches with service along the way that we overlooked because the food was so delicious. However, after our last 2 visits, we are looking for a new favorite place to dine. The saltimbocca sauce seems to have changed, not for the better. It no longer has that rich taste my husband so enjoyed. We were told the chef was "tweeking" some of their recipes. Speaking of sauces, the marinara that accompanies the chicken parmesan and side pasta is very bland, very little taste. The bread seems inferior, dry and tiny serving. The soup specials are still a favorite, but why such a small serving? Reservation requests seldom get returned. It's sad to leave an old friend, but it looks like this is the new normal for Cuccina, so we have to say "ciao". read more

Food was excellent. Calamari app was more than 2 people could finish... We both had the salmon entree...the kitchen was happy to tailor it to our specific dietary needs... (No linguine...extra roasted potatoes/spinach) Our server was right on time the entire evening..letting us order at our own pace while still being pleasant and attentive. The ambiance was better than expected and parking was very easy considering it's on the main drag. Highly recommend. read more

Absolutely delicious Italian cuisine. Large dining room and bar, good for large groups, great atmosphere and ridiculously reasonable prices! No one leaves here without a to-go bag! Even the "kids menu" spaghetti meal is a giant portion that is easily 2 generous size meals. Servers are attentive and friendly, overall a fantastic restaurant to take family and friends especially for a celebration. Love the pasta fagioli soup and the chicken picatta dinner with the potatoes ( instead of spaghetti for the side). However, spaghetti with marinara is delish!!! Just not w/ the chicken for me. Dessert menu- top notch, I highly recommend the cannoli- super fresh and delish! They also do take out! read more

Went there on November 9. They had a special of a 14 ounce ribeye when we walked in there at 4:30 and had a drink at the bar When she took our order at the table, I ordered it and she came back and said they were out already How do you run out of ribeye in 30 minutes? read more

I can't believe I have never reviewed or added pictures for this place. This is my favorite restaurant in the area. I know that when I come here, I will leave happy. Great service. Very very cute outdoor seating area and great Italian vibes inside. Everything tastes amazing here: drinks, apps, entrees, desserts. I have not had anything I didn't like. They have amazing food specials, they always have a special risotto. Their dirty martinis are s'perfect. Clean restrooms. Good parking around the area. ***The eggplant parmesan is my GO TO. Get it with the Arrabbiata sauce. You will not regret it.*** read more

Cucina Bella - Bow Tie pasta with Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Algonquin, Illinois

Food was amazing ;service spot on our waitress was attentive definitely not pushy. Ambience is comfortable and welcoming with a nice casual din it was nice to be able to have a conversation without yelling across the table. Seating is close yet not uncomfortable The decor is pleasant not overwhelming. I would recommend everyone give this place a try if you're a fan of Italian cuisine. read more

A staple in downtown Algonquin. Very friendly staff and delicious food. Go there on a date or bring a bunch of friends. They have plenty of room. Nice long bar to enjoy a drink while waiting for a table. You will be immediately greeted by a hostess when you walk in. They will tell you how long the wait is if they are busy, but chances are they can get you a table fairly quickly. Start off with bread and olive oil and grated parm. The staff will check in regularly to see if everything is ok. The pasta is excellent and served in massive portions. Be prepared to bring home leftovers. If you like steak or seafood you will also be impressed. Great wine selection and quality cocktails. read more

Great food but make sure you ask if they have bread ! Sat down to order but no bread so we left we need bread for pasta

Best Italian spot in Algonquin. Hard pressed to find a better place in McHenry County. The food, service and ambiance are all amazing.

I have always loved this restaurant but tonight my partner and I were both served a meh meal. My gnocchi were pillows of tastiness but they were drowned in an acidic tomato butter sauce. The minestrone soup was bland with hard garbanzo beans. My partner had linguini with meat sauce. The meat sauce had pieces of meatballs that were made with bread crumbs. Once again, the sauce was subpar and lacked flavor. He did his best with table salt and pepper but overall the dish was a disappointment. His side salad was fresh and delicious. The server was attentive except that she neglected to offer to refill our non alcoholic drinks. She did bring us boxes for leftovers and the dessert menu when she thought we were done but she pointedly ignored our empty glasses (which had never been refilled during the course of our meal). Waitress was training someone and seemed to be the only waitress so maybe she was stretched too thin. Ambiance is decent - restaurant is comfy and always clean. We will come here again but will wait a bit - hoping it is back up to this usual standard next time we visit. read more

I've lived in "old Algonquin" for over 4+ years now. Cucina Bella is always been a staple here in the community and people from far away know of the place. Cucina Bella is known for their authentic Italian dishes and MASSIVE pasta dishes. There is enough pasta in one order to feed four people and provide leftovers. I typically get the Capellini with Pomodoro Sauce. For protein, I typically add on a meatball or sausage link. Prices are a bit up there, but the portion size and quality EASILY justifies the price. You'll have warm-ups for days. The restaurant is very intimate and perfect for date night. They are full EVERY NIGHT of the week. In the Summer, their outdoor patio is phenomenal. Parking is the one downside. There isn't much parking downtown Algonquin. You may spend 10-15 minutes waiting to find a spot on the street. As I mentioned, the restaurant is at capacity every night. There may be a short wait, but I can assure you it is well worth it! Bring your appetite, you're going to need it! read more

This place is located in the adorable downtown of Algonquin. Servers know the menu & specials well, they can help you decide what to eat! Drinks are good, servings of pasta are enough to last you a full week!! So much food. This is a great place to go with family or out of town guests. Everyone in our party enjoyed their meals and the ambiance inside the restaurant! read more

Finally made it here. We live close but just hadn't gone. Food was fantastic and honestly... the price wasn't bad at all. Not to mention the size of the meal... yeah it'll last me 2 more meals lol. Our server was incredible. I wish I remembered her name so I can name drop... but she was fantastic. Drinks were pretty good. Mai Tai and an Old Fashioned. $9 $10. Wifes bday we I asked as i "went to the bathroom" if they did anything and they do a really nice tiramisu. Overall had a great dinner to finish up a not so great day, so this was fantastic. Will definitely be back and will choose this over an olive garden trip any day. read more

Cucina Bella - Boss baby for some Italian food! - Italian Near Me - Algonquin, Illinois

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Very disappointing and very long wait even with the reservation all around 45 minutes to get food. Called I had a time to make sure they had octopus, and they said yes because we had someone from out of town requesting it. We got there and they said oops we don't have that when we got her the sauce was very watery. We didn't eat it we ate most of the bread. Very very disappointing. I haven't been there in a year and I remember why now so many better places to go eat read more

This was our first time dining at Cucina Bella and we will definitely be back. Our Server Dawn was amazing She truly made our experience special! The food was wonderful and the Pork Osso Bucco was so tender and the flavor was amazing. The portion sizes were so large we had enough for another meal. It was my Birthday so we had to have dessert You must try the homemade Tiramisu it did not disappoint. Our Server also recommended the Chefs homemade salted caramel cheesecake It was very very good Overall great meal and value for the price. This is a must try ... you will not be disappointed. Tip - make a reservation and go early they fill up fast. read more

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You remember going to your grandma's when you were a kid? It doesn't matter if she was Italian or not, mine certainly wasn't. The point I'm getting at is that you always kinda knew exactly what you were going to eat, but that never stopped it from being amazing. Then there were the portion sizes so generous they tested not only your willpower and self-control, but also the strength of the button on your pants. You knew you were being treated, and treated well. That's a meal at Cucina Bella. Or a meal and another the next day, because unless you get fish (good for you, we all do sometimes), you WILL have leftovers, there are no maybes on that. And if you're anything like me, you'll find a few favorites and find a few ways to make them even better. Grandma always cared enough to make something special if her grandkids liked it, and Cucina Bella is no different. Change that sauce on your gnocchi! Throw that chicken parm on some rigatoni! The choice is yours. Beautiful when you can dine in (and with especially fine service), but it withstands the car ride home for carryout just fine too. read more

First off, the drinks.. Drinks were awesome! Definitely not water down cocktails or highballs. Service is great! Our wait staff was very polite and efficient. It was our first time there, and it was a very busy Friday night, and we were able to squeeze in. Ambiance: It's a nice Italian restaurant, noise level is pretty high, not a problem though. Food: Hit and miss, we have stuffed mushroom, I have the Pick your own pasta, and hubby has a cream based pasta with shrimp. They serve a very generous amount of food. All the dishes come out nice and HOT, all the dishes are very delicious except the cream based pasta with shrimp is pretty soupy. The sauce did not cling to the pasta and just accumulated at the bottom of the plate. The shrimp was nice and large, cooked just right! Even after I reheat it at home carefully, it was still awesome. We will likely go back again and try different dishes. read more

The food is tasty depending on who the cooks are there for the evening. The pasta portions used to be enough for more than one meal. I'm sure sue to inflation they had to cut back a little. The service is great depending on who you get. And the ambiance is nice and relaxing. read more

Sent a message on Facebook regarding making a reservation for our anniversary, was told they don't take reservations that way and to call during business hours. I called that day and there was no answer, but was able to leave a message, asking to make the reservation and to please return my call.... Called back two more times since with no answer, and no call backs. So far, not that's just frustrating and not a good idea experience and ended up making reservations elsewhere. read more

The most delicious Italian food that I have had in a very long time. Huge portion sizes, friendly staff, even the manager came up to us and asked how we were doing and gave my daughter a free ice cream for dessert. They serve Italian bread with olive oil and Parmesan cheese and when you order a dinner you get a generous side salad or a cup of soup. The restaurant is family friendly and romantic at the same time. I highly recommend dining here! A+++ 5 stars for sure! read more

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Beautiful sun. Beautiful pasta. Love the way they treated the mature lady I was with who doesn't get out much. The owner and staff are friendly and totally cool! read more

Menu has false price advertising. Menu says $18 for vodka and $6 for chicken, how was my pasta $30? To me that's total bizarre and tooexpensive for pasta. And portions are smaller . What's going on here.? We were also dined in for two hours. Service took a very long time with us. We were sat all the way in beck by a party room. read more

I dont really underatand why people go to chain places like Biaggis when you can go here. Great staff and the food is great. My wife always enjoys their daily risotto options. read more

Excellent family owned Italian spot in quaint downtown Algonquin. Plenty of street parking with overflow lots available across the street. Ambiance is warm and welcoming - great for a family dinner or a date night (just like da Baffone in Crystal Lake). The noise level is elevated, but not so loud that you have to shout. My wife and I were lucky and scored a 6:30 reservation earlier in the day - and that reservation was absolutely necessary as the place was packed from wall to wall from when we arrived at 6:15 and when we left at 7:45. Despite being packed, the service was prompt and super friendly. The wine list is decent, and impressive for how affordable it is. The menu is pretty simple - 2 pages with standard antipasti plates and salads, with house specialties at the bottom of the front. On the back side is a choose your own adventure option to mix and match pastas and sauces, followed by chicken, beef, and seafood options. The portions are enormous and the prices are incredibly reasonable. The most important part is that everything was delicious. The bread was stale, but everything else tasted great. It's not going to blow you away with innovation - it's a classic red sauce joint... but they know what they do and they do it well. We ordered 2 salads, a glass of wine, and the veal parmigiana - in total it was only $45. We left full, satisfied, and happy. Would definitely recommend! read more

The service is piss poor let me tell you a little story about how my girlfriend friend and I went last year and will never go back!! We went there on a nice summer day and the restaurant and the outdoor patio was pretty empty. There was one round table on the outside and it was filled with group of couples, my girlfriend and I wanted to have a little bit of a private conversation so we moved one table down. The waitress came out, literally pulled out her order pad, threw it down and said hell no, You 2 cannot sit there. she demanded that we move up. And this was after being told, we could sit wherever we liked by the outdoor hostess. I said come again???? She said what if we get busy and I'm no bringing food back further than necessary. I said well don't bring it all all then!!! When i tried to tell the manager that didn't work out too well either the inside hostess didn't even wanna get the manager. She seems like she was too busy standing around sorting crayons to be bothered with just such a request. When we finally did tt manager she could not and did NOT believe this occurred. Said that waitress is one our best I said well it did do you want me to go get the other customers who heard her and looked (round table with couples). She said no I will look into this 3 days later I got call. TOO LATE never went back. The food maybe good but not worth being treated like steerage!!!! read more

Cucina Bella is a solid option for Italian food in the Algonquin area. The atmosphere is relaxing and the service is always good. The menu is one page and the specials are often rotated. I wish they would offer up more diverse specials or change up the menu now and then. And the Bella salad is so good! read more

The good: My husband and I ate here recently. The steamed mussels in red wine sauce was delicious, we were drinking the sauce with a spoon and dipping bread. The Italian Kiss martini was very sweet and yummy, and he liked the Irish coffee. Houses salads had great flavor and fresh ingredients. Our server was attentive and kind, nice gal. The desserts were HUGE and amazing flavors - chocolate mousse and carrot cake. The bad: Our bowls of pasta were massive, but lacked authentic Italian flavor. My carbonara was soupy and 99% pasta noodles, despite all the extra I paid to add in peas and mushrooms. Couldn't find them. Bland flavor and bland meatballs, no seasoning. Same story on my husband's order even though it was supposed to be a light garlic and olive oil sauce - soupy and bland. He described the taste as "hot pasta water" with a scattering of olives. Overall, if we return, we would try a chicken or veal entree, never the pasta again. Also, the portion sizes on the pasta and dessert were concerningly large. Maybe if we were locals taking home leftovers, it would be nice, but coming from out of town, it felt very wasteful to leave 3/4ths of our pasta uneaten when we left. read more

Alway liked Cucina Bella but this last trip was a bit of a disappointment. Understaffed during the COVID pandemic service was a little sketchy. The entree's we ordered we just "meh". Because I know they can do better I'll be back. read more

Cucina Bella - Rainy night - Italian Near Me - Algonquin, Illinois

As long time patrons of Cucina Bella, we had high expectations for my daughter's bridal shower, which were far surpassed. We had 56 guests; the restaurant was closed so we used the entire dining room and bar area. The exposed brick-walled room has such character and warmth; we added only a few table centerpieces and candles. The delicious food was served family style and each table had plenty (we took leftovers home)! It was high quality, very fresh, and all dishes were served at the correct temperatures. Our menu included bruschetta, grilled calamari, house salad, penne marinara, gnocchi with vodka sauce, chicken Francese and tiramisu. This penne marinara is a flavorful departure from a typical mostaccioli dish. My daughter's favorite is the gnocchi with vodka - the gnocchi were pillow soft and the sauce perfectly robust. The tasty chicken was tender and savory. Can't tell you how many guests said they literally wanted to "drink all of the sauces"! They raved about the scrumptious food, mimosa bar, bloody Marys, ambience and service - and they are still talking about it! Kim and Lindsey were amazing and did not miss a beat in providing top notch service for the large group. I have no idea how they did it all and did it so well - all in good cheer! Erin is a terrific event coordinator, very responsive, thorough and professional, offering suggestions and lots of patience! High praise to the kitchen staff as well. All helped to create a most memorable experience for us. Thank you! read more

Ordered baked clams as an appetizer....served like steamed clams with tomato sauce on top! Then ordered lamb Osso Bucco on a mushroom Risotto! (Sp) for those that know Italian cuisine it should be a nice center cut shank with a BIG braised center cut shank with marrow! Served on creamy Arribotta Italian rice! Mine was a dry roasted end boney lamb shank almost burnt served on a sticky pile of rice with very few mushrooms! I know of better places!! read more