A true gem with authentic dishes, outstanding service at a price point that's makes it a incredible value.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J W
Our party of six had an amazing dinner on Thanksgiving evening. The cocktails were perfect, appetizers were delicious, entrees were fantastic and yes - the dessert was amazing. We ordered one of every dessert and they were all superb. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
surbhi garg
Food was sooooo good. Their special for the day scallops made in truffle sauce over a bed of potatoe pancakes were out of the world good. Excellent calamari. Butterflied Pork chops rolled with spinach prosciutto mushrooms and fontina cheese was such that even though we were full to the brim we didn’t leave a lick. Must try place, warm hospitality and friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sara
Amazing food! The salmon pasta was recommended by Rocco and was outstanding. Will definitely return on our next trip.
Siobhan L
Visiting from NYC and enjoyed dinner here! Great service and tasty food in a cozy and romantic setting! Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Virginia Kronk
Fantastic experience all around - definitely going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lori Goldman-Longo
Excellent restaurant. Fast efficient service from a number of different staffers. The food was delicious and there was a warm attentive atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Russ
What a wonderful discovery this turned out to be! Sometimes the best dining experiences come from those unplanned moments when one door closes and another opens. Inadvertantly finding this gem while we were vacationing in the Catskills clearly elevated our entire trip, and it ranks among the finest Italian restaurants we've encountered anywhere. The atmosphere immediately set the tone with its warm yet sophisticated ambiance that captured that authentic Italian family restaurant feeling. The thoughtful details mattered here, from the gentle background music featuring classic Italian crooners like Frank Sinatra to the elegantly folded napkins and the professional service staff dressed in crisp white shirts and ties. Everything worked together to create an experience that felt both welcoming and refined. Our culinary journey through the day's specials showcased the kitchen's skill with each course. The butternut squash soup delivered that perfect natural sweetness that comes from quality ingredients prepared with care. The lobster ravioli impressed not just with flavor but with generous sizing in the half order. Then came the standout Lamb Martini, featuring four beautifully pounded lamb rib chops with their Parmigiana breadcrumb crust and bright lemon white wine sauce, cooked to perfection. It's clear the kitchen knows how to honor traditional preparations while adding their own signature touches. Beyond the food itself, the family atmosphere extended to genuine hospitality. Watching one of the owners embrace guests at a private party and then receiving our own farewell hugs on the way out spoke volumes about the warmth and personal connection they bring to their establishment. This kind of authentic generosity transforms a meal into a memory. Our evening there was truly special from start to finish.
Margi
I had the Bucatinni Amatriciana and my husband had the salmon special, both we delicious! Service was excellent, attentive and timely. We aren't often in Monticello but when we are we will return.‼️
Paul Gianquinto
Excellent menu and exceptional service. Very attentive staff. Highly recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great suggestion from Formaggio Italian Cheese Specialties, where I worked for two days, to go for dinner. Fantastic service, and great tasting pasta. I wish I could remember the name of my waiter, a great guy...I also met Gunny, who is also a great guy....You can't go wrong at this place. Too bad I had to rush to get back to my hotel to do work, but it would be nice to have a nice dinner and take your time. Thanks, Formaggio, for the suggestion!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karim Fleifel
I ordered the lamb “special,” but the joke was on me. They never gave us a menu beforehand — just rattled off the specials — and only at the end did I find out it cost $50. Honestly, I wouldn’t pay $20 for what I got. The portion was small, the flavor was bland, and the whole thing felt like a scam.
The service didn’t help. The owner was flat-out rude, and while the server was friendly, they were also completely incompetent — forgetting things, moving slow, and clearly untrained.
Between the surprise price and the awful service, this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. Definitely not worth it.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sandeep Malhotra
Absolute gem in Monticello. The food was outstanding! Starting on the appetizers which included calamari, spinach pear and goat cheese salad and arugula roasted beet salad. The lamb chops, seared tuna, branzino and chicken Marsala were all to die for. The tiramisu and Italian pistachio cheesecake were sumptuous. Wine was great. Service was courteous, attentive and prompt. Great outdoor seating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julie Bradford
In a world in which we have become accustomed to a lower standard of quality of food and service in restaurants, Ciao Bella is a breath of fresh air that reminds one of how good it can be. They have mastered their craft. The staff are warm and kind and welcoming. They are knowledgeable and professional and never miss a beat. They treat you like family. The food is inspired. The presentation is fabulous and no matter what you order, you will savor every last mouthwatering bite. Ciao Bella and their magnificent team maintain a standard to which other restaurants can only aspire to achieve.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
kenneth
Third year coming here and everything was great as always!Found this hidden gem and never disappoints!Missed non-alcoholic beer by a couple of days,maybe next year!
A true gem with authentic dishes, outstanding service at a price point that's makes it a incredible value.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our party of six had an amazing dinner on Thanksgiving evening. The cocktails were perfect, appetizers were delicious, entrees were fantastic and yes - the dessert was amazing. We ordered one of every dessert and they were all superb. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was sooooo good. Their special for the day scallops made in truffle sauce over a bed of potatoe pancakes were out of the world good. Excellent calamari.
Butterflied Pork chops rolled with spinach prosciutto mushrooms and fontina cheese was such that even though we were full to the brim we didn’t leave a lick.
Must try place, warm hospitality and friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food! The salmon pasta was recommended by Rocco and was outstanding. Will definitely return on our next trip.
Visiting from NYC and enjoyed dinner here! Great service and tasty food in a cozy and romantic setting! Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic experience all around - definitely going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent restaurant. Fast efficient service from a number of different staffers. The food was delicious and there was a warm attentive atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a wonderful discovery this turned out to be! Sometimes the best dining experiences come from those unplanned moments when one door closes and another opens. Inadvertantly finding this gem while we were vacationing in the Catskills clearly elevated our entire trip, and it ranks among the finest Italian restaurants we've encountered anywhere. The atmosphere immediately set the tone with its warm yet sophisticated ambiance that captured that authentic Italian family restaurant feeling. The thoughtful details mattered here, from the gentle background music featuring classic Italian crooners like Frank Sinatra to the elegantly folded napkins and the professional service staff dressed in crisp white shirts and ties. Everything worked together to create an experience that felt both welcoming and refined. Our culinary journey through the day's specials showcased the kitchen's skill with each course. The butternut squash soup delivered that perfect natural sweetness that comes from quality ingredients prepared with care. The lobster ravioli impressed not just with flavor but with generous sizing in the half order. Then came the standout Lamb Martini, featuring four beautifully pounded lamb rib chops with their Parmigiana breadcrumb crust and bright lemon white wine sauce, cooked to perfection. It's clear the kitchen knows how to honor traditional preparations while adding their own signature touches. Beyond the food itself, the family atmosphere extended to genuine hospitality. Watching one of the owners embrace guests at a private party and then receiving our own farewell hugs on the way out spoke volumes about the warmth and personal connection they bring to their establishment. This kind of authentic generosity transforms a meal into a memory. Our evening there was truly special from start to finish.
I had the Bucatinni Amatriciana and my husband had the salmon special, both we delicious! Service was excellent, attentive and timely. We aren't often in Monticello but when we are we will return.‼️
Excellent menu and exceptional service. Very attentive staff. Highly recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great suggestion from Formaggio Italian Cheese Specialties, where I worked for two days, to go for dinner. Fantastic service, and great tasting pasta. I wish I could remember the name of my waiter, a great guy...I also met Gunny, who is also a great guy....You can't go wrong at this place. Too bad I had to rush to get back to my hotel to do work, but it would be nice to have a nice dinner and take your time. Thanks, Formaggio, for the suggestion!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered the lamb “special,” but the joke was on me. They never gave us a menu beforehand — just rattled off the specials — and only at the end did I find out it cost $50. Honestly, I wouldn’t pay $20 for what I got. The portion was small, the flavor was bland, and the whole thing felt like a scam.
The service didn’t help. The owner was flat-out rude, and while the server was friendly, they were also completely incompetent — forgetting things, moving slow, and clearly untrained.
Between the surprise price and the awful service, this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. Definitely not worth it.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Absolute gem in Monticello. The food was outstanding! Starting on the appetizers which included calamari, spinach pear and goat cheese salad and arugula roasted beet salad. The lamb chops, seared tuna, branzino and chicken Marsala were all to die for. The tiramisu and Italian pistachio cheesecake were sumptuous. Wine was great. Service was courteous, attentive and prompt. Great outdoor seating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
In a world in which we have become accustomed to a lower standard of quality of food and service in restaurants, Ciao Bella is a breath of fresh air that reminds one of how good it can be. They have mastered their craft. The staff are warm and kind and welcoming. They are knowledgeable and professional and never miss a beat. They treat you like family. The food is inspired. The presentation is fabulous and no matter what you order, you will savor every last mouthwatering bite. Ciao Bella and their magnificent team maintain a standard to which other restaurants can only aspire to achieve.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Third year coming here and everything was great as always!Found this hidden gem and never disappoints!Missed non-alcoholic beer by a couple of days,maybe next year!
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