How do you know you’ve found a real good Italian restaurant? Easy: Every single thing you try just tastes great! You wonder how they do it, is it the ingredients, the spices, the way it’s cooked –even the simplest things manage to be exciting! Ciao Bella ticks all of these boxes and more.

The Venue
Situated in the lovely residential area of Bloomsbury, Ciao Bella is the unofficial home of devotees of Italian cuisine and attracts a mixed crowd. Dozens of old Hollywood photographs, the pianist in the corner with his dearly loved Rat Packs songs and the laminated menu, which seems to somehow have been transported through time, evoke just the right amount of kitsch Italian 1960s feeling. It all seems somehow right in this place and it’s heartwarming.

The Atmosphere
Whether you’re just on your way back from the British Museum just around the corner or treating yourself to a birthday dinner with your friends, Ciao Bella is the place. For a more romantic evening request a seat outside, with its cosy heaters and compact tables it comes real close to something you might have enjoyed in Florence or Rome. The more the merrier seems to be the motto on the ground floor inside where you will always find a friendly, buzzy party atmosphere. The waiters create just the right amount of Italian business, and they are not afraid to crack a joke or two. The service is excellent, fast and impeccable – just as you expect it from your favourite Italian restaurant.

The Food
Don’t go there if you are on a serious diet or if you’re one of these people who don’t enjoy good food; this will be tough for you. You always have freshly cut parcels of Parmesan cheese and olives to nibble while you’re trying to make up your mind. And there is plenty to choose from, with pizza and pasta in vast amounts as well as the chicken, duck beef and lamb roasts and several fish dishes. The starters are plain but plenty. The Affetato Misto, a basic dish of Italian cold cut is served, like every dish in this place, in a big size and you can easily share between two. Mortadella, parma ham and salami are fresh and they go fantastically well with the crunchy, fresh-from-the-oven pizza bread. Another really great starter is the grilled squid which comes with nothing but a slice of lemon - it’s a knockout combination. The lemon adds a kick to a lightly flavoured fish and the grill aroma - it’s crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside and almost melts on your tongue.

There are plenty of spaghetti dishes to choose from and all of them are cooked to al dente perfection as you would expect. Definitely worth a try are the sumptuous Carbonara and the lighter 3 Sapori – the latter excells with a combination of crunchy asparagus, and contrasting flavours of ham and mushrooms in a creamy light tomato sauce. Penne Arrabiata comes highly recommended if you like a bit of spiciness. The pizzas are huge, maybe a bit heavy, with a generous amount of toppings. They are not too watery; the crust is crunchy and not too big. Try the Ciao Bella pizza if you think you’d enjoy dipping the crust in egg yolk. For dessert there are several options – go for the tiramisu, it’s very creamy and balances just the right amount of coffee with Amaretto. Prices are from about £7 for pizza or pasta and from about £10 for roasts and fish.

The Drink
The choice of soft drinks, beers and spirits is somewhat limited but this is compensated by the wide array of different wines that are available, all at reasonable prices. The house wine is actually Chilean, starts at about £12 a bottle and is very drinkable. The Italian reds are a little on the pricey side but the Dezzani Barolo is affordable and has a slightly peppery aftertaste that goes really well with tomato based dishes. However, the waiters will happily suggest a decent bottle if asked.

The Last Word
If you enjoy excellent Italian food and want very good service this is the place to go. A word of advice - always book in advance as the place is hugely popular.

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