Café Bella

I am seriously sad! I’ve had so many great times here! Brunches (BYOB mimosas), dates with my hubby, I loved bringing out of town visitors, bookclub night and a few birthday parties! I wish you new great adventures!

We used Café Bella to cater our wedding and they were just what we needed. I gave them my budget and a menu idea and they kept it within reason and used pretty much all of my ideas and then some. We had the food wrapped up to go and had a friend pick up for us because we wanted to keep the cost down and our wedding was in a barn at a friends farm. I am pretty sure they can work with you if you need serving platters, not sure about serving, you would have to ask them. The food was delicious (the little I was able to eat being the bride)! Contact Vince & Adam for your catering needs!

Café Bella — a place to enjoy simplicity. This is about the only patio that the spouse will willingly take to, but I think it’s mainly because the main restaurant can get stuffy and warm. However, a beautiful and somewhat secluded outdoor area with murals and a water tank with fish and plants awaits backroom diners. The food here is simple — and delicious. No over-​sugared red sauce or cheap oil here, no schtick. We’ve always found the vibe to be super-​casual and unpretentious, and the service is always personable, if busy. It’s a relaxed place to start your weekend or your evening.

Um no. I went here based on Sam M’s (who I think has excellent taste in food) review. The ambiance is quirky and if it’s your thing, can be quite cool. But, I was thoroughly put off by the rudeness, the very mediocre food, the absolutely poor service (even considering the fact that it’s a one-​man show), and the quite steep prices for the mediocre food. I realized that the menu doesn’t change much, but really, must everyone eat the SAME MENU all the time (eggplant parmersan, lackluster red sauce, etc.)? Why doesn’t it change? And why is it acceptable for the chef to be so rude (he practically barked at me twice when I had dirty plates and he wanted to remove them; rolled his eyes when I said that we had another diner who was running late; yelled at people when they couldn’t figure out which door to use; and was short/​sarcastic with us several times when we asked questions). And people have noted this is a good value, but for $ 17, I can find a just as filling meal in a less mediocre and less rude establishment (hello North Star!). My sole, one star is for the fact that the chef was so rude, it became a point of entertainment halfway through the meal.

I was drawn to this restaurant because of it’s cool concept. It’s very casual and laid back and everyday the chef makes a different family style dish. There’s no menu. They grow a lot of the ingredients that they use on premise. I usually call ahead to make a reservation and they are sure to ask each time if anyone in your party has food allergies or dietary restrictions so they can take that into consideration when you arrive. Most times we have gone with someone who doesn’t eat meat or is pescetarian and we’ve had the most delicious meals that accommodate everyone in the party. They usually start you with a family style salad and/​or an appetizer, a family style main dish, and maybe a dessert. They suggest a price for each person to pay which in my experience has been usually between $ 12 — $ 15. The best part is you bring your own drinks to have with dinner. I usually will bring 2 bottles of wine (to share with the table, of course!). No corkage fee. The inside of the place has kind of a hole in the wall vibe, but if you can get a table outside on the patio, do it. We did a bachelorette dinner on the patio one time and brought our own tablecloths and it was perfect, so great for big parties, or small. Also, the waiter will usually be unshaven, wearing a Grateful Dead t-​shirt, and sometimes has a wine bottle opener if another table isn’t using it, which adds to the ambiance. I usually bring my own :) If you haven’t been there, you must check it out at least once to see what it’s all about.

Awesome place. Great service! I’ve been here several times. You can not beat the meal for the money.

I went to Café Bella for the first time today, and my friend and I had a great experience. I loved not having to make a decision about what to eat. We were served pancakes, frittata, and a salad for brunch. The pancakes were fantastic, as well as the frittata. I don’t typically order a salad, but it went great with the frittata. The staff was super friendly, and kept our coffee cups full of French press coffee. It certainly does have that hole on the wall feeling, so if you love those types of places, you want to check out Café Bella. I can see this place becoming a Sunday brunch favorite.

Amazing food, one of my favorites in Columbus. You can call ahead and order. It’s delicious and the staff is super accommodating

Café Bella is a very unique, hidden gem of a restaurant. Don’t let the eclectic, no frills décor deter you, the food is amazing!
It’s served family style and they surprise you with a 3 course meal for a fixed price of $ 16 per person. The cook took special care to not only make sure he accommodated any food allergies, but also asked our table about what we liked/​disliked to get an idea of the type of courses we would all enjoy.
First he brought out a butternut squash soup, then a salad, and for the main course — beef and mushroom risotto. Everything was excellent and the risotto was by far the best. And I almost forgot to mention. it’s BYOB so bring a bottle of wine :)
This was my first time trying Café Bella and will be coming back again!

Café Bella defies the norm. It’s not a café, more than a diner, and not quite a «hole in the wall». I have been here many times over the years, and while some things have changed, the core concept remains the same.
What’s been the same? The three course reasonably priced menu, now at about $ 16 per person. The starter is an «organic» house salad. Ingredients often times grown on site. Entrees are a choice between breaded, fried, Parmesan eggplant or Parmesan chicken, pastas. They both are prepared well. Actually, the eggplant is better, this coming from a carnivore. The dessert is oftentimes just an afterthought, nothing special. Sometimes they may add an appetizer like flat bread, veggie item, etc. The highlight is the BYOB although, other beverages are available for purchase. Portions are big, so it’s perfect for groups, as well as couples. On the downside, the carpet is still stained and dirty dishes can be seen laying around. But, after a couple of drinks who cares?
What’s newer? They have their own Tilapia tank. So, now fish can be on the menu. Actually this particular night they were also offering meatballs. The place has a new fresh coat of paint, dining seats and even art on the wall. They play an interesting eclectic mix of music. This last time it was radio friendly hip hop i.e. Common & Jay Z. Overall it’s a funky, cozy, throwback vibe.
You can either eat in the «kitchen» area, right as you walk in the front door, dining room further back, or weather permitting, the cool back patio. (Beware of the smokers) Parking is also in the back. You pay at the counter at the front. Oh, and don’t hesitate to come as you are, or as you want!
Finally, it’s worth mentioning the cooks/​servers really make an effort to satisfy your particular palate to the extent that they can, as they really aim to please. That should go a long way in anyone’s book.

What a find! Locally sourced food prepared magnificently and served family style! Our wait staff was a blast! The chef really rocked our dinner. I’m not a huge eggplant person, but wow! This stuff was great! Byob interesting and allows some flexibility! We had a blast!
Nice funky, no frills atmosphere with the emphasis on the food — as it should be!

In a rarity for me, this rating is based more on the idea of Café Bella than the actual food. No frills. No pretensions. Just a total dedication to finding and using the freshest ingredients and not letting ego get in the way of presenting them. If you need a million-​dollar décor or robot-​like wait persons with smarmy smiles and no clue then this place is not for you. However, if you want to get together with friends, eat carefully chosen ingredients well prepared, sip your own beverage of choice (BYOB…I LOVE it), and talk with the owners about the concept and the food, this is a find. Started with a green salad with a vinegary vinaigrette the was a fine palate cleanser. Next came bruchetta with a tapanade topping (two or our company were vegetarians so they didn’t add meat to the bruchetta). They were delicious. The entrée was divided between vegetarian (fried eggplant over veggie pasta) and omnivore (breaded and fried chicken over the same pasta). Both were very good if not great. Actually, the eggplant was great. Dessert were tiny tea cookies that made up in flavor what they lacked in size. As a lagniape, the owner brought out paw-​paws and asked if we would like to try them. I had never had a fresh paw-​paw before. It was super and fun. It is that kind of place. We sat and drank, and talked and laughed after the dishes were cleared with no one hurrying us along. Great night.
Eating here is like going to a friend’s house for dinner and finding he is serving things from his garden and that he finds in the woods. And fun. Again, if you need cossetting, do not go. If you like a fine meal with friends at a fair price and to which you can bring what you want to drink (without a 300% mark-​up like at a CM joint), then make a trip here.

I almost went down to 3 stars for this, but I guess it’s not quite down there.
During my most recent visit, we brought a large group for a birthday party. Everyone arrived between 7 and 7:30. The salads came out around 7:15, and we all enjoyed them (same salad I remember from my last visit). The cook/​server came around 7:25 to ask what the ETA was for the last few people who had yet to arrive, because he wanted to gauge when to bring the next course. They arrived five minutes later, yet our main dish did not arrive until 8:30! Now, don’t get me wrong, we were all chatting, drinking wine, and enjoying the beautiful weather, but still– an hour?! And then, it was the same exact thing we had on our last visit. And, while it was a good, safe dish to serve to 14 people, part of the reason this place is cool, is that you don’t know what you’re going to get! But it seems like you’re pretty much going to get served spaghetti with red sauce and chicken parmesan, Italian sausage, and eggplant parmesan. And you can expect to spend $ 15 per person.
They brought out dessert (pecan tarts) which were great. But for our group of 14, they brought 10. Which was fine, since we had brought a cheesecake to celebrate the birthday boy. When I went inside to ask for plates for the cheesecake, the owner (I presume) asked if he could also serve us dessert. I told him that we had gotten some, but not enough for the whole group, so if he wanted to being a few more, I’m sure the rest of the group would love to try them. And the cook/​server got snappy with me from behind the counter, assuring me that he had brought enough for the group. «I counted them out! Everyone got one!» Uhhhh– ok.
So all in all, a lackluster experience on the part of the restaurant, but still a lovely night!

First time here and was pleasantly surprised. I have probably driven past this place hundreds of time but never realized it was there. Went for a party and want sure what to expect. Walked in and meet the incredibly friendly chef/​owner Vince. He told me a little about the restaurant and showed me too the patio.
They started us off with flat bread pizza made with fresh herbs and cheeses that was crispy and delicious. The main course was bbq chicken, smoked pork (in house), chicken parmesan, all on top of a heaping helping of pasta with tomato sauce. Overall the food was great and the atmosphere was relaxing and welcoming. The staff was really friendly and seem to take pride in working there.
This place is a great hole in the wall spot that I will definitely return to.

First time back in quite awhile. As good as the last time. Salad, cheese/​pickle/​olive plate, main pasta dish, and some wonderful oatmeal dessert squares from Kendra. The gentlemen working last evening were a couple of fantastic characters that were genuinely interested in how we like the preparation.
No menu, they asked about allergy and other food restrictions and created from there. I am fairly certain it is cash only. I am ashamed that we weren’t back sooner than this. Now that we are in the neighborhood, we will be regulars.
What this is not: this is not a Mitchell restaurant. No Rob Roy’s or garçons in white coats scraping the crumbs off your table between courses.
This is eclectic, funky, spontaneous good food. Must try! Or in the words yelled at us as the main course was served, «you eat now!»

My true rating would probably be a 3.5 star
I went to Café Bella for the first time a few weeks ago. Our group was about 8 – 9 persons large. It’s charming in it’s simplicity, both in terms of the décor and the concept behind the restaurant.
The venue itself is nothing fancy, almost quirky, and very chill. That plus the fact that it’s BYOB really makes it a nice place for groups.
The food was generally good. Again, nothing too fancy, although depending on your cooking experience it might feel like you could make some of them on your own. The star of the night for us was probably dessert. I don’t think it had a name, but it was some kind of spicy chocolate cake-​ish thing finished off with strawberries and cream on top.

How have I never reviewed Café Bella?!
This place is probably my absolute favorite restaurant in Columbus. It’s not fancy at all… it’s actually pretty much a hole in the wall. I feel like most people completely miss it when they pass by.
No menu, they ask if there are any dietary restrictions and cook what they have available. Vegetables are from their garden, they are so fresh! Four courses served family style — salad, appetizer, entrée, and dessert, all for $ 16. Every time I’ve ever gone I’ve gotten 2+ plates of the salad and entrée, there is PLENTY to go around and even have leftovers! It just reminds me of a good home cooked meal rather than one from a restaurant. If you were to go anywhere else, this meal would be over $ 40/​per person. Seriously, why I don’t go here every day is a mystery.
BYOB!

I was extremely excited to try Café Bella for my birthday and called ahead to request vegetarian/​vegan for our meal. They said ok, and then one week later, we showed up, simple as that.
We walked in and I was very confused — there was a cluttered kitchen/​work space on the right behind a refrigerated display and to the left a few mismatched tables and chairs shoved in the tiny room. My eyes got big, and I started to doubt this choice. This place reminded me of a lot of local asian restaurants with tile or linoleum and harsh fluorescent lights, and zero character or personality, but this was not what I expected from a place that custom makes your meal upon request and never has a menu as it changes with availability and the seasons.
Our chef for the evening, preparing a heaping salad behind the counter, told us to have a seat in the dining room, and I exhaled in relief, glad we didn’t have to eat in that sad room. Well, the dining room wasn’t much better, but it was an improvement with painted walls with art on them. It looks like this place was an old bank with an open vault in the back, but none of the original character was maintained. There was rich dark wood at the old storefront but no one was taking advantage of these details.
There were about three other groups of people there to eat throughout the night who were all brought the same thing as us –looked like because we were eating vegan, so was everyone else. My sister ordered a side of salmon just to get some more protein, but we both enjoyed all three courses. The heaping salad previously mentioned, overloaded with sprouts of every sort and drizzled with a nice balsamic dressing. Next, a huge platter of pasta primavera in a really good tomato sauce and again containing some of those crunchy sprouts. Lastly, a simple dessert of green grapes and bananas.
We brought in our own drinks, cider, and they provided us with a bottle opener which was nice.
When we checked out, we were only charged $ 13 for everything, but I think the salmon was supposed to be more. Oh well, happy birthday to us.
Our chef was a little timid but very nice and did a good job. I just wanted a lot more from this place — I enjoyed the food but never felt comfortable in the atmosphere and kind of couldn’t wait to get out of there. Next time, I’ll only go in patio weather.

Good food, strange experience.
First — the positive: The food here is great. Fresh, clean flavors, well-​composed dishes, and huge portions. It’s not the most inventive food, but it has great ingredients and is very well prepared.
This place does seem to rely on its gritty, DIY atmosphere a bit too much. I dined with a large party, and we took full advantage of the BYOB policy. Someone even thought ahead enough to bring SOLO cups to drink our vino. The staff came out with wine glasses but, upon seeing we’d brought out own cups, took the wine glasses back. Would it have killed them to just bring us the glasses? Is dishwashing that hard to come by?
This attitude is reflected in the seating and tables as well — it’s a collection of assorted patio furniture, and feels like it. Again, would it kill them to at least spray paint them all the same color or dress it up a bit. The whole place just feels super low-​budget. If that’s what you’re in for, great, but it seemed to me like it could use a dash of class.
Bottom line: great for groups, good food, super-​grungy dining experience.

I enjoy dining at Café Bella — not your typical restaurant experience. There is no menu! You are instead treated to daily specials — everything is made fresh with organic and local ingredients! There’s a concept! The type of meal that you actually feel good about eating!
On our last visit we had the spaghetti and meatballs /​chicken parmesan. Spaghetti was perfectly cooked, the sauce was homemade and flavorful, the meatballs were delicious, and the chicken parmesan… out of this world good!
If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Columbus — this is the place for you!