Cafe Bella Sera

Just for the record, this place is permanently out of business. I was given a gift card for this place some months ago and just found out they have been closed since around the 4^th of July. The phone is disconnected and the place seemed deserted from the outside. I ended up going to Japango’s right next door instead and will post a review shortly. I am now stuck with a worthless gift card from this restaurant.

Use to eat there often and enjoyed it.
Then the real Pete came out one night, along with his daughter up front, made one of the worse experiences in my restaurant ever in my life.
Left an expensive bottle of wine and a bottle of water, mostly unused, paid for it regardless and left to go eat at Runway84.
They didn’t do a darn thing to try to make their mistakes right. Instead, nothing but attitude.
I never returned and never will.
Sad that good food served by owner that really doesn’t care about his customers.

We have had positive meals here in the past. We are excited to go tonight for our anniversary. To say we were disappointed is an understatement. We sat at a hightop at the bar. No music was playing and it was dead. We asked about music and just got a shrug. At first the bartender greeted us and was nice. No bread was offered. The meals came out quickly and were fine. And then we sat. And sat. The table next to us was catered to and we were invisible. I wanted rice pudding. We waited to order dessert. And waited. Then finally got to order, only to be told ten minutes later that the last rice pudding fell on the floor. So I ordered tiramisu. It arrived five minutes later. It was bland and flavorless. Then we waited. Finally my husband went to the bar to settle our bill, since there were six people there and obviously too busy for them to check on us. I do not think we will ever be back again.

One of the most Over Rated restaurant I’ve been ! Ridiculously Expensive, serving nothing special. Was there with a friend from out of town. I had a piece of steak that cost almost 40 bucks and they served it with a click of mashed potatoes and that’s it !!! No Garnishing. Oh, you get a half loaf of freshly baked bread and that was ok
The service was what it should be if you’re paying 40 bucks for a steak in other words no big deal !!
We felted like we were Suckered into this place, like a tourist trap or something but then if you look around you in there, they all looked liked Suckers or Losers in there,
Loads of them Grey Hair or Dyed Middle Age Wannabe Divorcees getting loaded here.
A Great 2^nd or 3^rd Marriage Pick Up Place !!

I was hosting a private dining function at this restaurant. The communication was fine though not as detailed as I would have preferred. The evening of the event the staff was confused about what to charge my credit card because the amount of people I had originally anticipated did not show up. I asked them to charge me for the guaranteed minimum that I previously emailed to Pete which was 15 guests. Flash forward a few months and I see nearly 10,000 in charges from Café Bella Sera. After calling, leaving voicemails, and emailing for over a week I finally got Pete on the phone. He assured me he would look into the charges and let me know what he finds.
I cannot put into words the amount of time that went into continuously following up with Pete and trying to get the situation rectified. In one of our many conversations he told me that «someone came into the restaurant and gave my name for payment information which prompted his staff to use my credit card» I asked if he had any identification for these other individuals and he said «I have been in the industry for over 20 years and I have never asked someone for ID and this never happens». A few more weeks pass and at this point I have threatened to dispute the charges to which Pete tries to convince me not to because he doesn’t want to lose business and it will «really be more of a hassle for me than for him because he will never pay that money back» … I could not believe my ears folks because here was a man who knew that those charges were not mine and yet he REFUSED to reimburse me or work with me. the only offer he made was to give me a credit with the venue for $ 7,000! I declined and went ahead with the dispute. The credit card company was able to get my money back and I will NEVER EVER EVER use this venue again!!!

I will preface my review by saying I love to hate Café Bella Sera. In east Parkland, many middle aged want-​to-​be trendy divorcees claim this restaurant as the premier venue for social gathering and sophisticated Italian food. As rumor has it, «Pete,» the owner, got his start at the notable Anthony’s Runway 84 in Fort Lauderdale. He spawned off and found this horrible location in a strip mall gasping for life.
Upon entering Pete’s Café Bella Sera, you feel as if you’re walking into any other hackneyed Italian restaurant with pictures of wine and grapes on the wall, and allusions to the «old country» scattered throughout.
Here’s why I hate it:
1. The food is ridiculously overpriced. Ridiculously. Considering this restaurant is located in a strip mall in a hidden corner of a suburb, I feel insulted that the owner thinks he can get away with what he charges.
2. The waiters are arrogant.
3. They seem to be more obsessed with making money than preserving the loyalty and respect of their customers.
4. Terrible location.
5. Did I mention how ridiculously overpriced they are?
Why I gave it two stars:
1. The food is actually half-​way decent, that is, the meatballs and the chicken parm.
2. The food comes out when it should.
3. The servers, despite being arrogant, are attentive.
Why do I love to hate this place? Because, as I previously stated, I feel insulted that the owner has the audacity to charge what he does for mediocre Italian food in a bad location.

Excellent food & service. I would recommend it to anyone & have. Food was absolutely amazing; Will go back.

Went here for valentines day dinner. To make a long story short it was the most over priced, horrible service, and steak quality of a local sports bar. The «special stuffed shrimp» appetizer costs more then the entrees so be sure to ask the price! Never again will I visit here.

I went to Pete’s on a Wednesday night at the invitation of a friend. After reading all the positive reviews, I was excited. We arrived and there was not a wait. We were instantly seated and greeted by our server. Upon reviewing the menu, I noticed it was a more expensive than I expected, but I have spent more. I noticed that the menu offered quite a bit with vinegar and olives, so I ordered conservatively. I ordered a caesar salad and penne ala vodka. We received this warm wonderful crusty bread! Cannot say how wonderful this bread was. The salad; however, was not much more than Romaine with croutons and cheese dressed with a red wine vinegar. Definitely not a Caesar … My pasta dish came out and the water was right there with extra cheese and pepper. My first taste made me grimace. It was so salty that it actually burnt my mouth. After notifying the water that perhaps the sauce or pasta water had been oversalted he said he would bring me another, but advising it could be as long as 25 minutes. I guess I was lucky because I received another in 10 minutes. The dish was less salty, but nonetheless still not edible. The waiter offered to bring another dish, but I refused at this point. I personally believe this is one of the most simple italian dishes to make and if you cannot then I thought it best to abstain. My dinner companion had the chicken parm and was extremely happy with it. In my experience, the portions were huge. Service was excellent. The bread was amazing and the highlight of my meal. However, for the price on the menu, I expect an edible dish and wistfully hoped for homemade pasta not boxed. The waiter graciously removed my uneaten pasta from the bill, but the bill was still almost $ 70 for a caesar salad and a chicken parm. I have had a better meal going to Buca.

I’ll start by saying that I will not be returning to this restaurant for multiple reasons — neither will the friend I dined with. I absolutely do not recommend it. The overall service was slow and quite odd. When I arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, but the hostess told me I’d have to wait until the rest of my party arrived to be seated. She didn’t make me feel welcome at all, or even suggest a place for me to wait. The 1^st server who asked what type of water my friend wanted (still, sparkling or tap), neglected to ask me what I wanted, and just brought me what she ordered. My friend ordered a side of escarole instead of the pasta that came with the dish. When the bill arrived, she was charged nearly $ 10 for that small substitute side, and the server refused to take the amount off of the bill despite the fact that we both told him she had asked for the vegetable instead of the pasta. He told her she had ordered the side and had to pay for it.
Also, when we ordered, my friend was told if she wanted bolognese sauce instead of marinara, they’d charge her $ 10 additional ‘because the chef is weird like that’. I guess we should have realized then that extra high additional charges were the norm.
The same server who neglected to ask me what water I wanted, asked my friend if she wanted a box for her leftovers, and again completely ignored me, then seemed annoyed when I asked for a box upon his return with her box. So very odd that he completely ignored me twice.
We ordered the cannoli for dessert, and both of ours had only a small amount of filling on either end — and were hollow in the middle. We couldn’t track down our server, so finally had someone else get us cannolis with filling.
After dessert, we sat for over 30 minutes before we saw our server again. In the meantime, no one had stopped to check on us at all. Our waters had been empty since mid-​way through our meal.
What a shame that the experience was so bad because I had heard good things about this place. There are too many other good places to dine — I won’t waste my time or money at this one again.

I am writing this review after having dined at Bella Sera three times in the last month and a half. (I realize that sounds excessive, but it is the only ‘high end’ place in my area and it is an easy place to head for dinner with a few couples for a nicer night out. It’s kinda the «in place» to dine in Parkland. On any given night you see the ‘who’s who” eating here. Not that I really care… I just think it is worth mentioning that since I think it is part of the draw of the place for people.
With that said, I have found the food to be excellent, but somewhat overwhelming. Overwhelming? People who dine in groups at Bella Sera usually ‘order for the table’ and the waiters serve everyone at the table a sampling of the dishes that are selected. The place is crowd and dark. As the food is coming out, they keep loading it on your plate. Between trying to have meaningful conversation (which is impossible with the person across the table because of the volume in the restaurant) and keeping up with what item is being served, I have a hard time really enjoying myself.
No doubt the food is delicious. My husband especially loves their veal chop dish. While others have reviewed the food to be sub-​par, I can’t help to notice that their main complaint seems to be other things, like the price. It is expensive for sure and I wouldn’t run there for just any night out. But I feel that the prices are in line with the quality of the offerings.
As far as the comments here about framed pictures of celebrities and the owner’s attitude, I haven’t found any of these things to be off putting. Just a typical Italian restaurant bravado thing as far as I am concerned.
I think I would like to try out a dinner with just myself and husband a little early before the diners arrive to get a real feel for the dishes. Like I said, it’s overwhelming. ;)

I really wanted to like this place but it just missed the mark for me. CBS has had a reputation for a few years of trying emulate your typical upscale Italian restaurant in the heart of Parkland. Unfortunately, it’s located in possibly the most desolate strip center in all of State 7. The strip center has been like that since it’s been built and I would be surprised if 10% of the units were filled to capacity. While this does not have much impact on the food at CBS, there is definitely melancholy vibe you get once you enter the center.
When you walk in you see ego driven décor all along the walls. Like many places such as Mateos or your typical Patsy-​like NYC upscale Italian restaurants, they must validate their greatness of pictures of celebrities. That doesn’t always translate into an automatic winner.
I’m perfectly fine with paying for an expensive meal if I’m going to get an expensive experience. The problem is the two times I’ve been to CBS I never actually got that experience. The service was somewhat lackluster and unattentive and the food was actually quite bland for my liking.
Having been to many American Italian, Fusion Italian and authentic Tuscany style Italian restaurants, I feel I’ve developed a good gauge as to how food should be. CBS might have the heart of North End (Boston) but the food certainly didn’t reflect it. The owner is from the North End has has the right idea but the execution failed for me.
If anyone has been to the North End, you’ll know the street is plastered with dozens of great Italian restaurants such as the phenomenal Giacomo’s. That is what I had wished CBS was – it isn’t.
I don’t want to bash it just for the sake of bashing it because I realize its potential, but I also can’t outright give false praise to a restaurant that carries such a reputation with such a pricey menu and continues to disappoint its customers.
There are people I know who have actually commented on the owners personality that say it’s a little off-​putting. I have never interacted with him, but if you hear something by a handful of people there must be a kernel of truth to it.
Then again her recently became part owners of the Florida Panthers so I’m sure he could care less as long as he continues to bring in the dough. I wish this place could right the wrong otherwise it won’t be long before that strip center is down to 9% capacity.
Dine with caution.

Food is very good — if not great. But very expensive for what you get. We always share an app — salad — entrée and desert and that’s always enough food. Almost everybody leaves with a doggie bag. Make your portions smaller — less expensive and there wouldn’t be so many complaints!
I see all of the comments about Pete’s arrogance. While I’ve never experienced it personally — I can certainly see it happen. The wait staff seems to think they are at the finest restaurant in New York City.

This mid sized restaurant in a Parkland strip mall is well appointed, tidy, and presents as more upscale than the frontage on SR 7 suggests it might. I had no prior knowledge of the place, just that I knew my wife had picked a «nice place» a bit beyond our typical dinner geographic territory.
The restaurant was empty as we arrived, and we were seated at a banquet that faced the restrooms and the kitchen door. The cleanliness and black table cloths made a nice impression. The waiter arrived quickly and asked about drinks, We wanted to see the wine and cocktail list and asked for a few minutes to collect our thoughts. I was actually offended by the drink list, which listed $ 25 martinis and italian red with an entry point of $ 45 and a 4-​fold mark-​up, and the $ 70 bottle I buy in other restaurants like Café Max was $ 95 here. Only a rube would submit themselves to this type of pricing in a local restaurant, so we passed on the the martini and two bottles of wine. In fact, I was sufficiently annoyed to pass on mineral water as well, without asking about the price.
We were now sufficiently educated to appreciate the menu. Standard Italian American fare at 8 – 10 dollars per entrée above typical pricing for similar dishes in tablecloth restaurants in the area. We were sufficiently put-​off by what we saw to order low on the menu — chicken parm and marsla — with an «authentic» caesar salad and red pepper appetizer.
I think that what they meant by «authentic» is that the salad had anchovies. It certainly wash’t made at the table and I doubt it was made with raw egg (which would likely not be up to code). It was $ 14 and sharable. It was an okay, coarse chop, dressing unknown.
The roasted red pepper, an italian staple, came with salami. The pepper was tasteless and the dish was forgettable. We’d have tried the stuffed artichoke, but the «market price» of $ 18 was just too silly to do the experiment.
The chicken parm and chicken marsala were okay, but not above and beyond, except for portion size. The chicken parm was a pounded, butterflied breast. This is a good thing, but for the fact that it was fried a bit to the far side and the oil had not been fresh.
Based on the experience so far, we skipped our typical course of desert, cognac and expresso, and went home to have a great bottle of wine.
Please be careful when you go to this restaurant. Do not order until you carefully scan the offerings. Do not split a plate and do not ask for variations, even on expensive items.
The service was fine, the food okay. I did not have a terrible experience and am not unhappy I went. But I would not go again. Bottom line: Poseur Restaurant.
For higher quality Italian American fare, done well at above average but fair prices, I would suggest Tavola Nona on Sample Road.

This is hands down the best Italian restaurant in Broward County. It doesn’t get any better than this when we’re talking about quality. The prices are insane. On average, nobody eats for under $ 50 here, and like most expensive restaurants, it’s a la carte, but let me tell you it’s well worth it. Not to mention that this place is famous, not just for their quality Italian food, but for their crowd. Everybody from President Obama to Kobe Bryant has dined here. I normally get the shrimp parmigiana. Their marinara sauce is some of the finest that I’ve ever tasted, and I’m half Italian. My late great-​grandmother made the best Italian food and «gravy» (don’t all of our grandmas?) as we like to call it, and before Café Bella Sera, I was yet to find a restaurant that measures up to her from-​scratch Italian «gravy». This place is it, great food, great atmosphere with sometimes live music on the weekends. Even if it’s outta your price range, everybody should try it at least once.

I’ve lived in south Florida most my life and this is in the top of its class for Italian restaurants. Price is never a issue when the food reflects it in flavor, and pzazz. I love there gnocchi, but I could easily just go there for their appetizer of meatballs and ricotta i am in love with there meatballs. There shrimp app is great too, I was scared cause large the shrimp usually a Lil more tough, but they were really tasty and not tough at all, and i forgot to mention the size of my fist. This is my for sure come to for anything 5 star Italian. Topnotch anywhere you look.

I purchased a Groupon for Pete’s a few months ago and since it is a little off my regular flight plan I had put off using the coupon until a couple of Sunday nights ago. When I finally located the place I discovered that they are closed on Sundays.
A few weeks later I had another opportunity and although it was a Saturday night I thought Michelle and I would take a chance without a reservation. That might not have been the best decision.
When we walked in the place was bustling with patrons. Some being escorted into the dining room and others sitting or mingling in the bar area. The hostess checked her chart and assured us that a table would be available in about 15 minutes.
We luckily caught a pair of seats at the bar and ordered some wine. Pete’s is kind of an enigma. Most patrons were dressed smartly for a special Saturday night out. Yet there were women in shorts and men wearing tee shirts. TV’s adorned several walls showing football games that were in progress as some of the patrons in the bar area cheered them on. A lot of the customers seemed like «regulars,» the bartender greeted them warmly and offered to have a drink with them «later.» I asked the gentleman next to me about the place and he said it was terrific!
«The steaks are off the chart,» he said, «so is the Chicken Milanese.» He was shortly whisked away to his awaiting table and replaced with a super nice couple, Stu and Colleen, from Boca. They were «virgins» to Pete’s also but unlike us, they had made reservations.
We waited patiently as fifteen minutes turned into thirty and then forty-​five. Michelle was getting a little anxious and prodded the hostess who said our table would be ready in a few minutes. Finally we were led into the dining area.
An open kitchen ran the length of the south end of the restaurant. The black tablecloths gave a quasi upscale feel only neutralized by the four televisions atop the kitchen area. Is this a fine dining place or a sports bar? Waiters, dressed in all black, jutted around the tables taking orders and delivering food. Roberto, our waiter, took our order and brought a few slices of delicious hard crusted bread with a kidney shaped bowl of garlic infused olive oil for dipping. Michelle opted for the appetizer meatballs as her main dish. I chose a large filet mignon with loaded baked potato. We placed our orders and waited. And waited. And waited.
After a long while our items were delivered. Michelle’s meatballs were amazingly large. Bigger than baseballs and topped with red sauce and a dollop of ricotta cheese. I cut into my large filet mignon and it was cooked perfectly! Exactly as I like it: Pittsburgh medium.
Michelle raved about the meatballs and how delicious they were. My steak was exquisite. We even swapped a couple of bites to confirm our tastes. There is no doubt that the food was excellent and there was plenty of it. Michelle couldn’t even finish one meatball and I only ate half the steak and potato. We asked Roberto to box up the rest and after seeing a few immense slices of carrot cake making their way to other tables, I asked him to put one in a box to go, also.
Michelle and I really liked the food. We were a little annoyed at the long wait to get a table but we didn’t have a reservation; our bad. Had the hostess told us it would be 45 minutes to an hour wait we would have gone elsewhere. The place is loud and it is very difficult to have a conversation. People yelling at the televisions only increases the noise level. The live entertainment in the bar area was nice but also way too loud. The service was good but not as good as the prices reflect. The people at the table next to us were upset about something with the waiter and I thought they were going to have a confrontation when the customer jumped up at of his chair. The manager seemed to soothe things over but the patron still seemed to be upset.
We declined coffee and applied our Groupon to the check which made the dinner somewhat affordable. I made sure to tip based on the full amount. We would love to come back. Maybe on a slower night and ONLY with a coupon and a reservation.
If you have been to Pete’s, let me know about your experience by leaving a comment.

We have been going to Café Bella Sera for years.
I used to coach softball with the owner Pete so we are kind of like family. The food is superb. The wait staff treats you well & once you are known, they treat you like gold.
It is not an inexpensive place, but what they put on the plate is excellent. The kitchen & dining area is immaculate & the atmosphere is loud, but very enjoyable. The ladies behind the bar are friendly & fun.
I highly recommend Café Bella Sera.

Really surprised Café Bella Sera isn’t rated higher, or at least more frequently, on here. Then again, we’re the second review in 24 hours …
Wife and I went on a Saturday night for the first time. We walked in at 6p and the dining room was empty. Kind of startling, but the hostess said ‘We have 50 people coming in at 7.’ We’ll see, we thought at the time.
Service was a very pleasant surprise. Waiter was attentive and others were on hand for drinks and garlic bread (pretty good and warm!). Caesar salad was good, not outstanding.
Menu is mostly Italian with elements of a steakhouse. Some surprises on there — the fusilli bolognese I had was a combination of about five different varieties of meat in a huuuge bowl of pasta. I thought the combination was delicious but you definitely have to love steak and sausage to enjoy. I did add some tomato sauce to make it better.
Wife had the chicken francaise with sauteed asparagus. She loved it, and the portion size was big.
Wife had the cheesecake for dessert. She liked it, but I thought their dessert tray was dangerously tempting. If I was in better shape I might have downed their dark chocolate cake. That looked great.
Final bill came to $ 85ish, and our server hustled so we left an even $ 100. We didn’t order alcohol, either. For the price, it’s not quite worth it, and if you’re on a tight budget than perhaps you shouldn’t splurge here. It’s also not worth a super-​long drive (we’re local). But this does not mean that the food and service were bad, because they weren’t. In fact, the food was delicious and the service was great. If you’re looking for a nice place to take a date or impress the in-​laws, Café Bella Sera is a good choice.
And yes, the place was busting at the seams when we left around 7:15p. Make a reservation.

Have heard for many years listening to South Florida Sports talk radio from its # 1 proponent Sid Rosenberg about Café Bella Sera and its great food and atmosphere. Living in Miami Beach it’s close to 40 miles there so I have avoided up until last evening.
So Off I want not knowing what to expect other than I heard the portions are big, the food good but pricey.
Arrived to find a non descript restaurant in a strip mall on 441 in Parkland. A bit shocked that the bar and open kitchen dining ambiance had little to nothing to offer as far as class or elegance. A simple place with simple dining are certainly nothing fancy or elegant. Wait staff very helpful, quick and lacked for nothing as far as requests, speed or efficiency simply stated waiters excellent.
Provided hot fresh bread which was some of the best I’ve had in South Florida & provided good olive oil for dipping. Drink orders taken and menus reviewed. Everything is ala carte and its pricey.
Appetizers from $ 10.00 to $ 20.00 same price for Salads. 3 of us for dinner and we split a Cesar salad & a Mozzarella carozzo $ 13.95 with spicy tomato sauce. Their quote of «Authentic Cesar Salad» Sorry nothing special here, no anchovies and the dressing was admit tingly from the waiter «Canned or from a Bottle» not home made. Also for the amount of salad $ 13.95 was ridiculous. The Mozzarella & Carozzo was better but the four pieces deep fried were over cooked but the fra Diablo sauce that covered it was as good as it gets but again $ 13.95 pricey.
Dinner was house special Sea bass oreganato over spinach with olive oil and garlic Market price $ 29.95 — A Old Menu item I was told Veal Chop pounded and stuffed with Prosciutto, mozzarella, and eggplant with a tomato & oil based sauce $ 49.95 & Veal Cutlet Milanese $ 27.95 Basil olive oil and demi glaze.
Sea bass Ok fairly simple but not enough sauce or bread crumb to make this truly oreganato, but fish was fresh and two big pieces provided. Spinach was non descript.
Veal Cutlet Milanese. Bland I make these at home and they were ok but absolutely NOTHING special.
Veal Chop Presentation looked unbelievable, but after cutting into it the layers and layers of eggplant over powered any taste the veal may have in fact I had to take all the eggplant out to enjoy the dish. The sauce again non descript and needed something to kick it up.
Desert tray we had a HUGHE piece of carrot cake and Ricotta cheese cake. This was by far the best part of dinner. Cappachunio was good, espressos as well.
Total Cost of Bill before Tip $ 225.00 for 3 persons with 3 drinks and 2 glasses of wine.
I have to say the build up and the hype was far more than the place delivered. Though the food was good and fresh it certainly didn’t distinguish itself from so many other available options that are out there today. The prices are in short ridiculously over priced. $ 50.00 for a veal chop come on. Again passable but for these types of prices you expect much more. I prefer Traimontes in Del Rey over this place anytime with 20 –30% less cost on menu items with much more ambiance.
Lower your prices I may return until such time money is best spent elsewhere.