Short Story: I have been to this small, beautiful cafe in Capitola with friends and family for at least five years whenever I am vacationing in the Santa Cruz area, and it is the best Italian cuisine anywhere, period, end of story. Yes, including San Francisco and New York City.

Long Story:
Owner is friendly and welcoming, but not obsequious or clingy.

Service is excellent: friendly, well informed and reliable with respect to the menu and prompt.

Menu is interesting and varied across antipasti, salads, pasta and second dishes. As of June 2008, the specials were two pages of similarly wonderful dishes in mid-week.

Breads and pasta are hand-made in house; the focaccia is warm and just the right crustiness with a delicate crumb.

The sauces are absolutely incredible. Where the description notes a splash of brandy, there is just the most delicate taste of it. Where the dish calls for porcini mushrooms, the smoky earthiness of the sauce is indescribable.

As to details, the olive oil with the bread for the table contains baked garlic, the desserts are delicate, creamy and rich and the espresso is bitter, thick and rich.

The atmosphere is convivial and inviting. It is as suitable for a Sunday family dinner as it is for a romantic dinner for two.

While in Capitola we heard great reviews about Bella Roma so we decided to give it a try. What an unfortunate experience it was. Even after making a reservation, they tried to put us in the very last table in the back, next to the restrooms and facing the kitchen. When we asked to be moved, the waiter did so in a very unfriendly manner. The evening did not get better after that. The roasted vegetable platter was scarce and drowned in olive oil. The mixed green salad was good when it eventually arrived, about half-an-hour after they mistakenly brought us someone else's caesar. Our entrees were okay, but not good enough to make up for the lack-luster customer service provided by our waiter. Hopefully this was just an off-night for them in the absence of their Chef, although there is really no excuse for the poor customer service.