La Bella Italia always delivers fantastic food and service. My children's pizza's were demolished and the risotto top notch. Service was fantastic where they made us feel welcome and even lit candles to celebrate my youngest childs Birthday. I look forward to coming back soon!

This is our second time here and we took my wife's mum and dad and Antonio the owner was an amazing host, very attentive, giving us the history. A wonderful experience with great food and ambiance

Not on google search, Wwhaaaaaat!! but we dropped in for a delicious cheese quatro pizza and a Martinborough Pinot Noir before a ferry Crossing. Excellent service and comfortably cool on a super hot day.

We were a party of 21 for lunch. Service was prompt even though the resturant had few spare seats. As normal the food was well prepared and presented. the platter I ordered for 4 was made generous and colourful and made up of quality meats,...cheeses,vegetables[some pickled] and breads. The pizza area,Ice cream serve over and the serve over selling cheeses and meats make it an interesting place to visit.More

We had prebooked but due to a cancelled flat viewing we were nearly an hour early. The owner was lovely about this and seated the 3 of us straightaway. Having eaten here before we knew it would be great and it was. Crepes, pizza and...ravioli all were amazing, true Italian flavours shone through. Service was slick and friendly. The owner took the time to ask if we were ok which was nice. Son had a take out tiramisu and we took 2 lemon chocolates. Love this place, bought pasta from the shop and had for dinner that evening. One of our favourite places when we come to Wellington.More

Where to start? probably from the beginning, but firstly comment that had eventually left this cafe on what was thought to be "good terms" and not intending to share a recent unforgettable experience on Tripadvisor. However.... a guest observed the owner's outrageous outburst & thought...it appropriate to comment on their personal experience. Amazingly the owner was briefly "Sorry if you had a bad experience" & then continued with a narration that was a total fabrication of the truth as to what occurred & his perception of"interesting couple" who where "told to leave and not waste any more of my time". So..... one weekend towards end of November we decided to treat ourselves out for breakfast. Where to go? there are a number of pleasant, good, even user friendly cafes closer to where we live, but decided upon a 35 min drive to La Bella Italia in Petone. What a huge mistake. One of the "interesting couple" ordered scrambled eggs & myself poached eggs & side of mushrooms with a very clear and succinct request for 'PERFECTLY COOKED POACHED EGGS". My husband obviously heard what was requested, not so the waitress it appeared. What are perfectly cooked poached eggs? according to a search on the net "firm whites with runny yokes". This is what I expected. No way in the wide world did I order overcooked poached eggs. Someone got it very wrong, certainly NOT myself. What was served were severely overcooked hard poached eggs that were inedible. Attracted attention of waitress who had taken order advising the eggs were overcooked & reminded her of what I had asked for. Took up offer of replacement as certainly not going to eat what had been served. Next eggs arrived also unbelievably severely overcooked. The owner's wife walked by where we were sitting so politely asked her if this was what poached eggs should be like ... no she agreed....would I like some more she offered. Shortly after both owner and wife approached the table. Shockingly was told that I had asked for "well done poached eggs".... Again reiterated what I had asked for were "perfectly poached eggs". The owner then, with aggressive body language, commenced to yell at the top of his voice to leave/get out in such a manner that was beyond bullying, extremely threatening, unacceptably aggressive, totally intimidating, extraordinarily offensive. Although his aggressive outburst could not help but be overheard by any customer in the cafe, this appeared to be of absolutely no concern whatsoever to him. Neither the waitress or those we personally noticed in the kitchen appeared to be of New Zealand or European descent. English was not the first language of the waitress and quite possibly some or all of the kitchen staff either. I believe? the owner's wife (who did not accept payment) was quite embarrassed with the husband's outburst, suggesting what was requested was lost in the translation. This was possibly the case? or had it been that the waitress and/or kitchen staff were simply too terrified to own up to the truth. Quickly looking thru Tripadvisor for La Bella Italia, it is apparent that anyone who has posted anything that is NOT complimentary receives retaliatory comments from owner/management that they are either not telling the truth or have never set foot in La Bella Italia. Nothing is ever the fault of the owner or staff. Get a grip La Bella Italia. Amazingly customers actually know what they have ordered, what is wrong with the food you have served & even where it is they have eaten. Leaving this feedback now secure in the knowledge that we would never want to set foot in La Bella Italia again, which no doubt will be very welcome news to the owner. A little courtesy and respect costs nothing.More

We popped in for lunch without a reservation and the La Bella Italia was packed. Service was prompt and the food and wine delicious. We had fillet steak with anchovy butter with crispy potato and salad, it was perfect. The lamb chops with smashed potato...and a rustic salsa verde was also great and a generous amount of olive oil. The wine recommendation was spot on and the coffee was as good as I can remember. There was also convenient shopping metres away from the table and very helpful staff. We can't wait to return.More