Bella Luna: Italian Perfected

Bella Luna is an Italian comfort food spot located on the Upper West Side. The eatery has been serving authentic Italian food on Columbus Avenue for over 30 years and has become a neighborhood favorite since its inception in 1988. Executive Chef German “Primo” Angelo has been at the helm of the Bella Luna kitchen for over a decade and follows in the footsteps of his mentor, the original Bella Luna chef of 25 years, Tuscany-born Mario Zimbelli. Chef Angelo’s menu, which is offered for lunch and dinner, commences with an assortment of antipasti with a creamy and flavorful Polenta topped with a hearty Bolognese sauce; and an expertly fine sliced Beef Carpaccio that is adorned with arugula, capers, parmesan, olive oil and lemon.

Bella Luna’s Brick Oven Pizza is not-to-be-missed with perfectly crisped crust and some unique combinations. While they do offer the traditional Marinara, White and Vegetarian, guests can enjoy a number of other more adventurous selections including the Bella Luna with a tantalizing blend of wild mushroom, onion and fontina, all beautifully drizzled in decadent truffle oil. The Spicy Lamb pizza is made with a luxurious lamb ragu, Italian hot peppers and an array of spices. Specialty pizzas include Smoked Salmon, which combines smoked salmon and cream cheese topped with capers and slices of red onion for a savory slice.

I took this as a great opportunity for a date and it was a great choice. The ambiance was great and the restaurant was extremely quiet; I can have a conversation no problem. After talking for a little bit, we decided to share a Bella Luna Salad, (mixed greens, roasted red peppers, capers, olives, mozzarella) which was really nice. The greens were fresh and the peppers added a nice spice that I don’t get with salads a lot. We got our entrees; hers was penne alla vodka and mine was an amazing filet mignon. I had a taste of the penne, which was great but I was really looking forward to the was my meal. The steak was borderline orgasmic; cooked to perfection and served with potatoes and vegetables, each piece was tastier than the last. Needless to say, I was ready for bed after this.

Bella Luna is highly recommended; especially for dates. Set up some time with that lucky someone (Valentine’s Day IS coming up) and head out to Bella Luna for some of the best Italian you’ve ever had. bellalunanyc.com