Bella Vista Restaurant

This is a lovely place to dine for a special dinner. The only issue is they don't have many non-meat/fish options so if you're vegetarian as I am or vegan or just want a none meat/fish dish you're almost outta luck. For being partially ... more

This is a lovely place to dine for a special dinner. The only issue is they don't have many non-meat/fish options so if you're vegetarian as I am or vegan or just want a none meat/fish dish you're almost outta luck. For being partially an Italian restaurant they have virtually no pasta dishes. They specialize in meat dishes and seafood dishes like Abalone, salmon and such. When I made my reservations I asked the guy if they can prepare a vegetarian entree for me and he highly recommended their homemade marinara sauce. My hubby & I dinned there tonight. Got there at opening to ensure we get a window seat as even w/ reservations it's first come first serve. We had probably up to 4-5 people for different things serving us and everyone was super friendly and professional. They bring room temp sourdough bread and butter to start which was yummy. I ordered the virgin strawberry daiquiri which tasted fresh, but was not slushy like a daiquiri should be, though I would order it again. I ordered a pasta dish w/ the marinara and my hubby ordered the salmon dish special which was salmon in filo dough w/ a champagne sauce. Right before our dishes came we were served a tiny glass of sorbet which was really odd & we weren't expecting at all. It was this pink flavorless sorbet that neither of us still have a clue what the flavor was supposed to be. Before we could even take a second spoonful our meals came so I don;t know if that was just really poor timing on their part or if for some reason that's how they do it typically? Anyhow, my dish was capallini w/ their marinara and a side of steamed zucchini carrot and bell peppers (none of which I like or ate) The Marianna was far below the quality I was expecting considering how mush the reservation guy hammed it up and the fact that I had to call the week of my reservations to remind them to have the ingredients for it! All it was...was minced tomato, onion and spices. Tasted primarily like tomato paste as the tomato was really strong. I have had better in a jar and my homemade is a million times better as my hubby stated and I agree. So while I ate it and was full it was disappointing. He really liked his salmon. It's not"wrapped" in filo as they claimed but instead just had a thin top layer of it. Came w/ a side of pilaf and the same veggies as mine. For dessert we got the chocolate , mousse. Thankfully it was the best chocolate mousse I have had in about a year or so. Not the whipped cream kind or pudding kind, but the whipped light but dense kind that melts in your mouth and is really rich but you just can't stop eating it. One order is enough for 2 people by far so don't let the server talk you into ordering more then one ;) Reservations are highly recommended for no more then 15 min after opening which is 5pm on Sat because they got packed fast. If you want to see the view then you'll need to do this. I'm hoping on the weekdays for dinner we can eat later after dark so to see the lights of the city through the trees. They have one other dish I think I can get which is a basic fettuccine Alfredo dish, but that's about it. Loved the view and service so we shall dine there again because of that. Reservatiosn are highly recommeded for no more then 15 min after openign which is 5pm on Sat because they got packed fast. If you want to see the view then you'll need to do this. I'm hoping on the weekdays for dinenr we can eat later after dark so to see the lights of the city through the trees. They have one other dish I think I can get which is a basic fettucini alfredo dish, but that's about it. My basic pasta dish was $19! I thought tht was quite a lot for what it was. For everythign we got includign my hubbies Mai Tai he ordered it came to about $75 so $90 w/ tip. If my dish had been anythignh special or at least something I couldn't very easily prepare at home a million times better then $90 for everything would had been worth it. Loved the view and service so we shall dine there again because of that. less

Mmmmmm. That's what I said the whole time I was there They give you breadsticks that seem to never end. I almost filled up on teem before I got to my pasta. But I left just enough room, and I'm so glad that I did. Because the pasta was ... more

Mmmmmm. That's what I said the whole time I was there They give you breadsticks that seem to never end. I almost filled up on teem before I got to my pasta. But I left just enough room, and I'm so glad that I did. Because the pasta was great. The sause is has a real authentic taste and they have those little chunks of meat in the sause that makes it taste so much better, I really have to go back less

Phenomenal view and ambiance, well worth the gorgeous drive. Unfortunately, I was not equally impressed with the meal (I had beef medallions with prawns). The sauces were heavy and overwhelming and it seemed more like conveyor belt food ra ... more

Phenomenal view and ambiance, well worth the gorgeous drive. Unfortunately, I was not equally impressed with the meal (I had beef medallions with prawns). The sauces were heavy and overwhelming and it seemed more like conveyor belt food rather than cuisine created by an executive chef. However, my parents enjoyed their meal and they are less picky. The service was very good and we had no trouble making reservations for a table by the window. less

xcellent food. We ordered the garlic shrimp for less than $20 and scallop with white sauce for about $20. Souffle, dessert $12 for 2 people, was good . Panoramic view of San Francisco Bay and the East Bay Hills. Most people go there to celebra ... more

xcellent food. We ordered the garlic shrimp for less than $20 and scallop with white sauce for about $20. Souffle, dessert $12 for 2 people, was good . Panoramic view of San Francisco Bay and the East Bay Hills. Most people go there to celebrate birthday or special occasion because it takes about an hour to go there from san jose. But surely should try it. less