Bella Blu Restaurant

(212) 988-4624

967 Lexington Ave (nr. 70th St.)
New York, NY 10021 40.7692 -73.963

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Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown, Lenox Hill

BELLABLUNY.COM

Years in business

Established in 1996

Hours:

Monday To Sunday From 12:00 PM To 03:00 PM Monday To Sunday From 05:00 PM To 11:30 PM

Price:

$$$$

Last updated 8.09.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Special Occasion Dining

Cuisine:

Pizza, Seafood, Mediterranean, Italian

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Bella Blu Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Bella Blu is the sort of casual place where you can be comfortable reading the New York Observer or striking up a conversation with a nice-looking stranger. The crowd is made up mostly of Upper East Side locals, and the room is almost always boisterous. – – The Food – The Italian food is worth travelling for. Crisp, thin-crusted, wood-oven pizzas are a good place to start. From there, try warm lobster salad with potatoes and haricots verts. Chestnut pasta with wild boar smells and tastes comforting; and sweetbread ravioli (chopped up with veal) is divine.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
The wine list is brief but there's a great bottle of wine for any pocketbook.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The aptmosphere is cool and it is overall a fun place.”
  2. “It has a fun atmosphere and interesting decor”
  3. “They always have great specials and a lively atmosphere.”
  4. “The pro's: Good ambience,service”
  5. “the atmosphere was great and my wife loved the sorbet.”
  6. “even like the decor, which for many is a sore point.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Let me introduce the scene by saying a( we stayed in town because we had US open tickets and b) left a game viewing at a local bar looking to grab a good early dinner.”
  2. “You will be served the best pastas or appetizers in town, and the wine selection whoooo.”
food quality
90.74000358581543% positive
  1. “After an excellent frisee and endive salad, we had the orichiette with brocoli rabe and sausage; great!”
  2. “was expecting good italian food and they met my expectations.”
  3. “ok i am one of the only people in the world that really doesnt like pizza - this place has the best frigin pizza i have ever had!”
  4. “service and price may not be not so great, but food was great!”
  5. “It's got a different, funky look and the food is terrific!”
  6. “had the branzino it was delicious.”
  7. “Great pulse, excellent food and selection, and would like to know from others who frequent NYC restaurants if they could suggest others like Bella Blu.”
  8. “personally think it was the best meal i have ever had in my life.”
  9. “Always a great time with excellent food and great service.”
  10. “the best food in the town”
  11. “All-in-all, it is a wonderful neighborhood restuarant with consistently good food.”
  12. “went with others and we all shared food - everyones dish was different and amazing - prices are totally reasonable especially for what you get.”
  13. “Bella Blu has delicous Italain cuisine and excellent specials to complement the menu.”
  14. “We both had the ravioli with the butter and sage sauce and it was one of the most fascinating tastes i have ever put in my mouth.”
  15. “the food is very creative,interesting,taste,delicious,the chef is really good who gives the best taste from the northern of Italy.”
  16. “Come here for the food, but be prepared for a serious attitude and a huge bill.”
  17. “The pizza is delicious and most of the food is a pleasure to consume.”
  18. “Bad food, poor service and secret additional costs add up to an experience that will leave a bad taste in your mouth and your wallet.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Bella Blu has delicous Italain cuisine and excellent specials to complement the menu.”
  2. “You will be served the best pastas or appetizers in town, and the wine selection whoooo.”
  3. “Great pulse, excellent food and selection, and would like to know from others who frequent NYC restaurants if they could suggest others like Bella Blu.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “We went out for a walk to find something to eat and we came across this nice little italian place.”
  2. “Food was great at this restaurant!”
  3. “Too many great places that are cheaper and better then this place, I would avoid.”
  4. “All in all, a great place to take family, friends, or a group.”
service
59.26000118255615% positive
  1. “ok i am one of the only people in the world that really doesnt like pizza - this place has the best frigin pizza i have ever had!”
  2. “Always a great time with excellent food and great service.”
  3. “service and price may not be not so great, but food was great!”
  4. “Our waiter was friendly and professional, too.”
  5. “don't like people who throw tantrums in restaurants, but I wouldn't be suprised if this guy had a point.”
  6. “but i understand that service could be not so good.”
  7. “The pro's: Good ambience,service”
  8. “Bad food, poor service and secret additional costs add up to an experience that will leave a bad taste in your mouth and your wallet.”
  9. “The service was great.”
value
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “went with others and we all shared food - everyones dish was different and amazing - prices are totally reasonable especially for what you get.”
  2. “service and price may not be not so great, but food was great!”
  3. “Come here for the food, but be prepared for a serious attitude and a huge bill.”
  4. “If you aren't careful you will run up a huge tab.”
3 Star Rating: Average

07/12/11

anniversary

by AArez at Citysearch

took my wife for our 5th anniversary. food was good, but it was too pricey!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/26/10

Had an Amazing Dinner here last night!!!

by cindy35 at Citysearch

I had the branzino it was delicious. I also like the sauce they give with the bread. It has a fun atmosphere and interesting decor

  • Pros: Excellent food and service
  • Cons: can be crowded
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/04/09

Good place for groups

by BushwickTao at Citysearch

I came here with my family (4) about a week ago and I almost didn't come because of the pretentiosness of the Italian restaurants on the upper east side. I was pleasantly surprised by the service, which was courteous and attentive. I was expecting good italian food and they met my expectations. i had the beef carpaccio and they certainly seem to take a little more time to prepare it than the other italian restaurants on th epper east side. All in all, a great place to take family, friends, or a group. The decor cetainly didn't hurt, either!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/14/07

Dining Experience

by mircosmith at Citysearch

Everything about this genuine Italian hot spot is incredible.

You will be served the best pastas or appetizers in town, and the wine selection whoooo.

Our waiter was from tuscany and the young Manager was from Rome, and made us feel like being in Italy at our best friends house.

We really are glad there still are places like Bellablu.

  • Pros: Best Food ever
  • Cons: No reservations for two
1 Star Rating: Poor

09/01/07

Avoid Always

by kmcnyc at Citysearch

Been here before and food was okay. Only prompted to write this review after stopping in 10 min before turning over to Dinner service today. Let me introduce the scene by saying a( we stayed in town because we had US open tickets and b) left a game viewing at a local bar looking to grab a good early dinner. Dressed in Jeans and a t (which is not uncommon for this establishment) We were told that "we do not open until 5 (again only ten minutes prior) to which the bus boy getting off duty and the person telling us (both dressed in jeans and t's) had a conversation in Spanish "who do these tourists think they are to eat here". I then said to the bus boy "we'll never eat here again" and to bad for them being I work in the restaurant industry and all of my friends live around in the neighborhood. Tragic that they are so judgmental of locals who frequent the place. It's only going to hurt their business...will be happy to see them close.

  • Pros: none
  • Cons: judgemental of locals when it's not their station to even pass judgement

The Details on Bella Blu Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great italian food
  • great service
  • great little italian place
  • bad taste
  • even like decor
  • totally reasonable price
  • great specials
  • great lively atmosphere
  • nice restaurant
  • delicious frigin pizza
  • good early dinner
  • friendly waiter
  • excellent frisee
  • pricey may
  • best italian restaurants
  • really good chef
  • best meal
  • best pastas
  • delicious branzino
  • good ambience
  • loved sorbet
  • huge bill
  • best appetizers
  • not like people
  • excellent endive salad