Enjoyed Happy Hour at Bella Vita last night with a girlfriend. I made an OpenTable reservation, though it wasn't necessary. I arrived and was told they prefer we sit at the bar for HH which happened to open up just as I arrived. There are three cocktails on the HH menu, I ordered the elderflower one and my friend ordered the blood orange one. We ordered the penne alla vodka and gnocchi alla pesto. The bartender asked if we wanted bread alongside our meal to which we replied yes.
My drink had a freshness to it while my friend's was just sour with nothing to bite the tart. The penne pasta was cooked to less than al dente and we found it to be very dry and lacking flavor. The bread was never brought out and I had to ask for it. The best part of the meal was the gnocchi. The pesto sauce was done beautifully and there was plenty to be able to dip into with the bread. The bartender was very cold and awkward. When I arrived there was a couple seated whom she may have known and she chatted with them the entire time. Each time we asked her for something her lack of facial expression came off as we were inconveniencing her. When I asked if we would still be getting our bread she barely responded let alone said sorry and walked off to grab it.
Happy Hour is really short - only until 6. Would be nice if it was extended to 7. The live music in the back is a nice touch. Ambiance is nice though you don't get to enjoy it sitting at the bar. The outdoor seating area is very inviting for warmer weather.