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| - Madison, if you weren't living the beautiful life before, you certainly are now.
My first experience with Bella Vita came six months ago when we were in town for a friend's wedding. A group of us were looking for a relaxing dinner spot - the challenge was balancing those who wanted to find the nearest, cheapest chain and those that were used to $100 a plate swanky joints. A quick search on Yelp sent us hungry and eager to Bella Vita.
It was a perfect choice. Relaxed, but subtly elegant, it was far enough from the UW campus to not be overrun with students. After long drives/flights from around the country, everyone was eager for a drink. Drink specials were on par and the wine list was tasty, yet approachable and reasonably priced.
The service was attentive, but not overly pushy. It helped that even on a Friday night, the restaurant wasn't completely packed, even though there was a steady buzz throughout the night.
What really stood out was not only the quality of food, but the value as well. The classic Italian fare wasn't showy, but tasty and the perfect comfort food for a chilly winter night. Stand outs that I remember were the salads with house-made dressing, handmade mushroom ravioli, and gourmet pizzas, which we all shared as an app. Prices were close to what you'd expect from those chain joints, but you could tell that a lot more love and thought went into the dishes. Perfect balance.
It was a great find to please the needs of nearly a dozen out-of-towners with different tastes. In fact, it was memorable enough that I suggested we stopped by again last spring when in town for a graduation with the family.
Now nearly a year into its first year, I can only expect more good things from this ideal little Italian joint in Wisco. I'll be sure to stop in again the next time I'm looking for a taste of the beautiful life in Madison.
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