. "4"^^ . . "I can't believe that I have been to the Bella Italiana numerous times and never reviewed it. La Bella Italiana originally started as an ice cream place but evolved over the years into a full blown restaurant. If you're in St-Leonard and in search of some classic Italian comfort food then come here. They do the basics like pasta and pizza and always have a few daily specials. It is a pretty casual place and can get busy easily so you might want to consider a reservation if you're coming on a Friday or Saturday night.\n\nWhen it comes to the antipasti it is the standards that you would expect from any Italian restaurant. While I usually start with a basic salad sometimes I'll mix it up and try something else. I really like the meatballs here. They are tasty and juicy and will remind you of the kind your nonna used to make.\n\nI typically go for the pizza here because while the pasta is pretty decent I find the pizza is what they are best at. They use a wood-burning oven so the crust gets crispy and has a smoky flavour to it. My go to is the pizza with mushrooms and I always enjoy it.\n\nSince they have been in the ice cream business for so long you can expect a sizeable gelato selection when dessert roles around. The gelato is okay but certainly not the best I have experienced in Montreal. I can't comment on the other desserts since I haven't tried them.\n\nThe service is generally speedy and the prices are reasonable for the area. If you are in St-Leonard and in search of some good Italian food then this is your place. I always enjoy myself when I come here for supper."^^ . "3"^^ . "2016-11-02T00:00:00"^^ . . "3"^^ . "4"^^ .