La Nonna Bella
“Salame di cinghiale, polipo alla griglia, strascinati pugliesi and bucatini amatriciana my favorites.”
“Next for our pasta course we went with Cavatelli Conversanese, which is house made cavatelli along with onion, fresh spinach and smashed fava beans.”
“Calamari was delicious and the pasta was super al dente which was soo good.”
La Nonna Bella
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
8 reviews
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First time here after getting a Christmas gift certificate from my brother-in-law to use & really enjoyed it along with my wife! When I think Garden City I usually think Waterzooi or Novita so I never really heard of this place until now but the reviews seem to be pretty good, anyway nice looking restaurant from the front plenty of parking in the back,after making reservations earlier we were seated right away by the gracious hostess on the first floor, I requested the second floor but they had a large party and even though it was a nice little loft overlooking the dining room and was more intimate I heard large parties can get a little loud up there, we were greeted by our waiter,from the start he was very nice,professional and informative as were the rest of the staff,we enjoyed some good house red/white wine right away and went with the fried zucchini flowers special which was outstanding,delicious tomato sauce went with it and I could tell it was made from scratch and we were in for a feast of authentic Italian food made by a talented chef! Next up we had the fried calamari which came with Fried shrimp which was was a nice touch that was just as delicious,very fresh good portion fried up just right, middle course was the Bufala Mozzerella w fresh prosciutto it's one of my favorites and they knocked it out of the park once again!served up with a wonderful balsamic demi-glaze and beefsteak tomatoes ,for dinner my wife opted for the risotto w mushrooms which looked delicious,I tried it and it was fantastic,again very authentic with delicious flavor,now I was going to have the much talked about Veal Limone but had to go w the rabbit special, our waiter really sold me on it it because the way it's prepared taking 3-4 hours and they don't make it very often plus I can get the veal anytime,it was SO flavorful just like my grandfather used to make back in the day,(no we didn't keep them as pets!sorry Peta!Lol)it was oven baked with just white wine garlic and herbs,SO tender!served w wonderful roasted potatoes I'm still licking my chops!i plan on having the rest for lunch today! That's how big the portion was,we finished up w tiramisu for dessert because that's how I judge a fine Italian restaurant and it was some of the best I ever had, it tasted like they just made it served up in a large wine glass, very nicely done! even though we had our gift certificate it only paid for half of our dinner due to the fact I had some nice potent whiskey sours to wash down my meal!Lol All and all i think prices are a little pricey but prob due in part to the upscale area and business clientele but you get what you pay for and we really had a great time & would def. back again very soon because of the ambience,service and most of all the authentic Italian dishes made the right way with fantastic presentation!
A great and authentic Italian restaurant! It's a great place for a low-key date or a night out with close friends.
This restaurant sticks to the basics of great Italian cooking – a great sauce and al dente pasta. That's exactly what I got with my Bucatini Amatriciana. Rich tomato sauce with my favorite kind of pasta loaded with freshly-grated Parmesan cheese…mmmmm.
All the appetizers sounded/looked amazing! I constantly found myself looking around at the tables next to me wishing my wallet and my stomach could afford all of it! I stuck to my comfort zone and got the Frito Misto aka fried calamari and shrimp. I wasn't blown away by this dish and definitely had better.
Parking can be confusing but they do have a private lot in the back – just make sure you turn onto the side street.
Lastly, I would suggest making reservations. Although they have space upstairs, the place was all booked up. I went without a reservation and was fortunate to have such an accommodating hostess!
Thanks for the great date La Nonna Bella!
La Nonna Bella is lovely. Each meal there has shown me the variety of sauces and flavors that can be experienced. Every veal dish is heavenly and distinctly different. Try them all. The chef has an understanding of how to cook veal to make it taste mouthwatering. The shrimp, Bronzino and salmon are exquisite. What a pleasure it has been during my many visits there to sample these delicious meals. The mussels appetizer – muah- DELIZIOSO.
If you're a pasta lover, the pasta is freshly made with savory sauces. The cavatelli with fava beans is wonderful.
I think this is a real find. The lunch menu is a wonderful way to try this fine restaurant without breaking the bank. Dinner is a bit pricey once you add on a drink or two. Still it's a special place. Parking in the rear and in a lovely neighborhood.
Came here for a wonderful birthday dinner with my wife and was very pleased with everything – the nice exposed brick and wood decor, the attentive service and delicious food.
There a few items we both wanted to try so we decide the way to go was to order and share everything. Our waitress made it very easy by having everything plated on two separate dishes, which I thought was a great way to go – giving us just enough of everything we ordered.
We ordered a bottle of Pellegrino, which came with a dish of lemons and limes. Also we each ordered a glass of red Morellino di Scansano, a delicious tuscan wine along the lines of a chianti (as explained by the waitress)
We started with the Polipo alla Griglia (Balsamic Grilled Octopus served with arugula), which was some of the most tender and delicious both of us have ever tried. It was grilled lightly and perfectly dressed with balsamic and olive oil with the arugula providing a peppery, slightly bitter note to the dish. A perfect amount to share.
Next for our pasta course we went with Cavatelli Conversanese, which is house made cavatelli along with onion, fresh spinach and smashed fava beans. A perfectly made rustic style pasta dish that we both enjoyed.
For our main we split the Salmon which came with roasted tomatoes and shrimp. It was a nice light piece of fish cooked expertly with a light lemony, olive oil sauce complimented by bright roasted tomatoes that just popped with flavor. Delicious, large shrimp as well.
For dessert we had to try the house made gelato – I was looking forward to trying the pistachio very much. I was slightly disappointed in this – while the texture is silky and creamy we thought it lacked pistachio flavor, which can be quite subtle. It could be that we also tried the chocolatissimo, flour-less chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato – which knocked our socks off with bold expressive flavors!
The service was extremely attentive and friendly – it truly never missed a beat. Our waitress was quite helpful and cheerful.
As others have stated the experience is not inexpensive and perhaps a little pricey, but I would imagine that everything on the menu is going to be made flawlessly and deliciously. You can also tell this is a "family" place, we personally saw the chef come out and greet his regular customers.
Although excellent, I doubt we will become regulars because it's just not in our budget to eat this way all the time, but look forward to returning for another exquisite meal.
NOTE: I edited the review to up it from 4 to 5 stars – there really is nothing I can find fault with here other than it being so damn pricey – quality isn't cheap! As long as cost is not a factor I would recommend this place without hesitation!
I absolutely love La Nonna Bella. Just thinking about it makes me smile! With dozen of other great restaurants on Franklin Ave, it's difficult to compete, but this restaurant is a cut above the rest. There's something very comforting about hearing an abundance of Italian accents upon arrival – it's real deal Italian food. The space is cozy though, with the potential to get very crowded on weekends. Plan accordingly (if that's something that bothers you).
I've been here twice for a date. It's a place that serves simple homemade Italian dishes. You won't find pastas here with bazillion ingredients in the dish. They stick to their roots–and they do it well. So if you're looking for simple good Italian food, give it a try.
It's a mixed crowd here as I would describe the decor to be a classy family style restaurant. There are families, friends, couples dining here.
Now for the food, I really liked the Octopus for appetizer–really tender and cooked well. All the pasta are homemade cooked al dente. My date got the ragu and I ordered the Bucatini. The ragu was very hearty and savory. The Bucatini displayed simple flavors beautifully. Next time though I know I'll control myself on eating their yummy bread before the food arrives…I couldn't resist~
On a recent business trip to Long Island, me and my coworkers ate at La Nonna Bella for a post inspection dinner. We had a party of over 20 which requires a reservation. The servers were phenomenal. They were attentive with all aspects of the meal. We ordered a few appetizers to share but I mostly enjoyed my pasta dishes. I was having troubles picking just one thing to try here and the waitress expressed that I could do half and half of any meal. I was beyond pleased. I tried their house made ravioli and a baked penne pasta. These dishes were incredibly tasty! Overall, most everyone was raving about their entrees! I didn't quite pay attention to price (covered by my company) but It has an upscale feel for sure. This was my favorite restaurant of the week! Two thumbs up!
I can get food just as good or better for less money. The drinks are way overpriced.