La Nonna Bella

Erica & Lino were lovely. After a misunderstanding about
(I’ll take it up with them), they more than made up for it with gracious hosting and delicious food & desserts. Thank you, Erica… I already talked you up at work! Gina

I’ve been going to this place for the past 2 years.
Honestly I have tried everything and everything is really tasty and their ice cream it’s the best
in the all New York Area.

With so many 5 star reviews we expected the best food & service. Wrong!
Our server had to be one of the worst in the state of N.Y. She asked if we wanted water; we all said yes, but it never arrived until we were way into our cocktails.
She never brought a wine list, which we later found out had a cocktail list included. When we asked what kinds of martinis they had she said «anything you want», so I asked for a lychee martini. She said, «What’s that?»!! She named a couple of others — I finally chose an apple martini, but it really wasn’t what I wanted. Someone else ordered a regular gin martini; another person passed on a cocktail, not liking the choices. One of the guys ordered a beer, which never arrived until he asked for a 3^rd time. (She disappeared a lot.)
And we waited and waited and waited for bread. By the way, it was a Sunday & the restaurant wasn’t very busy.
Appetizers: calamari was okay, but we all agreed we have had much better. The mussels were good — fresh & plump, but the pesto sauce on them wasn’t a good idea. The plate of wild boar salami & cheese was a big disappointment & I can’t believe they charge $ 18 for it.
Dinner: two of us had veal with a brown sauce. The veal was cooked perfectly & very tender, but the brown sauce was bland & tasteless. It ruined the whole dish. No sides — ridiculous for $ 27. My husband did enjoy his broccoli rabe with sausage, but the person who ordered the buccatini said it was so undercooked — not al dente — really undercooked!
We had small children with us. They had spaghetti & meatballs. I meant to say make believe meatballs. Looked & tasted like cardboard.
Wine list: very pricey. Oh, but when we finally got the wine list — aha — there was the cocktail menu. Lo & behold a blood orange martini! The ladies would have chose that had they known.
Atmosphere: very nice.
Returning: No.

I don’t think you could find someone who DOESN’T love this restaurant. LA Nonna Bella is true Italian Cuisine. The wait staff and bartenders are charming, and amusing. The owner is on site every time I go and makes it a point to ask how the food is… and the food is fantastic! Great place, great food and awesome environment. The layout changes through out the restaurant, if you want to have quick bite to eat or a romantic dinner for two you will find that this place can accommodate! Don’t bring too many friends with you, you’ll never leave.

Amazing Italian food, great atmosphere, definitely our go to spot for for delicious food that never disappoints.

One of the best Italian restaurants on Long Island and the owners and staff could not be nicer or more accommodating. We happened to find this gem a few years ago and we have continued to keep going back-​the food is lovingly and deliciously prepared by owner Lino and staff-​the risotto alone is 5-​star and something that you can’t just get at any Italian restaurant. From appetizers to dessert, you won’t be disappointed. It may seem to be on the pricey side but it is worth every penny for every morsel u put in your mouth-​they also have a lunch menu so try the restaurant that way. Enjoy!

Valentine’s 2016 was a cold one, and my girlfriend and I took shelter in Garden City’s «La Nonna Bella». It was her choice, but I cannot say no to Italian.
First off, the reservation situation seemed slightly odd. The hostess claimed to only have a 6 o’clock reservation, yet there were multiple tables around us throughout our entire meal.
Secondly let us address the atmosphere. The ambiance is what you might expect from a menu priced as high as theirs. Unfortunately, that may have been the most charming part.
Most importantly, let us speak about the food itself, which is why most of you Unilocalers are on here to begin with. It was simply average. Plated very nicely, yes, I will give them that. But at the end of the day, you can get food with the same taste at half the price. The mozzarella balls we started off with were simply Applebee’s quality mozzarella sticks cut into thirds.
My stuffed rigatoni a la vodka was hard to consume while attempting to justify its cost.
All in all, perhaps it is that I am a blue collar worker that isn’t used to dining among the self proclaimed upper echelon, but it just did not live up to the hype.
Happy eating, all!

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).

Went to La Nonna Bella for Valentines Day and it was a great experience! As packed as they were each item that we ordered came out delicious. We started off with a seafood salad that was dressed perfectly and seafood was so fresh! The pasta we had the homemade lobster ravioli with chopped shrmip! Then we had the wild boar chops that were served with brussel sprouts and risotto! The dessert we had a was banana cream pie to die for! Yummy! The service was great, the nice italian waitress was very knowledgeable and helped suggest all the food we ordered! Great spot cant wait to go again!

A very family orientated restaurant. We got to the restaurant a little late, our table was given up. No problem we waited a little and to our surprise received calamari (as a thank you for waiting)…This was unexpected and very appreciated !
Definitely we will return… Great Food /​Great Atmosphere…
KH

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!

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!

Great Italian/​Seafood restaurant. The menu is very flexible where they will let you mix and match many different entrees and sides depending on what you like.
Rating 8.4 out of 10.

An «upscale» Italian restaurant for those that simply don’t know any better. Given the dearth of quality Italian places on Long Island it doesn’t surprise me that many too lazy to seek out simply far superior cuisine in Manhattan relate this establishment as being «amazing»…
Having been there on a number of occasions I can attest to the fact that the light of good fortune can intermittently shine down upon you and bestow a rather surprisingly good meal, the trick is to choose wisely. Some pastas and salads are standouts while much of the rest of the menu is merely adequate at best.
The service mirrors the majority of the food… adequate. Most servers are benign and tolerable with a general malaise that speaks to the inherent fact that they’re merely there as a means to an end, not by a career choice. The large, brooding, bouncer-​like waiter with the FDNY tie clip is the exception to this rule as he clearly fancies himself a bastion of quality service but lumbers through the dining room not unlike a Garden City version of Jethro Bodine.
Less attitude, better service Jethro.

La Nonna Bella — Italian Food at its finest!
This is an intimate, upscale restaurant that I am particularly fond of. It’s fairly small with about 8 tables on the upper level and a dozen or so tables on the main floor, with additional seats in the lounge. When you call to make a reservation, the receptionist is very clear that the second floor is not handicapped accessible and that there is a two hour time limit at the tables. I like that they put it all out there! So, for those of you that like to linger at your table for hours after desert is finished, sipping endless cups of bottomless coffee, you’ve been warned.
Last week we enjoyed a wonderful Italian red wine at the bar before moving to our table on the second floor. Then, for our appetizers, we had the balsamic grilled octopus over arugula and zucchini blossoms stuffed with crab meat. (crab meat? I think it was crab meat!) For dinner, Mike had the boneless Chicken Scarapiello and, feeling adventurous, I ordered a Rabbit special with Cavatelli. Truth be told, I never had rabbit before. It was served in a delicious sauce but the bones got the best of me so I opted to bring it home to eat so I can really get into it with my fingers. Everything was well-​prepared and scrumptious! Prices are fair. Service is refined. La Nonna Bella is a delight!
Buon Appetito!

Came here for a wonderful birthday dinner with my wife and was very pleased with everything — the nice exposed brick and wood décor, 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’ve been here multiple times and every time it is amazing! The octopus salad is superb and in my opinion a must when stopping here. The wines are good and classic. All the food is very fresh and the chef himself is right from Italy and cooks some of his favorite meals!
I usually try to get the specials when I’m there and they are always worth the try! But for the regular menu my dad will get the pasta with spinach and fava beans– I can’t remember the name of the plate but it is heavenly. The Bronzino is a nice light fish and is prepared perfectly. I have never had a bad dish here and I am constantly trying new dishes!
The ice cream is made fresh in house and I cannot get enough of it! The hazelnut is one of my favorites — I get it with chocolate as well and it tastes just like Nutella– YUM! My dad loves the pistachio ice cream he gets it every time.

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 décor 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~

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.

My fiancé and I had dinner here last night. My Limoncello martini was amazing. I ordered the Carpaccio and the veal limone. The Veal Limone had a great lemon wine sauce and the sautéed artichokes were very good. It had great flavor. The Carpaccio wasn’t cut thin enough.
My fiancé ordered the special whole grilled Branzino. It came with broccoli Rabe and roasted potatoes. It was moist but lacked flavor. He enjoyed it. The Zucchini Fritti came with a great tasting marinara dipping sauce.
I ordered a Limoncello for dessert. It was ok. Service was good. We will return.