Pizzeria Bel Sit

Very lucky to have this pizzeria as my local. Incredibly friendly service from the family-​run place — the same people have been wait staff in the 10 years I have been going here. The garlic bread is incredible and there is a good range of pizza, pasta and daily specials — many of which are seafood-​based. No bookings but enjoy a drink while you wait. Very buzzy atmosphere especially on weekend evenings.

I’ve visited Bel Sit many times over the years. It always has a great atmosphere, and the football themed memorabilia makes a nice change from the standard Italian décor. Queues can be long at times, but that just goes to show how popular the place is, considering it is on a quiet terrace of around 10 shops. You can normally grab a drink while you wait.
The food is traditional Italian, with their thin and crispy garlic bread my starter of choice. I’d say the pizza is superior to their pasta offerings (thin base, plenty of toppings), but both are certainly better than average. They normally have a fair few daily specials on the board too, with lots of of seafood options.

Very disappointed with this place!
I had heard about this retaurant being ’ the place to be’ for a long time so I thought I’d give it a try
Well! Firstly, you cannot book ahead of time so if you are in a group forget it!
We were a group of 8 and waited over an hour in a very cramped entrance area on a Saturday evening.
We tried to make the best of it by ordering some drinks during the interim but these took over half an hour to arrive even though we were stood opposite the bar!
So, by this time I wasn’t in the best of moods but was hopeful that the food would compensate.
It didnt. It was standard Italian fare. There was not anything special offered on the menu. So I opted for a hearty lasagne. The portion size was disappointing and like I say, nothing special.
I have to give it to them the waiting staff (although under immense pressure) were upbeat and very very accomodating.
But I couldn’t help feeling rushed as though on a conveyor belt since there were bundles of people continually waiting for tables!
I certainly will not return to this restaurant again.
Over-​rated!

Overpriced, over-​rated, over packed! Food is average, The garlic they cook to tempt everyone in is always on the go. Food is edible, I refused to queue and went at lunch and you feel. Did not feel that I was getting value for money. If you do not order masses of food and drink the waiters become hostile. Try ordering a glass of tap water! I still managed a bill of £30.00.

I went to Bel-​Sit on Saturday for lunch and i’m sorry to say I was very disappointed. Having been going for many years I feel that now the management know they will be busy are resting on their laurels. I had a sirloinn steak (£17) and how they managed to make a nice piece of meat so bad was beyond me. It was served lukewarm as was the selection of vegetables (sautee potatoes and overcookes broccoli). At least the Peroni was cold. The Bel Sit still has a good atmosphere but the management needs to give the kitchen staff a kick up the backside to get where they were a few years ago!!! Must try harder. Or maybe you think you don’t have to any more.

First, get there early. It is so good it fills up really fast and then there is a queue.
Inside is pure Italian. Tight for space, noisy but what an atmosphere. Football regallia on the walls and ceiling. You can see into the open kitchen where the delicious aromas swell out into the restaurant.
Difficult to describe this restaurant. But need I, because it is ALWAYS full to the ceiling.
You have to visit to find out what true Italian food is all about. Trust me, you will love it.

This place used to be reasonable: nice atmosphere and good price for value. But this seems to have changed. If you appear to be a tourist they rip you off. I received a badly handwritten receipt without fully itemised details. They offer specials, without a price listed anywhere (although they have blackboards where they could give details). For instance, a standard main cost us about £20. A small glass of so-​called fresh juice with 50% ice costs at least 3 quid (reverse engineered from the bill). There are many errors in the calculations on the bill and they overcharged us. Instead of charging the correct price for items they have ad-​hoc calculation methods: two coffee means 2 times 2 quid. I do not remember the prices on the menu but it seems to be strange that they do not distinguish between double and single espresso. I do not remember to have received such a dodgy receipt in the past, but it seems their way to rip off customers and perhaps to avoid paying tax.

1 hour and 15 mins is how long we had to queue for. With a queue that long you know the food has to be good. This restaurant is very small and the queue stretched out of the door, although it is small, they have a small bar catering for everyone that is waiting. The atmosphere is great, everyone seems to know someone in there, and everyone in the queue ends up talking because you are waiting around so long.
This is a family owned business and they are a happy lot, they are all very nice and you get to meet a number of them while you are seated.
We ordered garlic bread and bruschetta. The garlic bread was not garlic bread it was a large cracker with garlic butter on it. It was nice, but it isn’t garlic bread. The bruschetta wasn’t bruschetta it was baguette with tomato sauce and cheese.
For mains I ordered Penne with aubergine. It was a good dish, not the best I have tasted though, definitely not worth the 1hr 15min wait.
For dessert I had the lemon cheesecake … THIS was worth the 1hr 15min wait! it was really really good, it was smooth and really tasty.
Be warned if you come here on a Saturday night they do not take reservations so you will have to wait, if you are prepared to wait then you will receive great service, ok mains but an amazing dessert :)
If you are thinking of coming here with your debit or credit card then leave it at home as this place is cash only! Tax haven! ;)

I’ve been dining here for the last couple of years, predominantly with my colleagues. My Chairman and MD are both Italian and take their staff here often, for Italians to dine here you must be getting an authentic Italian meal! The service is great, the food is very tasty and the desserts are divine!
The only negative points I can think of are 1. you can’t book a table and 2. they only take cash, no credit/​debit cards.
Have recommended this restaurant to friends in the past with positive feedback and would definitely recommend this restaurant to others.

Fantastic. I’ve lived in Woodford Green since I was two, and this has always been my favourite restaurant. The service is just obscenely friendly, to the point that you find yourself questioning whether or not the staff know you from somewhere. Be you with friends, family, or a date, the staff seem able to adjust their behaviour perfectly the situation.
The choice of food large, but is almost entire made up of HUGE portions of pizza and pasta, along with a desert menu made of freshly homemade Italian fare.
The food is great, but it’s the atmosphere that sets the Bel Sit apart. The walls are lined with pictures of Italy, and a variety of Italian and English football memorabilia, that adds a true air of a laid back family run restaurant. Considering the relatively down market vibe of the place, the wine list, specifically the reds, is really quite impressive.
I’ve heard they do take away, but I’ve never used it, so no comment there.

This restaurant is a typical tratoria type restaurant with a soccer theme. its been here for 25 years and the staff seem like a happy bunch, they seem to enjoy what theyre doing, which always makes me feel like im in good hands. However, i felt that the attentiveness of the staff must have receded over the years as at times we felt neglected.
It is a very popular spot and full of families, retired couples and also a younger very ESSEX crowd.
Pizzas are good, thing crust stone oven baked, desserts are plentiful and many specials not on the menu, which not being a chain restaurant it does really well.
I think i was expecting to be dazzled but left feeling it fell short of the mark, just an average family run style Italian Pizzeria. Three stars. Would happily return but wouldnt go out of my way for it.
You will have to que for a table as they dont take reservations and they are quite popular!

A good restaurant, always very busy and lively. There is a bar to wait at while waiting for your table so despite you can not book you will not be bored waiting. The staff are friendly and lively, not the place for a romantic Italian. The walls are covered in Football memorabilia which is great fun to look at if you’re into it. Food is amazing and not too expensive. Over all a great place for a night out.

After always driving past and seeing peole queuing outside I thought this place must be amazing. Unfortunately not.
The food here is decidedly average and you do feel like the waiters are there to be the centre of attention rather than serve you. The fact it is decked out with foot ball shirts etc and that you are crammed in AND that it gets very noisy does not for a great evening make.
The food is ok but not of the standard you would expect from the hype.
If you like being surrounded by loud essex wives types thinking they are getting the best of italy then you will probably enjoy this restaurant.
If, however, you like a nice relaxed atmosphere with a higher standard of food. go elsewhere!

The one thing you must know about this restaurant is the fact that you cannot book! And it is also so popular that you have to expect to queue for a very long time. It gets so busy, but once you eat there you will know why. Quality food and quality service. They do the nicest garlic bread to start with. The décor is cool too kitted out with football shirts and memorabilia. You have to expect it to be loud and squashy its not the most ‘roomy’ of restaurants. But hey, you may even catch celebs in there. Its really popular with locals and the waiters are very nice too.