2008 Woodie Awards
Italian takeout restaurant lives up to expectations
Amanda Cudmore
Issue date: 5/3/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
'Looks don't mean everything' is a cliché commonly used, but one that fits perfectly in describing Ciao Bella, the tiny Italian restaurant located at 402 Grove Street here in Worcester. While from the outside looks and décor might not grab your attention, the hearty Italian meals inside certainly will.
I went on a Friday night and the small dining area was relatively full, with three waitresses sharing the dining load. We sat ourselves, and then waited for a long time for our napkins to be thrown at us and our drink order to be taken. Their wait staff was not going to win any awards for service the night I went there, but their delicious food certainly would.
The meal began with a basket of bread, and then we ordered, myself having the chicken parmigiana and my friend having pasta primavera with fresh vegetables. The food came quickly and was hot, along with our order of cheesy garlic bread. I consider myself somewhat of a chicken parmigiana coinsurer seeing it is what I order almost every time I go out to eat. I was very pleased with the chicken parm at Ciao Bella. The servings were very generous with a lot of pasta coming along with the chicken or vegetables.
Our dinner was going great until I found an unexpected ingredient in my chicken, a short black hair! The waitress took care of the problem right away as the situation was quickly fixed by the chef who made me a new order and took the cost of the dinner off the bill. However, my appetite was somewhat lost.
Ciao Bella has appetizers such as hummus, pita chips, and bruscheta, as well as salads. They have an assortment of roll ups and grinders costing up to $7.00 including grilled lemon chicken cordon bleu, lemon chicken BLT's, philly steak and tuna. Pasta dishes range from $7.00 to $9.00 and include such favorites as pasta with alfredo, primavera, and pesto sauces.
For chicken dishes, Ciao Bella has chicken scampi, chicken with broccoli, and lemon herb roasted half chicken. For those seafood lovers, the restaurant offers a selection of salmon, scallops, shrimp, mussels, and haddock. The most expensive items range about $14.00, but the average meal is about $10.00.
Ciao Bella also offers an assortment of pizzas with interesting ingredients such as artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, chicken, and an assortment of cheeses and spices. They also have a selection of homemade desserts that change daily.
The restaurant is primarily meant for take out. If you are looking for a romantic place for a dinner for two, this probably isn't the place for you, but for a quick, relatively inexpensive meal, it is perfect. To order take out from Ciao Bella, you can call 1-508-756-2426
Despite the unexpected extra ingredient in my dinner, and our less than spectacular service, Ciao Bella receives a rating of 8 out of 10 for its delicious dinner choices, convenient location, and low prices.
I went on a Friday night and the small dining area was relatively full, with three waitresses sharing the dining load. We sat ourselves, and then waited for a long time for our napkins to be thrown at us and our drink order to be taken. Their wait staff was not going to win any awards for service the night I went there, but their delicious food certainly would.
The meal began with a basket of bread, and then we ordered, myself having the chicken parmigiana and my friend having pasta primavera with fresh vegetables. The food came quickly and was hot, along with our order of cheesy garlic bread. I consider myself somewhat of a chicken parmigiana coinsurer seeing it is what I order almost every time I go out to eat. I was very pleased with the chicken parm at Ciao Bella. The servings were very generous with a lot of pasta coming along with the chicken or vegetables.
Our dinner was going great until I found an unexpected ingredient in my chicken, a short black hair! The waitress took care of the problem right away as the situation was quickly fixed by the chef who made me a new order and took the cost of the dinner off the bill. However, my appetite was somewhat lost.
Ciao Bella has appetizers such as hummus, pita chips, and bruscheta, as well as salads. They have an assortment of roll ups and grinders costing up to $7.00 including grilled lemon chicken cordon bleu, lemon chicken BLT's, philly steak and tuna. Pasta dishes range from $7.00 to $9.00 and include such favorites as pasta with alfredo, primavera, and pesto sauces.
For chicken dishes, Ciao Bella has chicken scampi, chicken with broccoli, and lemon herb roasted half chicken. For those seafood lovers, the restaurant offers a selection of salmon, scallops, shrimp, mussels, and haddock. The most expensive items range about $14.00, but the average meal is about $10.00.
Ciao Bella also offers an assortment of pizzas with interesting ingredients such as artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, chicken, and an assortment of cheeses and spices. They also have a selection of homemade desserts that change daily.
The restaurant is primarily meant for take out. If you are looking for a romantic place for a dinner for two, this probably isn't the place for you, but for a quick, relatively inexpensive meal, it is perfect. To order take out from Ciao Bella, you can call 1-508-756-2426
Despite the unexpected extra ingredient in my dinner, and our less than spectacular service, Ciao Bella receives a rating of 8 out of 10 for its delicious dinner choices, convenient location, and low prices.