Bella Not Just Pasta (Bella Pasta)

Member Name: Cheuk

Product:	Bella Pasta
Date:	29/06/01 (452 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good service, nice atmosphere, good food

Disadvantages: chain, not very unique, inconsistent portion size, can't find much faults.

The chain
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Bella Pasta has been classified by some as the McDonalds of pasta but this tag I think is unfair. I’ve been to many Bella Pastas, in Manchester, Birmingham, and now Oxford. The service in these type of chains are usually poor, or ordinary at the most. However the majority of times I’ve been to Bella Pasta, the service has always been good. Whether this is due to the fact that they have to earn their service charge as this is not included and it is printed on the menu and bill. As a rule it suggests 10% of the final bill more for parties of 6 or more. This op will concentrate on the Oxford branch unless where specified. Décor is kept to the continental flavour with wooden tables and chairs. This one is also much brighter than other chains I have been in. Its is medium size, not to small and ensure privacy for those romantic occasions. The waiters look respectable and well trained.

The menu consists of ‘traditional’ and variations of Italian food. Garlic bread seems to be missing off the starters, but is available as a side order or starter. Starters are rather pricey, but I guess it is the same as other similar places. Salads and vegetarian options are available as well as pasta and spaghetti bolognaise for those wanting it. Main courses start from 6 pounds and are reasonable. The wine list is adequate rather than exceptional, and price wise is OK, though I would avoid the cheaper red wine selection, but the cheap whites are fine.


The Bad
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Well lets get the bad things over and done with. The main problem is the inconsistency of the portion size, the Birmingham branch can give out mega portions or then it can go the other extreme. It still early days for the Oxford branch since I’ve been to other places here where the service was good on the first visit but on subsequent returns the service have been abysmal. I was fortunate to come in just in tim
e, as further customers were turned away as they had started to run out. This is the first time I’ve seen it happen and being peak time for tourists in Oxford, I guess this can be excused. Well this surprisingly for me is it. Yes very little complaint in this op!

The good
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The service was very quick, and was seated on entry. I was asked whether I wanted a drink while I looked at the menu, which is how it should be. I asked for water while I looked and this was delivered to me very quickly. The waiter then came to me and took my order for a salad for a starter, a black and white linguine (chicken and bacon in a creamy sauce) and asked whether I wanted any garlic bread, which I added as well. The starter came very shortly. The salad was nothing special and the dressing was good. I had black pepper added as well. The portion size was good, with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cucumber. The main course came shortly after.
This wasn’t presented in any special way, a bog standard affair but good. The portion size was good. The sauce was tasty and not too thick. There were adequate chunks of meat as well. The garlic bread, or ciabatta was one of the best I’ve had. It was still warm and very soft. The garlic taste was strong and flavoursome. I could eat this all day long, but I better stock up on parsley to avoid the garlic breath.

The ugly
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Well I guess the bill was not good, well it was OK, and I didn’t mind paying considering it was good and I enjoyed myself. There was a good handful of lemon sherbert sweets, which was essential to hide my garlic breath, with the bill.
Sorry folks couldn’t find too much to much to fault I’m afraid, believe I tried very hard. In fact I felt guilty that I didn’t pay my waiter enough in service charge though this was 15% of my final bill. The waiter was friendly, polite and provided good quick service.
Overall
very good for my first visit. Hopefully my next visit in Oxford would be the same.

Summary: