When I asked anyone in Yucaipa what was their favorite Italian restaurants in town was, everyone said you should try Italia Bella. I called and spoke with owner Mina Botro and he gladly wanted me to try his wonderful cuisine. I totally knew what I was getting myself into, from all of the folks telling me how good it was, and I was on board.
The interior is small and simple, but don’t let that sway your decision to try Italia Bella. Here, it’s all about the food. Located in a strip mall on the main drag in Yucaipa, its very easy to find, and so worth the trip!
During my gastronomic experience, the three ladies that sat across from me all ordered entrees with Pomodoro sauce. I was amazed at how committed they were to only be eating their pastas with this sauce. But after I tried it, I totally understood why. It’s just that good. I told Mina that he has to bottle this very addicting sauce.
Here’s What I tried:
Soup:
Cream of Broccoli, it has garlic, cream and butter, maybe some other ingredients, but that is what I could taste, and believe me – it’s all you need. This soup is something I would order every time, it is so delicious.
Sides:
Meatballs w/ marinara sauce and parmesan (2 pcs per order). Their meatballs are fantastic. They have great texture and lovely meaty flavors, and just what your Nonna would make.
Cheesy Garlic Knots, homemade garlic knots, with melted mozzarella cheese, and a side of marinara. If you’re a lover of cheese knots, then these are for you.
Italian Pasta Salad, with some nice vegetables, a good dish to go with a sandwich.
Antipasto:
Salami, prosciutto, capicola, fresh mozzarella, carrots, cucumbers, onions, olives, pepperoncini, and tomatoes over a bed of spring mix. This salad covers all your bases, it has a little bit of everything. Their portions are very large, so you may want to share this one as a starter.
Salads:
Caesar Salad, Romaine lettuce, croutons, Caesar dressing w/ Pecorino Romano cheese. This salad too can be shared and would be good for a starter.
Sandwiches:
Italian Sub, with Salami, prosciutto, capicola, fresh mozzarella w/ lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo, oil and vinegar, and orégano. It is served on a ciabatta bread, and cut into two triangles. They pile on all of the goodies, a great lunch item.
Pasta:
Fettuccine Alfredo with mushrooms, shrimp, and garlic. By far my favorite dish of the night, with super fresh shrimp, and the mushrooms, add just the right texture. With their pasta dishes you can choose your type of pasta, type of sauce, and all of the things you want to go into the sauce.
Angel Hair with vodka sauce, sausage artichoke and spinach. I just loved the sausage in this pasta, it added a whole other dimension.
Specialties:
Baked Meat Lasagna, layered pasta stuffed ground beef and Italian cheeses w/ homemade marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. A very rich lasagna, with oozing cheese. It will satisfy your lasagna craving.
Jumbo Ravioli Florentine Pesto, Filled w/ blend of spinach, ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, with pesto sauce. Another favorite menu item. The raviolis are huge, and the pesto sauce was delicate, but with great zesty taste.
Stuffed Eggplant Arrabiata, with roasted eggplant stuffed with Italian cheese and baked on top of your choice of pasta w/ melted mozzarella cheese. I just loved this menu item as well. It’s a great alternative to eggplant parmigiana.
Entrees:
Shrimp Scampi, with sauteed jumbo shrimp in garlic white wine lemon sauce. Their shrimps are fresh and succulent, so you really can’t go wrong with any shrimp dishes here.
Chicken Marsala, with chicken breast sauteed with shallots, mushrooms in marsala wine brown sauce. For me the sauce was the takeaway from this chicken dish.
Chicken Piccata, with Chicken breast sauteed with fresh garlic, capers in white wine lemon sauce. This dish has a very fragrant lemon sauce, and the capers add a pop in your mouth, with zest that you just can’t describe.
For local perfect Italian food, this is the place to go. When I was there, they also had lots of Togo orders, you can tell that the food would be the same and just as good eating it at home with your family.
Mina is so lucky to have his sweet son Peter helping him every step of the way. They live in Palm Desert, and commute to work fifty minutes each way. But Mina really loves what he does. You can tell when you talk to him about his restaurant and how he is filling a much-needed space for good Italian food in this growing community.
You can make Italia Bella a destination spot when you’re enroute to the dessert, of if you’re local, then here’s your opportunity for delicious authentic Italian food nearby. Whatever your culinary pleasure is, Italia Bella will surely satisfy your needs, and appetite!!
“Everything we cook is homemade and is made with love!’
Italia Bella
33527 Yucaipa Blvd. # C1
Yucaipa, CA, 92399
https://www.italiabella.biz/
Hours:
Wednesday -Saturday 12PM-8PM
Sunday: 12PM-6:30pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
