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Bella Monica, Raleigh, NC
Bella Monica, Raleigh, NC
Bella Monica, Raleigh, NC
Bella Monica, Raleigh, NC
Bella Monica, Raleigh, NC

Bella Monica

4.8
4.8
3383 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian
Benvenuto! Opened August 2000, chef/ owner Corbett Monica and his wife, Julie, created this trattoria as an extension of his Nanas dinner table. A place where the neighborhood gathers to dine and enjoy life. Guests become family at our tables, enjoying recipes handed down from our grandparents. Following tradition, we make our sauce with San Marzano tomatoes and use only the freshest ingredients available, just like Nana. Our gravy is so good that we eat it like soup! Neapolitan menu, thin-crust Flatbread pizzas, Pasta, NC Seafood, Chicken, Local Pork. Without a doubt, the best cannoli you will ever taste! Our wine list features all Italian, hard-to-find selections that are a perfect match for our Pasta and Flatbreads. Wine Spectator 2007-2019. Local art is on our walls and we play a great upbeat music mix. We welcome you to our business, our culture, our family. It is an honor and pleasure to cook for you. Please enjoy our food and the company you share at our table. Mangia bene!

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 p.m.


Booked 23 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizza Bar, Wine Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (919) 881-9778
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Corbett Monica
  • Catering
    Let us bring our homemade Italian food to you at your home, office or special event venue. Catering from 10-100 people. Available for staffed, non-staffed, pick up or delivery events. Sundays at our Nana’s house were special. They began when we entered Nana’s house and the smell of the ‘gravy’ simmering on the stove would greet us at the door. Nana would fly out of the kitchen to pinch our cheeks, give us hugs, and lead us to the table full of food saying “mangia, mangia”. Sundays with Nana were days where everything seemed to stop for family and friends; everything except for pasta. Aunts, uncles and cousins would trickle into Nana’s home throughout the day to take their places at the table. The day never seemed to end. We would sit for hours sharing food and laughter with one another. Though the day would begin and end with food, the time spent with our family really made those days special. It is our hope and passion to recreate those long, special Sundays at Nana’s table.
  • Private party facilities
    Bella Monica’s Private Dining Room is the perfect setting for celebrating a special occasion or hosting a corporate event. We offer extraordinary food, in an intimate setting, with gracious hospitality. Our completely private room can accommodate 18 guests seated or 35 guests standing. Additionally
  • Private party contact
    Ben Hunter: (919) 881-9778
  • Neighbourhood
    Raleigh
  • Cross Street
    Duraleigh/ Blue Ridge roads
  • Parking Details
    Large, shopping center lot.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 3,383 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill

    Italian

  • Raleigh

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Raleigh

    Italian

3,383 Reviews
  1. DukeT

    Dallas

    22 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience as always. Never disappointed. Sean did a nice job as a new wait staff employee. Food was great. We come from Burlington just to eat here. Great spot.

    Is this helpful?

  2. LaraW

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time at Bella Monica and loved it! Will definitely recommend it.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Andi

    Western NC

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    They’re back on their ‘A’ game. Great food and service.

    Is this helpful?

  4. MichaelK

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Two of our entrees were pasta and they were so over cooked that you could knead them back into dough. They mentioned the opposite (undercooking) had been a problem. So was it really hard to check the pasta before you serve it? We think so. Flatbread was good.

    Is this helpful?

  5. AnnaAtlanta

    Philadelphia

    48 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    48 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A perfect night to celebrate my Mom’s 90th birthday! The staff made us feel so special with a chalk walk welcome outside the door and a private room with delicious appetizers, entrees and drinks! Thank you for making us feel so special! It was a perfect night!

    Is this helpful?

  6. AshleyB

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    All the food was wonderful, especially the garlic cheese bread and apple crostada

    Is this helpful?

  7. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love dining here and they handle well the member of our party with Celiac.

    Is this helpful?

  8. IhrieO

    Raleigh

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Although they were very busy, our waiter Blair and manager Ben made our party feel very special! Easy to see why it’s best to have a reservation- fabulous food and service!

    Is this helpful?

  9. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, service, experience. We look forward to returning soon!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Kennethf

    New York Area

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on December 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    This was our second time visiting this restaurant. The first time it seemed rushed and we didn’t like where we sat (in front near the bar) as it was noisy and crowded. After reading the good reviews we tried again in a seat in a booth towards the back. It made a huge difference in noise and quality of the experience. The food is excellent here and the sauce is the best we have had in Raleigh. We are very happy we tried this again and we will be back.

    Is this helpful?

  11. JohnV

    Raleigh

    79 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    79 reviews

    Dined on November 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An important item when dining out is the cleanliness and how neat/orderly the restaurant is. Bella Monica checks all the boxes (including the restroom). Delicious food and great service. Keep it up!

    Is this helpful?

  12. JMac

    Raleigh

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Thank you for a lovely meal in a lovely setting. We enjoyed our food and visit with you.

    Is this helpful?

  13. ShellyB

    Wilmington

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, as usual. Good value. Plenty of easy parking. Conveniently located.

    Is this helpful?

  14. Dawn

    Raleigh

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food. Service always excellent. Attention to detail is exceptional! Thank for a wonderful birthday celebration!!!

    Is this helpful?

  15. PBJ1

    Raleigh

    63 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    63 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Food is always good; tonight, for some reason, the service was very slow (not our server, but the time between ordering and getting our meal).

    Is this helpful?

  16. OpenTable Diner

    Charlotte

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bella Monica is always great. Always great for gluten free.

    Is this helpful?

  17. Christine

    Las Vegas

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Enjoyed our dinner. Server was not that attentive, kept going outside to check his phone.

    Is this helpful?

  18. LarryF

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have eaten at Bella Monica for over 20 years and have always found it to be great! With our friends last night our dinner was also great. All six of us feel that Bella Monica is one of the best restaurants in Raleigh!

    Is this helpful?

  19. DavidH

    Raleigh

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service and food were excellent as always. I let them know we were celebrating our daughter’s birthday and they even included her name on the birthday list posted in chalk on the sidewalk! A great experience all around!

    Is this helpful?

  20. OpenTable Diner

    Coastal Georgia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our favorite restaurant in Raleigh! Truly fantastic food and dining experience with an incredible team.

    Is this helpful?

  21. FelixC

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Dinner, service and ambiance. We will definitely be back!

    Is this helpful?

  22. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 16, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Consistently good Italian in a nice atmosphere. There are fancier places but this is just a good neighborhood restaurant and should be a “ go to” place when looking for a casual night out.

    Is this helpful?

  23. KevinO

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was great, apple bruschetta was very tasty along with the chicken parmigiana. Received a free canonoli since we were celebrating our anniversary, nice!!

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  24. Marsha

    Raleigh

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food and very nice service. They were very busy but got it all done well.

    Is this helpful?

  25. DanceMom1

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service. Fresh food but lacking in flavor. The lunch orzo side pasta salad could have used some lemon or seasoning. The caprese sandwich could have benefited from some balsamic vinegar. On a good note, the beet and goat salad was delicious.

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  26. Sworn

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Service was slow and the food was very disappointing. First class airline food is better.

    Is this helpful?

  27. LeighB

    Salt Lake City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our new favorite Italian Restaurant. Everything is delicious. Looking forward to going again soon.

    Is this helpful?

  28. MelissaS

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Came here for a birthday. Dishes were hit or miss. I ordered a side of spaghetti in addition to my meal because I wanted to try their gravy and it was the worst dish I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Clearly reheated and broken into tiny pieces. Baked ziti was mushy, even for baked ziti. The specials and the wine selection were good at least. Since we were a party of 7, they stuck us in the back room which I understand but the ambiance just isn’t the same. We had a view of the gas station and had to pull down the curtains ourselves to block out the blinding neon. Staff wasn’t particularly attentive and seemed stressed. Took a long time to get drinks going. One server sloshed wine onto the table and another allowed a dish of pasta to drip onto the floor all the way to our neighbor’s table.

    Is this helpful?

  29. KathyK

    Las Vegas

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delightful and delicious. We were a party of 4. Two of us had the most delicious pumpkin ravioli. One had a pepperoni pizza that looked amazing. Crispy pepperoni and perfect crust. My husband had the veal bolognese and it too was good. The service was excellent and the vibe was really fun. I highly recommend Bella Monica!! A great little trattoria in Raleigh!! Yum!

    Is this helpful?

  30. SamB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I was traveling on business and found this great spot! I have a gluten allergy and their gluten free menu is one of the best that I have seen. Thank you to this lovely restaurant for making sure that those of us with a gluten allergy can enjoy delicious food!!

    Is this helpful?

  31. Steve

    Raleigh

    21 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on November 9, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was very good, served hot! Noise level was pretty high, and it was cold inside. We sat on the patio which was more comfortable. I'd say the prices were a little on the high side.

    Is this helpful?

  32. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food! I ordered the gluten free chicken parm and it was fabulous! We will definitely be going back!

    Is this helpful?

  33. JonnyB

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 7, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Okay, I love this place and the food is top notch. They even have a gluten free menu which is wonderful. They are great with special requests as well. However on this one occasion only, we were put in a room that felt like a conference room that they may use for large parties. We are elderly and the room was really cold and never seemed to warm up in spite of the efforts of the staff. Also one other party was seated in this room and they were so boisterous that we couldn’t hear ourselves well. That is no fault of the restaurant, everyone deserves to have a good time. But as the room lacked any dampening ceiling tile and had walls of glass it did feel loud in a way that it doesn’t in the main dining room. The service was impeccable but I will be sure to request the main dining room in future.

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  34. AustinW

    Raleigh

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 7, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Authentic, fresh, filling, hot, repeatable; the wine selection is impressive!

    Is this helpful?

  35. Hungry

    Raleigh

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely wonderful! They have excellent gluten free options, including foccacia bread, baked ziti, all kinds of pasta dishes, etc! Would HIGHLY recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  36. marathombre

    Baltimore

    74 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    74 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food, especially the seasonal items. The hostess was phenomenal. Easy to find place. Very cozy.

    Is this helpful?

  37. Emma

    Raleigh

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great number of gluten-free options for one of my guests, which she hasn’t seen at other restaurants! She loves Italian food and is happy to finally have nice gluten-free bread at a restaurant. Solid options with pretty big portions. The apple bruschetta special was really excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  38. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. Always a great experience! Please bring back the mushroom spinach lasagna!!! 🙏

    Is this helpful?

  39. PaulJ

    Raleigh

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous meal, as always, served by kind and courteous people! Along with Winston’s, Bella Monica is one of the most consistently great food and service establishments in Raleigh.

    Is this helpful?

  40. CammieK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is always delicious with amazing service!

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Bella Monica offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (919) 881-9778.

Bella Monica is rated 4.8 stars by 3383 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 p.m.


Booked 23 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Bella Monica

3121-103 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27612

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Duraleigh/ Blue Ridge roads
  • Neighbourhood
    Raleigh
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:00 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizza Bar, Wine Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking Details
    Large, shopping center lot.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Corbett Monica
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (919) 881-9778
  • Catering
    Let us bring our homemade Italian food to you at your home, office or special event venue. Catering from 10-100 people. Available for staffed, non-staffed, pick up or delivery events. Sundays at our Nana’s house were special. They began when we entered Nana’s house and the smell of the ‘gravy’ simmering on the stove would greet us at the door. Nana would fly out of the kitchen to pinch our cheeks, give us hugs, and lead us to the table full of food saying “mangia, mangia”. Sundays with Nana were days where everything seemed to stop for family and friends; everything except for pasta. Aunts, uncles and cousins would trickle into Nana’s home throughout the day to take their places at the table. The day never seemed to end. We would sit for hours sharing food and laughter with one another. Though the day would begin and end with food, the time spent with our family really made those days special. It is our hope and passion to recreate those long, special Sundays at Nana’s table.
  • Private party facilities
    Bella Monica’s Private Dining Room is the perfect setting for celebrating a special occasion or hosting a corporate event. We offer extraordinary food, in an intimate setting, with gracious hospitality. Our completely private room can accommodate 18 guests seated or 35 guests standing. Additionally
  • Private party contact
    Ben Hunter: (919) 881-9778
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  • Cookie Preferences
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