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Bella Blu continues to deliver the best Italian fare and Seafood on the Upper East Side. Their "Specials" are always incredibly delicious with unique items like "Spagetti Lobster" and "Orata" fish with fennel and cherry tomato is the best in NYC. Their fish is unbeatable. Daily fare also great. Flaws are minor but need attending: Pizzas vary as some come burned. Kitchen also sometimes substitutes ingredients without notice (broccoli for broccoli rabe). The atmosphere is incredible! The staff work together like clockwork thanks to the subtle mastery of Marco Proietti, the Manager, and Gustavo the most efficient bar -tender in NY. This team orchestrates a theatre like atmosphere that is always cheery and upbeat. No customer leaves Bella Blu dissastified. No matter how busy it is Marco gratiously greets you. (It's alwasy busy so you really need to get there early) and personally escorts you to the perfect table. Sadly they won't deliver pizzas or entrees under $26. A risk b/c competitors are aggressively courting the delivery/lunch traffic to draw new customers to their restaurants. Otherwise, a trip to Bella Blue is like a trip to the Mediterranean. The art on the walls is fantastic, the Italian speaking waiters are incredibly informed and gracious, and there is always a sense of excitement upon entry.

The place was empty except for one other table when we went in, but it was about 5pm. The fried calamari/shrimp/scallops appetizer was excellent. I had the linguine and clams, which I thought could have had a little more olive oil. My boyfriend had the beef tortellini with ham which was very good. The bread and olive oil with herbs is great and they kept it coming. Overall, I would say the food is great, the prices should have been about $7 less per dish, but this is UES Manhattan, so I kind of expect insane prices. The waiters were very (a little overly) attentive..but my drink was never empty. I would go again.

The Food is nothing to write home about, the place is loud and the Italian waiters are rude. It's also very expensive. It was my first and last time.

This place is just great. 1) The menu is outstanding. 2) The food was cooked to perfection 3) The atmosphere is great. 4) The service is as good as you will find for a restaurant of this caliber 5) It's reasonably priced. If you're looking for good Italian on the UES then this is the best spot hands down. Enjoy.

It take an hour for us to be seated when we were told it would be a 10 minute wait. Our waiter never came over to introduce himself or take our drink orders. Menus were tossed at our table by someone on the walk by. We were not offered any specials or appetizers by anyone. A waiter who was not ours came over and took a bowl of food off of our table and walked it over to another table full of people. We ordered through the host, then were brought our food and were never checked on. Finally, we had to ask someone who our waiter was, before talking to the manager. All in all, this was a subpar dining experience and would never recommend this restauran.

Delicious pasta, inventive specials, a great wine list and attentive service. A hidden gem on the UES!

Bellablu was the Greatest discover we made recently. My wife wanted me to try it out and since I'm a little spoiled I was concerned at first but. As soon as we got in I was surrounded by colors and music and an impeccable host made us sit at the bar offering us some prosecco and while we were waiting 10 min. for our table he made some suggestion on the food and the wines. The wine list superb, as a matter of fact we had a great red from apuglia the manager suggested, and some of the special dishes, among which The Lobster spaghetti special and the buffalo meat tenderloin were so delicious we had to go back for more the day after. After the meal we had a nice conversation about Italy, the food, the wine and more importantly wich places to visit since my wife and I are going there next may. After all it was a dining experience. "Thanks Marco"!! Matt and Lisa!