Bella Italia - Lampasas (TX)

3 /5 Kristi Beber: Havent been here in well over a year and decided wed pop in and see how things were. The food isnt bad...but, at least tonight, it wasnt anything that made it really memorable. The calamari was fresh and tasty. Not chewy and old. The garlic knots were amazing (thus the reason theres only 2 in the photo and not the 4 we were served). Unfortunately the main courses were just okay. My sausage and peppers were very sweet and kind of salty. I think that the sausage was sweet and the bell peppers, which were fresh and crisp, were sweet. Then the sauce was sweet. Just overall too much sweetness for me. The Veal Parmigian was okay. Not enough sauce to make up for the dry breading. Finally, I know the restaurant is always struggling to find help so it was nice to see 2 waitresses. Ours was pleasant and polite. We were her only table and she took good care of us. I wish she had removed dirty dishes as the meal went along. Our salad plates, appetizer plate, and empty drink bottles all piled up on the edge of the table. The portions were really good sized and we took home leftovers. Well go back and try again. I hear the pizza is amazing.

5 /5 Marcus Vogel: Literally everything here was amazing!!! Highly recommended this place! The tiramisu was incredible to top everything off. Thank yall for the hard work, we will definitely be back soon.

5 /5 Karilynn Bressie: Friendly and helpful staff, Patti is wonderful. The fresh bread is hot out of the oven. The garden salad is crisp, fresh and fantastic with the homemade Italian dressing. The minestrone soup has a wonderful depth of flavor with all the things youre expecting from minestrone soup. The pasta trio has amazing flavors. The Alfredo sauce is thick and sticks to the noodles. The chicken parmessan has a nice breading with nice amount of sauce. The lasagna has great flavor. The portions are large enough to share. Absolutely recommend! I will be back!!

1 /5 Deborah Purvis: Bella Italia: A Lesson in Missed Opportunities In the mood for a cozy Italian evening, my husband and I set out with high hopes, our appetites leading the way. After weighing our options between Olive Garden and Bella Italia, I chose the latter, charmed by its quaint, inviting exterior that whispered promises of authentic comfort. The welcome was warm enough — our waitress had a sweet demeanor — but she seemed unfamiliar with the menu, which hinted at a lack of polish. We began with a tomato caprese salad, a dish that should sing with freshness and balance. Instead, it arrived timid and lifeless, in desperate need of the balsamic kick we had to request. The soups followed, one lukewarm, the other scalding, as if the kitchen had confused “temperature contrast” with “culinary creativity.” Then came the mains, where I anticipated redemption. I ordered the Bella Italia chicken dinner — the supposed crown jewel of the menu — but was met with a dry, overcooked bird drowning in a tsunami of lemon. Two bites in, I surrendered my fork. My husband’s chicken Parmesan fared no better: the meat was tough and unyielding, more work than pleasure. What lingered more than the disappointing flavors was the silence — our server never inquired about our entrées, as if the absence of commentary might mask our dissatisfaction. The final bill, $70, was made even more sour by a curious charge: we’d been told there’d be an “upcharge” for swapping soups, yet found ourselves billed for two full bowls at $6.99 apiece — a clever rebranding of the word upgrade. We left Bella Italia not with the warmth of Italian hospitality, but with the lingering taste of missed opportunity. A change in care, both in the kitchen and in service, could turn this charming space into the haven it promises to be. Until then, consider yourself warned: not all that glitters in the glow of an Italian evening is gold.

5 /5 Taylor S: Every time I come to Texas, I make sure to stop in at Bella Italia. I dream about their chicken soup and rolls. All the pasta is so good and the staff is always fast and friendly.