What went well, first if you've never been to Little Italy in NYC it's an absolute must! The authentic character of the neighborhood, especially at night is something to see! The meal was amazing, first time here so no real expectations but it was really good. The service was attentive and pleasant. Would absolutely do it again!

Amazing restaurant, non-chalant waiters/servers. Food is great, the carbonara I would give an 8.6/10. The scampi is a 6.5/10. The food mixed with the dim ambient lighting compliments food greatly. Overall the restaurant is a 8.5/10.

The pastas were delicious, but occasionally you can find different types of pasta in your plate the service was ok, we had to ask twice for things, they were very busy though. Indoor decor was a bit out dated

Usually when I eat at an Italian restaurant I get spaghetti or chicken parm, but I decided to be bold and order the shrimp scampi. La Bella Vita did not disappoint! I was so worried after I ordered it but after taking that first bite, I was so glad I didn't go with the safe choice. The serving size was huge and I had to get a takeout box, which meant I got to enjoy this meal twice. If you're in Little Italy I highly recommend coming here!

Visiting NYC for Labor Day weekend and after a day of shopping in SoHo, we were craving pasta and knew Little Italy wasn't going to let us down. This place has outdoor seating as well as indoor and was the perfect spot for a late lunch. Service was not only friendly, but quick and attentive. Our waiter made sure our wine and waters were constantly full and our food, clearly house-made, came out in less than 20 minutes! Everyone was veryyy happy with what they ordered. The carbonara was my favorite, and though I'm not a big fan of gnocchi, their's was slightly more overcooked and softer than what I've had before, which I actually really liked, and the pesto was amazing. Serving portions were the perfect size to where you'd be full even if it was your first meal of the day. The complimentary bread was denser and had a crunch to it that was sooo good. Would love to be back to try something else on their menu! A solid, 10/10 experience with friends.

This is one of the rare instances where I wish I could give more than 5 stars. Everything from the food, to the atmosphere, to the service was perfection. They don't even have a traditional waiting stand, the servers are just standing around greeting potential customers or flashing smiles - which was very inviting. They have plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. I chose to sit outdoors, on their elevated platform just inches from the sidewalk. It does a great job at making the dining area feel separate from the sidewalk without having a barrier of any kind. They have Italian music playing at a volume as to where you can listen if you so desire, but also tune it out if unwanted. The decor and ambience felt very rustic. I placed my order, Penne Vodka with Chicken, and within a matter of minutes it was ready. I had only gotten to eat two pieces of bread from the basket they gave me. The penne vodka was divine! So creamy, so sweet, it was just the picture perfect penne vodka. I also highly appreciated how all the wait staff tag-teamed water refilling, because I drink a lot of water. Overall this place was an easy 5 stars on every front! If you want Italian on your trip, this is the place to go.

Bella Vita is located next to about 30 other Italian restaurants that are probably also quite good, and I only ended up here because my friends had come here before and said it was good. It was very easy to get a seat on a Friday evening, and we sat outside next to the road. I ordered a shrimp scampi, which ended up being quite good! The portion size was very healthy and there was a good amount of shrimp. It's one of the better shrimp scampis that I've eaten. Overall a good Italian spot that's reasonably priced and a place that I'd definitely recommend.