Best Lunch Restaurants in Columbia City

First time going to Tutta Bella. We were at the Wallingford location. The parking lot is small, so be prepared to park on the street. We had a reservation for 5 people and arrived 10 minutes early. They had our table set and ready for us. When first walking in we first noticed amazing smells. The staff were courteous and sat us immediately. The decor and ambiance is urban casual. Noise level is moderate. We had drinks and appetizers which we all liked. The menu is limited to some salads, pizza and pasta dishes. My wife and I each had a pasta dish which was very good. My son and daughter each had pizza which had a good crust and the flavors were quite good. We will go there again when in the area. Wish they would open up a location where we live in Bellingham.

Superb, as usual. The carrot sformato was an unusual find and quite delicious. The addition of olives to the blood orange and fennel salad hit just the right acid note, Mama’s meatballs were pure beef with a strong dash of anise seed, and the accompanying marinara had been simmering for ages to pick up that deep complexity of flavors and great balance between sweet and slightly acid.

The salmon and masala chicken on Chef’s special Christmas menu are delicious! The date and molasses cake dessert is heavenly divine!

Our waiter, David made this experience for us. We had a wonderful time. The food was plentiful but honestly could have been fresher. Also some things didn’t work…consider sticking to the classics like a cucumber sandwich without modifications. It’s a staple of every high tea for a reason.

We have been coming here for since the year it opened, and are disappointed that the quality of the food and service has slipped slightly but steadily over time. The wait staff and bar service are all very polite, but not as accomplished and knowledgeable as we’ve had. The pizzas have become too wet, and the crusts now a wee soggy, even with no extra toppings. They seem underbaked; the crust no longer has any crunch with minimal or no brown on the bottom. This is still our favorite pizza in the area, but now only barely so. We hold out hope that things will improve for Tutta Bella, and all of us, in 2025.