Bella Giulia

Your go-to place if you want fresh, homemade pizzettes, salads, and small, tasty entrees. The menu is simple yet effective. The small, cute, laid back restaurant is owned by a sweet and courteous Italian couple. Bella is in an unbeatable location: in downtown Encinitas, right off the famous California Highway 101. The location lets you enjoy beautiful Moonlight beach, a festive night life, boutique shops and other eateries. The location is perfect to impress loved ones. Bella is not a super expensive, fancy, elegant, upscale Italian restaurant that will overly impress with service. Rather, this is a fun, family friendly, boutique, casual, and laid back Italian restaurant. Orders are taken at the counter and then you seat yourself outside or inside. Beer and wine are offered, which is always a plus to open up the appetite while waiting for food. The menu mostly features tapas. Almost every item on the menu is made for 1 person. Daily specials are offered, which are usually unique, creative entrees you won't be able to find commonly in other Italian restaurants. It's not often I find an Italian restaurant where I can try a new dish. I'm part Italian, so I grew up eating a variety of grandma's dishes from all over Italy. I had never seen or heard of Salmon Lasagna. Here it was featured as a "daily special" and recommended to me by the staff. I ordered it and tried it. And, boy, was I impressed. The lasagna was packed with flavor and the salmon paired extremely well with the tomato sauce, pasta, and cheese. Bravo, Bella! Also, I tried several Pizzettes. Bella makes their own dough, which gives their pizzettes, or mini pizzas, a distinguished, unique, and good taste, feel and texture. The Pizzettes measure 6 to 8 inches and are packed with flavor and topped off with delicious, fresh cheese! I also had their California Pizza, which came with a piece of their homemade bread they serve with their salad. The salad came with a delicious balsamic dressing. Overall, my experience was great and my expectations were satisfied by the delicious, homemade pizzettes, salmon lasagna, and the California salad. I will definitely come back if I am in the area.