Bella Blu

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Neighborhood Institution on the Upper East Side

Bella Blu is restaurateur Enrico Proietti's famed Italian restaurant at 967 Lexington Avenue, and for more than two decades it has had people lining up seven days a week. That kind of sustained loyalty on the Upper East Side is not an accident — it is the result of what the restaurant itself describes simply as "Good Food... Good People... Nice Ambience... Lots of Love and Plenty of Laughs."

The room sets the tone immediately. Warm, vibrant alfresco murals by Argentine artist Antonio Romano cover the walls, giving the space a lively, almost Mediterranean energy. The bar scene adds to the buzz, making Bella Blu as much a gathering place as a dining destination.

Italian Cooking with Depth and Range

The menu reads like a confident tour through Italian cuisine, with enough breadth to satisfy regulars who return week after week. Pasta is the heart of it: Bucatini all'Amatriciana with guanciale and pecorino, Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli in black truffle cream, Lobster Ravioli with asparagus tips and cherry tomato sauce, and Linguine with Manila clams in white wine and garlic oil represent the kind of careful, flavour-forward cooking that defines the kitchen's approach. Classics like Spaghetti with Meatballs and Penne alla Vodka sit comfortably alongside more ambitious plates such as Tagliolini with crabmeat, arugula, and cherry tomatoes.

Beyond pasta, the kitchen turns out a full range of Italian cuisine — from Grilled Octopus and Filet Mignon Carpaccio among the starters, to mains like Veal Tenderloin with asparagus and black truffle potato gratin, Rack of Lamb with pistachio-dressed broccoli, and Chilean Seabass with escarole and white beans.

A Wine List Worth the Recognition

Wine has always been central to the Bella Blu experience, and Wine Spectator has taken notice — awarding the restaurant its Best of Award of Excellence in 2025. That recognition reflects a list curated to pair seriously with Italian cuisine, offering guests the kind of depth that rewards both the curious and the committed wine drinker.

For a restaurant that describes itself as family-run and rooted in its neighborhood, earning that level of critical acknowledgment speaks to how seriously the team takes every element of the table.