Bella Vita - Boyne City

Absolutely a delightful evening celebrating a family birthday. Food was delicious and service was top notch. We started with the roasted garlic appetizer which I recommend. One of our party had the walleye, which the restaurant is known for, and another had shrimp scampi and the third ordered the seafood pasta. All were excellent.

This is one of my favorite dining spots in Northern Michigan! You cannot go wrong with the walleye preparation of the day! The Luccio Bella Vita is walleye pan fried in a mozzarrella crust. Last nights sauce was roasted garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Decadent! Vitello Marsala is also very good as is the homemade lasagna. We always split the roasted garlic and cambozola appetizer. Sooooo good! Always friendly service! Owners Matt and Kelly know how to do it right!

I am reading the reviews, and think these folks have never been to Italy. Gave this place a second chance, and was disappointed all over again. First it was freezing in the cafeteria style dining room (complete with 1980’s brass railings). Waitstaff have absolutely no personality. Trained to say only a few lines, then stare at you blankly. The menu is not bad, but the food is not Italian. The carpaccio was so heavy on mustard that you could not taste the capers much less the beef. The crab cakes were horrific-canned crab for sure, no seasoning. Couldn’t eat them. The Waleye was good, and green beans bordered on too crisp, but not over cooked. Potatoes so salty we could not eat them. The wine selection is limited, and pricey. And 3% added to the bill for using your credit card for grossly overpriced and inedible food. Can’t tell you how much we regret making the reservation.

The seafood pasta was bland. Tiny scallops, shrimp etc. service was phenomenal! Our waitress made it fun. Don’t blink, you’ll drive right by it!

This restaurant is located on a rural road in a relatively unremarkable building, and the sign is easy to overlook. However, the food was outstanding. The walleye was excellent, and the lasagna was delicious. We began our meal with the burrata appetizer, which was rich and creamy. The morel mushrooms were top-notch as well. The wine list was more than sufficient, and the dessert was fantastic. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience.