Bella Casa Italian - El Dorado

Oh my goodness! I was really unsure about visiting an Italian restaurant in Kansas, and my concerns were justified. We didn’t realize it was connected to a motel, which was already a bad sign. We were the only customers for lunch, so the owner spent quite a bit of time with us. However, the person in charge of cooking really needs to go back to the basics. The tomato sauce was both bitter and oily, and the grated cheese was the kind of powder that you'd typically find for popcorn. The salad dressing was served straight from the bottles, which were past their expiration dates. To make matters worse, there was no air conditioning. I even had to wash my hands again after touching the gross sink. If the health department has inspected this place recently, I’m honestly surprised. Overall, it was just a big NOPE.

This place was outstanding! It's a charming little spot that serves the best Italian food I've ever tasted. The owner is incredibly welcoming and caring, and you can really see her passion for cooking in every dish she prepares. While the ambiance may be a bit cozy and warm, the food is absolutely amazing. It truly feels like being at home, wrapped in a blanket of love. I’d rate it a perfect 10/10! I can’t wait to come back, and I'm definitely recommending it to everyone I know.

This is a small, hole in the wall eatery. The owner, who is 74 years young, has decided she wants the flexibility to be able to shut down for a week to go see her family when she wants. To be able to do this she runs the entire place on her own. She isthe hostess, the waitress, the cook, the dishwasher, the cashier. She does get someone else to change her light bulbs, cause at74 she as decided she shouldn't be climbing a ladder!!!!!!! As a hostess, she was okay. As a waitress she will make the mostold school souls grin with happiness. No pen and paper, she goes off of memory alone, and did not make a single mistake withour table. As a cook, I want her to adopt me. The food was absolutely amazing. The home made bread was to die for, the pastaand sauces were nothing short of a miracle only possible from a truly loving chef. She bragged she could cook anything andafter eating her food I realize it was not bragging, just a statement of fact. Go with a group, be prepared to be patient andhave an exception time with amazing service and even better food.

The homemade garlic bread is excellent. The food was decent. The owner was very pleasant, and we learned that she has been running the restaurant for 46 years.

10/10 recommend! Fantastic hole in the wall. We had a great time visiting with the owner as she served us. Bread was *chef's kiss*, not pictured was a yummy salad, and the chicken alfredo was melting your mouth. You can tell that Angie loves tocook! To address the other reviews- yes, it's a bit warm and outdated- the food and customer service MORE than made up for it!