BELLA - not only the name, but a prerequisite for all who dine

“I am so sorry to say, but sir, we are out of the Caymus Conundrum Rutherford as well.” 

This was my dad’s third attempt at ordering a glass of wine from the quite interesting wine list. With defeat, and slight irritation in his voice he gestured toward my glass and said, “I’ll just take whatever she’s drinking.”

Being an early Sunday evening, the lack of available wine spoke loudly of the night before. Although we were the only table dining in the dining room at the time (there is a great, COVERED patio), all signs pointed to a busy, rock-and-rolling Saturday night for Bella Restaurant and Bar.

A new addition to the Quadrangle, Bella is THE place to go. Round up your posse, dress in your most stylish, figure-flattering and show stopping outfit, pile into whoever drives the flashiest car and get to one of the most talked about restaurants in the area.

With out-of-town family visiting and a free Sunday night to fill with dinner, I took the opportunity to see what all the rave was about (and happy to miss the over-the-top weekend night crowd). 

After getting the wine situation under control, we immediately dove into appetizers. This is when we ran into issue number two. Unlike encountering a lack of available wine, we faced an abundance of oh-so-tasty-sounding starter options, making it difficult to make a decision.

Shredded beef stogies served with plum sauce and accompanied with a small, refreshing mango, arugula and onion salad were an easy choice. Served in a clever ashtray, think spring rolls with an updated twist. The crispy shrimp appetizer was a crowd (and personal) favorite. Served over a crisp salad, these succulent, flavorful shrimp were dressed with fresh ginger, lime butter and fresh jalapenos. Order this dish for yourself, you won’t want to share.

While the shrimp caprese salad sounds interesting, skip it. (Wanting a salad, definitely order the crispy shrimp). Hung-over? Order the Tuscan club melt, guaranteed to be the perfect fix. As my aunt described, “Everything in the kitchen can be found in this sandwich.”  For the larger appetite, go with either the braised short rib (stamped with my brother’s approval) or the seared Diver scallops with apple-braised pork belly. The sweet, buttery and rich pork belly is a perfect match for the impeccably cooked scallops.

I know this will come as a surprise to all of you, but I actually did not try one of Bella’s signature cocktails. However, judging by the sleek, urban, sexy ambiance and menu, I am fairly positive that their drinks will follow suit. And they must, because isn’t it great drinks with a stylish atmosphere that is the deciding factor on where to go on a Friday or Saturday night, Dallas?  

• 2626 Howell St. Dallas, TX 75204
  
• (214) 855-5001