Bellini's

September 23, 2012. Sunday.

Once upon a time, Bellini's was one of Cubao/ Araneta Center's best kept secrets. It is still one of the best restaurants in the area, but I don't think it would classify as a secret anymore. Since the advent of social media, this oddly placed Italian restaurant smack dab in the middle of what was once Marikina Shoe Expo has gotten a lot of good press.

Recently its location has been transformed to Cubao Expo, a haven for arts and alternative culture. Bellini's doesn't look out of place anymore amidst all the antique/ memorabilia/ collectibles boutiques, hole in the wall drinking spots and of course the few remaining shoe stores.

Even before you enter the restaurant you know you're in for a different treat, with the red bricked and mural (of Italian lifestyle and famous sites) adorned facade greeting you. There's even a small scale version of The Leaning Tower of Pisa greeting you at the door, as if reminding you that you are entering an Italian restaurant).

The murals continue inside, accompanied by newspaper clippings and photos since the man behind Bellini's, Roberto Bellini, was once a photo journalist. I don't think a single corner of the restaurant is left bare at all.

Ordering was a bit tedious, since we really had to read through the description of each dish as it was all named in Italian. The following is what we ended up ordering.

For appetizers, we got the Focaccia Bread.

Focaccia Bread and dip.

The Focaccia Bread was actually suggested by our waiter. Since we were hungry and wanted to nibble on something aside from the free breadsticks while waiting for our order, we ordered one upon his suggestion. It is served with a dip consisting of black vinegar, olive oil and parmesan. The bread was served warm, either it was freshly baked that day or freshly heated. But either way it was a good way to warm up our hungry tummies.

Kim ordered the Ravioli Spinach and Truffle Cream.

Ravioli Spinach and Truffle Cream.

I was really apprehensive about this one at first. Kim doesn't eat vegetables so I wondered out loud why she ordered something with spinach. Anyway, the ravioli was tasteful enough that neither the spinach nor the truffle cream was overwhelming. Both ingredients were a complementary match. If you want to have a break from your usual pasta noodles but you still want to retain that Italian vibe, this can be a good choice.

We also got Pollo Ala Diavola (Grilled chicken with herbs and spices). 200php.

Pollo Ala Diavola

The chicken was full of flavor. And it was really tender. No knife needed to cut through the meat.

And of course we just had to get pizza. We ordered the Bellini's Special.

Bellini's Special.

In hindsight, we should have gotten something simpler. This pizza was just too busy, with a lot of toppings on it. It tasted fine, but nothing really pops out of all the toppings. Plus the crust was not crunchy at all, and in fact was a little soggy.

We also had a couple of glasses of lemonade to wash down the food.

All in all, it was money well spent. Good food, great ambiance. It might not be a place where we would dine regularly, but if we are craving for Italian cooking coupled with that laid back vibe, Bellini's is definitely the place to go to.

Bellini's Italian Restaurant

Cubao Expo,

Cubao, Quezon City

Mon - Sun: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

(02) 913 - 2550