Bella Italia Ristorante (North Raleigh)

Bella Italia Pizzeria & Ristorante sits on Durant Road in north Raleigh and has been feeding that end of town since 2001. Carlo Nicolazza, who came from Naples and spent years cooking on the Italian coast, opened it.

New owners took over in February 2023 with the stated goal of making it the most authentic pizzeria and Italian restaurant in the city. The kitchen puts pizza and pasta at the front of the menu, and it claims the absolute best of both in all of Raleigh.

What to know

• The frutti di mare is the dish the original chef became known for.
• That plate brings jumbo shrimp and scallops in a creamy Alfredo sauce.
• Orders can be placed online through the restaurant’s site.
• Some customers have been eating there since the early 2000s.