Restaurant Bella Vita Pizza

Amazing pizza!
Jul 30th, 2015

May 6th, 2014

Yes, Bella Vita is the most expensive pizza anywhere. I've been eating here for years ever since the previous pizza guys closed up shop and Bella Vita took over. And yes, it's decent pizza. And they are the only game in town so they can charge what they want. But what I don't understand is why the exact same items being ordered are often a different price. It's never consistent. Here's the problem. It seems the counter guys sometimes add charges to your bill without you knowing it. So customers may get jammed a surcharge without being aware of it. For example, Bella Vita will charge for paper plates and condiments, even though the condiments are sitting next to the counter for free. But if you get the tiny take-out condiments, they now charge extra. And you never really know the exact breakdown of the charges, because the credit card slip that you sign does not itemize the bill. It just gives you a total. Anyway, Bella Vita is apparently on their best behavior right now. They're even asking people to write positive reviews to counter my negative review. They have the right to do so, but they're not telling people the whole story. I also doubt you'll see them pulling any shenanigans right now. Suffolk County recently investigated Bella Vita for not posting prices on the wall and for often being out of paper menus with prices. So sure, I don't like surcharges that can add as much as a few dollars to your bill when they're already the most expensive pizza around. But it's not so much the money. It's the principal of the thing. I don't like getting overcharged. Who does? I also don't like being "lied" to. And that's the other reason for this review. Don't “B.S.” me about the charges. Here's what really happened: When I initially called Bella Vita for two pies with one topping each, I asked for the total cost. As mentioned, I do this since they often charge different prices for the same exact items. So Bella Vita quoted me a specific cost. I asked if that included tax. They confirmed it did. When I picked up the pizza, I asked for a tiny cup of garlic, oregano and parmesan cheese. These condiments are right next to the counter for free, but Bella Vita has always provided these very small take-out cups at no charge. When I went to pay, however, the cost was about $3.00 more than what they quoted me on the phone. The counter guy claimed it was sales tax. Not a big deal. I had four hungry people waiting for food so I let it go. But after eating, I pulled out my calculator and calculated the cost with 8.625% sales tax. It was still a few bucks off. Figured it was a mistake. So I went back. Again they claimed it was sales tax, but I then showed them a paper with my written calculations. And as I'm looking at them straight in the eyes, they completely flipped their story and said it was for condiments and paper plates. Without blinking an eye. Now listen, I'm a reasonable guy. Sure I don't like being overcharged for pizza that's already one of the most expensive around, but don't "lie" to me about it. The counter guy eventually gives me back $5.00. But not because he's being charitable. It's because I've caught him in a "lie" and he knows it, and he just wants to get rid of me. But as I'm leaving, the same counter guy blows me a raspberry (i.e., a fart sound) so I turned and headed back into the pizzeria. Then all hell seemed to break loose. One guy stood in the doorway blocking me from coming back. The guy who blew me the raspberry literally jumped over the counter. It was a weird scene. And all because I caught them overcharging me and then “lying” about it. Anyway, this negative review was necessary. It's being written not because I'm a jerk trying to bad mouth them. It's written because Bella Vita treated me so badly that I felt I had to write this review. I also told Bella Vita that I would tell as many people as I could. And I have. In fact, I've talked to many other Shelter Islanders who REALLY don't like this pizzeria. So, all that being said, don't believe everything you hear from Bella Vita Pizza.
Oct 17th, 2015

Also see my updated review on YELP ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The most expensive pizza anywhere. $25 for a pie with one topping. But they can get away with it because they're the only pizzeria on Shelter Island. It also seems that they frequently charge a different price every time my friends and I go in there. That's what made us suspicious. Here's the problem. The counter guys will apparently add charges to your bill without you knowing it. They especially do this to non-locals. So tourists may get jammed a surcharge. For example, Bella Vita Pizza will charge you for paper plates and condiments -- even though the condiments are sitting adjacent to the counter for anyone to use. But if you get the little plastic cups (smaller than a shot glass), they charge you extra. Personally, I think they are charging you a tip and calling it something else (if you were to ask) . You never really know this because the credit card slip that you sign does not itemize the bill. It just gives you a total. I guess I don't like "nickel and dime" surcharges that can add as much as a few dollars to your bill when they are already the most expensive pizza around. It's not so much the money. It really isn't It's more the principal of the thing. I don't like getting ripped off. Who does? So -- next time you go here, add up your bill and then add 8.625% sales tax and see what you get. The total credit card charge is usually more than it should be. If you question them on this, they get very defensive and will tell you it's tax (even after they've charged you tax already). Or they'll tell you they charge you for condiments or paper plates, etc. The problem with this is that they don't post prices on the wall. So my friends and I contacted Suffolk County and filed a complaint. So you may begin to see prices up on the wall soon. In addition, this pizzeria rarely has paper price menus and will frequently tell you that they are out of them. Not a big deal -- really -- if they charged the same price every time, but the prices are often different. As mentioned, this is what made me suspicious. How can the price be different each time for the same thing? Tourists, more so than locals or regulars, probably get charged extra because locals are here year round and will tell other locals. Could be bad for Bella Vita when the summer is over and they have to depend on locals for winter business. In any case, I don't like writing negative reviews, but if I'm angry enough I do write them. And my experience with reviews is that of if a business doesn't not have any reviews, that's usually a good sign. People don't usually write reviews when they are happy. Positive reviews are usually bogus and are written by the business owner or friends of the owner, etc. But when a customer is pissed off, those are the reviews you should pay attention to. They're usually genuine. That being said, beware of Bella Vita Pizza. Check your bill carefully before you pay them.
Dec 28th, 2014