Nothing is constant in the world. People change, places change, politics change, the price of Netflix changes.

Hell, not even time is constant. That shit changes all the time.

But that’s not 100% right. There’s one thing that never changes. There’s one thing in life that is always how you imagined it. One thing that’s always exactly how good you remembered it. The one thing you can rely on to always be there for you.

And that one thing is pasta from Bella Napoli.

It’s fucking magnificent.

For those of you that have not been to Bella, it’s an Italian grocery store/restaurant in Brookside. You know, the little town with the adorable houses that you really want but keep losing bidding wars for? That’s the one.

Anyways, here’s your first pro tip from this blog. Go on a Tuesday.

Why?

BECAUSE IT’S HALF PRICE BOTTLE OF WINE NIGHT, BIZNATCH.

That, and you’ll more than likely see All the Yums there. We go pretty much every Tuesday (depending on if we feel fat or not). Just look for the giant who’s rubbing his belly while singing a happy little song.

Here’s your second pro tip.

For your first time, order the Carbonara and the Tortellini.

Why?

Because they are perfect.

I feel like you might think I’m writing in hyperbole again here.

I am not.

They are perfect and beautiful and creamy and peppery and deeply, deeply satisfying. Each bite is like the deity of your choosing (Hermes Trismegistus for me) whispering into your ear telling you that you’re totes their favorite and they’ve bootlegged the final season of Game of Thrones for you from the future.

I always get a meatball on the side to break through the creaminess a bit. But that’s just my preference.

Also – these photos do not do these pastas justice. It’s dim in there. You just have to trust me.

Their pizza is also amazing, but for your first time, just get these. They are so good.

There’s just something right about drinking wine and eating pasta. The Italians have ruined a bunch of stuff in life – chest hair, gold chains, socialism in general. But man, did they nail food pairings. Big thumbs up.

And the bathroom?

Good enough. Honestly, it could be a hole in the ground for all I care about. Their food is just that good.

Bella is definitively our favorite. It’s where we go to celebrate or commiserate. We’ve never had a bad meal there. We’ve never had bad service (maybe slow at times, but never bad). We will continue to come here as long as they do one simple thing.

Change nothing.

How would we rate it?

Environment: 7/10

Taste: 10/10

Bathroom: 7/10

Value: 9/10

6229 Brookside Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64113