"Founded in 1988 by restaurateur Turgut Balikci and co-owned by Guray Yuksel, Bella Luna is less a restaurant than an institution, a gathering place where continuity feels like luxury. Under the culinary guidance of consulting chef Cesare De Chellis, the menu honors its roots while leaning into a modern sensibility: signature family-recipe meatballs swimming in tomato and ricotta, linguini with clams glistening with olive oil and garlic, classics executed with restraint that borders on reverence."
"I visited for brunch, where Bella Luna quietly proves its mastery. The beef carpaccio arrived delicate yet assertive, its thin slices dressed with balance rather than excess. The smoked salmon eggs Benedict married silk and velvet in a union that lingered long after the plate was cleared. Steak and eggs felt like abundance itselfsimple, forthright, deeply satisfying.Photo by Avalon Ashley Bellos Drinks deserve their own ovation. The pumpkin-laced espresso martini is autumn distilled into seduction, equal parts comfort and sin."
Bella Luna has operated on the Upper West Side since 1988 under founders Turgut Balikci and co-owner Guray Yuksel. The restaurant emphasizes timeless Italian dishes and consistent hospitality. Consulting chef Cesare De Chellis guides a menu that balances family recipes with modern sensibility, featuring meatballs in tomato and ricotta, linguini with clams, and restrained classic preparations. Brunch offerings include delicate beef carpaccio, smoked salmon eggs Benedict, and hearty steak and eggs. Cocktails are notable, including a pumpkin-laced espresso martini and brooding Old Fashioneds. The restaurant functions as an institution and gathering place where continuity is presented as a luxury.
Read at www.amny.com
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