Anyone who has grown up in Grimsby or Cleethorpes will probably agree that La Bella is somewhat of an iconic establishment in the area.
Having been a much-loved fixture in the Market Place for as long as I can remember, La Bella is renowned for its pizza platters loaded with cheese, lovingly made pasta dishes and moreish garlic bread.
The last time I visited La Bella for an actual meal, I remember thinking that it hadn’t changed at all in the decade that had passed since I last ate there. But that’s an aspect I really like about the place.
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It exudes a nostalgic charm that takes people back to their younger years, eating there with their families for a birthday celebration, or with their friends after a summers’ day spent at the seaside.
Plus, I think the fact that the restaurant never seems to visually change is just evidence that it’s purely the tastiness of the food that keeps bringing customers back, time and time again.
(Image: Grimsby Live)
So, after my partner and I decided to treat ourselves to a takeaway last week (something we are trying to do less of, believe it or not), I suddenly had this urge to order from La Bella. It’s been about three years since I last ate there, and an intense craving set in when I saw it listed on JustEat. It used to be one of my favourite places to eat when I was a teenager – so I was curious to see if the food was still just as good.
For starters, we opted for the Panko Breaded Prawns, described on the menu as ‘North Atlantic prawns coated in panko bread crumbs and served with salad garnish and garlic mayo’, and the Hot and Spicy chicken wings.
For mains, I went for one of the Specialty dishes, a Pollo Pomadoro (chicken and tomato) Parmesan. This was described on the menu as ‘grilled chicken breast, cooked in our house tomato sauce topped with mozzarella, oven baked and seasoned with freshly shaved parmesan’.
My partner chose the Polla Alla Fungi Risotto, described on the menu as ‘chicken supreme, mushrooms and onion in a rich cream white wine sauce’.
(Image: Grimsby Live)
The food came in good time and we plated up our mains. Digging in to our starters, I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed the Panko Breaded Prawns. They were absolutely divine. The prawns themselves were huge, and the Panko breadcrumbs just gave them the most perfect, satisfying crunch. I could’ve eaten about 20 of them, to be honest.
The chicken wings were tasty, albeit not as hot and spicy as we thought they’d be. The only downside would be the portion size – they were the same price as the prawns (£5.99 each), but only three chicken wings were served, compared to five prawns.
As for the mains, I definitely preferred the risotto out of the two, so much so that I ended up wishing I’d ordered that instead. It was rich, creamy and filling, and the combination of chicken, mushroom and white wine is always a winner for me anyway. The next time I visit La Bella in person, I’m keeping this dish in mind.
(Image: Grimsby Live)
My Parmesan was delicious, too, but I probably would’ve enjoyed it even more if I’d gone for chips instead of rice when ordering. I may be wrong, but I think it was Jasmine rice, which is commonly served when you order an Indian or Thai meal – so to me the combination of Italian and Asian flavours on the same plate just felt a bit weird.
But the Parmesan itself was packed with flavour, and the combination of the rich tomato sauce, Italian herbs and seasoning and about half a block of cheese grated on top was just heavenly. Exactly the sort of food I used to enjoy at La Bella back in the day.
My verdict:
La Bella is a true staple of no-nonsense, hearty Italian food in the heart of Cleethorpes, and I’m so happy it’s stayed the same over the years. The takeaway wasn’t perfect and there were a couple of very, very minor issues, but it hasn’t put me off in the slightest.
In this day and age I think there are so many restaurants that try too hard to be quirky and ‘edgy’, so it’s important to still support those restaurants in the area more of the old-school, traditional kind. After all, I do love a bit of nostalgia – and that’s exactly what La Bella brings.
