Basic Info:
Name: Ciao Bella Pizzeria and Wine Bar
Address: 2998 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Balnarring
Phone: 03 5931 3098
Website: www.ciaobellapizza.com.au
Opening Hours:
Open 7 days from midday
Dinner menu available from 4.30pm
Little Eats ‘soundbite review’:
Super thin crust wood-fired pizza on the Peninsula in a relaxed, family friendly environment – with a strong focus on fresh, local and seasonal produce, much of it from their own kitchen garden.
Highchair: Yes
Change table: No (but spacious disabled toilet)
Pram access: Yes
Separate kids menu: No
Normal menu suitable for kids: Yes
Friendly staff: Yes
Play area for kids: Yes - garden area to the side of the deck
Activities provided for kids (eg: crayons): Yes - crayons & paper apparently (although on 2 occasions we were never offered any)
Vibe/atmosphere: Relaxed, quirky, casual, fun, Italian, mix of local and holidaying families
Change table: No (but spacious disabled toilet)
Pram access: Yes
Separate kids menu: No
Normal menu suitable for kids: Yes
Friendly staff: Yes
Play area for kids: Yes - garden area to the side of the deck
Activities provided for kids (eg: crayons): Yes - crayons & paper apparently (although on 2 occasions we were never offered any)
Vibe/atmosphere: Relaxed, quirky, casual, fun, Italian, mix of local and holidaying families
Prices: Standard (pizzas $15 - $23)
Other: Bookings strongly advised
Little Eats detailed review:
Right on the main road of Balnarring – but completely hidden from view – this little gem is the locals’ best kept secret! Wood fired pizza’s to rival Melbourne’s best and trendiest pizza venues, friendly staff and a delightful kitchen garden with plenty of space to run about, play and kick the footy before tea ensures an all round satisfying experience for both big and little patrons.
If the weather is fine be sure to book an outside table on the deck over looking the garden – so your littlies can go explore the garden (note of warning, while there is a fence surrounding, there is an exit into the venues car park via the garden) run about and climb trees, while still in your view from the deck, whilst you kick back on the cushion clad bench seats, sipping a local vino and watching the sun set over the Mornington Peninsula.
And while we’re talking about the garden (which my two spent every non eating moment making new friends in) the extensive veggie patch provides much of the fresh produce used in the dishes, the kids were fascinated watching one of the kitchen hands pop out with his scissors and basket to cut fresh tomatoes and zucchini to be used in that nights service. Also with a strong focus on local, seasonal and fresh produce other local ingredients used included fish to apple juice.
One Sunday evening, after a fun-filled weekend at the beach, the kids and I stopped in for an early bite and shared a capriccosa pizza, peach, parmesan and rocket salad and a cheeky chocolate mousse for dessert – all were consumed with great enthusiasm! I also have to say I was impressed when the waiter replenished the complementary dish of olives, which was served while we waited for our meals.
Ciao Bella is not just about pizzas (although they are the hero) - the daily specials board contains a range of dinner options from fish of the day to a selection of pastas. Make sure you leave room for dessert too... although it will be hard to choose from tiramisu, Nutella pizza, chocolate mousse, tortes, tarts and gelati. They also offer their pizzas to take away too.
We love Sunday dinners out – it’s one night of the week I feel sneaks up on me – so to be able to feed the kids after a weekend out of town before the trip home to Melbourne is a blessing… their tummies were satisfied and before we’d even got to Hastings they had nodded off, ahh a peaceful drive home and bedtime and dinner sorted… win win win!
Review by Kate from Meetoo
