Bellissimo replaces Crackpot in Bel Air

Surely the area needed a locally owned seafood restaurant . So I'm not surprised to hear that Bellissimo Seafood & Grill has opened in its place.

[Ryan]

My family and I ate at Bellissimo this weekend. It was really great. The crab dip and crab cakes were HUGE and everything was excellent. Awesome atmosphere too. We'll be back.

[Kim Vatakis]

I have eaten at Bellissimos 3x's since it opened and the veal, and the stuffed shrimp is to die for. I also enjoyed the crabcake. I probably will be going there again next weekend, this weekend I will be out of town so that is the only reason I will not be going there for Fathers Day. This is a great place for Fathers Day. If you have any problems ask for Spiro or Nick and they will take care of you. These 2 guys no how to please the customer with ther hospitality.
Bon Apetite,
Kim

[Rialta]

This past Sunday me my brother and our wives ate at Belissimo. The service was prompt but of low quality. The waiter served bread but no butter. I ordered a steak medium well, it arrived raw. I sent it back, it came back raw again.

Salad was served, with no dressing whatever, none was offered. Neither was pepper offered. The selection of beer was very poor. My wife prefers dark beer, they had none.

She had a Sam Adams. It was served with a frozen glass mug, the type that ruins beer.

The table was set with a napkin roll which contains two forks and a knife, but no teaspoon. I had to ask for butter to put on my baked potato which was not offered originally.

Service was miserable. This restaurant is owned by the same people who own eight Double T diners around the Baltimore area. My last experience with a Double T was of better service, but the food was definitely not to my liking.

On a VERY positive note for Bel Air; there were no motorcycles. There was no annoying loud music. Restaurants like Tower and Sean Bolan's are ruined by the thundering of egotistical motorcyclists with unmuffled engines.

The Fallston diner serves a better meal, cheaper with better service.

[Doug]

My wife, son and his date ate at Billisimo's in Bel Air this past week. Sevice was excellent. The food was great and well prepared. Atmosphere was great. Some of the best tasting sea food I've had in this area. I will be back.

[Fuel the Fire]

When Bellissimo's first opened in BelAir,the owners(also own 8 double T diners) staffed the resturant with your "All American" teen something employees.Most were from the neighborhood. This certainly brought a pleasant image to the new establishment.Now that the business is begining to sustain, they(owners) have fired many of the teenagers and are systematicaly replacing them with non-English speaking Mexican Imigrants.My son (who was fired yesterday and was told they didn't need his help anymore)told me what was going on weeks ago. I knew it was just a matter of time before he was replaced along with all the other local teens who desperately need low income jobs such as these.The imigrants who show up for work now wear shirts bearing the Double T logo. Thanks for supporting our local youth Nick and Spiro!!! You can bet I wont support your establishment!!!!
I encourage anyone who reads this and is concidering patronizing Bellissimo's to think hard when you were a teen and trying to find work.Now think of what today's teens are competing with. Do you want to support this activity??

[Jo Ann]

From Fallston..........

I ate at the restaurant last Friday.
My one -crabcake platter had a big, beautiful crabcake with huge hunks of lump crabment in it.
The bread and dipping oil were great. All of the food was good, and the service was excellent.
The waiter said they would be adding dark beers, etc. as they find out what the customers request. They will tweak their offerings accordingly.
I was surprised that on a Friday night, there was such a minimal wait,and the food was served so promptly.

[Dana Hall]

I couldn't wait to try this new restaurant, I heard soooooo many great things about it. When my husband and I barely sat doown we were greeted by our server (Susan) she is awesome, she took ourr drink order suggested appetizersnot just by name but description, while offering parmesean cheese on our salad she woul dask us if we have ever been to the restaurant. She made us feel right at home. I would recommend her as she has with food. Everything she suggested was as great as she said it would be. Thank You and believe me she will be our server again

[Andrea]

I didn't have much hope for this restaurant when I heard it was bought by the owners of the Double T. But we thought we would at least try it. We have tried this restaurant twice and now I have asked to go back for my birthday dinner. The food is just outstanding - could be the best crabcake in Harford County. Everyone at my table had a different entree and everyone agreed it was one of the best restaurants we have been to in the county. Service is superb. It's our new favorite place.

[Cassandra]

The food in this restaurant is extremely outstanding! My family and I come to Bellissimo's atleast twice a week and the waiters are wonderful. The atmosphere is great and you get greeted by the staff the minute you walk in. I do not agree with some people who say mexicans have been hired and teenagers have been fired. I believe that teenagers at time do fool around and this is a business where things need to be done fast and correct. Having 3 of them myself, I believe they have a great variety of members that work for their restaurant. Great food. Great atmosphere! Great place.

[Lorraine]

I also did not see any evidence that teenagers were fired and Mexicans hired. I was there yesterday and it was all young people working.

[Orlando H]

I had the chance to try this place outlast night it was wonderful, my wife rita and I usually go downtown but we heard such great things about the place, the one thing she wants is a great Orange Crush, we asked the server how the bartenders are about making good drinks correctly,my wife had 2 with our dinner the service was great, the food was excellent, the atmosphere was nice, we will definetly be back on a regular basis, this is our new place

[Robert Harrison belair md]

Hats off to the owners the food is excellent, the service just as well, we have been there about twice a week and has tried different items on the menu and havent found one that we didn't like. My favorite is the crabcake ala bellissimo.I've had a couple diffent servers but I must one that is usually in the bar knows her stuff....pretty blonde.We were in there last night, as always she does a great job.

[Kelly Mitchell]

Well we went to Bellissimo's this past Sunday. Great food with huge portions for the price. I must say that one thing that needs improvement is the wait staff. They need to be more assertive, especially in a large group. I know I had to ask for cheese from both waiters at least 4x and when we all ordered dessert, they only took half of our parties order. Next time for a big group split the table don't try and tackle everyone at once, it's to confusing!

[Cindy McGraw]

I have eaten at Bellissimo's twice since they have opened. Food has always been good but the service is slow. I would recommend them for a good meal.

[Mellissa Andrews Belair]

My husband & I were in for dinner last night for our first time since they have opened....wow the manager of this place is abusive to the staff... Had one girl crying on the floor,we witnessed him telling her to leave the bar as she did he came back to tell her there were 3 exit doors in the building to use one of them,,, she did nothing to deserve this, she just stood there,talk about dedication, and disipline, as others were eating in the service room,on their phones, and laughing at the situation..Guess the manager missed that one..wow I would have been out of there, keep ya head up sweety

[server]

I am a server at Bellissimo, and there are a few things I would like to address. The first is the disgruntled mother, "up in flames". I agree the managers, in the past, have unfairly fired some employees. However, your son was not fired to be replaced by mexicans. There are only TWO mexican busboys working at Bellissimo, and they are some of the hardest and best workers there. When I tip out the busboys 2% i expect them to actually bus my tables, and carry plates back. BUT a lot of the young boys still in highschool would run the opposite way when a server needed their assistance. So honestly, your son being fired has nothing to do with "local teens being replaced by mexicans". There isnt even a single mexican on the waitstaff . Plenty of teenagers work at this establishment.
Next, the management. It is extremely unprofessional for the greek managers to treat the employees as they do. They are disrespectful and extremely unprofessional with comments that they make, especially infront of servers' tables. And the comment about not getting butter with your bread? Servers are not psychic, speak up and we will bring you what it is that you want. A lot of us go out of our way, risking our jobs to please the customer. For instance, have any of you ever seen a $1.50 charge for sour cream and butter? As servers we are expected to charge patrons that, but do not because we are looking out for our customers. If caught we risk losing our job..over the 1.50 we didnt want to charge YOU.
As well, a new manager Andrew has recently been hired, and I'm extremely confident that whatever issues are going on in the restraunt/with the other managers, he will sort out promptly and professionally.
On one last note, the food is delicious, and a decent price for getting salad, bread, and a HUGE portion. The restraunt may be owned by the owners of the diner, but other than the portion sizes being large (similar to the diners large portions,) the similarities end there. The quality of food is much higher and gourmet. Highly recomend the crabcake to everybody it is mouth watering!!!

[Dick Meat]

I wouldn't eat anywhere owned by these Greek bastards. Their food and methods of madness suck from one restaurant to the other. You think your food is being prepared by people who know how to do steaks and seafood? Think again. It's the same illegal immigrants doing Bellisimo's food as it is Double T's pancakes and eggs.

[Linda and and Steve]

We ate at Belissimo about 2 weeks ago and thought the food was delicious and nicely presented to us! Our curly haired server (Christine) was very kind, considerate and knowledgeable. She was able to offer suggestions and made all of the daily specials sound amazing! We will definitely be back and will ask for a table in her section!!
Great Job Christine, we thank you!

[Suzan Pino]

I was scheduled to work for another server today and as usual we are asked to call before we come in to see if we are needed. Wow Ive never been late for work or ever called out always done my job, I'm a 40 yr old single mother of three beautiful children. i was told by a manager who has been trying to et me to quit ( nicolas tsirlis)told me a couple of weeks ago " I talk too much to my customers" thats the only thing he had to say about my performance. there is a review mentioning me about how great my service is, I have ppl come in and request me, I had the pleasure of waiting on the two female judges in harford county (Eaves,Cooper) which i have waite don befor ein other restaurants and the manager tells me today im not on the schedule anymore "I'm not QUALIFIED anymore" Please Nicolas you couldn't find anything else to say i wouldn't quit after putting up with abuse you gave me so now its I'm not qulified. I just want to say I enjoyed working with everyone there, Jenna, Perry Brandon ( from the bar) and to my co workers servers( Damian, Lance, Christina, Christa,Jessica,Brandy,Allison ,Steve,Candace, Molly,Lilly,and even you Todd and if Im leaving anyone out sorry,I especially wan to tthank Andrew for always trying to be there for me when Nicolas would be childish and abusive. Thanks for the support Andrew you are a awesome Manager.

[Unhappy Customer]

Hey Suzan, I had you as a waitress, and I thought you were overbearing and bothersome. Yes, you do talk too much, and that complaint you received from the manager was probably from me.

Keep the chatter down- I don't want to listen to some stupid story about your kids in school blah blah blah. You are there to serve me, so do it, and be done with it.

I also copied this and sent it to the Manager and restaurant owners. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you trashing the place on a public forum.