Family-owned Bellissimo is in Houston's lovely Heights and also happens to be one of the more neighborhood-y joints in the area. This growing neighborhood seems to be attracting more restaurateur types, so this is a distraction from the loud, indulgent menu restaurants. It is a dark, quiet atmosphere that is BYOB (see my smile) with heavy Italian fare. One thing I love about this menu is make-your-own pizza and pasta which can translate into putting together an entree pretty much
any way you want.
Garlic shrimp appetizer - large shrimp in a puddle of butter, garlic and lemon.
Red Snapper with a white wine, caper sauce served with angel hair pasta and sauteed spinach. The diced tomatoes just don't do anything for this dish. Unless tomatoes are vine-ripe, just forget them all together!
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| It looks like alot 'cause it is alot! |
I might have gone a tad overboard ordering the Red Snapper served with sautéed shrimp, crab meat, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil served in a white wine lemon butter sauce. Not only did I get a hefty seafood portion, I just had to try the namesake pasta jalapeno fettuccine served with grilled chicken, black beans, fresh cilantro, diced jalapenos and tomatoes served in a Parmesan white wine butter sauce. The pasta was a bit of a disappointment. I think perhaps I was looking for a cream jalapeno sauce? I don't know what I was thinking, but the 'jalapeno' pasta had no kick and dry to boot. My suggestion is go with angel hair and a green.
Dessert special - Bavarian berry cream cake...lighter than you would think and delicious!
BYOB, moist fish and price make Bellissimo a favorite; though I wish they would change the plate presentation. It looks like something I'd get in a casino restaurant.
