Hi, beautiful! That’s the meaning of the name Ciao Bella, a rustic authentic Italian art café and restaurant located in the heart of Ocho Rios, St Ann. As you enter the lobby, you are greeted by the scent of freshly baked bread from the in-house bakery and a vibrant display of artwork designed by owners Avinash Doshi and Tiziana Censi-Doshi.

On your way upstairs you must stop by the art café, which offers a delightful selection of coffees, teas, paninis, and so much more. The gift shop inside the café is the perfect spot to secure souvenirs for art lovers wanting to take home a piece of our little island. The alluring smell of warm tomato sauce and basil from the pizzeria leads you upstairs to a digital menu board for viewing while you await your seat selection. I was greeted by friendly servers who offered a variety basket of freshly house-made baked breads such as focaccia.

The menu boasts customisable gourmet pizzas, pasta, seafood, salads, and a variety of main course options and flavourful side dishes. On this visit we opted for the margherita pizza topped with Italian sausage and ham and the lasagne classica with beef. The pizza crust was crispy and, as they say in Italian, ‘Perfetto!’ We finished our meal with the tiramisu and a cool strawberry and blueberry panna cotta topped with whipped cream and fresh mint. The servings were perfectly portioned for two, at just below $10,500.

The warm and engaging proprietor, Censi-Doshi, made my, day when, she told me that the Ciao Bella lasagne is also available in the frozen food section of many major supermarkets.

All the items on the menu are made with fresh locally sourced products and translate into authentic Italian meals. While sitting on the balcony overlooking Main Street, Ocho Rios, the bougainvillea transported my mind to Tuscany. A wide range of house wines, mocktails and cocktails were also available at the bar.

Let’s not forget about the dessert, which is carefully crafted in the Ciao Bella dessert lab. The selections range from warm chocolate lava cake to Nutella pizza, which are to die for!

On Sundays, if you’re looking for something light and refreshing, you can also delight in Sunday brunch with mimosas at half-price. If you want to feel like Julia Roberts in the acclaimed movie Eat, Pray, Love, then Ciao Bella Restaurant is your Italian cuisine destination at 40 Taj Mahal Plaza, Ocho Rios. You can also order online at: www.italianfoodja.com.

Photos: Kimberly Williams