Undercover Diner Visits Isabella's

Back for more Italian food—this time to celebrate my sister’s birthday. Last year’s pick was Fratelli’s, but this year she opted for Isabella’s, a choice that felt comfortably predictable in the best way. Isabella’s is one of those places you go knowing it will be good. The food is solid, the service is consistently on point, and while the overall vibe can lean a little snotty or pretentious thanks to the usual customer base, the restaurant itself remains warm and cozy inside.

We kicked things off with a bottle of wine, which everyone enjoyed—though none of us claim to be wine snobs, so take that for what it’s worth. It did its job beautifully.

My mom ordered the house-made lobster ravioli, filled with a lobster ricotta, and topped with tomato vodka cream sauce, shaved parmesan, and basil. She loved it but couldn’t finish it because it was very rich—a decadent dish. She paired it with a side salad, which she also raved about, and happily took leftovers home.

My dad stuck with his tried-and-true order: the Isabella’s tomato basil pasta with angel hair and four all-natural meatballs added on for $8. It’s his usual, and once again, it did not disappoint. Sometimes there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel.

I went with the chicken parmesan, and honestly, I don’t know why it took me this long to try it here. It was easily one of the best chicken parms I have had at Isabella’s—crispy, flavorful, and perfectly portioned. I cleaned my plate.

The birthday girl ordered the flank steak salad, which arrived enormously. She raved about it, and it looked just as good as it tasted—hearty, fresh, and generously topped with steak.

She was also so happy and pleasantly surprised that the waitress brought her a flourless chocolate cupcake on the house for her birthday.

If there is one weak spot at Isabella’s for me, it is the bread. It’s just not my thing. I will always prefer Milano’s bread—soft, doughy, and irresistible by comparison. But that’s a small gripe in the grand scheme.

Overall, Isabella’s continues to live up to its reputation. The food is dependable, the atmosphere is cozy, and the staff is always over-the-top friendly and attentive. Whether it’s a birthday dinner or a random night out, Isabella’s never really disappoints—and that consistency is exactly why people keep coming back.